Shily's Decision

Thinking deep about her situation, Shily found herself doing nothing but choose the obvious. Either way, she will lose something. So she thought to choose the most beneficial and least painful choice, and that is to accept Dermi's proposal.

Her short time thinking deeply arrived at sacrificing just her body, or so she thought.

The murmurs of the crowd swirled around her carrying a hint of disdain and disappointment, each a testament of the weight of her decision.

"What is the young master Dermi thinking of marrying a curse?"

"Don't know, but she dares to take her time thinking? She must be eager to accept, tsk!"

"Hey, they say she's ugly, is that true?"

"If she accepts she'll offend her family, and if she refuses, she'll offend young master Dermi, hahaha, what a pain in the ass."

Noticing her reaction, Demi became more hopeful, 'She sure took the bait, now, hurry and say it. I'll take care of the rest, just say it.'

At the same time, Genus observed with a nonchalant gaze, 'She sure is taking her time. But in the end, she'll accept. From what he said, that's her best choice… though, why am I thinking about this stuff?'

On the other hand, Benso sensed a bad feeling coming from the situation, it's not going the way it's supposed to go.

'No, it can't be. She can't accept, she must not. It's clearly just a bait for her to fall in his schemes. I don't know exactly what he's up to, even if he really likes her, I sense a bad thing will happen if she accepts.'

He started turning his mind gears at high speed trying to figure out what is the missing piece, but to no avail. He can't even grasp the true intention of Dermi, or why he made his move now of all time or why's he ignoring the consequences of his actions. Benso felt helpless at such a situation, as the events unfolded without him noticing anything strange.

Amidst the turmoil of his random thoughts, suddenly stern words resounded in his mind, "Don't let my daughter get used, I untrust her to you, Benso. I believe you'll keep her safe if something happens to me."

'...' Benso for a moment was lost, 'Sigh, how could I forget her words? Don't worry, I will keep my promise no matter what.'

After remembering Shily's mother's words, he cleared his mind and his gaze firmly swept across the crowd, finally landing on Shily's silhouette.

'As troublesome as it is, If she accepts, I'll have to use force.' His eyes gleamed with determination, 'No matter what you think, there is no good for you with him, lady Shily.'

Under the focused gazes of the people around, Shily raised her head, seeing the back of her most loyal mentor that stood in her defense, Benso. She smiled inwardly as she put her hand on his shoulder.

Sensing a hand gently clutching his shoulder, Benso turned his hand to see dull eyes full of helplessness. It was obvious to him that his lady had no other option, and she wasn't strong enough to decide on her own, again. Her eyes were foggy like the snowy sky above them, without the warm rays of the sun.

He could only sigh inside, he was quite disappointed to be honest.

Shily nodded her head towards him, a silent signal to lower their weapons.

'It seems there is no other way…' Benso looked attentively at the dead eyes of his lady, for a moment the image of the same eyes but young surfaced in front of him.

He sighed again before loosening his grip on his sheathed sword, prompting Dermi's guards to lower their swords.

Benso stepped back, letting her see the figure of Dermi standing near, eagerly waiting for her acceptance. His cheerful looks never left his face as he stood patiently waiting, and by the looks of it, his patience paid and she's going to accept.

'I knew this was my day, I waited for years, YEARS!!' His cunning eyes radiating joy.

Shily was about the talk when her eyes missed a figure, that center of what was happening, Genus. He isn't standing near uga? Did he take the opportunity and ran?

Just as she shifted her head to the side, Shily saw Genus sitting on the ground, nonchalantly looking at her, he was also waiting for her obvious answer.

With the penetrating gazes all over, Shily kept looking at the dark, shiny eyes of Genus, despite no sun being there, his eyes shining in the foggy atmosphere.

She spoke, "Dermi, leaving out the suddenness of the matter, I know what you've just said is true, and if I take this slave with me I'll get in trouble, while what you've proposed is the best option available now. So, my response to your proposal will obviously be-"

Her mouth sealed before she concluded her sentence, and the others, thrilled, waited for her answer, thinking she stopped deliberately.

But unknown to anyone, Shily got absorbed into the black hole gazing at her, the dark eyes that peeked at her thoughts. Even Genus didn't notice it, but his expressionless gaze had put Shily in real trial.

Shily found herself standing in a black world, with no glimpse of light wandering around. As weird as it looks, she can see herself clearly, except the black surroundings. It was as if she was standing in void darkness, or more clearly, on top of the abyss.

It was like a film being played in front of her eyes, but Shily clearly saw the events she saw the moment she entered the city. She recalled the scenes of Genus being tortured, hated by the masses and being treated like a demon, yet again and again, he kept standing despite the harsh situation, despite the pain, despite the hatred he received, he didn't oppose nor did he surrender. His fierce eyes radiated with determination every moment he got hit, slashed, punched or broken! Not even the slightest hesitation appeared on his dark pupils.

The first time she saw him being tortured in public, while people were throwing their demands to be carried by their coins, she noticed the sinister killing intent oozing from his eyes, yet she quickly forgot the absence of the will to kill. She noticed the affection his eyes held for the people surrounding him, yet there is no sign of forgiveness for them. She noticed the serene calmness he behaved with, yet she neglected what past cold he had lived to be in a state like that.

