[The conditions for removing 'The Price of Confirming Disgust: 24-hour Stamina/Mental Power Debuff' have been met!]
[Would you like to remove the 24-hour stamina/spirit debuff? If you remove it, you will not have to pay a price even if you check the disgust level. (However, the 2-time limit remains.)
YES / NO ]
[ If you select NO this time, you will be permanently unable to remove the price of disgust. ]
She had a gut feeling the moment she saw that status window.
'The reason my vision changed just now was because of the status window.'
Condition fulfillment, that too, had to do with the flower bud she just saw in her dream.
'I don't know how the condition was met, but for now, let's remove the 24-hour debuff.'
She would have lifted it even if it wasn't a one-time opportunity. The 24-hour debuff was too much of a hindrance to revenge.
'Unlock it.'
As Odette was thinking about the status window, the YES part of the status window started blinking and then an additional notification popped up.
[ Debuff removed! ]
[Congratulations on getting close to completing the 'Status Window'!]
The previously pure white status window had turned a faint pink color.
***
“Ugh.”
Sion looked at John, who was dancing the waltz, as if he found it absurd, and gulped down the drink he was holding in his hand.
He had already had several glasses, but it didn't help much. The transcendent's liver quickly detoxified the alcohol, and instead, his mind became clearer.
Thanks to that, he could clearly hear the useless noises around him.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is not the one dancing. What is this? This is truly a world-changing event.”
“Is that so? It seems quite natural to me. Lady Albrecht is so beautiful today that it wouldn’t be strange if a man asked her to dance.”
“Now that I hear you, that’s true. I need to find out who the designer of that dress is.”
What bothered him more was that there was not a single wrong word.
It was said that John's dancing was an event worthy of creating the world and that Odette looked especially beautiful today.
Sion chewed the ice in response. It felt dirty. It was unbearable.
'What are you going to do when you become a Crown Prince and get completely obsessed with a woman?'
To the average person, that waltz might seem pretty plausible. But to Sion, whose senses were sharper than others, it was very clear.
That John's hands were very tight.
John is getting overly nervous now. How ridiculous it is for that stupidly large man to be waltzing with such tiny strides.
'Come to think of it, was that woman something like John's first love?'
Since awakening at the age of 4, John has been romanticizing his encounter with the Purifier for 14 years.
Even though Odette was a Purifier who had only appeared for the first time in decades, the compensation the Empire gave to Odette was excessive.
And the reason it was so excessive was partly because of that idiot's dedication.
That woman's ignorantly high dignity maintenance fee was also because that guy wanted to give his dignity maintenance fee to Odette.
In the first place, there could not have been an item called the cost of maintaining the dignity of the purifier.
As for the Purifier, all you have to do is pay her a fair price for the purification. Will the imperial family even take care of his dignity?
Just in case the woman is uncomfortable, John can't even stretch out his long arms. He's so hunched over that he can't even exert any strength.
'If anyone saw that woman, they would think she was some kind of sugar cookie.'
I'm saying that you can't do a proper waltz if you're afraid that your partner, who is supposed to be leading, will break.
'You've been dreaming of dancing with the Purifier for 14 years. If you're going to do that, at least dance well.'
How sad it would be for little John to know that the dance he had been looking forward to so much was such a ridiculous sight.
Fortunately, John has a pretty face.
The reason why that dance is worth watching is probably because their faces are so incredibly beautiful.
A beautiful man and woman as if they were painted in a painting. Just like a masterpiece.
'Shit.'
Sion couldn't continue to think cynically any longer. He felt like his insides were boiling.
'How could John not get swept away and betrayed by that witch-like woman?'
Just looking at the crying he saw when he chased after Odette last time, it was like that. He will never forget it.
A mental strength that even S-class mind control couldn't overcome. That anger, that fighting spirit. That shining pride.
The turquoise eyes looked like flames engulfing Sion. His whole body felt numb.
Sion realized at that moment. He desires this woman, he wants to have this woman. He can do anything for it.
'Should I lock her up? Wouldn't it be better to just pretend she's dead? There are a lot of secret spaces in the Marquis Kleist's mansion anyway. If I want to possess this woman-'
The reason Sion couldn't put that conclusion into action was because the woman cried after the brainwashing was over.
He's never seen such crying before. It's the kind of crying that is held back until your whole body starts shaking, and then finally bursts out.
The tears flowing from her small face felt like a waterfall.
Crying without even distorting her face, like a person who doesn't know how to cry out loud. In the end, Sion had no choice but to return without being able to comfort the woman.
From then on, whenever Sion fell asleep, he dreamed of returning to that street.
And this time, he was not embarrassed by the woman crying and willingly locked her up. He was happy to think that the crying was also a wound left by Sion himself.
And very lowly, long indulged in it. Nothing is so lowly as Sion.
'So I can't blame John for getting swept away. I could blame the witch who bewitched people, wouldn't I?'
Even the evil spirits were swept away to that extent, so how much more so was the upright Crown Prince-.
So this impatience may also be possessiveness. The desire to have it, to destroy it with one's own hands, and to leave a trace.
The shallow and dirty feelings his father had for his mother.
'The Crown Prince doesn't have the tendency to possess people. At best, he's just a boy who has unrequited love.'
So there was no way John could take Odette away from Sion. It was ridiculous to be wary.
To appease his burning heart, Sion grabbed the serving servant again and brought him some wine.
It was at that moment that he suddenly smelled a strong peach blossom scent.
Sion had smelled this scent before, and he looked at the woman reflexively.
“...You, the scent of flowers...suddenly...”
Johan's face also turned red, wondering if he was the only one who felt this way.
It couldn't be helped. The scent was too alluring. It was so good that it gave him goosebumps all over.
The monster that symbolized his supernatural power was a dog. As a guard dog from hell, he was twirling his tail excitedly.
It was at that moment that the woman staggered around as if she was dizzy.
At the same time, the scent of the peach blossoms became so strong that it was mind-boggling. It was like a giant water balloon bursting, filling the entire banquet hall with a floral scent.
'What?'
Sion instinctively walked up to the woman and grabbed her shoulder. John also grabbed her waist to support her.
At the same time, John glared at him as if he was on guard. However, Sion ignored him.
“What’s wrong with you? What’s wrong?”
“I’m going to get some fresh air for a bit. I’m going to the terrace, so please don’t follow me.”
The woman spoke firmly and left for the terrace. John tried to follow her as if he was possessed, but Sion stopped him.
'I've never had a good time catching that woman.'
“Your Highness, I have something to report.”
“Kleist. Later.”
“It’s about Odette. Your Highness just did something really stupid and we have to clean it up together.”
Of course, it wasn't because Sion didn't want to go out to the terrace with Odette. It wasn't because he didn't want to see them stick around any longer.
"What?"
“If you attract attention like this, won’t it inevitably reach the Count’s ears? Don’t you know what kind of situation that woman is in the Count’s household?”
For a moment, John's expression became thoughtful.
"This..."
From now on, Sion planned to block all avenues through which rumors could reach the Count.
A little bit of intimidation and pressure would suffice. Sion smiled, strangely pleased that he had shown consideration that John had not noticed.
“I forgot. I was so happy that Odette accepted my request to dance.”
But the moment he heard John's words, Sion's smile disappeared in an instant.
Although John was usually very perceptive, he couldn't help but notice Sion's expression that had suddenly turned cold.
“...What is it? The scent suddenly disappeared completely.”
It was because he was distracted by the fact that the fragrance of peach blossoms that seemed to fill the entire banquet hall had disappeared in an instant. It was as if someone had artificially taken all the fragrance away.
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