Tyrant's Obsession With The Heiress-Chapter 83: An Opportunity To Have Her Questions Answered

Chapter 83: An Opportunity To Have Her Questions Answered

Once again, Orpheus had something unexpectedly sweet. It was rare to see the man so vulnerable and tender, almost as if he’d forgotten the ruthless beast he truly was.

And just like how the winds were always changing, Orpheus Van Merikh was always unpredictable. Sometimes, he could be swayed and sometimes he was so guarded, he’d likely slit your throat before you managed to get into his mind.

But seeing him in such an unguarded mood, Lady Karina knew she had to take the opportunity while it was there. This was her chance to learn some answers to the questions she’d been asking herself for days.

Her eyes trailed down to the Black Frost Mark on the right side of his neck, studying its jagged design like something that was branded. She reached out and brushed her fingers along it, making Orpheus tense under her touch.

He immediately gripped her wrist, stopping her from going any further. Lady Karina could see that he sprung into defensive mode, but she tried to ease him with a reassuring smile.

"May I touch it, my pet?" She requested sweetly.

How could he resist? Orpheus released her wrist and tilted his head to give her better access, closing his eyes as he felt her warm fingertips trace every line and curve of the marking.

"Does it hurt when you use your magic?" Lady Karina’s brows furrowed, recalling the night in the bailey when she’d pushed him beyond his limits and seemed as if he was in pain when his fire took over.

Orpheus was surprised by her question, his eyes flying open again. How would the lady know that his magic affected him in that way? How could she possibly know that it was painful every time he used it?

"Did Lyall say something to you?" Orpheus questioned with suspicion in his tone.

"Nay." Lady Karina shook her head. "I have watched you closely before. That night you released me from the vault; it looked as if you were in agony when your fire...was unleashed. It seemed as if you were suffering."

Orpheus would not have expected the lady to pay such careful attention that night because he was certain she’d been afraid of him. It was odd to think that she observed him closely and noticed details that others would normally miss at a glance.

"Aye, it is painful," he admitted. It was an unexpected confession because she half-believed he would deny it and make excuses for her observations being wrong.

"Orpheus, if I ask a question, will you answer?" Lady Karina tilted her head to the side, her hand still on his cheek.

"That depends," he murmured, slowly rubbing his cheek against her palm. "You will demand me to answer either way, my maddening lady."

"Aye, that is true." She chuckled. "Then, I wish to know how you have come to bear the Black Frost Mark... And I wish to know why it hurts."

Orpheus tensed again. He wasn’t quite sure he was prepared to reveal something so dark to the lady. It was an unwanted memory... something he tried to bury where it would be forgotten.

It was something he had never shared with anyone other than his men...the ones that survived after the tragedy that happened.

But perhaps it was a chance to open up to the lady. Perhaps...he could trust her and open himself to her. After all, the lady was going to be his wife, so why shouldn’t she learn all there was about him?

Still, a part of him believed it wasn’t necessary for her to know everything considering what kind of person he was and the heinous crimes he committed.

And when she noticed his reluctance, she took it as a sign to not press further. "Forgive me," she apologised. "It is not something you can share lightly, so I will not force you to tell me."

Lady Karina genuinely didn’t want to pressure him into revealing something that clearly was a difficult topic for him. As much as she had her goals and needed her questions answered, she shouldn’t have forgotten her humanity.

Orpheus thought on her statement, staring at her for a moment longer before standing up.

She thought she might have upset him, but there were no signs of anger. The man simply walked over to the table where his helmet was placed beside the packaged fabrics.

He began removing his armour; the breastplate came off first after a few clicks of the buckles and he carefully placed it down. Underneath, he wore the usual tight-fitting black high-collared shirt that stretched over his muscles.

The sight was much like a perfect sculpture, like the ones she’d seen in the temple halls of the beast sanctuary’s city. She could see the way his back muscles rippled beneath the thin fabric time he moved and it made her cheeks burn with shame.

It was hard to look away.

Why was the man removing his armour?

The next pieces he removed were the metal knee and shin guards, until he was left standing in leather trousers and his boots.

It was strange to see Orpheus Van Merikh without complete armour, and Lady Karina had to admit he was a delicious sight to behold for sore eyes. His hair, although dishevelled, gave him quite a nice rugged appeal.

There were no complaints from her even if she had no idea what he was doing.

And now that he was without his armour, he seemed like any other strong man, one that was so handsome even from behind. If he weren’t such a brute, no doubt the ladies would be taken with him and be fanning themselves if he walked by.

But it occurred to Lady Karina that kind of thought didn’t sit well with her.

She didn’t want anyone else to see him like this.

And then, strangely, her eyes trailed down to his hands as he stood with his back facing her. She’d seen his hands many times; they were strong, hard, and riddled with scars, but his fingers were also long and wonderfully shaped.

She wondered if his hands were capable of anything other than killing or physical labour.

Lady Karina remembered the first time Orpheus touched her in the vault. Although it was for punishment, there was something about the way his hands felt on her skin that she wanted to experience again.

But that was pure madness.

And when Orpheus finally turned around, he removed his vest as well. Lady Karina had to look away, her curiosity turning to concern. What was the man intending to do?

"Do not look away, Karina," his voice came out softer than usual. "You wished to know how I have a second mark, and so I will tell you."

He was right. She was the one who wanted to know, so she should not have looked away. This wasn’t the time to be concerned about what was appropriate and what wasn’t.

Slowly but surely, she turned her head to look at him.

In pure shock, Lady Karina’s hand flew to her mouth when she gasped. What she saw was something that both made her feel pity and fear.

Across Orpheus’ chest, where his heart was, there was a large scar. A deep, jagged mark that was darker than the rest of his sun-kissed skin, like a wound that refused to fade.

Over it, another long slash across his chest that stretched from his shoulder to his ribs, as if someone had tried to tear him open, looked like a pale, rough line with signs of stitches.

It looked eerily painful and almost made Lady Karina tear up. What sort of war or battle was he involved in that would earn him such a scar?

No, the more important question was, who in the world of Ethuaria had managed to land such severe wounds on Orpheus Van Merikh? Was it even another human?

The skin was sinewed and raw, like it would hurt to touch it but it also looked old, as if it had happened a long time ago.

How old was he when he received it then?

"Who did this to you?" There was a hint of anger, a hint of sympathy, and a hint of concern in Lady Karina’s voice.

There was something dark in Orpheus’ gaze, and behind it the crimson glint that seemed like another pair of eyes, watching.

The day he received the scars was the day he swore revenge and he had yet to exact it on the culprit responsible for those wounds.

"The day I received the Black Frost Mark was the day I tasted death," Orpheus stated, his expression hard as he traced the scar over his heart. "It was the day I was killed."

A/N: Hi all! Thank you for reading this far. I will be setting some milestones to achieve in exchange for bonus Chapters!

Milestone 1: 50 cumulative PARAGRAPH comments = 1 bonus Chapter

Milestone 2: Massage chair gift/Luxury car gift = 2 bonus Chapters

Milestone 3: Magic castle gift = 4 bonus Chapters + 2 regular Chapters