r18novel Chapter 99: Saying "I like you" is so easy, isn't it?
Chapter 99: Saying "I like you" is so easy, isn't it?
Chapter 100 Saying "I like you" is so easy, isn't it? (4k)
"I... walked in—" Ivina murmured in disbelief, but when her gaze inadvertently met someone else's, the unease in her heart made her tremble again.
"Treat them like big potatoes."
"I know! No need to say it—" Ivina's voice trembled slightly, her face already tense.
Rod could feel his fingertips trembling, even though they were wearing lace gloves.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, right? Are you happy? Now you can brag to them that you have friends," Rod whispered in her ear.
"Huh?" Ivina looked up at Rhodes, stammering, "N-no, we're not friends—"
Rod said calmly, "What else could they be but friends, lovers? They saw it all."
"Right now, you are a beautiful noblewoman, a normal woman."
You can be led into the hall by a man's hand as you normally walk into the crowd, and everyone sees this.
So, Ivina, from this moment on, you have successfully taken the first step.
"You can then mingle with people like everyone else and meet more people. You can also go out and buy what you want."
The words fell.
Ivina's heart was stirred.
Friends, normal people, life?
Her gaze drifted unsteadily around her, feeling the curious and scrutinizing eyes, and the fear within her remained.
But—she also knew that she was already standing here.
Yes, she is being watched by everyone and is showing her normal side.
"Am I a normal person now?" Ivina murmured softly.
"What else? Besides, there are people who care about them."
"Rhodes————"
"What? Are you grateful? Thank you? If you really want to thank me, then wait until after your coming-of-age ceremony and give me a nice reward."
"Hey!" Ivina kicked his heel with her right foot, her face flushed and her teeth clenched. "You just said you'd give me a reward, and now you're asking me for one, huh? You despicable pervert!"
"I didn't say anything in those directions, it's just that you're always thinking about dirty things with your little head."
"I don't care, I don't care—"
Although the two maintained calm expressions as they walked, their conversation was anything but ordinary.
But they didn't say much.
At this moment, Rhodes stopped taking his last step.
They had arrived at their destination, and before Rhodes stood Duke Horenaard and the Duchess.
Horenaard always wore that aristocratic formal attire, which naturally exuded his majesty the moment he stood in front of me.
But the middle-aged man looked at his daughter, who was now completely different, and he couldn't express his feelings in words.
It was disbelief, joy, and even more so, guilt.
He remained silent for a long while before finally speaking: "Rhodes Chivenlance, you are an excellent nobleman."
"What's so great about it?" Rhodes shook his head slightly. "I just have a little problem with my head."
"Huh?" This was the first time Horenaard had ever heard someone insult themselves like that.
"Ahem." Rod coughed slightly, not daring to be arrogant in front of the girl's parents.
"But anyway—let's begin."
Horrenard paused for a moment, then finally nodded.
"Please."
"Me?" Rhodes was taken aback, then pointed to himself. "Should I do it?"
"Now that you're the one leading this coming-of-age ceremony, it's only natural that you should be the one to do it, isn't it, Chiven Lance?"
"Not by name"—Rhodes' eyes narrowed.
Why emphasize this at a time like this?
Although he felt some resentment that someone called him by his last name, Rod simply sighed.
Then, he turned around, took the wine glass beside him, and raised his arm high—
"At this moment, the host of the coming-of-age ceremony has entered." Rhodes' eyes swept over the nobles as he announced elegantly, "So, there's no need to pay attention to the rumors, no need to worry about those annoying things—everyone, enjoy yourselves."
All the nobles stood there stunned, momentarily unable to react to what they were supposed to do.
Rod stood there holding Ivina's hand, and announced the start of his coming-of-age ceremony as the protagonist. Behind him stood Princess Felicity, whom he had just kissed a few days ago!
Any man would be shocked and envious of Rhodes's uniqueness; everyone understands how praiseworthy it is that the "problem girl" has submitted to someone.
It's not that I'm denying Rhodes' efforts, but rather praising his courage.
He's truly unparalleled for daring to openly bring a woman in front of the princess.
Not to mention they were also astonished by the fact that the so-called "bloodthirsty monster" was so beautiful, and that the "bloodthirsty monster" stood there so quietly, completely different from the rumors—
Everyone was in a daze, until—
Snapped-!
A round of applause followed.
Everyone turned their attention to the sound of applause.
Freya, also known as Merrick, was calmly and indifferently clapping.
The moment she felt everyone's gaze, her eyes flashed with cold arrogance. "Why are you looking at me? Shouldn't we be applauding?"
"Ah—? Yes, yes."
"Hahaha."
Once everyone realized what was happening, applause erupted in unison.
In an instant, the entire hall was filled with applause from all directions, the sound of which was loud and extremely enthusiastic, directed at Ivina.
The girl stood in the center.
She felt all of this, and this moment seemed to last forever, yet it stirred her heart.
She is the protagonist.
She has friends, she has a future.
The joy she felt at that moment made her purse her lips tightly, forcing back the urge to cry, stubbornly keeping the tears in her eyes.
There's nothing to be afraid of.
Yes, her bloodlust can be dealt with by Rhodes, and she will no longer harm others.
And at this moment, she seamlessly integrated into the community for the first time.
She's just an ordinary girl who can be with the person she loves, sing, learn new things, and live in the countryside.
Rod's palms were very warm, very warm.
"Are you sweating? Your hands are sticky," Ivina said, pursing her lips.
"Where?" Rod asked, puzzled.
I hate you.
"ha?"
"I didn't sweat at all," Rod said, a little helplessly.
"But, no matter what—I like you too." Ivina softly raised her eyes, gazing at Rhodes. "So, if it's disgusting, it's disgusting. What can I do? After all, I'm much worse than you."
