I opened my eyes wide. I saw the fabric distorting like waves following the movement.
“Are you sitting on this?”
It looked a little disheveled. However, it didn’t look worn-out like what others had used. It definitely felt less repulsive. Because I was somehow afraid to touch something perfect. Because I had been taught to leave pure white as pure white.
No, because I was forced to become pure white.
However, Belled said something completely different from the temple.
“It’s easy to dishevel something that was already disheveled.”
His fingertips glided over the dark blue fabric, leaving traces over and over again. Then he lifted his fingertips and looked back at me.
“Now, sit down.”
I followed him and sat on the chair as if possessed. Belled laughed.
“I thought you’d find something neater to use.”
“That’s true.”
I hesitated for a moment. It was a bit messy even before I sat down, so it wasn’t uncomfortable, but somehow.
“It feels like I’m making something clean dirty.”
Belled let out a low laugh at those words. As if he had heard something ridiculous.
“Are you saying that you’re dirty?”
“That’s...”
“More than me?”
Our eyes met for a moment. I was confused for a moment.
I didn’t know if this person was hiding the fact that he was a demon or if he was saying that he was dirty as a human.
The time our eyes met was longer than I thought. His dark green eyes were filled with mischief.
“I don’t know if Saintess knows, but in the secular world, people sometimes shed blood for vested interests. Especially if it’s a family as large as the Vine.”
He was speaking as a human. I let out a short breath without realizing it.
“—And my sword is soaked with the blood of a monster that is considered dirty in the temple. Where could anyone be dirtier than this?”
I shook my head at those words. If his argument was true, then there was someone else dirtier.
Those who took blood for their own gain. The two families and the temple that betrayed me in her first and second lives.
“I know there are worse ones.”
But I couldn’t talk about my past life, so I said that and turned my gaze.
“Now that we’re a couple, are you taking my side or not?”
He sat down across from me and asked me secretly.
“Is this also the mercy of the Saintess?”
The word Saintess coming out of his mouth bothered me. It seemed like he kept limiting it to the temple.
And that feeling was about to turn into a faint discomfort. That’s why I answered without realizing it.
“I’m not the Saintess, but I’m the mercy of Beryl.”
Belled’s eyes widened at those words. After a moment of silence, he burst into laughter.
“I’m so happy to have a merciful wife.”
He looked somehow happy as he said that. It was different from the eyes of Duke Orobas, who had been gleaming with strange desire, and the eyes of Duke Yubar, who had been targeting me as a sacrifice to the devil.
He, a real devil, seemed more... pure than the two humans.
‘Devils disguise themselves as something they are not, and deceive people.’
I didn’t trust the temple people, but since that was what I had heard my whole life, I couldn’t help but think about it.
Do humans avoid devils for no reason?
They are harmful beings. However.
“Shall we go?”
Belled, who asked with a smile, didn’t seem like such a harmful person, so I felt my heart waver. I felt like she would be tempted.
If I didn’t come to my senses, I would die. I unconsciously bit the inside of my lip.
And I nodded.
“Yes.”
―Clang.
The carriage soon departed.
As with the wedding dress, Vine seemed to really like flowing fabrics.
All the fancy decorations were made of flowing, thin fabrics. That’s why it felt warm and secretive.
It was a strange place. I tightly gripped the fabric of the chair with my nervous hands. I held on
even tighter as the soft fabric flowed down like water.
“You don’t have to be so nervous. There won’t be much change right now.”
He looked outside. But I couldn’t relax.
That was understandable because I didn’t know how the demons would perceive the ‘Duchess’.
I had previously given them orders using Belled’s name. But they seemed confused as well. They listened, but they didn’t seem dissatisfied.
What on earth would the Duchess mean to the demons?
They wouldn’t think that the Saintess and the Duke were really married...
I was having complicated thoughts. As if reading my thoughts, Belled said,
“According to the custom of the Vine family, all other servants except us will be veiled for a week.”
“Veil?”
“Yes.”
Belled said lightly.
“It means that the new mistress will have time to adjust, but in other words.”
His green eyes looked straight at me.
