F/VoH Ch 113: That Man

However, the longer Ryan stared at the faces around him, the harder it became for him to find words that wouldn’t make the situation worse.

“So, um... you know?” Ryan tried to start his explanation, but his voice sounded unconvincing. He cleared his throat, trying to gather his courage while avoiding the piercing cold stares from Ellina and Charlotte.

“Last night, I went out to... gather information about the Rebel Forces that we’re going to help. And, um... I met Cheonghee. This woman...” Ryan paused for a moment, scratching the back of his head while glancing at Cheonghee, who was sitting quietly beside him. “Let’s just say we need Cheonghee’s help, so I helped her with a few things... in return.”

However, Ellina and Charlotte’s expressions didn’t change at all. Their sharp gazes were like two blades of ice, making Ryan increasingly anxious. He felt cold sweat beginning to trickle down the back of his neck, as if the atmosphere in the room was becoming more oppressive by the second.

“Well, I mean... Cheonghee’s help is quite valuable. With her help, for this one day, I could feel my emotions again,” Ryan continued, his voice growing more uncertain. “But... there might only be a few hours left before all of this ends. After that, my feelings might be... locked away again. So, yeah, even though I seem emotionless, it’s really just suppressed emotions.”

“Is that so?” Ellina replied in a flat tone, without a hint of emotion.

“Yes, that’s right!” Ryan quickly responded, trying to sound confident even though he felt increasingly cornered.

“Master... be quiet.” Charlotte cut in with a cold voice that was almost a whisper but full of threat.

“Uh! Alright, alright!” Ryan’s voice trembled, and this time his fear was clearly visible on his face. The killing aura emanating from Charlotte rendered Ryan completely silent, like a soldier bowing before an undeniable command.

“Your name is Cheonghee?” Ellina asked in an icy tone, her gaze never leaving the foreign woman in front of her.

“Yes! Nice to meet you all... Sister?” Cheonghee replied cheerfully, seemingly unfazed by the tense atmosphere around her.

“Sister?” Ellina and Charlotte exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and questioning.

“Yes! I’ve also become Ryan’s woman, right?” Cheonghee answered innocently with a wide smile. “So, doesn’t that mean we’ll be sisters?”

The atmosphere in the room instantly turned even colder, almost freezing. Charlotte slowly shifted her gaze to Ryan, her look sharp as a drawn knife, full of threat. “Ryan’s woman... is that so?” Charlotte said in a low but cold tone, each word like the tip of a sword piercing directly at Ryan.

“Uh... I think you forgot the word 'Master,' Charlotte?” Ryan tried to slip in a joke, hoping to at least ease the tension flowing in the room.

“Hmph!” Charlotte merely snorted, her face turning away with an expression full of annoyance. The cheerful tone that usually characterized Charlotte vanished in an instant, leaving a much more threatening aura.

“…” Ryan fell silent. His heart raced, not expecting Charlotte’s reaction to be like this. The sharp gazes from the two women he knew well left Ryan completely at a loss for words.

“So... what makes you like 'that man'?” Ellina asked, her voice as cold as ice, her eyes piercing sharply at Cheonghee.

“That man?” Ryan repeated, his eyes twitching. He truly didn’t expect Ellina to refer to him in a tone that made it seem as if he were nothing more than a stranger, rather than 'Young Master Ryan' as usual.

Unaware of Ellina’s cold tone, Cheonghee smiled widely and cupped her chin, seeming to think for a moment. “Hmm... Ryan is kind? Caring? And... handsome? Besides that, Ryan is also reliable,” Cheonghee replied, her tone so sincere, as if stating an undeniable fact.