Chapter 176: Unhealthy

The sudden shift in Nikolai's gaze and his unexpected question left Ophelia momentarily stunned. His intense stare bore into her, and she found herself unable to look away, captivated by the dark energy emanating from him. "Does this have anything to do with the sunstone?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "A little bit," Nikolai replied, his voice low and measured. Ophelia tightened her grip on his cloak, seeking comfort in its familiar texture as she tried to steady herself against the unease creeping into her heart. She began to speak, her voice trembling slightly as she recalled her past. "I always thought that I was experiencing someone else's suffering. The rage... the wild, uncontrollable anger... it felt like it belonged to another. I would go berserk, with strange, violent bruises appearing on my face. My heart ached constantly, and there was this relentless need for revenge. I killed maids who tried to restrain me, time and again. I almo