Murielle was afraid.
She was afraid of me.
I had completely forgotten she was there, and the sight of me consuming Cyrille's sanity drove her over the edge.
She had panicked and called Marcelle... and told her what happened.
I didn't care, though. I still felt a hunger for sanity.
Eventually, Marcelle came to the shop.
And she was crying.
"Ileyar... What did you do?!"
"...I took away his sanity. I have done justice."
"...Why?! Why are you like this?!"
"...I do not know what you mean."
"You're evil... Any good person wouldn't..."
"No. I did this for you... I promise."
"...I didn't want this!"
I walked over to her and grabbed her.
I was hugging her.
"...He will never hurt you again... Never..."
"Ahhh! Let go of me!"
"...No... Not yet..."
"...Ileyar!"
"...Marcelle... If you hate me, I understand. But... I just wanted to stop him... And that's all I could think of doing."
"..."
"I will say it again and again. I love you. I love you so much. I don't want to leave. I want to stay with you... You... You are my purpose. You are the reason I exist. Please... Please don't leave me."
"...I..."
"...No... I understand now. I can't stay anymore... I've started something I can't stop..."
"What...?"
"Marcelle... I need to leave here... I'm sorry."
"Wait!"
"...I need more. I need more. More sanity. It's... Delicious. I need more... And if I stay here... It won't be long before I... Steal yours away. You... You do not deserve that."
She didn't say anything, but I felt her hands on my face.
What is she doing?
Then, within a few seconds, I felt small droplets falling on my shoulders.
She was crying...
"...Mar--"
I wasn't able to finish. I felt something peculiar... Something was touching my lips...
H-huh...?! Is--
My eyes focused again and I saw how close she was to me.
And my whole body felt warm.
...Heh.
I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around her again before returning it. I pressed hard, but made sure I didn't do it too strongly.
I love you... So so much... Marcelle...
We kept going for a little while, and then I pulled away. I tried to smile, and kept my arms around her.
"...You're amazing. I... I don't want to take that away from you... I think I'll leave now."
Strangely, she didn't seem upset, but she nodded.
"I... I understand... Ileyar..."
"Hmm?"
"...I... I always avoided those questions... Because I knew the answers. I knew he didn't love me... And I didn't love him. I stayed with him to feel... Safe. To feel secure and appreciated. But I didn't feel that way."
"...I told you so."
"Shut up, I'm not done talking! Ileyar... I felt all those things with you... But I wasn't able to say that. I'm sorry... Just know..."
She took my hands in hers and smiled with tears in her eyes.
"...I love you. And I won't forget you. Be safe, okay?"
She... She loves me...?
"I will... You'll always be on my mind. That's a promise."
I made the guise disappear. I was metallic again.
I imagined the vortex opening, and it happened within a moment. I walked inside... And I would never come back.
