It’s Sunny But I’m Depressed Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Villain is a Rabbit (3)

 

“……”

 

‘Is it possible for someone to sound so sexy while telling you to chop onions?’

 

Was it a joke or not? Ilena squinted, scrutinizing the man. His expression was serious and cold, exuding an aura that seemed entirely out of place in a kitchen. He looked like someone who could summon a storm of blood on a battlefield, and yet here he was, saying what?

 

“You want me to chop onions?”

 

Ilena’s tone was slightly curt, and the man’s robust muscles seemed to flinch slightly.

 

“Yes, that’s right. It’s an order. Hurry.”

 

His violet eyes glinted coldly as he said “hurry.” Ah, so that’s why the onions were there. Ilena glanced at the pile of onions beside the kitchen sink. Perhaps mistaking her hesitation for reluctance, the man quickly added more words, almost as if he were making excuses.

 

“Of course, it might be too cruel a task for you. But it’s necessary for the kingdom.”

 

“This is cruel?”

 

As someone who had lived as a third-generation chaebol, she was well aware of the dirty deeds the ‘upper class’ engaged in to maintain their power and wealth. Her grandfather, the founding chairman, was a daunting and difficult figure even to her, his granddaughter.

 

And now, chopping onions? From the ruthless ruler of the desert?

 

“I’ve prepared clean water right here. If you wash your eyes immediately after crying, it shouldn’t be a big problem…”

 

The Black King mumbled his excuses with a cold, detached face. The servant behind him coughed loudly again. He promptly shut his mouth. Understanding his intentions, Ilena hesitated for a moment, wondering how to play along with this absurdity, before picking up an onion.

 

She dipped it into the prepared water.

 

“What… what are you doing?”

 

Then she grabbed a knife and sliced the onion underwater. The pungent smell didn’t reach her eyes. Ilena explained with a touch of generosity.

 

“It’s common sense. If you cut onions while they’re submerged in cold water, you won’t cry!”

 

Easy, right? Of course, she had never actually sliced an onion before. Her family home always had housekeepers and chefs. But she had a hobby of watching dramas and YouTube, fascinated by ordinary people’s lives. She learned this onion-cutting trick from watching a home-cooking show on YouTube.

 

Suddenly, the Black King’s eyes sparkled.

 

“Oh, really? How did you know that? I should keep that in mind for cooking later…”

 

“Ahem. Ahem.”

 

The bespectacled servant behind him cleared his throat noisily, and as if a button had been pressed, the Black King abruptly closed his mouth. He seemed to be babbling in embarrassment, yet his expression remained cold and stern.

 

Ilena had no idea what was going on.

 

“And.”

 

Ilena pulled an onion from the water and sliced it with a knife. Soon, the sharp smell made her eyes sting, and tears streamed down her face.

 

“She’s crying!”

 

The servant behind her exclaimed in delight. In contrast, the Black King hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her. Ilena looked down at it with tear-filled eyes. Then she dryly remarked,

 

“…A rabbit pattern.”

 

It was a black silk handkerchief with golden threads that matched his hair. Except, in one corner, there was a white rabbit embroidered, which didn’t suit the imposing Black King at all. Peekaboo, it was adorably cute. The rabbit even had a pink ribbon tied to one ear.

 

‘For such a big man, this is excessively cute, isn’t it?’

 

“Uh? No, this is…”

 

“Did you receive it from a lady you’re dating?”

 

Ilena asked dryly, and the Black King glared coldly.

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

His towering height made him look quite intimidating as he glared down. Was he telling her not to ask further? Well, it was a personal matter. She just found it surprising that someone who looked like a cold desert man would even accept such a thing, let alone keep it.

 

Ilena thought as she took the handkerchief and wiped her tears. Then she spoke nonchalantly.

 

“Look outside.”

 

The Black King, who had been staring at Ilena, quickly turned his head.

 

“Oh.”

 

A strange sigh escaped his lips. The sky was still filled with dark clouds, yet not a drop of rain fell.

 

“My emotions control the weather. Not my expressions or gestures.”

 

Ilena said calmly as she wiped her tears.

 

“Just because you cry doesn’t mean you’re sad, and just because you smile doesn’t mean you’re happy.”

 

Prick. Oh? As she spoke, Ilena felt a strange pain in her chest.

 

‘Right. Just because you smile doesn’t mean you’re happy.’

 

Thinking about the past two years, when she had desperately smiled in front of others to endure, made her chest ache strangely. At the same time, an overwhelming fatigue washed over her.

 

‘Ah, I’m tired. I just want to go back to my room.’

