Chapter 14
‘I’ve floundered among swarms of hornets as vast as the sea before, but still…’
“You say you dream it repeatedly, so if it happens again, report it. Doesn’t have to be a written report.”
Just then, they arrived at the mansion. Shion effortlessly leapt over the high wall and naturally moved to jump toward the window of Odette’s room.
“Your Excellency, wait a moment.”
“That room on the third floor with the north-facing window—isn’t that yours?”
It seemed the truth, when it didn’t need to be hidden, was being delivered very precisely.
“I’m sorry, but you need to drop me off at the underground prison. If you just let me down here, I’ll take care of the rest—”
“…The underground prison?”
“Yes. I’ve just come out from being locked up there.”
At her reply, Shion furrowed his brow. His violet eyes were full of irritation.
‘Why is he annoyed now? Did I emit that nauseating rose scent again?’
While Odette subtly pulled at her sleeve to hide any possible scent—worried that this KTX-speed temper might throw her to the ground—Shion landed smoothly in the garden of the count’s estate.
“Just stay put. You’re already being carried.”
As if in response to her concern, Shion pulled her closer, holding her more securely in his arms, and silently detached the front door on the first floor.
To remove it without a sound… If he ever turned to thievery, he’d be legendary. A truly insane talent.
‘He probably fixes it back on his way out too… right?’
In this world, transcendents really were something else…
Upon arriving underground, Shion looked around the prison with clear displeasure.
“You actually sleep in a place like this?”
Maybe it was the thick layers of dust and the musty smell, the cobwebs in the corners, or the old, caked blood that didn’t sit well with him.
There was a prisoner’s hood still hanging on the execution stand, and a harpoon stuck out from between the bars—not the most welcoming environment.
‘With that OCD of his, this must be unbearable.’
Recalling Shion’s character setting—someone who crushed heads cleanly without splashing blood—Odette slipped down from his arms.
Without a word, Shion pulled the bars apart with his hands until there was just enough space for someone to slip through.
‘I was planning to get in after he left by using the key…’
His graceful movement made the feat of brute strength look effortless. His physical ability was… absurdly impressive.
“Get in. I’ll restore the bars to how they were before. No one will know you ever left.”
“…Thank you for bringing me here.”
“As you asked, I’ll make sure no one finds out you purified the crown prince. I’ll order everyone in the imperial palace to keep up the act like he’s still unstable. So you don’t need to worry. And since I’m doing all this work, I’d really like you to keep your promise to disappear.”
“Don’t worry. Even if I die, I’ll do my best to stay out of sight.”
Odette answered sincerely, with all her heart, without the slightest exaggeration.
At that, Shion fell silent, as if lost for words—then let out a harsh curse.
“…Ha. Goddamn it.”
‘What now? Did my answer irritate him somehow? Did it not sound sincere?’
“You can go now.”
As soon as morning came, Ferdinand would show up to torment her again.
‘Even if he knows about the abuse, I don’t want him to see it firsthand.’
Better to be seen as a spoiled villainess than as a worm beaten like an animal by her own family.
“Hurry, please.”
She really didn’t want him to witness that. Yet, despite her urging, Shion hesitated—then handed something to her.
“Take this.”
What he placed in her hand was a silver locket necklace. It looked like a simple accessory, but Odette, who had played the game, recognized it immediately.
A necklace that would automatically summon Shion in a moment of mortal danger. The first Transcendent of humanity had condensed his power into it.
‘Why would he give me this?’
She knew from the game’s lore and strategy guides that this item was meant for Charlotte.
‘It’s a family heirloom passed down within the Kleist family.’
“…Why are you giving this to me?”
“The documents you submitted today—were they originally stored in the study’s secret vault?”
“What? Yes. They were.”
“Then be sure to leave behind copies and forged certificates when you leave.”
“Wait, hold on. Why—?”
Before she could finish her question, he vanished. In that brief moment, he even restored the prison bars before leaving. So impatient. Definitely the kind of behavior you’d expect from a game made by a Korean company.
‘When did he even make the copies? Seriously, he’s a monster.’
Odette looked at the necklace in her hand with a puzzled expression.
‘Is he planning to watch me die? Does he not want to miss the show?’
If not, then there was no reason this should be in her hands.
Lost in thought, Odette was snapped back to reality by the sound of footsteps echoing through the underground prison.
She quickly put the necklace around her neck, making sure it was hidden.
‘Good thing Shion left quickly.’
If not, he might’ve seen her being treated like filth by the footmen.
Odette smiled faintly.
Just the fact that there was a receipt instead of a disownment certificate already revealed several things.
First. Even after 38 disownments, she still hoped to be adopted again. Life at the orphanage must’ve been worse than with the Albrecht family.
Second. Her parents and brother were the ones laundering money from the mine gifted to the purifier by the Empire and using it for criminal operations.
Third. The still-unsolved murder of Director Stiller of the orphanage—was committed by the count.
Fourth. The count recorded every disownment with a memory crystal, which meant he got off on abuse. He likely had a severe inferiority complex regarding masculinity.
Fifth. The pattern of disownments suggested it was a method to break Odette into obedience. To make her beg for parental love like a beggar for the rest of her life.
And so on. One thing was certain: the woman had lived a tragic life.
But that didn’t mean he felt sympathy for her. If she were that weak, she wouldn’t have been suited for the role of the torturer in the dungeons.
‘I still only feel disgust toward her.’
Even knowing she wasn’t responsible for those misdeeds, the visceral revulsion remained. It had to. It should.
Shion stared blankly at the mansion. All signs of his presence had vanished.
‘There’s no reason to stay here. So why am I still standing around? What the hell is bothering me?’
He hadn’t acted like himself at all. Giving her the necklace. Carrying her because she collapsed from a fever.
‘It’s all this damn power’s fault. Just because she smelled nice for a second, I started wagging my tail like some dumb mutt?’
The scent had been faint—when she collapsed. Just barely there.
‘Who else but a damn mutt would go nuts over a pleasant smell? And now I’m sitting here wagging my tail like an idiot.’
Treating the hellhound within him like a stray dog, Shion lit a cigar.
No matter what his power said, he hated that woman. Her disgusting scent. Her very presence.
Whenever he saw her, Shion felt something strange—like he was born to hate her.
Like if he didn’t hate her, his world wouldn’t run properly.
He clamped down on his cigar in irritation—and, with a graceful motion, left the scene once again.
