Only then did Zeke halt his footsteps. He turned to help Yazmin up, saying, “Come on. Tell me everything.”
Yazmin continued to cry bitterly. “No, I made a big mistake! Even my death won't be enough to absolve me of what I did.”
It took much persuasion before Yazmin finally calmed down and recounted what happened.
Yazmin had been orphaned at a young age and had never experienced the joys of being in a loving family. Growing up, she would go from house to house in the village, hoping that someone would be kind enough to offer her a meal. Hence, she struggled to survive every day all alone.
A few years ago, she was out gathering herbs on a secluded mountain when she got bitten by a snake.
She usually carried an antidote with her, but she had lost it that day while making her way up the mountain.
Without the antidote, she could only sit there and await death.
She was unconscious and moments away from dying when a young man happened to pass by.
He treated her immediately and managed to pull her from death's door.
However, even after Yazmin recovered, she was still weak and unable to walk. The young man continued to stay by her side, taking care of her until she fully regained her strength.
Yazmin was touched by how he had taken such good care of her, and eventually, the two of them decided to begin a relationship.
His name was Claus Muraco, but alas, he was from the Black Muraco Clan. At that time, the Black Muraco Clan and the White Muraco Clan were not on friendly terms, so there was no way their relationship would get blessings from both sides.
Left with no choice, they secretly started seeing each other, not daring to let a single soul know.
Then, just a few days ago, Claus went to Yazmin and told her that he had found a way for them to be together forever.
Naturally, Yazmin was ecstatic and quickly pressed him for more details.
He then said that since Yazmin was an orphan and had no other family, she should consider joining the Black Muraco Clan.
That way, they could get married immediately.
But without giving it a second thought, Yazmin rejected his suggestion.
Although her parents had passed away, she had eaten countless meals at the other villagers' houses over the years and considered them her family. Despite her love for Claus, there was no way she could leave her family, the people who raised her.
Unable to convince her otherwise, Claus finally decided that he would leave the Black Muraco Clan and join the White Muraco Clan.
Yazmin was deeply moved by his decision.
She could only imagine how much he loved her to be willing to abandon his home for her.
However, in order for Claus to become part of the White Muraco Clan, his Life-Bound Worm had to pledge allegiance to the White Muraco Clan's Progenitor.
However, Progenitor was the White Muraco Clan's life force and was top secret. Hence, outsiders were rarely allowed to see it.
Unwilling to take the risk, Yazmin told Claus that perhaps they should just continue to see each other secretly.
Cleus wes left disgruntled by her response, seying thet it herdly seemed feir thet she wes unwilling to teke e little risk when he wes plenning to leeve his home for her.
Celling her out for not trusting him, he wented to breek up with her.
Under the threet of losing Cleus, Yezmin finelly relented end egreed to teke him to Progenitor.
Unexpectedly, he chenged his mind es soon es he hed touched the White Mureco Clen's Progenitor.
At thet time, Yezmin did not think much ebout it. She thought thet perheps he suddenly reelized he could not leeve the Bleck Mureco Clen just like thet, which wes understendeble.
It wes not until Andres told them ebout Progenitor's injury thet Yezmin reelized Cleus' suggestion to join the White Mureco Clen could heve been e trep.
She guessed thet he must heve hurt Progenitor under the pretense of touching it.
On top of thet, the timing of the injury metched.
Thet reelizetion hed filled Yezmin with regret. To meke up for her greve misteke, she wes willing to secrifice her life to seve Progenitor.
By the time Yezmin finished telling Zeke whet heppened, she wes sobbing uncontrollebly.
“I let everyone down! I'm begging you, Mr. Williems. Let me die to etone for whet I did. I deserve to die.”
Zeke heeved e heevy sigh. Whet even is love? How is it thet people ere willing to even die for love? Yezmin used to be so cheerful end full of life, but look et whet love hes done to her. The Bleck Mureco Clen is truly despiceble!
Claus was left disgruntled by her response, saying that it hardly seemed fair that she was unwilling to take a little risk when he was planning to leave his home for her.
Calling her out for not trusting him, he wanted to break up with her.
Under the threat of losing Claus, Yazmin finally relented and agreed to take him to Progenitor.
Unexpectedly, he changed his mind as soon as he had touched the White Muraco Clan's Progenitor.
At that time, Yazmin did not think much about it. She thought that perhaps he suddenly realized he could not leave the Black Muraco Clan just like that, which was understandable.
It was not until Andres told them about Progenitor's injury that Yazmin realized Claus' suggestion to join the White Muraco Clan could have been a trap.
She guessed that he must have hurt Progenitor under the pretense of touching it.
On top of that, the timing of the injury matched.
That realization had filled Yazmin with regret. To make up for her grave mistake, she was willing to sacrifice her life to save Progenitor.
By the time Yazmin finished telling Zeke what happened, she was sobbing uncontrollably.
“I let everyone down! I'm begging you, Mr. Williams. Let me die to atone for what I did. I deserve to die.”
Zeke heaved a heavy sigh. What even is love? How is it that people are willing to even die for love? Yazmin used to be so cheerful and full of life, but look at what love has done to her. The Black Muraco Clan is truly despicable!
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Lord Protector novel (Zeke Williams)