Episode 43. Just a Monster
Meanwhile, Serun was loitering in front of Cedric's room. Seeing Serun approaching tentatively, one of the knights guarding the door called out to him.
“Hey, Serun. What’s going on?”
Serun brightened at the knight's voice calling his name. Then he approached the knight.
“Haha, now I don’t have Madam to serve... I thought I’d at least get some face painting done.”
Serun smiled innocently, as if he knew nothing.
“Oh, I see. Now that Madam is gone, there’s nothing for you to do.”
The knights looked at Serun with pity. The Serun they knew was someone who didn't know how to do anything properly. He was full of determination, but his execution was far from perfect.
“Since Master is inside, go say hello. Don’t talk nonsense.”
The knight said with a benevolent expression.
“Oh, really? Thank you!”
Serun looked touched by the knight's consideration and bowed at a 90-degree angle.
“If you’re grateful, buy me a drink later.”
Serun paused slightly at the knight's words.
'While earning twice as much as I do.'
He wasn't living in poverty, receiving a generous salary from Cedric. However, Serun's salary was publicly the lowest among the knights. He didn't like him, having never bought him a meal, let alone a drink. But Serun responded with a hearty laugh.
“Of course! I should buy it, haha.”
As Serun squeaked, another knight beside him spoke as if scolding him.
"Ugh, are you trying to get something from Serun, who doesn't even get paid much? That's enough, Serun. Don't pay attention to what he says."
“Oh, really. I was just kidding.”
“Go in quickly.”
Serun, who had been laughing heartlessly at the meaningless conversation, nodded at the knight's words. Serun knocked twice on the door and spoke loudly.
“It’s Serun!”
“Come in.”
Serun's voice, filled with energy, was followed by Cedric's indifferent voice. Serun bowed to the knights and entered the room. Serun's bright smile suddenly changed. The once vibrant gaze had become dark and gloomy. He strode toward Cedric with a blank expression, as if he possessed no emotion. He then knelt before Cedric. Serun, bowing his head, seemed a completely different person than when he was with the knights. Cedric glanced at Serun and then turned his gaze to the papers on the desk. The voice he gave Serun was utterly indifferent.
"What's the matter? You came before I even called. Did you forget what I told you not to see me unless something special came up?"
Cedric's cold treatment of Serun wasn't new, but he couldn't help feeling resentful. Serun's expression turned bitter at Cedric's words, and he spoke quietly.
Meanwhile, Serun was loitering in front of Cedric's room. Seeing Serun approaching tentatively, one of the knights guarding the door called out to him.
“Hey, Serun. What’s going on?”
Serun brightened at the knight's voice calling his name. Then he approached the knight.
“Haha, now I don’t have Madam to serve... I thought I’d at least get some face painting done.”
Serun smiled innocently, as if he knew nothing.
“Oh, I see. Now that Madam is gone, there’s nothing for you to do.”
The knights looked at Serun with pity. The Serun they knew was someone who didn't know how to do anything properly. He was full of determination, but his execution was far from perfect.
“Since Master is inside, go say hello. Don’t talk nonsense.”
The knight said with a benevolent expression.
“Oh, really? Thank you!”
Serun looked touched by the knight's consideration and bowed at a 90-degree angle.
“If you’re grateful, buy me a drink later.”
Serun paused slightly at the knight's words.
'While earning twice as much as I do.'
He wasn't living in poverty, receiving a generous salary from Cedric. However, Serun's salary was publicly the lowest among the knights. He didn't like him, having never bought him a meal, let alone a drink. But Serun responded with a hearty laugh.
“Of course! I should buy it, haha.”
As Serun squeaked, another knight beside him spoke as if scolding him.
"Ugh, are you trying to get something from Serun, who doesn't even get paid much? That's enough, Serun. Don't pay attention to what he says."
“Oh, really. I was just kidding.”
“Go in quickly.”
Serun, who had been laughing heartlessly at the meaningless conversation, nodded at the knight's words. Serun knocked twice on the door and spoke loudly.
“It’s Serun!”
“Come in.”
