Chapter 63

Due to the holy water that purifies evil energy, the man's appearance returned to its original state.

'It’s over.'

Not just anyone, but he had been caught by Duke Schuetz, who knew everything.

The trembling man immediately fell to his knees.

"That was all his doing! I only did what I was told!"

"Is that your final answer?"

Erhardt looked down at the man, his gaze so intense it felt like an invisible gag was placed in his mouth.

As he only made incoherent sounds like a tongue-tied person, the duke smirked.

"Pitiful last words."

"Maybe, given the life he led, it’s only natural."

Erhardt signaled to the back. The quick-witted knights took the man away.

Soon, other knights approached Oblie, who sat there in a daze.

"No…."

As her arms were grabbed, her body felt weak. Oblie muttered, her face blank.

"No, this can’t be. This can’t be happening!"

Even the knights, who were in good physical condition, were taken aback by her desperate struggles.

The bindings loosened. Oblie, seizing the opportunity, rushed to Erhardt.

"Your Grace! Please, just hear me out. If you do, you’ll understand me."

Oblie, with a dazed look, clung to the hem of his trousers.

"I just… wanted to be by your side."

I know your loneliness.

I know the sharp daggers that pierce you.

We are alike.

"I can explain everything. If you just listen to me once, you’ll understand. Please—!"

"Forgel."

"…!"

At the sudden mention of her name, Oblie’s breath caught in her throat.

"H-how do you know… my family’s name…."

She muttered, dazed.

Erhardt looked at her, his face expressionless, then lowered his gaze even further.

Oblie’s head followed his gaze.

"…!"

Her feet were slowly turning dark.

'Holy water.'

It was part of the holy water that had fallen to the ground, unable to reach the man.

"Even contaminated holy water can purify."

His hands trembled. Oblie slowly lifted her head to meet his eyes.

The duke’s eyes were colder than ever.

His gaze was filled with disdain.

"No, Your Grace. Please, just one more chance…!"

"Take her away."

The knights bound Oblie’s arms and lifted her up. Her desperate screams gradually faded away.

'…It’s over.'

Even though everything was over, her mind seemed to have stopped, and no thoughts came to her.

"Eli."

At that moment, a gentle voice was heard.

"…Your Grace."

The moment her wandering gaze met the duke’s, her unease seemed to vanish.

The duke slowly approached Eli. Then, he knelt down and met her eyes.

"I clearly told you not to get hurt, didn’t I?"

The duke gently held Eli’s arm, which was covered in wounds.

"And yet, you end up like this."

He frowned as if she had been injured.

It was strange. The person who showed no reaction, even when suffering from madness, now had such a look on his face because of her injuries.

Was it because of this?

Eli reached out with her other hand and grabbed the end of the duke’s sleeve.

"…I want to rest."

Then, she spoke the words she had never been able to say.

Her vision began to blur. She felt a fever rising, and her head spun.

"I want to rest, Your Grace."

"…Eli."

"I’m… so… tired…."

Eli couldn’t finish her sentence.

Her body, now relaxed, wouldn’t listen to her. In the fading consciousness, Eli closed her eyes.

* * *

The duke’s study, shrouded in darkness by the curtains.

"Ugh…."

A faint groan came from somewhere.

Everyone swallowed hard, but Erhardt closed his eyes as if it were music.

"It seems to be a kind of trauma."

The words of the attending physician kept echoing in his mind.

After Eli collapsed, the duke immediately summoned the attending physician.

Her pale, ashen face seemed to indicate that her life was fading.

Fortunately, the physician concluded that she had only fainted.

But….

"Trauma?"

"Yes. Without having a proper conversation with Lady Eli, it’s hard to make an accurate diagnosis, but it seems she was frequently exposed to such situations."

"…."

"Perhaps she had reached her limit. Her mind couldn’t handle it and fled. It’s a kind of defense mechanism."

Erhardt clenched his fists. The veins on the back of his hands stood out.

"Reality was more terrifying than any nightmare."

He thought she was fine.

He couldn’t remember what face Eli had when she said she was fine.

She had been holding back. That little girl had been suppressing herself.

And he hadn’t even noticed.

"I’ll be a useful child."

To have made her say such things.

Erhardt sneered at himself. But this wasn’t the time for self-reproach.

"Ugh…."

The priest, whose back was stepped on by Erhardt, gasped and groaned.

He was the priest in charge of the holy water.

Oblie was immediately imprisoned in the dungeon of the ducal castle. Since she had been posing as a priest, she should have been taken to the temple, but….

No one could speak when they saw the duke’s bloodshot eyes.

"I’m sorry. I was distracted. So, what did you say?"

"S-spare… me, Your Grace…."

"I can’t hear you…."

Erhardt narrowed his eyes, drawing out his words.

"Perhaps you can understand what he’s saying?"

The priests averted their gazes. Erhardt’s eyes darkened.

"Seems you have no camaraderie at all."

He sounded genuinely regretful, but his expression remained unchanged.

"Then, shall we do this one by one?"

"…."

"Who should go first?"

Erhardt’s red eyes swept over the priests.

A chill ran up their spines, like a snake slithering up their legs.

The priests trembled, unable to even breathe.

"From our side…."

A priest, unable to bear the pressure, reluctantly spoke.

"…It’s our fault, Your Grace. Please show mercy."

"Everyone’s mouth is open. I thought maybe you had nothing to say."

The duke nodded as if confirming his suspicion.

The priests trembled at his arrogant and sarcastic tone.

The priests were another pillar of the empire and the agents who delivered the word of the gods.

But they couldn’t speak their minds. The air in the room felt like it could strangle them at any moment.

"…Do you have any requests for us?"

"You’re willing to listen?"

Erhardt twisted his lips into a smile.

"Sure. Then, tell me anything."

As he moved his foot, the priest coughed, gasping for air.

Erhardt, using the priests’ labored breathing as music, perched on the desk.

"I plan to send adoption papers to the temple soon. One will be in the name of Duke Schuetz, and the other in the name of Baron Amand."

"And later, I’ll send a marriage license. You just need to stamp it."

"…."

"That’s all I require."

The priests, sweating cold sweat, looked at each other at the duke’s declaration.

'Suddenly, adoption? And marriage?'

'How am I supposed to know!'

'Should I say I understand?'

'Are you crazy? Adoption is one thing, but marriage involves the royal family! We can’t handle it casually!'

But they had no choice. If they refused here….

"Yes, I understand. We will do as Your Grace says."

"You’re reasonable."

Erhardt smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth.

But his eyes, which remained hard and cold, were filled with a clear killing intent.

"Thank… thank you, Your Grace."

So the priests could only give such a response.

* * *

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the full moon in the night sky.

'Huh? Where am I?'

I blinked, dazed.

There’s such a big full moon.

I thought absently as I got up. I was in a vast meadow.

But why am I here? Just as I was wondering, I saw a faint light in the distance.

A beast as big as a house was running powerfully, carrying someone on its back.

'Is that a monster?'

No, can a monster even carry a person? I wanted to see clearly, but my vision was blurry.

"Capture it!"

At that moment, a sharp cry came from somewhere.

"Absolutely don’t let it escape!"

"Don’t kill it! Be as cautious as possible with your weapons!"

Who could they be so desperate to catch?

Feeling a sense of familiarity, I reached out my hand.

The running monster looked in my direction.

As if it had sensed my presence.

'But this is a dream.'

What’s going on?

At that moment, a sharp pain was felt. A faint light was coming from my clenched fist.

I opened my palm to confirm the light.