About Your Pride and My Prejudice
Chapter 70: Melissa, Was It Really a Nightmare?

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“He…”

“What? What did you say?”

As I turned my head towards him, I met his eyes gleaming like a cold flame.

When I froze without even resisting the windswept wind, I shuddered.

“Did he touch you?”

“…….”

“Tell me what he did.”

Alan seemed to be holding back his anger. He was so angry that my shoulders shrank.

“Ah, he took my hand…….”

“……and?”

“…….”

“Speak clearly.”

Again, the commanding tone……. My instinctive intuition signalled me that if I went against him, I might die immobile in this room. That’s how overwhelmed I became.

I answered with my eyes closed.

“O-on the back of my hand…… Lips….”

At that moment, I heard the sound of a heavy crystal glass being placed on the table.  As I opened my eyes to the sharp sound, Alan’s face, staring at me, filled my vision.

His gaze was so intense and gloomy that the strength in my legs could quiver just by looking at him.

“Hand.”

He held out a big hand to me.

“……H-hand, why?”

“It’s a hand that’s already held before, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“…….”

If he is speaking of the victory ball, I couldn’t remember what Alan’s hand felt like at that time. Because I was that nervous.

But I had no confidence to keep him waiting any longer. Eventually, my hand, which was trembling violently that could be easily noticed with a naked eye, was carefully placed on Alan’s hand.

The moment our hands touched, and before I was surprised by the cold hand, he grabbed my hand hard and dragged it towards him.

“Now what……!”

After that, Alan’s head bowed slowly, as if it were a set procedure.

The cold and slightly rough lips, which touched the back of my hand, were cold, soon gently pressed itself down and let out a sweet breath.

“Al…!”

It was a shock as if my heart was pounding and falling to the floor.  Not knowing what to do, I trembled like a bird wet in the rain. All I could do was stare at his straight eyelashes, forgetting to breathe.

At that moment, Alan suddenly opened his eyes. I couldn’t avoid the gaze or move my body, stiff as a statue. Like I’m tied up with an invisible rope.….

“…….”

As if longing for only my gaze, the tenacious eyes were even lustful at a glance. Would it be an illusion if the hot desire I felt from Alan in my dream seemed to pass by at first glance in his eyes right now?

No wonder my stomach was itching so much.

“Alan.”

I twisted my arm wildly to get my hand out of his grasp. But Alan’s hand wasn’t likely to let me go.

“Alan, now…….”

The red lips that fell, whispered languidly, with a small and soft sound.

“I thought it might smell like ink.”

“That…”

My fingers trembled as his lips tickled like a feather on the back of my hand. But it was only my wish that this would be the end.

Alan spread out my fingers one by one, which were trying to shrink, and gently kissed each fingertip. It was five small, careful kisses.

“It was this hand.”

“…….”

For this moment, his smile was only mine. As I thought about it, my heart pounded to the point that I was flustered. I thought it wouldn’t be strange if my heart exploded at this moment. I can die like this.

On the other hand, I felt like I had finally understood a phrase from an old imperial myth. It is said that when the white and radiant male god of the moon smiled, spring finally arrived in the world.

It is indeed strange that he, who resembles a colourless winter, makes me feel a wonderful spring on a midsummer night.

When he finally put my hand down, I brought it to my chest as if it had been burned, and I smoothened it feverishly.

“…… Alan, I…….”

If you get swept away, I won’t be any different from the me I’ve been in the past. Go ahead and say what you have to say, Melissa.

“I-I’d like to write a letter. To my family and friends…….”

“…….”

Alan just stared at me with emotionless blue-grey eyes and gave no answer. But his jewel-like eyes did not have the same anger at least when he had heard of Mr. Maurice.

That’s why I decided to be a little more courageous. The maid wouldn’t do me a favour to write a letter, but they won’t be able to do anything if their master allows it.

“Please….”

“I can’t take the pen away from you. Try it on.”

The silent answer opened my eyes wide.

“Really?”

“But you won’t be able to send a letter.”

“……What? What does that mean?”

“Meaning, I won’t let you go.”

The words made me burst into laughter.

“Ha.”

This is definitely a joke. What the hell did I expect from this crazy guy?

To forget that this man is crazy, I was blinded by the enchanting words of his handsome lips, and the kiss that was so desperate that I felt as if I had become his precious person.  Am I crazy?

I felt a surge of anger that I couldn’t handle for a moment. It could be because of the bit of alcohol in me, but it’s alright?

“Are you kidding me? Does this all seem like a joke?”

“Indeed.”

