In Heath’s permafrost, burying the dead was a luxury permitted only to the imperial family.

The king recalled his sister, who had been Heath’s priestess.

Ariel, who had let her obsidian-like hair flow as she conducted rituals in the temple and received holy oracles.

Had she not been blinded by love for Duke Philip Bernac, she would have become a priestess remembered in Heath’s history.

‘Brother, promise me. Promise that you’ll protect Philip’s life. And that you won’t harm our son.’

‘You’re mad! Look at yourself, Ariel! The blood from your torn flesh hasn’t even dried, yet see who remains by your side. Where is the man for whom you abandoned your family and kingdom? Where has the child you bore while bleeding for him disappeared to? Is this the love you spoke of? You fool!’

‘Don’t harm them. Your dying sister begs you with her life.’

‘I swear to God, I will crush the life out of the one who ruined you. I will avenge today’s humiliation with a shameful and worthless death! His filthy bloodline will not survive either.’

‘Brother, please……!’

‘Ariel Snowden. Your crimes are not light. For the crime of conspiring with an enemy commander as a royal princess and priestess, passing on secrets, for the crime of sullying the royal family’s honor and God’s name, seek mercy through death.’

‘I thank you for granting me peace. For I can now depart as a free soul to protect my poor child. So please, quickly freeze this heart with your merciful sword.’

Elmon vividly remembered his sister’s pale smile as she died. Even the metallic scent of blood.

He gripped the red tombstone. Black markings were engraved on the back of his hand.

Men of Heath receive long tattoos from their hands to forearms when they turn fifteen.

It was a custom honoring the founding king who established the dynasty in Heath, the barren land.

According to historical records, the founding king gained powerful magic by making a pact with monsters, and as proof, bore living, writhing markings.

But none of his descendants managed to manifest the magic-bearing markings. It remained only as a legendary tale.

Elmon had secretly hoped that markings would appear on him since his sister was a priestess with magical powers, but such a miracle never occurred.

The king clutched his hand, stroking the rough tattoo.

“Your Majesty, we’ve received word from the Emperor of the Grencia Empire.”

The head servant handed over a rolled parchment.

The head servant wearing a robe had pulled his hood down deep.

His visible nose tip was crushed, and his fingers protruding from long sleeves were twisted.

Except for the imperial family descended from the founding king, the rest of the people were gradually transforming into monsters due to the magic stones’ influence over the long years.

Rotting flesh, twisted bones, red eyes.

In the end, they lose their reason and become complete monsters.

Heath, with its vast deposits of magic stones, was causing all living species to transform into monsters due to its powerful magic.

Elmon’s lips twisted in mockery as he scanned the message.

“Grencia’s downfall isn’t far off. The fate of these primitive beings who worship a magic stone-addicted old man as Emperor for over a hundred years will ultimately fall into my hands. The day to settle past evil deeds is approaching.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Give them the magic stones as the Emperor wishes. Isn’t he someone who sold even his soul wanting to become a monster? However, warn him that if there are rotten ones mixed in like the last grain trade, he’ll never hold magic stones again.”

Elmon looked down at the tombstone bitterly.

Ariel Snowden, my sister, it won’t be long. The day we leave this cursed land of Heath.

We will annihilate the imperial family and six houses that drove the Snowden family to Heath and return to the Grencia Empire, our ancestors’ homeland.

“Your Majesty, lately there’s been an increase in defectors crossing to the Empire. What should we do?”

“Kill them without mercy. They’re traitors abandoning the kingdom.”

“Understood.”

“What happened to the monster sent to Bernac?”

“Regrettably, it failed. With the informant’s elimination, it was difficult to infiltrate the bedroom and set up the formation precisely. Moreover, this time too, an unknown entity interfered……”

Elmon Snowden’s cold gaze fell on his sister’s grave.

Ariel, keep trying to stop it. The first step toward liberation will begin by treading over your child’s corpse.

Sister, this is my unchanging oath.

* * *

“Yaaawn.”

Reading a history book while sitting at the wide desk in the study, Marienne yawned while propping her chin.

The new book she started reading was full of ancient language, making her eyes glaze over after reading just a couple of lines.

Wiping the tears that leaked from the corners of her eyes, Marienne stretched.

The Duke of Bernac’s study. She had come for her history lesson, but the Duke was away on a territory patrol.

‘Please read the book you brought while waiting.’

At the butler’s suggestion, she opened the book but couldn’t get past two pages.

She pushed aside the thick history book and lay face down on the desk. The wood scent made her feel more at ease.

