TYFGU 27

Episode 27

[Even just once, please let me see your face from afar.
There’s something I must tell you.
I’ll wait for your reply. From your Rina.
—To my Raymond]

Rina. Raymond.

Her name had been given by her mother.

She’d said it with a loving face, explaining that she had taken part of the father’s name and part of her own.

And that her face looked exactly like her father’s, so if he ever saw her on the street, he would recognize her instantly.

“Raymond…”

When Leiana’s hand trembled slightly, the letter fluttered down to the floor.

She hurriedly folded it and shoved it into a drawer, then turned and was about to leave the room when she caught sight of the portrait of Count Chester hanging on the wall.

From right to left, the portraits showed Count Chester aging in reverse.

Leiana, as if in a trance, slowly walked toward the leftmost one.

Stopping in front of a portrait from his youth, Leiana clenched her jaw so tightly that veins popped along her neck.

The young man with modest brown hair in the portrait wore the same necklace she had.

In its original, unbroken form.

And below the portrait was a name.

[Raymond Chester]

Leiana couldn’t bring herself to believe that Count Chester was her biological father.

She was still staring blankly at the portrait when she heard the Count’s voice from the hallway.

Reflexively, she ducked behind the sofa by the bed. But if the Count came to the bed, she would be caught for sure.

The door opened, and the Count entered with his butler.

Staggering like a drunkard, the Count plopped himself down on the central sofa. Luckily, it was far from the bed.

The music from the ballroom still reached them, meaning the party was still in full swing.

He’d been dragged away by his butler mid-celebration, and it showed on his sour face.

“I was just starting to enjoy myself. What the hell was so urgent that you dragged me all the way here? This better be worth it.”

The Count grumbled as he sipped his wine.

“It’s something very important! There’s a reply from His Grace the Grand Duke.”

“The Grand Duke?”

The Count, who had been lounging leisurely, suddenly sat upright.

“He’s paid the dowry and will come tomorrow to take Leiana.”

“Huh? That’s it? You bothered me with this trivial nonsense?”

The Count didn’t care if Leiana left or not; he’d already been paid. His shamelessness was on full display.

“Leiana turned out to be quite the lucky charm. Picked her up from a brothel, and now she’s making me this much money! Ha! I wish I had a few more daughters like her!”

He burst into drunken laughter.

Then the butler whispered with a serious expression.

“That’s not all. It’s written that she’ll be taken to the battlefield.”

“Huh?”

Sluggishly reacting through his drunken haze, the Count suddenly broke into loud laughter.

“They sure are training their brides hard at the Grand Duke’s house! Can’t tell if they bought a bride or a mercenary!”

“A mercenary, sir?”

“Marriage with the Grand Duke? I thought it was ridiculous, even with the demon involved—but maybe that was the plan all along?”

The Count laughed and laughed, bending over in amusement, then wiped the tears from his eyes.

“She’s that good with a sword? Enough for the Grand Duke to want her for war?”

“I don’t know in detail, but she does have talent.”

“Hmm, even so, it won’t last long. She’ll be dead soon anyway.”

“Dead? Leiana will die?”

The butler asked innocently, and the Count looked him up and down.

He was young and lacked worldly experience, which made his salary low—a great asset. But in times like this, it could be bothersome.

Those who didn’t know Crown Prince Crociade’s era often didn’t understand the demons or the imperial curses.

Borrowing the courage of alcohol, the Count shared a secret with his loyal servant.

“There are plenty of reasons for her to die—whether it’s from the demon’s curse as its chosen sacrifice or from dying in battle. But if she manages to survive all that…”

His eyes turned cold as he twirled his wine glass.

“I’ll kill her.”

The butler stared at him, thinking he had misheard.

But the Count repeated it confidently, without a hint of shame.

“If the bride dies after marriage, her family receives a condolence payment. The amount varies depending on the duration of the marriage, but no matter how short or long it is, the Grand Duke won’t skimp on compensating me. Especially considering the demon is involved.”

They might call it a dowry or condolence payment, but in truth, it was payment for offering the demon a sacrifice.

Thanks to the demon selecting his foster daughter, the Count was now sitting on a pile of money.

“Never thought I’d be grateful to a demon.”

The Count’s voice trembled with emotion.

“…I didn’t hear anything, sir.”

“Of course not. My loyal servant didn’t hear a thing.”

The butler’s face darkened, but the Count didn’t seem to care.

“So don’t do anything to upset Leiana. If she harbors resentment before she dies and tattles to Valencia, it’ll be a huge hassle.”

As the Count laughed, hacking phlegm up from his throat, a faint sound reached his ears.

“…What was that?”

He slowly walked toward the bedroom.

Leiana had gotten so agitated while listening that she lost control of her breathing. And now, the Count had heard.

Pressed tight behind the sofa, Leiana frantically scanned the room.

The windows were all closed. Being a bedroom, there were no other doors. Only one exit.

Trapped with no way out, Leiana felt like her mind had shut down.

Was she going to be caught?

Her heart pounded anxiously. Just then, she saw black smoke rise beside her.

The smoke quickly formed into the shape of a small person.

“Still think you don’t need my help?”

The demon mouthed silently. His golden eyes glowed in the dark, looking like a mischievous imp.

Was he here to help—or was this all part of his plan?

The demon held out his hand. Though it looked like a small, soft child’s hand, the fact that it belonged to a demon made her hesitate.

But with the Count’s footsteps closing in behind her, there was no other option.

As soon as Leiana grabbed the demon’s hand, smoke spread from his fingertips and enveloped her.

“What’s all this noise?”

“I swear I heard something here…”

The Count, now at the bedroom, tilted his head.

He could’ve sworn someone had been there.

Shaking off the creeping unease, he took another swig of wine.

Now that everything was handled, it was time to head back to the party in good spirits.

The demon’s black smoke was surprisingly soft, like a warm cloud. A stark contrast to the smoke that had choked her on the princess’s birthday.

Back in her room, the demon gently laid Leiana on her bed.

Then he climbed up and sat beside her, staring silently.

Feeling his gaze, Leiana quickly looked away.

Then, the demon—still in Theodore’s form—sat with his back against hers.

“…That was you back then too, wasn’t it?”

She had been so moved, thinking it was Theodore who comforted her.

Now, she felt tricked.

The demon said nothing, only glared at her with a sour expression.

He kept his back against hers, and his warmth was transmitted through it. The heat was unsettling, knowing it came from a demon.

It was horrifying to think the demon might be eroding Theodore from the inside. And yet, until they could figure out how to get rid of him, she had no choice but to keep him calm—per the Grand Duke’s orders.

Still dazed from what she’d just heard, Leiana looked down at the demon leaning against her.

“…Why did you help me?”

“You complain even when I help?”

When he spoke harshly with Theodore’s face, her expression hardened.

“I’d appreciate it if you were more mindful of your words while wearing His Highness’s face.”

At that, the demon shut his mouth.

Though his expression said he had a lot to say, he only pouted like a wronged child.

Maybe it was the childlike appearance—but the demon really was acting like a kid.