PAIN

The cold wind blows and stirred the place. Two powerful hunks face off oozing heavy auras around dominating one another. Intense gazes clashed, and everyone felt the tension reigning between Mort and Dreygur. Both are calm, no one uttered a word but it seems like a war broke out between them. A silent cold war that can't just be ignored by the people around.

Dreygur didn't even bother to hide his hatred towards the man he loathes in his eyes while Mort looked emotionlessly into Dreygur's eyes. Mort restrained himself, especially knowing what he wanted to do the moment he and Dreygur came face to face would put Sumire into trouble. Blanche had warned him not to rush things, especially since he was in the territory of the Davenfords and Dreygur was an Heir to the throne. The situation will never go in his favor even though he is one of the most powerful figures in the world. Now, Mort is trying to hide his intention to kill this despicable man.

Dreygur, on the other hand, wanted to rain bullets on Mort, especially since they had him surrounded. The situation would have been in his favor if only Queen Zèlle had not issued orders. But now that he has a strong piece, the Queen's order also favors his plans. He would never let Mort get out of the country alive. And he won't allow Sumire to leave the country without getting her completely. And for the plan to be successful, he has to kill Chadwick. Dreygur smirked as he thought of the scene where he won.

While the tension between the two men who only loved and fought over the same woman was suffocating, Blanche who was standing in the middle of them was restless. He looked back and forth between the two men in front of him. He watches their movements. And even if he gets crushed in the middle when they go into a fight, he dares to act as a referee especially since his cousin's safety depends on it. He has trust in Mort but he won't be surprised if the hunk loses himself especially since Mort had watched the videos on the flash drive. Now he felt disgusted and disappointed with his uncle Dreygur. It never occurred to him that Dreygur could do that to his cousin.

"Are we gonna stand here for eternity?" Laurel whispered to Klauss while looking at the two men neither of them wanted to speak or move.

"Are they just gonna stand there and stare at each other?" Whispered, Leroy seconded and stared at Mort and Dreygur back and forth.

"Don't get me wrong. There's a spark between the two of them, it's just deadly." Leroy added making Narco smirk standing next to him.

"This is boring. When will they kill each other?" Narco intentionally raised his voice as Blanche turned to him. He cast a piercing look at Narco.

Blanche's look was threatening but Narco just playfully grinned, teasing him. Blanche widened his eyes telling him not to add fuel to the burning fire. 'Shut up,' Blanche mouthed and Narco just gave a thumbs up.

"Why should we kill each other? There's no reason to do that. He came here in peace." Dreygur responded with a smile without taking his eyes off Mort. Blanche heaves a sigh.

"He's right." Blanche, on the other hand, opened his arms wide to his uncle. Dreygur laughed and hugged his nephew.

"Welcome back!" Said Dreygur and Blanche just nodded at him as he pulled away from their embrace.

"Calling us outsiders is kind of rude." Lyric who is silent suddenly butted in. All eyes were set on him.

"You are one." Straightforward, Dreygur responded. He didn't even conceal the irritation in his voice. He is openly showing them that he dislikes their presence in North Le Frère and they are unwelcome at all.

"We know that but we are important guests here. We should be treated warmly and nicely." Leroy said with a smile and a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Feeling uneasy, Blanche bit his tongue not knowing what to do.

"Ah, of course, of course. My bad. It's my territory, I must be the one to adjust for guests like you." Dreygur said sarcastically as Mort's face darkened.

Blanche, on the other hand, felt cold all over his body and felt his heart race in his chest when Mort unleashes a menacing and ominous aura. He silently prayed the ground would swallow him. He is stuck in the middle. He no longer knows what is the right thing to do. His chest was starting to tighten. It's like he's in the middle of a storm that was about to wreak havoc.

"Warmly and nicely, huh? A gangster wanted to be treated like a human? Humor me." Dreygur added with a disdainful sneer and cast a degrading look at them.

The guests suppressed themselves but no longer bother to hide their bloodlust. Blanche closed his eyes tightly, praying he will go vanished into the thin air. His whole body was trembling in nervousness and Narco noticed it which the young man did not like what he saw.

"Sumire!" Narco shouted while pointing in the direction where there was no one. He manage to fool them as everyone quickly look in the direction where he pointed out.

When they realized that Narco was just kidding them, all the killing intent aura was directed at him. Piercing gazes indirectly told him to die and Narco flashed a mischievous smile.

"My bad. I was trying to fool a dog." Looking cool and unbothered at all, Narco said making Dreygur narrow his eyes at him.

"Sumire!" Narco shouted once again. At this moment, they didn't let themselves be fooled for the second time. But this time, Narco was telling the truth.