“It means that they shouldn’t dare look at the first week of the newlyweds with their own eyes.”
“The first... week.”
He had guessed about the first night. But not one day, but seven days?
“Yes, the couple will spend more than three nights during the seven days. During that time, the servants will pretend not to exist and move around.”
So the large mansion is yours and mine alone. My face seemed to burn brightly at Belled’s words.
No matter how much they wear a veil and move around quietly, they can’t pretend not to know, right?
“They may not be able to see our actions through the veil, but we can see them. This is also the process of selecting new employees for the mistress.”
My eyes widened at those words.
Even if I disliked a certain servant, I wouldn’t be able to send the demon back to Hell.
However, Belled was speaking as if I could wield the power of appointment and dismissal as I pleased.
“The customs of Vine seem quite different from those of a typical noble family.”
I opened my mouth to appear calm.
“So, how much authority does the Duchess of Vine have?”
I was asking if it was different from a typical noble family. Belled tilted his head slightly at my words.
“Isn’t it the same as a typical noble family?”
Well, I couldn’t say that Vine was different—that was what I thought.
“However, in addition, Vine grants absolute command to the superiors.”
Belled’s lips twisted.
“No one can disobey the Duchess.”
It sounded like an answer to whether the demons would listen to me.
“So you can move as you wish.”
Of course.
If I didn’t know that he was a demon, I might have stopped suspecting him. He seemed that confident. He was confident that he wouldn’t be caught as a demon.
...Or, maybe.
Did he not care if he was caught? I bit my lip, feeling even more nervous.
“I’ll tell you to make yourself comfortable so that my wife can adjust without any problems.”
Make yourself comfortable... I instinctively realized his words.
The fact that the servants were keeping me close meant that they had an excuse to watch me too.
Whether it was to look good or not, they had no choice but to come closer.
It was a natural yet creepy method.
Still...
“...”
I closed my eyes. This place seemed better than the temple.
Maybe it was because the demons didn’t necessarily force me to be holy.
It was natural. They were demons, after all.
I swallowed a short sigh. A cold feeling ran down the back of my neck, like a cold sweat.
Could I do it? No, I had to do it.
I had my eyes closed for a long time after that. Until we arrived at the mansion.
Smack.
The castle of Vine was quiet after the wedding.
Those with their faces covered by long veils silently walked around the castle, and it really seemed like only Belled and I were there.
“The preparations are complete... Madam.”
Except when I heard the voice. The demons hesitated because they were unfamiliar with the title of madam.
Every time that happened, I seemed to come to my senses.
Yes, this was the castle of demons.
No matter how much I had to pretend not to know, I had to know. I didn’t know how people with completely different customs from humans would react.
“Okay, thank you for your hard work.”
The demons dressed as maids quietly retreated at my words.
Now, I was truly alone in the room.
“Whew.”
I let out a short sigh.
I had just shook my head when she asked me if I wanted to eat as soon as I returned to the mansion.
“It’s okay.”
I thought I would get sick if I ate. So I had a light meal and then got a light massage.
In the meantime, I must have dozed off for a moment. Maybe it was because I was so upside down at the wedding hall.
When I opened my eyes, I was wearing white clothes. Pure white like a wedding dress, but a little shorter and easier to move around in.
The clothes, held together only by strings, felt light as if I wasn’t wearing anything.
‘White clothes... ’
I said I don’t wear them often.
They say they catch the eyes of monsters. But the maids shook their heads.
‘You can wear them in the Vine Castle.’
When I tilted my head as if giving them permission, another maid added, as if realizing their mistake.
‘..No matter how many monsters swarm the Vine Castle, they won’t be able to harm you, Madam.’
‘Bright colors are the exclusive property of the high and mighty.’
In short, it seemed to mean that only those with power wear bright clothes.
Come to think of it, Belled must have worn white shirts often, too.
I thought of the jewels that sparkled above the veil as we left.
I didn’t know because it felt flashy, but when I thought about it carefully, it seemed like they had dark-colored jewels like deep purple or dark blue inside the silver decorations.
Thanks to that, even though I was wearing black, I didn’t feel depressed.
