“When that Gerald bastard gave that strange name, Wali… whatever it was, we first suspected the possibility that it was a trading company operating under an alias…”
The conclusion of the lengthy report was ultimately just one thing. They had found nothing.
This investigation result was also delivered to Gerald inside his cell.
“There is no such trading company? Then… does that mean I will be considered to have procured the slaves myself…?”
Muttering, Gerald’s face turned as if he had seen a ghost.
They were the ones who had reliably brought him slaves and taken away thick sums of cash.
‘They don’t exist? Then who have I been trading with all this time?’
They had withdrawn so easily, yet why was he the only one left behind in this miserable state like a fool?
His mind went blank from emotions such as shock, betrayal, and self-loathing.
Eventually, the strength left his legs, and he slowly collapsed to the floor, gripping the prison bars with both hands.
***
In a corner of the garden of the Blake’s estate, beneath a gazebo covered in rose blossoms.
Since Rastan was busy, I was drinking tea alone for the first time in a while, lost in thought.
Ever since I had begun falling asleep in Rastan’s arms every night, his dreams had always been perfectly peaceful.
In fact, with my current ability, I could surely control his dreams even if we slept separately.
‘But since we are even sleeping with our bodies pressed together, there is no way I wouldn’t be involved.’
As he slept soundly every night, it was visibly clear that both Rastan’s body and mind were becoming healthier.
‘Now that the shadows on his face have disappeared, he seems even more handsome. He has lost some of that decadent beauty, but instead seems more full of vitality than before.’
Now, not only in dreams but even while awake, I could faintly sense Rastan’s presence. Though at most, it was only enough to feel when he came close.
‘Since I enter his dreams every night, perhaps our mental connection has grown stronger.’
My heart raced at the thought that my ability might be expanding in yet another direction.
I had thought that peaceful days would continue as I strengthened my ability, but… a troubling problem had arisen.
In the past, whenever I entered Rastan’s dreams, hellish landscapes would usually unfold, and I would use my ability to change them into peaceful and beautiful scenery.
These days, I tended to seize control of his dreams before they even properly began.
However, recently, whenever I changed Rastan’s dreams, something bothered me. Like a pea placed beneath a princess’s mattress in a fairy tale.
‘I can definitely feel it, even if it’s only a very faint resistance.’
Before, his dreams would naturally change according to my will, but now it felt like I had to concentrate more and exert more effort.
‘It’s still at a level I can control, but it’s definitely strange.’
It was a problem that this small force was slowly growing stronger, but more importantly, it was the nature of that force.
Because instinctively, I could feel that resistance was the power of the curse that had originally ruled Rastan’s dreams.
‘I can feel the same dark sensation I felt when I first entered Rastan’s dream.’
If that was the case, then to suppress more strongly the curse that was writhing in dissatisfaction under the pressure of my ability…
‘Just as Rastan said, I will have to gradually increase my contact with him.’
Of course, that was the reason we had entered into a contract engagement.
Even so, sleeping together every night was already somewhat burdensome, so I hesitated to go beyond that. And besides…
‘If I have to keep increasing contact, then how far will that have to go?’
I had thought that I was the one seizing control and manipulating his dreams, but at this rate, it was no different from being influenced by the power of that curse.
The cause of this problem was clear.
‘It must be because Rastan’s curse hasn’t been fundamentally removed.’
At present, the curse was still lurking, and I was merely suppressing its effects with my ability. And it didn’t seem like a curse that could be easily suppressed.
‘That must be why even someone like Rastan had been helpless against it all this time.’
There would be a limit to suppressing it with my power every time the curse tried to resurface.
‘If the curse is that vicious, who knows when it might gather all its remaining strength and run wild.’
But perhaps because my ability was growing stronger, my courage had grown with it. A thought I never would have dared before came to mind.
‘Then I will fight it, that curse.’
My ability had already grown far stronger than before, and it was still continuing to develop.
‘If I continue to maintain sufficient contact with Rastan and strengthen my ability through effort, it’s not impossible.’
If it were in reality, it would be different, but in the dream world, I had more confidence than anyone in battle.
‘Good. I will seize that curse tormenting Rastan and tear it out from the root.’
Then Rastan would be able to let me go without regret once the contract period ended.
And I too would be able to leave without guilt or lingering attachment, feeling at ease.
‘Since Rastan said he would give me plenty of money after the contract ends, I could live somewhere with beautiful scenery….’
At that point, I almost habitually resolved to live happily with Rosie.
I lightly bit my lower lip and forced my thoughts toward something more hopeful.
‘I can just live comfortably and freely while using my ability for good purposes.’
Following Rastan’s advice, I planned to describe my ability externally as nothing more than nightmare purification, so perhaps I could even work as a dream guardian for the Imperial Family.
And while doing that, I could occasionally hear news about Gerald and Helga, and visit the Blake’s estate from time to time.
‘Rosie will not be there… but even so, that would still be a good life.’
At that moment, I sensed a familiar presence behind me. When I turned around, Rastan was standing there behind me with a gentle smile.
“I finished my work a little early, so I came. Why do you look so happy?”
“Ah, that is…”
I hesitated, about to tell him what I had just been thinking.
‘I am still only at the stage of speculation and imagination. It wouldn’t be right to say everything yet.’
It would be far better to tell him once fighting the curse had truly become possible.
‘Instead of talking unnecessarily, I should strengthen my ability one more time.’
After all, the source of my ability was right in front of me.
I stood up, faced Rastan, and wrapped my arms around his neck.
His eyes widened slightly in that instant.
“I was happy because I wanted to see you, and you came like this at just the right time.”
And just like that, I leaned toward his face. As Rastan bent his waist slightly in response to my pulling arms, our lips met.
It was a kiss that had begun with the thought of becoming stronger quickly and helping him, but once he held my waist and the back of my neck, I could no longer think of anything else.
***
The next afternoon.
It was shortly after an executive from the Security Department had visited the estate to report to Rastan and left.
I invited him to have tea in his office, meaning for him to take a short break.
“Nothing special happened?”
“Yes. More importantly, tomorrow is that man’s final sentencing.”
Though he had obscured the subject, I immediately knew what he meant. It was the day Gerald would receive his final sentence for slave trading.
“Then I want to go to the courtroom tomorrow too.”
I wanted to see with my own eyes what Gerald’s face would look like as he received his punishment.
“Then I will go with you.”
“No. If the Head of Security Department goes and sits there, it might invite unnecessary rumors. I will just go with Ris.”
Rastan was the type who drew people’s attention even when doing nothing.
If he attracted too much attention, there might be talk that “the Head of the Security Department influenced the verdict.”
Rastan smiled as if he couldn’t help it.
“Please do so. I will inform the court to pay special attention to security.”
“Thank you.”
When I smiled as well, Rastan, seeing that, spoke in a slightly playful tone.
“You seem to be in quite a good mood.”
“That cannot be.”
Even as I said that, we exchanged subtle smiles.
The next day, I headed to the courthouse with Ris.
We took seats in the gallery of the courtroom where Gerald’s verdict would be delivered, and Ris lightly tapped my hand and gestured with her eyes toward the other side.
Following her gaze, I saw Helga sitting in the seat directly behind the defendant’s bench.
Helga was dressed in shabby clothes, her pale face trembling as her legs shook uncontrollably.
She looked so much like a commoner now that it was impossible to believe she had once been a noblewoman who indulged in luxury.
Looking around the gallery, I also saw former employees of the Lansval Trading Company and those whom Gerald had sold into slavery.
Not long after, Gerald was dragged into the defendant’s seat.
