Chapter : 21
A few days ago.
Having left the imperial palace, Sirinyu headed to the capital residence of the Lefrix family.
“Your Grace, you’ve arrived. I heard something important has happened.”
Sirinyu leaned back on the sofa in the reception room and spoke.
“A guest is expected at the duke’s residence. Make the preparations.”
“Yes. May I ask who will be visiting?”
The neatly dressed butler asked politely, and Sirinyu reclined lazily into the sofa, tilting his head back.
“The woman of the prophecy is coming.”
“Yes.”
The butler bowed deeply, acknowledging this.
“She said she wants to lie down while reading the old texts.”
“…I suppose there is a way to interpret old texts like that,” the butler said in amazement.
Sirinyu nodded in response.
“Seems more useful than I thought. I don’t want anyone else to get to her.”
“Would it be advisable to make the contract when she comes to the duke’s residence?”
At the butler’s quiet suggestion, Sirinyu frowned.
“About that…”
“Yes?”
When Sirinyu looked at the butler, he stepped closer and bowed his head.
“Is there a book that contains details about the contract here?”
“I believe there are such materials in the study, which only the head of the household may enter.”
“I see.”
When Sirinyu wore a pensive expression, the butler cautiously asked,
“If I may be so bold, is something the matter?”
“Have you heard of the side effects of the contract?”
“Ah, that…”
The butler adjusted his glasses that had slid down his nose.
“I don’t know the details, but I heard that if the contract’s order is wrong, side effects may occur.”
“And if the wrong contract needs to be corrected?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know that either. I apologize.”
Sirinyu immediately rose and headed toward the study. At the back of the study, behind a large bookshelf, there was a door leading to a secret chamber.
Stepping into the secret room, filled with stale air from years of neglect, dust rose into the air.
Among the otherwise well-organized study, Sirinyu searched for a book about the contract.
It wasn’t hard to find a book labeled “Contract” among the round wall’s bookshelves.
Sirinyu pulled out a hardcover book with gold lettering. As he turned the pages, it read: “For those who carry the blood of Lefrix only.”
Flipping through with long fingers, he found the section about contracts.
“The Lefrix family’s contract to subjugate others with the power of magic.”
The Lefrix exist to defeat monsters and seal the Demon King. Those with the blood capable of sealing the Demon King can subdue others with it.
The contract requires that the Lefrix-blooded individual voluntarily deliver their blood to the other person and obtain a pledge of obedience.
After reading this far, Sirinyu paused to think.
“I didn’t voluntarily give my blood, nor did I receive a pledge of obedience from the other party.”
Without changing his expression, Sirinyu returned his gaze to the book and turned the page.
“When the contract is improperly made.”
If the conditions of the contract are violated and it is not properly executed, the following side effects may occur:
- The contracted person will not act according to the Lefrix’s will.
- The Lefrix will involuntarily think of the contracted person.
- Thinking of the contracted person may cause abnormal reactions in the Lefrix’s heart.
- If the Lefrix and the contracted person are not near each other for a period, they may feel short of breath.
Sirinyu clenched his teeth. Everything he had experienced finally made sense.
Since meeting Selene, he had been puzzled by how often he found himself thinking of her.
At such times, his heart would beat irregularly, and he would feel suffocated. Sirinyu realized that all these unpleasant sensations were side effects of the contract.
“I have to set things back to the way they were.”
Sirinyu flipped through the pages until he found the section he wanted.
“To undo a faulty contract.”
Either the Lefrix or the contracted person must die, or true love must arise.
After rereading the words twice, Sirinyu frowned.
“True love?”
He blinked once, then quickly redirected his thoughts.
“One of them must die.”
After all, the other party was the person of prophecy. Even without Sirinyu’s hand, a time of sacrifice would come. Waiting for them to fall into some unknown ‘true love’ would take longer.
Sirinyu snapped the book shut with a thud.