Even so, my eyes, accustomed to the pure white temple, looked around me again.
And even the bed that I couldn’t sit on.
“... If you mess it up.”
They said it was easy to sit on. I looked at the bed which was neatly laid out without a single wrinkle.
The bed, which had multiple layers of fabric overlapping to create a soft feeling, would leave a clear mark even if I sat on it for a very short time.
I recalled Belled’s fingertips messing with the fabric on the chair in the carriage.
After that, it was strangely easy to sit down. To be exact, my hesitation seemed to disappear.
“Pure white is pure white.”
Was it because I had been trained for so long? I don’t want pure white to be dyed a different color because of me.
But... I suddenly thought of winter.
It was winter in the temple. There was a childhood day when pure white snow piled up so softly that
I wanted to go out and step on it for a moment. The feeling of entering a space where no one had used the pure white snow for the first time was so good.
'Wow!'
I was excitedly stepping on the snow, leaving my marks, when I was shouted at.
'Saintess!'
'The pure white snow is the mark of the Gods. How can you defile that sacred place?'
Everyone in the temple, even the apprentice priest who had just entered the temple, saw me being scolded like that.
Thanks to that, a rumor spread. The new young Saintess was immature.
I suddenly thought that I felt that way.
"Pure white snow..."
Was this how it felt to step on the pure white snow that no one had stepped on? No matter how lightly you took a step, it would eventually leave a mark, just like that snow.
However, since I couldn't see my marks, I think I walked towards the side where the snow was a little whiter.
I was so excited. I smiled without realizing it and carefully sat down on the bed. The fabric that had not a single wrinkle was distorted, but it was better than she had thought.
"Whew."
A strange sense of liberation was felt. Was it because I felt like I had done something I couldn’t do when I was young, or because no one was yelling at me?
‘How about this?’
No, it might have been because they were encouraging me.
When the pure white snow falls...
I looked back at the outside where winter was almost over. No matter how night it was here, pure white snow would fall. Could I step on it?
‘You said you wanted to learn about desire.’
That’s what he had said the night we were alone together. And.
“...Even the Gods, forget... night..."
I ended up saying those immoral words. I moistened my dry lips and thought.
Would it hurt?
No matter how much I had grown up being forced to be holy, I had two previous lives, so I knew what had happened between a married couple.
Of course, I hadn’t experienced it myself. I had never spent the night with Duke Orobas, who had shown his strange sexual desires, or with Duke Yubar, who had seen me as a sacrifice, fed me sacred things, and avoided nights because I had to be a virgin. The excuse was simple.
'You might be the devil.'
In fact, I was disgusted by the idea of having to spend the night with them. I wanted to reject them in the end.
But not now. On the contrary, they were the ones I should have felt the most repulsion towards.
Rather, just like the pleasure, I felt at first sight as if I was doing something I shouldn't be doing... I even felt a strange thrill.
Am I going crazy?
"... ... ."
Maybe it was because that dizzying kiss kept coming to mind. The feeling of being alone in the world, where all worries were blown away from my mind.
I thought I was addicted.
I bit her lips. There really was no such thing as a devil’s temptation.
A night with a Saintess and a devil. How could I refuse that?
“...”
What would a night with a devil be like? They were a different species from humans, so would it be okay?
It was when I tightly shut my eyes, feeling completely nervous.
Click.
I opened my eyes slightly at the sound of the door opening. Of course, the one who came in was Belled.
Do humans avoid devils for no reason?
They are harmful beings. However.
“Shall we go?”
Belled, who asked with a smile, didn’t seem like such a harmful person, so I felt my heart waver. I felt like she would be tempted.
If I didn’t come to my senses, I would die. I unconsciously bit the inside of my lip.
And I nodded.
“Yes.”
―Clang.
The carriage soon departed.
***
As with the wedding dress, Vine seemed to really like flowing fabrics.
All the fancy decorations were made of flowing, thin fabrics. That’s why it felt warm and secretive.
It was a strange place. I tightly gripped the fabric of the chair with my nervous hands. I held on
even tighter as the soft fabric flowed down like water.
