Wife of The Demon Prince
Chapter 200: Farewell

Chapter 200: Farewell

After Merek’s meeting with Oliver at the palace, he made to clear up his life at the Boxton mansion premises as quickly as possible. He had no time to delay with the possibility of the crown Prince being attacked again.

Merek had been ordered to stay at the Boxton’s until they returned to the north, and so he could not just disobey Hamon’s orders without making another arrangement. He had promised to protect Anne, and so he would, which was why he’d brought a soldier from the palace to stay at the camp he’d made behind the Boxton mansion as his replacement until they’d leave for the north. He didn’t want Anne to be left unprotected while he was gone.

Although, Merek had made all the arrangement necessary for his replacement and it was time to leave, but he still felt as if something was missing. He had this uneasy feeling in his chest as if there was one more thing he hadn’t done. No matter how hard he puzzled over it, only one thing came to his mind...

Anne.

He wanted to just leave for the palace, but his legs had brought him back to her window again this night. He wanted to see if she was alright and nothing else. He thought. Because this time his decision would remain unchanged no matter what. He just wanted to see her for the last time...It would be his farewell to her.

As usual he swiftly climbed up the building pillars and made inside her room’s window like a thief. The room was dimly lit with just one lamp sitting on bedstand. However, He could dimly make out Anne’s body curled up on the bed under the light blanket.

Merek strode towards her bedside, he had tried to refrain himself from coming back here as much as possible, but he’d always find himself here again and again...But this would be his last time. She’d done a lot for him even without knowing who he truly was.

He quietly glanced down at her sleeping face. She’d someday grow to realize he was not good for her. Although, she was naive now, but he knew in time she’d mature into a wise and splendid woman.

But he wouldn’t be there to watch her reach that level. If there was one thing he was sure of...She would be dazzling, and would find a good husband who’d take care of her and give her the life she deserved. By then, his existence would be completely wiped out of her mind.

Even if Anne was willing to accept him, he wasn’t willing to accept himself for her, he didn’t want to...

Today would be the last time. The last time he’d get annoyed with himself for coming to her, the last he’d watch her sleep. The last he’d steal her food from the kitchen just to taste her delicious cooking again.

Today, he’d return to his original quiet life. Somehow he didn’t feel as happy as he’d expected and anticipated before.

Merek was lost in thought as he gazed at the sleeping Anne, until she suddenly stirred in her sleep and suddenly opened her eyes unexpectedly. However, by then it was too late for him to leave the room, as she’d immediately sat up straight on the bed,

"Merek...you came back."

Merek didn’t reply nor move and just stood frozen. He hadn’t expected her to suddenly wake up, but noticing her relived expression on seeing him, made his chest tightened up in guilt.

"You came back to me, I knew you’d come. I have been waiting for you. Thank you." Before he could say anything, Anne had leapt off her bed and wrapped her arms around his waist to embrace him. His body stiffened up immediately at the sudden body contact, his eyes slightly rounded.

Merek just stood frozen as she continued to hug him tightly. Anne thought she was dreaming at first, but only after holding him did she know it was real. She didn’t want to let go for the fear he might disappear again. She rubbed her face against his chest and murmured, "Merek...did you really come back for me?" She slightly moved away from his chest to glance at his face with a faint smile. She knew he’d come back, she couldn’t help but hug him again, "I missed you so much..." She muttered against his solid chest and felt his body stiffened even more.

Merek knew that if he hesitated any longer, she might get the wrong idea again. There wasn’t much time, and he had to leave as soon as possible.

Gathering the resolve in his heart, Merek gently but firmly pushed her shoulders to free himself from the tight hug, his voice was coldly flat as he spoke, "I didn’t come back for you, my lady. I thought I lost my wristband in your room that night, so I came back to retrieve it."

"...W-what?" Soon her blue eyes began to shimmer in anxiety, "Merek, you came here for me right? Don’t lie to me_ fine, I don’t mind, but please tell me you care about me that’s why you’re here."

"No, why should I come here to see you? You’re the mistress of this mansion and am just a servant, or to be more clear a thief, my lady."