Even though the running carriage had not yet stopped, Sumire immediately got off like a pro, carrying her heels, and ran towards Mort barefooted with extreme excitement and longing.

"One more," Mort said in a threatening tone but a smirk formed on Narco's lips. Mort stops when he hears the maiden's voice.

"Mort!" Sumire shouted, crying with joy as she finally saw him. Everyone looked at the maiden with heels on her hand and ran quickly towards the hunk. She passes Dreygur who was stunned to see her in the place.

Mort couldn't move and just stared at the maiden approaching his place. He felt like he was just dreaming. He felt that Sumire was just an illusion but when she threw herself in his arms, Mort quickly caught her and cage her in his embrace. He felt the warmth of the maiden's body against him and there he confirmed that Sumire was real. Hands snaked on her small waist, Mort hugged her. It was so tight as he wanted their bodies to merge as one.

"I love you," Mort said coldly but the sincerity and unnamed emotions were there.

Instead of answering him, Sumire tiptoed and pressed him with a kiss on the lips that made the people around gasp. Leroy, Lyric, and Narco even fake a cry. While Dreygur who witnessed everything happening in front of him was consumed with intense jealousy. Bitterness, rage, and anger swept across his face. His mouth is set in a firm line. Dreygur wanted to get lose himself, lash his anger out, and kill Mort in front of the maiden.

One hand possessively crawled on the back of her head, Mort kissed Sumire more impetuous, passionate, and deeply as he eyed Dreygur, challenging him. Telling him to back off with a warning. A hint of territorial visibly seen in his green eyes directly told him no matter what he does, Sumire is his and he will never get her from him which makes Dreygur burn with rage.

"Whoah!"

"Get a room love birds!"

"Intense, wooo!"

Leroy, Narco, and Lyric enthusiastically shouted at the same time and applaud them. Blanche's eyes widened in surprise. He wanted to pinch his cousin Sumire on the side who is openly kissing his man. But he was happy seeing them reunited again and he didn't want to ruin that moment for her.

"Sumire, that should be enough." Mort broke away from the passionate kiss first and the maiden followed his lips who looks drunk and drowned by his kisses but Mort covered Sumire's mouth with his palm.

The Queen has arrived and Dreygur's knights have bowed. Sumire was brought back to reality when the knights bowed to her Grandma Zèlle. She turned around and saw her grandmother who she had forgotten was with her when she came here to port Royal.

"I'm sorry, Grandma." Sumire apologizes, both cheeks were reddened with embarrassment. Her head lowered as she gripped Mort's hand tightly. She didn't want to let go of him. She was worried that the moment she let go of his hand, Mort would disappear. Mort did the same, entwining their fingers together, he holds Sumire's hand tightly.

"You must be Mort." Queen Zèlle smiled at the hunk who bowed slightly in courtesy to the Queen. That was the first time Mort had done such a thing which surprise Klauss. He couldn't believe that he would see his Boss give a bow to another person.

"Mort Dmitriv Aslanov," Mort replied, proudly saying his full name.

"The man I always and will always love, Grandma," Sumire said with a big smile plastered on her face. She looked up at Mort. Her eyes sparkled, full of love for the hunk. The Queen can see that the couple deeply loves each other. Even though Mort is a cold type, the Queen could sense his overwhelming feelings for Sumire.

"I approve." Queen Zèlle smiled. Even though she has never talked to Mort, she feels that she can trust him and that he loves her granddaughter truly and genuinely. The important thing now is Sumire's happiness and it lies with this man.

"Thank you." Mort humbly thanked the Queen with a smile. It was a smile of sincerity, not forced.

For the second time, Klauss was speechless. Jaw-dropped, Laurel was stunned and shaken her head by Mort's surprising act, all unexpected. The person who believes death is the solution to all his problems is now smiling and the joy is noticeable on his face because the Queen approves of his relationship with Sumire. Mort is like a child who was permitted by his mother to eat Candy. If Laurel is grateful for Mort's sudden change, Klauss is worried, wondering if it will bring good things to his boss's life. He was born where there is no humanity in the world he grew up. Leroy and Lyric looked at each other, shaking, trying not to tease Mort especially since they were in front of the Queen. Blanche finally burst into tears. His chest was now filled with happiness. And Narco's whole body suddenly went numb. Trying to eliminate the emotion at any time can bloom.

Various reactions to the situation, but Dreygur was the most questionable of all. In the maiden's eyes, she questioned Dreygur's unexpected reaction. Sumire thought her uncle would be happy for her but even though Dreygur tried to hide his anger, the veins on his head protruded and the dark expression on his reddened face is visible. She had many questions for Dreygur.