Serun's voice, filled with energy, was followed by Cedric's indifferent voice. Serun bowed to the knights and entered the room. Serun's bright smile suddenly changed. The once vibrant gaze had become dark and gloomy. He strode toward Cedric with a blank expression, as if he possessed no emotion. He then knelt before Cedric. Serun, bowing his head, seemed a completely different person than when he was with the knights. Cedric glanced at Serun and then turned his gaze to the papers on the desk. The voice he gave Serun was utterly indifferent.
"What's the matter? You came before I even called. Did you forget what I told you not to see me unless something special came up?"
Cedric's cold treatment of Serun wasn't new, but he couldn't help feeling resentful. Serun's expression turned bitter at Cedric's words, and he spoke quietly.
“I apologize. I came here to ask who will take over Gwen’s duties.”
Butler Gwen served as a go-between for Cedric and Serun. When Serun secretly reported on the affairs of the Countess of Wence, Gwen was present. Cedric, still unaware of Gwen's expulsion, stopped what he was doing and frowned.
“What does that mean all of a sudden?”
What nonsense could he be talking about when Gwen was perfectly fine? He rubbed his forehead in exhaustion and looked at Serun. Serun sensed something odd about Cedric's attitude.
'Haven't you seen the letter I sent?'
Cedric didn't seem to notice that Gwen had been kicked out. Serun slowly raised his head and cautiously opened his mouth.
“By any chance, did you not receive the letter I sent?”
“Letter?”
At Serun's words, Cedric opened his eyes blearily and trailed off. He thought of the piles of papers and letters piled up in his mansion.
'I was out of my mind.'
Eric's wedding was tomorrow. With less than three days to go before everything, there was no time to worry about anything else.
“Did something happen while Gwen was on vacation?”
Cedric looked at Serun with an annoyed look. He simply attributed Gwen's absence from the mansion to her "vacation."
‘...You really don’t know anything.’
Serun was certain the word "vacation" meant something. Cedric didn't know Eric had kicked Gwen out.
“It was a letter about Gwen’s work.”
A low, emotionless voice resonated through the air. Serun spoke again, facing Cedric, who was glaring at her with a cold expression.
“Gwen has left the Count’s house.”
“What?! Why Gwen!”
Cedric's voice, like a scolding order, rang out, as if he had not expected it at all.
“He was fired.”
“What the hell is that? Who would dare fire Gwen!”
A person popped into Cedric's mind as he screamed. Cedric looked anxious and bit his lower lip. Serun answered quietly, looking at Cedric with a confused expression.
“The Count kicked him out.”
Boom! As soon as Serun finished speaking, the sound of the desk being slammed was heard. Cedric's flushed face contorted with rage.
“This guy is definitely...!”
How dare you kick out Gwen, of all people! Cedric, unable to control his anger, threw the items on his desk onto the floor. The area beneath his desk was a mess, with objects strewn about.
“Bring that guy Eric here right now!”
Butler Gwen served as a go-between for Cedric and Serun. When Serun secretly reported on the affairs of the Countess of Wence, Gwen was present. Cedric, still unaware of Gwen's expulsion, stopped what he was doing and frowned.
“What does that mean all of a sudden?”
What nonsense could he be talking about when Gwen was perfectly fine? He rubbed his forehead in exhaustion and looked at Serun. Serun sensed something odd about Cedric's attitude.
'Haven't you seen the letter I sent?'
Cedric didn't seem to notice that Gwen had been kicked out. Serun slowly raised his head and cautiously opened his mouth.
“By any chance, did you not receive the letter I sent?”
“Letter?”
At Serun's words, Cedric opened his eyes blearily and trailed off. He thought of the piles of papers and letters piled up in his mansion.
'I was out of my mind.'
Eric's wedding was tomorrow. With less than three days to go before everything, there was no time to worry about anything else.
“Did something happen while Gwen was on vacation?”
Cedric looked at Serun with an annoyed look. He simply attributed Gwen's absence from the mansion to her "vacation."
‘...You really don’t know anything.’
Serun was certain the word "vacation" meant something. Cedric didn't know Eric had kicked Gwen out.
“It was a letter about Gwen’s work.”
