My Idle System

Chapter 224: Yours (1)

Still inside his office, and now looking at Nina standing in front of him, Christian felt a mix of emotions stir within him as he recalled what he had discovered about her talent yesterday.

He was still hesitating…

Hesitating whether he should help her train in essence or not.

Because, unlike Sophia, whom he had many thoughts about, due to her behavior and standing, yet he still had a certain measure of trust in her.

Nina, on the other hand… even though, on a personal level, he actually liked her more than Sophia, there was still a lingering doubt inside him.

Could he really trust her?

It was a question he still hadn't found the answer to, even after five months of living together in this house.

And so, he asked, "How much do you understand about what's going on now?"

Nina stared back at him with her usual neutral expression and answered,

"As things are related to the other side of the world, and essence… and you were compelled to do something to two criminals first, before you actually met with Miss Eva and Miss Annabelle. And once again did the same thing to me and Sophia."

"Then, it probably has to do with training in essence… and you're currently trying to decide whether to train me too, or not."

Christian raised an eyebrow, surprised at how accurately she seemed to have grasped the situation.

He felt it was a bit too far-fetched to connect what was, to her, just a simple test, with unclear meaning, to something as specific as training in essence.

Still, it wasn't entirely unexpected. He hadn't exactly hidden things from them, after all.

He simply never spelled it all out.

And she could have picked up bits and pieces from his conversations with his sister or Eva.

So, not minding that, he asked, "And what do you think?"

He wanted to hear something… anything, that could help him make a clear decision.

Nina looked at the young man in front of her, clearly a lot taller than the first time she met him, and, strangely, felt huge at this moment.

She looked at the man whose presence now carried a calmer, more mysterious vibe than before… then shook her head and said, "… I don't know."

She was lying. She did know. She understood perfectly well what he wanted to hear.

But even then, she didn't say the words that might help him trust her more.

Instead, she said what came to her mind, "But I want to train in essence."

"My body and everything is already yours… so there's nothing more I can offer."

"... But, if possible, I really want to train in essence."

Nina expressed what she wanted, something she had rarely done in her life.

But for someone like her, who only ever knew how to kill, there was nothing else she would ask for, aside from strength.

"Is that really so?" Christian asked.

And hearing his contemplative tone, Nina wondered—

Which part was he doubting?

Was it her desire to train?

Or was it the part where she said she had nothing left to offer?

She didn't know… and she didn't have time to think it through.

Because before she could deduce what exactly he meant, she saw him raise his hand… and wave it.

A small gesture, beckoning her to come closer.

And closer, she walked.

She walked until she was just an arm's distance from him, and finally stopped.

Locking eyes with him, Nina tried to understand where this situation was going—

Until… she felt his hand on her cheek.

… Caressing it.

Is he finally in the mood to have his way with me?

She calmly wondered, without breaking eye contact.

She felt his hand linger at her cheek for a moment, before sliding down to her neck—

Not stopping there, either, as it continued downward, until it finally landed on her breast.

Right above her heart.

And she couldn't help but feel her body become tense.

… The first touch of a man on her body, aside from times when she was fighting for her life, felt foreign to her.

But that wasn't the reason for her body's reaction.

Instead, she strangely felt as if death was just a few centimeters away from her.

The calm, green eyes of the man who was staring at her made her feel that way.

… Eyes she felt she would never be able to run away from.

Made her feel that way.

Nina felt like her body was caught in the heart of a storm, and she was… just a leaf.

A fragile leaf, drifting over the surface of a vast ocean—

One that could sink at any moment,

just from the whim of the young man standing in front of her.

It took her more than a few minutes to remember.

That she wasn't just now a few centimeters away from death.

… She had always been that close.

Ever since the moment she accepted the mission to assassinate him, she had always been standing just that short distance away from death.

Because she instinctively knew, that the man in front of her wouldn't hesitate, even for a moment, to take her life, if the need ever arose.

At this moment, she was reminded of all of that.

And strangely, that realization… helped her regain her composure.

Was he waiting for this? For her to calm down?

Christian suddenly said, "What if I want more than just your body?"

Nina saw the amusement flicker in his eyes.

She felt his hand still resting over her chest.

And suddenly, she understood.

Is he talking about my feelings? My heart?

Nina wondered.

She stayed silent for a few moments, letting the thought stir within her,

Then she shook her head and said,

"I don't know if I'll ever have those kinds of feelings in my life."

"But…"

Nina suddenly hesitated.

Why?

She didn't know.

She still didn't know.

In the end, she found herself avoiding his gaze,

and in a low voice, she continued her sentence,

"My heart is also yours."

"So… if I ever have any kind of feeling in the future…"

"Then, they would also be yours."

"Be it resentment… or love."