He laughed low once again. It was a moment when the beautiful face looked terribly hateful.

“I can’t let you do stupid things again, I’ve been trying to save you.”

“……do stupid things?”

I was dumbfounded. I felt like I was about to cry, so I had to bite the soft flesh in my mouth. Alan, on the other hand, was drinking again with a clean face that had not changed a single colour even though he had been drinking quite a bit.

Such a noble and elegant scoundrel. I wanted to flip the table over right away if I could. There was even an urge to pour juice over his noble face.

“You’re…. just happy to bully the weak. It’s funny to someone like you.”

“The weak?”

Alan, who put down a crystal glass on the table, wiped the corner of his mouth with a white napkin. When he put down his napkin, his lips were smiling.

“What’s the definition of weak?”

“It’s…”

“There is one thing you overlooked, the underdog is me, Melissa. So I want you to have pity on me.”

Ha, this confidence…….

I didn’t want to fit in with his nonsense any more. I said with my teeth clenched.

“As expected, I hate you.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“I hate you so much. I hate you. Get me out of here right now.….”

Then Alan smiled quietly.

“It will be hard to conduct business when you can’t lie.”

“……what, are you kidding me…….”

“You have to write, too.”

That suits you, Melissa. 

Alan whispered. I lost all my fighting spirit due to the sweet breath that came with the deep scent of alcohol.

My mind was all white. Like the sky on that winter day with unprecedented heavy snow.

“Ha….”

I can’t stand him at all. What should I do? I’ve only seen Alan with these eyes and this voice in my dreams……. Am I too drunk? Or is he?

I managed to move my lips, squeezing out the last bit of strength.

“Don’t be mistaken that everyone will love you…….”

“…….”

Alan, leaning his chin towards me, was smiling with pleasure at all my words and actions. The sight of the light reflecting on his white skin without defects was just flawless and sublime, so it was inevitable to  helplessly draw attention.

When I finally had the urge to kiss his gently curving eyes enthusiastically, I closed my eyes as if I had given up. I felt terrible about myself.

“No…”

He, Alan Leopold, must be the devil trying to mess me up. In order to get him out of my mind completely, I have to constantly reflect on how much I hate him.

So that he can quickly get rid of his twisted interest and finally let me go.

“I want you to…….”

But my voice was so small, as if pressed down by something, and I was trembling pitifully.

“I hate not being able to speak…..  I hate it…”

“Really? Why do you hate it?”

Alan leaned slowly toward me. As if to tease me, his voice was as small and soft as mine. It’s like trying to soothe a child.….

I clenched the hem of my clothes until my fingertips turned white. Even if it’s a fight that I can’t win, I can scratch him. If only he could be a little sick because of me.

With that kind of heart, I moved my lips.

“The night you come in my dreams, I shudder all day…… I hate it terribly.”

Alan was silent for a moment. It was only for a moment, but I couldn’t even feel his breath.

Alan had a subtle face as I looked carefully sideways at him while quivering. He looked black.

Did it hurt? Did my words finally hurt him?

I was nervously gauging his feelings at a distance that was close to my face, and his petal-like lips finally moved.

His voice was secretive as he was telling a secret story, but it had a very fine smile on it.

“You must have dreamt of me, Melissa……. Many times.”

“…….”

And when I heard what he said that followed, I had to regret every moment of today.

“What did we do in the dreams?”

“That…”

My mind was pushed to the edge. I don’t think so, but it’s as if he’s caught me in my head.….

The phrase ‘Thief hitting on his thumb’* suits this situation, isn’t it? My face flamed up. It must have been ridiculously red. I hastily covered my face with my hands.

(T/N: it’s an idiom, meaning to do something foolish which makes you get caught.)

“Huh? I can’t hear you well.” (Alan)

“…… Nightmare. It was a terrible nightmare, you in my dream…….”

In the pitch black darkness, as his sigh-like laughter filled my ears, small goosebumps crept down the nape of my neck.

It was irritating beyond words.

“Ah….”

A trembling groan came out from my gritted teeth. Now I was just afraid. To either look at him or not, deciding that alone was hard work.

When I lowered my head with my face covered because I was no longer confident of saying anything, I felt a gentle touch on my hair, which still had a little moisture.

Of course it was Alan’s hand.

“Think about it.”

“…….”

Please….  Now I didn’t even have the heart to ask.  With my eyes closed, I was praying earnestly that the mansion would fall down, or if that didn’t happen, I would just lose my consciousness like this.

At that moment, his lips approached my ears and whispered like a dim mist of water.

Melissa, was it really a nightmare?