Episode 5
“Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”
“N-No…”
To get straight to the point, Yurie felt burdened by this situation. How long had it been since she arrived in the room? A couple of doctors and a priest came up to examine her. After talking among themselves for quite a while, they politely bowed and left the room.
“Is the water temperature alright for you?”
“I-It’s fine…”
After that, the maids began to attend to her with utmost care. They dissolved medicine given by the doctors into the bath and started washing Yurie. Though she didn’t know much, she could tell it was something very expensive.
“…It doesn’t itch anymore.”
Her irritated skin was calming down just from soaking in the medicated water.
“If anything is uncomfortable, please let us know anytime.”
As expected of professionals. Being assisted in bathing was truly comfortable. One might feel embarrassed receiving such help for the first time, but rather than embarrassment, she felt completely at ease.
“What would you like to wear?”
“A-Anything is fine…”
“Then we will prepare this indoor outfit for you.”
Once the bath was over, they quickly dried her hair and dressed her.
Why were the clothes of high-ranking people so complicated? It was difficult even to put them on alone. Yurie looked at herself in the mirror.
“So… my hair was this color…”
It was like the pink cream used to decorate wedding cakes. Until now, her hair had been so damaged that it lost its original color and looked unsightly, but after washing and cutting away the damaged parts, it looked much better.
“If only my skin improves… I might actually look decent.”
Her skin was blotchy and messy, and the parts not covered by her indoor clothes were full of scars. They were traces of the harsh penance she had endured monthly at the temple.
Yurie quietly covered her scarred arms. This appearance was too ugly.
She recalled her father, Aslan, who used to look at her with displeasure.
“Um, excuse me…”
“Yes, please speak.”
“I-Is there… l-longer clothing…?”
“Here it is.”
They draped a long outer garment over her.
She didn’t want her skin exposed. Aslan had stared at her scars for a long time.
“…It must be hard to look at.”
Only after the long garment fully covered her skin did Yurie finally relax.
—
“Master, a letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”
At the northernmost edge of the empire lay the territory of Erentail in the cold northern continent. Though frequently attacked by demonic beasts, it was a vast and wealthy land thanks to its strong military and mines.
A striking beauty with long red hair reached out and took the letter. Contrary to rumors that he looked grotesque due to mixed demon blood, his appearance was captivating. He was the famed northern knight, Rakshid Arcel Erentail.
“Did that man send it?”
“Yes.”
He referred to the Emperor as “that man,” yet no one dared to correct him.
He began reading the letter. With each word, his expression grew colder. Soon, he let out a cynical smile.
“A marriage proposal…”
“……”
The Emperor was openly arranging a marriage while mentioning “treason.” It meant he had no intention of backing down. Rakshid knew the Emperor’s greed well. If he refused, the Emperor would surely use it as an excuse to start a war.
“It seems difficult to refuse.”
“…I apologize.”
“What is there for you to apologize for?”
The current Emperor coveted the magical stones and mines unique to Erentail. If that were all, he might have given them away—but the Emperor desired even what he could never truly possess.
And to obtain it, he would stop at nothing.
“A marriage proposal? That Emperor proposing marriage?”
“Johan.”
The House of Erentail existed even before the founding of the Empire. They were noble guardians of the North and one of the five families who helped the Goddess restore light to the world. What the Emperor wanted was the power inherited through Erentail’s bloodline.
“…I’m just angry. He murdered the lady, and now he shamelessly orders a marriage?”
“Enough.”
Five years ago, the Countess of Erentail had been murdered.
Though the trail had been quickly covered, the remaining evidence all pointed to the Emperor.
Rakshid closed his eyes. Even now, he could vividly see the image of the woman he loved, suffering as she died.
“Don’t worry, Sena. I will avenge you.”
He opened his eyes. It was still too soon to oppose the Imperial family. The first Count of Erentail had taken on the role of guardian of the North. Though honorable, they had never deeply involved themselves in politics, leaving them politically weak.
“There are still many nobles who follow him…”
Among them was the Duke of Slevert—the ruler of the East—who supported the Emperor.
Erentail’s land was barren, making food supply difficult. They relied on trade, especially with the East, where Slevert controlled the empire’s breadbasket.
“Will you accept the marriage?”
“Our power is still weak. We haven’t even solved the food issue.”
“We’re always held back by food.”
“It can’t be helped. Even knights can’t fight without bread.”
Rakshid clenched the letter.
“If she can be useful, it wouldn’t be bad to bring her to my side.”
“Do we have information about the lady?”
“That is…”
“Speak freely.”
“…There is surprisingly little information.”
“Really?”
“This is what we have on Lady Yurie Slevert.”
Rakshid read the short report. For someone of such high status, the document was unusually brief.
“Yurie Slevert…”
“She is illegitimate, but still of direct blood.”
“The Emperor isn’t a fool. He knows what Slevert means to the North.”
Rakshid smirked coldly.
“There are two possibilities.”
“Pardon?”
“First, she herself is a threat.”
“….”
“Second, she’s a spy working for the Emperor.”
Johan nodded.
“Either way, it doesn’t matter.”
He skimmed the document again. Her mother was a foreign prostitute. She had killed the Duke’s legitimate daughter and was punished with labor at a temple. Recently pardoned and restored to her noble status.
“Which do you think it is?”
“If possible… I hope it’s the latter.”
“You mean a spy?”
“Yes.”
“At least then, she wouldn’t be a fool.”
Rakshid memorized the details and stood up.
“I’ll go meet her.”
“Now?”
“Yes. If I leave now, I’ll arrive tomorrow.”
He leapt out the window. Under the moonlight, his body gradually transformed into a beast resembling a wolf.
“…I’ll never get used to that.”
Johan closed the window. The five families who fought demons alongside the Goddess were all cursed. The curse of Erentail was “beast transformation.”
They gained immense power—but sometimes lost control and killed those around them. Many mistresses of the house had died this way.
“…But he has full control now.”
Rakshid was different. Though he couldn’t use divine power, he could control his transformation. He told no one.
“If it’s him… he’ll succeed in his revenge.”
Johan looked out the window.
“The day he strikes the Emperor… I’ll stand by his side.”
The white moon shone coldly in the night sky.
