Chapter 52
It wasn’t hard to realize that something was wrong.
Unlike me, who had rushed in full of urgency, Ethan’s expression as he faced me had sunk into an icy calm.
Something’s wrong.
Sensing danger on instinct, I belatedly realized my mistake. I’d charged toward Ethan with such momentum—only to start edging backward instead.
“You’re not leaving without answering, Eunice.”
“Eek!”
Ethan easily saw through my movement. He wrapped an arm around my waist and yanked me toward him.
By the time I managed to collect myself, his handsome face was right in front of mine.
From a distance close enough that I could feel his breath, Ethan slowly lifted the corner of his lips into a cold smile.
“My, my. My secretive fiancée is telling quite an interesting story. You’ve piqued my curiosity.”
“W-What? What secrets could I possibly have? Hahaha…”
I laughed awkwardly, trying to brush it off as a joke.
But instead of easing, Ethan’s smile deepened—and goosebumps raced over my skin.
As if confirming my fears, he spoke in a cooler voice.
“Rampage, you said… To describe that cursed state so precisely.”
His cold voice tightened around me like a noose.
It was almost as if—
“Shall we talk about this ‘rampage’ you know so well? Hmm, Eunice?”
“……”
“Tell me everything you know.”
His gaze was that of a predator hunting delectable prey.
“Forget trying to weasel your way out like usual. Until you open your mouth, you won’t be taking a single step out of this room.”
Ethan had no intention of letting this moment pass.
He wasn’t threatening me with brute force like before—but he wasn’t being gentle either.
And yet, oddly enough, I felt a flicker of relief when I noticed the faint glimmer of interest in his crimson eyes.
…Are you actually enjoying this?
Rather than demanding a sincere answer, it felt more like he was teasing me—prodding just to see how I’d react.
Just moments ago, he’d seemed furious that I’d noticed his secret…
Ah. Don’t tell me… he doesn’t actually believe I truly know it?
Only then did I understand his strange reaction.
To him, I must’ve looked like someone who’d stumbled onto the truth by accident—nothing more than a passing curiosity about demonic power.
If Ethan truly suspected me, he wouldn’t be warning me so politely.
Realizing that, the tension in my body eased slightly.
Is this… a blessing in disguise?
No. Could I really call it that?
“…What if I refuse to talk?”
“That would be entertaining too.”
No matter what I said, Ethan looked perfectly content to wait until I spoke.
Wait—was “content” really the right word?
“Spending a long time together in this room doesn’t sound so bad. Don’t you agree, my fiancée?”
…It felt like he intended to watch me slowly wither away.
When Ethan brushed my hair with an unexpectedly gentle hand, I trembled—unable to predict where that strong hand might wander next.
If only he’d threatened me outright like before, I could’ve tried to run.
But this—this soft-spoken menace, paired with a smile that suited his handsome face far too well—I had no idea how to deal with it.
In the end, there was only one thing I could do.
“Haa… Fine. I’ll tell you everything I know, so please stop. This is seriously creeping me out.”
…Before Ethan could weaponize his disastrously learned flirting any further.
I pushed his hand away lightly, putting on an exhausted expression.
“Where did you even learn to be this sly? You’re exhausting.”
“Sly, to my one and only fiancée? How delicate my heart must be.”
“…Are you being serious?”
“No. I got chills the moment I said it. Never again.”
“Thank goodness. At least you have a shred of conscience.”
I replied in an unusually rational tone and slowly stepped out from beneath his shadow.
I worried he might grab me again, but thankfully, he let me go.
Because he knows better than anyone that I can’t escape anyway.
As if he’d read my thoughts, Ethan relaxed slightly and curled his crimson lips upward again.
Bracing myself for another scheme, I stared at him. In response, he slowly approached.
Even as his shadow darkened, I didn’t look away.
In an instant, he was right in front of me, bending down to meet my gaze.
His cruel red eyes reflected my image, and his cool fingers gently brushed my cheek.
“I think I’ve waited long enough. Care to explain what all this is about? Hmm, Eunice?”
A cold voice delivering gentle words was unsettling enough.
But what made it worse was that he was asking about something I desperately wanted to hide.
How do I know?
Of course I know.
The curse containing demonic power was the very force that drove Ethan Clovis—the original story’s male lead—to act.
Even his meeting with Rose, the original female lead, had begun because of that curse.
Still, I couldn’t exactly tell Ethan about the original novel.
“….”
For once, I couldn’t retort smoothly. I pressed my lips shut.
The longer I stayed silent, the more Ethan’s expression subtly twisted.
Before it could completely contort, I slowly opened my mouth.
“There’s something we need to clear up first, Ethan.”
“And that is?”
“I didn’t actually know you well. I just—”
I’d barely gathered the courage to speak when my throat suddenly felt blocked.
