Chapter 37

“A-are you alright…?”

When Karel ascended the stairs to the second floor, a trembling voice cautiously asked, 

Shati knew well that Karel held the highest authority in Oedel. However, wasn’t it the third son of the lord who had died? 

It was natural for the son of Montferdia, who was a founding contributor to the Kingdom of Cambiano, to hold more influence than the lord of a remote mountain region. Yet, for Shati, her years of bowing her head to the lord far surpassed her allegiance to anyone else.

As Karel moved forward without responding, fear-filled eyes crept closer with every step. The woman, pressed tightly against the wall to avoid being seen by others, wore her clothes as if they were a chemise, her shoulders hunched like a frightened herbivore. 

What was she so terrified of, when she was the one who had nearly been harmed? With that face…

As the distance between them narrowed, Shati’s head slowly lifted. It had been over a month since he first embraced the woman who bore the name he had given her—a name whose true meaning only he understood. Ever since another person’s face had overlapped with hers, his world had been turned upside down.

Her cold and indifferent face, always filled with fear when she looked at him, with tears welling up in her eyes and, at times, distorted by lust—this sight had shaken his entire existence.

“Um, I, uh, maybe, um…”

Shati’s face darkened, as if she had interpreted Karel’s silence in her own way. 

Yes, just like that.

She feared everything while wearing the expression of someone who had no reason to be afraid. That contradiction stirred a secret sense of betrayal within him, making his body react uncontrollably.

“Should I say I did it…?”

One of Karel’s eyebrows subtly raised. Shati, muttering nervously to herself, didn’t notice the hint of absurdity in his expression. How could she possibly pierce a man’s neck or throw that massive body outside?

“You have no guilt, Sir Knight. It’s just that… I was scared… Yes, that’s all…”

Her trembling words, squeezed out with courage, were almost laughable.

Karel had never seen her attempt to overcome any fear. Her lord only feared the royal family and had never sought to overcome them. 

Looking at her, a strange emotion arose in his chest. In truth, he found her endearing, but the unfamiliarity of that feeling led Karel to choose to frighten her further.

“Indeed. What should we do?”

“T-the kitchen knife… If you look downstairs, you’ll find one. I’m good with kitchen knives…”

As Karel stepped closer, almost chest-to-chest, Shati tilted her head back to meet his gaze. Her petite lips continued to babble, seemingly trying to drive away her fear with words.

“There are bloodstains left there, so maybe you could… smear it on the knife…”

A rough hand grabbed her waist, lifting the hem of her tunic to reveal the light-colored hair matching her own. 

Trapped between the wall and the man, her breathing quickened. His hardened body pressed against the hollow of her pelvis, creating an undeniable tension.

“I’ve killed a fellow noble, it seems. Unintentionally.”

“It’s… It’s because of me…”

Shati’s face, filled with fear bordering on despair, tilted upward to look at him. This fragile, insignificant woman had no other choice but to appeal to his mercy.

“I’ll do something… Hng…”

His hand, which had grasped her waist, began to move, his fingertips probing deeper. The swollen tissue, inflamed from days of rough encounters, radiated warmth.

“And you’re the only witness.”

“I-I’m sorry… I’ll stay quiet…”

“Quiet?”

“I-I didn’t see anything… I swear…”

A brief laugh escaped Karel’s lips. She was the victim, and he had acted to save her. Yet, apologizing had become her default. His smirk carried not sympathy but self-loathing for how he treated her.

“How can I believe that?”

“P-please spare me…!”

The faint memory of his mother bowing to everyone to protect him, hiding her shame like a stain no one should see, surfaced. 

Perhaps it was because he saw reflections of his childhood in her. 

That familiarity made her easy prey for his desires.

Karel’s lips twisted into a crooked smile.

“You’re coming to the capital.”

“W-what?”

“You’ve stained my life, so you’ll come with me.”

