Chapter 9
As those thoughts swirled in her mind, a shadow suddenly fell over her. Startled, Lanya turned around.
“Um…”
Katu-kan approached cautiously, glancing at her as if testing the waters. It was clear he knew about the proposal the Grand Duke of Berkian had made to her.
“You’re angry, aren’t you?”
“Why would I be angry? I was going to die anyway. He realized I was a fake bride but still showed mercy and spared my life.”
“Don’t pretend you’re fine. Just be angry.”
“How could I possibly be angry at the noble Grand Duke? I should just do as I’m told.”
“It’s not like that—our lord!”
Katu-kan raised his voice in frustration, cutting her off. His sudden outburst startled Lanya, and she stared at him, both confused and exasperated. But soon, his words—spoken as if he could no longer contain his emotions—left her stunned.
“Our lord cares about even the smallest of creatures. If it weren’t for that cursed affliction, he would never have asked something like that of you!”
A curse…?
The Grand Duke was cursed? She had suspected something was wrong—no, she had almost been certain. No sane person could behave like two different individuals between day and night. But if it truly was a curse and not madness…
“He never would have needed a bride, nor sought to share ten nights with someone…”
“So you’re saying the reason he needs a bride and those ten nights is because of the curse?”
Realizing he had spoken too much, Katu-kan covered his mouth belatedly. He looked like someone who had done something foolish, scratching his head in distress.
“Damn it. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“You already said it.”
Katu-kan slumped, muttering that he was right, before pleading with her.
“Can you just pretend you didn’t hear it?”
“How could I pretend I didn’t hear it? Tell me properly. What did you mean by that?”
Lanya tugged at the hem of his clothing as he tried to slip away.
“I have a reason to know, don’t I?”
* * *
‘Three years ago, unknown individuals placed a curse on our lord. A curse that turns him into a murderous wraith every night. Because of it, he was forced to kill even his own trusted subordinates with his own hands. The priests said the only way to break the curse was to take a bride and share ten nights with her, but no one has ever survived those nights.’
Once hailed as a hero, he had suddenly fallen victim to a curse and now bore the reputation of a bloodthirsty murderer, wasting away in the northern stronghold.
‘We’ve tried everything in the past three years to lift the curse. Every attempt failed. And then you appeared. I believe you might be the one to save him—our deliverance. So… please don’t judge him too harshly.’
She honestly couldn’t understand why they would want to take in a fake bride, much less share ten nights with her in exchange for a house and wealth. Nobles were capricious and often did incomprehensible things, so she had assumed the Grand Duke of Berkian was simply one of those cases.
Yet the truth was harder to believe than anything she had imagined. After Katu-kan left, she remained dazed until Jasmine called out to her.
“Lanya!”
Snapping back to reality, Lanya hurriedly stood.
“I’m coming!”
* * *
“What is all this?”
Coughing lightly, Lanya looked around the storage room with wide eyes. Various miscellaneous items were being carried out by servants, covered in layers of dust. Jasmine explained in her usual blunt manner.
“We’re doing some storage cleanup before autumn, and we needed extra hands.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll help!”
Lanya smiled brightly and grabbed a broom. She began sweeping the thick dust where the servants had cleared space. Though she cleaned out of habit, her thoughts remained consumed by the Grand Duke’s curse.
A curse…
Who could have placed such a thing upon him? Could it really be true that he, transforming every night, killed people?
Crash!
Lost in thought, she accidentally kicked something. With a startled gasp, she watched it topple over. It was a painting.
“Oh no…”
She hurried to lift it back up—and froze.
“This man…”
Staring blankly at the portrait of a beautiful young boy, Lanya’s eyes trembled uncontrollably. No matter how she looked at it, there was no way she could fail to recognize him. Why was his portrait here?
Suddenly turning around, she rushed toward the head maid.
“Head Maid!”
“What now? Did something happen—wait, what’s wrong with you?”
Jasmine, dragged into the storage room before she could react, frowned as her arm was grabbed. Lanya pointed at the portrait and asked urgently.
“Who is this?”
“What are you talking abo—”
Jasmine scowled in irritation, but the moment her eyes fell on the portrait, she let out a dry laugh.
“Who else? That’s our master.”
“…Our master?”
Lanya’s eyes widened rapidly at the words. Jasmine burst into laughter at how shocked she looked.
“Is it that surprising? Well, he used to have long hair back then, and people even mistook him for a woman. But after… that happened, his face changed quite a bit.”
Her voice carried a mixture of sadness and affection as she rambled on. Suddenly, Lanya turned and bolted from the storage room. Startled, Jasmine shouted after her.
“Lanya! Where are you going in the middle of a conversation?”
But Lanya didn’t seem to hear her, sprinting out of the storage area as if possessed.
This can’t be…
Her face was filled with confusion as she ran.
This can’t possibly be real…
Just before reaching the entrance of the stronghold, she saw him—Litrih, speaking with Mia as they exited. Lanya stopped, her breathing heavy. Her green eyes trembled as she gazed at him.
Then a servant brought his horse, placing it before him. It seemed he was about to leave, for Litrih mounted the horse with practiced ease.
No…!
Lanya stared at him for a moment before sprinting forward and stopping directly in front of the horse. Litrih, about to pull the reins, flinched at her sudden appearance and quickly halted the steed. Mia gasped and rushed down the steps, shouting at Lanya.
“Have you lost your mind? Jumping in front of a horse like that—are you crazy?”
Litrih motioned for Mia to step back. Expressionless, he looked down at Lanya before dismounting. Then he stood before her.
“Have you decided?”
“I always believed I would recognize you the moment I saw you…”
Lanya looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. Bathed in sunlight, his pale face overlapped with the memory of the boy who once smiled so brightly. In that instant, tears burst from her eyes.
“I was so foolish not to recognize you. How could I not have seen it…?”
Everyone froze at her sudden tears and incomprehensible words. Litrih furrowed his brow, watching her cry and speak in riddles.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re the one who saved me, aren’t you?”
“…What?”
She had thrown herself in front of his horse and nearly given everyone a heart attack—now she was claiming he was her benefactor? Litrih couldn’t understand what she was saying.
“You saved me from the lord of Raxen Castle.”
Lanya spoke desperately through her sobs. She could hardly believe it—the person she had searched for all this time was right in front of her, so close. And that benefactor was none other than Litrih de Berkian, the Grand Duke.
But… if he truly hadn’t lost his memory, and if the head maid’s words about the portrait were correct, then he was undoubtedly the one she had been seeking.
“You made sure the lord who killed my mother received his due punishment, and you—!”
“You mean you’re that kid from back then?”
Before she could finish, Mia’s eyes widened. She stepped forward and suddenly grabbed Lanya’s cheeks.
