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Chapter 63: Why Can’t It Be Me

Without waiting for the crowd to disperse, Roy took Leanna to the place he had arranged with the great mage, where they hopped into the Mage Association’s carriage to return to the academy.

By this time, the sunset had long passed, and only dim twilight enveloped everything, blurring the flowers and trees.

Looking at the boy who hurriedly got off the carriage, the girl inside gazed at her trembling toes and self-mockingly murmured, “I was going to see you off, but never mind; I don’t want to be a bother.”

“If you really don’t want to be a hassle, just go back and rest,” Roy replied, turning back casually.

“The side effects of a black mage’s bloodline could be life-threatening, and yet you still have the leisure to watch plays— I really don’t get what you’re thinking…”

Facing the boy’s accusation, Leanna forced a smile, raising her eyebrows: “Are you worried about me, junior?”

The boy was taken aback for a moment before he turned back, showing a look that was a mix of blame and helplessness: “Are you really okay?”

“Does it look like I’m not okay?” Leanna changed her tone, sounding casual as if she were back to her usual self: “But if junior is willing to take me home to rest, maybe that would help.”

This was just a careless joke from Leanna, but the black-haired boy unexpectedly replied, “It’s not impossible.”

Leanna’s eyes widened, seemingly unable to believe it.

Roy looked over, speaking earnestly: “If you really need it, don’t waste time— just come over to my place.”

“After all, I still have things I need from you, so helping out a bit is only natural, right?”

His gaze subtly flickered toward the black-scaled snake pattern on the girl’s neck.

Leanna’s attention drifted past Roy, looking far away at a small house outlined in warm lights against the twilight, a glimmer of longing flashing in her eyes.

Until she caught a glimpse of a golden figure in the warm glow.

That was where Roy belonged.

Someone was waiting for him there.

Leanna’s lips trembled, almost parting, but in the end, she helplessly sighed.

“Forget it, I was just joking.”

“You should really get back early.”

After leaving the boy with a faint smile, Leanna wearily waved goodbye.

The carriage door closed.

Only upon watching the carriage slowly disappear from view did Roy turn and head home.

This was how it was with black mages; the demonic bloodline would periodically rebel against its owner. After all, that filthy blood tainted by the demon god was hardly suitable for making magic potions.

Once the rebellion began, it could impair one’s mind at best and endanger life at worst. In the original story, Leanna often suffered from dizziness and weakness due to side effects, giving her a delicate, sickly appearance.

But this was the first time Roy had seen Leanna weakened to such an extent, even uncontrollably exhibiting characteristics of a demonic being.

Or perhaps in the original, she was merely forcing herself to endure the gnawing pain while putting on a nonchalant smile?

The more Roy thought, the more restless he became.

Honestly, whenever he recalled that wicked woman’s mocking smile, it boiled his blood.

Now that the annoying woman who had troubled him all afternoon was finally gone, he should have felt relieved.

But when he thought of her falling into the abyss alone in the dark, of that witch being condemned on stage, of her pale, frail figure clinging to the last remnants of strength just to stand, and what expression she must have had when he rejected her time and again, the boy’s anxiety only intensified.

He couldn’t help but think about it.

As he reached the doorway, Roy finally stopped, irritably rubbing his head.

Fine, let’s just treat it as playing around.

After all, they were still allies; even though her fate intertwined with his senses, it wouldn’t hurt to lend a hand.

So, Roy turned around and followed the path the carriage had taken.

Under the quietly descending dusk, the golden-haired girl stood by the window, gazing at the boy’s retreating figure, lingering there for a long time.

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Bursting into the Black Mage’s mansion, what awaited Leanna was not the usual reverence, but a plethora of indifferent or mocking gazes.

Unlike the factions formed by royal heirs, mages were essentially a loose group, and the black mage faction was forcibly established by Leanna. Most mages didn’t hold the same sincere respect for Leanna as others did for princes and princesses.

In fact, they would prefer for something to happen to Leanna so they could take her place at the top of the faction.

Leanna wasn’t surprised; she was already using all her strength just to suppress the restless bloodline.

Her vision was blurred from the congestion, and the bloodline within brought her excruciating pain, but the most unbearable was the instinctive urge to kill.

An urge from the demon race, wanting to gut every living thing and mercilessly drink in their vanished lives.

Under such a bone-chilling gaze, even those black mages whom Leanna had elevated didn’t dare approach.

Only Kreya hurried over in panic, her face full of concern.

“President, what happened to you…”

“Take me to the basement!”

With Kreya’s support, Leanna stumbled her way to the basement door.

Kreya understood what she was planning and strugglingly replied, “Are you going to use that method again?”

“If this continues, you’ll…”

“Do you have any other way?” Leanna shot her a cold glance, not waiting for Kreya’s response before pushing open the heavy basement door.

It wasn’t until then that the girl, unable to endure any longer, finally collapsed to the ground.

In the pitch-black darkness, a pair of cold eyes suddenly glimmered, along with a chilling ‘hiss’ sound.

A familiar, bitter, and nauseating stench wafted through.

Leanna genuinely hated these grotesque, twisted serpent creatures, but seemingly, she had no choice but to rely on them to suppress this bone-deep pain and the killing urge that almost drove her mad.

But today, she couldn’t care less.

Because her mind was filled with the image of the black-haired boy.

Whether vigilant, helpless, reluctant, or unwittingly revealing kindness and faint concern, the image that ultimately fixed in her mind was still that cold, indifferent face.

That was the ending she had long anticipated.

But she hadn’t expected that when facing that moment, it would still be so unbearable.

Even if she couldn’t have it, it would be enough to share a moment of closeness with him.

But this last opportunity was still interrupted by that filthy bloodline, showing him her weak side.

“Why…”

“Why…”

“Why can’t it be me?!”

The serpent creatures lunged like lightning, but the girl retaliated, grabbing a flying serpent and tearing it in half.

She tilted her head back, gulping down the filthy, black blood that splattered from the corpse.

It was still as bitter as ever. But only this way could the restless bloodline be calmed slightly, easing her momentary pain and suffering.

Even though it was disgusting enough to make her gag, her body instinctively urged her, craving for more.

Leanna could no longer tolerate this bloodthirsty conflict and frantically lunged at the serpent horde in the darkness.

 

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