~Chapter 44~
The red moonlight poured over the throne—
and over unconscious Rubiana.
The once-clear rays of light gathered into a glowing mass and then took the shape of a butterfly.
Like a ghost butterfly from the garden under the terrace.
Swish—
The fluttering wings of the ghost butterflies made Rubiana’s hair ripple softly.
The butterflies circled around her head, spinning into a ring.
Eventually, they formed the shape of a tiara.
The red light shining from them grew so intense it looked white.
[Descendant of mine, answer me.]
These ghost butterflies were born from the spirits of the previous Maledictus ancestors.
The moment Damien heard the voice, he realized it was the voice of his ancestors. He respectfully bowed before the throne.
“Yes. I am Damien, 14th generation descendant.”
Then, the voice asked:
[Do you understand the weight of a soul contract?]
“I do.”
[Did you explain it clearly to your spouse?]
“I did.”
[Can you protect your spouse even if you lose control?]
Damien bit his lip.
The purpose of the soul contract was to ease the pain and madness caused by curses—through emotional bonding with one’s partner.
Naturally, the Maledictus becomes deeply attached to their contracted partner and wants to stay close to them.
So although the contract reduces the chance of going berserk, if it does happen, the one in greatest danger would be the partner standing nearest.
This was the reason Damien had hesitated.
Clink.
Damien placed a small iron needle in front of the throne.
“This is poison I carry at all times. It’s strong enough to kill me instantly, no matter where I inject it.”
Hurting Rubiana was never an option.
If he ever went berserk—he would take his own life.
[…Understood.]
[If you’re prepared to die to protect her, then you may form the contract.]
The red light of the butterflies grew brighter.
[But—live. No matter what, do not die.]
The butterflies around Rubiana slowly floated toward Damien.
One butterfly gently landed on his left hand.
[If you die, your partner will be left alone again.]
The butterflies wrapped around his finger like a band—thin and glowing.
A thread tied around Damien’s left ring finger…
…was also tied around Rubiana’s left ring finger.
[May the souls of the two now joined be forever blessed.]
The ancestors’ voices faded.
Thump.
He heard a heartbeat—not his own, but Rubiana’s.
‘We’re… connected now.’
Her heartbeat, once faint and weak, now pulsed clearly—almost like it was beating inside his own chest.
“Hah…”
Damien let out a breathless laugh as he lifted her gently off the throne.
To feel the heart of the one you were afraid to lose—beating so vividly—was magical.
Waves of peace, warmth, and joy flooded in, but with it came responsibility.
‘I have to live properly. For her.’
Now that he could feel her presence so deeply, she would also feel his emotions more clearly.
They were connected now—forever.
He didn’t want her to feel the despair and self-hatred he had always lived with.
He just wanted her to be happy, to do what she loved, and keep loving what made her smile.
“You, at least…”
He tucked her black hair behind her ear and whispered:
“…will live under the light.”
Meanwhile…
“Hey. Hey.”
Alice poked Rubiana’s cheek.
Rubiana groaned, frowning, but didn’t open her eyes.
Frustrated, Alice leaned in and snapped near her ear:
“Hey! Wake up already! You gonna sleep forever—”
Swoosh!
A sharp knife whizzed past Alice’s face and stuck into the wall.
Furious, she turned and shouted:
“You cursed little dolls!!”
Tiny cursed dolls stood across the room, frowning at her.
“Be gentle!”
“Don’t bully the queen!”
These dolls, who rarely left their room, had started roaming the mansion when Rubiana stopped visiting.
When they found her asleep after the soul contract, they chased down the twin curse Alice to wake her up.
“You bad curse!”
Annoyed by their attitude, Alice lost it.
“YOU asked me to wake her! You straw-stuffed gremlins! If you’re gonna whine, don’t beg me for help—AAARGH!”
But the dolls ignored her.
They were childlike in mind and only ever listened to Rubiana.
“Calm down. You’re gonna break the floor.”
Elliot stepped in to stop Alice.
After a long explanation from him, she stomped once more and sat back in her chair.
“Why’d Rubiana faint anyway?”
She turned to Damien, who was working in Rubiana’s room while she was still unconscious.
“You must know something.”
Damien looked up.
“It’s a temporary effect from the soul contract. Some past partners experienced it too.”
“That’s it?” Elliot frowned.
“If it’s a contract effect, why are you totally fine?”
“She’s never been exposed to curses before. It’ll take her time to adjust.”
“Really? The curse only affects her through you, and it’s just one-tenth the strength. You said it’s harmless.”
“Harmless doesn’t mean unchanged.”
Damien looked down at sleeping Rubiana.
“Also, there’s another reason.”
“What is it?”
Thanks to the contract—even at the first stage—Damien could now sense her condition and location without being told.
“She caught a cold.”
Alice let out a dramatic gasp.
“Seriously?! Again?! Damien, make her exercise when she wakes up. She just got married—what if she dies early?”
“I already plan to.”
She likely caught the cold after staying barefoot in thin clothes inside the mirror world for too long.
Damien had already punished the mirror curse quite thoroughly.
[You bastard!!]
Only Damien could hear it—the screams of the mirror curse.
[You locked me in the tiniest mirror! Out of hundreds! You’re the worst!!]
Bam-bam-bam.
The tiny hand mirror (smaller than Damien’s palm) shook as the curse pounded on the glass.
Damien had repaired no other mirrors—so this one would be its prison.
[Just wait! I’ll find a way to scare you so bad you wet your pants—]
Snap.
Damien closed the mirror.
Silence.
Elliot sighed.
“Still the same as ever.”
“Told you. She’s always been crazy.”
Alice scoffed.
Elliot nodded.
“True.”
Just then—
“Nn… nngh…”
A sound came from Rubiana.
Damien rushed over.
“Ruby?”
Hearing her name, Rubiana slowly opened her eyes.
She stared at the ceiling for three seconds.
Then shot up.
“D-Damien!”
She looked around wildly—then grabbed his sleeve.
Damien gently held her trembling hand to calm her.
“Ruby, are you alright? Tell me if something’s wrong.”
She blurted out:
“If I’m here, I must’ve passed out. What’s today’s date?”
“It’s August 14.”
“…What?”
She paled and looked out the window.
Seeing the clear sky, her expression hardened.
“The red moon… is gone.”
Alice and Elliot immediately looked serious.
“The soul contract… the ritual… what happened to it?”
Rubiana had no memory from the moment the mirror curse took her—until now.
