TYFGU 30

TYFGU

Posted by Arsiii_here, Released on July 28, 2025

Episode 30

The myth the demon once called nonsense—

Some of it was true.

Just like how a demon had entered the body of a human loved by a god—there was some truth to that story.

“Weren’t you staying because you wanted the power of a god?”

This time, the demon flinched at Rayana’s words.

Seeing his reaction, Rayana curled her lips in satisfaction.

She felt like she had finally gotten back at the demon who was always so shameless.

“So, you really are staying for that power.”

“…What’s your relationship with this child that you keep getting involved? Why do you treat him so preciously? Don’t tell me—you love him?”

The demon grew excessively agitated, unable to hide his anger as he huffed.

Watching the demon react so sharply, as if poked somewhere sensitive, Rayana realized something.

The demon harbored some sort of grievance against Theodore.

He reacted violently every time she took care of the child.

“I owe a debt. So I decided to protect him. I just want to see him smile… but it’s hard.”

As she spoke sincerely, the look in the demon’s eyes changed.

He still had the eyes of a savage beast, but the target of his gaze had shifted.

Rayana couldn’t see it as she had her back turned, but the demon was staring at his reflection in the window behind her.

“I’ll change the terms. From now on, treat me the same way you treat the child. Don’t be cold to me—smile, speak kindly, respond gently. Don’t reject me, and always act happy.”

“You like that sort of thing?”

The word “just” was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t say it under the demon’s sharp pressure.

Still, it didn’t stop the demon from getting offended. His face turned bright red, and he threw a blanket at Rayana.

With her vision blocked, Rayana flailed and shouted,

“F-Fine! I’ll do it! So don’t throw a tantrum!”

If all he did was throw a blanket instead of taking someone’s life, then he was showing restraint.

Rather than provoking him further, Rayana reached out her hand.

“Let’s work well together from now on.”

As long as Theodore could grow up safe and sound.

When Rayana smiled awkwardly, the demon stared at her like he’d just seen something strange.

They didn’t shake hands for quite some time.

“It’s a contract.”

The moment the demon said those words, brilliant light burst from their joined hands.

Strange letters flowed into the air, surrounding them before vanishing between their hands.

Through her blurred vision, Rayana saw the demon’s true face for the first time.

His fleetingly revealed form looked like an ancient god straight out of a temple mural.

Though most of his face was hidden by long black hair, his eyes seemed to long for something.

Theodore didn’t regain consciousness until the next morning.

“Huh? Rayana? What are you doing here so early?”

As their eyes met, Theodore instinctively smiled, then frowned.

“My head hurts.”

“You slept for a long time. Here, have some water. I’ll bring you porridge and medicine soon. You’ll feel better after that.”

“Thanks.”

“No need to thank me. It’s just what I do.”

“But Rayana’s job is being a knight, not taking care of me.”

“Do you dislike me taking care of you?”

“No, I just think Rayana should do what she wants. You said you wanted to be a knight.”

Rayana was surprised by how calmly Theodore said that while shaking his head.

“How do you know that?”

“Huh? Good question.”

His wide, round eyes didn’t look like he was lying.

“I think I overheard it. Maybe when I was training with Father? You said you wanted to become a knight.”

Was it what she said at the training grounds? Or was it something the demon had heard and shared with him?

“What else do you remember?”

“Something else? I don’t really remember much else.”

The child thought for a moment, then rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand.

“…I’m sleepy.”

“Looks like you haven’t fully recovered. Go ahead and sleep some more.”

Yes, rest was more important than remembering.

She placed a hand on his forehead—he still had a bit of a fever.

When Rayana didn’t move from his side, Theodore gave a sleepy smile.

“Will you stay with me?”

“This time, I’ll be here until you wake up.”

Hehe. The soft giggle of the child filled the room.

Peeking out from under the covers, the boy murmured,

“Thank you, Rayana.”

“For what?”

Rayana asked, puzzled.

“For coming to me. Even though I acted mean, you were always kind to me.”

“…I’m twelve years older than you, so I should act more mature.”

His words comforted her so much, she almost cried.

Struggling not to tear up, Rayana was interrupted when Theodore started giggling and wiggling his feet.

“Right! Think of it as the price of having a young fiancé!”

“…Where did you learn to say things like that?”

Theodore sometimes had a way of making her speechless with his unexpected remarks.

She stared at the little fiancé who had just made her forget her tears.

“…From a book.”

His sleepy eyes, half-closed from drowsiness, looked at her.

“Rayana, don’t hate me.”

“Why would I hate Your Grace?”

That made Theodore smile faintly.

Still hiding under the blanket, the boy peeked out again.

“I really, really like you.”

“…Why do you like me, Your Grace?”

“Because Rayana is cool!”

Cool?

Rayana’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

That seemed to amuse Theodore, who poked her brow with his finger and laughed by himself.

Embarrassed by the lingering warmth on her brow, Rayana rubbed it awkwardly.

“Rayana is good with a sword, speaks well, is pretty and handsome, tall, has big hands, and saved me!”

He hadn’t mentioned that day before, so she thought maybe he didn’t remember—but apparently he did.

“But more than all that, I just like you. I want to be with you. Next time, I’ll be the one to save you.”

His blue eyes sparkled beautifully.

As she gazed into those clear blue eyes, Rayana spoke without thinking.

“Have you ever seen the ocean, Your Grace?”

“The ocean? No, never.”

“That’s a shame. Your eyes remind me of the sea. They’re really beautiful.”

“The ocean?”

“No, your eyes, Your Grace.”

At her words, the boy’s eyes widened in surprise.

They were truly beautiful—more so than anything she had ever seen.

Even the expensive jewels she had seen in Theodore’s room paled in comparison to the blue in his eyes.

“I’ve always thought so. I’m only saying it now.”

“Hmm… thanks.”

Theodore’s cheeks turned red with shyness.

Was he embarrassed? Even that made him look like a doll—proof that his beauty was something else entirely.

“Sleep well, Your Grace.”

Hoping the demon wouldn’t torment him, Rayana gently pulled the blanket up to his chin.

Rayana opened the window as soon as she woke up.

Standing absentmindedly on the terrace, she looked out at the garden before turning her gaze toward the terrace of the room next door.

“Is His Grace still asleep?”

Rayana was now staying in the room right next to Theodore’s.

Since that day, the demon hadn’t appeared again. Theodore was still recovering, and peaceful days continued.

But how long will that last?

Asking her to treat him like the child meant he would return eventually.

It was only a matter of time.

For Theodore not to fall ill again, either he had to grow strong enough to overpower the demon’s influence, or the demon had to refrain from using his power.

For now, all Rayana could do was hope the demon stayed away.

Then she sensed movement in the dark garden.

A stray cat?

She stared intently at the shifting shadow—then it lifted its head.

“No way…”

What she saw was a dark shadow.

Not dark because there was no light, but dark in and of itself.

It looked like black smoke, wearing Theodore’s shell—like the demon.

The black mist paused as if it felt her gaze.

It had been hovering midair, then began to settle in the garden and squirm.

“What are you doing there?”

Though the distance was great, Rayana remembered clearly what the demon had said: