ALL NOVEL Chapter 164
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She felt like she was seeing Griffith properly for the first time. Griffith, who has felt strangely out of place since childhood. And she was the one who turned away without paying any more attention to him. Guilt flooded her when she saw Griffith, who must have been lonely even when they were always together.
“Griffith.”
“…”
Lelia quietly called his name. Griffith seemed to be surprised by Lelia’s reaction, as he closed the door and walked slowly.
“Have you finished preparing your heart?” he grinned as he asked Lelia.
Until now, she was so afraid of Griffith, and she was scared because she thought he was crazy… Now, he just looked like a child blinded by jealousy. But it wasn’t that he wasn’t intimidating. Griffith approached her, looked at her with a blank expression, and began to unbutton his priest’s suit. His coat fell to the floor.
Lelia raised her hand out in impatience and said, “Stop.”
“…”
Without realizing it, the words came out as a command, and Griffith paused. Then he furrowed his eyebrows and came closer.
“What, haven’t you decided?”
Griffith approached close to her nose and stared at her. It was an angry expression. Lelia slowly opened her mouth.
“Griffith, I…”
“Do not say it.”
“…”
Griffith’s expression contorted.
“Damn, how much more do I have to explain? Do you really not understand? You only have one choice.”
He was angry and spoke in a tired voice. Then, regretting the words he had said, he took a deep breath as if holding back his anger. Griffith’s heart pounded violently in the white priest’s suit.
“Griffith, I can’t hold you.” Lelia gathered the courage and said firmly. Her eyes looked down.
“… Are you going to see us die and kill each other in the end?”
“No.”
“… Then? What are you going to do?”
“I can’t hold you… You and I will be hurt.”
Lelia felt her voice tremble a little. She tried to be calm as she looked up at him.
There was a fire in his always calm eyes. It was evident that he was holding back his anger. He looked like he was going to be angry and explode any moment. If it wasn’t her, he looked like he would have held her by force. But Lelia knew that Griffith wouldn’t do that to her.
She wondered how she could calm Griffith and have a conversation. Obviously there’s a way… It was that moment.
Beep!
This is a mission! ٩(*•̀ᴗ•́*)و
Do you want to calm your opponent? If so, please hug and pat him on the back with sincerity right now!
System: time limit 1 minute 58 seconds
“…”
When alchemy, which had been quiet for a while, appeared, Lelia frowned. Every time it popped out like this, her heart pounded in surprise. However…
‘Hug now.’
In the midst of absurdity, she recalled similarly calming Oscar or Kalix when they had seizures. Come to think of it, she’s never been that way with Griffith. Because he was never very angry or excited, and he was always calm. But in the meantime, to hug him…
She wondered if a hug would calm him down. On the contrary, she was afraid that he would run over with excitement and strange thoughts. But she couldn’t ignore it. She knew well from experience that ignoring a mission would force an action. It was all Griffith’s fault, but… Lelia didn’t know what she was doing anyway, so she decided to do her mission.
“As you are powerless before us, so are we.”
“The same goes for Griffith, of course.”
It was also because Romeo’s words came to mind. Like him, Griffith will do what she wants in the end. Lelia looked at Griffith’s hands, curling his fists. His hands, which always conveyed warmth, were cold and tired. She felt sorry for how much force he put on his tight chin. Tendons stood on his stiff neck. Seeing him about to explode at any moment, Lelia stretched out her arm. She was rather worried that side effects would happen, but… Lelia hugged Griffith’s waist as hard as she could. It was the first time she had hugged Griffith like this.
“… What are you doing?”
Griffith was bewildered, as if when he was angry. As she felt him try to push her away, Lelia gave more strength in her hug.
“Listen to me, Griffith.”
“…”
Griffith couldn’t push her away, and he stiffened. His hand, which he had raised, was floating in the air.
“You are so precious, Griffith.”
“…”
“So I can’t.”
“…”
“Like other friends, you are so precious. I don’t want to hurt you…”
“Lelia.”
“I’m sorry for making you feel lonely. I’m sorry for treating you differently from our other friends. However… I never thought you were worthless.”
This is serious…
Lelia whispered in a sad voice. Griffith didn’t know what to say to Lelia’s unexpected reaction. But she pierced his heart like an arrow. She was serious… There was no doubt about the small muttering voice. He never thought it would come out like this. He was amazed at her more cunning attitude than he thought. Still, Griffith couldn’t push her away. His heart couldn’t be healed by the desperate force that was tying her around his waist. The words she mumbled that he was precious were so sweet…
“…”
Griffith couldn’t understand so far and he was puzzled. He must have been as vicious as the devil until he opened this door… However, it was Lelia who was rather embarrassed by her attitude.
