I Have 10,000 SSS Rank Villains In My System Space Chapter 377: Selena Pov 2

"What if my deception had caused him even greater harm?" she murmured. "That idea alone ought to have halted me right on the spot." Her hands shook, clenching more firmly as though grasping for some firm anchor. "Yet it failed to. For I was... hideous. I merely craved him."

Those final words scarcely emerged.

"And I... I simply..."

She failed to complete it. The phrase faded into quiet, her gaze brimming with a subdued, overwhelming grief that no longer sought concealment.

"You are not." Before Selena could withdraw deeper into her confession, Marcella merely denied it with a shake of her head, the gesture subtle yet resolute, slicing through a delicate barrier before it could solidify into fact. She avoided raising her tone. She refrained from haste. Her manner stayed even, rooted in the endurance gained from observing a particular individual shatter over unchangeable pasts for years.

"Selfishness is acceptable," she pressed on, her eyes fixed on Selena without demand. "It doesn't render you hideous. All individuals harbor selfishness to some degree. Nobody proceeds devoid of want. Moreover, your aim was never to injure him initially. That counts far more than you permit yourself to acknowledge." She halted momentarily, permitting the statement to sink in rather than shoving it ahead. "Do not doubt your whole being over a single choice."

Selena's features stayed unaltered, yet her respiration eased a touch, like a portion of her attended despite reluctance.

Marcella's stance relaxed sufficiently to shed its typical sternness. "You possess a lovely, compassionate nature," she uttered softly. "Hold that in mind. As a saintess, Selena, that honor isn't bestowed casually. A purpose exists for your selection." Her inflection dropped, shedding its scrutinizing sharpness, turning more intimate. "Gentleness has always defined you. Empathy. Modesty beyond measure. You empathize with others despite the personal toll. Such a spirit proves scarce."

She examined Selena's countenance intently, noting the subtle defiance, the denial of the offered reassurance.

"Your soul shines with beauty, Selena. You must recognize that." Her forehead creased a bit. "Refrain from labeling yourself hideous. For if you truly were... this torment wouldn't grip you so fiercely at present."

The statements lingered in the space separating them.

"The sole cause of your current state," Marcella proceeded, her tone gentler, "stems from your conviction that you wounded him. From your inability to endure the consequences your decision wrought upon him. That anguish you bear... it serves as proof alone that you aren't an ugly person." She released a gradual breath. "Should you be... indifference would prevail. Were your selfishness as you condemn it, progression would have occurred long ago."

Her attention wandered momentarily to the vacant stretch of the training hall prior to refocusing on Selena. "I've witnessed numerous souls in comparable predicaments. The majority would declare, 'The past remains the past.' Should the result benefit them, retrospection vanishes. Guilt seldom burdens the victorious. Such defines existence."

Her stare intensified subtly. "Yet observe you. This remorse devours you entirely. You disregard your inner power, all that persists, permitting this shame to engulf you despite its origin in mere youthful error." Her timbre mellowed once more, bordering on fatigue. "Such conduct belongs not to the conscienceless. It evidences your profound concern. It reveals the extent of your true affection for him."

Selena's hands quivered subtly against the ground.

"Physical suffering afflicts you on his account," Marcella persisted. "Mere recollection of events inflicts agony. You arrived aware of potential costs. You confessed it all unaided. You implored Nova to return Razeal unharmed, fully cognizant of repercussions for yourself." Her eyes tightened a fraction, not accusatory but insistent. "Death held no terror; proclaiming your deeds across the empire seemed feasible if required."

She inclined her head gradually. "Can anyone extend so far for another? To self-destruct voluntarily? No. Claims notwithstanding, few manage it."

Her voice diminished yet again. "Purity defines your heart. Deny this truth no longer."

A thick quiet expanded between them, weighted yet filled.

"Mistakes befall all," Marcella resumed shortly after. "Outcomes evade complete control. At times, results turn foul, minor or vast, and yours escalated to horror. Yet that fails to justify such immense retribution." She paused, her visage tensing as she selected phrasing with care. "A youthful blunder it was. Even supposing the claims against Razeal held, destruction wouldn't suit him. He shared that immaturity. Guidance and amendment would have sufficed."

A subtle rigidity infused her tone, aimed outward. "Lady Merisa's actions proved unjust. That forms another facet of reality. Condemnation absent context yields no equity."

Marcella regarded Selena steadily from above. "Comprehend the context prior to assessing the deed. Often, the surrounding rot taints, not those ensnared."

