Re: In My Bloody Hit Novel - Chapter 600

Chapter 600: Apollo Takes Eunid
Eunid guided Nora to a quieter corner of the ballroom, away from the crowds and the scrutinizing eyes. As the music and chatter continued around them, Eunid noticed something off. Nora was fidgeting, nervously playing with her fingers and smoothing her dress repeatedly. Her unease was apparent, and Eunid’s brow furrowed as he leaned in slightly.

“Is everything okay?” he asked gently.

She nodded, but her eyes didn’t meet his. The avoidance spoke louder than her words. Eunid knew there was more she wasn’t saying, and with a soft sigh, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“You know you can ask anything of me, right?” he said quietly. “After all, you saved my life. You deserve anything I can give you.”

At this, Nora slowly lifted her head, her eyes finally meeting his with a hesitant gaze. She bit her lip as if contemplating whether to speak, but then the words tumbled out, unplanned and raw.

“Am I a burden?”

The question hit Eunid unexpectedly. His eyes widened slightly in surprise, but before he could respond, Nora continued.

“It’s just… it’s obvious that people hate you now because of me,” she said, her voice soft but filled with guilt. “No one wants to come near you. Not like your friends. Everyone’s rushing to them, but no one even looks our way.”

A low chuckle escaped Eunid’s lips, much to Nora’s confusion. His hand slid to her waist, pulling her gently closer as his eyes softened.

“That’s not your fault,” he said with a reassuring smile. “I’m a member of the Dilijan family. People have their reasons for keeping their distance.”

He leaned in, his lips brushing close to her ear as he whispered softly, “And if you are a burden, then understand that I enjoy carrying you.”

Nora’s cheeks flushed at his words, her heart fluttering. For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade, and she felt safe, basking in his warmth and affection.

But just as she began to relax, a waiter approached them, holding out a note for Eunid. He accepted it, nodding briefly at the waiter before unraveling the paper. His expression shifted immediately as his eyes scanned the message:

*”If you want the one thousand-year unbroken seal of the Chasisty family, come to this location now.”*

Eunid’s heart skipped a beat. How could someone know about his search for the seal? And why here, now? He quickly looked up, hoping to spot the waiter who had delivered the message, but the man had disappeared into the sea of guests.

Folding the note back into his palm, Eunid felt a sense of urgency creeping into his chest. His gaze flicked to Nora, who was still watching him with concern.

Leaning in, he whispered into her ear, “I’ll be right back.”

Before she could ask any questions, Eunid spotted Ramon across the room. He moved toward him quickly, whispering in his ear and asking him to look after Nora while he was away. Ramon gave a subtle nod in acknowledgment.

With one last glance at Nora, Eunid turned and made his way out of the ballroom, the cryptic note still weighing heavily on his mind as he headed to the designated location.

Nora stood silently, watching as Eunid slipped away through a corner of the ballroom into the garden. Her heart tightened, and though she tried to steady her breathing, a deep, unsettling feeling lodged itself in her chest. It gnawed at her, this unease, and she frowned, her fingers nervously intertwining. Something was off, she could feel it, but what could she say? After all, by law and by right, she was still a slave. She had no voice here, no right to tell Eunid what to do, and so she held herself back, watching helplessly as he disappeared into the garden’s shadows.

Eunid, meanwhile, made his way through the lush gardens, marveling at the beauty and rarity of the flora surrounding him. Exotic trees towered above, their leaves shimmering under the soft moonlight, and flowers bloomed in vibrant hues, each more stunning than the last. He knew that in the world below the veil, these plants would be regarded as priceless treasures—herbs, spiritual herbs, and elixirs that could ignite wars between clans. And yet here, in the grand gardens of the Chastity family, they grew like common grass, a casual display of wealth and power.

Deeper and deeper he ventured, the greenery growing more dense and disorienting until he realized with a start that he had entered a maze. The winding paths and towering hedges closed in around him, and for a brief moment, Eunid considered turning back. But before he could act, a voice interrupted the stillness, smooth and mocking.

“So, it’s true. You really wanted it, didn’t you? The secret technique of my Chastity family.”

Eunid spun around, his eyes widening in surprise. Standing behind him, holding a delicate jasmine flower between his fingers, was none other than Apollo, the heir of the Chastity family. His golden hair glistened under the dim garden lights, and a predatory smile played on his lips. The scent of jasmine filled the air, and even from where he stood, Eunid could smell its intoxicating fragrance.

Apollo’s gaze was intense, like a predator sizing up its prey—a lion watching an antelope caught in its trap, savoring the innocence before its inevitable demise. Eunid’s heart raced as Apollo took slow, deliberate steps toward him, the look in his eyes sending shivers down his spine.

“Apollo,” Eunid said cautiously, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. “Were you the one who sent the message to me?”

Apollo’s smile widened, though there was something dark in his expression. “Maybe, maybe not,” he replied with a shrug, his tone playful but laced with malice. “Regardless, you want it, don’t you?”

Eunid hesitated for only a moment before nodding. He had come this far, and he couldn’t turn back now.

Apollo’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Good. But I want something else from you too.”

With that, Apollo continued his slow approach, his hands reaching out until they cupped Eunid’s cheeks. The sudden intimacy of the gesture caught Eunid off guard, and though his instincts screamed at him to pull away, he was frozen in place, unsure of Apollo’s next move.

But the uncertainty didn’t last long. Without warning, Apollo pressed his lips to Eunid’s in a forceful, possessive kiss. Eunid’s eyes widened in shock, and he struggled, pushing against Apollo’s chest, but Apollo’s grip was firm, and he held on, refusing to let go.

The kiss was invasive, aggressive, and Eunid could feel the desperation in Apollo’s touch. His heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing as panic set in. He had to stop this—he had to get away. In a last-ditch effort, Eunid bit down hard on Apollo’s lip, forcing him to pull back with a sharp gasp.

Apollo staggered, blood trickling from his bitten lip as he coughed and spat to the side, his eyes flashing with anger. He wiped the blood from his mouth, his expression darkening as he glared at Eunid.

“How dare you?” Apollo snarled, his voice low and dangerous, the predatory gleam in his eyes now replaced with fury.