Chapter 10 (Part 8)

In the room, only the priest and Erzen were left. And Erzen’s thick murderous aura slowly began to seep over the priest’s entire body.

“You promised differently! I told you everything!”

“He kept his promise. Yan spared you.”

“Please spare me.”

“I also want to have some fun. Don’t you like it? You came down here to have fun, didn’t you? Why don’t you like having fun with a man?”

“I-I don’t like men. Stay away from me! You pervert!”

Erzen licked his lips dangerously as he approached the priest.

“By the way, the woman you tried to have fun with is someone very, very precious to me.”

“I was wrong! I didn’t mean to violate her, I was just bringing food!”

“You tried to take something precious to me.”

Erzen pulled out a sharp dagger from his bosom.

“Let’s have as much fun as you tried to have with my woman.”

“I’m sorry. Please spare me. Please!”

“The women you had fun with must have said ‘no’ to you too. But did you ever stop?”

“I’m sorry. Sob… I’m sorry. I’ll never do it again.”

The priest, with a face full of shame, shed thick tears.

“Don’t worry. I’ll sprinkle holy water on you.”

Erzen shoved dirt and various stones from the floor into the priest’s mouth. He wrapped it with cloth so he couldn’t spit it out. Then he grabbed the priest by the collar and lifted him.

“Shall we start?”

“Please spare me.”

Erzen raised one hand high and slapped the priest’s cheek with all his might.

The priest couldn’t scream because of the dirt and stones in his mouth. The pain only increased due to the dirt and stones.

* * *

Yuliana felt something surge up from her chest at the thought of not being able to escape.

“Hu…”

But thinking of the child in her belly, she had to calm down.

<I love you, Lia.>

With her eyes closed, the voice of that person filled her with longing and blocked her chest.

She needed to keep her sanity, especially at times like this, but worry about Luda, who was held hostage, flooded her like waves.

She didn’t know what would happen next. She was terrified that the insane Rybid might suddenly come and say he would kill the child.

[Are you scared?]

Hearing the spirit’s voice again, Yuliana jumped up from her seat.

“I’m scared, but your voice made me feel better. I was worried because I thought you disappeared.”

[I don’t know why I haven’t disappeared… A spirit that can’t return to the spirit world disappears… But I haven’t disappeared yet. If I knew the reason, could I disappear?]

“Do you want to disappear? How long have you been in this world? What about your contractor?”

[Hmm… I don’t know. I’ve been alone for a long time.]

Yuliana thought there must be a story behind the spirit’s sad voice.

“What kind of spirit are you?”

[I forgot. I forgot what kind of spirit I was…]

Just as a spirit belonging to fire is a fire spirit, there can’t be a spirit that doesn’t know what kind of spirit it is.

[I need to disappear… But I haven’t disappeared! When can I disappear?]

“Can’t you remember the name of your contractor? Why do you want to disappear?”

[I wanted to disappear following my contractor. But I haven’t disappeared.]

“Your contractor might not want you to disappear.”

[I want to… But I’m glad I met you, who can hear my voice!]

Tears welled up in Yuliana’s eyes.

[Why are you crying? Don’t cry.]

Yuliana covered her face with both hands. She tried not to cry, but tears kept falling. Then she stopped crying and looked into the air.

“Would you like to make a contract with me?”

[What? A contract?]

“I don’t want you to disappear.”

[Is it possible to contract with someone who forgot what kind of spirit they are?]

“Let’s find a way.”

[No!]

“I want to help you.”

[I don’t want to talk to you anymore! I want to disappear.]

Yuliana desperately called the spirit, but she couldn’t hear its voice.

Yuliana stopped crying at the sound of the door opening. Rybid entered the room.

“Lia, are you still crying?”

“It’s because I’m happy…”

“The ceremonial dress for the wedding is finished.”

“Yes…”

“In a week, we’ll officially be husband and wife.”

Yuliana forced a smile, raising the corners of her mouth.

“Yes. You should only show that smile to me.”

“Yes…”

“Then rest. You and my child as well. Are you hungry? I’ll bring food.”

“Yes.”

[You don’t seem like the pope’s consort at all. Are you really the pope’s consort?]

As soon as Rybid closed the door and left, the spirit’s voice echoed in Yuliana’s ear again.

“No. I was kidnapped.”

[Kidnapped? Then do you want to get out of here?]

“Yes.”

[Should I help you?]

“Can you help me?”

[But how should I help?]

“I have a mana restraint on, so I can’t call the spirits. So make a contract with me.”

[Would you contract with someone who wants to disappear?]

“How can a spirit goes back on their word? You said you’d help. Then make a verbal contract with me.”

[I just asked if you wanted help! But a verbal contract? What’s that?]

“A contract done only by words.”

[Then tell me.]

“I’ll find a way for you to have a peaceful disappearance… Is that a good contract?”

[A way to disappear…]

Yuliana nodded.

“I’ll search until my life ends. Instead, if you don’t want to disappear anymore, then we’ll make a formal contract, Spirit.”

I should coax it to be happy and not disappear.

[Alright. I’ll make a verbal contract! Find a way for me to disappear.]

“As you wish.”

At the sound of the door opening, Yuliana quickly lay down on the bed.

“Lia, come eat with me.”

Seeing Rybid entering with a trolley, Yuliana’s heart sank with a ‘thud.’ 

Could he have heard my conversation with the spirit? 

She felt anxious and nervous.

“You’re here?”

“Let’s eat.”

“Yes.”

Yuliana sighed inwardly and calmly organized her thoughts. She decided that she shouldn’t provoke Rybid, who had completely lost his mind.

A child of the man she loves exists in her belly. Even if Rybid claims it’s his child, the one at risk isn’t herself, but the child in her belly. She must protect the child.

“It’s lemon food that you like, Lia.”

“I’ll enjoy it.”

Yuliana picked up a fork and forced herself to eat the food before her.

“I ate well. Have you finished all your busy work?”

“Yes. I’m in a good mood because I recharged my divine power sufficiently.”

“You look much better.”

“Right?”

As Rybid climbed onto the bed, Yuliana’s whole body bristled. She shook her head, hiding her true feelings calmly.

“I feel like I can sleep well next to you, Lia… and I won’t have nightmares.”

“I’m a light sleeper, so I can’t sleep deeply with someone next to me.”

“Lia, we have to consummate the marriage after the wedding. So let’s practice sleeping together from now on.”

“I want to rest quietly alone.”

“At times like this, I should be by your side.”

Rybid’s smile gave Yuliana goosebumps.

She wanted to get angry and tell him to disappear immediately. But just lying in the same bed with him was too horrible.

“Um… I want to take a walk.”

“Lia, that’s impossible. You have to stay quietly in this room until the wedding. Can you do that for me?”

“I won’t run away, so please remove the chain from my neck. It’s suffocating.”

“That’s impossible too, Lia. Just hold on a little longer. And on the wedding day, I’ll declare that the child in your belly is mine. I really want to see Duke Anthus’s face when he hears that news.”

Rybid stood up and approached Yuliana.

“Lia, soon we’ll be husband and wife.”

Yuliana bit the tender flesh inside her mouth and endured.

Rybid’s fingertips brushed Yuliana’s cheek. Yuliana couldn’t stand it.

“Please leave me alone!”

With a ‘bang,’ the door burst open, and Aens entered.

“Your Holiness!”

“What’s the matter?”

“All the Holy Knights guarding the wall are dead!”

“What?”

Hearing those words, Yuliana knew. Anthus Rockbellion, he had arrived here.