My Girlfriends Are Hardcore Yanderes - Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Cursed Sea Part 2
But there was a problem. His sole focus was on obtaining the Dragon Core—nothing else mattered. And she had nothing of value to offer in return for his assistance.

In every way, he was far superior—spells, knowledge, power, and physique. Someone like him seemed to have everything he needed. It was even a wonder why he hadn’t grown arrogant, despite being impressive in so many ways.

A trait she had to admit was very likable. He was unlike other men who grew more corrupt as their power and status increased.

Still, the thought lingered. If he really agreed… She could move forward with her plans far faster than she ever could on her own.

“Is there something wrong?” Asher’s voice cut through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present. He noticed she was deep in thought; she wasn’t exactly good at hiding her feelings.

Lucia blinked, momentarily caught off guard. She quickly masked the surprise on her face, forcing a calm expression as she met his gaze.

“No…. I’m just… thinking.”

She didn’t dare share the true thoughts running through her mind without having properly made a plan yet.

“What is it?”

She was puzzled by his interest in her. It was unlike him to show concern, and she couldn’t help but wonder what had changed.

Had he noticed something? Or was this just another way of him trying to keep her in check?

Little did she knew, his impression of her had changed—just a bit.

He could sense that she had become more mindful of her actions around him. It was subtle, but the change was there.

This contrast to her usual impulsive, more arrogant demeanor made her seem like she had improved, when in reality, it was just her adjusting to his presence.

Asher saw through it, but he couldn’t deny that it was an interesting change.

“I…” Lucia paused, biting her lip, unsure whether to continue. “Never mind.” She turned and walked inside without saying another word.

His curiosity was stirred by her uncharacteristic hesitation. It wasn’t like her to hold back, and the fact that she had made an effort to stop herself only made him more intrigued.

“How about you tell me? Maybe I can help you. Think of it as my payment for you assisting me.”

His words stopped her in her tracks.

She hadn’t expected him to offer his help on his own.

Regardless, this was good news to her. She’d be stupid not to take advantage of his rarely shown kindness.

“Let’s talk inside, this is a bit long,” she suggested.

Asher gave a slight nod and followed her inside. The possibility that the attack they had experienced was orchestrated by someone pulling the strings lingered in his mind, but he couldn’t be bothered to investigate.

If they stopped now, he would let it go, only making a move if they hadn’t learned their lesson yet.

They sat face to face, and before continuing, he cast another barrier spell, just in case they were attacked again. With the preparations complete, she was free to say whatever was on her mind.

Lucia hesitated, but forced the words out of her mouth.

“I come from a family of well-known sorcerers,” she began, her eyes avoiding his for a moment. “But… I’m not a legitimate child.”

Asher remained unbothered; still, he asked just to keep the conversation moving. “I don’t see any problem with that. ”

She looked down, a small sigh escaping her. It was true—being a legitimate child wasn’t that big of a deal.

“My mother was a beastkin servant my father took in. I was raised as a noble, but that didn’t stop others from looking down on me… especially my own family. They never treated me like I belonged.”

Asher watched her for a moment, sensing her discomfort. “So, that’s why you feel the need to prove yourself?”

Lucia nodded, a faint trace of bitterness in her voice.

“It’s the only way I can show them that I’m worth something… that I’m better than they think. It’s the only way to validate my existence.”

Asher listened in silence. He had heard similar stories before—families torn apart by status, titles, and wealth.

But what struck him wasn’t the bitterness in her voice or the weight of her words. It was the desperation behind them. Lucia wasn’t just trying to prove her worth to others—she was trying to convince herself. Her greatest enemy, before anyone else, was her own insecurity.

‘If what she says is true, it makes sense. No wonder her personality’s so… twisted. Some of it, at least. ‘

He’d seen others who had it worse—far worse—and yet managed to remain grounded, mindful of others. It was her choice to be overbearing. No amount of trauma could justify her past actions.

“So, what do you really want? Is it revenge?” He went straight to the point, not caring about the subtlety this time.

“Yes,” she nodded. “But it’s not because I was mistreated. I’m not weak enough to let those things affect me.”

“Then what is it?”

Lucia’s took a deep breath “It’s because they took something from me…”

She paused, her gaze falling, eyes clouded with pain. After a long moment, she finally said, “They made me kill my own mother.”

When those words hit Asher, he clenched his fist, his jaw tightening. He had a soft spot for topics like this, and it immediately made him think of his own mother.

A fleeting image of her flashed in his mind, stirring a mix of anger and sorrow deep within him.

The world he once knew was gone, overrun by demons. The chance of his mother dying was high, and it made him feel guilty for not being there to protect her.

Lucia noticed the change in his demeanor and asked, “Are you alright? Did I say something wrong?”

He didn’t answer her. Instead, he asked a question of his own.

“They made you kill your own mother? Explain that to me,” His tone was colder this time, and he looked like a completely different person.