Chapter 1 – Gambling Failure? Success? (Part 6)

As she climbed the stairs, she started regretting her actions. 

‘Why did I do that? It was obvious I shouldn’t touch it. What was I curious about? He must be angry… Yes, of course he’d be angry that I was rummaging through his house.’ 

She could only sigh. 

Moreover, having been in a dusty place all day, her whole body was covered in dust. 

Seeing her reflection in the mirror, Ellerdin let out a hollow laugh. 

‘Was I like this? But… he really doesn’t hit.’ 

If it were the Earl or her ex-husband, Baron Brian, they would have locked her in a room and beaten her for days for walking around the house in such a state, even if she couldn’t greet her husband in a dignified manner. 

Thinking of them instantly dampened her spirits. 

“Let’s take a shower.” 

As she lay in the bathtub filled with water, she felt her tense muscles relax. 

She had braced herself to wash in cold water, as there was no one to heat the water at night, but it seemed that the water was always warm in the northern Grand Duchy. 

‘But who heats this water? Could it be that Mollek does all this too?’

However, there was no time to think about such things now. 

It had been a really, really long time since she had a leisurely shower in warm water. 

“Ha… it’s warm.” 

Anyone who saw this place would say it was barren and desolate, but to her, it had a strangely peaceful atmosphere. 

Maybe it was because there was no one urging her to hurry. 

Or perhaps it was because it was such a place that she felt this way. 

The kindness of the people was both welcome and awkward. 

She let out a small laugh at the sudden, idle thought. 

*** 

‘Laughter…?’ 

Fernan frowned slightly at the faint sound of laughter in his ears. 

‘So she can laugh too.’ 

“I didn’t think I’d hear it from this distance.” 

“Pardon?” 

It seemed he would have to install a soundproofing spell in her room. 

“It’s nothing… Did she mention being uncomfortable today?” 

The Duke asked as he changed his clothes. 

Mollek, receiving the clothes, replied. 

“Nothing special, but right after you left, the crows came to have a look.” 

“Crows?” 

“Yes. By now, the word must have spread that the master has taken in a human.” 

“Did you not tell them what she is?” 

“…Should I have?” 

“…This has become troublesome.” 

The Duke pressed his temples. 

It had been over eight hours since the talkative crows had come and gone. By now, the news would have spread throughout the North. 

By tomorrow morning, it was certain that monsters would flock here to see her. 

The Duke lay his tired body on the sofa and said. 

“Go.” 

“Now?” 

Mollek exclaimed in surprise. 

“You caused this, so you have to deal with it. Go and tell them not to touch my wife.” 

“You know they don’t listen to me well. I’ll be back by morning.” 

Mollek whined, placing his foot on the windowsill. 

The Duke looked at him with an exasperated face, as if asking why he was still there. 

Mollek, grumbling, opened the window and jumped out. 

With a fluttering sound, black wings sprouted from his back. 

His elongated pupils scanned the forest, searching for his target. 

After Mollek left, the sound of his wife in the next room finishing her bath and getting into bed could be heard. 

As all movement in the castle quieted down, the Duke slowly got up. 

With a creaking sound, Fernan’s body grew larger, and fur and scales sprouted all over him. 

Large wings folded, and sharp teeth were revealed. 

In the form of an ancient demon, he curled up. This was his true form. 

He was exhausted from dealing with the monsters continuously emerging from the dimensional rift until just now. 

‘She said she would break the demon’s curse… I wonder what expression she’ll make when she sees that it’s not a curse but my true form.’ 

Fernan, who couldn’t predict which direction this marriage, started out of mere curiosity, would take, smiled leisurely. 

*** 

“It’s cold…” 

Ellerdin groaned and curled up. 

It was cold because it was the North, but her body, weakened by prolonged abuse and neglect, couldn’t endure even a little chill. 

As she struggled to fall back asleep, she heard a faint wind sound from somewhere. 

It was similar to the wind sound she had heard earlier from the door hidden behind the bookshelf. 

‘There’s no way the wind sound could be heard here.’ 

Feeling puzzled, Ellerdin got up from the bed. 

As she gently opened the door, the wind sound grew louder. 

She pulled the rope next to the bed to call Mollek, but there was no response. 

‘He must be sleeping.’ 

Ellerdin hesitated for a moment, considering whether to go out, but then shook her head and closed the door. 

‘Let’s not make a fuss for no reason.’

