CH 4

With that, the tie between the Imperial family and Berhemoth was revealed. The rumor died down under pressure from the Imperial family, but the fear of Berhemoth still lingered around.

Evil for evil.

Power for power.

If Diaval tried to crush Grace with power, she had to counter it with something more powerful.

That was the reason Grace was here now.

To deal with evil by selling herself to the Devil.

“Fuuu.”

Grace inhaled a small deep breath. She was sitting in the drawing room of the now notorious Archduke Berhemoth.

Her body quivered in anxiety.

Grace had never ran across Johan Raphael Berhemoth in person. It wasn’t just her.

The Berhemoth only appeared if the Imperial family wished them for.

This recluse behavior just added more oil into people’s idea of Berhemoth.

‘This is more uncanny than I heard from my great-aunt.’

Her heart was thundering with fear. Even so, her fear was nothing compared to the anger and frustration she felt when she thought of Meyer.

Berhemoth residence was classic and at the same time had gloomy atmosphere. As if time solely stopped in here, the place was calm and quiet.

Each and every item that filled the drawing room was a high-quality item that would be difficult to find at the Meyer. The walls were adorned with large tapestries, which about the founding myth of the Empire, Grace realized. The tapestries were embroidered with the story of the Devil being executed by God.

‘Devil and God…’

Such tapestries were decorated at the Berhemoth who sold their souls to the Devil.

‘How ironic,’ commented Grace.

Truth was, it wasn’t the only irony. Berhemoth, who considered selling their souls to the Devil, were baptized as soon as they were born and used their baptismal name as their name.

The name of the current head of Berhemoth was Johan Raphael Berhemoth.

A name taken from an angel.

It added a weird combo to this Archduke. The name of an angel given to the Devil.

“I’ve made you wait.”

After a long wait, the person she had been waiting for finally showed up.

“I am Johan Raphael Berhemoth.”

He introduced himself courtly and extended his hand to Grace. Deep green eyes, reminiscent of forest color, met with her eyes.

For a moment, the urge to escape from there right away overwhelmed Grace. His eyes seemed to pierced her and exposed her soul.

‘Get a grip, Grace. Don’t run away. This is just the beginning.’

The beginning of revenge on Meyer. Of her new life.

This was the last rope Grace could clutch.

Gradually, she took his hand with her trembling hand. She hoped he didn’t notice.

“I am Grace Zeronis.”

Although it was ludicrous to stick up with Zeronis’ last name after they abandoned her, she couldn’t deceive the Archduke. This was the time to put a good impression on the Archduke Berhemoth.

Johan Raphael sat with his long leg crossed over to another. With one hand on his chin, he appeared languid and threatening.

It explained now why people believed they were possessed by the Devil.

Never in her life Grace ever saw someone as stunning as Johan Raphael Berhemoth. He was like a creature sculpted so perfectly to please eyes. Perhaps, it wasn’t the Berhemoth that was possessed by the Devil, but the Devil was possessed by the Berhemoth.

“Well then, what do you have to tell me?”

His tone implied that the sudden uninvited guest was unpleasant but a bit intriguing. In the first place, only a few people traveled to and from the Dukedom. Some people who called him Devil evaded him while the other who visited was refused by the Archduke.

Yet, Johan Raphael accepted Grace’s sudden visit.

An unannounced request with no messages in advance nor from an acquaintance. If it wasn’t for what Grace wrote in her letter, she would certainly had been rejected.

[ Your Grace, I know about the secret and curse of the Berhemoth family. ]

The corner of his lips lifted upward faintly while he maintained sharp eyes like a beagle. Grace swallowed down her saliva.

She had to succeed in this negotiation no matter what.

If she failed, her safety and the children, the unnamed child waiting outside of the Archduke’s residence and Cielle who was still in the Meyer, would be in danger.

“I’ve something for you.”

“Something for me?”

Grace wasted no time to pull out her belongings. She managed to enter the place but if she couldn’t catch the Archduke’s attention, she could be immediately kicked out. She only had one chance.

“I want to return this.”

What she pulled out was a golden pocket watch.

The clock hands weren’t moving, broken and worn out as time passed. At first glance, it was just an antique watch, but his behavior proved otherwise. He, who was observing her movement, pursed his mouth in an instant.

On Grace’s hand was the heirloom of Archduke Berhemoth. It disappeared along with the suicide of Johan Gabriel Berhemoth. The missing heirloom no one thought would ever be found.

Grace carefully put down the watch in front of him. His arm outstretched and, a little impatiently, held high the watch. She didn’t stop him.

The light of the chandelier hanging from the ceiling made the curve of the watch glinted. Once he confirmed it was indeed their heirloom, he gave her a pointed look.

“Why does a daughter of Zeronis have this?”

“It’s a keepsake of my great-aunt. When my grandmother passed away, she left it for me.”

To be exact, it was a set with a diary containing her life.

The reason Grace could retain the pocket watch was because her family deemed this as a worthless thing. But the old pocket watch, along with the diary, became Grace’s most precious gift.

After all, it gave Grace a way to get out of this situation.

The old gold strings rustled between his fingers. With a crooked smile, he started.

“I assume you know what this is.”

“Yes. It’s the heirloom of the Berhemoth.”

“Correct. It got lost decades ago, so I thought I’d never be able to find it anymore. I was surprised that our family treasure suddenly appeared and returned… Is there anything you want?”

She took a deep breath and replied.

“Yes, there is.”

Amused by Grace’s upfront assent, his eyebrow raised.

‘I can’t shake off this feeling.’

Grace was terrified for an unknown reason. Just like most people who face Berhemoth. However, in some way, her eyes gleamed with determination.

She had another reason for choosing Berhemoth besides the reason to be able to defy Meyer. Because they were called the Devil of the Empire.

As per Meyer said, that Laurentia had a child with a Devil, the stillborn that still formed in a fetus.

So what if the Devil Meyer was talking about was a metaphor for Archduke Berhemoth?

If the Marquis Meyer’s wife had an affair with an unmarried Archduke and had a child with him, Laurentia would be blamed by people. It was a natural conclusion when a married woman played in the back with another man. Nevertheless, Laurentia’s honor had already fallen to the bottom and turned to dust.

Then, what if she reversed the situation?

If she put Laurentia’s child in the family register of Archduke Berhemoth. Laurentia’s reputation might have tarnished, but no one could talk about her!

Since she was the woman who gave birth to the Archduke’s child.

* * *

Sorry for the late update, work had been hectic x.x