Chapter -02
Grand Duke Khalid Bahir sat at his desk, quietly working through a mountain of paperwork that had piled up while he was gone. His silver pen scratched across the page—until suddenly, snap—the pen broke in his hand.
“Urgh…”
He groaned, grabbing his wrist as black energy spread through his veins like spilled ink. A cursed aura pulsed from his fingers.
His icy blue eyes narrowed, and he glared at the sword lying beside the papers.
Should I just cut it off?
But he knew that wouldn’t help. Even if he cut off his cursed hand, the infection would just appear somewhere else in his body. He was too familiar with this curse—it had already gone too far.
“…Ha.”
His tall, muscular frame slumped against the back of his chair. His shirt collar hung loose, and his silver hair slipped over his face in the candlelight.
He closed his eyes and waited for the cursed energy to settle. The dark mist curling around his arms was proof the curse had been growing worse for a long time.
The symptoms were happening more often now—and they were getting stranger.
He had stopped hoping for a cure long ago.
He’d even left the North in secret, hoping to find anyone who could ease the pain, even just a little.
But that had failed too.
At this rate, his advisors would soon start asking who his heir would be.
He let out a bitter laugh.
That annoying butler will probably scold me again.
“It’s been too long since I left the castle,” he muttered. “I’m even missing his nagging face.”
He flexed his hand until it cracked. Slowly, the cursed energy faded and the pain dulled.
Knock knock.
A light knock came at the door.
“Come in.”
“Sorry for the late hour, my lord,” said a calm voice. “But I thought you’d want to hear this tonight.”
It was Haast, commander of the knights—and Khalid’s most trusted man. Tall and serious, Haast entered wearing his formal uniform. His shadow stretched long across the candlelit floor.
“Speak.”
“Raven contacted us again. They’re asking for one last chance. They say… they’ve found a purification mage.”
Khalid’s eyes sharpened.
“They’re always chasing money. Is it a woman this time?”
“Yes.”
Khalid’s expression turned cold.
He hated purification mages. They always used their powers as an excuse to get close to him. The last one had tried to touch him inappropriately while pretending to “heal” him.
She had left with her head blown off. He didn’t plan to go through that again.
“They won’t learn unless I cut off their heads.”
Haast spoke gently.
“This time might be different. She only asked to hold your hand.”
“…What?”
“I thought it was a joke too. But we tested her purification power. The judgment stone turned completely white.”
Haast placed the glowing white crystal on the desk.
Khalid stood and picked it up. He studied the stone.
It had been fully purified.
A complete cleansing… just from holding hands?
That was unheard of. Someone with that kind of power should be working at the Mage Tower—or for the royal family.
Not with a greedy guild like Raven.
Khalid tapped the desk with his finger, then slowly drew his sword.
Could he trust them again? The same guild that once tried to trick him with a fake healer?
It sounded like another trap.
But… his curse wasn’t going to wait.
His pride didn’t matter anymore.
He clenched the glowing stone in his hand.
If there’s even a tiny chance… maybe it’s worth it.
“Haast.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“I’ll go. Alone.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Baron Alonzo Aderet came home late that night, completely unaware of what had happened while he was gone.
Luna had already cleaned up all signs of the earlier break-in.
“Darling,” he called softly from the bedroom, “Come here. I want to talk to you.”
She was surprised, but walked over and helped him take off his coat.
“I had something to ask too,” she said.
“I had a debt due tomorrow,” he said as he sat in a chair. “But I’ve taken care of it.”
“Today?” Luna opened her mouth to correct him—it had actually been due today—but what he said next shocked her.
“I met with Count Darwin Mond. He’s in the capital, and… Luna, I arranged for you to marry him.”
“…What?”
Her heart dropped. Her whole body tensed.
“It should’ve happened long ago,” the Baron went on. “But I kept delaying. The Count’s estate hasn’t had a mistress in years. This is a rare chance. He’s a good man. You could become a Countess.”
“…You arranged a political marriage… today?”
Luna’s hands clenched the laundry she was holding.
While I was risking my life to protect you… you were busy arranging my marriage?
Heat rushed to her face. Her vision blurred.
“I won’t do it. Why would he even want to marry me? Why pay off our debt?”
“He saw your portrait. Said he wanted to meet you in person. He said it was fate,” her grandfather chuckled. “Viscount Ben introduced us. He felt guilty about that failed investment and said the Count seemed very interested.”
He handed her a portrait of Count Mond.
The man looked as old and polished as her grandfather. His smile was neat and gentlemanly—but Luna could only stare in shock.
This isn’t right.
“Grandfather…”
Yes, political marriages were normal for nobles. But didn’t her thoughts matter? Her future?
Had he already paid Raven? What about the purification job?
She asked, her voice shaking, “What will you do if I get married? Will you come to the capital with me?”
“The Count only asked for you,” he said gently. “I’ll be fine, my dear. If you’re happy, that’s all that matters. I’ll stay here in the East.”
Luna bit her lip, trying not to scream. Her whole body shook.
He didn’t even include himself in the plan. He just wanted to sell me off like a prize.
For a moment, she even hated him.
But she remembered Raven’s offer: if she completed the purification mission, she wouldn’t have to marry anyone.
“I’ll refuse,” she said quietly. “I’ll stay with you. I’ll earn the money and pay off everything. We’ll live comfortably together.”
“Luna, please. Don’t make this harder. Just marry the Count.”
“No. I can do this.”
She had already lost her parents. Now her grandfather wanted to give her away too?
If she left for the capital, she might never come back.
“My dear…” he said, hugging her tightly.
The old man, frail and trembling, held her like she was slipping away.
“Please,” she begged. “Just trust me. Just this once.”
He looked away.
She stepped back, her eyes red and burning.
“Grandpa… that urgent debt. It was due today, wasn’t it?”
He flinched.
He knew.
Luna took a deep breath.
It didn’t matter if it was Raven’s greed or her grandfather’s desperation. She would fix it.
“Heaven helped me, too,” she whispered. “I got a job. A purification task. If I succeed… I can clear all our debts.”
The Baron’s face fell.
“No! Luna, purification is dangerous! It’s forbidden!”
He began coughing violently.
Luna quickly turned away. If she stayed, he would never let her go.
“Please rest,” she said gently. “I left some emergency money on the shelf. I’ll come back soon.”
“Luna—!”
She shut the door behind her, cutting off his voice.
Her chest ached, and her nose stung.
Don’t cry.
She bit her wrist until it left a mark. The pain helped her stay calm.
She wiped her tears, pulled up her black cloak, and took a deep breath.
“If I purify him… everything will change.”
Her jaw clenched. Her eyes burned with determination.
And Luna stepped out into the night.