“You don’t have to be so nervous. There won’t be much change right now.”
He looked outside. But I couldn’t relax.
That was understandable because I didn’t know how the demons would perceive the ‘Duchess’.
I had previously given them orders using Belled’s name. But they seemed confused as well. They listened, but they didn’t seem dissatisfied.
What on earth would the Duchess mean to the demons?
They wouldn’t think that the Saintess and the Duke were really married...
I was having complicated thoughts. As if reading my thoughts, Belled said,
“According to the custom of the Vine family, all other servants except us will be veiled for a week.”
“Veil?”
“Yes.”
Belled said lightly.
“It means that the new mistress will have time to adjust, but in other words.”
His green eyes looked straight at me.
“It means that they shouldn’t dare look at the first week of the newlyweds with their own eyes.”
“The first... week.”
He had guessed about the first night. But not one day, but seven days?
“Yes, the couple will spend more than three nights during the seven days. During that time, the servants will pretend not to exist and move around.”
So the large mansion is yours and mine alone. My face seemed to burn brightly at Belled’s words.
No matter how much they wear a veil and move around quietly, they can’t pretend not to know, right?
“They may not be able to see our actions through the veil, but we can see them. This is also the process of selecting new employees for the mistress.”
My eyes widened at those words.
Even if I disliked a certain servant, I wouldn’t be able to send the demon back to Hell.
However, Belled was speaking as if I could wield the power of appointment and dismissal as I pleased.
“The customs of Vine seem quite different from those of a typical noble family.”
I opened my mouth to appear calm.
“So, how much authority does the Duchess of Vine have?”
I was asking if it was different from a typical noble family. Belled tilted his head slightly at my words.
“Isn’t it the same as a typical noble family?”
Well, I couldn’t say that Vine was different—that was what I thought.
“However, in addition, Vine grants absolute command to the superiors.”
Belled’s lips twisted.
“No one can disobey the Duchess.”
It sounded like an answer to whether the demons would listen to me.
“So you can move as you wish.”
Of course.
If I didn’t know that he was a demon, I might have stopped suspecting him. He seemed that confident. He was confident that he wouldn’t be caught as a demon.
...Or, maybe.
Did he not care if he was caught? I bit my lip, feeling even more nervous.
“I’ll tell you to make yourself comfortable so that my wife can adjust without any problems.”
Make yourself comfortable... I instinctively realized his words.
The fact that the servants were keeping me close meant that they had an excuse to watch me too.
Whether it was to look good or not, they had no choice but to come closer.
It was a natural yet creepy method.
Still...
“...”
I closed my eyes. This place seemed better than the temple.
Maybe it was because the demons didn’t necessarily force me to be holy.
It was natural. They were demons, after all.
I swallowed a short sigh. A cold feeling ran down the back of my neck, like a cold sweat.
Could I do it? No, I had to do it.
I had my eyes closed for a long time after that. Until we arrived at the mansion.
***
Smack.
The castle of Vine was quiet after the wedding.
Those with their faces covered by long veils silently walked around the castle, and it really seemed like only Belled and I were there.
“The preparations are complete... Madam.”
Except when I heard the voice. The demons hesitated because they were unfamiliar with the title of madam.
Every time that happened, I seemed to come to my senses.
Yes, this was the castle of demons.
No matter how much I had to pretend not to know, I had to know. I didn’t know how people with completely different customs from humans would react.
“Okay, thank you for your hard work.”
The demons dressed as maids quietly retreated at my words.
Now, I was truly alone in the room.
“Whew.”
I let out a short sigh.
I had just shook my head when she asked me if I wanted to eat as soon as I returned to the mansion.
“It’s okay.”
I thought I would get sick if I ate. So I had a light meal and then got a light massage.
In the meantime, I must have dozed off for a moment. Maybe it was because I was so upside down at the wedding hall.
When I opened my eyes, I was wearing white clothes. Pure white like a wedding dress, but a little shorter and easier to move around in.
The clothes, held together only by strings, felt light as if I wasn’t wearing anything.
‘White clothes... ’
I said I don’t wear them often.
They say they catch the eyes of monsters. But the maids shook their heads.