She grew mute thereafter, letting the declarations stand unurged.

"And that," she concluded in hushed tones, "demands your grasp. Address this remorse. For it outweighs your deeds' merit. Peace suits you, Selena. Yet acceptance precedes its discovery."

Her timbre eased into near exhaustion. "Guilt burdens profoundly. Yield to it, and it devours existence."

Marcella uttered no further, merely observing.

Selena shut her eyes.

Her head leaned against the wall once more, chill rock meeting her flesh. She recognized these notions. Logically, comprehension existed. Yet grasp and embrace diverged. Rationale from another failed to dislodge the remorse. It endured, entrenched within her torso, steadfast.

Her breaths shallowed anew.

Peace.

The term seemed remote, strange.

Moments later, she inhaled softly and unveiled her eyes. Upon meeting Marcella's this time, a delicate grin formed on her mouth... brittle, drained, veiling sorrow poorly.

"Peace?" she breathed faintly. "Why eludes me peace?" Her sight wandered vaguely, chasing invisible musings. "Exists but one soul in this realm?" Her timbre sank, scarce above murmur. "For thoughts of him submerge me... Each instant... It urges me to tear apart and end myself.. I. I don't know."

The grin persisted, yet pained observation.

Marcella regarded her for beats, silent. Such anguish defied imposition. At length, she replied, her manner tender yet forthright.

"You revealed the truth to him," she queried, "concerning your motive?"

Selena denied it with gradual head shake.

Marcella's look altered subtly, contemplation flickering in her eyes. "Did he inquire your reason?" she pursued. "For occasionally... the rift between souls stems not from animosity, but misconception, and yours appears profoundly so."

She advanced nearer, her inflection serene, logical. "Mutual candor might render this separation less final. Erasure of events proves impossible. Yet maturity discerns betrayal from misguided selection sans malice."

Her stare warmed, words crisp nonetheless. "Honest discourse may not mend all. Yet it could alleviate suffering... for you both."

At Marcella's utterance, a subtle transformation crossed Selena's visage, minute, scarcely noticeable initially. Then a grin surfaced. Relief or accord it lacked. It bore solemn depth, born of painful insight too acute for refutation. The grief embedded so profoundly that surrounding atmosphere thickened.

A soft exhalation escaped her, near laughter, devoid of mirth.

"Should he seek my motive?" she whispered, tone gentle and faltering, words drawn from vulnerability. Her attention strayed from Marcella briefly, adrift in private visions. "What anguish and woe would ensue?"

Her grin quivered faintly, unyielding.

"Anguish persists for... he never inquired." The concluding phrase hushed, fragmenting near finish. "That... that wounds deepest."

Marcella sensed unexpected constriction in her breast at the view. Selena's demeanor lacked theatrics, desperation. Worse, it embodied surrender, tenderness, as though fate's design stood embraced. Marcella deemed it the most heartrending grin witnessed, momentarily speechless.

A languid sigh emerged instead.

This young woman bears excess beyond her deed's due, Marcella reflected, the awareness weighing upon her core. Retribution existed, then this self-inflicted exile persisting post-societal verdict.

"I grasp your intent," Marcella voiced eventually, head tilting faintly, timbre subdued. She wavered briefly, scrutinizing Selena's look as if gauging impact of forthcoming counsel. "Permit advice?"

The inquiry arrived cautiously, near ceremonial, seeking entry to intimate terrain over mere expression.

Selena eyed her for seconds. Her gaze probed Marcella's features, perhaps anticipating revelation, ere nodding affirmatively.

Marcella inhaled deliberately. "Existence grants varied acquisitions," she commenced, phrasing with intent, "yet totality eludes all." Her focus held firm, subtle melancholy underscoring poise. "Endeavor occurs universally. But occasionally... when pursuit yields naught despite effort, release becomes necessary."

She halted, eyeing Selena intently.

"Pursuit now invites further torment. Your lingering love shows clearly." Her timbre eased. "Given events... and my final glimpse of him... contemplate relinquishment."

The declaration rang direct, sans malice, yet burdensome. Marcella anticipated backlash, weeping, fury—anything. Essentially, sans softness: possession may forever evade.

"I grasped this belatedly," she added, inflection hushed, contemplative. "Irreparables abound. Swift acceptance halts remorse's flood."

She maintained Selena's gaze, mindful of potential sting. Reluctance marked utterance, yet necessity prevailed. Truth's ache now surpassed lifelong scar reopening.