Instinctively, I raised a hand and touched my neck.
“Ah… ahh…”
But contrary to my expectations, there was nothing there.
The magic stone—it’s gone. Since when…?
As I touched the empty space around my neck, anxiety replaced the usual sense of comfort.
“What’s wrong, Eunice?”
Noticing my strange reaction, Ethan called out to me in confusion.
Only then did I remember he was standing right in front of me. I quickly lowered my hand.
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Focus on Ethan first. I can look for the magic stone later.
“Sorry. What I meant was… I only knew about the curse that contains demonic power.”
“That makes no sense. How is that any different?”
His voice sharpened in irritation.
I continued calmly, unfazed by his reaction.
“It’s completely different. I’m not knowledgeable about you—I know about the curse you carry.”
“…Hmm.”
Ethan didn’t respond immediately, wearing a calculating expression instead.
Watching him, I finally spoke the words I’d been holding onto.
“Ethan, I was interested in the demonic power you possess.”
The explanation I’d prepared flowed smoothly.
It was an answer I’d long thought through, just in case this day ever came.
“I once heard it from Theodore. That there were people who offered themselves as sacrifices to demons and gained power in return.”
“……”
“I was curious about that power—about how it reacts to strong magic. Of course, Theodore warned me it was dangerous and wouldn’t tell me more.”
“So that scatterbrained tower master actually did something right for once.”
“Right? I brought it up once and got scolded all day at the training grounds.”
The knowledge I’d learned from the original story seamlessly shifted to having come from Theodore.
With the source changed, the explanation flowed naturally.
“Anyway, I knew demonic power reacts to strong magic. So I thought washing off the blood of magical beasts would help…”
“So that’s why you dumped freezing water on me?”
“Yes… that. Wait—you remember that too?”
“How could I forget? It was the first time someone dared to douse me with water.”
I’d assumed he’d let it go.
Did I just dig my own grave?
“…I got soaked too, you know. It was freezing.”
I looked at him pleadingly, hoping for some leniency.
Understanding the hint, Ethan gestured for me to continue.
Seizing the chance, I quickly changed the subject.
“Then I remembered that your magic stone suppresses that power. I thought maybe my magic stone could help calm your magic too.”
“And by sheer luck, it worked?”
“More like the result of accumulated knowledge… plus a bit of luck.”
I finished my explanation, keeping my expression carefully neutral as I glanced at him.
Ethan stayed silent, his face unreadable.
Since he hadn’t exploded in anger, I figured I’d done a decent job.
Relief washed over me.
So now he’ll let me go—
“That’s quite a pleasant thing to hear.”
…Yeah. As if.
Ethan’s previously calm expression twisted instantly.
Behind the shattered mask of indifference was a sly, dangerous smile.
“What exactly is so pleasant…?”
I asked uneasily, already inching away.
“My fiancée turns out to be quite capable.”
Before I could escape, his hand caught me again.
“It seems my fiancée knows this damn curse rather well. Your response back then was far from ordinary.”
“I-It wasn’t that impressive…”
“I nearly lost myself and blew the entire Forest of Beasts away. If not for my fiancée’s intervention.”
“…Could you stop calling me that?”
“You’ll need to get used to it eventually. Might as well practice.”
When Ethan shrugged smugly, I stared at him in horror.
…Something’s gone terribly wrong.
This was not the reaction I’d expected.
Too late, I realized the situation was spiraling.
And the moment you realize it’s too late—it really is too late.
I could practically hear the gears in Ethan’s head turning as he devised schemes.
…I’m screwed.
I’d spilled everything just to survive the moment—
And now I’d gone and tied myself to his curse instead.
“H-Hey, you know, I’m not actually as impressive as you think—”
“You are. I can say this with certainty—it’s the first time I’ve ever considered letting someone who knows my secret live.”
“…Hahaha. Yeah. Surviving in your grasp like this—I must’ve saved a nation in a past life.”
And apparently doomed an entire continent while I was at it.
I pressed a hand to my forehead, hiding my despair.
Ethan, for some reason, looked deeply satisfied with my half-lost response.
“Well then, you’ve overdone it today. Get some rest. I have no intention of working my fiancée to exhaustion.”
“So you’re saying I’ve outlived my usefulness?”
“See? You’re sharp about the most pointless things.”
Without denying it, Ethan naturally laid me down on the bed.
With that oppressive gaze fixed on me, how was I supposed to sleep…?
“Are you really going to keep staring like that?”
“Isn’t it a fiancé’s duty to stay by his fiancée’s side?”
“…You really know how to talk.”
I didn’t know why the sleep that had fled earlier was now returning so peacefully.
And just like that, despite having my greatest secret exposed, I drifted quietly into sleep.
