Chapter 5

I became a Skill Thief - Chapter 5 (5/223)

Bianca Hardenharts, the youngest daughter of the Hardenharts family, the rulers of the North. Known for her icy demeanor, she was famous for her expressionless face, earning her the nickname "Snow Maiden." Despite her cold exterior, rumors spread that she would grow into a stunning beauty.

Why was she my fiancée? The reason was simple: "She's perfect for a political marriage."

The Hardenharts had a good relationship with the Balheim family, and Balheim found it useful to have someone like her around. In any case, both she and I were pawns in a political marriage.

"Well, it's just a political marriage, after all."

Bianca had always disliked me. This time would be no different. But her real problem lay elsewhere. She was the one who had joined hands with the World Eroders, those who emerged from the world's corruption, and sought to destroy the world.

The White Demon.

This was the nickname she earned after killing one of the Ten Great Warriors in her past world.

"Please come in."

I couldn't just send her away after she traveled all the way from the North to meet her fiancé. Besides, Krash needed her right now.

"Yes, I understand."

Hearing Krash's command, Aliod immediately left. Krash looked at himself in the mirror in the study. He looked quite disheveled. He decided he needed to change his clothes. With that thought, he moved to greet his guest.

＊ ＊ ＊

Bianca Hardenharts, the youngest daughter of the Hardenharts family and the Snow Maiden, had strikingly white short hair. True to her nickname, her skin was as pale as jade, and her eyes were like the moonlight. At the tips of her fingernails, there were strange patterns of snowflakes, a symbol of a curse.

Before she was born, her mother was caught in the world's corruption and cursed. The curse eventually passed to her in the womb. It was a curse that turned her into a snow doll, unable to feel any emotions. Because the curse was innate, it bound her soul, and even the most powerful curse breakers couldn't remove it. Until she was twelve, she never laughed or cried.

Her pale skin and white hair made her look even colder, but if you ignored her expressionless face, she had a face that promised a bright future. However, her appearance was meaningless because the gods wouldn't contract with a body tainted by the world's corruption.

Thus, she was always treated poorly in the Hardenharts family. Without emotions, she couldn't socialize, and her siblings disliked her for being a cursed child who killed their mother. She was also valueless to the family because she couldn't contract with a god.

So, she was easily sent off for a political marriage. Today, she visited the Blue Pine Hall to meet her fiancé, Krash Balheim.

Krash Balheim, from the Balheim family, the most famous in the Starlon Kingdom. The Balheims were a family that produced so many prodigies that even the empire dared not touch the Starlon Kingdom. For the Hardenharts, being engaged to the youngest of such a family was a tremendous opportunity. After all, even as rulers of the North, they were ultimately overshadowed by the central powers.

This was their second meeting, yet Bianca felt no interest. In her memory, Krash was nothing more than a defeated man who had given up on everything.

"Get lost. Whether you're a Hardenharts or not, don't act like my fiancée. You're just interested in Balheim's power."

Krash was someone Bianca disliked. He had a harsh way of speaking and a pessimistic view of everything. Even though she lacked emotions, she had likes and dislikes. Thus, she was not pleased with this meeting, knowing Krash would likely criticize her again.

Thud, thud—

At that moment, footsteps approached from outside. Bianca, realizing the footsteps belonged to Krash, straightened her clothes. Despite her lack of emotions, she had matured quickly, accepting reality at a young age. She knew she was in a position where she had to lower herself here.

Creak—

The door opened, and Bianca's head turned to the side. There stood Krash, with his blue and black hair and eyes similar to hers. Though he had a youthful face for a thirteen-year-old, he looked quite decent except for his fierce gaze.

"Bianca."

"You've arrived."

Bianca responded with respect, and Krash, after a moment, sat down in front of her. He then noticed the untouched teacup and said, "Our maid has no sense. Hot black tea for someone with a cat's tongue."

Bianca hesitated, wondering how he knew she couldn't handle hot things. But more than that, she sensed something different about Krash. He seemed more composed.

"I'll tell the maid to be more careful."

Krash opened the cookie jar and placed a macadamia cookie on Bianca's plate. Macadamia was her favorite. She watched him naturally, a bit dazed.

Krash then placed a chocolate chip cookie in front of himself and said, "Thank you for the long journey."

"Of course, as fiancés, we should get to know each other better."