A low, emotionless voice resonated through the air. Serun spoke again, facing Cedric, who was glaring at her with a cold expression.
“Gwen has left the Count’s house.”
“What?! Why Gwen!”
Cedric's voice, like a scolding order, rang out, as if he had not expected it at all.
“He was fired.”
“What the hell is that? Who would dare fire Gwen!”
A person popped into Cedric's mind as he screamed. Cedric looked anxious and bit his lower lip. Serun answered quietly, looking at Cedric with a confused expression.
“The Count kicked him out.”
Boom! As soon as Serun finished speaking, the sound of the desk being slammed was heard. Cedric's flushed face contorted with rage.
“This guy is definitely...!”
How dare you kick out Gwen, of all people! Cedric, unable to control his anger, threw the items on his desk onto the floor. The area beneath his desk was a mess, with objects strewn about.
“Bring that guy Eric here right now!”
***
Eric came to Cedric's room. Cedric's once messy room had been tidied up, but the air inside was incredibly heavy. Inside were Cedric, Eric, and Tercia. Cedric stood with his back to Eric, facing the window. Eric stood silently, watching Cedric. Tercia sat between Eric and Cedric. She fidgeted, watching Cedric's expression.
'What is Cedric so angry about again?'
Cedric listened to Tercia's words, but when he would occasionally become so angry that his eyes rolled back, no one could stop him. Tercia didn't want Eric and Cedric to drift apart any further. She didn't even want them to become a harmonious father-son relationship. But she wanted to at least dispel the tense atmosphere.
'What is Cedric so angry about again?'
Cedric listened to Tercia's words, but when he would occasionally become so angry that his eyes rolled back, no one could stop him. Tercia didn't want Eric and Cedric to drift apart any further. She didn't even want them to become a harmonious father-son relationship. But she wanted to at least dispel the tense atmosphere.
She swallowed hard and looked at Eric with anxious eyes. A heavy silence fell. Tercia couldn't hide her unease, feeling as if she were walking on thin ice.
“Why have you called, Father?”
Eric broke the silence and spoke first.
“...”
Cedric didn't respond. Eric stood silently, waiting for Cedric to open his mouth. After some time, Cedric finally spoke.
“...It’s been three years since I handed over the title of Count.”
Eric frowned at Cedric's words. Although he had inherited the title of Count, Cedric still held the real power. Eric was dissatisfied with the mere ostensible title of Count. He stared at Cedric's chair with cold eyes. Cedric's room was where the heads of the family had worked. The desk in this room, the ornate red chair, all belonged to the head of the Count Wence family. And all of this still belonged to Cedric.
“Why have you called, Father?”
Eric broke the silence and spoke first.
“...”
Cedric didn't respond. Eric stood silently, waiting for Cedric to open his mouth. After some time, Cedric finally spoke.
“...It’s been three years since I handed over the title of Count.”
Eric frowned at Cedric's words. Although he had inherited the title of Count, Cedric still held the real power. Eric was dissatisfied with the mere ostensible title of Count. He stared at Cedric's chair with cold eyes. Cedric's room was where the heads of the family had worked. The desk in this room, the ornate red chair, all belonged to the head of the Count Wence family. And all of this still belonged to Cedric.
Eric's deep, amber eyes flashed coldly. He was displeased with Cedric's enjoyment of everything despite having stepped down as Count.
‘If I just have a child... my position will become more solid.’
His reason for wanting the child was simple: it was a means to wrest complete power from Cedric.
“But you have never satisfied me.”
Cedric's voice echoed softly throughout the room. Eric's expression hardened frighteningly.
“But I respected you.”
Cedric slowly turned around and glared at Eric with a sharp gaze.
'respect?'
When on earth did his father ever respect him? Eric raised an eyebrow at Cedric's seemingly incoherent words.
"Even when you brought a worthless child like that to be your bride, we respected your choice. But what happened in the end? Not only did that child ruin over ten years of hard work, but she also made a mockery of our family!"
“So didn’t we get divorced?”
“You punk!! What did you do right to talk back?! Why are you glaring at your father? How could we have raised you?! You barely divorced Rose, and now you impregnate a child who was treated like a lowly child!”
