Chapter 12
One thing changed today at the Bastion estate.
The servants had become noticeably quiet. Every single one of them had zipped their lips like they were observing a vow of silence. Some even tiptoed around the hallways.
Second change.
Bibi’s face was practically glowing. She looked like a divine being, radiating light everywhere she went. Though, to be fair, her expression did sour quite a bit every time she looked at me.
Third and final change.
“Ptui.”
I had gone rogue. A full explanation to follow later.
Crouched in the garden with the wolves, I pretended to spit aggressively while Benjamin eyed me warily and asked,
“Lady Asha, is something wrong?”
“Lost my— I mean, I just need to let go a little.”
“Even more than usual?”
Did you just— You done talking? Who do you think you are?
I gave him the deadliest glare I could muster, and he wisely shut his mouth.
The chaos from dawn had come to an end when Tony finally burst into my room and screamed.
Side note: Tony nearly fainted.
I almost felt a bit wounded until I saw myself in the bathroom mirror. Then I understood. I looked like I’d just hatched from an alien egg on a mission to invade Earth. It was a disaster.
So I solemnly washed myself clean and made a vow.
‘I will be the craziest b*tch in this house.’
I may have already been halfway there, but now I’d go all the way. I was going to conquer this estate—duke, young master, all of them.
“Muahaha!”
“You seem quite ready as it is…”
“Shut up and give me the report.”
You know the one. The thing I told you to prepare.
At my finger snap, Benjamin nodded solemnly and began.
“Name: Levi Bastion. Age: eleven. Immediate family: father and a younger brother two years his junior.”
“What about his mother?”
“The duchess passed away six years ago. A mild case of pneumonia turned serious.”
I see. I had heard rumors that the duchess had died, but this was the first time I learned the details.
Six years ago—Levi would’ve been five, and the younger son three. I wondered if either of them remembered their mother’s face.
I gave Benjamin a nod to continue, my initial tension slightly softened.
“He entered Rev Academy last year and will begin his second year once spring break ends. I even brought his report card just in case. Would you like me to read it aloud?”
“Just give me the summary.”
“He’s ranked first in his class since enrollment.”
Wow. Impressive. Also annoying.
I squinted at him and asked,
“Being top at Rev Academy—is that a big deal?”
“Certainly. It’s the most prestigious academic institution in the Amanta Empire. Plenty of students end up flunking out.”
He said this like he really knew his stuff, eyes growing distant with nostalgia.
“Did you go there too, Benjamin?”
“Yes, well…”
“What was your rank?”
“I graduated top of my class as well.”
Wow. Just plain annoying.
I waved him on to skip ahead.
Despite graduating from the best academy, Benjamin clearly hadn’t learned to control his lungs. He resumed his report.
“He excels in all subjects, but especially in swordsmanship—no one his age can match him. Likely inherited that from His Grace. As for his social life at the academy… well, I’ll omit the details.”
Yeah, I figured. Don’t care to know.
I nodded and straightened up against January, the wolf.
All of that was basic background info. Now it was time to get to the real issue.
“So why’s his personality so messed up?”
Like your lungs, Benjamin.
I asked irritably. Benjamin scratched his nose, looking a bit embarrassed.
“Well… It’s not exactly confidential, but this is sort of known only within certain circles, so it’s a bit difficult to talk about freely.”
“Today’s deal is: one joke, one answer.”
“In that case… from what I’ve heard…”
The moment he caved to a joke deal, he lowered his voice conspiratorially.
“He was born that way.”
“…What?”
“I mean, he was a bit… different. In the way he feels emotions.”
So… he was born with it? That’s just—
“You mean he was born an asshole—”
“No, no, not that simple! That’s Prince Franz’s case… Oops. Pretend you didn’t hear that.”
Don’t “pretend” me. I did hear it.
Wait a second—the younger prince has personality issues too? What kind of family is this?
I massaged my temple, a headache building.
Well… it’s the family I’m about to marry into. And become the boss of.
I could handle character training later, after I take charge.
I composed myself and asked again,
“Can you explain that more clearly? What do you mean by ‘feels emotions differently’?”
Benjamin looked conflicted, unsure how to explain, then finally offered an example.
“When Young Master Levi was four… he was having a tea party with the duchess in the garden on a sunny day. A baby sparrow fell from a nearby tree. He saw it first, and then…”
Thud.
Benjamin stomped his foot down hard.
The lush grass in the garden was crushed under his shoe.
In that moment, I remembered the black horse’s hoof trying to crush me at dawn. A shiver ran down my arm.