"Is that so? Your tone sounds more like you're addressing a superior rather than a fiancé."

Krash smiled faintly, softening his fierce gaze. Bianca tilted her head slightly.

"Krash, may I ask you one thing?"

Krash nodded, finding Bianca's mature tone unusual for a twelve-year-old.

"Has something happened to you?"

Just five months ago, Krash had treated her with disdain. He was not a kind or considerate person. Had he undergone a change of heart in those five months?

Krash lifted his teacup.

"Am I that different from before?"

Bianca realized her mistake. She had questioned his kindness despite his efforts.

"Sorry, I spoke out of turn."

Krash took a sip of tea, watching her correct herself. Honestly, he couldn't remember how he had treated Bianca before. His memories from his late teens were hazy, let alone his early teens. Unless it was something significant like Aliod, he wouldn't remember this period. The same went for his first meeting with Bianca. He vaguely recalled being a brat, the time when his despair and frustration were at their peak. In a way, it was a time when he hadn't given up yet. Once you give up, there's no despair or frustration.

"You haven't changed, have you?"

One thing was clear: Bianca had remained the same. Even on the day they faced the end in front of the burning North Sea Ice Palace, she had the same expression as today. That scene remained vivid in Krash's memory.

"Excuse me?"

Bianca, hearing Krash's mutter, asked. Krash waved it off, placed his teacup down, and crossed his arms on his lap.

"Bianca, I have a proposal for you today."

"A proposal?"

Bianca's large, blue eyes widened, wondering what Krash, born into the kingdom's most prestigious Balheim family, could propose to her.

"Are you breaking the engagement?"

The first thing Bianca thought of was breaking the engagement. But Krash looked bewildered.

"Do you think we can break an engagement decided by our families?"

That was true. It was impossible for the two youngest members to undo a decision made by their families.

"Maybe in the future."

But Krash seemed to be looking far into the future.

"Still, it would be better for you to break the engagement sooner rather than be tied to someone like me."

Krash spoke self-deprecatingly. Bianca looked at him silently, knowing his situation well. She had studied him to avoid upsetting him as her fiancé. She knew he was called a disgrace to the Balheim family.

"But still, he's from the Balheim family."

Despite being born into a position many would envy, he had low self-esteem.

"I am your fiancée."

And he was her fiancé, a fact that would never change.

"It will never change."

As long as their families existed, it wouldn't change. Thus, Krash chuckled, knowing her words were not personal but a statement of duty. She couldn't feel emotions, but at least it was better than insincere words.

"Anyway, I'm not breaking the engagement. I have a different proposal for you."

Krash smiled faintly.

"I recently contracted with a god."

Bianca was surprised. The average age for contracting with a god was fifteen, but being from the Balheim family, most direct descendants contracted by ten. Krash was quite late, but it was still a cause for celebration.

"Congratulations."

Bianca congratulated him, and Krash nodded without much emotion.

"Through this contract, I gained a power that allows me to take your curse."

"Excuse me?"

His words were unexpected. Her eyes widened. A curse?

"I have a use for it."

"A curse?"

"Yes, if you give me the curse, I'll grant you one wish. It could be breaking the engagement if you want."

Bianca was silent, trying to understand. Her curse was one that stripped emotions. Why would he want it?

"Are you planning to mark your body with the curse?"

To Bianca, losing emotions was familiar, but for someone who knew emotions, it would cause great confusion. Krash nodded, confirming her suspicion.

"The curse that even the best curse breakers couldn't remove."

Krash's reaction suggested he could take the curse easily. Bianca wondered if he had contracted with a god that could do this. If he could take the curse, what did he plan to do with it?

"Exhausted."

Listing all the information, Bianca realized Krash was exhausted. He had poured too many emotions and no longer wanted to feel them, to the point of seeking the curse.

"Depression."

She recalled her uncle, a northern mental mage, who often spoke about mental health. Krash's state matched the description of someone with depression. People who suddenly change and become kind to those around them are often saying goodbye.

Bianca looked at Krash, noticing the scars and bruised skin on his body. "Self-harm." She realized he was hurting himself. Even she, who lacked emotions, felt a bit of pity for him. In reality, the scars were from intense training, but she misunderstood.

"I am your fiancée."

Bianca placed her hand on his, misunderstanding his condition.

"Krash, it's okay. You can overcome this."

"Wh-What?"

Krash was confused by her words.