“So what if I’m of low birth? Tomorrow she’ll be a Countess.”
To Eric, Doana's status didn't matter. All that mattered was that she was carrying his child.
“Who said you would take that child as your daughter-in-law? You will marry the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Dikar!”
“What is that...?”
Eric frowned at Cedric's words. He turned his gaze to Tercia, who had personally planned the wedding. Tercia, watching Eric stare at her, began to recite the words she had prepared.
"Oh, I misunderstood. Did you think Doana would be the bride at tomorrow's wedding? I thought I told you everything, but I must have been so distracted that I forgot. You're getting married to the daughter of the Marquis of Dikar, my dear."
"Ha?"
Eric's eyes widened in bewilderment. He didn't like the thought of being played around with Doana. He felt like a fool.
"Mom really likes that kid. But what can I do? Nobles have their own rules."
"You're going to hold the ceremony without telling me? A wedding without even the groom knowing. I can see how much Mother and Father think I'm a joke."
"Honey, why are you saying that? That's not it. In fact, we had been discussing marriage even before your divorce. It was he who wanted to get married as soon as possible."
Tercia spoke to Eric as if to soothe him, but his eyes remained cold.
"I can't help but think you're playing a prank on me. What was the point of calling Doana's new baby'? You even made her wear a dress."
Tercia lifted her fan and gently covered her twitching lips. She felt sorry for Eric, but deceiving Doana was quite satisfying.
Tercia continued to lie shamelessly, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons.
"And Doana has to attend your wedding, too. As your mother-in-law, can't I even give her a dress? I can't stand seeing Doana in such a shabby state. No matter how humble she may be, she has your child. Shouldn't you at least treat her with respect?"
Eric looked at Tercia with eyes that still held suspicion.
"If you so desire, I can persuade the Marquis of Dikar to register the child born to Doana on the family register. If that happens, making him the successor will also be a problem..."
Tercia, intent on avoiding Eric's suspicions, was immersed in her role as a loving stepmother. Cedric, listening to her, erupted in rage at the word "successor."
"Whoever wants to be my successor! I will never accept anyone with dirty blood as my successor!"
“Cedric!”
Tercia glanced at Cedric, but Cedric was busy venting his emotions.
“It is entirely my responsibility to choose a successor, Father.”
“Shut up! Do you think this father would just sit back and watch that happen?”
Cedric's anger reached the heavens.
“There’s nothing you can do about the Wence family!! Everything is decided by me! If I leave the family to you, it’s only a matter of time before it’s destroyed.”
Eric felt a sickening ache in his gut. An ugly aura stirred deep within him.
"Just looking at how you fired Gwen, who was constantly cleaning up every single accident you caused, shows just how poor your judgment is! What on earth made you fire him? Do you think someone like you could ever find a replacement for Gwen?"
Eric glared at Cedric without saying a word.
“This fucking idiot!”
He threw objects from the desk and hurled unspeakable abuse at Eric. Books, fountain pens, and parchment flew. Eric simply stood there, taking the brunt of the flying objects. Cedric, who was still throwing objects at random, finally grabbed an ashtray from his desk. It flew straight at Eric's face. Eric, head down, couldn't dodge it.
‘If I just have a child... my position will become more solid.’
His reason for wanting the child was simple: it was a means to wrest complete power from Cedric.
“But you have never satisfied me.”
Cedric's voice echoed softly throughout the room. Eric's expression hardened frighteningly.
“But I respected you.”
Cedric slowly turned around and glared at Eric with a sharp gaze.
'respect?'
When on earth did his father ever respect him? Eric raised an eyebrow at Cedric's seemingly incoherent words.
"Even when you brought a worthless child like that to be your bride, we respected your choice. But what happened in the end? Not only did that child ruin over ten years of hard work, but she also made a mockery of our family!"
“So didn’t we get divorced?”
“You punk!! What did you do right to talk back?! Why are you glaring at your father? How could we have raised you?! You barely divorced Rose, and now you impregnate a child who was treated like a lowly child!”
“So what if I’m of low birth? Tomorrow she’ll be a Countess.”
