TYFGU 29

Episode 29

“Don’t trust the Grand Duke too much. He’s a man you can’t read. And nothing that happened in the Count’s household must ever leave the estate. That was the first rule you were taught upon arriving at the Chester family, wasn’t it?”

Reiana had long realized that what the Count of Chester called “education” was, in truth, abuse.

Yet, she had never rebelled.

After all, he was the benefactor who had saved her life. She believed it natural for him to get angry if she didn’t obey.

She also understood Isabel’s anger. From her point of view, Reiana, who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, would have seemed like an unwelcome thorn in the eye.

It was all understandable—because she had always believed herself to be an outsider, someone destined to die on the streets.

But the man before her now was not the benevolent savior she had once thought him to be.

He had betrayed her mother and abandoned her. A coward who ran from responsibility.

Reiana’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Let’s go.”

At her command, the coachman lightly cracked his whip.

For the first time, Reiana was genuinely willing to enter into marriage with her young fiancé.

When they arrived in Valencia, the Grand Duke welcomed her.

“Welcome.”

His greeting was short, and Reiana felt both warmth and awkwardness at the same time.

“Were you waiting? I thought you would be at work…”

“My daughter-in-law is arriving today. Of course I didn’t go to work.”

At the thought that he had stayed behind just to greet her, Reiana’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Being called the Grand Duke’s daughter-in-law, being welcomed so kindly—it was all unfamiliar.

Back at the Chester household, she had only received cold farewells.

Sensing the stark contrast in atmosphere, Reiana looked around the estate.

“Where is His Highness? Surely he’s not still asleep?”

The sun was already high in the sky. Even if he was a child, how could he sleep for so long?

At her question, the Grand Duke’s brow furrowed.

“You still don’t know?”

“Pardon?”

“When the demon is active, Theodore is drained of strength and cannot wake up. He’s still a child, so the backlash is severe.”

Reiana’s face turned pale with shock.

How many times had she seen the demon recently?

It felt like almost every day.

No, it was every night.

But the last time she had seen Theodore during the day was that time he had thrown a tantrum about wanting to give her a gemstone.

That must have been the day the demon first awakened—when Theodore’s strength was nearly gone.

“Is, is His Highness… alright?”

“There’s no need to introduce the estate right now. Shall we go see him?”

Reiana nodded hastily.

The Grand Duke turned and led the way himself.

Following him, Reiana was overwhelmed with guilt.

To think she had been chatting away with a demon, blissfully unaware of how much Theodore was suffering.

“This is the first time the demon has appeared so frequently. It’s new for me too, and even the ancient imperial stone tablets make no mention of it. Don’t blame yourself for not knowing.”

Was he trying to comfort her?

How did he know she felt guilty, even though she hadn’t said a word?

Looking at the Grand Duke’s broad back, Reiana clenched her fists.

She wanted to be strong like him—but now, hearing that Theodore wouldn’t wake up, she could no longer remain calm.

When they arrived at Theodore’s room, the Grand Duke grasped the doorknob and said,

“The things that happen only to you… are also things only you can do.”

Only I can do?

As Reiana looked up at him with a puzzled expression, he personally opened the door.

“Please take good care of Theodore.”

Reiana stepped inside.

She stayed by Theodore’s side as he lay ill.

She saw firsthand the backlash he suffered after the demon appeared.

Sweating and in pain, the boy curled into himself, unable to even regain consciousness. Occasionally he would let out faint groans, but he didn’t open his eyes—not even once throughout the entire day.

Late at night, Reiana dipped a cloth in water and gently wiped his burning face.

“Please wake up soon.”

Watching the boy suffer made her chest tighten with helplessness.

Soon, his eyelashes began to tremble, and he slowly opened his eyes.

But they were golden.

As Reiana’s face, which had been full of hopeful anticipation, grew calm, the demon furrowed its brow.

“Not who you were hoping for?”

“No, I was waiting for you.”

“You?”

“You don’t like being called a demon…”

The demon’s expression shifted subtly.

He sat up in bed and stared at her, as if daring her to go on.

“So it’s true—the more you’re active, the more the boy can’t wake up?”

The demon snorted and replied.

“And if it is?”

Reiana hesitated a moment before speaking.

“Then… can’t you choose not to come out?”

She wanted to say “just disappear,” but knew it was a pointless request.

“Why should I?”

The demon’s voice was sharp and cynical.

“What makes that boy so precious to you? He’s got nothing to do with you.”

The demon frowned, clearly displeased that Reiana was tending to Theodore.

“He’s my fiancé. We’re going to be family—how could he be unrelated?”

“You said you’d call it off.”

Reiana froze.

“How do you know that…?”

She remembered the conversation she had with the Grand Duke on the training grounds.

“You and that idiot were plotting to get rid of me. And in return, you just wanted a canceled engagement. How stupid can you be?”

“You… heard everything?”

Her voice trembled slightly, and the demon sneered.

“I told you. I can go anywhere and see anything.”

She had forgotten—he could appear or vanish like smoke.

The demon’s gaze turned cold and hateful.

“Shouldn’t you be grateful I’ve let you live, even though you’re trying to destroy me? This makes twice now that I’ve spared you.”

The child’s small hand lifted Reiana’s chin. Looking into those vivid golden eyes, Reiana muttered without thinking.

“Are you trying to become a god?”

“A god?”

“In myths, demons couldn’t become gods and grew jealous—so they turned against them…”

The demon cut her off with a loud laugh.

“Utter nonsense. How would a human know the will of a god? And to pass that idiocy down for generations? Incredible stupidity.”

“Then what is your goal? Why do you stay here, hidden inside the crown prince’s body?”

“Because I want something.”

“And what is it you want…?”

“I’ve already found it. This time, I’ll take it. I’ve waited thousands of years. And now, finally, the opportunity is mine. I even got lucky—my prey came to me on its own.”

In the dark room, the demon’s eyes gleamed like a beast’s. His voice brimmed with excitement.

Reiana had wanted to offer help in finding what he was searching for—but apparently, he had already found it.

As she lowered her gaze in disappointment, the demon continued staring at her.

“You told me not to come out. That was a request, wasn’t it?”

She didn’t want to admit it, but it was.

When she looked at him again, the corners of his lips curled up.

“You’re asking for a favor, but where’s your offering?”

“Is there something you want from me? If I can give it, I will.”

She didn’t have much to offer, so the answer came easily.

She even thought, if it’s something I can pay with my body, that would be best.

Strangely, she felt calm.

Even though he was a demon who killed people, she had an odd certainty that he wouldn’t hurt her.

Without hesitation, the demon said what he wanted.

“You.”

“…What?”

Reiana thought she’d misheard.

“Offer yourself.”

He pointed at her nonchalantly.

It was so brazen, she could hardly believe it.

So he really does eat someone every year. This time he wants to eat properly, I guess?

Reiana shook her head firmly.

“I have no intention of dying. And I won’t give myself to you.”

At the word “dying,” the demon’s brow furrowed, then he nodded slowly and murmured.

“Well, I suppose you would die.”

Seeing how casually he spoke of her death, Reiana checked to make sure her sword was at her hip.

“What if the boy dies?”

At that, Reiana flinched. The demon smiled sweetly.

The boy was always her greatest weakness.

But that didn’t mean Reiana knew nothing.