Chapter 105: I Understand, Lord Loxiu - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

Chapter 105: I Understand, Lord Loxiu Loxiu’s voice wasn’t loud. He spoke at a steady pace, as he usually did. Yet, to Lance and the others, it sounded like the devil’s whisper, causing Lance's body to tremble violently once again. His eyes widened to the point they seemed ready to pop out of their sockets, bloodshot veins webbing over his eyeballs. That intangible hand of thunder, as if forged from steel, clamped around his throat, unmoved by his struggle and exertion. The Imperial Guards accompanying him felt as though their hearts were being gripped by an invisible hand, paralyzing them with fear, rendering them unable to make any rash moves. Terrifying bolts of lightning surged beneath their feet. Madness, absolute madness! This guy is a complete lunatic! Give me a chance to speak, for heaven’s sake!! Lance’s cheeks flushed an alarming shade of red, a tangible consequence of his inability to breathe. The worst he had prepared himself for was a brutal beating. But the way Loxiu was handling the situation made it clear he intended to choke the life out of him. Lance’s will was now teetering on the brink of collapse. He had imagined Loxiu might be stronger, but never would he have thought the gap between them was this vast. Loxiu's seemingly effortless grip on him was akin to crushing a roadside ant between his fingers. The next moment, a strange gurgling sound issued, followed by a horrid stench emanating from Lance's crotch. His bodily functions failed, causing him to lose control. Loxiu frowned in disgust, flicking his sleeve to hurl Lance away entirely. Immediately, the frightening aura dispersed, and peace reclaimed the surroundings. As if nothing had happened. Yet the twitching man on the ground and the unpleasant odor lingering in the corridor bore testament to the brutality just witnessed. “Get him out of here.” Loxiu ordered coldly. Those who had regained their faculties rushed forward to lift Lance. None dared look Loxiu’s way, carrying Lance out of the estate at several times the speed they had come in with, not daring a backward glance. Their exit was as miserable as their entrance was arrogant. And none were more dramatically changed than His Highness, Third Prince Lance. Arriving on foot, departing horizontally. Loxiu waved his hand, casting a refreshing breeze spell to dispel the foul odor from the corridor. He then stepped forward and knocked on the door. His voice came through, gentle and reassuring. “You can open the door now, Selina.” Almost instantly, the door swung open, and a petite figure leapt into his embrace. The girl buried her head in his chest, refusing to let go of his clothes with her delicate fingers. Her long-contained emotions finally erupted, soaking his shirt front. Loxiu gently stroked her hair, smiling softly, “It’s alright now, Selina. There’s no need to worry with me here.” Pressing close to him, Selina’s voice was muffled. She mumbled acknowledgment, but didn’t lift her head. Loxiu sighed helplessly, understanding that the royal family's sudden attack had scared the once-quiet "witch." He said nothing further, allowing Selina her time to recover. At the doorway stood another girl. Clad in an elegant black dress, she leaned against the door frame, her lips pressed together, eyes slightly reddened but silent. When she met Loxiu’s gaze, Eilene turned her head away, affecting an air of nonchalance. She knew this was his way of showing off. Boasting about the promise he had made when they first met— That he would protect them. Eilene wrapped her arms, pretending to be aloof, muttering something so softly that Loxiu couldn't hear it. The three stood together. Loxiu looked at Eilene, Eilene examined the empty space beside her. Selina stayed nestled in his chest, her frail shoulders gently shuddering, oblivious to the outside world. After a long while, Selina started to regain her senses, realizing what she was doing. She—she was actually hugging Lord Loxiu... And he hadn’t pulled away or hurried to push her aside, just waited quietly. She hadn’t imagined that rejection would not come. Indeed, Selina had always harbored a bit of inferiority deep within. These insecurities and fears were usually well concealed. Only when she fantasized about interacting with Lord Loxiu would they burst forth uncontrollably. Her inferiority complex and timidity stemmed from the disparity in their statuses. One was a highly esteemed clergy member of the church, ranking even above the outer city’s governor. To the people of the Maya Empire, he was the embodied blessing of the Holy Light. Standing before such a figure, how could Selina, who had grown up amid curses, not feel trepidation? Even the mere thought required immense courage. Yet reality responded to her. Her Lord Loxiu responded with concrete action. Thinking about this, Selina’s eyes reddened once more. Moments later, Loxiu spoke, “What’s this, my dear Miss Selina, is once not enough? Are you planning to cry twice?” His tone was unusually teasing, a playfulness that eased much of her negative emotions. She habitually fiddled with her fingertips, ducking her head, her ears turning a glistening red with embarrassment. The girl softly apologized, “I’m sorry, Lord Loxiu, for causing you so much trouble.” In response, Loxiu cupped her face in his hands. His tone turned gentle again. “Selina, I’ve said before, I have my own reasons in all this. You don’t need to feel sorry.” “You haven’t wronged anyone.” Selina sniffled, rubbing her face with her hands as if wiping away non-existent tears. Then she beamed a bright smile. “I understand, Lord Loxiu.” Loxiu was pleased with her response. Feeling the soft, smooth texture beneath his fingers, he couldn’t help but gently pinch. He applied no pressure, so Selina felt no pain. She simply lifted her head, eyes sparkling as she gazed unblinkingly at him. Loxiu cleared his throat, briefly spilled into his thoughts, then immediately let go of her small face. “Well, we should move on to the next topic.” The girl blinked in confusion, “What topic?” Loxiu chuckled, “Of course, what to have for dinner tonight.” With that, he took Selina’s hand. At the side, Eilene, still leaning on the door, quietly watched Loxiu and Selina interact, rolling her eyes disdainfully. Until that man extended a hand to her as well. Eilene hesitated, then huffed, opting not to take the hand but to walk ahead on her own. (Chapter End)