 

Her body felt heavy, like waterlogged cotton. Ilena spoke weakly.

 

“You said you’d make me cry, but your method is quite cute, no, gentle.”

 

“……”

 

“This is just the beginning!”

 

When the Black King closed his mouth coldly, the servant behind him shouted in frustration. He probably thought his king was being ignored.

 

“Just wait! We’ll definitely make you cry!”

 

He shouted with the venom of a villain’s henchman. The Black King crossed his thick arms, smirking.

 

“So, what method did you have in mind?”

 

“Well…”

 

Ilena replied absentmindedly, saying whatever came to mind.

 

“Pulling out nails, sticking needles under the soft skin, breaking the fingers of someone dear to you in front of your eyes. Or maybe sticking XXX into your XX?”

 

The Black King’s sun-kissed face turned pale.

 

‘Oh, did I hit the mark? Looks like I guessed right.’

 

Ilena calmly added,

 

“But if I return to the north with marks on my body, it could cause a national dispute, so torture is out.”

 

In reality, those who received a mine in exchange for handing her over wouldn’t care at all. The crown prince himself had tortured her with electricity. But Ilena, who hated torture, deliberately said so.

 

“Ilena, I mean, I’m an orphan with no relatives, so it’s hard to take someone hostage for leverage.”

 

Oops. She almost referred to herself in the third person, still not used to being possessed.

 

“Hmm. There are plenty of other ways.”

 

Despite her non-threatening threat, the Black King remained composed. He lifted his red lips into a beautiful smile. Even in this situation, he was unnecessarily handsome.

 

‘As expected. I didn’t think he’d stop with just this.’

 

“…Is there any more torture or threats today?”

 

Ilena asked, casting a nonchalant glance around the kitchen. There didn’t seem to be any torture devices besides the onions. The man, who had been watching her with a curious gaze, answered.

 

“No.”

 

“Then, see you at the next session. I’m off.”

 

Let’s go lie down. I’m tired. I don’t want to think about anything. Ilena quickly turned her steps toward her room, where her beloved bed awaited.

 

***

 

“Didn’t I tell you! That wouldn’t be enough!”

 

Otter raised his voice. The other servants had already been dismissed from the office. Left alone with the Black King, who had maintained his ‘cold and decadent desert ruler’ facade, Iago’s face suddenly turned as gentle as a rabbit.

 

He hunched his large body like a frightened small animal and muttered.

 

“Still, the methods you suggested were too violent and cruel.”

 

As he spoke, Iago’s face turned pale, as if the thought had just resurfaced. It was horrifying just to imagine.

 

‘Even pulling out nails is terrible enough, but how could anyone think of sticking needles under the soft skin?’

 

It was amazing that someone could even think of such things. Earlier, the priestess had listed the exact same tortures Otter had suggested, which had shocked him.

 

“Violence against an innocent person is not right. I’ll try peaceful methods as much as possible.”

 

Iago said firmly, clenching his fist. He was naturally gentle and altruistic, rarely asserting himself. Seeing him assert his opinion for once, Otter sighed deeply.

 

“Fine. But if all your methods fail, we’ll do it my way. Do you agree?”

 

Iago hesitated, his red lips moving.

 

“Your Highness, it’s all for the kingdom.”

 

Our venerable kingdom of Rihu… If the late king knew, he’d be weeping in his grave… To avoid the long lecture Otter was about to deliver, Iago quickly responded.

 

“Y-yes. Alright. If all my methods fail.”

 

Then he looked at him with a resolute expression.

 

“But until then, you must not act on your own. Do you understand?”

 

He tried to sound as firm as possible, but his tone remained gentle and soft. Otter felt as if he could see black rabbit ears sprouting from his head.

 

“Hmm? Do you understand?”

 

Sweating and trying hard to endure, Otter eventually gave in and reluctantly answered.

 

“…Yes.”

 

Then Iago beamed brightly. Otter sighed deeply once more, watching his Black King, who seemed to wiggle his imaginary rabbit ears in joy. After Otter left, Iago was alone in the office. He seemed to droop like a rabbit with floppy ears.

 

“…I made her cry.”

 

Tears that fell from lemon-colored eyes. Was it because of her sky-blue hair? Her crying figure seemed like rain falling on a clear sky, unfamiliar and strange.

 

‘Is that why I keep thinking about it? No.’

 

Iago shook his head vigorously.

 

“I made an innocent person cry. It’s guilt. Yes.”

 

After hesitating for a moment, he opened a desk drawer.

 

‘It was precious.’

 

What he took out was a crystal bottle with a rabbit-shaped lid.