MLCDF 76

~Chapter 76~

Damien was completely right.

I always painted with affection toward the subject.

It wasn’t that I chose what I liked to paint—it was that I could only paint things I liked.

Luckily, I liked many things.

But among the few things I didn’t like… was myself.

“Sigh.”

I let out a deep breath and brushed my hair back with my hand.

Now that Damien had seen through me, there was no need to keep hiding.

I decided to be honest with him.

“You’re right about everything, Damien. I can only paint what I like. But since I don’t like myself, I can’t paint at all.”

It was the first time anyone had found this out—and the first time I admitted it.

At least it was my husband, the closest person to me.

“This is bad. I need to start working quickly, but I’ll have to throw away everything I’ve painted so far…”

I looked worriedly at the unfinished self-portrait.

Even when I looked again, the face on the canvas was like my reflection in the mirror, very realistic—but that was all.

The me inside the painting looked stiff and lifeless, like a doll.

“Ruby, how about taking a rest first?”

Damien took my hand and led me.

“You’re too trapped in this self-portrait right now. Ideas won’t come. Let’s get some air.”

I hesitated.

Time was precious. Was it right to take a break?

But when I thought again, just sitting in front of the canvas all day wouldn’t bring any inspiration either.

So I agreed to Damien’s suggestion and stepped outside.

“Let’s take a walk first.”

It had been a while since I’d walked at night.

Under the pale moonlight, the heavy feelings inside me eased a little.

“They say they planted new roses this time. What do you think?”

Damien was much more active than usual as he guided me.

I bent down to see the roses the gardener had planted and smelled them.

“Wow, the scent is so nice. And the color is beautiful…”

“Try touching the petals. They’re soft.”

“You’re right!”

Looking at something beautiful calmed my mind.

And holding a beautiful thing under the moonlight with a handsome man?

That made me feel even better.

‘The best part of marriage is definitely Damien’s face.’

And on top of that—this husband shared the same hobbies as me.

“By the way, it’s been a long time since we played our curse-name game. Shall we play?”

“Sure.”

Damien smiled mischievously like a boy.

“How about the winner gets a wish granted again?”

“Uh, hmm… do we really need to go that far…”

“Oh, are you not confident?”

I was such a simple person—I fell for his provocation right away.

“Don’t regret it. I’ll crush you this time.”

“That’s the spirit.”

We were so fired up that this round lasted about twenty minutes.

“Crying Sherry from the third-floor women’s restroom in the servants’ dormitory.”

“Hey, you want me to think of something starting with Y? That’s too mean.”

“So are you surrendering?”

“No way!”

“3, 2, 1…”

I waved my hand frantically to keep the chain going before Damien could say “wrong.”

“Ah—Bleeding Stableman Wyatt!!”

I survived many close calls, but in the end, when another Y came up, I couldn’t think of anything new and lost.

“So, that means I won?”

I nodded.

“Yes, I admit defeat.”

“Then grant me a wish.”

“…What are you going to ask me to do?”

Just a moment ago Damien had been smiling brightly like a boy.

But now, suddenly, his face looked mature, gentle, and soft.

“Love yourself.”

His words hit me like a blow. My mind went blank.

“I know. It’s not easy to love yourself.”

A cool breeze blew past.

Damien closed his eyes, felt the wind, then turned his head toward the bright moon.

“Maybe I still haven’t managed to love myself either. I still feel like I’m horrible… like a monster.”

“No! Like I’ve said before, you’re not horrible, not a monster at all…!”

Damien laughed heartily and looked back at me.

Before, he would have doubted such words or thought they were just empty comfort.

But now, he truly accepted them.

“You’re right. After hearing you say it for months, I started thinking… maybe I’m not so bad after all.”

Seeing him no longer doubt me gave me relief.

“That’s good.”

“Yes. And I’ve even thought… maybe I can keep living like this.”

Damien walked closer until he stood before me.

His silver hair shimmered in the moonlight as the wind blew it.