“Whine…”
January and April, the wolves lying beside me, nuzzled up warmly against me.
Their silent comfort made me smile faintly as I petted them.
“…And what did he say?”
“He said, ‘It was going to die anyway, so I just helped it die faster.’”
One word stabbed into my brain.
Psychopath.
Not as an insult, but clinically. A real one.
Starting by harming small animals before moving on to people as they grow…
‘But then again, he seemed to genuinely care about Ignite.’
He tried to kill me because he thought I hurt Queensbury, after all.
I sighed, tangled in my own thoughts.
“So… if he was born that way, maybe he can’t be reformed.”
“Hard to say. I’ve heard rumors that His Grace, too, when he was younger…”
Benjamin trailed off suddenly.
“What, why’d you stop?”
“Because I’m not sure it’s true. Better to ask someone who’s known His Grace far longer… like Butler Hugo. I’ll leave it at that.”
He finished his report and bowed respectfully, then looked at me with expectation.
Time to pay the joke price.
Best to get it over with quickly.
I blurted without taking a breath:
“What do you call a cow that sings? A lawsuit.”
“Pfft!”
“And what if multiple cows sing? A class-action lawsuit.”
The wolves stared coldly at the now-wheezing Benjamin rolling on the ground.
They looked like they genuinely wanted to file a class-action lawsuit.
I stood and whispered to the growling wolves to hold back.
Benjamin’s short break was over, and I had other plans.
You don’t only get intel from people.
“Well then, you may go.”
Benjamin wiped tears from his eyes and asked,
“You’re not coming to the office? It’s nearly tea time.”
“No, not today. I’ve got errands.”
Leaving behind a confused Benjamin and tail-wagging wolves, I trotted away.
My destination: the stables.
I stopped right in front of the spot where I had nearly died this morning.
Just thinking about it made my gut churn.
“Phew. One, two, three…”
After a long bout of mental prep with my eyes closed, I stepped into the stable.
Each horse neighed and stomped excitedly, greeting me. I patted them one by one and made my way to the quietest stall in the back.
There, a perfect little family awaited.
“Queensbury.”
“Prrrr!”
Far livelier than she’d been at dawn, Queensbury poked her head out from the stall.
Right beside her were Ignite and their foal, cuddled together.
“Wow, the baby’s already walking? Really? Horses walk right after birth?”
Unlike the wet, sticky mess I’d seen at dawn, the foal now looked fluffy and adorable.
Queensbury gently nudged her foal toward me with her forehead.
But the foal, like a shy child clinging to its mother’s skirt, kept hiding behind her.
Still curious, it peeked out from behind her leg to look at me.
Ahh, so cute! This shy little foal is killing me!
Clutching my chest, I carefully stepped into the stall.
“Hi there.”
“……”
“My name’s Asha. I’m your mom’s friend.”
Queensbury nodded, as if to confirm.
I laughed, amused by her acting like a mom encouraging her child to greet Auntie.
After much coaxing, the foal finally walked over.
I slowly reached out and gently stroked its glossy black coat, inherited from both parents.
“Nice to meet you, little one.”
I spoke as gently as I could. The foal snorted softly in response.
“Prrr…”
That did it. I clutched my chest again.
Too cute!
Even though it was just born, it was still as big as me—because it was, well, a horse.
But still! The bigger it is, the cuter!
Queensbury and Ignite watched their foal with warm, loving eyes.
Ignite in particular had this goofy, beaming look—until he met my eyes. Then his confidence instantly plummeted.
What’s with him?
I didn’t wonder for long.
“Prrrr, prrrr!”
Suddenly, Queensbury snorted loudly and began ramming her head against Ignite’s neck. Each thump made his long neck bend miserably.
‘Apologize! Right now, to my savior and friend, you jerk!’
Under her relentless headbutts, Ignite bowed his head miserably toward me.
Honestly, I’d had to count to ten just to enter the same stall as this guy—but I forced a cheerful tone.
“It’s fine!”
“Prrr…”
“I know you couldn’t help it. It wasn’t your fault.”
With trembling fingers, I touched Ignite’s face.
One, two… Each time I gathered courage, the fear inside me faded just a little more.
‘Yeah. It really wasn’t his fault.’
That dark magic, that domination—no ordinary animal could resist that.
This poor black stallion had simply been leashed by a demon.
And so, I chose to forgive him.
“Instead of an apology, can you answer me honestly?”
Ignite neighed confidently, as if to say, Ask me anything!
I glanced around, then whispered softly.
“…Your master. Does he hurt you in secret?”
