Chapter 28
I was overwhelmed by a sense of confusion.
“Is everything just okay as long as we embrace each other after causing a mess?”
But it’s not entirely an incomprehensible situation.
After all, I had accidentally triggered the demon’s greatest weakness.
Not to mention, Ian referred to me as his own.
A thousand years ago, when Cecil killed the demon, maybe he felt betrayed when he saw traces of that past in me.
Perhaps he thought I met with Cecil because I wanted to kill him.
I exerted all my patience and gently tapped Ian’s arm that was wrapped around me.
“Master, Master. Can you calm down now?”
“Don’t go.”
“I’m not going.”
“Don’t go.”
“I told you, I’m not going!”
Does he even hear me?
Despite what I said, Ian Brighton suddenly lifted his head and glared at Cecil, who was right in front of him.
His menacing eyes were a look I could hardly believe belonged to Ian.
‘A demon…’
Cecil seemed to have the same thought as me.
With an expressionless face, Cecil placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“I don’t plan on attacking you.”
He added:
“Not yet.”
It sounded like he might plan to attack at some point.
“You are… hard to call human.”
“Get lost.”
“But certainly, there’s still some ‘humanity’ left inside you. Just like Sissi said.”
“Don’t speak that name.”
“The source of that obsessive, near-mad affection I saw in you was you.”
“Ah, how wise you are!”
Ian hissed under his breath, almost like a snake.
“Consider yourself lucky. I know my situation well. I also have no intention of attacking you… for now.”
Cecil replied flatly:
“I figured you’d say that. If I were to give up my body’s preservation and risk great harm to those around me, I might be able to take you down. But the truth is, you’re so weak right now, it’s obvious. So, if I risk everything to attack, you’d die.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Ah, now this was the human Ian Brighton.
I could feel Ian slowly calming down, though I wasn’t sure if he had truly calmed down or if he was just less intense than before.
… Probably.
“Even if I die, I will make sure you’re framed for killing an innocent nobleman’s child.”
“Yes. I thought you would do that. The servants here don’t seem to be on your side, and neither does Sissi.”
Oh, that’s not entirely true.
But I couldn’t argue, as I remembered how I had tried to cover up Ian’s messes before.
Looking at me as though he knew everything, Cecil spoke.
“Because, just like you, the servants here don’t want you dead.”
I muttered softly.
“But the knights wouldn’t let you take the fall for it.”
At that, Cecil smiled faintly.
“Thank you. It seems Sissi is a kind person.”
Thud.
Ian let go of me, or rather, pushed me away forcefully.
He looked extremely angry. Was he upset that I was defending someone else in front of him?
“Are you kidding me?”
As expected.
“Can you calm down a bit?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Still, you’re a little better than before. Then could you do me a favor and deal with this?”
By “this,” he meant the shadows that were spreading everywhere.
“It’s clear this shadow is dangerous. It grows by feeding off a human mind. If it continues like this, it will eventually devour the person entirely.”
Ian sneered at Cecil’s flat tone.
“You really are quite clever.”
“But…”
Cecil frowned slightly and muttered.
“This is strange. Why is it that someone with your power is reduced to this level?”
It was a curious thing. At that quiet question, Ian fell silent.
I expected him to either get angry or show off in some way, but instead, he simply stood there, quietly collecting the shadows.
Though the inside was still dark, a faint light coming through the window began to reveal the shape of the room.
After several flickers, the light returned to the chandelier and the hallway outside.
Cecil, as though realizing something, looked at me with a surprised expression.
Not understanding the meaning behind his gaze, I awkwardly met his eyes.
But it didn’t last long.
Ian’s palm covered my eyes.
“Get out of my house now.”
Ian said in a tired voice.
“And never come near this guy again. I don’t know what I’ll do then.”
“Ian Brighton.”
Cecil had learned Ian’s name. When did he find that out?
Standing in the doorway of the study, Cecil looked at Ian with a firm stance and slowly parted his lips.
