Chapter 4: BWCGD

Chapter 4

That meant that if she disappeared, they would either have to repay the debt that had already been forgiven or hand over another woman in her place.

The crafty, stubborn old Viscount had not chosen her simply because of her appearance.

It's because Lawrence blood runs through my veins, even if I'm an illegitimate child.

Since he wanted an heir, there was no way he would be satisfied with a maid or some other woman who didn't carry the blood of a Count's family.

In the end... Erze will have no choice but to take my place.

The thought of Erze's misfortune made Evelyn smile without realizing it.

"That's unfortunate."

Mistaking the meaning behind Evelyn's smile, Erze folded her arms and circled around her mockingly.

"Oh dear, you've gone insane from fear, haven't you? But don't worry too much. You're an expensive toy, after all. Surely he won't kill you on the first night."

Ignoring Erze's endless stream of insults, Evelyn turned her head and looked out the window.

Of course he won't kill me. I'm the Count's daughter, after all.

She simply repeated Erze's words to herself with a faint smile.

As Evelyn left the library and headed toward the servants' quarters, a loud shout suddenly echoed behind her.

"Make way!"

The distant footsteps rapidly drew closer.

Startled, Evelyn quickly stepped aside and watched the Count's soldiers rush past her.

Curiosity and fear mixed in her eyes.

They hurried along with such grim expressions that even the candles mounted on the walls flickered violently in their wake.

The tense atmosphere made her shoulders stiffen on their own.

"My Lady!"

Leah, the assistant to the Count's physician, hurried over from near a statue modeled after a Holy Knight.

She was a member of the royal family of a small kingdom that had been absorbed into the Empire and the youngest daughter of a family that had produced physicians for generations.

I saved her when she couldn't escape the burning herb warehouse.

In her previous life, Leah had died in that fire.

Remembering that, Evelyn had barely managed to save her life two days earlier.

Saving Leah had been intentional.

She knew Leah would be useful someday, so it was better to build a connection now.

Just as I expected... she's been following me around ever since.

Evelyn glanced around.

After confirming no one else was nearby, she frowned.

"I told you not to call me 'My Lady.' What if Madam hears you?"

"Huh? But you have the Count's blood. Isn't it strange to call you by your name?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down."

After saving someone who had been destined to die, even the smallest things now made Evelyn's heart race.

Everything was uncertain.

For now, staying out of trouble came first.

"All right, all right."

Seeing Evelyn awkwardly press a finger to her lips, Leah laughed cheerfully.

"So I just have to be careful with how I address you, right? Anyway, that's not what's important. I came to escort you because a dangerous guest has arrived. You should head back to the servants' quarters..."

"A dangerous guest?"

When Evelyn stopped walking, Leah lit the oil lamp she was carrying and gently pushed her forward.

"I don't know the details either. But you'd better hurry. Orders came down that no one is to leave their room tonight."

Evelyn's green eyes darkened like an abyss.

The shadows cast upon the stone walls stretched and shrank repeatedly, making her anxiety grow.

"How dangerous is this guest?"

She asked like a frightened child.

A playful grin appeared on Leah's face.

Holding the lamp beside her face, she spoke in a spooky voice.

"According to the rumors, they captured a humanoid monster from the desert and locked it up in the western tower. They say it's so vicious that the Count had an incredibly difficult time bringing it here."

That warning would have terrified Evelyn—

If she hadn't already known that the prison was actually beneath the eastern tower.

There was no way they would keep an insignificant monster in the luxurious western tower.

Not wanting to waste Leah's sincere efforts to safely escort her back, Evelyn widened her eyes in pretend surprise.

"Really?"

Leah nodded as she opened the side door leading to the servants' quarters.

"So if you're thinking of going to the tower out of curiosity, you'd better give up."

"O-Okay..."

Letting out a deep sigh, Evelyn tilted her head back.

As though reflecting her troubled heart, rain began falling steadily from the sky.

The bedroom at the top of the western tower was as bright as daylight.

The guest invited to the Count's estate was none other than the Grand Duke of Orpheus.

The Grand Duke's aide addressed the guards in a stern voice.

"Until the Count returns with a priest, no one except the physician is to enter."

