Chapter 4Despised for My Fear

[When he wakes up, you’re going to douse him with a bucket of cold water. Then, you whip him. Whip him until he’s furious, struggling against his bonds but completely helpless. Got it?]

I nodded obediently.

[And then,] the System continued, [at his moment of ultimate shame, you look at him with cold, merciless contempt and tell him to be your dog. Understood?]

I nodded furiously. I’d been practicing the line for days. I didn’t want to disappoint Mr. System, who had the misfortune of being paired with a useless crybaby like me.

I picked up the bucket, suppressing the anxiety and pity rising in my chest.

[This time, you can’t just splash a little, and you can’t miss. Aim for his face and dump the whole thing on him!] the System said excitedly.

I gritted my teeth, extended my arms, and was about to throw the water when—

Kael’s eyes snapped open.

“What are you doing?”

A wave of cold fury washed over me. I stumbled backward, tripped on the whip I’d left on the floor, and the entire bucket of ice-cold water sloshed all over me.

SPLASH!

My clothes clung to my skin, the cold seeping deep into my bones.

Don’t cry. Don’t cry!

I shivered violently, biting my lip to hold back a sob.

The chains rattled as Kael instinctively tried to stand, only to be held fast by the ropes. His eyes were fixed on me. “Faye, what kind of game are you playing now?!”

[You! You! Do you have butter on your feet? Why do you fall everywhere you go?!] the System raged.

“Mr. System, I’m sorry,” I explained quickly. “My arms were just so sore, I couldn’t hold the bucket steady. I’m sorry.”

[So what if he’s awake? Why are you scared? Just throw the water!] the System howled.

“But it would get in his eyes,” I whispered. “The water isn’t clean. He could get an infection.”

The System sighed in exasperation. [Fine, fine! Getting paired with a useless host like you is so annoying! Listen up. Repeat after me, word for word.]

The System’s voice became a cold sneer. [Brother, after all, we were family once. You’ve been so kind to me over the years. How could I possibly let you go so easily?]

Hugging my freezing body, I stood up and forced a malicious smile. “Brother, after all, we were family once. You’ve been so kind to me over the years. How could I possibly let you go so easily?”

I didn’t realize that, to an outsider, my eyes—reddened from the cold and glistening with unshed tears—looked utterly heartbreaking. My voice was fragile, yet my face was stretched into a painful smile.

[Huh… something about that doesn’t feel right,] the System muttered, confused.

Kael, for his part, showed no signs of anger. Alarmingly, the cold fury in his eyes had vanished completely. He wasn't even glaring anymore.

“If you couldn’t bear to let me go,” he said, “why didn’t you come to see me off when I left?”

[??? Are you insane?! How can you say something so disgusting?!] the System shrieked. [Who cares if she came to see you off! She’s your enemy!]

I parroted the System. “Who cares if I came to see you off! I’m your enemy!”

I had no idea how utterly bizarre that sounded coming from me. My voice was small and soft, turning the harsh words into something that sounded like a petulant, twisted form of affection.

Kael actually smiled.

[I didn’t tell you to say that! Take it back!] the System sputtered, equally stunned.

How was I supposed to take back something I’d already said? The System’s scolding left me flustered. I looked at Kael miserably. “Just pretend you didn’t hear that last part.”

[Forget it, forget it! Just grab the whip and hit him!]

I quickly picked up the whip, my hand gripping the handle tightly. I had practiced for hours by myself so I wouldn’t accidentally hit myself. I stared at his bare chest.

This time, I would get it right.