Demon Prince's Forsaken Bride-Chapter 85: Let’s die together (1)

She did not dare to breathe because she knew that she would not be lucky for a third time but her wariness turned into surprise when she heard a familiar voice.

The familiar voice belonged to Azrael. He mumbled something she could not hear.

Lareina could not be bothered with it. Her grip on the rock tightened and she moved. But just as she opened her mouth to speak, she heard a heart wrenching scream,’’I am sorry,’’ This time, Azrael’s voice was loud and clear.

’’I am a coward. I do not dare to turn around to know if I have lost you forever so I left without looking back."

"I am sorry for coming late. I am sorry for putting you through this. I am sorry for everything you have had to endure.’’

Lareina froze. The words that were at the tip of her tongue never rolled out. Did this man believe that she died?

’’This marriage was unwanted on your part but you have been everything I ever desired. But our wedding night made me realize that everything between us was unacceptable to you in every way. I was so selfish and wrong that I could not look you into the eyes knowing that the woman I wanted was only ever disgusted by me. You hated me. And it remained a thorn in my heart for as long as I could remember, growing and twisting with my feelings whenever I saw you.’’

Lareina’s brows tugged together. His words of self-deprecation had not moved her as much as the mention of their ’wedding night’ did.

It could barely be called a wedding night. Rather, it was more like a wedding evening where the bride and groom merely had some special food together since the bride was a human who could digest the ’demonly specialties’. Azrael had been a gentleman, taking care of her needs and looking at her gently in a world full of unwelcomed stares.

And that had been the time that marked her younger self’s obsession with this perfect husband of hers. Now, Lareina found it funny to see how all of that went down. How naive and easily satisfied had she been to madly fall for a man who had barely given her half a smile and some sweet words?

But... Despite the anomaly that she was, she could not, for the life of herself, figure out which particular actions of hers on her wedding night had led Azrael to the conclusion that she hated him. It was fine he could not tell that she was smitten but why such wild accusations.

Lareina could not understand anything and she probably did not have the strength to. Her grip on the rock had mangled her palm, mixing blood and flesh together. She did not know how long she could hold on for so she inhaled a shuddering breath to speak when the man’s word cut her actions off.

"You hated me and still, I could not keep myself away from you. I hated myself for that. I believed we were doomed to a fate like this. But...’’

’’But hate me if you must, Lareina. Don’t die without me. You should have lived and breathed every moment to despise me even more.’’

Lareina’s lips twitched. She felt that there was something so inherently wrong with this logic. I don’t hate you at all. And who is dying? Who are you cursing? My fragile life...!

At this moment, Azrael suddenly said something that made Lareina’s heart race. In a very very very bad way.

’’Hate me if you must, my little rebel. But even in death, I cannot leave you alone.’’

Lareina’s eyes widened. Was he trying to kill himself? What...?!

No...

She opened her mouth but much to her horror, her words did not come out of her mouth at all.

The silence that lingered in the place made an ominous feeling rise in her chest.

She coughed lightly, ’’Wait... no...’’

There were some hurried movements above and there came the man’s hurried voice, ’’Is this an illusion again?" His voice held a sense of bewilderment that concerned Lareina.

An illusion?

’’It must be...’’ Azrael knelt on the edge of the cliff and clutched his chest. He did not feel any pain like before but this... Was this even real? ’’It has to be one of those voices, deterring from doing what I want to...’’

"Your Highness... cough... I can’t feel my arm anymore...’’ Lareina’s voice was very soft but not a single word escaped from Azrael’s ears, ’’Send your sword...’’

It was finally at this moment that Azrael slowly started recovering his senses. The voices he heard were determined and crisp as if they were ordering his soul. This incoherent... cold yet gentle voice... couldn’t be the same as that.

He leaned forward and extended his hand, ’’Take my hand...?"

Everytime Lareina opened her mouth to speak, it felt like she had expended all her strength in doing so. It was especially exhausting. She tightened her grip on the rock, letting it sink more into her bloodied palm.

While gripping the rock, she tried to move her other hand but it hung loose in her sleeve as if it had lost all sensation, ’’I cannot...’’ After a moment, she weakly muttered, "Sword...’’

Azrael immediately stretched out his hand, ready to use his powers but the fragmented reminder of him going berserk in the village halted him, ’’I cannot use my powers right now.’’

’’What...?"

Azrael cut Lareina off, ’’Don’t say a word."

Lareina was confused for a moment but then a huge movement occurred and the wind swooshed. Her drowsy eyes widened in disbelief as she slowly looked down at the man who had disappeared into the thick mist.

’’Your Highness! Your Highn—"

’’Shhh!"

Hearing Azrael’s voice from her left, she looked to the side. The man finally appeared in her view near her foot, gripping the rocks as he climbed up.

How could someone jump down the cliff like this? Lareina could not help but think. And why?

’’Let go!" Azrael met her gaze in the darkness, stopping near her waist.

"W-What?" Lareina stuttered. Was she hearing things?