CHAPTER 69: TALK IN HIS EMBRACE: ROSALIA FINALLY OPENS UP

Rosalia — POV

Wow... my favorite villian has unbelievably long eyelashes.

That was the first thought that crossed my mind as I looked down at Cassel from above.

Why from above?

Obviously, because this giant man is behaving like a child—clinging to my waist and literally burying his face into my stomach.

Damn it... Good thing I wore extra layers today since it’s a bit cold.

Earlier, when Cassel dealt with General Zan and his son Dan, he looked imposing—terrifying even—in every move and every word.

But now, looking at his angelic face...

No matter the angle I look at him from, I can’t connect this gentle creature to the man he was before.

He looked so quiet, so beautiful, so obedient.

Like an unbelievably adorable child.

Cassel shifted slightly, tightening his arms around my waist once again, pulling me even closer.

How much closer does he want me? We’re already glued together.

"Ah..."

A small sigh escaped me unconsciously.

Maybe Cassel had woken up at some point... or maybe, like me, he never slept at all.

Either way, the moment he heard my voice, I heard his hoarse whisper,

"What’s wrong? Is something bothering you?"

When I looked down, I found Cassel’s dark eyes staring straight at me.

"You... you’re awake," I asked nervously.

No way he noticed I’d been staring at him for hours... right?

"I just woke up and heard you sigh. Do you have something on your mind?"

Ah—this.

"No, no, it’s nothing. I was just... thinking about General Zan and his son."

I tried to come up with an excuse. There’s no way I could tell him I was thinking about how cute and handsome he is. I’d rather die than say that.

"Why? Does Rose think the son is at fault? Or the father?"

The moment I heard Cassel’s question, I froze.

Honestly... even though I know it’s wrong, I can’t help but lean slightly toward John’s side.

Maybe it’s because of what I went through with my own family.

Because I know what it feels like... to be treated like the unwanted one, while the younger sibling gets everything.

If what John said is true, then yes—his situation must be pitiful.

When I looked at Cassel waiting for my answer, I told him honestly,

"I just... if what John said is true, then I feel bad for him."

Upon hearing that, Cassel slowly sat up on the bed.

We sat facing each other in quiet silence.

I continued speaking—this was the first time we sat like this, talking alone as if we were old friends... or childhood lovers.

It felt so good I forgot myself.

"Don’t you think he’s pathetic too? Imagine your family treating your younger brother like a treasure, while you’re nothing. They don’t love you, don’t care about you, and if anything bad happens, they blame you. But if something good happens, all the credit goes to your brother. Wouldn’t that make you sad?"

I saw one corner of Cassel’s mouth curl with a mocking smile, and I understood immediately.

God, how stupid of me.

Of course—this is exactly what Cassel lives with.

His father treats Cecil like the crown prince, while he treats Cassel like a useless servant’s child.

This stupid mouth of mine.

"A-ah... Cassel, why don’t we talk about something else?"

It was just an escape.

I didn’t want to make my precious villain feel uncomfortable.

But would you believe that Cassel actually agreed?

Today, Cassel really seems... different.

He’s not the chatty or smiley type, yet all of that has changed now.

While I stared at him, trying to figure out the reason for his strange behavior, Cassel suddenly lifted me.

He placed me on his lap, my back facing his chest.

Then he leaned toward my ear, arms wrapped tightly around me from behind, and whispered in a low, seductive tone:

"Then let’s talk about you. I want to know what kind of woman Rosalia is. I want to hear about you—your family, your past."

The moment I heard his question, the blood in my veins turned to ice.

All the excitement and shyness from being in his lap disappeared instantly.

Because I remembered.

Remembered that a few days ago—or maybe a month, I’m not sure—I had been in this world.

And suddenly, it felt like I had gone back to my old one.

To that house.

To that family.

To those days when all I heard were scoldings.

To the days when I was sick alone, happy alone, sad alone, crying alone.

Despite having a large family, I lived like an orphan—worse than an orphan.

Those dark moments...

Cassel was asking about those.

"Rosalia?"

I heard Cassel’s worried voice.

Then I found myself turned around, facing him.

Cassel cupped my face gently, his fingers brushing my cheeks with a tenderness that nearly broke me.

"Rosalia, what’s wrong? Are you alright?"

"I—"

Seeing the concern in his eyes, real worry meant for me, directed at me...

For the first time, I didn’t want to say "I’m fine."

Wasn’t that the only sentence I ever said, even though I never meant it?

In front of such warmth... such care...

I wanted to expose my weak, fragile side.

I wanted to open my heart to Cassel and tell him all my pain.

I didn’t want to pretend to be strong anymore.

And that’s exactly what I did.

I leaned my head against Cassel’s chest, closed my eyes, and heard my own trembling voice:

"I... was never loved."

Saying those words tasted bitter, but I continued.

"At home, my mother always praised everyone else. No matter how hard I worked or how much I succeeded, she never said one kind word to me. I grew up feeling like I didn’t belong in that family. And as I grew older, the distance only increased. I even secretly did a DNA test. Do you know what the result was?"

I asked with a laugh, but my heart ached at the memories.

Cassel didn’t speak.

He simply continued to rub my back slowly, his other hand resting around my neck.

Even though his hand there should feel threatening, the warmth of his palm gave me comfort... a sense of safety I had never felt before.

"The result was positive. I was theirs—truly theirs. Their daughter. Their sister. But the feelings a family should have... they weren’t there. I was disappointed that the result was positive. If they weren’t my real family, it wouldn’t have hurt that much."

"Anyway... when I was young, it hurt. But the older I got, the less it mattered. Eventually, the pain disappeared because I stopped hoping for anything from them. And of course... the main reason was that I found you."

At those last words, I lifted my head, gazing at Cassel with eager eyes.

After discovering that novel, I no longer cried myself to sleep, wondering why my family hated me.

Instead, I stayed up late reading about my beloved villain.

Cassel looked at me with a complicated mix of emotions swirling in his eyes.

After a few breaths, he tucked my hair behind my ear and whispered:

"Then don’t think of them ever again.

Think only of me.

Wait only for me.

And want me alone."