An Extra’s POV

"W-what…?"

Belle's mask of bravado broke as Ralyks made his statement. Her eyes were wide open as she looked at the darkness before her.

"There's no need to hide it. I see through you, you know?"

More chuckles of amusement echoed from behind the mask as Ralyks drew closer to her by shifting his body forward.

Belle felt like she wanted to retreat, but there was nowhere to run to.

She could only watch him approach.

"S-so what if I am?" She found herself asking.

This would be the time where she was meant to deny what he was saying, but here she was digging a deeper hole for herself.

'I've never been this honest with anyone before.'

Belle didn't want to stop, but she also understood how dangerous her current disposition was—especially if she was found out.

'I can't let everything come crashing down! I can't be found out!' She panicked as she tried to look away from Ralyks.

"There's no need to worry."

The calm words that came from Ralyks seemed to embrace her and draw her body closer to him.

Belle suddenly felt at ease.

"I won't tell on you. In fact, I find your personality refreshing…"

"W-what are you…?"

"I mean that I quite like you, Belle. You're very much my type."

"I-I don't understand…"

Belle was so confused, yet something within her felt happy to hear those words.

She felt her cheeks grow hot, and she felt herself sinking deeper into the gaze of a man whose face she didn't even know.

"There's no need for you to understand. I understand it all—your thoughts, your emotions, and your current dilemma."

before, but it was only now that

can see through

even faster as her body trembled in his

what to say

She asked the man before

"Pardon?"

If it wasn't that Conrad went to make his announcement so suddenly and in public, I would have controlled everyone and forced them to remain in the

tone seemed to hint at

It puzzled Belle.

by most, yet this man wasn't even moved by

people to suffer for defying me or trying to compete with

Ralyks

Alicia and Adonis suffer for outshining me. Even after knowing that they're good people, I can't

elapsed, and Belle

herself as she

not flicker for

As Ralyks asked her this question, Belle felt a sting

the look of disappointment that oozed from the eyes of the man who stared

crimson stare

Too cold.

I suppose there's no harm telling you…" Ralyks' tone

like she wasn't even hearing him with her ears, but he was speaking directly into

consumed

images of

saw

of it. The end of it all,

you really have the right to call yourself

more she uttered the words that were imprinted

"You are not evil."

not evil." She repeated with a smile

were right. We all make mistakes when we're young

just say you have grown more mature

understand

Belle on her head, his fingers coursing through the beautiful

but our actions. Despite your sociopathic tendencies, you chose to

is simply due to my

hero. As

I really

you help people, or do you help people because you