"Yes, sir!"

Dozens of torches flickered along the walls as several guards stood before the massive iron door with long spears in hand.

The being they both revered and feared waited beyond that heavy door.

Hidden beneath the darkness cast by the enormous window, he crouched like a wounded beast.

"Grrrr..."

Black smoke rose from the man's enormous body as he let out a beast-like growl.

There wasn't a single part of him that wasn't covered in wounds.

"Haa..."

Each rough breath felt as though fire was burning through his organs.

The wild look in his eyes had long since lost all traces of reason.

Without a Purifier to awaken his power, the Grand Duke of Orpheus would occasionally absorb too much corrupted demonic energy or be consumed by the power of the evil god, causing him to lose control.

Even with restraints suppressing his strength, it felt as though his mind were melting.

He clenched the bedsheets tightly.

BOOM!

Thunder shook the tower walls.

A flash of lightning illuminated the bed as rain poured outside.

Within the darkness, a pair of crimson eyes, slit vertically like those of a beast, flashed open.

Normally, his eyes shone like brilliant gold.

But whenever he lost control, they turned blood red.

With blurred vision, Kallian stared at the black scales tearing through the skin of his right arm.

Damn this cursed fate.

Blood dripped steadily from the split flesh along his forearm.

Grinding his teeth, he desperately forced down the volcanic power threatening to erupt.

"Urgh!"

The veins on his temples bulged.

His overheated head felt as though steam were rising from it.

The growing thirst inside him made his stomach churn while his throat burned.

"Hng..."

Kallian let out a muffled groan.

This feeling—

A murderous urge that made him want to tear someone apart—

No matter how many years he had endured it, it disgusted him every single time.

I'm reaching my limit.

His patience was beginning to run out.

After shaking the rainwater from her clothes, Evelyn entered the servants' quarters.

She looked around in confusion at the unusual silence.

"Why is it so quiet?"

The servants' quarters were where the maids lived.

Normally, it would be bustling with preparations for bedtime.

Instead, it was as silent as a grave.

"It looks like they're short-handed," Leah explained. "If I hadn't come to fetch you, I would've been dragged away to help too."

As Evelyn walked around one of the rough stone pillars while listening to Leah, she accidentally overheard a conversation between several maids.

"Hey, did you see the guest staying in the tower? Isn't he incredibly handsome? He's so tall, and those broad shoulders..."

Since they were discussing the very thing she wanted to know, Evelyn instinctively stopped walking.

"Shh."

Hiding behind the pillar, Evelyn placed a finger over her lips.

Quick-witted Leah immediately held her breath as well.

The maids' whispered conversation drifted toward them with the sound of the rain.

"Handsome? Don't tell me you're talking about that monster who came back with the Count."

"Monster? If a monster could be that attractive, I'd gladly let him bite my neck."

"Oh, please. After seeing those eyes filled with killing intent, you can still say that? I was so scared my knees were shaking."

A monster?

Killing intent?

Evelyn felt her pulse quicken.

As she listened carefully, trying to calm her strangely pounding heart, the conversation continued.

"Dangerous men are always the most attractive. Besides, no matter what anyone says, he's the only guardian capable of keeping the Empire at peace."

Gasp!

Evelyn swallowed the scream that almost escaped her lips.

Cold sweat dampened the hand covering her mouth.

There was only one person who could match the description of that dangerous guest.

Kallian.

The husband she had never been able to forget, even at death's door.

Kallian was a kind man.

But because of the rugged appearance common among Northerners and the intimidating aura surrounding him, women from the South often found him frightening.

If he looked frightening enough to make someone's knees tremble, perhaps he was in a bad mood...

Or perhaps he had been injured.

But when I first met him in my previous life, he was perfectly fine...

Besides, the full moon had not yet risen.

Everything was happening earlier than it had in her previous life, leaving Evelyn bewildered.

Perhaps even in her previous life, he had arrived at the Count's estate already injured.

Perhaps she had simply mistaken the timing because she had never known.

I have to get into the tower somehow and confirm that it's really him.

Her mind racing, Evelyn grabbed Leah's arm without even trying to hide the anxiety on her face.

"Leah... I need your help."