However, as time passed, the sound of the wind did not diminish but rather grew clearer. 

‘Sob, sob.’ 

Now, it even sounded like a person sobbing rather than the wind. 

Ellerdin buried her face in the pillow to block out the sound, but it still echoed around the room. 

“Sigh…” 

Ellerdin sighed and jumped up. 

With such a clear sound, it was obvious that a window somewhere must be open. 

‘Let’s just… close the window.’ 

She cautiously moved her steps. She opened the door and peeked into the hallway. There were no lights illuminating the hallway, making it seem as if it extended endlessly in both directions. 

Although she was used to dark spaces, this one felt suffocating for some reason. 

Frightened, Ellerdin hesitated, unable to either go out or close the door. But the sound of the wind, which resembled a person’s sobbing, bothered her more than her fear. So, she slowly stepped out on her trembling legs. 

She walked slowly, keeping her hand on the wall, and eventually reached the stairs. 

Although her room was supposed to be close to the stairs, it felt strangely far away. 

Relying on the faint moonlight coming through the large window of the main building below the stairs, Ellerdin slowly descended. 

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she exhaled a breath. 

‘At least it’s bright here.’ 

Feeling relieved, she looked at the window, and then she froze in place. 

Beyond the transparent window, a black, furry creature was grinning with a long, wide smile. 

It was definitely a monster. 

Sharp teeth filled its mouth, and a long, red tongue hung down to the floor. 

When their eyes met, its red, glowing eyes narrowed. 

Only then did she realize that the sound she had been following had changed to a hissing breath. 

Ellerdin’s legs gave out, and she collapsed on the spot. 

Like a predator eyeing its prey, the monster did not take its eyes off her. 

A minute that felt like an hour passed. 

At the sound of a crow cawing from somewhere, the monster turned its head. 

Seizing the moment, Ellerdin sprang up and ran up the stairs. 

Realizing she was escaping, the monster banged against the window with a thud. 

Hearing the thudding sounds behind her, Ellerdin forced her wobbly legs to carry her back to her room. 

She locked the door and wrapped herself in the blanket. 

Her entire body was drenched in cold sweat. 

Ellerdin stayed awake all night, trembling with anxiety that the monster might climb up to her window. 

Contrary to her fears, however, the monster disappeared at dawn after making thudding noises all night. 

Looking at the clock with a tired face, she saw it was already past 9 o’clock. 

Her body was sticky with cold sweat. 

She wanted to wash, but it was already time for breakfast, so Ellerdin struggled to put on the dress she had worn yesterday. 

When she went down to the dining room, the Duke was already seated. 

“Stupid girl. I told you to always be ready and waiting before your husband comes to the dining room. You can’t even manage that simple task. Your stupidity is what causes your mother so much pain.” 

Earl Pure’s shouts, which she heard at every meal, echoed in her mind. 

Because of the bad memories associated with the dining room, Ellerdin felt nauseous as soon as she entered. 

As she sat down, she spoke to the Duke. 

“I’m sorry.” 

“…It’s alright.” 

Fernan glanced at her. 

He didn’t know why she apologized, but he said it was alright anyway, curious about her reason. 

However, her voice sounded so exhausted that he didn’t ask further. 

As the meal started, Ellerdin cut the steak in front of her into tiny pieces and put them in her mouth. 

But after eating just two pieces, she felt too nauseous to continue. 

Having only eaten salad or thin porridge, meat was too difficult for her to digest. 

She had to put down her fork after eating less than half of the steak. 

Seeing her sitting still, Fernan asked, puzzled. 

“Does it not suit your taste?” 

“No.” 

Ellerdin quickly lowered her head and answered. She didn’t want to upset him any further. 

She quietly picked up her fork again. But forcing herself to eat seemed to make things worse. 

Feeling like she might throw up at any moment, Ellerdin couldn’t eat more than half of the steak and had to put her fork down again. 

Seeing her lower her head and stop eating, Fernan sighed softly. 

‘It seems the food doesn’t suit her. I’ll have to ask Nisroch to prepare simpler dishes.’ 

At his sigh, Ellerdin’s shoulders trembled. 

The heavy atmosphere made it hard to breathe. 

She wanted to go back to her room and throw up, but she couldn’t leave until her husband did, so she stayed at the table until he got up. 

‘Why is she still sitting?’ 

Fernan wondered as he ate. 

Her calm demeanor made it hard to gauge her condition. 

If only he could see her eyes better.