“Ah, but…”

Her face momentarily brightened at his words, tears welling up again in her violet eyes. The sight of her shimmering gaze always captivated him, causing his heart to tighten.

He didn’t think it was guilt for lying.

His life had always been full of stains anyway.

“You’re the only witness. To keep an eye on you, I have no choice but to bring you with me.”

A small hiccup escaped her lips.

What was she so afraid of now…?

He had undertaken the grueling march to bring her along and had already decided on the name he would give her. Wrapping his intentions in cruelty had always been easy.

As her eyes darted around in panic, his hand dug deeper, urging her to accept it—physically and emotionally.

“…Y-yes… yes… sob…”

Shati had no way to refuse his command.

A vulgar sound echoed through the dim hallway as his fingers intruded further. Shati’s breath hitched, her chest heaving against his. Her red-rimmed eyes looked up at him, reminiscent of the moments she had taken him deeply.

And as her tear-filled gaze met his…

His body hardened painfully, betraying his thoughts.

‘…What a sight.’

Hiding his self-mockery, Karel pressed his lips against her neck.

So, he had been bewitched by a witch.

He had killed a lord’s son and taken in a woman who would stain his life.

Cursed by a fairy.

That was all.

***

Shati’s departure for the capital quickly spread throughout Oedel. Randolph’s death had become a shocking topic in the remote village. Rumors about Randolph targeting Shati, the events leading up to his death, and Karel’s involvement were clear to everyone.

The son of Montferdia, a founding figure of Cambiano, had bestowed favor upon Selmane’s youngest servant. And when that servant was threatened, he swiftly dealt with the insignificant heir of a backwater noble family.

In the small, tranquil village, the incident was overwhelmingly provocative. 

Perhaps to appease Montferdia’s sentiments, the village chief tried to organize a farewell banquet. However, with the death of the lord’s son, it wasn’t feasible. At the lord’s castle, Karel had used the excuse of Magiella’s night as a pretext, but it was difficult to keep the servants who accompanied him completely silent. 

Thus, no one openly commented on Shati’s departure. To speak of her meant discussing the death of the lord’s son. Even though his tyranny had caused suffering, the villagers couldn’t simply dismiss the passing of someone they had served for a lifetime with relief. Amid such sentiments, a subtle atmosphere of envy and jealousy spread toward Shati, who had seemingly turned her fate around.

“She’s just a kid, and yet she knows how to entice men.”

“Exactly. Selma always doted on her, and now she’s acting all brazen.”

“Well, did you see her face? I mean, I’ve heard she’s pretty, but I never had the chance to really look.”

“So, the village chief must’ve been trying to offer her to the lord’s son, huh?”

“Yeah. If I were that knight, I wouldn’t resist either. She’s so pretty, and she’s just a maid… Heh.”

“Well, going to the capital is better than becoming the lord’s daughter-in-law…”

As merchants gathered at the general store, they were gossiping about the only noteworthy incident that had occurred recently in Oedel.

“Ahem, hem!”

“Hey, shh.”

“Oh, oh dear, Sir Knight, you’re here.”

“Oh, have you arrived?”

The men, who had been chatting away, quickly hushed themselves and began to straighten up. The reason for their sudden change in demeanor was the arrival of the very people they had been gossiping about.

With the appearance of the uninvited guests, those who had been lounging around the general store as if it were their living room began to scatter in groups. As the crowd dispersed from the entrance, the storekeeper, who had been silently listening to the chatter, finally greeted his customers.

“What brings you here?”

“I need to prepare some simple supplies.”

“Will you be riding a horse?”

At Winden’s response, the storekeeper’s gaze subtly shifted to Shati. His one eye, which had lost its pigment, didn’t show any particular emotion, but Shati instinctively hid behind Winden, half concealing herself. The storekeeper’s third child was a few years younger than her and had been somewhat friendly with her, so Shati felt awkward. 

The fact that she was leaving for the capital due to the scandal that had spread throughout the village made her feel shy.