Chapter 16

16

"Ughh!"

"Why are you wandering around here all alone again?"

The man, who casually brushed off my scream, let out a sweet voice.

There was no need to see who was holding me up. As far as I knew, there was only one person with a voice as honeyed as this.

"Father."

And the one who entered through the massive front door was none other than Desharn Clowen.

It was my mistake. How did I end up being caught by these people?

"Ughh!"

"…This is."

Now that it has come to this, the only option is to draw a blood rune and cast a curse.

But I doubt I can bear the price of that curse with this body. Black magic usually takes a toll along with mana.

Sharent Clowen unexpectedly held me in his arms.

Then, with the fingers of his other hand, he traced the pacifier I had in my mouth and discovered the string attached to the back of my head.

He stroked it a few times and then looked down at me silently.

I contorted my face and struggled hard, but he remained silent.

Tears threatened to fall, but I forced myself to hold them back.

I have too much pride to cry in front of this guy.

"Why is that, Sharent?"

"Oh, my lord, young duke."

Behind Desharn Clowen's heavy voice, a startled maid's voice could be heard.

My body shuddered reflexively.

Sharent Clowen's eyes narrowed, and Desharn Clowen frowned as if deeply displeased.

"Why is this child here?"

"I apologize. While I was distracted for a moment, the young lady went out on her own…"

"Ughh…"

The maid bowed her head with a very annoying expression.

That voice, as if she had swallowed a hundred snakes, made me want to vomit.

I felt so wronged and pitiful.

'Why do I have to suffer at the hands of such a crazy woman?'

Sharent Clowen smiled and turned his body toward the maid while holding me in his arms.

He seemed quite experienced in holding babies, probably because he had a son. It was more comfortable in his arms than when that butler, whatever his name was, held me.

'Pride hurts.'

So I struggled even harder in his arms.

Since Sharent Clowen would obviously hand me over to the maid, I had to think of another way.

'I'm used to torture, but…'

Still, I want to avoid pain as much as possible.

A baby's body is fragile, and since I am weak, I need to be extra careful. After all, babies are so delicate that they can die in hot water.

"I clearly asked you to take good care of the child, Lady Sullivan."

Not a maid? Or a maid and a teacher? I never thought she was a noble. I was speechless at the word "Lady."

Why are the nobles in this Hairen Empire so…?

'Vulgar.'

Disgusted, vulgar, and feeling dirty.

I clenched the pacifier in my mouth, seething with contempt from the depths of my being.

"Yes, I was taking good care of her. I was just distracted for a moment…"

The lady, whoever she was, smiled at me with an otherworldly affectionate expression.

Chills ran down my spine.

To be clear, it was an otherworldly smile, not of this world.

"It won't happen again."

The lady looked at me with an affectionate expression and said, with a clear determination that she would never let me out of the house again, even if she had to die.

Feeling a sense of crisis, I looked around for a weapon.

This is no longer a matter of my life; it's a matter of my pride.

I'll draw a blood rune and cast a curse first, and think about the rest later.

Most black magic curses come with a price.

Many people wonder why people choose black magic, but it's because it's more powerful than orthodox magic.

Additionally, you can become strong quickly without extensive training or overflowing talent.

Mana is generally a force drawn from nature.

The higher and stronger the circle, the greater the power it can draw, but this requires extensive training.

On the other hand, black mana is a force taken from people.

While the negative emotions of people, such as malice and hatred, can be a source of power, the best is to absorb the souls of those who have recently died or have very strong vitality and use them as mana.

So even though I am a child, using black magic is not a problem.

If you know how to draw and use the rune, even a mute dog can use black magic.

Usually, the price is paid in black mana or regular mana…

The problem is that I have nothing to offer right now.

Ideally, you should learn regular magic, use it to draw mana, and then learn black magic.

A solid foundation prevents collapse.

'It's almost like gambling…'

On the other hand, if it succeeds, it means I will gain that much black mana.

'It will take some time to absorb…'

After a long silence, Sharent Clowen burst into a low laugh.

"Sometimes I find you quite amusing."

I looked up at Sharent Clowen as if he were a madman, startled by his sudden laughter.

'What is this…'

Sharent Clowen, sensing my gaze, tapped my nose with his index finger and slowly moved his hand along the string.

Then he untied the string connected to the pacifier.

"Are you treating people like fools, or do you think the Clowen family is foolish…"

He continued speaking in a gentle tone.

I felt no hostility, and I almost nodded unconsciously.

His expression and voice were gentle.

Honestly, Sharent Clowen had a unique talent for handling emotions.

The maid, for instance, seemed not to notice anything strange, even though he had spoken so much.

"Or, is the other party a fool…"

The kind and affectionate words he spoke were as cold and sharp as ice.

His voice was elegant, his actions those of a noble, and his tone as sweet and affectionate as a devout cult leader.

"Brainless insects often get tangled up. Lady Sullivan, who do you think is the fool?"

But I am certain that if there were a real devil in this world, it would be Sharent Clowen.

With his beautiful appearance, affectionate actions, and sweet voice, he could melt anyone…

Thud, the pacifier he untied and let fall rolled on the floor.

I was so surprised that I didn't even think to catch it.

He would swallow it in one go, without arousing any suspicion. Like a beautiful silk snake approaching harmlessly, checking the position of its prey, and swallowing it in an instant.

I reached out for the pacifier belatedly.

Sharent Clowen glanced down at me struggling but did not bend down to pick up the pacifier for me.

"Boo!"

Give me my pacifier!

My cry deepened the frown on Desharn Clowen's forehead.

But what does he care? I'm on the verge of losing my mind!

After a long pause, Desharn Clowen slowly bent down and awkwardly handed me the pacifier.

My mind was already half-gone, so I stretched out my neck and bit the pacifier Desharn Clowen held.

Startled.

Desharn Clowen's expression changed, and he took a step back as if he had touched something dirty.

'God, he's so clean.'

The thin metal wire attached to the pacifier clinked, and the old man's wrinkled eyes narrowed even more.

I glared at him and, like someone who had just caught their breath, sucked on the pacifier.

As I sucked hard, I saw Desharn Clowen bend down to examine the pacifier closely.

Desharn Clowen's expression seemed to harden.

Is this old man seeing a baby suck a pacifier for the first time?

I quickly turned my body, buried my face in his chest, and started sucking the pacifier hard, but then I froze.

I realized that the one holding me was Sharent Clowen.

"I don't understand what you're saying."

"Associating with low people is not good… tsk."

Sharent Clowen's voice changed as quickly as turning a palm.

Sullivan, or whatever, the crazy woman, shuddered violently. Her voice, like a sharp icicle, sent a chill down my spine.

"Can you tell me what this is, Lady Sullivan?"

Sharent Clowen tapped the string attached to my pacifier with his finger and asked.