#(bamboozled)

——Darius' POV——

[BLACK]

Blackbirds are the calling of spring, singing with their beautiful voice.

[NEARBY INN - ROOM - NIGHT]

Darius: …Shut your mouth.

(Saying things like you know me…when you don't know a thing.)

All she had to do was listen to what I said, nod meekly—

And yet, Kate would always talk back at me, hitting me with her version of what was "right."

(Sure, it might be right in the world you've lived in, but it's not for the one I've lived in.)

I should have killed her before she started running her mouth.

I tried squeezing her neck again— but I changed my mind, instead biting her lips hard and pushing her down.

Kate: —!?

(Killing her would be easy. But the aftermath would be a pain to deal with.)

(In which case I've got no choice but to make her as disgraced as possible and control her with fear.)

Kate's face was scrunched from pain at having been bitten.

Darius: You are a pet. Nothing more, nothing less.

I bound both of her arms, stealing her breath with countless kisses and tearing roughly at her blouse.

Kate: Hah…Da…ri—!!

At that moment, a strong sense of fear showed in Kate's eyes.

Darius: If I humiliate you, maybe it'll finally get through to that thick head of yours?

I would make her feel shamed from getting pushed down by force, and make her into an obedient pet.

To carve that shame in her body, I left marks on her body, but unexpectedly, Kate's body started to sweetly tremble…

And when I saw her on the verge of tears, her face reddened— I came to.

(Wait, what? Why am I also feeling it?) (O_O)

I was meaning to break her down more. It was supposed to be a punishment for this filthy human.

And yet when I saw her in the mess she was, I felt myself go hard in my pants.

(…Maybe this atmosphere's gotten to me?)

This had never happened to me once before, and yet now it pained me to the point it was unbearable.

At some point I found myself wanting to go inside her— to feel her heat.

(Why do I want to do it with her? What is that pain in my chest?)

(Is it because of my annoyance? If I disposed of Kate, would it go away?)

Unable even explain why I felt turned on,

I thought to make rough love to her, positioning myself at her soaked spot.

But—

Kate: It's because…you were right…I realized that I like you.

As tears flowed from her eyes, she said she liked me.

Kate: I know I'm a fool for realizing in this time and place, but…but I actually don't hate you touching me.

Kate: In fact, I even end up thinking I want to take you in…

Kate: It's just, even if I do take you in now, it's not like…you'll believe my feelings.

(What in the world is this human saying?)

At her words, said through her tears, I was so bewildered my head went blank.

(You like me? You? Like, genuinely?)

(No, there's no way. Every single "I love you" has always been—)

——Flashback——

[HAUS - LABORATORY]

Vogel director: Darius, I love you dearly—! So stop this at once—

——End flashback——

[BLACK]

No matter what—

——Flashback——

[GERMANY - THRONE ROOM - DAY]

Darius: Do you love me?

German emperor: Yes, I love you.

——End flashback——

[NEARBY INN - ROOM - NIGHT]

They were always empty.

(No, her "like" isn't genuine.)

(She's just saying that because she doesn't like being pushed down like this and to not make my mood worse. That's all.)

It's alright, I understood completely.

She was surely lying; this affection she had was all but fake.

(And yet, why…) (≖_≖)

My body stopped moving, unable to go any further.

Just let her cry, let her spout those outlandish lies.

Because all of this was empty.

And yet the sound of her quiet sobs beneath me, for some reason, seemed so beautiful.

(…How is it even her crying sounds so pretty?) (・_・?)

I was aiming to make her cry and instill fear into her,

but I was taken by the beauty of her crying voice…and I started to feel frustrated.

(I don't get it.)

I couldn't bring myself to make her cry any more, so I crawled off of her and brushed myself down.

Darius: …That's enough.

I threw my coat at her, perhaps as an expression of pity.

Darius: I just don't get you.

[BLACK]

But, even more than that, I felt an emotion I didn't know budding from within me— and that disgusted me.

[CITY STREETS - NIGHT]

I left Kate behind, leaving the inn with a brisk pace.

(It should be fine just leaving her behind, and yet why…)

My head was a mess as I walked down the less-than-safe street.

While walking my ear could still recall the sound of Kate's crying…

(…If she leaves on her own in that state, she'll definitely get attacked.)

(Crown is probably monitoring her…but would they go as far as to protect her safety?)

Just before I reached the main street, I stopped and let out a sigh.

Darius: …Why should I care what happens to Kate? What's that got to do with me anyway?

But still, when my eyes fell upon a boutique with a dress inside at the corner—

Darius: …Maybe I've lost my mind. (´• ◡ •`)

[NIGHT SKY]

I forced the shop to open and bought a dress that seemed to suit her.

Then I put money in a coachman's hand…

[BLACK]

…instructing him to bring Kate to the palace. And to think I did all of that— something was probably wrong with me.

t. b. c ⸝⸝

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