Wife of The Demon Prince
Chapter 222: This is the end

Chapter 222: This is the end

Anne continued to cry while her arms were wrapped around his narrow waist tightly. If Merek hadn’t come, she would have been raped by those filthy men! She’d never felt this relief and fear in her entire life.

It took some time before Anne’s sobs eventually died down, but still she didn’t seem to want to let go of him. Thus Merek continued to run his hand up and down her back. In all his life, he had never been this worried for anybody before, he had run all the way to the gangs establishment with his heart pounding in fear of what if they’d done something to her.

Few minutes later, as if coming back to his senses, Merek thought it was inappropriate to keep hugging her like this, so he gently pushed away from the hug, and immediately Anne glanced up at him with her puppy cute eyes, her lashes were still wet with tears.

Seeing the blood on Merek’s face, her mind went back to the man’s head on the floor, Anne slowly turned towards the headless body.

"Merek...How did...you know how to use a sword? And...you ripped off his head."

Merek replied casually, "Lady Anne, let me formally introduce myself...I am Merek, an assassin and a soldier under the crown Prince. I kill for a living."

Anne stared at him wide eyed, and he continued, "I was never a thief, but an assassin, I was on a mission that night you saved me in the palace not to steal. This is who I am, my lady."

Merek was an assassin? How many lives had he killed? No, this couldn’t be. Anne instinctively took two steps back from him in fright. If he was one of the crown Prince’s soldier, does that meant he served Ara as well? She wasn’t too naive not to know what his work was, as an assassin he would kill anybody on command of his master. But...

But he was still Merek, he was still the man she’d fallen in love with. And no matter what, she was sure he would never hurt her. Anne’s blue eyes gradually regained her reasons, her eyes trailed his bloody clothes,

"Merek...are you hurt?" She asked concerned taking him by surprise. He stared at her blankly without a word, but then his eyes fell on her exposed shoulder and he frowned, he then took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders, while he answered her earlier question, "Yes, I am hurt. But I am glad you aren’t." He helped her into his jacket then stepped back.

For a moment Anne wondered if he really worried about her because he liked her, but then she soon dismissed the thought. It was likely he’d come here because she was the crown Prince’s sister-in-law. However, she was still grateful that it was him who’d come to rescue her.

Merek slowly took Anne’s hand and led her out of the room, as they walked through the passages, Anne noticed the men’s dead bodies and blood on the walls. She clasped his hand tightly as she tried not to look at the floor. The moment they stepped outside the building she took a deep breath of relief, she then turned towards Merek, who didn’t seem bothered by the blood on his clothes.

"...Thank you Merek, for saving me."

"Don’t thank me, lady Anne. I was only doing my job to see that the crown Prince’s sister-in-law is safe."

Anne felt another ache in her heart, her guess was not wrong. He was here because she was the Prince’s sister-in-law not because he cared for her. She nodded with a faint smile, "I know it is your job, but even so. Thank you."

"It’s nothing. It’s my duty to guard anybody related to his highness, I’d have done the same for anybody related to the crown Prince, so please don’t think too much of this." His voice was hard as a rock, as if drawing the line between them, or more, trying to tell her he didn’t do it because it was her, but his duty.

Anne hesitated before she spoke again, "...Was that why you came to work in the Boxton mansion?"

"Yes, I was given the order by his highness to guard his wife to be before the wedding."

"...Oh I see."

"Lady Anne, I would like to clear this misunderstanding. I left the Boxton mansion because I had to return to my job, Not because I liked your sister. I hope you understand, I wouldn’t want to cause any misunderstanding between you two."

Anne nodded sadly, "I understand. You had to return to your work..."

Merek sighed inwardly at her understanding, but he could tell she was hurt. He still held her hand as they walked through the night street heading to the palace as there was no carriage, because he’d ran all the way to save her without any preparations. Her hand felt warm and small in his, he then asked, "Do you have anymore questions to ask me?"

"Will you answer me honestly if I ask?"

He shrugged, "It depends on the question you ask. What do you want to know?"

Anne cleared her throat,"When I confessed to you...You said we can’t be together because of our status, but you are not poor since you work under the crown Prince...Was our status really the reason we can’t be together?" She asked as she stared at his face profile. He wasn’t as lowly as a servant, because his status was almost up to hers since he was a soldier, but she wondered if now the answer to her confession would change since he wasn’t disguised as a servant anymore.

Nevertheless, whatever his answer was this time...She’d accept it.

Merek’s hand slipped away from hers as if he didn’t like her question. His expression that looked relaxed awhile ago had now turned to his usual indifferent face, "Can’t you see why I am not suitable for you, my lady? I am an assassin, You are a nobleman’s daughter. You come from a respectable household, I am a nobody even if I am not poor. No one will ever bless such a relationship."

