CH 8

Abandon the Felicite family and serve me as master. I knew well that words sounded absurd. However,

“…”

Despite this absurd suggestion, Redian wasn’t surprised at all. On the contrary, he only hardened his eyebrows. It seemed like he wanted me to talk more.

He will consider it like a grain of rice. Well, in the first place, I had never expected Redian to regard me as his master.  I was thinking about throwing a fastball rather than circling and pretending… As expected, it didn’t work.

“I don’t serve someone weaker than me as my master.”

“What?”

Then Redian opened his mouth. His tone was monotonous, and his dark blue eyes weren’t something you could tell what he was thinking.

Still. He wasn’t surprised by my words. How many people have coveted and desired to make use of Redian as their own weapon? That boy was a human weapon personally chosen by Duke Felicite. That alone was enough to explain Redian’s life.

He’s only about eighteen now. I wondered how he could have such a resolute look despite his age…

Read had a life full of ups and downs, just like mine. Later, he was the one who would cut off Siani’s head, but he was only a pitiful boy right now.

“So I won’t serve anyone as my master.”

Didn’t that mean there was no one stronger than him in the world?

“I don’t know what you wanted and why you came here yourself.”

“…”

Redian’s gaze scanned me. He seemed to regard this situation as a playfulness of a fearless lady. Furthermore, there was no need to mention how I appeared, adorned in dazzling attire, in his eyes.

“If you’re looking for a toy to please you, I’m not the one.”

A toy to please you.

At that time, blood began to flow again from the wound on Redian’s forehead.

“…Ah.”

When I tried to wipe it off, my eyes turned to his arms bound by the shackles. I guess they put this on because they couldn’t overpower his brute force. And it looked like the shackles that bound Redian couldn’t be released without an exclusive key.

“No, Redian. You will serve me as your master.”

I put my necklace on the shackles that bound him.

“…!”

In an instant, the shackles shattered with a loud burst. It was the key to unlocking the basement, so it was only natural that it could control everything here.

“Now that you’ve seen it, you know.”

“…How?”

“That I can get you out of here.”

A look of bewilderment crossed Redian’s face, who was freed from the shackles with a single gesture from me.

If you think about it, I’m like a god. What’s the difference between me and God? Having lived for several hundred years, I think I can be considered a god at this point. I had an experience that was similar to that of an immortal being.

“Don’t touch it even if it stings.”

“…!”

I gently wiped the blood off his face with my sleeve. Aah, I couldn’t believe there was such a sharp wound on his handsome face. I wouldn’t let the person who made it slide.  

“Because there should be no scars left.”

I thought he’d hit my hand, but rather, Redian hardened.

“I brought these for you, so make sure to eat them. I’ll give you three next time.”

“…”

“Got it? You must eat them all.”

Then I placed the candies I had brought on his palm. His expression alternately looked at the colorful candies in his hand and at my face was quite… Oh, he has a cute side.

“Then I will come back again. Please wait patiently.”

“…”

“Ah, and the thing is.”

“…”

“If I needed a toy to please me, I wouldn’t have chosen you.”

I knew that this would make Redian feel suspicious.

So that’s it for today.

The light spread, and the space changed.

“Good night.”

“…”

“Have a sweet dream.”

I could feel it even for a moment. That Redian couldn’t take his eyes off me.

* * *

What happened?

Even though the shackles that were binding his whole body were released, Redian couldn’t move. He just stared at the empty space where the woman had disappeared.

Am I being possessed? Maybe it was really like that.

It wouldn’t have been obvious, but he was pretty startled the moment he first saw the woman. Because it was hard to believe that the woman was a human in every aspect. Since being in the underground guild, he had seen all the sparkling illusions and strange monsters, but just now…

Siani Felicite?

Felicite.

Yes, Felicite.

It was said that she inherited the blood of the person who imprisoned him. He wondered if that person was taking advantage of his daughter. However, it didn’t seem like that woman would be used obediently either.

“Abandon Felicite and make me your master.”

Redian’s eyes sharpened.

If that’s the case, maybe that woman… is aiming for the fall of Felicite. Why? For what reason?

“Ah.”

