Demon Prince's Forsaken Bride-Chapter 39: A Mission (4)

The brutal torment of her clansmen was an event of the past but it still haunted her at nights. And she had come to realize that there are things more harrowing than death itself.

His lips thinned, ’’Those are the creatures that sent you to this place. Why must you insist on suffering on their behalf?"

"I am not insisting on suffering on their behalf. But I cannot stand still while they are tormented to death in front of me, Your Highness. Warriors die on the battlefield and those who are kept like livestocks after the war, be it humans or demons, endlessly tortured till they lose their sanity make my heart break,’’ The demon realm called her weak and pathetic and whatnot but she had never wavered in this stance of hers.

"A war is always political. Heroes, like you, are glorified. It is said that you are doing what you are doing, risking your lives out there to serve your realm, to protect your people. But at the end of the day, a war is merely a personal affair and clash between the leaders of the two realms. Heroes like you, sacrifices like me, masses like the soldiers and common people are merely pawns under the hands of the leaders.’’

Azrael fell silent. As she spoke, her chest seemed to be heaving, her face slightly red, her voice was as soft and gentle as usual but those hazel eyes seemed to burn with an intensity that he had never seen before.

’’If any of these leaders want to assert their dominance, they can capture their enemy, the one in lead of the other army and trample upon them to vent their hatred. What sort of masculinity and strength is it to capture the defeated soldiers and trample them under their feet? Are they showing their strength or hiding their weakness...’’

Lareina’s body froze and her words were cut short. One moment, she was still feeling that searing emotion thinking of the way the general and his friends were dealt with but the next moment, she was pulled into a cold embrace.

Azrael had grabbed the back of her head and pulled her into his chest. And as he did so, the man had moved from the chair to the bed.

Lareina lowered her gaze, realizing that she had lost control over her emotions. Her heart was still racing by the intense emotions that had consumed her a moment ago.

As the man held her in his arms, he felt her shaking. She was so thin and so delicate as if a gust of wind could blow her away. And suddenly, he could not understand why this fragile woman incurred his wrath like she did.

Why he hated the sight of her but he did not want to let her out of his sight.

He did not understand why he was holding her in his arms when he should have been angry at those treasonous words that she spouted.

"You have been suppressing it since then,’’ Azrael’s cool voice sounded above her head.

Lareina’s bit her bottom lips. Her fingers clutching her dress.

’’You can talk to me.’’

She closed her eyes.

’’We are husband and wife...’’ The moment those words slipped past his mouth, the woman in his arms struggled to break free. His eyes darkened but he inhaled a deep breath, held her close, ’’...in name.’’ He added.

And she immediately stopped her struggles, stilling in his arms.

His lips twitched.

’’You protected me from receiving the punishment before so let me repay your favor. I will listen to you and this will stay between us.’’

’’They wanted to escape to their life before the war. They had no big ambitions but rather the dream of a simple life...’’ They were on the verge of death yet they offered to help me escape this place.

Azrael did not say anything. He just held the woman in his arms quietly.

Half an hour later, a portion of his chest was damp. His clothes were clutched and crumpled at places.

As if realization had dawned on Lareina that she had been crying in his arms, she did not pull back immediately. Rather, she stayed in that position for some time.

When she pulled back, she immediately looked away and patted her eyes with the back of her hand.

’’I apologize for my lack of manners, Your Highness,’’ Her voice was hoarse, ’’Do not worry. On this journey, I will not be a drag to you. If death awaits me, I will embrace it instead of having you save me.’’

Those words felt awfully familiar to Azrael. He stilled for a moment, ’’You were there...’’

She was right there outside the court when he uttered those words.

He had said those things to protect her.

"I had said that because...’’

"It does not matter to me.’’

Azrael’s face darkened and he pushed himself to his feet, his eyes dilated slightly. He clutched her jaw between his fingers and lifted her face such that she was looking at him, ’’Very well then. Be certain to not be a drag. Understood?"

His grip was forceful and harsh. Lareina’s eyes teared up but she bit her bottom lips, swallowing the sound of pain that had risen up to her throat.

The haziness in his eyes cleared for a brief moment. Her eyes had already been red and swollen due to crying and now she seemed to be on the verge of tears again.

His fingers trembled and his grip on her chin loosened. Azrael left the room with huge strides. Once he was far away from her room, he raised his fist and punched the obsidian pillar, leaving a huge fist-shaped dent in it.

The pain cleared his head a little and the uncontrollable anger he had felt moments ago did not make any sense to him.

But when he tried to dwell on his conflicting feelings towards Lareina, someone seemed to be piercing their claws in his heart, scraping on his flesh.