Roderick's defensive attitude sent a chill down one side of Diana's heart.
"Don't you want to get rid of your curse? You don't want to die."
"I don't really care about dying."
Ha, look at this man. A tremor flickered across Diana's lips.
"I care, even if you don't!"
Her emotions surged hotly in response to his indifferent face.
I thought at least you were in the same boat as me. Both of us are extras, and it wouldn't be strange for either of us to die soon.
"I don't want to die. Not again in such pain…"
I don't want to die. Not again. Diana grimaced and swallowed the rest of her words.
Somehow, she had come to expect his cooperation. They had different circumstances and thoughts, but she had been deluded by his accepting behavior.
Had she inadvertently placed her trust in Roderick?
In desperation, she grabbed his collar. When had she become so weak-hearted? Had her spirit become as fragile as her body?
She felt like crying. Not wanting to show her face to him, she bowed her head.
"…"
"…"
Her delicate hand, holding his collar, trembled slightly.
Crying again? Roderick nonchalantly guessed, but soon, Diana, who had been bowing her head, looked up, not crying.
Her eyes, more vibrant than ever, appealed to him.
"I'm sorry, but I need you."
"Aren't you too old to throw tantrums, My Lady?"
"Roderick Schwartz. This isn't a plea, it's a proposal."
"That proposal isn't appealing to me."
"I'll make it appealing to you."
Her skin was so pale that her pink eyes seemed to bleed into the surrounding area, turning red.
Diana's vulnerable appearance didn't stir any different emotions in him.
He impulsively stroked her hair, dark purple and softly glowing under the light. Roderick normally detested touching anything with his bare hands.
Her hair cascaded softly under the black gloves, resembling the northern night sky on the blanket.
"Yeah, you want to live."
"Yes, I want to live."
He remembered a woman who had clung to a young him, begging to live. She was repulsive and disgusting.
Yet, the woman before him, yearning for life, shone brightly. Her desire for life made her vibrant.
Was she different?
Roderick felt strange with Diana by his side. The usual sensitivity of his condition was changing.
His heart felt peaceful, but the unfamiliar sensation encroaching on him was unnerving. A different kind of uncontrollable feeling made him frown slightly.
"Even if you glare at me like that, I can't help it. I can't back down either. I'm going to be with you. I won't leave."
"Regardless of your proposal, I get that the lady needs to absorb the curse."
Diana's eyes widened in hopeful realization. Did he finally understand? But her hopes deflated at his next words.
"But, you're just a hindrance to my mission."
Right. He was on a confidential mission. From the looks of it, they were a small, elite team.
In a mission prioritizing mobility, a child and a woman would be nothing but burdens.
Diana quickly decided and swallowed dryly. She needed to speak well.
She had to appeal her usefulness and somehow stay with Roderick.
There was no option of leaving his side right now.
The person in need must bend. What choice did she have?
"Can you tell me what your confidential mission is?"
"Don't you know the meaning of 'confidential,' My Lady?"
Treating her like a fool. Annoyingly so. Diana glared at Roderick sourly.
"I heard that man is looking for his brother!"
Both Diana's and Roderick's gazes simultaneously turned to Noel.
"Brother?"
"Kid, where did you hear that story?"
Despite Roderick's serious question, Noel appeared cheerfully unconcerned, as if thinking, "What does it matter if it helps Diana?"
"I heard about it when eating with the men!"
"Haah."
With a look that seemed to carry a lot to say, Roderick swept his face with his hand. His repressed aura was intensely fierce. Well, may the knights rest in peace.
But a brother, really?
"Felice Schwartz is missing?"
"...."
Felice Schwartz, at the original story's point, was set to inherit the Duke's title and oppose the Crown Prince.
So shouldn't he be quietly in the North right now?
It was strange that they came to the Black Forest, known as a habitat teeming with monsters – an extraterritorial wilderness.
It wasn't a place for Northern knights to venture into for subjugation.
"The Prince is here?"
"I have nothing to say, My Lady."
It was a clear case of running away, but it wasn't something to disclose to outsiders.
But Diana's eyes lit up even more.
"I'll help! But in return, let us come with you."
"No."
Despite his firm refusal, Diana persisted.
"Roderick. This proposal will be attractive to you. I told you I can see magic, right? We can find the Prince through his magic."
It was a new discovery for her too, but it seemed every person had a unique magical aura.
Though very subtle, it wasn't indistinguishable.
She could visibly discern it, potentially making her more useful than even well-trained knights.
"Isn't the reason you haven't found the Prince yet because it's impossible to pinpoint his location?"
Search "seduced the doomed" at "redcatty . com" to read ahead chapters.