37. The Past

The Past

Rusty was silent as she and Gaunt walked toward the mat lying next to the lake. She feels, this thing has been happening for a long time. And she also feels, she has known her companion for a long time. She is confused by what she sees in her mind.

"Is there a problem?" Gaunt asked.

Rusty did look at him. After that, she looked around the lake again. She took a deep breath.

"I-I do not understand... I feel like a scene like this has happened before. But, I just came to this place." Rusty said confused.

Because of what the girl said, Gaunt felt a strange joy. There is no doubt that Rusty is Kristine's second life... His Kristine Edenburg. Rusty blinked as Gaunt held her left hand. He gently grabbed her palm and gently squeezed it. He stared at her face but returned it with a frugal smile.

"Come on, the ants might even precede us with the food I prepared." smiling its language.

"A-All right ..." he said.

If another woman was in her situation, she would definitely be thrilled... Gaunt's face is very gentle and it looks like he is the type who loves too much... But she did not feel any thrill here but she was disappointed. She just met it but if it acted like it was like the time they had known each other. He sat down on the mat first and then, she followed carefully. She kept her eyes on it as he slowly pulled the food out of the basket. It carries fruits. Grapes and strawberries with whip cream and chocolate sauce. It served her.

"Wow... Did you really prepare all this for me?" she asked in amazement.

Gaunt shrugged at her then smiled.

"Yes. I just hope you like it."

She smiled sparingly.

"I was very surprised and I liked it. Thank you, because I know the effort you made is not a joke."

Gaunt looked at her seriously. She was startled by the caress on her cheek. He gently pressed his index finger to her lips.

"I should be the one to thank because you let me be with you tonight. I hope you will join me in the future..."

Rusty shook her head.

"I can't promise that. I won't be with you next time if this is the case. I am just here because I am paying a debt of gratitude. Anyway, thank you very much for the effort."

Gaunt was disappointed with what Rusty said. But still he covered up his feelings. He put a fake smile on his lips.

"Better yet, let's eat." Gaunt said smiling.

"All right."

Rusty started eating and Gaunt did nothing for a moment but stare at his companion's face. The longer he stared at her face the more he remembered the past. Everything revived him...

Gaunt lay by the lake that night. He was lying on the grass while looking up at the sky and his full attention was focused on the moon. Boring... His father Belphegor ordered him to stay in the world of people for quite some time and here it is. He is already bored. He is also worried about his younger brother Grimm. It must be tormented and oppressed by other demons. Grimm has nothing to defend and he has no strength to strike back.

Meanwhile... Kristine continues to run fast through the forest. Her body was full of scars but she no longer cared. She must escape the men who are chasing her. She was terrified of them because she was definitely miserable when she was caught. She did not think that her aunt would be able to sell him to the robbers. Fortunately, she overheard them talking as she served drinks to the customers of the restaurant. Even so, they still chased after her.

"Eeeeeeh!"

She was stunned because she had been hit by something blocking her way. Her face sank to the grass.

"What do you think you did to me?!"

She was startled when she heard the man's angry voice. She quickly stood up and looked at the speaker. She was stunned when she saw the whole man. The moonlight is given enough for her to see its shape. She swallowed. It looks nice. She heard the barking of a dog in the distance. Those robbers. Meanwhile, Gaunt was amazed by looking at the woman. Even if her hair is dirty and messy, there is no denying that it is beautiful. He was surprised when the woman suddenly approached him desperately staring at his face.

"Please... Help me. The robbers are chasing me! I do not want to go with them because they will surely trade me as well as the women they bought." Kristine said desperately.

She did not even see any emotion on the face of the man. Instead, he just frowned at her.

"And what will I gain if I help you?" its language is annoying to her.

Kristine was stunned by what she heard. She was even more nervous as the noise of dog barks grew louder. They are definitely just nearby. She swallowed and stared again at the face of the man in front of her.

"Whatever replacement you want, I will do it. Please! Help me..." Kristine cried.

Gaunt grabbed her chin and looked up and down in front of her. He took a deep breath.

"Even if I ask for your soul in return, is it okay with you?" he said seriously.

Kristine closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath. Maybe that would be better than getting into the hands of robbers.

"Yes!" she answered desperately.

"Hmm ... Think about it. Are you sure?"

Kristine nodded.

"Y-Yes..."

She was startled by its touch on her chin and it even squeezed it. She slightly backed away as the man brought his face close to hers.