His words were enough to convey his answer to her question. Anne hung her head in dismay. That was the answer that robbed her of her last hope. She couldn’t even count how many times she’d lost the same man.

Merek stared at her subdued form before speaking again in a more softer tone, "I haven’t informed anybody about your kidnapping, so there is no vehicle at the moment. The palace is not far from here, we will reach in no time."

Anne didn’t reply and only continued to walk. Tears had already swelled in her eyes slightly blurring her vision, and she didn’t want him to see her crying again. Therefore, she kept her head down as they walked. She’d told herself she wouldn’t cry for him again, but she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. She stopped walking as it slipped down her chin.

"Lady Anne...?"

She wiped her cheek with her palm, "I am sorry. Sorry...I know you said we can’t be together when you were a servant, but now you are not. I really don’t understand your reasons. Or perhaps I am too naive to think that you love me...But everytime I took a step closer to you, you take hundred steps away from me. Am I not good enough for your liking?"

Love was not a solo endeavor, even if she had love enough for the both of them, if Merek did not accept it. She would be nothing more than a mere nuisance.

She continued with tears streaming down her cheeks again, but still looking down, "I know I must look like a fool to you as well, but I was serious when I said I will love you regardless of who you are." She lifted her head and looked straight at his face, for what could possibly be the last time. Merek’s eyes were trembling slightly, "I don’t care if you are a servant, an assassin with thousands of blood in your hands. No matter who you are, I will accept you Merek."

"Lady Anne_"

"Merek if you love me enough, please be brave enough to accept my love, take my hand and I promise to never let go of you." She stretched her delicate hand towards him, "Hold my hand if you love me. This will be the last time I ever say this to you, Merek. I accept you, and will love you with all of me."

At this moment, Merek once again realized how much he was loved by this young woman. He had never dreamed of receiving such pure affection from anyone. It was true that he’d taken her love for him lightly, because he thought she didn’t know what she was saying. But at this point, it seemed she would really give up everything for him.

The pain in his chest, which had plagued him as he worried about Anne’s safety, was no longer there, instead his heart was pounding. Her words...made him excited and happy internally, but he was afraid to take her hand, he was afraid of loving someone, he was afraid that a day would come when she’d realized she’d made a mistake choosing him over everything and would leave him alone. He was afraid of taking her hand now, but later abandon him one day.

It wasn’t intended, but he instinctively wanted to protect himself from the heartbreak of watching her leave him in the future. He didn’t want to see the day she’d look at him with hate, and her lips that once spoke of love would speak words of resentment. She was like the warm sunshine, he was like a dark gloomy night. Taking her hand, would mean turning her back on her family, it would mean ruining her life.

He loved her to the extent he didn’t want to take her hand. He loved her too much he’d rather watch her marry a nobleman who suited her, so her life would be filled with sunshine and rainbow. She was so precious to the extent he didn’t want her for himself.

Yes, he was a coward. He wasn’t brave enough to watch her ruin her life with him. Merek felt an ache in his chest as he glanced at her extended hand, he then spoke, "Lady Anne...I am sorry, I can’t."

At his words, Anne’s hand slowly fell back to her side as more tears filled her eyes, but she didn’t let it fall and repeatedly blinked, she tried to hold back her emotions.

Merek spoke again in an attempt to console her, "Very soon, You will forget of my existence. You won’t even remember my name again. You will find a man deserving of your love, a man brave enough to hold your hand. You will live happily with him and even have a family of your own." His throat tightened as he imagined her being happy with another man. But he knew that was what she deserved.

The tears rolled down her eyes uncontrollably hearing his words, she used her sleeves to wipe them away. Why was she crying for someone who wasn’t ready to fight for her? Merek was a coward, he couldn’t even fight for her even though she knew he somehow loved her.

"You are really such a coward, Merek. Fine, I will never bother you again, and I will never shed tears for you again...I hope it wouldn’t be too late the day you finally find the courage..."

Merek paused at Anne’s unexpected words. Wasn’t it what he wanted for her to stop loving him? Why does it hurt to hear her say those words...Her words only meant she would no longer chase him, which meant it was over between them.

Anne wiped away any trace of tears from her face, then raised her head and looked directly at his face, "I will let you go...I won’t bother you anymore nor will I blame you for not accepting me. I hope you finally make peace with your past, Merek. I hope you find happiness someday..." Anne smiled with tears in her eyes, she still looked beautiful to him, and he felt the urge to hug her and tell her to wait for him to make peace with himself, but...

"...Farewell, Merek. And all the best." With that, Anne brushed past him and walked towards the palace gate on her own.

With a painful clench in his heart he thought; this is the end.

A single tear drop ran down his cheek.