Chapter 3
It was as if a black beast had stepped into a peacock’s feast.
He wore not even a suit, but merely a single shirt. His long, black hair half-obscured his face, and through it, fleeting glimpses of purple eyes appeared devoid of emotion. In this place where everyone wore artificial smiles, his appearance was starkly out of place.
With wide eyes, I scrutinized his imposing physique, then moistened my parched lips with my tongue. The novel had a passage about him: He possessed the most formidable magical power of any in the Luciano family throughout history. The ambient magic around him fluctuated with his mood. This oppressive feeling, I surmised, must be a result of that.
‘How on earth did the Edith in the novel treat someone like him so badly?’
Just then:
“Is that… him?”
“Indeed. The one who survived when his parents all died.”
I turned my head to see some noblewomen, their faces half-hidden by fans, who had been resting in a corner, just like me.
“To appear at an imperial banquet in such a state. Is the rumor that he’s lost his mind truly accurate?”
“Shush. Be careful what you say. He may look like that, but he’s still of the prestigious Luciano lineage. There’s no telling what he might do if things go awry.”
“Tsk, a madman disgracing the Luciano name.”
Frowning, the ladies cast furtive glances at him before hurriedly fanning themselves and departing, as if even sharing the same space was repulsive.
…Ah, right. This was the reaction I had expected.
Denok Luciano, the Beast Grand Duke.
Rumors whispered of him turning violent and screaming every night. He was a dangerous presence, liable to erupt at any moment. I distinctly remembered my own frown when I first heard those rumors.
‘Is it because I’m meeting him in person for the first time? The feeling is somewhat…’
A prickling discomfort, like a splinter under my fingernail. An inexplicable emotion distorted my features.
Meanwhile, as Denok descended the last step, a large circular space opened around him. The aristocrats recoiled, contorting their faces as if avoiding something foul. Denok showed no discernible reaction. He merely surveyed the banquet hall impassively before quietly moving towards the terrace. With each step he took, the nobles faltered and retreated, creating a wide path through the center of the hall. For some reason, I found it difficult to tear my eyes away from him.
Click.
Only when his imposing presence vanished onto the terrace did the banquet hall regain its vibrancy. The cheerful strains of a violin filled the hall, as if no one had ever held their breath, and people gathered in small groups, resuming their conversations. I was the only one still staring at the terrace.
I blinked blankly.
‘Why…’
Did everyone take this situation for granted?
‘He didn’t do anything.’
Perhaps it was the memory of my previous life, but the discomfort I’d felt earlier slowly began to swell. He could have done anything with his overflowing magic. He could have punished the nobles who mocked him or subdued the villainess who acted atrociously. Yet, in the novel, even when my former self, the villainess, threw a vase at his face, demanding a diamond earring in the dead of night,
‘…Understood, my lady.’
Denok had merely said that, blood dripping from his temple. And he had quietly left to procure the earring. He had never once wielded his power against those who recoiled from him. Yet, in the end, he chose mutual destruction with the villainess. He couldn’t even bring himself to cast me aside or punish me alone.
‘…Ah.’
Only then did I grasp the true nature of the discomfort that had plagued me: guilt. That memory—perhaps a mere piece of fiction, or a fragment of a life I couldn’t fully recall—now lodged itself deep within me like a thorn. A sharp pain spread through my chest.
‘…Should I go to him now?’
Should I warn him before he even takes the potion? Before all the misfortune begins? Then he wouldn’t have to endure an uncomfortable marriage with someone he didn’t love. Impulsive thoughts crowded my mind, and my feet began to move towards him of their own accord.
But then, just as I started, a cold hand gripped my arm.
“Edith.”
My father, now close by, whispered lowly. The chill in his voice snapped me back to reality.
“When I give the signal, then you may go.”
At his words, my body froze like ice. Only then did reality come into sharp focus. I realized who held the leash that controlled me so arbitrarily.
“Yes, Father.”
The true master of this charade was neither Denok nor I.
The music changed. I entrusted my body to an unfamiliar waltz, circulating through the center of the hall, guided by the hand of a man whose name I couldn’t even recall. A stinging sensation pricked my back with every sweep of my foot across the floor. My father, leaning against a wall in the hall, never took his eyes off me.
‘At this rate, it will be difficult to get to Denok.’
My anxiety gnawed at me, and I bit my lip inadvertently. I glanced over, seeing that the terrace door, through which Denok had disappeared, remained firmly shut. He hadn’t emerged since he entered.
‘How on earth are they planning to give him the drug?’
“You look quite different today.”
Then, a voice from in front of me startled me.
“Pardon?”
When I looked up, the man I was dancing with blushed and cast his eyes down.
“Well, you usually don’t stray from the Duke’s side.”
“Ah.”
Right. The original me never left my father’s side. Most nobles approached us first. I considered it beneath the dignity of a Certia family daughter to approach others first, so I always remained alone or by my father’s side. Thanks to this, my image was apparently that of a haughty young lady.
“Our Donovan ducal family is also planning to host a small tea party soon, if you might consider…”
“Oh, really?”
I heard the man mumble something, but my attention drifted away again. I threw out a random answer, already having checked the terrace multiple times, when I checked it once more.
“…!”
My feet, in the midst of a step, froze. The man was left in an awkward position as I failed to turn with him.
“M-My Lady Certia?”
I blinked and looked again, but the scene hadn’t changed. The terrace door stood wide open. Denok was gone.
“Excuse me, sir.”
A cool hand settled on my shoulder.
“I apologize, but may I take my daughter now?”
“Ah, yes, yes! Of course, Duke!”
As the man hurriedly retreated, a gentle whisper drifted to my ear.
“The preparations are complete.”
How? When?
“He will be in the room at the end of the third-floor corridor.”
A cold hand gave my exposed back a slight push.
“You know what you need to do, don’t you?”
I suppressed my panting breaths and leaped up two steps at a time. Questions like “How?” and “When?” flooded my mind, ready to burst, but they weren’t important right now.
“Haah… haah…”
The sound of my heels echoed on the endlessly ascending staircase. Despite being within the imperial palace, it was strangely devoid of people. One would expect someone to approach with such a commotion.
‘Could it be…’
Could the imperial family be involved in this? I continued my rather plausible speculation, gritting my teeth. Ultimately, money was everything. If an enormous reward was offered, even the emperor wouldn’t have been able to resist salivating.
“Haah… hmph.”
My chest, tightly bound by the corset, felt as though it would tear. I swallowed the breath that clawed at my throat. Finally, I reached the third-floor corridor.
“…”
The corridor, with its long red carpet, was eerily quiet. The elegant music and warm laughter from below seemed like a mere illusion.
“He will be in the room at the end of the third-floor corridor.”
Recalling my father’s words, I took a step. My heels were rubbed raw and burning, slowing my pace. Soon, I stood before a pristine white door.
“…”
Beyond the firmly closed door, Denok was inside. Drugged, and losing his reason. I waited for a long moment, catching my breath outside the door. Having made up my mind, I abruptly turned the doorknob.
‘Ugh.’
As soon as I opened the door, a wave of hot air washed over me, making me frown.