If he couldn’t use the contract’s power, he would make them submit by other means.
He decided to wait until Selene came to the duke’s residence. Coaxing, scaring, intimidating, or—if needed—even breaking a leg to trap her as he initially considered. He was prepared for anything.
“I hope she realizes it’s better for her if she obeys when treated gently.”
Leaving the study, Sirinyu found the butler waiting in the hallway.
“Meal is ready.”
“Good.”
“How long will the guest stay?”
“One week.”
Sirinyu didn’t answer and fell into thought. One week was too short.
“Can I somehow make her say she wants to stay longer at the duke’s residence?”
He knew many ways to defeat monsters, but not how to make someone willingly stay in the residence.
As if reading his thoughts, the butler spoke:
“I hear the Lady of Prophecy is not in very good health.”
“Is that so?”
“She isn’t well enough to go outside often, so she mainly stays in her room.”
Sirinyu nodded, thinking of Selene.
“Her startled reactions when spoken to could indicate a heart condition.”
“They say Count Weddon often visits dessert shops because she cannot eat properly.”
Sirinyu furrowed his brow. If she was that weak, even daily life might be dangerous, let alone fighting monsters.
“We should bring the residence’s doctor to the duke’s house.”
“Yes.”
“…Also, I understand the young noblewoman is not in a condition to stay comfortably.”
“We will prepare furniture, bedding, a patissier to make desserts, and a doctor.”
Sirinyu nodded in satisfaction.
Like prey trapped in a trap, she would not leave until he achieved his goal.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Sirinyu’s lips, unnoticed by anyone.
The butler carrying Selene’s luggage spoke gravely to Yurielle.
“Miss must be quite surprised by the grandeur and antiquity of the duke’s residence. Should she wish to stay longer, the Lefrix family always welcomes her.”
Yurielle didn’t understand what he was saying.
Our lady wants to return to her own residence as soon as possible!
‘She probably doesn’t even want to be in the same space as the duke…’
But following her usual principles, she answered gracefully so as not to disgrace her lady.
“I will convey your words to the lady.”
The two carrying the luggage opened the door and came face to face with Sirinyu and Selene.
Over time, numerous experts—artisans, top patissiers, professional seamstresses—had all passed through the duke’s residence.
The butler was quite confident in the results.
“She’ll be surprised when the door opens.”
He straightened his neck, lowered his eyes, and anticipated Selene’s dramatic reaction.
Sirinyu opened the door and observed Selene’s reaction.
“Wo…wow…”
Something felt off. He had expected her to leap with joy upon seeing the room.
But Selene hesitated at the entrance, reluctant to step inside.
‘Too much delight can make a person stiff.’
Sirinyu considered it a partial success.
Meanwhile, Selene was startled by a scene she felt she had seen before.
‘This is… that house where everyone becomes a princess…?’
Overwhelmed by the pink frills and white lace, she hesitated to enter.
‘Did Sirinyu decorate this himself?’
He probably didn’t sew the lace, but he must have approved it.
Judging from his own room, it clearly wasn’t his personal taste.
‘He did this for a guest… cute.’
Selene mentally patted the back of Sirinyu’s head.
On the way to the reception room, Selene’s heart ached sharply following Sirinyu.
The different landscapes of her residence and this one inevitably made her compare the two spaces.
The Weddon capital residence had portraits of her presumed parents and was decorated with flowers and ornaments.
In contrast, the Lefrix residence had no portraits at all, and all windows were curtained.
Why was it so different? Thinking deeply, Selene realized the answer.
Both had lost their parents, but Arcas had her.
Unlike Arcas, who had someone to rely on, Sirinyu had endured loneliness alone. Her heart ached for him.
They say pity is the end of it. Selene’s lips curled downwards.
‘I hope Sirinyu only walks a happy path…’
Unaware of Selene’s thoughts, Sirinyu sat cross-legged on the sofa, raising his fingers.