“Fate has just sounded an alarm, and it’s directed at me, you, and sissi.”
Ian’s crimson eyes rolled over to Cecil.
Despite the sharpness in his gaze, Cecil didn’t flinch.
“Someone among us will eventually declare defeat.”
“Of course. There’s nothing but war between you and me.”
Once again, Ian’s mocking tone sliced through the air.
“Just bite your tongue and pass out here.”
Cecil had figured out Ian’s true nature.
I thought, maybe he realized the full extent of Ian’s identity.
And Ian didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding it.
‘Where did my three years of effort go?’
I really felt like crying.
“Remember this. The only reason I’m not pointing a sword at you right now is because of Sissi.”
Ian turned quickly toward Cecil.
His piercing gaze was filled with so much malice, it was hard to believe he was only fifteen.
Still, Cecil didn’t budge.
“You need to be kinder to Sissi.”
Cecil sure knows how to poke at Ian.
Is this the result of their thousand-year-old rivalry?
Does the fact that his past self once defeated Ian give Cecil the skill to grind Ian down like this?
“sissi.”
I was lost in those thoughts when Cecil called my name.
I flinched, surprised.
“I want to have a word with you.”
Of course, Ian stood in my way.
Was he going to tell me not to go again? As I barely managed to shake off my confusion, I tried to reassure him.
“Come back.”
He said with a pitiful expression—what did he want me to do?
Once again, I was at a loss for words. I still didn’t know how to deal with Ian Brighton.
With that complicated feeling, I left the study and stepped into the hallway.
It was then that Cecil, standing on the stairs leading to the first floor, gave me some shocking news.
“The demon has weakened, Sissi.”
“What?”
“The demon, I mean. I know. You must know too. From the way you looked at him, I realized it. You already recognized the identity of ‘Ian Brighton,’ didn’t you?”
“…”
“Maybe even the entire Duke’s family knows.”
I couldn’t help but hold my breath.
The moment I had feared had finally come.
If that’s the case, then there’s only one thing I can do.
“Just give me three years!”
“…What?”
At my resolute shout, Cecil blinked in surprise.
“Just give me three years. In the last three years, Ian hasn’t harmed anyone. He hasn’t caused any trouble. Since coming to the manor, this is the first time anything like this has happened. Of course, there’s a chance something like this could happen again, but just give me one chance…!”
“Ah, don’t worry. As you said, I was already planning on giving you that chance.”
“Wait, really?”
Just like that? So easily?
“The demon has weakened because of you.”
What?
It had been a continuous string of surprises. I stared at Cecil blankly as if I’d been hit in the head.
“The demon loving someone is extremely difficult. But if a demon and a human coexist in one body, then it’s a different story. That means there’s a human part in him. And that human part is currently creating a fatal weakness in the demon.”
“…?”
“And I just realized this through what happened earlier. It’s because of what you did. You’ve clearly known what needed to be done and have been carrying it out beautifully. Sissi, you’re someone with a mission.”
Cecil’s blue eyes locked onto mine.
“Your eyes are truly resolute—like those of a prophet bearing a heavy responsibility.”
That… that’s a bit much, isn’t it?
I was just thinking of living a comfortable life with a decent salary, not some grand destiny…
“If you really plan to fight that demon…”
Cecil’s unwavering gaze seemed to peel away all my hidden thoughts.
Feeling as if I were making a confession, I listened intently, my throat dry.
“You must make him reveal his name.”
I hesitated and asked:
“His name?”
“Making the demon speak his true name. That’s the most important factor in fighting a demon. Once he reveals his true name, it’s almost as if you’ve taken control of his leash.”
Ah, I knew that. I had read it in a novel.
But that had been the work of Cecil’s sacred and powerful abilities, torturing the demon to make it happen.
How could I…?
But even though I looked lost and defeated, Cecil didn’t care.
“Capture his weakness. I believe you can do it.”
He spoke with such absolute certainty, as if he knew I could succeed.
“Or maybe it’s because you’re the one who can.”
