CHAPTER 8 Stockholm Syndrome?

　　"Open your mouth," said Gerald, raising an eyebrow.

　　Lisa felt ashamed so she closed her eyes firmly. He was confused by Lisa's expression, which closed her eyes when asked to open her mouth. He found her so cute right now. He really wanted to laugh. But, he stayed in his character to be tough, strong, and arrogant.

　　In Gerald's eyes, Lisa who was closing her eyes and opening her mouth looked cute.

　　"Here is your food," continued Gerald.

　　He thought she was very cute. Meanwhile, Lisa started to open her eyes slowly after hearing the word “food” in the man's voice.

　　Gerald told her to open her mouth as a form of expression telling her to eat. However, she thought otherwise. Moreover, their position makes her mind fantasize wildly. She was too afraid to be touched by anyone. She still felt trauma after the rape night.

　　“Food?”

　　Lisa wrinkled her forehead.

　　"You asked the waiters for food," said Gerald, pointing at some food in front of Lisa.

　　Silently, he asked the maid where they were going and it was revealed what Lisa was doing behind his back. Instead of being angry that Lisa ordered her maid, he actually felt sorry for Lisa who had not eaten anything since she was dragged into this drama-filled castle.

　　However, since Gerald didn't want to show that pity in front of Lisa, he pretended to give her the food as her punishment because she tried to run away.

　　"Because you have arbitrarily ordered my servant, you also fled from my room, then you need to be punished. You must finish this food within ten minutes" he ordered arrogantly.

　　Lisa widened her eyes, surprised by what was in front of her. It's not at all like what she had in mind.

　　However, the way Gerald told him to eat was arrogant and it made her uncomfortable. In Lisa's mind, she guessed that Gerald was holding a grudge because he was caught ordering his maid on Gerald's behalf. Lisa herself actually didn't realize she was hungry at all.

　　"Time... start—“ Gerald said on cue.

　　"... Wait," said Lisa.

　　"You're telling me to eat all of this?" Lisa shouted.

　　"Why? Something wrong? These are all human food," said Gerald.

　　Lisa saw all the neatly arranged food. This was a great dish. She couldn't possibly finish it all in an instant.

　　"Are you crazy?" said Lisa.

　　"Why don't you eat them? Don’t you want to eat them?" Lisa asked innocently.

　　"I'll eat you if you don't finish it all" replied Gerald who actually charged threateningly. Lisa was getting goosebumps.

　　"Okay"

　　The girl gave up and began to eat the food voraciously. Silently, Gerald looked at him with admiration. For him, the way Lisa ate food is very unique and funny. The woman looked like an elementary school kid.

　　This was the first time for the arrogant Gerald to see a woman so innocent as her. Gerald silently looked at Lisa thirsty.

　　After a while, Lisa finally realized that Gerald had been staring at her.

　　"Has it been ten minutes? Why are you looking at me like that?" asked her.

　　"There's still time. Finish your meal," said Gerald.

　　He just pretended to be looking at the sand which was actually broken. He deliberately gave time so that Lisa could enjoy her food.

　　He imagined how hard Bosy had treated her before dragging her into the hall. Lisa must be in a lot of pain. She might be so much starving right now. He thought that she was too shy and afraid to ask him. That was why she wanted the servants to find her some food.

　　After she finished the meal, Lisa felt like she was being watched by Gerald. She tilted her head up, looking at the gallant Gerald standing in front of her.

　　"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lisa asked with all confusion on her face.

　　"Are you afraid?" asked Gerald.

　　"No. I'm just afraid you'll fall in love" said Lisa trying to joke, in the tension of the master who looks arrogant and cruel in front of the girl.

　　The man didn't laugh at all at Lisa's unfunny joke. Lisa also felt sorry for throwing that narcissistic joke.

　　"Falling in love? You know what a vampire-human relationship and a person in love have in common?" Gerald replied in response to Lisa's words about love.

　　"What?" asked Lisa.

　　"Both are the same in that, what he wants is inside the woman," Gerald replied with a powerful look.

　　“Inside?” asked Lisa. She took her hands crossed in front of her chest and stared at Gerald as she stared at a predator.

　　Gerald laughs so hard.

　　“You are really afraid if I touch you, right?” Gerald guessed from Lisa’s expression that he actually thought that it was cute.

　　“Don’t even dare to touch me!”

　　“What if I do?”

　　Gerald tried to tease her.

　　“I will kill you by my hand” Lisa answered.

　　“Don’t you really realize who I am?” asked Gerald.

　　“I know.”

　　“Vampire does not die, sweetheart. Even if I wish I did” Gerald continued.

　　Lisa looked at Gerald’s face. At the moment Gerald said that he wish he could die, Lisa felt pity for him. She imagined living in an immortal world. The short life that she had already made her suffer. What if it is endless? It might be endless suffering, after all.

　　She has ever read about Stockholm syndrome in which the victim feels pity for the criminal. Now, she was thinking that she started to feel that way. Especially after looking at Gerald’s facial expression.

　　“No. I am not supposed to feel pity for him. I must hate him” said Lisa inside her mind.

　　“Why are you silent?” Gerald asked Lisa who daydreamed.

　　“How long have you lived like this?” Lisa asked.

　　“It is none of your business. Don’t ask something irrelevant with you,” Gerald answered arrogantly.

　　“As a slave, you do not have any right to speak without my permission.”