Protagonist! Please Stay Away from Me!
Chapter 70: Aerila Was Already Corrupted

Chapter 70: Aerila Was Already Corrupted

Sharon’s POV—

"I have completed every single task you asked me to do," I said. Exhaustion mixed with hunger is a pretty deadly combination. Countless thoughts are going through my head. Along with that occasional bullying of the maids is making it worse for me.

"Hmm... there are some tasks left. As you have completed your work, why don’t you do them? It will save time for everyone," Celle said without even looking at me. She was busy with her papers, or so. Honestly, at this point... I don’t even care. I rubbed my neck angrily.

"But... you said after I complete these ’tasks,’ you will give me food. I will get some food. You said that! Your words, not mine!" I yelled.

Celle put down her papers on the table and walked towards me. She said, "I did say that but... I also said something more. I will give you food to eat... when I deem it. For now, you are not getting any food. So, do us a favour and do what I say. It will be better for both of us."

I threw the mop on the ground and jabbed a finger in her chest. She merely raised an eyebrow at me as if she was waiting for me to do something. I sneered, "There’s always a catch with you, huh? You and your queen both! Always something in the mix!"

Celle smiled at my words. Suddenly, a thought entered my mind. It wasn’t because she was waiting for me to snap. No, she already knew I would snap. Fuck! I played right into her hands. She slapped me hard across my cheek, making me crash loudly on the ground. My ears were ringing and my vision was blurry. I shook my head a few times and supported it with my hands. My cheek was already swollen and with this fucking slap, it will swell even more.

After stabilizing myself, I looked at her. She was looking at me with a cold and emotionless look much like her master.

Celle opened her mouth slowly. She asked, "Aren’t you going to ask anything?"

"A-about what?"

"Why did I hit you? Aren’t you curious?" All I could hear from Celle’s tone is gloating. She is trying to gloat that she disciplined me... as my so-called superior.

I snorted, "I think we are way past that. We both know that you were looking for an opportunity to ’discipline’ me. Well, y-you got that." Celle observed me for some time before muttering something under her breath.

"What are you talking to yourself?" I asked her.

Celle shook her head. She said, "Nothing you need to know. But there is something you need to know. Hierarchy-wise, you are ’the lowest among the lowest’ and I am your superior."

"Is this what makes you sleep at night? Thinking that you are above your so-called enemy. I guess, it must feel nice. ’The lowest among the lowest’ does have a nice ring to it."

Celle clenched her jaw with an angered expression.

"Touched a nerve there, didn’t I?"

Celle replied, "I am not going to degrade my level by trying to explain anything. You don’t deserve it. Your Majesty has given me full authority over you. ’Hurt her, or break her. I don’t care.’ Her words to be exact. So, remember one thing. Go out of the line again, and I will drag you back myself. Are we clear?"

"Yes, you made it damn clear."

"Good. Then clean go and wash clothes."

Throwing me a last look, Celle walked away. Taking the help of a pillar, I stood up on my feet. Argh, it’s making me rethink about my plan. Aerila doesn’t give a fuck about my wellbeing. Should I even try to charm her? Suddenly, my head started to hurt. I groaned in pain and clutched my head with my hands. But then, it disappeared.

[Hello, there.]

’Have you gone mad already? What’s with this greeting of yours?’

[I think you should let her be. Host, I think there are some complications with her.]

’What ’complications?’ Why haven’t have you said anything about this yet?’

[I was confirming it... there some things you need to... know. But... not now.]

I was completely confused by the system’s words. Its words were so serious and at the same time it was very confusing.

’What do I need to know? You are literally confusing the shit out of me. Whatever it is—’

[KEEP QUIET!! JUST KEEP QUIET!!]

I flinched at its words. It never shouted at me before. I have called it many things but it never got angry. Why is it behaving like this?

[I-I a-am... sorry. I n-never s-should have s-shouted at y-you like that.]

’It seems you are having a bad day. I-I... understand. I know that you keep a lot of things from me... and I totally understand. It’s your choice.’

It sighed loudly at my words.

[Fuck! Are you trying to guilt trip me? Host, I never thought you would stoop that low.]

’Me? No! I will never!!’

[I... fucked up. I should never shout at you but... I don’t want to keep things away from you...]

’But you did.’

[I care about you. You are not my mission. No, you never were. Listen... I don’t want you to be ’a cream bun’ or anything. No, never! It was never my plan. It was a way to motivate you... to... argh, I don’t know what to say or from where to start. But one day, when the time will come... I will tell you everything. What I want to is... you to be safe.]

’Then start! Make me understand! I want to know the truth!’

I have never heard it speak like this. Most of the time it just teases me with my destiny of becoming a ’cream bun.’ But today... it seems different. It had an anger in its voice. Yet, for the first time I knew... I could feel it in my soul that it wasn’t lying. I don’t know what it is hiding but... I know one thing. Whatever this is, big or small, will change everything. I am certain of it.

[No.]

’Hah! Here you were telling me that you care about me... and when I asked you... I was shot down by you, didn’t I?’

[Host... Sharon... I am... not... what you think. I am not the system you believe me to be. And yes, there is a ’will’ but I am afraid it is... not of this world but of a fucking god.]

’What god?!’

[I can’t tell you that now... not until, you are ready.]

’When I will be ready?’

[You will be. Sharon, never trust anyone, especially Suroralia and Aerila.]

I sneered inside my brain. I said, ’Then I should trust you? Do I look like a ’Greta’ character to you.’

[It’s fine. Don’t trust me.]

What? I never thought it would say something like this. Excuse, or maybe I thought it would try to give some excuse. But this? I am shocked.

’What about Kaerin, Maria and Pristine? Kaerin and Maria? I understand. But what about Pristine? I am sure that I can’t trust her of all people.’

[’Regret’ is the biggest weapon for you. And for them, it is their biggest sin. A sin, that they can’t wash from their hands to begin with.]

’You are confusing me! I can’t understand anything!’

[You will... eventually, that is.]

’When? You—’

[Soon. I will tell you everything soon. But before that I need you to something. Three days from now, there will be a party in this palace. A party for someone honourable. For a person that you fear the most.]

The person that I fear the most? Kelshin... he will come here? But why?

[I need you to prepare an exit plan.]

’But I can’t? Even without—’

[You can, and you will. On that day of your great escape, I will remove the vines from your body parts and you will get your powers back. The vines are very dangerous.]

’You can do it? But why did you never say anything about it?!’

[Because I wasn’t fully activated at that moment!]

’What?’

[What you were talking with, is my subconscious. I was dormant. I didn’t know what I was doing. My sole purpose was to motivate you. I wanted you to save yourself. That’s what it was in my subconscious.]

What the fuck? Then suddenly, it clicked me. It’s voice. It has different voice now... almost as if it has become a sentient being. Someone who is fully capable of emotions. A being that knows what it is doing.

’After I escape from here, you will give me all the answers of my questions.’

[I will.]

’Why did you w-wake up now?’

[I fear that you are in a great peril. Kelshin has already made contact with Aerila. The vines that you are trapped in are his creation along with someone other. She is already corrupted by him. No, she was already corrupted right from the start. But forget about her. The vines wrapped around your body will soon corrupt you. I am afraid that it has already begun.]

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