"From now on, you will call me Master. And from now on, I will own you. Is that clear?"

Her eyes widened at what she heard. Her whole body was shaking. She just made a simple nod. The person in front of her smiled at her answer. After that he slowly released her chin.

"Wait for me here and I will take care of the robbers. Don't make the mistake of running away from me because I can also find you wherever you hide. And I guarantee that I will be severely punished if you do that." Gaunt ordered.

Kristine was caught in her chest.

"Y-Yes, Master..." she answered hesitantly.

"It's good and you look obedient."

Gaunt immediately walked away. When he got a little farther, he immediately ran quickly to the robbers who were chasing the woman. He faced them, they were surprised by his sudden appearance.

"Who are you?!"

Gaunt did not speak but gave a smile to the robbers. After that, he slowly opened his right hand and applied it to them. And in a flash, his white fire engulfed the robbers. He laughed softly as he heard them shout as it burned in his fire. He immediately returned to the woman. He found it sitting next to a tree and sleeping soundly. He approached it and then loaded it. He immediately returned to his house in the depths of the forest.

Kristine was stunned when she saw a dazzling light. She was surprised when she woke up, she was already in the soft bed. All the colors of the equipment there are white.

"It's good that you're awake."

She looked at the speaker and she saw next to the two women wearing maid uniforms.

"W-Where am I?" she asked.

The last thing she remembers is that she fell asleep because she was waiting for something...

"You are here in Master Gaunt's home." the maid replied to her.

Her forehead furrowed.

"Master Gaunt?" not in her own language.

She was stunned when she realized that what they were saying might be the man who helped her by the lake.

"Yes. He told us that when you wake up we will prepare you immediately. So you better get up there. You should not wait too long for Master because he is easily bored. And he gets angry when he gets bored." Said the woman.

Because of what she heard, she immediately got up. None of her own she followed the two servants. She looked around. The hallway they walk in is huge and there are a lot of expensive decorations around. Did she see a prince? She was surprised when the two maids took her to a very large bathroom. She think, the bath there is even bigger than the lake. The woman's attempt to take off her clothes backed her away.

"I-I can. I can do it. I can take a bath alone."

"We know. But we need to hurry. We will be the ones to get upset when Master gets bored."

She did not speak again. She just let the two servants do the bathing for her. When she finished bathing, she immediately put on a robe.

"Wait, don't I have a change of clothes?"

They did not answer so she just kept quiet. She still followed the two women and she did not know where they would take her. At a magnificent door of the room they stopped. It is decorated with golden flowers. The door opened and she was stunned when a very large room opened up to her. The red carpet on the floor was very thick then. The gold horn has a design.

"Come on in. Master is waiting for you."

None of her own, she entered the room. When she entered, the door was immediately closed. She was surprised to hear the soft click then.

"It's good that you didn't make me wait long."

She was dumbfounded and stunned when she looked at the whereabouts of the speaker. Like her, he was just wearing a white robe. It was sitting on the side of the bed. She backed away and folded her arms. The man smiled sparingly and stared intently at her.

"What is the problem? Isn't it clear what we talked about. I obeyed, I took care of the robbers and I made sure they would not disturb you. Now, you have to keep the conversation going. I told you earlier that you are going to be my slave."

She swallowed horribly. The man gently extended his right hand to her.

"Come closer." its command.

She was surprised when her legs moved spontaneously and she walked slowly towards it. It was as if a force was pulling at her. She was even more surprised when she reached for his outstretched hand. It quickly grabbed her entire palm and pulled her closer to it. Her cheeks warmed, she kept staring at him and she couldn't seem to believe what was happening.

"What's your name?"

She first took a deep breath. She inhaled the smell of its scent.

."K-Kristine Edenburg." her frugal language.

The man pulled her even harder and almost sank into his chest. Fortunately, her left hand was prompt. But she was caught in its chest. She felt its heart beat. It was just as fast as hers. She stared at it puzzled and felt that there was something inside her stomach that was causing her knees to weaken.

"I am Gaunt Wintergreen and I am your Master. You will be one of my women in my harem."

She was stunned by what she heard. She shook slowly. Maybe, she can pay another way. Just don’t let her be one of its women.

"No, I do not want to be your woman... Just make me a helper." Kristine said boldly.

Gaunt look at her in amazement. It pulled her closer and he pressed their bodies tightly together.