‘You can wear them in the Vine Castle.’
When I tilted my head as if giving them permission, another maid added, as if realizing their mistake.
‘..No matter how many monsters swarm the Vine Castle, they won’t be able to harm you, Madam.’
‘Bright colors are the exclusive property of the high and mighty.’
In short, it seemed to mean that only those with power wear bright clothes.
Come to think of it, Belled must have worn white shirts often, too.
I thought of the jewels that sparkled above the veil as we left.
I didn’t know because it felt flashy, but when I thought about it carefully, it seemed like they had dark-colored jewels like deep purple or dark blue inside the silver decorations.
Thanks to that, even though I was wearing black, I didn’t feel depressed.
Even so, my eyes, accustomed to the pure white temple, looked around me again.
And even the bed that I couldn’t sit on.
“... If you mess it up.”
They said it was easy to sit on. I looked at the bed which was neatly laid out without a single wrinkle.
The bed, which had multiple layers of fabric overlapping to create a soft feeling, would leave a clear mark even if I sat on it for a very short time.
I recalled Belled’s fingertips messing with the fabric on the chair in the carriage.
After that, it was strangely easy to sit down. To be exact, my hesitation seemed to disappear.
“Pure white is pure white.”
Was it because I had been trained for so long? I don’t want pure white to be dyed a different color because of me.
But... I suddenly thought of winter.
It was winter in the temple. There was a childhood day when pure white snow piled up so softly that
I wanted to go out and step on it for a moment. The feeling of entering a space where no one had used the pure white snow for the first time was so good.
'Wow!'
I was excitedly stepping on the snow, leaving my marks, when I was shouted at.
'Saintess!'
'The pure white snow is the mark of the Gods. How can you defile that sacred place?'
Everyone in the temple, even the apprentice priest who had just entered the temple, saw me being scolded like that.
Thanks to that, a rumor spread. The new young Saintess was immature.
I suddenly thought that I felt that way.
"Pure white snow..."
Was this how it felt to step on the pure white snow that no one had stepped on? No matter how lightly you took a step, it would eventually leave a mark, just like that snow.
However, since I couldn't see my marks, I think I walked towards the side where the snow was a little whiter.
I was so excited. I smiled without realizing it and carefully sat down on the bed. The fabric that had not a single wrinkle was distorted, but it was better than she had thought.
"Whew."
A strange sense of liberation was felt. Was it because I felt like I had done something I couldn’t do when I was young, or because no one was yelling at me?
‘How about this?’
No, it might have been because they were encouraging me.
When the pure white snow falls...
I looked back at the outside where winter was almost over. No matter how night it was here, pure white snow would fall. Could I step on it?
‘You said you wanted to learn about desire.’
That’s what he had said the night we were alone together. And.
“...Even the Gods, forget... night..."
I ended up saying those immoral words. I moistened my dry lips and thought.
Would it hurt?
No matter how much I had grown up being forced to be holy, I had two previous lives, so I knew what had happened between a married couple.
Of course, I hadn’t experienced it myself. I had never spent the night with Duke Orobas, who had shown his strange sexual desires, or with Duke Yubar, who had seen me as a sacrifice, fed me sacred things, and avoided nights because I had to be a virgin. The excuse was simple.
'You might be the devil.'
In fact, I was disgusted by the idea of having to spend the night with them. I wanted to reject them in the end.
But not now. On the contrary, they were the ones I should have felt the most repulsion towards.
Rather, just like the pleasure, I felt at first sight as if I was doing something I shouldn't be doing... I even felt a strange thrill.
Am I going crazy?
"... ... ."
Maybe it was because that dizzying kiss kept coming to mind. The feeling of being alone in the world, where all worries were blown away from my mind.
I thought I was addicted.
I bit her lips. There really was no such thing as a devil’s temptation.
A night with a Saintess and a devil. How could I refuse that?
“...”
What would a night with a devil be like? They were a different species from humans, so would it be okay?
It was when I tightly shut my eyes, feeling completely nervous.
Click.
I opened my eyes slightly at the sound of the door opening. Of course, the one who came in was Belled.
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