⊱L'ignorance est le bonheur⊰

Ignorance is bliss

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"How can I be okay?" I pulled my hair and slumped forward. "I never knew my dad was responsible for such a thing. I heard he was there for his sins but not knowing what he did made it easier to deny all that... But now..."

The cushion dipped as Kindness sat down in front of me.

I heaved a sigh, replaying what Jimin said. "My dad was mistreating Jimin for more profit. For his greed. I never asked or talked about anything about his work with my dad. There could be more victims and I don't know what to think now..."

"Sae," she sighed and wrapped an arm around me, patting my back. "What your father did is not your fault, so don't beat yourself up too much."

"No. I was trying to manipulate- I was trying to use Jimin, to get on his good side and help my dad to eventually get him out of there," I huffed in shame and disgust, regretting what I was doing to Jimin. "I acted like I liked him and he... He was believing it and becoming nicer to me. I lied to him..."

"Sae-"

"What?"

I flinched when I heard his voice and dread crawled up my body, sending shivers down my back.

When I forced myself to face him, Jimin scoffed in disbelief and his sharp glare seized my breathing. It was the deadliest I had seen on him as he looked straight at me. No sparkles. No warmth. Spine-chilling, blazing yellow eyes holding all the hatred and malice in the world.

"You're Mr. Jung's daughter and you were trying to get him out by using me. How cruel is that? To think that you who seemed so innocent could be so vile and cruel." He snorted with no trace of humor. "Everything was a lie... everything was an illusion and I was stupid enough to believe it..."

I stumbled off the couch and straightened up in front of him with a pleading look. Every nerve was screaming at me to deny, to do anything to fix everything as my chest squeezed painfully like never before.

"Jimin- I- No! I can- Please let me explain!"

"Explain what? Is there anything to be explained?" His eyes burned brighter golden, narrowing dangerously as he laughed monotonously. "I can see that you're really the daughter of such a horrible man, Saejin. No- Charity."

The way he addressed me with spite and hostility made me shudder. It felt like something had pierced me. Whatever tie was forming between us was severed to never be mended again. Hearing what I did just after his confession must had snapped something in him. The sheer hatred simmering in the depth of his golden eyes smothered me.

"If you're granted the blessing of being a Virtue, quit being selfish and live up to your fucking title," he yelled, raising his voice and balling his fists, making me recoil. "And I'll live up to mine. I neglected my duties of torturing sinners for years. I thought I was a Virtue, not a Sin... like a fool..."

He breathed out a laugh. "Maybe I should thank you for reminding me that. I can't have my sinners like Mr. Jung laying around like they're on a vacation when they're actually in hell, right, Charity?"

In a blink, he flew up to me and leaned down to whisper in my ear, "I'm not charity you can use and manipulate to do whatever you want. I'm a hell creature. And my sinners are waiting for me. Their skins peel off so fast when scalded, you see? I wonder how long it'll take for your father's."

I gasped in horror and before I could grab him to stop him, he vanished into thin air. Fists clenched, I dropped to the floor and replayed his words in my head.

'I can't have my sinners like Mr. Jung laying around like they're on a vacation when they're actually in hell...'

'Their skins peel off so fast... I wonder how long it'll take for your father's.'

Something heavy crawled up my stomach and throat. I started gagging and retching when Kindness rushed to me, holding my shoulders.

"Sae! Oh my gosh, I'm taking us to the heavens!"

With that, our surroundings shifted, allowing gentle blows of air ease me into breathing. My vision was blurry but judging from the silence and emptiness, I guessed she took me to somewhere desolate.

"What do I do? What do I do?!" I screamed, clutching my chest. "I made everything worse! He's going to hurt him! T-T-Torture- I- I have to stop him! But how?!"

Warmth engulfed me as Kindness hugged me tightly. "I'm sorry, Sae... You know we can't do anything. We must not interfere with hell's affairs and they must not with heaven's."

"No!" My throat ripped as I screamed louder, and I broke out of her hold to stand up even when my legs were failing. "I can't let him! I can't!"

I froze when Humility appeared before me with a neutral expression. He stared at me in silence for a moment and I ordered, "Move."

"You have no valid reason to enter hell," he stated so confidently that my hands twitched to punch him. "You'll be breaking the rules and you know that. Don't make a dire mistake, Charity."

"I said 'move'!"

"No, I won't let you put yourself in danger-"

I shoved him with my hands on his chest, earning a gasp from Kindness. "Don't tell me what to do! Stop being so overbearing and get away from me!"

"As your leader!" My breath hitched when he grabbed my wrist to pull me against himself. "And as your brother," he whispered, eyes softening, "I must protect you Virtues. I beg you... I implore you to stop, Sae."

Scowling in pain, I challenged his gaze for a minute or two, but the anger dissipated as soon as it arrived, giving way to despair. My knees buckled once again and I gripped Humility's white dress shirt.

"Please do something," I shakily let out, whimpering. "You're our leader and you have more power than anyone. Please help me... help my father..."

He kneeled down and wrapped his arms around me. "It's beyond what I can do... Even for me..."

"...I'm so sorry..."

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When you spill something and get caught 🙃

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