The beastman began to nod in acknowledgment, but before he could respond, Renzille quickly spoke up, her words were direct and unexpected, capturing his attention.
"There's something else you should know." She confessed. "I was once killed by the Count."
The beastman became still and stared at Renzille, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion, but when he noticed that Renzille was dead serious, his eyes widened— the weight of her words hanging in the air.
"You.. You were killed? What.. How is that possible? How are you alive now?" He stuttered out a jumbled series of words and managed to form a sentence, his confusion getting the better of him.
His mind raced with questions, struggling to make sense of Renzille's words because how was it possible that she had been killed by the Count, yet here she was, sitting beside him, alive?
Does this mean that she's a ghost? The thought crossed the beastman's mind, chasing his face to lose its color.
Renzille stared at him, expecting this kind of reaction, but she didn't let that distract her and instead, moved to remove her hat to reveal the wound on her head that was still bleeding through the gauze.
The beastman's lips parted when he saw how serious the wound on her head was, the scent of blood immediately assaulting his senses and caused him to bring his hand up to his nose to cover his face.
"I was brought back here two days ago.. I thought I was dreaming, but then.." She trailed off and frowned. "I got hurt and knew it wasn't a dream."
It was a real wound, an evidence that she had indeed been injured, dispelling any doubts about the reality of her statement, but still, how can this mere wound back her ridiculous statement of her being brought back to the past?
"Wait.. Please allow me to clarify something." He breathed out, his gaze fixed on the injury as he attempted to believe his soon-to-be wife's words. "You were killed by the Count which happened in the future, am I correct?"
Renzille nodded solemnly, her voice steady as she answered. "Yes, I was brought back here two days ago.. I thought I was dreaming at first.. Until this injury confirmed otherwise."
He pursed his lips and nodded his head. "I see.. Please, continue."
She paused and smiled bitterly as she looked at him, a humorless laugh escaping her lips. "I found my sister and my former husband in my bed.. With my two other chosen lovers."
The beastman's eyes grew even wider as Renzille continued her explanation, shock registering in his expression.
"I was gone for almost four years because of the Count.. I was thrilled to be finally home, but that was the sight that greeted me when I came back." Renzille pressed her palm on her forehead, her laugh sounding so bitter and lifeless.
The beastman's gaze followed her movements, still trying to digest all the new information he had learned.
Silence enveloped the carriage for a moment as his mind processed the strange circumstances Renzille had just shared.
The air felt heavy with the weight of her revelations, the mood in the cramped space thick with tension.
With the heavy silence stretched on, Renzille observed the broken beastman, giving him a moment to process the information and finally, she broke the silence with a polite inquiry.
"By the way, I seem to have forgotten to ask your name." She said softly. "If you don't mind, would you mind sharing it with me?"
The beastman was instantly pulled from his thoughts and looked back at her; his nervousness became evident the moment he started fidgeting with his fingers.
When he spoke, his voice was soft and hesitant. "My name is.. Kreios."
Renzille's expression softened as she took in his nervous expression, which along with his behavior, tugged at her heartstrings.
She silently observed his anxious gestures, feeling a little guilty for making him feel uneasy.
However, she decided to not comment on it and let a soft hum of approval escape her lips as she considered his name with satisfaction.
"Kreios.. That's such a lovely name." She praised softly, her gaze locking onto his face. "Once again, I find myself curious. Do you have a family name, my chosen one? I would cherish the honor of knowing that as well."
As the question left her mouth, Kreios' expression darkened slightly, his brow furrowing into a frown.
"To be honest, it has been quite some time since I last said my family name." He confessed, his tone heavy with bitterness. "When I became a candidate as a marriage partner, my family name was erased from the registry."
Kreios' response made a frown form on Renzille's face, the information upsetting her beyond words.
However, Kreios continued speaking, offering his full name. "To be fully precise, my full name is Kreios Ramsolstice.. But you're free to choose whatever name is more comfortable for you to use, Lady Thillion."
Renzille's frown remained in place, her expression exposing to him how she was likely contemplating the importance of his surname being removed from the registry because of him being a candidate.
Renzille grimaced at the thought, but all she could do was let out a deep sigh, her smile tinged with remorse. "I apologize for not coming to your aid earlier, but I promise you, from this moment on, I shall take it upon myself to protect you and assist in building your strength."
Kreios' heart fluttered, his ears twitching at the warmth that spread across his chest.
Renzille shifted in her seat and leaned forward, her hand gingerly grasping Kreios' hand in hers. "This time, I will ensure your well-being and help you flourish, my beautiful beastman."
She brought his hand to her lips and pressed a kiss to his skin, her red eyes staring directly to icy blue ones. "I will always be here, as an ally, a friend, or whatever you want me to be."
Hearing her words, Kreios nodded, silently acknowledging her commitment to his well-being because he can't fully trust his voice to work.
He had heard rumors about Renzille— all kinds of rumors actually, but none of them was about how charming she actually is, and somehow, that seems more dangerous than the fact that she was brought back to the past.