Anne’s thick brows drew together, "Merek...Have you gone back to your old ways?" Anne didn’t know about his past, but she knew he sometimes put himself in great peril. She remembered how she’d saved him when he collapsed in the bathroom at the palace, bleeding out onto the floor. Now that he wasn’t working in the Boxton mansion anymore, perhaps he’d gone back to stealing again. Moreover, even if he hadn’t returned to do his old work, he was still the type to think of his life as insignificant.

What if something happened to him...

"Merek, you can’t go back to stealing again, if you get caught you_"

"That’s none of your business, My lady. It’s my job and my choice. You can’t force me to be someone I don’t want to be by trapping me up with your rubbish feelings or whatever you claim them to be."

Merek’s harsh tone made Anne flinch and speechless. Her blue eyes swelled up with tears. Nothing was more miserable than to be forced to stay with a person you don’t like. And yet, she didn’t want him to leave her again. Perhaps he was right, she was forcing her feelings on him. But how could she continue without him?

She smiled bitterly as she used the back of her hand to wipe her tears, "I am sorry if I’ve made you feel uncomfortable with me all those times...my feelings can’t help but get stronger everyday...I love you, I don’t know how I’ve lived my life without you before, but now, I can’t go a day without having you in my mind, Merek..."

This time it was Merek who was left speechless. If it were another woman, she would have long given up on him, but Anne...

She suddenly held his collar, "If you left because of the difference in our status...Then I am willing to elope with you. Let’s go somewhere far away together and start all over again. I will leave all this behind and be the wife of a servant." She desperately remarked.

Merek wrapped his palms around her slender wrist and pulled her hands away from his collar, "My lady_"

"All I want to know is, do you love me?" Another trail of hot tears began to roll down her cheeks as she glanced up at him hopefully waiting for his reply.

Merek’s heart felt like it was tearing apart seeing her like this. The heaviness in his heart seemed to weigh double. But he could not let this continue. If he knew she’d wake up, he wouldn’t have come to her room and would have just left.

"My lady. You will grow to hate me someday, and all this you just said...you will regret saying them in the future. Only the mere mention of my name will make you despise me even more, you_"

"Never Merek! I will never."

"I don’t have the confidence to take your hands nor do I have the confidence to let myself be abandoned by someone I care for in the future."

Anne’s eyes widened in realization. His rejection wasn’t because he hated her, but because of his insecurities...

"Lady Anne, I cannot hold your hands when you realise you’ve made a mistake of picking me over everything. I cannot be the man to love you the way you deserve..." He admitted and was about to turn away and leave, but Anne was quick to grab his sleeve in desperation. She knew if she let him go now, she’d never see him again. No matter how miserable or pathetic she looked...if he would leave her again, she might as well just die.

Anne wrapped her arms around his waist and tightly interlocked her fingers behind him, "Please, don’t leave me, I will die if you leave me again."

"Lady Anne_"

"No, I love you, I love you so much Merek. Just this once, give me another chance to prove to you I will never abandoned you." She cried with her voice sounding hoarse.

Merek shut his eyes tightly as he felt her tears wet his shirt. He knew if she continued like this, there was no way he’d leave, "...I am sorry, Annette." He whispered, and raised his hand to her neck, he could no longer watch her in such a state. He then resolutely struck her on the side of her neck.

Her tight grip came loose as she immediately fell unconscious. Before she could fall to the hard floor, Merek swiftly caught her body in his arms. He bent slightly then carried her to her bed and gently tucked her in. Even when she was unconscious, tears continued to stream down from the side of her closed eyes.

"Don’t cry for me ever again, Annette. I am not worthy of your tears." He slowly lifted his hand and wiped away the tears from her eyelashes down to her soft tender cheeks. The soft texture of her skin against his rough hand was something he would never easily forget.

Merek stared at her face for some moment, "I am sorry, but I have to leave you...be happy and live a blissful life." It was a heartfelt wish. He hoped that she would forever live happily. And find a husband who belonged in her bright world. He didn’t want to drag her down to the blood-stained pit of his life.

A life filled with blood and murder...