She anticipated Selena's fracture.

Contrarily, Selena merely grinned.

Denial or rebellion it lacked. Softer, near serene, it halted Marcella.

Selena denied with slow head motion. "Perhaps so," she uttered softly. "Yet impossibility binds me. Desire alters nothing."

Marcella breathed out gently, sorrowful comprehension etching her features. "Then the arduous path awaits," she responded, bestowing a subtle, empathetic curve. "Common for most. Comprehension dawns eventually."

But Selena refused anew, resolute now.

"No," she affirmed, timbre even amid gentleness. "Comprehension misses the mark." Sight dipped momentarily, then rose assured. "Impossibility reigns. Ceasing desire or affection defies me. Effort notwithstanding."

Marcella observed keenly, discerning resolve over obstinacy. Certainty defined it.

Selena elevated her right palm unhurriedly, resting it softly over her heart. The act seemed casual, profoundly purposeful.

"He resides here," she declared.

Fingers brushed her chest lightly, once, underscoring an inner sensation. "Within my heart."

A soft, sheepish laugh surfaced, eyes tender. "As an arrow. Extraction would fail. Heart would depart alongside..." Her grin softened, grief warmed by inner glow. "Yet he stays embedded deeply within."

Vocal assurance precluded hyperbole. Feelings stated plainly, embraced truth.

Such hearing rendered Marcella silent, stare fixed. Naivety absented Selena's look, illusion fled. Sole quiet assurance. Marcella first realized reason's futility.

Moments passed; she shook head lightly, breath escaping in near awe.

"Then indulge me," she requested, faint amusement threading voice unintended, "his feat securing such station in your noble heart? Earning love so profound?"

Selena regarded her briefly, then negated slowly.

"No feats required," she replied gently.

Her grin shifted, remote, memory-tinged over agony. Briefly, ocular grief lightened.

"None needed," she added. "He embodies... love incarnate." Sight lowered, evoking soft intangibility. "How resist loving him?"

Simplicity rang, sincerity brooked no debate.

And... Marcella stood wordless.

Seconds elapsed in stare, cognition stalled, as if inner rhythm lagged the heard profundity. Answer's plainness—love incarnate—disarmed utterly, beyond rhetoric's reach. Lips parted, then sealed, words paling beside spoken depth.

Internally, curse arose unbidden.

Lucky bastard.

Unrestrained, from candid depths unchecked. Viewing Selena's assured gentleness, hesitation void, Marcella conceded. Such unconditional, selfless love eluded most lifetimes. Razeal, aware or otherwise, held one loving thusly profound.

Head shook subtly, involuntary smile gracing lips. Painful beauty defined it. Tragic, foolish, yet exquisite. Fleetingly, life's severity receded, supplanted by unrequited emotion's purity.

Then abruptly... it shattered.

Selena's form tensed.

Abrupt, undeniable alteration. Half-shut eyes, long narrowed, flared wide, sharpness piercing haze like thunderbolt. Breath caught, as if... an inner summons struck, hers alone.

Ere Marcella registered, Selena mobilized.

She propelled upward seamlessly, vitality igniting spontaneously, aureate gleam dancing over frame as she dashed doorward. Impulse, not deliberation, propelled—raw, absolute assurance. Form blurred, golden flash traversing hall instantaneously.

Yet mid-stride... she froze.

Sans volition.

Marcella's gaze sharpened as palm ascended casually. Unseen bind encircled Selena, arresting motion. Atmosphere constricted, immobilizing sans tangible hold. Psychic grip suspended her, toes scarce grazing floor.

Resistance absent. Futile within Marcella's dominion.

"What?" Marcella's brow furrowed, surprise genuine. "Flight now?"

Unanticipated from Selena. Not post weeks of inertia, subdued acceptance. Urgency jarred.

But prior to probe, Selena's visage revealed.

Tears cascaded.

Swift, fervent... eyes brimmed instantly, overflow preceding awareness. Countenance bared, poise shattered, long-suppressed breach.

Marcella's scowl intensified, bewilderment crossing briefly.

Ere curiosity peaked... Selena voiced.

"Lady Marcella... I.. Razeal returns to the empire. I sensed him just now." Timbre quavered, breaths ragged, phrases tumbling urgently. "Release me. Please... allow me to him. He's returned. I... I must meet him.. I need to see him..."

Vocal plea rang clear. No joy, no ease. Raw necessity, like surfacing from depths.

"Please," she implored anew, her shoulder