Straighten Your Shoulders, Great Queen - 7
“It’s a lie!”
Kiaru’s cry broke the ice-like silence. Her body was frozen in place, but her mouth moved.
“Christine-nim, you can’t believe it, so you want to believe Jekiel’s words!”
“Is that what you mean?”
Even thinking it wasn’t worth listening to, Christine replied herself.
It was simply because she couldn’t believe it. That Kiaru, who had devoted her life to her, had betrayed her.
It seemed like she had to hear something. That was why.
“I’m being controlled by Jekiel.”
“Controlled?”
Kiaru showed a look as if she really meant that.
“What reason would I have to harm Christine-nim! In this situation, the most suspicious one is Jekiel, isn’t it? A guy who rips out hearts like nothing can’t control someone!”
Christine sighed.
If she had shown her honest face, it wouldn’t have been this disappointing.
But the loyalty Kiaru had shown until now was truly remarkable, so there were quite a few subordinates who looked at her with eyes saying ‘Is this really it?’
“Logically, if you were going to kill me, why heal me?”
“It was to harm Christine-nim in front of everyone! It’s to frame me with guilt! Ah… th, that, right!”
As if there was something decisive, Kiaru’s face brightened.
“The thing in Christine-nim’s body is the highest-grade curse. How could a mere subordinate like me get such a curse? The culprit is determined! Christine-nim! You can’t be fooled!”
Thanks to Jekiel’s whisper, Christine’s heart didn’t waver. Even at this moment, Christine had received his help.
However, others who didn’t know the detailed undercurrents were shaken by Kiaru’s appeal.
-Christine was in pain?
-Christine has been in pain more than once or twice. Idiot. It’s not surprising.
Other races were chatting like that
-Kiaru has no reason to betray.
-Then it’s Jekiel again… so meticulously…?
The subordinates started whispering.
“That’s the end of your excuses.”
Jekiel tilted his head.
Even receiving that still cool gaze, Kiaru didn’t back down. Instead, she glared even more fiercely like a wild cat.
“Jekiel…! Stop this bad thing right now! Your plan has failed! From now on, Christine-nim governs!”
“Shut up.”
“W-what?!”
“Even in a situation where you recite the type of curse you didn’t even ask about, what are you apologizing for one by one. Of course, the approach itself was fine. However.”
Cough—
Jekiel spat blood again and slowly took off his coat.
“Look carefully.”
Whoa, gasps erupted from everyone’s mouths.
It wasn’t because they were amazed and awed, but because a horrific scene unfolded that couldn’t be looked at with open eyes. Everyone stared at him with shocked eyes from all sides.
“That’s… that’s…”
“W-what!”
The mouth completely bloody. Arms completely bitten and shapeless. Even if you peel them one by one, it’s a tragic sight.
However, there was another reason why everyone’s eyes were wide open.
“…The mark of Envy!”
Someone shouted.
Yes, the mark rising on Jekiel’s nape was a huge sword wrapped by a snake. This is the mark of Envy.
It was still sucking his life force in real time, humming.
It felt strange that the man standing there was still talking calmly.
“The curse you mentioned is on me. It wasn’t a lie.”
Jekiel tilted his head a bit more. Look at the mark clearly.
“Let’s discard one more pretense and be honest. If what you aimed for was Christine, not me, I would definitely have died.”
This time, everyone held their breath.
Jekiel’s past actions could never be called good.
If someone who hated him saw him revealing his state as is and giving an opening, even if he was beheaded immediately, no one would find it strange.
However.
‘Still, there are things that must be done.’
He thought that.
At that moment, the invisible hands holding Kiaru in the air disappeared.
“Now you have no life force left to fix you. What will you do.”
The conversation was over.
Kiaru, who had been completely betrayed in all alibis, was still frozen in place even though the intangible hands disappeared.
She was just sweating coldly. Like a cat cornered at the end of the alley.
Anger appeared in the eyes of other subordinates. It wasn’t different for Christine’s eyes.
“Vivian. It seems to be your turn now.”
And Jekiel’s gaze turned to the sin of Envy. The decadent white lamia Vivian. She clicked her tongue.
Vivian was not stupid. Jekiel was giving her a chance.
The curse of Envy was used, but Vivian had a chance not to be suspected.
Tsk tsk.
After clicking her tongue once, two lamia subordinates popped out from both sides. In an instant, they wrapped Kiaru’s body with snake-like lower bodies and strangled her neck.
“Ugh… ugh…! Kk! Kuek!”
Tears sprouted from Kiaru’s eyes. Foam started appearing in her mouth.
“G… almost… done… C, Christine’s bloodline… doesn’t… suit… a queen… ugh…”
Eventually, with a thud, Kiaru collapsed to the floor.
Vivian’s subordinates returned to their places. Tsk tsk. Vivian asked Christine.
“What. If you’re still suspicious, I can show even greater sincerity.”
“It’s fine. First, lock Kiaru up. I’ll interrogate her directly later.”
As soon as Christine finished speaking, Artel dragged the unconscious Kiaru and left the place.
Haa. Jekiel, confirming that the situation was resolved, staggered.
No, it seemed he couldn’t even stagger anymore. He lost his center and collapsed to the floor.
But there was no dull thud. Because someone was supporting him.
Christine caught the falling Jekiel.
-Christine is more amazing than I thought.
-Yeah. Treating the great Jekiel like a thing like that.
-Not even surprised.
Others started talking arbitrarily.
All of it was praise for Christine. A stage was completed only for Christine, yet how empty it was.
Christine’s subordinates quickly surrounded Jekiel and her, forming a circular wall so no one could see inside from outside.
It was noisy as ever but at the same time quiet. All nerves focused on the man they were holding.
The place where the heart was now beat so fast it hurt.
It was a strange sensation. It wasn’t the first time feeling it, but because it had been a long time, it was even more bizarre and strange.
With trembling hands, she carefully rubbed his nape.
Cough—
The face coughing painfully looked strange.
This was the first time he showed this appearance. The one who had always been in pain was Christine. The one lying down was Christine, and the one standing was Jekiel.
It would have been like that for her whole life until now. The remaining life would have been the same.
“Ha…”
Her eyes were sad, but her mouth was smiling.
It was unbelievable. Christine, who let out a hollow laugh, squeezed his waist and squeezed again, barely asking.
“Why are you doing this?”
No answer came back.
“Why are you doing this?”
It was closer to begging than a question. She wanted an answer.
“What kind of answer do you want?”
What kind of answer do you want? Christine had to say one thing.
“From the heart.”
Yes, there was nothing else.
“Just tell me the truth.”
“From the heart.”
Jekiel, as if the words he would say now were unbelievable even to himself, laughed.
“I hope the human realm and the demon realm harmonize. That’s all.”
“Ha…”
Christine let out a hollow laugh again.
What kind of words are you saying. What kind of actions are you taking. No, what kind of thoughts are you having.
To that person, she asked again.
“You are an idiot. A liar who says unbelievable nonsense. You know, right?”
Moisture appeared in the woman’s eyes.
“I know. And also.”
The left arm of the man who seemed not to move again moved. What he showed her was a single ring.
“You are my fiancé.”
“Stop it.”
Christine covered Jekiel’s mouth.
She couldn’t hear the next words, and she didn’t want his condition to worsen.
Ah. Christine buried her face in the man’s broad chest.
Her heart buried in that chest—
“…Stop saying that.”
It was beating faster than ever.