~Chapter 84~
“What?”
Leonie frowned.
But Damien only smiled faintly, showing no sign of being shaken.
“Let’s change the condition. Instead of my freedom, something else.”
Leonie narrowed his eyes, watching him carefully.
He wanted to figure out Damien’s true intention.
But all he felt was the same uneasiness he had always felt around Damien—no more, no less.
“That depends on what it is. Tell me first.”
Leonie waited cautiously. Damien was never as obedient as past Maledictus heirs, so it was impossible to predict how he would twist things.
“The complete safety of Rubiana Maledictus, free from any threat of the royal family.”
Damien said softly as he held his sleeping wife tighter in his arms.
“That’s the condition I want.”
Leonie, standing tall, asked,
“By threats of the royal family… you mean even from other royals besides me?”
“If you’re going to be Emperor, shouldn’t you be able to handle that?” Damien replied smoothly.
“If you can’t even control that, you’re no Emperor.”
“….”
His violet eyes, which had been focused only on Ruby, finally turned toward Leonie.
“That’s the difference between you and the current Emperor, isn’t it?”
Leonie fell silent.
He felt as though his cousin had completely seen through him.
“For her, you’d give up your freedom?”
“I’m not giving it up. I’m using it.”
At first Leonie didn’t understand.
“Well, before, maybe I would’ve staked my life for freedom. But not now.”
The violet eyes that had always been dark and calm now carried a different light—obsession, possessiveness, satisfaction.
As children, Leonie had always felt an uneasy chill around Damien. Now he realized it was this madness in his cousin’s eyes.
At that moment, Leonie understood—and shivered.
“You… don’t tell me.”
The mad eyes looking back at him confirmed his suspicion.
Ruby pitied Damien’s suffering as Maledictus.
As long as he remained in that cage, she would always stay by his side.
“You crazy bastard…”
Damien planned to keep acting like a pitiful, suffering beast—so Ruby would never leave him.
“As long as you don’t interfere with my marriage, I’ll support whatever you ask once you’re Emperor.”
It was shocking—this man who had once longed only for freedom now chose chains willingly.
“I’ll absorb curses, raise troops, whatever you want.”
The beast once mad with curses was now mad with love.
“But you must guarantee my wife’s complete safety.”
Not Damien’s freedom, but Ruby’s safety.
Leonie realized he had trapped himself. By making such an offer to ease his guilt, he had no choice but to accept this new condition.
‘But with this… both will agree to the contract anyway.’
Ruby thought the reward was Damien’s freedom, and Damien would honor the soul contract to protect Ruby.
It was enough to ensure both would follow through.
“…Fine.”
Leonie rolled up his sleeve and stretched out his arm.
“If Rubiana Maledictus completes the soul contract with Damien Maledictus, then I, Leonie Benedict, swear to unconditionally protect her from any attack by any royal blood and guarantee her complete safety. Is that acceptable?”
“Good.”
Damien rolled up his black jacket sleeve and extended his arm too.
Leonie immediately began the incantation.
“Ancestors of the great Benedict family, under your golden legacy, I swear an oath heavier than life itself.”
Golden light burst from Leonie’s arm.
It spread like a stream toward Damien’s arm.
“If Rubiana Maledictus completes the soul contract with Damien Maledictus, then I, Leonie Benedict, swear to unconditionally protect her from any attack by any royal blood and guarantee her complete safety.”
Damien followed,
“I swear.”
Heat burned into his arm, and the crest of the royal family appeared briefly before fading with the light.
“When will your wife wake up?”
Leonie asked, pulling down his sleeve again.
“Considering the dose, soon.” Damien replied.
“Then we’ll have to pretend to do the oath again in front of her.”
Leonie muttered, adjusting his jacket.
“Judging by her personality, only then will she believe it completely.”
“She’s a little cautious, yes.”
Damien brushed Ruby’s hair gently, smiling faintly.
“Like a little kitten.”
Leonie’s face hardened.
“I was worried when I was suddenly dragged away, but I’m glad it ended well.”
By the time we returned home, the sun had set and the moon was high. We had a late-night dinner, practically midnight snacks.
Tomorrow was the weekend, so I planned to stay up with Damien, chatting about horror stories as usual.
“Indeed.”
I had accidentally fallen asleep earlier, but when I woke, only about ten minutes had passed.
So I was able to witness the oath between Damien and Leonie with my own eyes, making sure it was done properly before leaving.
“Actually, there was one more thing I had hoped for… but it didn’t happen. That’s a little disappointing.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“Well, even if he was influenced by those around him when he was young…”
If I had been in Leonie’s situation, I wasn’t sure I could’ve resisted my father either.
But there was one thing I definitely would’ve done differently.
“I had hoped he would at least apologize to Damien.”
Neglect is a sin that cannot be excused.
I didn’t like how Leonie carried guilt yet never expressed it directly to Damien.
But since the oath had already granted Damien’s freedom, I couldn’t ask for more.
“Don’t worry too much. I’m fine.” Damien said gently.
“Still, it’s frustrating. To feel guilty but never apologize to the person himself.”
I puffed my cheeks in frustration. Damien patted my head to calm me.
“Really, I’d rather spend my time with you than hear Leonie’s apology.”
“Oh my…”
Another line that made my heart race.
I quickly hid my face in the blanket, blushing.
“But Ruby,” Damien asked seriously, “are you still planning to do the second ritual?”
“Of course.”
I sat up straight and nodded firmly.
“Don’t worry, I just wanted to confirm one last time.”
Damien glanced at the blue moon outside.
“If you’re still set on it, next weekend would be the best time.”
“Oh, perfect. That works well.”
He nodded, violet eyes fixed on me.
“You know what you need to prepare before then, right?”
Of course I knew.
It was—
One happiest memory from our married life to give him.
But I still wasn’t sure which one to choose.