Her drowsy gaze fell on the inkwell and quill pen on the desk.

The pen handle, worn to his grip, was stained unevenly with ink.

Marienne took out the pen and playfully twirled it.

She brushed her cheek with the feather and held it to her nose tip.

Disappointingly, the pen full of ink smell didn’t carry his scent.

“Hmm……”

Her thoroughly soaked heart squeezed painfully.

Sighs kept coming out, and her chest felt tight with an unnecessary emptiness.

She rested her chin on the desk and pouted her lips to balance the pen handle on her philtrum.

After trying to maintain its balance so it wouldn’t fall, even that became boring and she started nodding off.

The sunlight coming through the window covered her back like a warm blanket.

“Your Grace, we’ve received word that the monster Pendra has appeared in Rockshield. It seems to have been stimulated by the Nucria flower fragrance.”

Nigel and Aaron entered the study while talking.

“They still haven’t removed the cultivation fields?”

“Well…… the Madam is quite adamant about it. She plans to extract the distilled essence this year too.”

“To think she’d start another project while suffering hardships every year.”

“Indeed. Since we need to introduce Miss Rose to society before introducing her to the old duchess, why don’t we visit Rockshield now? You can subjugate the Pendra while you’re there. If you command, I’ll prepare for departure right away.”

“Do that.”

As Nigel approached the desk, he noticed the sleeping Marienne.

He handed his cloak to Aaron and gestured for him to leave.

Aaron, looking back and forth between Nigel and Marienne, quietly left the room.

Nigel sat in the chair beside her.

It was a leisurely afternoon scene. One that made him forget about complicated territory matters and tiresome monsters.

Her lowered eyelashes were so dense he wanted to touch them.

A hopeless woman who had tossed aside the book and fallen asleep with a quill pen balanced askew on her lips.

Yet here he was, a beast-like man whose lower body responded without fail.

Furrowing his brow, he tapped the desk with his index finger.

Her scent wafted over with the breeze through the window. Nigel exhaled deeply.

He wanted to wake her with a shout. But he also wanted to protect her peaceful sleep.

His softened heart split in two.

She was just a tool he used to escape the pain of his fits. If not for that use, wasn’t she of such low birth she wouldn’t dare approach him?

Tapping the desk, he savored her with lowered eyes.

This growing desire felt special only because it was his first, not because of this woman. 

Once he found a suitable match for Bernac, it would naturally fade—merely a man’s whim.

Her curling hair drifted over in the breeze. It tickled his hand playfully.

Nigel lifted his lips askew and grabbed her hair. The smooth yet rough sensation rubbing against his fingertips evoked intimate memories.

Knock knock.

“May I come in? I’ve brought tea.”

Marienne was startled awake at the maid’s voice.

She quickly sat up, propped her chin, and pulled over the discarded history book from far away.

Her hair fell over her busy profile as she bent down, pretending to be absorbed in the book.

“Come in.”

While commanding the maid, Nigel tucked Marienne’s hair behind her ear.

Her wide eyes were full of surprise and undisguised joy.

The afternoon sunlight melted into Nigel’s unconsciously emerging smile.

* * *

“You’re saying I’m going to Rockshield with you?”

Marienne asked in surprise as she was about to close her book after finishing the lesson.

“As I mentioned before, I need to show you to my mother before attending the Emperor’s banquet.”

Marienne’s face quickly darkened.

“What if the Madam doesn’t approve of me?”

“As someone in a contractual relationship, you don’t need to worry about my mother’s opinion. However, since you’ll have to deal with the old duchess, I’ll pay you extra for your trouble.”

Marienne gathered her books and stood up, composing her startled expression.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll decline the extra payment. The carriage fare and lodging costs to Rockshield will be considerable enough. I assume I won’t have to pay for those separately?”

“If you insist on paying……”

Marienne’s fingers, clutching the ancient book, turned white at the knuckles.

“That’s quite petty of you. I apologize, but I was just being polite. Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

As she strode across the room confidently, Nigel’s criticism flew to her ears.

“How disappointing to have a student who doesn’t know how to show gratitude to their teacher.”

Marienne’s shoulders rose as she stopped. She turned around, holding the book and bowing her head.

“I’m grateful for your profound teachings.”

Nigel, leaning against the chair’s armrest, arrogantly nodded his head.

“Though it was a stiff and boring explanation where I dozed off for half the lesson, you did make an effort.”

Marienne lifted her chin proudly and raised the corners of her mouth toward Nigel.

But she had no idea.