Chapter 10
Johann Müller Lützens von Barceha.
The Crown Prince’s surname was the same as the empire’s name. Heavy in weight, glorious in meaning, and noble in length.
He awakened as an S-Class Transcendent at the age of four.
Beloved by the empire for his extraordinary appearance, the young prince gained monstrous abilities after suffering from Awakening Fever.
“Our Crown Prince has awakened as a Transcendent!”
“There won’t be a more beautiful divine beast anywhere!”
“Divine beast” was what people called Transcendents.
But in truth, the beasts were not the Transcendents themselves, but the powers they carried.
The snake-like beast that had nested in Johann’s body fed off his life force and discharged electricity outward.
“Like a basilisk,” he thought.
Saying a Transcendent uses their ability wasn’t quite right.
Rather, the ability used Johann.
This basilisk would drain him as long as he was useful, but the moment he wasn’t—it would gladly tear through his body and go on a rampage.
Such was the way the cruel god wielded His beast.
But right now, what was going on? That vile monster who had always lorded over him like a parasite was now behaving like a gentle lamb, submitting to Johann.
“What on earth is happening?”
He lifted his heavy eyelids. Through his hazy vision, he saw a woman pouring liquid into his mouth.
“Not that I dislike this…”
The beast showed no interest in the liquid itself. What it enjoyed more were the fleeting touches of the woman’s fingertips against his lips.
Accidental, subtle touches. And yet, it purred with satisfaction like a cat. It was almost ridiculous.
The Crown Prince recognized the woman in his field of vision.
“The young lady of House Albrecht.”
…And this generation’s only Purifier.
Transcendents loved Purifiers. That statement was a divine command for all Transcendents.
How thrilled young Johann had been the day he heard she’d awakened? Even before meeting her, he’d sworn to dedicate his life to the three-syllable name: Odette.
Just like in fairy tales, in scriptures, and throughout human history, he vowed to become her sword, her shield—anything she needed.
But she was the kind of woman who shattered that blind devotion with ease.
“I have no intention of doing any purification. Whether the Transcendents live or die, what’s it got to do with me?”
“Lady Odette, I understand the pain and confusion. You didn’t choose to awaken. But think of the people—”
“N-no. I can’t do this anymore. Father! Please take me away from here!”
A rose scent so artificial it seemed designed to disgust Transcendents, not enthrall them.
Her childish and selfish behavior continued. Had she not been a Purifier, Johann would’ve found it hard to suppress his murderous urges.
At funerals for innocent civilians and soldiers killed in disasters, she wore a tiara and a lace dress as if she were the star of the show.
At the Empress’s birthday banquet, she dared to wear a red dress—more vivid than the red reserved for the Empress herself.
On top of that, she had the audacity to charge the imperial palace for the cost of that dress. Her extravagant styling alone consumed 5% of the empire’s tax budget.
And then there were the misdeeds Johann heard about through Zion’s reports.
He convinced himself he could simply train harder to make up for her share—until that naive belief finally reached its breaking point.
Johann had become disappointed, despairing, and eventually gave up on the name Odette. A wretched, hateful person beyond help.
“And yet… how is she giving off this scent?”
With his senses heightened from the brink of rampage, he picked up on a faint scent beneath the strong, synthetic rose.
A sweet and calming aroma. A subtle, delicate fragrance—peach blossoms.
A scent so pure it seemed capable of melting away all hatred, contempt, and despair.
A scent that enchanted.
Even if she committed every possible sin, no beast that smelled this scent could hate her.
A scent that could shatter even the strongest convictions and chivalry.
Gulp, gulp.
The Crown Prince swallowed all the black liquid that entered his mouth.
Not because he liked it—but because the basilisk inside him wouldn’t allow him to spit out what this woman gave him.
“Still not enough, huh.”
Her muttered words made the beast inside him snort in amusement.
This dark liquid and medicine might delay a rampage, but only for a few hours at most.
“Should I let you lick what’s left on my hand?”
Johann’s heart dropped at her words. Then, her pale white finger—dipped in the black liquid—entered his mouth.
Oh, gods. He could feel the beast inside him going wild with joy.
Ahh… Johann moaned softly.
Plagued by constant pain and hyper-sensitivity, this was the first time his whole body felt so languid and at ease.
His breathing slowed and steadied.
The most perfect and sensual salvation rested at the tip of this woman’s finger.
“As expected of an S-Class—eight petals weren’t enough?”
He must’ve licked the remaining potion off her hand because the amount was lacking.
But even so—having a Crown Prince lick her fingers…
“What if later he claims I defiled royal blood and beheads me for putting something filthy in his mouth?”
Among the four male leads, Johann had the gentlest personality—but divine beasts were capricious by nature.
After much hesitation, Odette placed her index finger on the Crown Prince’s tongue.
“It’s Johann, after all. He wouldn’t go that far.”
He was the most merciful and reasonable among the male leads.
“And honestly, his condition’s too serious to be worrying about hygiene.”
After giving him the Night Glory, his wounds had visibly started healing.
Judging by how desperately Johann licked her finger, he must’ve been in immense pain.
“If he needed Night Glory, it means he’s Tier 1. Worst case, I’ll claim I washed my hands.”
Major wounds had closed, the bleeding stopped, and even broken bones had realigned.
Only then did the Crown Prince finally breathe easily.
With things stabilized, Odette finally got a good look at his features.
“This game was famous for its beautiful illustrations. He is supposed to be the empire’s most handsome man.”
Being a reverse harem game, they’d gone all out on the male characters’ looks.
“He’s the kind of perfect, classic beauty that no one could really dislike.”
Blond hair and blue eyes gave a dazzling color contrast that made his already stunning face shine even more.
An aristocratic face, fitting the archetype of a chivalrous knight.
His sweat-drenched face looked like it belonged in a masterpiece by a renowned artist.
“Charlotte. He always looked so perfect with that lovely heroine.”
Odette gently checked Johann’s forehead.
“Still a bit of a fever.”
In fact, it kept rising each time she checked—likely a sign of infection.
“S-Class Transcendents shouldn’t get sick. Must be the rampage making even a cold possible.”
In the end, Charlotte would be needed to truly solve this. Until then, Odette would have to help him stay stable.
“I need to get him out of this cold garden and into a proper room.”
Odette glanced at the sky, which was slowly brightening. Dawn was near.
She looked down at the collapsed Crown Prince and murmured:
“If a day ever comes when you want to cut off my head, I hope you’ll remember this moment.”
“…”
“Never forget that you owe me a debt, Your Highness.”
She turned and began to leave the garden.
But she didn’t get far.
Just as she reached the entrance of the garden—THUD—a man suddenly landed in front of her from the sky.
“Holy—!”
Wearing a pristine suit, puffing on a cigar, hands arrogantly stuffed into his trouser pockets—Zion looked down at her.
“You sure left me some passionate messages requesting a secret rendezvous, Lady Albrecht.”
Opening with a comment as sudden as his appearance, he continued with a sneer:
“If you promise to finish quickly, I’ll grant you that meeting you begged for.”
He was showing off the fact that he was the most ill-mannered among the male leads.