Thump, thump
She could feel Griffith’s heart beating wildly. Griffith, who had uttered nonsense like it was true until before, could not say a word. He felt like a solid wall that could never be overcome, but in reality it was all an illusion.
After only hugging him once, he collapsed like a sandcastle so easily. Disappointingly enough. Lelia realized how affectionate Griffith had been. Griffith was so weak that he collapsed with just one gesture.
“…”
Griffith, who had been frozen the whole time, moved his hand. He pulled the little woman in his arms and hugged her. It felt like a dream. It couldn’t be reality… As he held her tightly in his arms, he buried his nose in the nape of her neck and took a deep breath. Lelia’s arms wrapped around his waist tightened.
Griffith choked. His chest, which had been empty all this time, was filled with something tight by the scent of her soft body. He breathed in like a beggar hungry for food. He gave his all strength to hug Lelia, inhaling the scent of her soft hair and her scent from the nape of her neck. He couldn’t even touch her any more than that. That was all.
Pat pat
Suddenly, he felt a gentle hand stroking his back. Even though it was stupid, her hands patting his back felt good. It felt like his heart was beating like crazy.
Whenever Oscar had a seizure, Lelia would hug him like this. Standing behind her and watching them, Griffith felt displeased. Sometimes recalling the weak Oscar, and Lelia, who would always accept him no matter if he was actually tired or not, was frustrating. But inside him, there was a feeling of envy. The jealousy upset his stomach. Lelia thought Griffith was different from the rest, but she didn’t know what was going on inside of him…
“Griffith.”
“…”
“Please, I don’t want to be a successor. Same goes for you. I don’t want you to be tied to the temple…”
“… I…”
“Let’s go together. Let’s go to the Superion Territory.”
“…”
“Don’t let Emperor Perseus take my mother. Stop him from taking me.”
Griffith licked his lips. His body moved on its own. He was a fool. Griffith noticed he was nodding and swallowed a laugh. So easy, so futile…He wasn’t in a position to laugh at Oscar for being a fool. The real idiot was him.
Just then, there was a thud and a knock on the door. Lelia was startled and tried to push Griffith away, but he didn’t move. He grabbed her as if he never wanted to let her go. It was Romeo and Kalix who opened the door and entered. Romeo frowned as soon as he saw the two hugging.
“What?”
Kalix strode forward and pulled Griffith from Lelia.
“Why are you hugging someone else’s wife?”
“…”
“Besides, you’re not even a second husband.”
Kalix pointed at Griffiths, chasing after him. Before he could even ask what this bullsh*t was, Romeo stopped him.
“This is not the time, you idiot!”
“…”
Kalix bit his mouth tightly at this point. Romeo looked at Kalix and Griffith with pity, then turned to Lelia.
“It’s a big deal, Lelia. Emperor Perseus…”
“…”
“It seems that he went to the Superion Territory, knowing that you were going to be the successor. I think he moved quickly to convince your grandfather.”
“So now…”
“Yes, there’s news that he has arrived at the Superion Castle.”
Lelia’s eyes darkened. If Emperor Perseus finds her mother…
“… No.”
As Lelia murmured, Romeo beckoned her to go quickly. In the meantime, Kalix glared at Griffith and muttered a little.
“Hey, are you going to do it for the third time? I’m the first husband, so follow the order. Sequence, you know?”
“… Go away.”
Griffith pushed Kalix away with a disgusted look and followed Lelia.
“I am very disciplined…”
Kalix followed the three of them and murmured. He had already accepted everything. Even when he thought Lelia was a man, he was quick to accept the situation once he was convinced. It took him a very long time to understand. Anyway, after the last conversation, he made up his mind.
As he told Lelia, it didn’t seem strange for two men to marry a woman. It felt special to be different from others. However, the order had to be correct. This cannot be surrendered. The first husband was undoubtedly himself. Because Lelia liked him first!
‘But the second one was Oscar, so would Griffith go up to the third? I don’t think Romeo will cross over here.’
Kalix strongly suppressed the urge to turn everything upside down. He was beaten down by Lelia, and now he was able to grasp the situation. Now was not the time to be fussy about this. He followed them quietly like a dog with his tail down.
“Honey, come with me!”
Still, he did not forget to call Lelia.
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