But now she was recalling clearly every moment she saw him, he was like a hero sacrificing himself for people, he was like a devil waiting for a moment to wreak havoc in the masses. It was as if she was reliving those moments, however, this time she captured every detail her eyes caught.

Maybe because of her occupied mind or from how sudden it happened, Shily didn't even know she was in a black world, as her mind spun thinking of one sentence, her conclusion after recalling these moments, "Did I just surrender?"

Her eyes widened from shock, disbelieving what she was thinking about.

'Surender, when did I surrender? I just ch-' She shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought, but again, like a film, she saw her past playing in front of her eyes.

Memories of the past, those that were buried in the deepest part of the unconsciousness, began to resurface again.

How she was treated in the family, how people looked down at her and hated her existence, and everyday mocking and harassment she endured.

The innocent white haired lady that harmed no one being hit by rocks every time she passed a district or road, the harassment she received as a cursed one, the hate gazes that pierced through her clean heart resulting in nights of tears falling down her clear, shiny gems.

Is that all? No, that's still not enough.

With her unwelcomed existence, only the warm lap of her parents healed her damaged soul, treating her with kindness, love and affection. Yet, she never thought that a day will arrive where even that small lap of happiness will be completely destroyed, tossing her into the wilderness of influence and manipulation.

That day her mother fell sick, was the same day she was thrown out with her ill mother to a remote place, a beast's lair for the young innocent child.

The plague that was tossed to the branch family, worked hard everyday for survival, dreaming about when will that warm lap wake up to heal her damaged soul again, however, she still didn't realize that more than a decade will pass without a rest just to find that small warm place may never return.

Ridiculed by her peers, ordered to serve the superiors while being punished for mistakes.

Eventually, despite no one cared about her, she made a place for herself, and found a way to resist the cruelty targeting her, while also meeting caring followers.

Yet, here she's now being mocked by a wealthy family's young master, who she never knew much, and even dared to propose such a thing that would never come to mind.

Shily, from exhaustion of all years and her strange behavior during these days, was feeling tired and hopeless. That's why she thought about Demi's proposal, which she at first refused, but her eagerness for rest had driven her to choose the short and easy path. Thought, she knew that Dermi's is mostly just interested in her looks and body, but she didn't care as long as she could rest, or so she thought.

But now, standing in this unknown abyss remembering every painful moment she endured, Shily was naked to the abyss she's standing on.

Unbeknown to anyone, a spark of anger began to crackle inside Shily. She didn't notice anything because she was absorbed in her memories that played in front of her, but she felt a surge of anger build up within her as her expression began to grow hard and cold.

'Mom, Teacher, Valine, the twins… Everyone is expecting me to be strong, expecting me to be reliable. They're supporting me, putting their trust in me… Yet! I DARED TO BETRAY THEM! WHAT NONSENSE WAS I THINKING OF?!!' The painful emotions she suppressed for years now fuels the rage rising within her.

'Hell to all their crap! Why am I even bearing them? Am I waiting for someone to help me or what? Am I that desperate.? Am I that weak?'

Shily didn't know but she began to change, for the better or worse, only with time we'll know.

'I can't fail their expectations, their trust! I am done trying to hide and cower in fear. Since my existence is so disturbing to them, why should I abide by how they see me? I will face them head on, either I fight or die.'

'That way, I would have done my best, right? I am really tired from this, if they wanna make it hell for me, I'll make it worse for them!'

She grew tired of letting people do whatever they pleased while she endured in silence, since it went to this, and she's losing either way, why not fight it to the end? That would be better than letting her enemy have the last laugh!

Shily steeled her resolve and decided to confront every obstacle that stands in her way, no matter what it is.

In the time Shily was absorbed in her memories, the atmosphere around her grew uncomfortable as her response was taking… too long of a suspense?

Genus, being dazzlingly stared at by Shily's cold eyes, was unaffected as he was clueless about what is happening to her, 'What is she looking at? It's been some time since she spoke… just say it, there is no fun in taking this long.'

Benso, vigilant as ever, began to ponder about why she would take long for an answer. But nonetheless, he had already made up his mind, ready to make his move the moment he'll find a chance, so he just waited in anticipation.

Dermi cheerfully thought about why she stayed silent for a while but he had high hopes she'll agree. So he asked for confirmation, "Then, your reply is…"

His words passed as whispers by Shily's ears, but they put an end to her trance. Suddenly the black world she's been standing on dissipated as she found herself standing in the same place looking at Genus., yet with a different demeanor.

'Just because of some petty past I forgot the hopes those close to me have for me, this is ridiculous! I can't be weak or I'll get swallowed by the flow!! I have to take action before it's too late!'

With her heart beating fast by the fire of anger, she murmured.

"No"

All the people around were taken aback by her answer, they began whispering, doubting they heard it wrong.

'There is no doubt in it, she declined!' Genus was surprised internally, yet he wasn't aware, '...'

Benso sighed in relief, 'Thank god she refused'

Dermi's cheerful expression went numb for a second, 'No, No, I must have heard yes right, right! She can't say no, she mustn't!'

Thinking that, he tried again, "I didn't hear y-"

Shily retorted coldly, "I decline."

Her eyes clear, radiating determination and fierceness.