~Chapter 79~
“Urgent news?”
“Yes, it seems to be from the Imperial Academy.”
The servant handed me a tightly sealed letter.
The moment I saw it, I knew.
It was the letter announcing the contest results.
‘The results came faster than I thought.’
I hadn’t expected a letter so soon.
“They said the letter arrived at the address you wrote down, my lady, and the person in charge brought it here quickly.”
I had used a fake name and written down an address in the corner of the Maledictus lands so the judges wouldn’t find out my identity.
Before writing the address, I had asked the villager who lived there for permission. He not only agreed but also promised to deliver the letter to me as soon as it came.
Now, I could see him, face red from running, wiping sweat from his forehead.
‘I must thank him well later.’
Thinking that, I reached out and took the envelope.
On the white envelope was written:
[To Gustav Milliono]
That was the pen name I had used for the contest.
This letter was truly mine.
‘Why am I nervous?’
Just then, loud footsteps rushed in.
“Hey, hey, did the results come? Did they?”
“If you’re not first place, you’re dead.”
[Ru-hi?]
[Kkigig! Kkigigigigig!!]
[Wow! Ruby’s results are here!]
[If it’s Ruby, of course she’ll be first place!]
[Yeah, of course!!]
All the curses crowded around me, their eyes sparkling, waiting for me to open the letter.
“Uh, um…”
Suddenly, I felt an unbearable pressure.
‘A moment ago, I wasn’t like this.’
But with so many pairs of eyes on me, my hands began to shake.
I had to open the envelope, but it was hard under their heated stares.
At that moment—
“Look! A fun intruder appeared!”
All the curses turned their heads.
“Where? Where??”
“Perfect, I can test my new knife!”
[Ru-hi, ru-hi!!]
[Chaaaaarge!!]
[Kkigigigigig!!]
And while the curses were distracted, Damien quickly picked me up—
“Huh?”
And flew away.
“Good, here no one will bother us.”
Damien had carried me to the main library.
“Unfortunately, those kids never care about knowledge.”
With that casual jab at the curses, he sat by the fireplace and gestured for me to sit.
“Wait here. I’ll prepare Eyeball Marshmallows and good tea.”
“Ah, okay.”
He rang a bell, and soon the tea and snacks were ready.
Under the big window, the blue moonlight spilled inside, making the tea and sweets look not just delicious but beautiful.
“The mansion looks so lovely under the blue moon.”
“Right?” Damien said naturally, pouring my tea.
“During the red moon too, the head maid said it was her favorite time.”
“Haha, of course. She always wishes us well…”
The blue moon meant the second ritual of the soul contract could begin. After this step, Damien and I would be more deeply connected, and he would be more stable. That was why the head maid liked the blue moon.
“Damien, why did you bring me here so suddenly, even tricking the curses?”
“Hm.” Damien thought for a moment before speaking.
“Honestly, no reason. I just wanted to be alone with you.”
“…Huh.”
“We’re newlyweds, after all.”
He laced his fingers together, crossed his legs, and smiled seductively.
“Newlyweds are supposed to stick together all the time.”
“…Y-yeah, I know.”
I quickly drank my tea, trying not to show my fluster.
‘Wait, wasn’t he supposed to be the gothic sad type at first?’
Back then, he didn’t even realize how handsome he was.
Where did he suddenly learn this dangerous charm?
My heart couldn’t take it anymore, so I turned my gaze out the window.
At the large, round blue moon.
“…But, why did the blue moon suddenly appear?”
We had been waiting for weeks for the blue moon to start the second ritual. But strangely, until now, it hadn’t risen.
The old book only said the condition was “when the couple is ready to cherish each other.”
When the contest began, Damien said we could delay the ritual. But then suddenly, the moon appeared.
“I don’t understand. Haven’t we already been cherishing each other since the beginning of our marriage?”
Damien smiled faintly.
“Yes, I think we’ve cared a lot for each other too.”
“Exactly!”
“But the condition in the book… it’s not just about cherishing your spouse.”
“…What?”
This was the first time I’d heard that.
“When you joined the contest, I did more research. I found something in an old ancestor’s diary.”
He handed me an old bundle of parchment.
“Page 87 has the explanation.”
The writing was in ancient script, but Damien had written a translation underneath for me.
It was the diary of a former Duke Maledictus, telling of his struggle:
-
He tried the second ritual many times, but the blue moon didn’t rise.
-
He blamed himself, thought he was useless, and feared his wife was suffering because of him.
-
But then his wife told him he was a good man, capable of empathy and kindness, and asked him not to hate himself.
-
The Duke realized that if he couldn’t accept himself, he couldn’t protect others. He decided to cherish himself—for her.
And finally—
“September 1st. The moon finally rose. All thanks to Merien. The condition of ‘being ready to cherish each other’ must also mean being ready to cherish oneself.”
After reading, I felt stunned, like I’d been struck.
“Then… the blue moon rose because…”
Damien’s long, pale fingers gently held my hand.
“Because you finished your self-portrait. Because you’re finally ready to cherish yourself.”
His violet eyes shimmered like rippling water.
“I always felt sad seeing you unable to accept yourself. Because I was like that too.”
“Damien…”
“That’s why I asked you to love yourself. And it turned out to be the key to the ritual.”
He smiled warmly.
“Even without the ritual, learning to love yourself will already change your life, Ruby.”
It was true. The proof was that I could finally paint a self-portrait, something I never managed before.
“Just finishing that self-portrait is already a huge achievement for you.”
His kind smile made me smile too.
“You’re right. I agree.”
Then I suddenly realized—I was still holding the contest letter tightly in my hand. But since I entered the library with Damien, I hadn’t even cared about the results.
“Actually, now… I don’t think the contest results matter anymore.”
The joy of realizing the things I love are what make me who I am.
The happiness of painting Damien’s portrait with complete focus.
The thrill of finishing my self-portrait.
These were feelings I had never experienced before.
“Just completing that self-portrait with all my heart already means everything to me.”
Damien widened his eyes in surprise, then smiled softly.
“You’re saying everything I wanted to tell you. I don’t need to worry anymore.”
I laughed and suddenly pulled his hand. Naturally, his body leaned closer to me.
In a whisper, I said:
“Actually… you brought me here because you were worried I’d obsess over the results, right?”
“Oh dear, you caught me.” He grinned playfully.
“We’re still newlyweds, and you already know me too well.”
“Same for you, Damien. Honestly, part of me didn’t even want to open the letter, afraid I’d be disappointed.”
“But not anymore, right?”
From his sleeve, Damien pulled out the envelope I’d lost.
He must have taken it when he carried me here.
I answered with confidence:
“Of course not.”
Smiling, Damien handed it back.
I tore it open without hesitation and read the contents.
The result was—
“…Ruby!”
First place. The grand prize.
