Chapter 49 (2/2)
SoYoon walked toward the door. She could hear the dialogue happening behind her, and she opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it. As she did, the sound of talking lessened.
SoYoon put her hand over her chest. Her throat felt as if something hot was trickling down.
About ten minutes after she had come into the drawing room, Heart entered. He sat not at his desk or on the sofa but instead got comfortable right behind SoYoon's back. She sat quietly, full of dread and anxiety.
”It's been such a long time.”
He said the same words that Alice had said to her. Unlike the welcoming tone of the girl, his was full of something that seduced her senses.
”Any trace of you has been all but gone for a long time. If I hadn't called you, were you planning never to come see me?”
”I wouldn't do that.”
”Really? Even now, you only came because I called you.”
Heart chuckled softly. It was a dry laugh. SoYoon kept her mouth shut.
”During that time, I felt like my blood was drying up waiting for you. At first, it was new, but as the days went by, I felt cheated. Of course, I know that what I'm saying to you now isn't fair. But still, I couldn't wait any longer.”
Heart grabbed her by the collar and pulled her in. Her thin body leaned awkwardly onto the back of the sofa. He swept her hair from her eyes and stared into them as he spoke.
”An eye for an eye, is that what they say? So I thought. How could I get my revenge?”
The thought that flew across SoYoon's mind was that this scene was something she had anticipated. This could in no way be considered revenge toward her, however. She quickly erased the thought from her mind.
Heart stared into her eyes and didn't miss the slight change in her expression. He smiled widely. His pupils, dilated in ecstasy, looked black.
”What did you just feel?”
”I didn't feel anything…”
”I felt that every day after that night. It was horrific. Don't misunderstand. I would never resort to that sort of thing as revenge. My adequate revenge is, well...”
In his red eyes was explosiveness. Violence and other complicated emotions mixed there.
”Should I kill him?”
”What?”
”That crazy experiment freak. Mad Hatter's been in and out of your house a lot these days. I only told him I would let him off the hook that one time. Slicing his neck off in one shot is too merciful on my part…”
A light knock came from the door before it opened. It was Alice. The two of them were concentrating so hard on each other that they did not notice the ordinary girl approach them. She was so close that their expressions could clearly be seen.
”If White Rabbit hasn't left yet…! What are you doing?”
Heart, who was crazed by jealousy, grabbed White Rabbit by the collar. Alice hurriedly broke them apart. SoYoon slid onto the sofa and quickly reorganized her hair while Alice blocked Heart's way.
”What's the matter?”
”...It's nothing, so there's no need to worry, Alice. What are you doing here?”
Unlike his growling at SoYoon, his voice was soft and gentle toward Alice. SoYoon got up from the sofa and headed to the door. Heart called after her.
”Don't run away.”
SoYoon stepped outside and closed the door.
After she left, Heart listened halfheartedly to Alice as he thought about his Whitey.
Hope had filled the eyes of the girl who had wandered into Wonderland four years ago. She had killed White Rabbit, contrary to everyone's assumption, and in that action, he had seen his own image eight years ago, of him killing the previous Heart.
From that moment, this girl was a fun toy to play with. If she had not been hurt in front of him, she might have stayed that way to him.
She was so strong, yet so weak. She was human.
Was it wrong to think of his toy as human? Or was it because she had shown him the best round of Croquet Game that he could envision?
Pawn, who became Heart, and the newbie, who became White Rabbit—the two of them were well matched. She was the type who was fun to train, and even though she knew his intentions, she let him be. Her nonchalance also aroused his competitiveness.
When he had realized that this passionate game had caused him to lose his heart to her, it was already too late to turn back. He had thought that he was training her, but it was she who was training him.
He was full of confidence, however. He knew his strengths well, and also knew that she was reacting to them as well. Plus, she didn't seem to have a reluctance against sexual touch or actions. He was thinking to himself that he should make his move when he remembered this scene.