Page 70 of Everdoll

“Of course, I still trust you. You’re my reliable Remi.” I murmured.

“Really?”

With ice-cold eyes staring at me, I felt my soul being seen. I averted my gaze, but he grabbed my chin, turning my face back to him.

“Do you really trust me, Mina?”

No. “Y-Yes, Remi. Why wouldn’t I?”

“You’re right. I lied to you. I didn’t obey your orders and never reset myself. Not even once.”

“You must have a reason.”

“I do.” Remi smiled, the look of satisfaction on his face was a new expression for me. “You’re not curious?”

Every time he looked at me, I would get a strange tingling sensation. Something dangerous, but sweet too. Remi was different—from everyone else. When I was with him, I didn’t have to be on guard. Even if he deceived me, even if he took advantage of my lack of control, I knew he would never hurt me.

He would rather kill himself than do me harm. I could see it in his eyes. In those blue-greens, he worshiped me like I was his goddess, burning with a hunger that wished to devour me, to lock me in his world forever.

I shook my head, smiling.

“No. As long as you stay with me, nothing else matters.”

I was sincere. What was the point of searching for the truth? Eli did, and died.

Would reality truly give me the happiness I crave?

“Even if I lie to you?”

When he asked, I felt something inside me snap. Remi was the only person I didn’t put on a facade around. With my dad, I was the spoiled girl; with Eli, I was the ray of sunshine radiating positive energy. But with Remi… who was I? I had never worried about this before, but now the time had come.

Maybe… The depressed girl attached to her robot.

“Yes, it doesn’t matter. We’re like a family.”

Remi studied me for a moment. Though his lips were a straight line, the wrinkles around his eyes made him look like he were smiling.

“What does family mean to you, I wonder.”

“I mean… we’re close. We have a bond. Don’t we?”

“Yes, close. No one in this world closer to you than me.”

“Yes. No one.” I whispered, my tone made his eyes widen. “Only you, my Remi.”

With a slight smirk, he leaned in to steal another kiss. His lips trailed down my neck, drifting toward my collarbone. I thought it wasn’t something to be overemphasized. Robots didn’t have romantic intentions like humans. I was surprised he had such a command, but that’s all. There had to be a reason.

Don’t think, don’t think ahead. Stay innocent like everyone wants.

“I…” I caught my breath, then held him at arm’s length to slow things down. “I’m a little sleepy… Sorry…”

As I watched his chest heave, the guilt settled in my stomach again.

“Right, sorry. You should rest.”

He was as obedient as if he’d received a royal command. His aggressiveness seemed to have vanished. He covered me with a blanket and put a little kiss on my forehead. Then waited by my side until I closed my eyes. Patient and gentle…

Madness.