CHAPTE 14

“Welcome back.”

It was the day Duke Aslan finally returned home from the imperial palace. In front of the carriage he had arrived in stood two young nobles who had recently returned from the academy.

“Father. It’s been a while.”

“Yes. Have you been well?”

The three men exchanged greetings in a rather warm and familiar manner. Upon hearing that he had returned, Yurie cautiously stepped out toward the entrance. Standing among the servants who had come to welcome him, she quietly watched the scene unfold.

“Yes. And you as well?”

“Yes……”

When Duke Aslan made eye contact with Yurie, he walked toward her and greeted her. Yurie looked up at him slightly.

“Have His Excellency’s eyes… always been that color?”

Something felt strange. His violet eyes had always carried a faint sense of affection—but now they were a dull, emotionless red as they looked at Yurie.

“Let’s go inside. I have good news for you as well.”

“…Yes.”

“I must have been mistaken.”

His eyes flickered red. Aslan’s eyes were supposed to be violet—Yurie’s only trait that resembled him. She felt uneasy. It was as if she was overlooking something very important.

Dinner

“I’ve heard about your grades. Both of you did very well.”

“You’re too kind, Father.”

At the family dining table, Yurie sat at the very end. Although they were seated at the same large table, the three of them somehow felt closer to one another.

“I don’t understand what’s going on…”

Was it emotional distance—or actual distance? Her seat felt further away from them. More isolated.

“It’s because you take after Father.”

Adres glanced at Yurie slightly as he said this, as if implying she did not resemble their father. Yurie simply looked away and tore a piece of bread.

“Yes. It’s a relief that you’ve all been well.”

Aslan’s eyes had returned to their violet color. The gentle gaze he gave his children made Yurie flinch slightly without realizing it.

To dismiss what she had seen as a mistake felt impossible—the red glow in his eyes had been too vivid.

“Could it be the influence of the Dark One?”

She had once seen people affected by dark power at the temple—their dull, lifeless eyes came to mind.

“Or… was I simply mistaken?”

Even aside from that, she had been very tired lately. Deciding she must have been wrong, Yurie ate her bread quietly.

“Right. I have something to tell you.”

“…Yes.”

Yurie quickly swallowed her bread and answered. She always wondered why such conversations happened when she was eating—it made her uncomfortable.

“You’re about the age to marry now.”

Yurie was only eighteen. She would soon be nineteen, but even so, it was still too early for marriage. However, she did not object.

“…I suppose so.”

“His Majesty the Emperor has chosen your match.”

Chosen.

That wording meant there was no room to refuse. She let out a faint, dry laugh.

“Why?”

Aslan’s eyes flashed red again.

“A marriage proposal with the March of Erenteil in the North.”

“…I see.”

“One of the most prestigious families. It will not be a disadvantage to you.”

The red glow vanished quickly—but it had definitely been there.

“Yes. I… I’m very happy.”

Yurie forced a smile. Adres looked at her like she was ridiculous, but it didn’t matter.

“Father, but she—!”

“Adres.”

The duke’s stern voice filled the dining room. The authority of a man who had ruled a great territory for thirty years pressed down heavily on them. Adres hesitated, but continued.

“I object to this marriage.”

“What?”

“She’s too young to marry.”

“Too young… you say.”

“We haven’t even been engaged yet, so—!”

He tried to argue that since he and Herian were not even engaged, Yurie should not be married off either.

That thought secretly made Yurie happy. She did not want to marry. Even if Adres wasn’t speaking purely for her sake, she still felt relieved.

“Adres.”

The voice that cut through him now was heavier, colder. Red energy flickered around the fork Aslan was holding.

“Shall I find you a fiancée as well?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Then are you suggesting we defy the Emperor’s decree?”

The cold voice silenced him. Adres clenched his lips and sat down.

“Slevart has become nothing more than the Emperor’s dog…”

The muttered words went unanswered. Only heavy silence filled the dining room.

Later

“Ugh… I think I’m having indigestion.”

“Shall I bring you medicine?”

“Yes… I’d appreciate that.”

Her stomach felt strangely unsettled. It must have been the dinner atmosphere. The food itself had been fine.

“Yurie. I’ll come in for a moment.”

“Alright.”

She thought it was a maid knocking—but instead, a tall blond man entered.

Golden hair, a face strikingly similar to the duke’s. The first son of the house, Herian.

“W-why are you here…?”

“I brought this for you.”

“This…?”

Herian handed her a worn-looking book. Yurie carefully accepted it.

“Ah!”

“….”

Their hands had brushed for a moment. Herian’s expression subtly tightened. He then pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his hand.

“Ah…”

“Sorry. It feels like I touched something dirty.”

His smile was dazzlingly bright. Anyone watching would think he was a polite gentleman. He then dropped the handkerchief onto the floor.

Yurie’s face turned red with embarrassment.

“Listen carefully.”

“The five families who served the goddess inherited both abilities and curses. You know that, right?”

“…Yes.”

“This book explains those abilities. It also includes information about the North. Read it.”

Yurie gently traced the cover of the book. It felt rough and aged. There was no clear title—more like a personal manuscript.

“It’s been passed down in our family. Return it when you’re done.”

“….”

“Any questions? If not, I’ll leave.”

Yurie hesitated, then asked.

“Why… are you telling me this?”

“Does it matter?”

“For me… it’s the most important thing.”

Her voice trembled. Herian paused. A silence followed.

Then he spoke.

“Because I don’t want you to die right away.”

“…What?”

“If you die too soon, it will interfere with trade between Slevart and Erenteil.”

“Oh…”

“Now is a busy time.”

“….”

“I just don’t want any disruptions.”

His smile remained polite, almost kind—but his words were cruel.

“Don’t die too early. I don’t expect you to be useful anyway.”

He spoke as if that concluded everything.

“Then… if you had refused Father’s decision earlier…”

“…Refused?”

“Never mind. Forget it.”

Yurie could not accept that answer.

“Is that really all?”

“…”

“Was that all you meant?”

Her desperate voice filled the room. Herian smiled—like a mask.

“Yurie.”

Please. Please.

“Is that not enough for you?”

“….”

“I believe I’ve already given you plenty of opportunities.”

“…”

“Was what I gave you not enough?”

Her breath caught.

There was no god. Or if there was, He did not belong to her.

“Yurie.”

“…”

“I hope you understand your place.”

Bang.

The door shut behind him.

Yurie collapsed slowly, staring at the empty doorway.

So even smiling faces can stab you.

Later Alone

“…That book…”

She opened it.

It was a secret record of abilities and history—something not found in any official text.

The author: Arion Slevart, Duke of the East.

At first, his diary was strangely lighthearted.

“Damn it. Pickles are disgusting. Whoever put them in sandwiches deserves hell.”

He seems like he lived a surprisingly cheerful life…

But later, it changed.

“I chose to protect her… even if she lost everything else.”

“This is the worst curse.”

A curse of “choice.”

“The curse forces impossible decisions.”

Her head began to ache.

Then—

A memory surfaced.

A man and woman standing among green fields…

A warm voice:

“This child will surely be happy.”

Something inside her began to crack.

“Whose voice is this…? Remember it…”

Yurie held her head tightly, as if it might split open.