~Chapter 20~
“We just need to form a soul contract.”
Damien’s violet eyes widened.
“How do you…?”
“I read about it in the main library. You told me to explore it, remember?”
“…Of all the books, you happened to read that one…”
He covered his forehead with his hand, sighing deeply before looking at me seriously.
“You’re right. I suppose I should have told you. If we form a soul contract, the royal family won’t be able to interfere anymore.”
“Exactly. And there are multiple stages before it’s finalized, right?”
The soul contract was a method devised to reduce the madness and early deaths of those chosen as Maledictus by easing their curses.
“Even if we just complete the first stage, ‘Approval,’ they won’t be able to touch us.”
It was an intricate type of curse, but unlike normal curses, it didn’t simply bring harm.
The first stage required receiving approval from the ancestral spirits residing in the mansion. Then came the vow under the blue full moon. If all conditions were met, their souls would finally be linked through the contract.
“So let’s start by getting that approval.”
To me, it seemed the most practical plan.
But Damien looked troubled.
“Ruby.”
His voice held a heavy tone as he bent forward slightly, clasping his hands together.
“I don’t know if forming a soul contract is the right thing to do.”
I recalled what I had read in the library:
[Side Effects: Almost none. The spouse experiences negligible physical or mental effects. However, the spouse will share the same lifespan as the Maledictus.
Dissolution: Cannot be dissolved by mutual consent alone. A ritual is required.]
“Why? It barely affects the spouse, and it can be dissolved, right?”
“But it’s not entirely without consequences. And dissolution still requires a ritual.”
Damien listed each reason logically, trying to dissuade me.
“I think it’s better not to form the contract at all. Besides, I…”
He seemed at a loss for words, struggling to express himself.
After much hesitation, he spoke firmly.
“Like I said before, just having you here already eases my pain a lot. There’s no need for a contract.”
“But what if you build a tolerance to me?”
At my rebuttal, his brow twitched.
“Tolerance…?”
“Yes.”
I explained what I read about a previous Maledictus ancestor who married early but refused the soul contract.
At first, his spouse’s presence alone calmed him. But over time, he built a tolerance.
The relief he felt from holding her hand for an hour stretched to two hours, then three. Eventually, even embracing her all day failed to ease his madness and pain.
He died young, overwhelmed by the growing curse.
“At first, it might be fine. But without the contract, you might not be able to withstand stronger curses later.”
Especially since the royal family would force him to take on more curses in the future.
“Even if we don’t reach the final stage, I think we should go through as many as possible.”
“…Ha.”
Damien ran a hand through his bangs, his amethyst eyes filled with complex emotions.
“Ruby, forming a soul contract means you’ll share my lifespan. Even if you don’t want to die, you might die with me. Or if you want to die, you might not be able to.”
“I know.”
“And you’re still okay with it?”
For once, frustration showed in his voice.
His face, usually calm, flushed slightly.
“Think of yourself more. This isn’t something to decide lightly.”
His stern gaze was one I had never received before—from my family in this life or even in my sickly previous life.
Sharp, almost angry, yet unable to hide the genuine worry and sincerity within.
“I’m scared… that you won’t be able to say no to something you hate, just because it’s for me.”
I blinked at him, keeping my eyes fixed on his.
‘Unable to say no to something I hate…?’
Was that true?
I understood his point. A soul contract wasn’t something to take lightly.
‘But we’re married.’
Even if it was a contract marriage, shouldn’t spouses support each other?
‘And… if it were anyone else, I wouldn’t even consider this.’
But with Damien, I felt forming a soul contract was okay because…
‘Even things impossible outside… may be possible here.’
‘I was first.’
Because he was the first to accept me, when I had nowhere else to belong.
“Thinking about it again, it’s not something I hate and am forcing myself to do.”
I decided to express my feelings honestly.
Facing it directly was the best way to clear his doubts.
“Stopping the royal family is part of it. But most importantly…”
My only friend, my housemate who might be a bit peculiar—
“I don’t want someone who’s been so kind to me… to be in pain.”
Even though he always carried such heavy burdens, he never once refused my requests.
“……”
Damien closed his eyes.
After watching him for a month, I knew.
“…Alright.”
That he would eventually listen to me.
* * *
“I’ll say it again. If you feel hesitant, change your mind, or get scared, you must tell me. Understand?”
“Yes. I promise.”
Damien repeated it twice, thrice, countless times.
‘Though I doubt I’ll change my mind.’
Still, I nodded, understanding why he insisted.
“The ‘Approval’ will happen here. The stone wall is closed now, but when the conditions are met, it will open.”
We were in the underground of the west wing.
Different from the prison where the twin curses resided, this was a separate space.
‘There are carvings here.’
Engravings covered the thick stone wall:
Figures surrounded by black masses, two holding hands while covered in curses, ghostly hands reaching out—depictions of Maledictus history and the soul contract process.
“What are those orbs? They’re glowing alone…”
Five orbs were embedded in the wall.
Three glowed brightly, one was dim, and the last didn’t glow at all.
“They show how many conditions you’ve met. You’ve fulfilled quite a lot already. We might open the wall sooner than expected.”
Thank goodness.
Knowing we could progress quickly calmed me.
“What are the conditions?”
“Increasing your contact with curses.”
“Wow, that’s not a condition—that’s a reward.”
Damien paused mid-explanation, thinking deeply.
“…You’re right.”
“That’s probably why I collected so many already.”
“Perhaps so.”
“Then, what’s the other condition?”
Damien turned to look at the mural.
“Increasing contact with the Maledictus.”
Ah.
‘Well, it is a contract with the spouse’s soul…’
It made sense that contact with him was required.
‘I guess I’ll have to spend more time with Damien.’
Even more than before.
‘Though… didn’t we spend all day together yesterday…?’
At that moment, footsteps approached from behind.
“My lord, madam.”
Turning around, I saw the head maid holding a torch.
“There is an urgent matter I must report.”
* * *
After she left, Damien and I sat close, wearing serious expressions.
“This… is a big problem.”
“It is.”
His gaze fell to the calendar.
Specifically, to the large circle the head maid had drawn.
“It’s… a good thing. But…”
“Yes?”
“It’s… truly a big deal, like you said.”
Indeed.
‘How will we get through this…’
The night of our consummation was fast approaching!