"Hmm—I thought I'd hesitate for ages before saying 'I like you,' but strangely enough, when the words actually came to mind, I just blurted them out so honestly."
"Forget it! Rod, I want to do so many things in the future, can you take me with you? Whether it's learning the language you haven't taught me yet, or the makeup that Felicity wants to teach me—"
"Or you could say—teach me how to take care of a child."
Upon hearing this sentence, Rod's heart stopped beating.
The emotional impact on him made him stiffen. The last time he had experienced something like this was on Lilith's altar.
However, that time it didn't end well.
Rod lowered his eyes and said softly, "Is that so? Then I'll wash my hands more often from now on."
At this moment, Ivina was already dancing with Rhodes. Rhodes held Ivina's slender waist, enjoying the girl's fragrance and her slightly upturned body, leading her in a dance step by step.
Many of the gazes that had been focused on Ivina and Rhodes had disappeared, but they still lingered faintly.
Rhodes's footsteps shifted constantly, prompting Ivina to say, "Ivina, you absolutely must not leave my side later, you understand..."
:
"Bai Yao?"
"Hmph, even if I let go of your hand now, I won't go into shock," Ivina scoffed.
"The witch is on the move." Rhode transmitted these words directly to Ivina's mind via [Soul Link]. "There will be a battle later. Lilith and I will protect you."
"oh----"
It would have been better if Rhodes hadn't uttered the word "witch," but the moment he did, Ivina could no longer let go of the unsettling matter in her heart.
Yes, it's almost time, and Cecilia will be making her appearance soon.
Ultimately, isn't this the real danger from the very beginning?
Ivina gently bit her lip, a resolute glint in her eyes.
Love has been expressed, the story has been told, and everything has been entrusted to him.
A few days ago, she was too cowardly to speak of her own death, but now she is different.
It's not that I believe Rhodes would never abandon her, but rather that it wouldn't matter even if Rhodes were to abandon her.
Inner pain? Struggle?
Now that she is facing someone she truly loves, she has no reason to make him make a difficult choice.
Yes, she has now shifted from "thinking about herself" to "thinking about Rhodes".
So-called love can make people willing to sacrifice themselves to save others.
There was nothing to be afraid of anymore, and the truth had to be told. At this moment, Ivina stopped in her tracks.
"Hmm, what's wrong?" Rhodes' eyes showed confusion.
Ivina bit her lip, the pain piercing her tongue and giving her eyes a resolute look.
"Rhodes, aren't you curious why one of my eyes is blind?"
"It doesn't matter—it's just one eye. There are so many disabled people in this world."
Ivina shook her head. "No. My eyes are not damaged. The reason I cover them is simply to hide something."
Rhodes' eyes narrowed slightly, and his heart skipped a beat.
He harbored some peculiar thoughts, but he would never casually speculate. He narrowed his eyes and asked softly, "Concealment—?"
"Mm." Ivina nodded gently.
"Actually, my right eye has never been blind. The reason it was tied up is because someone can see what I'm doing through that eye."
"Tsk, saying too much is useless. I'll just show you once, and you'll understand."
A stubborn smile appeared on Ivina's lips: "You won't go back on your word, will you?"
"What did you say?"
"What I mean is, if I were a bad person or something, you would teach me properly and wouldn't abandon me."
Oops.
Rhodes felt increasingly that something was amiss.
He could sense that there must be some secret hidden in Ivina's eyes, otherwise she would never have repeatedly said, "If I were a bad person."
Yes, thinking back carefully, Ivina brought up this topic twice at night, and with this time, that's the third time.
Normally, after experiencing such a perfect storyline, what should be presented to him now is a special CG that he is about to obtain.
A successful animation.
The problem is, something's clearly not right now.
Why does something always go wrong whenever he tries to get a good story?
"I will never take back what I say."
"Okay." Ivina nodded. "Hmph—I'll reluctantly show it to you then. You'll understand after just one look."
""
Ivina reached out and traced the back of her head, gently tugging at the bow of the bandage.
Click—
With a bang, all the lights in the banquet hall went out.
Whether it was light emitted through magic or the light of candles, it all vanished without a trace.
The scene instantly fell into a deathly silence and darkness.
A trembling panic flashed through Ivina's mind. She gritted her teeth and moved closer to Rhodes, trying to use the moonlight to reveal her hidden golden eyes, but it was all in vain—
"Smack."
With just a strange clapping sound, Ivina froze on the spot, unable to move. "Roh—" she tried to open her mouth to say something, but her body was forcibly controlled and she couldn't utter a single word.
At that moment, an elegant yet exhilarating violin melody rose from the highest platform at the front.
The powerful and forceful sound spread out like ink flowing from a painting, instantly igniting the passion of the entire stage!
The stench of blood wafted out, and the scarlet, turbid fluid surged wildly, turning the entire space into a pitch-black world.
At that moment, the sound of lights being lit rang out, and in an instant, the vision was restored. However, the people carrying the lanterns were the nearly one hundred witches standing on the left and right sides.
They now stood atop those high platforms that had appeared out of nowhere, looking down down at all the spectators.
At the same time, the strongest light shone down from the stage dome, bathing the girl at the very front like moonlight.
At this moment, her hands are frantically plucking the bow, her dancing steps rendering everything into a dark scene.
Yes.
All the witches descended in an instant.
Even before some nobles could react, he was bewildered and lost in thought when he suddenly felt his chest being pierced with a "plop" sound, and blood spurted out instantly.
He felt his body grow cold, his breath began to tremble, and his lips felt cold.
"What, something—"
That was the witch's purpose.
Of the nobles present, seventy percent were killed, and the remaining thirty percent, the most precious of them, were captured. "Enemy attack—!"