To My Beloved, I Present My Exquisite Nightmare (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 177

Himiard remained silent, her expression betraying her uncertainty about how to respond to Od’s words.

If left undisturbed, she seemed as though she might remain silent forever, eventually turning into a pillar of salt—just like the foolish humans in old tales.

Od continued speaking. Though his breath grew rougher, mingled with a dry cough, he appeared unconcerned.

“But if Laila is here…”

He spoke calmly like an old man, so absorbed in his words that he forgot he was addressing her by name—not as “the witch” or “Chrisrad.”

“If Laila is here, there’s no need for Eustar’s weakness to be exposed. If Eustar is a frail fortress prone to collapse, then Laila is the sharpest, most vigilant weapon standing firm at the very front of its walls.”

A sharp breath escaped through Himiard’s lips. Unconsciously, she clenched her fists tightly, then suddenly recalled Od’s severely scarred hand and felt a chilling numbness ripple through the back of her knees.

“Are you saying… that without that witch—that Laila Chrisrad—the Crown Prince would suffer harm? Then she, Chrisrad… has she come here solely to serve as the Crown Prince’s shield?”

Od’s deeply sunken eyes, yet burning with resolve, fixed firmly on Himiard. He moved his parched lips slightly, then answered slowly—as though confessing some painful old mistake.

“Yes, that’s exactly it. At least, that was my intention.”

“That’s…”

Himiard, who had started to quietly protest, clenched her fists again and pressed her fingers to her forehead. In the dim room, the breastplate she wore glinted with a somber, ashen light.

“I can’t believe it.”

After a while, Himiard finally spoke.

“The Crown Prince was perfectly healthy even without that witch. He never once fell ill.”

Read full content of this chapter on r e d c a t t y . c o m