Tyrant's Obsession With The Heiress-Chapter 44: The Devils Whispers Sweet Words, But In The End, He Is Still A Devil

Chapter 44 - The Devils Whispers Sweet Words, But In The End, He Is Still A Devil

With Orpheus' proposal, Lady Karina had begun to see a path out of their predicament, even if it meant sacrificing her future in the process.

As the lady of Moonveil, perhaps she could still save the remnants of her castle, people, and her father while Orpheus was in a vulnerable state and willing to compromise.

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She had to do something, at least.

"Release my father," Lady Karina stated, more like demanded, and watched the expression on his face as she spoke. "Return him to Moonveil and restore him to his titles. And for the love of God, allow us to bury the knights' corpses you have posted in the bailey."

Three demands all in all.

Orpheus listened to her conditions, digesting them.

It didn't even take him a second to think them through.

"If that is what you wish and what will convince you of my sincerity, then so be it, my Lady," Orpheus replied quietly, his eyes softening. "I will have your father returned to Moonveil, but to regain his post, I will have him swear fealty to me."

Lady Karina shook her head. "My father will not accept that."

Orpheus set his hands on his hips. "Then I will not release him."

Her eyes, usually soft, shifted into a glare. "You agreed to my conditions."

"That is if he swears allegiance to me."

Lady Karina eyed him with a hint of exasperation forming, observing the gravity of his expression and his body language as his hands rested on his hips.

The atmosphere in the room was unchanged, still filled with tension.

And if the man so desperately wanted something from her, then she wanted something from him in return.

Yet she didn't understand why he was so hellbent on earning approval.

Since when did Orpheus Van Merikh seek the willingness of the other party?

"It would be a simple matter to marry me by force, you know," Lady Karina blurted out, folding her arms under her bosom, which only made it more difficult for Orpheus to keep his eyes off them.

"There is no reason for my permission and certainly no reason to bargain, so why do you insist on negotiating?" She added.

"I seek your agreement because I will not take an unwilling bride," he remarked quite firmly, making his stance known.

Was that truly the case? Or was marriage just another means of earning her favour and getting close enough to learn about Moonveil's secrets?

However, it was difficult not to notice the earnestness in his eyes.

Either that, or the man was bloody adept at reflecting fake emotions in his eyes and the dual shades perhaps made it all the more confusing.

Lady Karina's gaze lingered on Orpheus a moment longer before she finally shook her head, turning away from him and perching herself on her chair again.

It was obvious that she was mulling over everything.

Her fingers toyed with a blank parchment, finally looking up at him as he moved to the other side of the desk.

"It is almost unthinkable that we have even come to the point of such a conversation," she said with genuine confusion.

"Aye, my la—" Orpheus thought to answer her but she was quick to cut him off.

"Just two weeks prior, you stormed into Moonveil and murdered my father's knights and a boy without consequence, yet now you display a side of yourself that shows sensitivity and vulnerability?" Lady Karina fired back, not withholding the sparks in her tone.

"And now you are even willing to negotiate a marriage contract?" She continued, her fist clenched. "Since when does Orpheus Van Merikh negotiate anything at all?"

Orpheus knew the depths of her confusion, as well as how sudden everything was.

In truth, he did not blame her. Only himself.

He averted his gaze, his dual-coloured eyes travelling over the parchment, the desk, the floor and finally to the lancet window.

He wandered over to it, glancing out to the bailey below where his grotesque masterpiece lay.

And for the first time in his life, he had come to regret what he had done.

The atrocities he had committed.

"I do not know how to answer that." Orpheus breathed out, gripping the window pane tightly. "All I am aware of is that I do not want to command you to obey, yet I desire it so desperately that I can almost taste it."

He closed his eyes, gathering his thoughts. "I cannot think of anything in my life that I ever wanted more than I want you, my lady."

Lady Karina was stunned by his statement.

Although she could not see his expression, she knew the man was not one to make such statements lightly, nor did she undermine it.

"And why is that?" That was the only question she could think of to ask.

Orpheus snorted ironically, turning around to look at her.

"As I said, I cannot answer that question," he said, his gaze fixed on her intently. "You have been far different from anything I've known since the day I met you. I see such beauty, peace, and courage in you—things that have never been a part of my world."

Lady Karina did not expect the man to be so honest and tender with his thoughts, nor did she think he would express them.

Orpheus Van Merikh was the most vulnerable he'd ever been in that moment.

He was not entirely the monster people claimed he was.

"You are a beautiful part of heaven I never knew existed, my lady," he completed.

And without intending to, Orpheus had conveyed something unexpectedly and innately sweet.

Who knew that Orpheus Van Merikh, the nightmare of children's sleep, could say something such as that?

Lady Karina felt her heart soften just the slightest, but not entirely.

She had been complimented for her beauty on several occasions, but rarely was it anything so heartfelt.

She shouldn't be allowing herself to fall for his words, as lovely as they were.

The fact remained that he was the Black Frost Demon and the memories of his cruelties did not fade.

There was much blood on his hands.