~Chapter 103~
Leonard’s scream echoed as the glowing blue portal snapped shut.
The golden flames blazing in his hands flickered out.
That meant his mana was gone.
“Ruhi! Come back!”
The beast with its enormous mouth lined with sharp fangs turned to me.
Pop!
Ruhi shrank back to its usual tiny size and obediently returned to my arms.
“You… you filthy bastards…!”
Leonard cursed, blood pouring from the wound on his shoulder.
“A curse… how can a curse touch me, a royal…?”
To be honest, it had been half a gamble.
The Maledictus family couldn’t use curses to harm royalty. Even if Damien tried, the curses would freeze in place whenever they neared a royal.
But I’d thought differently: What if it was Damien’s curse, but moving under my command instead? Would it bypass the restriction?
“Luckily… I was right.”
Damien leveled his blade at Leonard, who was barely standing, blood dripping down his arm.
“It’s over. You were caught in the act.”
Leonard sneered.
“Caught in the act? Don’t make me laugh—”
“Did you think we wouldn’t know?” Damien’s voice was ice.
“You tried to abduct her, and even prepared a corpse that looked like her to fake an accident.”
Leonard’s brows furrowed deeply.
“So what? You dare touch the body of royalty? The imperial family will call you the greater threat!”
Damien pressed the blade deeper against his throat.
“And yet you disobeyed His Majesty’s command of confinement, opened a forbidden portal, and tried to murder the Grand Duchess. That is a clear violation of imperial law.”
Leonard’s teeth ground audibly.
“Move that sword! You low Maledictus think you can touch this noble body? The imperial family will never—”
Bang!
The infirmary door slammed open.
“It doesn’t matter.”
A low, mocking voice made Leonard snap his head up.
Standing there was none other than the First Prince, Leonie.
“Leonie…?”
Expression cold, Leonie entered with his knights.
“I heard everything you did.”
He held a magic device that transmitted sound in real time. Leonard’s face drained white.
When he glanced at me, he saw my necklace glowing faintly—proof that I had relayed everything to Leonie directly.
“I’ll be reporting this to His Majesty.”
Leonard’s lips trembled. He knew what that meant.
Defying confinement, using a forbidden portal, and trying to kidnap me for political gain—it was more than enough to ruin him.
This time, the Emperor would not forgive him. This time, Leonie would surely be named Crown Prince.
“Take him away.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The knights bound Leonard without hesitation.
Leonie clicked his tongue.
“He wasted all his mana making that portal. He won’t resist. Just throw him back in prison.”
Leonard stumbled as they dragged him, his legs collapsing beneath him. The knights hauled him up, but he couldn’t stand. Without magic to support them, his crippled legs failed him.
Leonie’s gaze narrowed.
“…Only your shoulder’s wounded. Then why can’t you stand? Were your legs always useless?”
Leonard’s long-hidden weakness was exposed. His face crumbled completely as he screamed in despair.
“Greetings to the Little Sun of the Empire.”
By the time the imperial family appeared for the third part of the awards ceremony, Damien and I had also returned to the hall.
“Artist, I heard you had to go to the infirmary. Are you all right?”
“Grand Duchess, I thought you had left for good—thank goodness you’re safe.”
Many people—especially judges and patrons—greeted me with concern.
Their words felt strange.
Until now, no one besides Damien and the household staff had ever shown such care for me.
“Thank you, everyone.”
I smiled and spoke with them about my painting. Hearing what they loved about my work filled me with warmth.
After a while, I returned to Damien, who was waiting with Leonie.
“Leonard won’t be returning anytime soon,” Leonie said quietly.
“I’ve reported everything. A harsher confinement has been decided. Most of his followers will be dismissed as well.”
“I see.”
“You’ve worked hard. As for your reward—”
“Just keep your promise.”
Leonie looked surprised, but soon nodded calmly.
“Very well. The second rite has already been performed, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then I’ll leave it in your hands until the end.”
He gave a short farewell and left.
Finally, Damien and I were alone.
“Are you really all right? You did cough blood…”
“I’m fine. It’s not the first time.”
Earlier that day, Leonie had secretly sent me a magic device for real-time communication.
Sure enough, someone had slipped poison into my glass.
I pretended to drink it—then, with the help of the Swallower, I vomited blood.
The plan worked. Leonard had revealed himself trying to abduct me.
Damien still looked worried, clasping my cold hands.
“Even so, your hands are freezing. Your face is too pale. On such a good day, I can’t help but worry.”
I reassured him with a smile.
“It’s fine, truly. Thanks to the leftover curses you’ve been giving me, the Swallower won’t make me sick anymore.”
Still, Damien’s eyes held concern.
“A good day turned so chaotic. I wish it had been only joy.”
“But it’s all resolved now.”
My eyes drifted to the new glass of white wine before me. Pure and clear, free of poison.
“Damien, everything will be fine. Why don’t we finish the toast we missed earlier?”
“Gladly.”
He took the glass I held out.
I tried to think of a toast, but my mind went blank.
“Um, for the toast…”
“I’ll do it.”
Damien smiled brightly.
“To my beloved painter.”
“…Beloved?”
Before I could react, our glasses clinked, ringing clear.
“Congratulations, my beloved, genius painter.”
His affectionate smile made my heart race.
That was how the night of the awards ceremony came to a close.
Several days later, after the Maledictus couple returned home—
“Mary, check the front gate one more time, will you?” the head maid requested.
“Yes.”
The maid Mary went to the main gate. Normally it was always locked, so she didn’t think much of it.
But then—
“…Huh?”
Every lock had been undone. As if no one had ever locked them at all.
‘Strange. Did someone forget?’
She began fastening the locks one by one.
But then—
Creaaak.
The latch turned on its own.
The door swung open helplessly before her eyes.
And—
“Kyaaaaaaahhh!!”
Something massive, not even human, filled the doorway.
