Reborn, Its Time To Save My Family And.. My Enemy!
Chapter 207: Want To Be Protected.

Chapter 207: Want To Be Protected.

Rhistel gasped for air, one hand clawing at his throat as his knees hit the cold stone floor. The pressure inside his chest had come out of nowhere like an invisible grip tightening around his lungs, stealing his breath, he felt like choking but there was no hand on his windpipe.

Olivia stood tall above him, her face impassive. But inside, her heart pounded like a war drum. She hadn’t meant to strike him so hard, hadn’t even known she could. She wanted to scare him enough so that he did not use her as a plaything. She didn’t even know why he was getting married or Oriana.

He looked up at her in horror, eyes wide, mouth parted in disbelief. "Wh... what did you do...?"

She smirked, stepping closer, her boots clicking softly on the stone. She didn’t show the tremble in her fingers or the guilt that clawed at the back of her throat. If she faltered now. If he was not scared enough, she’d lose the only leverage she had.

She did not speak but her eyes closed and her fingers snapped.

Rhistel’s pain vanished, just as suddenly as it had come. His eyes darted around wildly, searching for wounds or injuries. His hands ran over his ribs, his chest, his throat.

"It’s gone," he murmured. "The pain... it’s gone."

He looked up at her again, this time not in horror, but in awe.

"I thought you have finally decided to get rid of me, my lady." he smiled charmingly. Who would believe that he was gasping for air just a moment before.

He was a strong man, she knew it from the start, yet she was stunned for a second that he did not even blame her for what she did.

"Now," Olivia said calmly, "would you tell me what’s happening to me... or shall we test how long you can last next time?"

She had expected fear or fury but all she got was a low chuckle full of amusement and indulgence.

"I did not want to tell you because I wanted you to find yourself. But if you insist." he bowed his head with a hand extended toward her. She took it after a moment of hesitation.

He walked her further into the room and they faced a large wall covered with thick leather books, full of records. Every noble family has them. It contained their history, their inheritance and record of every person ever existed in the family.

A few get only a paragraph, while others fill a whole book from their great deeds. She raised a brow.

"Do you want me to read the history of your family to know about myself? Is my mother.." he shook his head, not letting her complete the sentence.

"Though our family is related to witches, I did not know your mother. She was a runaway witch, hiding from her coven. No one knew what the reason was. But she must have been strong enough to hide herself well. Except for her hair, there was no sign that she was a witch so she was never followed. Of course, someone must have found her truth later. Perhaps, she made a mistake." Olivia heard him quietly. For some reason, she remembered the woman with silver eyes.

Her mother had brought her when Olivia was seven and her parents died when she was ten.

"These records did not belong to my family, Lady Olivia. They belong to yours." he eyed her.

"I am the Keeper of Records," he said. "My family has recorded everything related to witches. Sometimes with their permission, other times through forced contracts or even by spying at them. We observe and gather their secrets. We witness history... and preserve what others erase. So that one day, a lost witch like could come here and search for answers."

"What a noble deed." she hissed. As she knew it was nothing that simple. This man was more cunning than just a simple keeper.

He paused. "We believed all witches were dead. Wiped out. The last one was executed in the capital square over thirty years ago. But then..." He looked at her again, truly seeing her now. "Then there was a whisper, Damien told me that you knew where the war was going to happen. Not only that, you knew many parts of the future. And I decided to test you. Since I could not reach you, I will investigate your family. And I was lucky that your sister noticed my interest and came to me herself. She thought that i wanted her, i did not let the misunderstanding go." he shrugged.

"You are using her for whatever obsession you have about recording?" he raised a brow at her accusing tone.

"I did not know you cared." he smiled. There was something on his face, she could not read, "do not worry, she will be happy here. I am kind and considerate. She told me she had never been this happy in her life."

"But you do not love her." she blamed making him frown.

"Love did not exist, my lady. Did you love Damian at once? You only lend on him when you felt fear and you wanted support. Did he love you? He only leans on you for your power and slowly he felt he could have you too. It is all just our weakness that makes us rely on each other." he explained softly.

Olivia looked at him intently.

"And what if your weakness is Lord Rhistel? Why did you lean on my sister?" she asked, turning toward him. He smiled this time, and for some reason, she felt it was sincere.

"She had a strong will. Though her actions were twisted. It was only for her and your safety. She did not show it but she cared for you and her children to the limit that she always used herself as a bargaining chip to keep you strong. If a woman like that would run my duchy and put her life at stake for me, I would feel protected!"

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