As the thoughts tangled in his head, the headache came again. This was the reason why he couldn’t remember even though he suffered from the same nightmare every time.

“Ugh.”

Redian put his forehead on the cold floor and endured the pain. He thought the floor would be stained with blood as usual…

What?

There was no blood on him. He didn’t even feel the bloody smell that should have covered his face.

It was that moment.

“Because there should be no scars left.”

He remembered the woman wiping his face with her sleeves.

What on earth…

The afterimage of the woman who kept coming to his mind made Redian frown. To make matters worse, the injected sedative began to work.  

“Ha, damn it.”

A shallow breath came out. This time, he felt like a chain was pressing down on his neck. It was a pain that he couldn’t get used to, even after repeating it every night.

“Haa.”

How mu blood must he vomit today to stop nausea? Eventually, as he lost his strength and collapsed, darkness with no end in sight swept over.

“Ug, ugh.”

He struggled to breathe with burning thirst, but there was nothing…

Candy.

Redian barely held onto his consciousness that was about to be cut off. He kept his fists clenched all the time. Inside it, there were candies that a strange woman had given him.

Even back then, I felt better right away.  

He burst into laughter. Either that woman was crazy, or he had become crazy. Feeling dazed, Redian shoved the candy into his mouth.

“Ugh…”

He closed his eyes to endure the tingling sweetness. Strangely, a deep sleep began to pour in.

* * *

“Long live Grand Duke Ash Benio!”

“Oh my, he’s getting cooler as time goes by.”

Admiration erupted among the people around the man.

“Since Your Excellency takes care of us every time, how should I repay this kindness?”

“It’s my father’s will that there should be no one suffering in our estate of Benio.”

Tall and sturdy shoulders with radian blond hair and emerald eyes. The man was dazzling even when he just smiled softly.

“I’m just doing what I have to do in accordance with that will.”

“Thank you very much, Grand Duke.”

Once again, people admired the grand duke’s personality. How can he be so perfect?

“Thanks to Your Excellency, I think we can spend this summer safely. It’s regrettable and sad that Your Excellency must return to the capital.”

Baron Metil, who was standing next to him, grabbed the grand duke’s hand.

“By any chance, Grand Duke, would you like to go to my house and have dinner together?”

“Oh my, you’re quite something…” The baroness pushed her husband’s arm.

It was too rude for a baron to ask for a private meeting with a grand duke.

“The Grand Duke would be happy to accept my proposal.”

“That’s right. He is the kind of person who even buys bread sold on the street.”

But who is Ash Benio? He was praised for his friendly and gentle nature.

“Is that so, Your Excellency?”

Baron Metil was full of expectations.

“Of course, I would like to have dinner with Baron—”

“Your Excellency, you have a prior appointment at the imperial palace today.” Then an aide behind Ash intervened.

“You must attend this appointment as this is the appointment to welcome you back to the capital.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

At his aide’s report, Ash put on a perplexed expression. “What should I do, Baron? I had a prior agreement with the imperial family in the imperial palace.”

“Ah… I apologize. O-of course, you should go there.”

At the mention of the imperial family, the baron’s shoulders shrank.

“I have some time before I return back to the capital, so let’s spend it together then.”

“Your words alone are an honor to me, Grand Duke.”

“Your Excellency, you’ll be late for your appointment at this rate. Let’s go.”

“Take care, Grand Duke.”

Ash greeted the people who came out to see him one by one, then got on the carriage. People also saw off Ash’s carriage until it went out of the alley.

“He’s a very friendly person.”

“That’s what I’m saying. There’s nothing to complain about him.”

“You don’t know how fortunate he is that he broke off his engagement with Princess Felicite.”

As always, compliments followed him. However,

“Throw this away. I feel uncomfortable because of that careless baron’s hand earlier.”

“How dare he ask to eat together without knowing his subject. That’s ridiculous.”

“That’s why he only has a low title in the rural place.”

Ash took off his coat and threw it.

“Anyway…”

His expression changed in an instant as soon as the door of the carriage closed.

“Why are so many people who don’t know their subjects while I treat them nicely?”

He looked completely different than before.