Chapter 13

“The curse of the Sikun…….”

Learning the full truth behind the curse that had been handed down like a legend, a shadow fell over Gloria’s face.

“So it really does exist.”

“It is an open secret, in a way…….”

Logan let his words trail off with a troubled expression. He could not be sure whether it had been the right choice to speak aloud what Astan had wanted so badly to hide, but fortunately, Gloria remained calm.

“What happens when the curse takes hold?”

“His appearance changes so much it becomes difficult to recognize his face, and he loses his reason and attacks whatever is in front of him. Put simply, he turns into a Sikun.”

“So he stops being human.”

“That’s right. Which is why the best course is to stop it before the curse takes full hold.”

So this time it could not be stopped. A human could not fight a Sikun, so to stand against a Sikun, he too had no choice but to become a Sikun.

“Then this wound on your arm as well…….?”

Looking down at his bandaged hand, Logan gave a short nod. Only now did Gloria finally understand all the unnatural behavior of the people in the castle.

Gloria bit her trembling lips hard, then let them go.

“Where is His Grace now?”

“……He is in the western tower.”

With a troubled heart, Gloria let out a long sigh. One by one, the things that had puzzled her began to fall into place.

The rumors surrounding the Duke of Schultzmeyer, the way he had treated her, the things she had casually overlooked, and even the incomprehensible words written in her mother’s diary.

[……The curse laid upon the Imperial Family…… the dreadful massacre…… the only way to stop the tragedy is…….]

* * *

Before dawn that day, Gloria left her room holding a single candlestick. The dawn at Schultzmeyer Castle, with everyone asleep, was especially quiet.

The moment she stepped out of the residence, the bitter cold wrapped around her. Before she had gone more than a few steps, the fierce wind snuffed out the candle.

Drawing her cloak close against the cutting cold, Gloria hurried toward the western tower. On the stairs leading up to the tower, traces of human passage remained.

Following the scattered drops of blood spread across the frozen snow, Gloria climbed the stairs and was met by an old, massive iron door.

The door to the tower was open.

Gloria set down the extinguished candlestick and carefully pushed the door. A freezing chill poured out through the rusty crack in the door. From within the darkness, where one could not make out even an inch ahead, came the sound of rough breathing.

As Gloria’s gaze followed the shadow cast by the moonlight that had forced its way through the narrow bars, her eyes filled with shock.

A person hanging in the middle of the cold stone wall with both arms bound.

No, could ‘that’ even be called a person.

Ash-gray hair, grotesquely bulging veins, and eyes that had lost all reason.

There was not the slightest trace left of the man she had known. Only the clothes he had been wearing the last time she saw him remained the same, allowing her at least to guess that ‘that’ was him.

Will he recognize me.

Gloria carefully parted her lips.

“……Your Grace.”

“Grrrr!”

Instead of words, a savage growl burst from the beast’s throat. Clang, clang. The iron shackles fastened around his wrists struck the stone wall and grated at her ears. He struggled so violently it seemed as if he might tear the chains fixed to the wall right out.

Gloria bit her dry lips. She had steeled herself, knowing it would not be easy, but she could not shake off the fear pressing in on her.

Even so, I have to do this.

If she went closer, her throat might be torn out, but now that she had come this far, there was no other choice. Gloria steadied herself and carefully took a step forward.

“Grrrgh!”

Each time the distance narrowed little by little, the struggling grew even fiercer. Forcing forward feet that would not move, Gloria came right up to the beast and quietly opened her mouth.

“Astan.”

At the sound of his name, the beast stopped moving for an instant.

Gloria held his bloodshot eyes in a steady gaze. Nothing was reflected in those eyes that burned as though they would devour everything, but.

……If I still remain somewhere in your memory.

Placing her hope in that thread-thin possibility, Gloria gently pressed her lips over the beast’s lips.

“Ugh!”

Sharp teeth bit into her roughly. A groan escaped her at the pain of flesh being cut.

The metallic smell of blood spread through her mouth. But even if her tongue were torn, she had to endure it. Because this was the only way she could survive.

Astan, please.

Breath tangled desperately with breath. The violent contact, which could not be called a kiss, continued for a while. And then.

“……”

The beast’s rough breathing gradually quieted. His faded hair darkened to black, and focus returned to his clouded eyes.

Realizing that the movement rummaging through her mouth had stopped, Gloria lifted her head.

“Your Grace?”

“……Gloria.”

Like a Princess who had saved a Prince under a spell, a bright smile spread across Gloria’s face as she won her reckless gamble.