The maiden was stunned when Dreygur's gaze landed on her. She could see the glint of anger, frustration, and pain in his eyes which immediately went blank and dead to hide his true feelings. Sumire was about to approach Dreygur when Mort stopped her by the hand. She looked at her beloved, and all the questions in her mind disappeared when he smiled sweetly at her. That wipes out all the negative emotions lingering in her chest. No doubt, Mort is her medicine. Just Mort and no one else.

"You are always welcome." The Queen replied with a smile then instructed everyone to enter the carriages and return to the palace.

Sumire and Mort are riding together, alone in the carriage. Meanwhile, Blanche was with the Queen. Narco, Leroy, Lyric, Laurel, and Klauss huddled together in one carriage. Dreygur returned to his chariot. His whole body trembled with rage. He could not accept what just happened. He wanted to lose his temper and scream out loud. His chest was filled with hatred for Mort and his love for Sumire was slowly turning into anger. He is deeply mad because the maiden was blind to see his effort. He is angry because she loved another man. He was damn furious. No matter what he did he would never be able to get Sumire without bloodshed. Usually, he doesn't like violence. He didn't want trouble but he was able to go through hell because of the woman he was madly in love with. Dreygur didn't realize the tears forming in his eyes and flowing spontaneously on his cheek.

Cataleia, who is sitting across from him could see his despair and was now badly hurt. She silently looked at the man who was weeping little by little and broke out in anguish cries. Each groan was heavy and Cataleia could feel the weight he had in his chest. It was the first time she saw him cry, and she didn't expect him to cry either. Cataleia gritted her teeth. She was full of anger and envy towards Sumire because this was the only person that made Dreygur cry like this and Sumire didn't know it yet. She wanted to sit close to Dreygur. She wanted to stand next to him and comfort him, to tell him that she was there for him and that she would never leave him. But what she saw now in front of her was too painful and unbearable to watch. Dreygur's head lowered as the tears flowed unceasingly from his eyes and each of his heavy sobs made her cry.

"Why did I fall for someone I had no chance with?" Dreygur asked between his sobs. Cataleia was stunned by his question, especially since she was in the same situation now he is in. She also fell in love with someone she had no hope to be hers.

"Did you see how happy they were earlier? You have no idea how pathetic I felt as I wished I was in Mort's place. It disgusts me the second that enters my mind." Dreygur added as he recalled the scene earlier. It tormented and tortured him again and again with that bad memory.

It was as if he was being slapped with the fact that he had no hope for Sumire. Cataleia just remained silent and listened to him. Even though she was hurt seeing him in misery, she chose to be strong in that situation. The pain she feels now is triple. First, it pained her to see him hurt like this. Second, it grieved her to see Dreygur hurt by Sumire who has no idea what he truly feels, the woman who cannot reciprocate his love. Third, she will never see Dreygur be happy once she has fulfilled her mission in the plan. The thought that she will no longer be by his side as he achieves triumph in losing her haunts her. The fact that he will never learn to love her hurts the most.

"Do you wanna know how I feel right now? I, I wanna end myself. I feel like I'm in a bottomless abyss, I can't hear anything except the sound in my head. I can't feel anything but pain; I can't even explain it. I can't see anything but darkness. Everything is making me insane. I am insane, no... I may not be, or I might be. I done anymore. I just want it all to end. But why is it so hard to get her?" Dreygur muttered and seems to be losing his sane. He sniffled between words.

Cataleia gently wiped the tears away that keeps streaming down his cheek. She cupped his face in her palms, not taking her eyes off Dreygur.

"I don't know. All I know is that I love you very much, Dreygur." Cataleia responded making Dreygur look up at her. He stared straight into Cataleia's eyes which were full of passion and love.

"I wish it was you," Dreygur muttered hopelessly making Cataleia hurt even more. She wanted to scream and made him say he wished he had loved her instead of Sumire.

"But you aren't her," Dreygur added and Cataleia couldn't help but force a smile. It hurts her so much.

"I know, but I am the one who is with you now. The one who will accompany and be with you in everything. Dreygur, I am not Sumire but I am the woman who knows you well. I am the only woman who can accept even your darkest side. Do you think Sumire will accept the real you?" With Cataleia's question, Dreygur was stunned and stopped crying.

"That's why you have to die, Cataleia. You are the only one who knows my pain, you are also the only one who truly loves me and the only woman who can sacrifice everything for me." No matter how foolish Dreygur sounds can be, Cataleia can only hear one thing 'You're the only one who loves me.' She feels lucky that Dreygur acknowledged and accepted her feelings and did not reject her without knowing that her doom was near.

"Dreygur, worry nothing. I'll make sure Mort and Chadwick die with me."