Between the swaying strands, his amethyst eyes shone, beautiful enough to enchant anyone.

“Ruby, you see the good in me… so why can’t you see the good in yourself?”

I didn’t know what to answer.

‘When I look at other people or even curses, I can find something good about them.’

But strangely, in myself, I couldn’t. No matter how hard I looked, I saw only flaws.

I dropped my gaze and spoke softly.

“I don’t know what my strengths are.”

The truth was—I wanted to find at least one.

Of course I wanted to be loved.

Like Cecilia, I wanted people’s attention and affection.

Or even better—just the love of one person would have been enough.

Now, I had the Maledictus people and the curses strangely caring for me, so it was okay.

But still, I couldn’t fully understand why they cared so much.

“What trait do I have that makes me worthy of being loved?”

Maybe Damien, who had been by my side for months and always spoke kindly, could tell me.

“There are many. You didn’t know?”

I still couldn’t even imagine what those traits might be.

“Could you tell me?”

“Well, to begin with…”

His amethyst eyes softened.

“You’re someone without prejudice. You accepted me, even with curses all over me and terrible rumors. You’ve always helped me.”

“That’s just because it was the right thing to do…”

“And you’re kind enough to care for every single curse—Ruhi, the twins, Kkigig, and the dolls.”

“Well… that’s because I like curses…”

“Just liking them isn’t enough for most people. Many would only use them for fun, then throw them away.”

“…That’s true.”

“And you’re always brave, never panicking even in front of all kinds of curses. You stay calm and rational.”

Damien continued listing my traits in a calm voice—things that could make me lovable.

He said I painted well, enjoyed meals and always gave thanks, returned greetings with a smile, and always called his name in a soft voice.

They were all such small things.

But I felt thankful that Damien considered even these small things worthy of love.

“And also…”

“Wait, I think that’s enough.”

I was getting embarrassed. My face had grown hotter with every compliment.

“No. There’s one last thing.”

“Uh…”

“You’re cute.”

“…What?”

He was so serious that I couldn’t even protest.

Was he joking? Or being real?

His unwavering eyes told me he meant it.

“When you blush, you’re like a rabbit. Very cute.”

“Ra… rabbit…”

“Anyway, that’s how I see you.”

I felt confused.

But Damien’s words had power.

The traits he listed really were lovable ones.

Listening to him, I began to wonder—maybe I really was that kind of person.

“To me, you’re a wonderful person, Ruby. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be loved.”

“…Is that so…”

“After hearing my list, don’t you think you’re actually a very attractive person?”

When I looked up, his clear violet eyes were holding me warmly.

“Because of you, Ruby, I was able to step outside. And because of you, I began to accept myself.”

He was saying that those beautiful eyes of his could face the world without a mask because of me.

“I want you to do the same.”

His heartfelt words warmed something inside my chest.

“Damien…”

I was about to thank him when suddenly—

The back door to the garden burst open, and the curses came rushing out.

[Ruhi-ruhi-ru-ruhi!!]

[Kkigig, kki-kki-gig!]

[Waaaah, Ruby!! Why did you leave us behind!!]

“Hey, Rubiana! You’re entering that art contest, right? If you don’t win first place, you’re dead!”

The curses surrounded me, each shouting their own thing.

Like baby birds following their mother bird, they all chirped noisily.

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Sorry, everyone. I haven’t played with you much, have I?”

[No!!]

I listened to each of their stories one by one.

Then, a gentle touch landed on my shoulder.

“See? They’ve all been waiting for you so much.”

I chuckled at Damien’s words.

“That’s true.”

“Now they can’t live without you.”

It sounded like a line from a possessive romance novel—yet he said it playfully, making me laugh.

“And neither can I.”

“…Huh?”

I could understand if he was talking about the curses—but him too?

My face grew hot.

“Your face is red. Do you have a fever?”

“N-no.”

I shook my head quickly, trying to get rid of strange thoughts.

‘They can’t live without me…’

And then—

“Ruby?”

Finally—

Inspiration struck.