She didn’t trust him. Well, that was to be expected after how he had treated her. She seemed to have new confidence that he didn’t quite understand. 

There are many things Lord Red didn’t understand. He felt terrible, actually had remorse for what he did in Mediah. Why couldn’t he say he was sorry? It bothered him that he hadn’t, as he had plenty of time alone to think about the things he had messed up in his life. 

Other people were intrusions unless they were singing his accolades, but even that became troublesome. He always thought that he would be self-sufficient enough not to need anyone if he had knowledge and power. However, with his expertise and talent, he deserved to be recognized. 

When the Godr-eyed Tier turned their backs on him, he tried to overpower them to show he was superior. He was more powerful, but the problem is that even he couldn’t control the power he had summoned. A grave mistake that almost cost him his life. Realizing the things he missed due to his search for knowledge and pride was hard to accept. 

His family had left, as had lovers and finally his peers. Until all that was left was the quest for knowledge and power. He used to tell himself they were jealous of his intelligence and success. 

After meeting Deneve, someone he considered an equal and having firsthand felt her kindness, he stupidly thought it was just for him. But she gave that same kindness to everyone. He considered her weak because of it. Failing to realize it had made her stronger than he could imagine and that quite honestly, he was jealous that she would give so freely to everyone.

Why did he feel jealous of that?

He was angry when she came back to Tariff after choosing to stay at the mausoleum. She was utterly exhausted after healing everyone. She didn’t seem to have a boundary when it came to helping others. Deneve needed someone to tell her when to take care of herself. 

Ugh! Why did he need to do something as stupid as teleport in on her during her bath? 

Though the view was nice, He grinned to himself. Deneve blushed when she realized he was there, but then this self-possessed look came over her, and she just kept drinking her wine. That did surprise him.

And the way she just turned her back on him and walked back into the other room was… well, it was a shame she ended her bath, but he loved watching her leave. 

He could tell at that point she was aggravated with him. So he just dropped the package on the table and left. He was glad he had thought to add the note as he didn’t get a chance to give her the information.

He wanted to, at the very least, try to fix things. He felt guilty about hiding who he was at the beginning as well. He knew it was fear that made him hide it. He feared Deneve would run when she found out he was the dreaded madman, Lord Red. 

His heart fluttered when he thought about her. He wasn’t about to lie to himself and say that was the only reason he wanted to befriend her. He also hoped they could help each other leave this world. At least try to go back to their world. He couldn’t bring himself to think about leaving her here if he found a way without her.

 For the first time in ages, you are finally feeling something for someone other than yourself. 

Lord Red jumped at the voice. Marg, you haven’t spoken to me in years.

I have you stubborn ass. You just refused to listen. Your heart had been closed to us for some time now.