TYFGU 32

Episode 32  

As time passed, the man’s voice returned.

That was what it was like to hear a demon’s voice, Rayana realized.

The man was silent for a while.

“Should I keep this a secret from others?”

“You don’t… necessarily have to.”

His words were oddly phrased, but Rayana just laughed it off.

The man stared at her, as if her smile seemed strange.

“Is something wrong?”

Wondering if something was on her face, Rayana touched her cheeks.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen someone smile in front of me.”

She finally remembered where she’d seen those strange eyes before.

She had heard similar words from the demon.

People seemed to react too strongly to a single smile. Was their life that miserable?

“I don’t care. Whether it’s a demon or a curse.”

Though he didn’t speak, he looked at her as if he was curious about her reasoning.

“Because I know… there are things worse than death.”

Rayana let out a dry chuckle.

Strangely, words came easily in front of the demon and this man.

How odd that she felt more at ease around dark beings. Perhaps she herself carried a tainted energy.

“Please, feel comfortable with me. I’m much younger and of low status, so why do you seem so tense? Did I perhaps offend you?”

“No! Absolutely not… Please, don’t be angry.”

“Angry?”

It was the first time anyone had used that kind of formal language with her.

As she looked at ‘him’—treating her like someone of much higher status—Rayana tilted her head in confusion.

This man and the demon had a lot in common.

That faint dark aura, the way they spoke of things she didn’t understand…

As if they knew her past. But there was no way someone of noble birth would mistake her for a highborn, not when she was from the gutters of Bellingu.

So what exactly were they hiding?

As Rayana’s gaze turned probing, ‘his’ expression twisted with discomfort.

“It’s… about time for the Duke to arrive.”

“How do you know I went to find him?”

Though the burn marks on his face didn’t allow much expression, his eyes trembled with confusion.

“I… assumed.”

He looked deeply troubled, but Rayana didn’t press. Instead, she changed the subject.

“I heard I’m a sacrifice. The demon’s offering.”

Unlike her calm demeanor, ‘he’ seemed visibly flustered.

Perhaps he found it strange that she called herself a sacrifice.

“I heard the demon’s sacrifice has to die. Is that true? If I don’t die, can I not be a proper offering? Or could I just coax the demon without dying…”

“They must die.”

He had treated Rayana with oddly respectful manners, but on this topic, he was firm.

“The demon’s offering must… inevitably… die. In all of Astel’s history, no sacrifice has survived.”

Must die, huh?

He bowed his head, but stole glances at Rayana from time to time.

Was she frightened by the knowledge of her impending death? Or perhaps…

A crack of uncertainty appeared on the man’s expression as he watched her.

“Then you’ll be seeing something new. A sacrifice that doesn’t die.”

Her gentle smile was both unexpected and familiar.

Seeing the flicker of gold in her eyes, ‘he’ was once again reminded—Rayana must die as the demon’s offering.

“All things… according to the will of the gods.”

He muttered to himself.

Rayana noticed the reverence in his gaze.

For the first time since becoming a noble, someone was treating her like a true master.

Rayana finished processing the strange encounter and ascended the central stairs of the main building.

She had enough information about the demon, but she planned to ask the Duke more about him.

But as she climbed the corridor, a sharp voice rang out behind her.

“Where are you going?”

She turned around to find a maid with red hair—Rita.

Assigned as Rayana’s personal maid by the Count’s family, Rita had made it clear she didn’t welcome the role.

Not once had she personally attended to Rayana. Her attitude was cold, and she spoke with thinly veiled irritation.

“I’m going to see His Grace the Duke.”

At Rayana’s answer, Rita scoffed in disbelief.

“Miss, I’ve been meaning to say this… Just because you’re engaged to the Duke doesn’t mean you can act so familiar. You should consider the reputation of the Chester family.”

“Reputation?”

“Sigh… I knew it. You don’t even understand what’s wrong, do you?”

Rita crossed her arms and let out a mocking laugh.

“You really can’t hide your lack of education.”

Though it was a whisper, Rayana heard it clearly—her hearing had become sharp enough to catch even the sound of ants crawling.

Still, Rayana doubted her ears.

She remembered Rita being assigned as her maid, but it seemed Rita had forgotten.

Then again, leaving the manor doesn’t change a person.

Rita had long served as Isabella’s maid.

She used to follow Isabella around and mock Rayana with the other maids.

“Even after all the lessons Lady Isabella gave you, you still can’t mimic the ‘noble’ air. Now I know exactly what your problem is.”

“And what’s my problem?”

“That’s—”

Rita was so immersed in mocking Rayana that she didn’t notice how close she had come.

Rayana’s presence loomed larger than expected, exuding a quiet but unmistakable force—the kind you only sensed from someone trained with a sword.

“I asked what the problem was.”

“It’s… your origin. Doesn’t everyone know you were born and raised in a brothel? With a background like that, of course your manners are vulgar.”

Even though she shrank back, Rita continued babbling.

She had thought Rayana was just a worthless girl in the Chester household.

The Rayana before her now was a completely different person, and Rita was having a hard time processing it.

“Ah, that background.”

Rayana nodded calmly.

Whenever Isabella had insulted her, Rayana had always nodded like she understood.

Remembering that, Rita lifted her chin arrogantly.

“Lady Isabella warned you many times not to step forward in front of others. But it’s clear now that it didn’t work.”

“Rita.”

“Why are you calling my name like that?”

“You speak as if I need your permission to say your name.”

Rita’s pupils trembled.

Was she really shaken just from Rayana saying her name? Her ears turned red.

“You’re right. One’s origin matters. So where are you from, Rita? Were you born into a grand and noble lineage?”

Since when did Rayana speak so eloquently?

In the Chester family, she barely opened her mouth.

She always walked around hunched over like a mute fool.

That’s why Rita had made the mistake—

She thought Rayana would act like that in front of everyone.

“Where are we right now?”

“…”

“Answer.”

“This is the Duke of Valencia’s estate… But why—”

“Then you should listen to me.”

Rayana gripped Rita’s shoulder. The pain was sharp—Rita bit her lip to keep from crying out.

How is she this strong?

Rita could tell there’d be a bruise.

“This is the Valencia estate. So, who am I?”

“You are Rayana Chester…”

“That’s right. And?”

“…”

Rita knew exactly what Rayana wanted her to say.

She wanted Rita to call her the Duke of Valencia’s fiancée.

But Rita didn’t want to say it.

There was a vast difference between being the Chester family’s foster daughter and the Duke’s betrothed.

Admitting it herself would be like surrendering.

But the longer she stayed silent, the more she proved the truth—

That Rayana was someone she could no longer treat however she wanted.

“A maid who dares lecture her mistress—if I don’t punish you, it would be an insult to Isabella’s teachings. I can’t allow that.”

Rayana wore a chilling smile as she spoke those terrifying words.

“A-Are you saying you’re going to punish me?”

“Why not? The man who will soon be my father-in-law said this: From now on, I am to be treated as Valencia. And I’ll show you what that means—starting with you.”