Chapter 717 - 718: Off-putting

"So I’m pretending now.. that’s laughable coming from you.."

Damon didn’t even know how to react to her words. Under normal circumstances, he would’ve laughed it off with one of his antics, but as the marching army crossed the bridge, his unease grew. His skin prickled, and his instincts flashed warnings through his mind, something dreadful was coming.

"You’re really an omen of bad things to come.."

He said that aloud without meaning to. Though the words might’ve seemed directed at Abellona, he was really speaking about himself. Damon was always involved in things that brought him pain, trauma, and danger.

She scoffed, rolling her eyes, irritation flickering in them.

"I get that a lot... is that a problem..?"

Damon shook his head.

"No, I don’t mind it..."

He didn’t bother clarifying what he meant. She was here to settle the score with him anyway.

He wondered what she would say next, curiosity pushing down the unease in his chest as he turned to look at her.

Abellona was dressed in red to match her eyes. Bloody gauntlets adorned her hands, her boots hidden beneath her dress, and armor rested where a corset might have been.

Seeing her brought back memories of the dungeon. Damon smiled faintly, realizing he was not immune to a woman’s charms, though his face remained calm, betraying nothing of the thoughts lingering behind his eyes.

Abellona narrowed her gaze, noticing the weight of his stare even if it wasn’t lustful.

"I should gouge out your eyeballs for your lecherous gaze.."

He smiled softly.

"We meet after what happened, and that’s what you have to tell your savior? Or maybe I should call myself a survivor of a difficult ordeal.."

Abellona bit her lip, faint memories flickering, her trying to pin him to the ground.

"What am I supposed to do? Apologize? I think I already suffered enough.."

Damon chuckled, his eyes drifting toward the marching troops.

"Why are you here, princess? You didn’t come to reminisce. Are you here out of righteous fury, to punish the vile man from the dungeon?"

Abellona let out a puff of air, uncharacteristic of a princess trained in noble etiquette.

"I wish I was... though I am not particularly angry about that. Sometimes you have to lose something to gain something.."

She glanced at him, her voice quieter.

"It could have been worse, and while losing my chastity wasn’t what I intended for myself—"

"Huh? What?" Damon cut her off, blinking. Losing her chastity? What was she even talking about? Damon hadn’t touched her. Sure, she’d been under Ashcroft’s curse and had gone a bit mad, but he hadn’t actually done anything. Maybe he kissed her once or twice, but those were necessary.

’You’ve got to be kidding me... she’s going around thinking I raped her..’

The irony wasn’t lost on him. She had been the one pinning him down, but since she had been under the influence, he supposed it could still be considered wrong.

It was strange. Damon had no qualms about killing people, but rape was one line he never crossed.

His eyes widened slightly as Abellona stared back, confusion creasing her brow.

"What... You do intend to take responsibility, do you not? For touching me..?"

Damon raised his head, turning away to avoid her gaze.

Abellona’s fingers brushed her abdomen nervously.

"I... I took a test... just to check if I... got pregnant. It’s a little early to know, but it seems I’m not with child.."

Damon almost felt his legs give way.

This woman was insane. He hadn’t even done anything, and she was already taking pregnancy tests. Why was she suddenly acting so shy?

’I’m the victim here,’ he thought bitterly, though it was a gray area at best.

Abellona bit her lip again.

"I... I’ve been thinking ever since I found out you were alive... and I... I... ermh.."

She fumbled over her words. Damon noticed her legs trembling slightly, a bizarre sight, seeing the infamous Abellona of Destruction stumbling over her speech like a nervous girl. Her face was pale, not from embarrassment but from sheer nervousness.

This was a woman who could decapitate a man with a wave of her spear, and yet here she was, trembling and unsure. She clenched her fists against her dress, unconsciously wiping her sweaty palms on the fabric.

Even Damon found the situation awkward, but his skin was thick enough to handle it.

Abellona took a deep breath.

"I... I decided we should be together..."

Damon raised an eyebrow.

We? Who was "we"? He’d barely even talked to her outside of that dungeon mess. Sure, maybe he’d touched her once or twice, but "we"?

She clenched her fists tighter.

"This is a good opportunity for us. If you take the credit for defeating Ashcroft, you can gain a noble title. I’ll advocate for you, even better."

She lifted her head, eyes firm with resolve.

"We can join forces to defeat Amon. If you do, we can skip the formalities, you’ll be made a count. You can marry me and become my consort."

Damon just stood there, completely lost. He had expected suspicion, maybe anger, or some attempt to settle debts between them, but this?

’Wait... wait a minute... that’s what this is about. She’s after my money. She’s trying to clear the debt..’

Abellona owed him five billion zeni for saving her. If he married her, that debt would vanish. And if he defeated Amon, he’d be sitting on twenty billion.

’I knew it. She’s a schemer. She’s after my money..’

She wasn’t. But Damon was too much of a miser to think otherwise.

Abellona looked up at him with eyes glistening slightly, tears threatening to fall.

Damon scrunched up his face.

"I’m afraid we can’t be official... due to certain reasons.."

Abellona’s eyes widened slightly, her heart sinking.

Damon approached her slowly.

"It’s not because I don’t care about you.."

She raised her head to meet his gaze.

He smiled faintly, every greedy bone in his body, without a word. He took a step and disappeared into the shadows.

This conversation was a little too much for him.