To Eric, Doana's status didn't matter. All that mattered was that she was carrying his child.
“Who said you would take that child as your daughter-in-law? You will marry the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Dikar!”
“What is that...?”
Eric frowned at Cedric's words. He turned his gaze to Tercia, who had personally planned the wedding. Tercia, watching Eric stare at her, began to recite the words she had prepared.
"Oh, I misunderstood. Did you think Doana would be the bride at tomorrow's wedding? I thought I told you everything, but I must have been so distracted that I forgot. You're getting married to the daughter of the Marquis of Dikar, my dear."
"Ha?"
Eric's eyes widened in bewilderment. He didn't like the thought of being played around with Doana. He felt like a fool.
"Mom really likes that kid. But what can I do? Nobles have their own rules."
"You're going to hold the ceremony without telling me? A wedding without even the groom knowing. I can see how much Mother and Father think I'm a joke."
He expressed his anger at the fact that he was to marry the daughter of the Marquis Dikar. Not because he loved Doana, but because he felt he had been disrespected.
Tercia spoke to Eric as if to soothe him, but his eyes remained cold.
"I can't help but think you're playing a prank on me. What was the point of calling Doana's new baby'? You even made her wear a dress."
Tercia lifted her fan and gently covered her twitching lips. She felt sorry for Eric, but deceiving Doana was quite satisfying.
"If I caused any misunderstanding, I apologize. I'll explain everything to Doana myself, so don't worry. And must it be only the Countess who becomes my daughter-in-law? Simply by becoming your wife and bearing children, she becomes part of our family. To me, the young lady of the Marquis de Dikar and Doana are both equally my daughters-in-law."
"And Doana has to attend your wedding, too. As your mother-in-law, can't I even give her a dress? I can't stand seeing Doana in such a shabby state. No matter how humble she may be, she has your child. Shouldn't you at least treat her with respect?"
Eric looked at Tercia with eyes that still held suspicion.
"If you so desire, I can persuade the Marquis of Dikar to register the child born to Doana on the family register. If that happens, making him the successor will also be a problem..."
Tercia, intent on avoiding Eric's suspicions, was immersed in her role as a loving stepmother. Cedric, listening to her, erupted in rage at the word "successor."
"Whoever wants to be my successor! I will never accept anyone with dirty blood as my successor!"
“Cedric!”
Tercia glanced at Cedric, but Cedric was busy venting his emotions.
“It is entirely my responsibility to choose a successor, Father.”
“Shut up! Do you think this father would just sit back and watch that happen?”
Cedric's anger reached the heavens.
“There’s nothing you can do about the Wence family!! Everything is decided by me! If I leave the family to you, it’s only a matter of time before it’s destroyed.”
Eric felt a sickening ache in his gut. An ugly aura stirred deep within him.
"Just looking at how you fired Gwen, who was constantly cleaning up every single accident you caused, shows just how poor your judgment is! What on earth made you fire him? Do you think someone like you could ever find a replacement for Gwen?"
“I terminated the employment because there were valid reasons for dismissal.”
“This fucking idiot!”
He threw objects from the desk and hurled unspeakable abuse at Eric. Books, fountain pens, and parchment flew. Eric simply stood there, taking the brunt of the flying objects. Cedric, who was still throwing objects at random, finally grabbed an ashtray from his desk. It flew straight at Eric's face. Eric, head down, couldn't dodge it.
Thud!
With a dull thud, the ashtray landed next to his head. Eric's vision dimmed, and a ringing filled his ears. A piercing, piercing sound lingered in his ears. He couldn't hear a word of Cedric's voice. Eric winced in pain, clutching his throbbing head. But he couldn't avoid Cedric's furious gaze.
Cedric looked like a ferocious beast ready to tear his throat out at any moment. Suddenly, Eric saw Cedric's body begin to tremble and lose its shape. His arms and legs dissolved into black liquid, and his face became grotesquely distorted. The eyes, nose, and mouth were all mixed together, creating a grotesque sight. Suddenly, his human form vanished, replaced by a gigantic, watery monster swaying before Eric.
In Eric's eyes, Cedric wasn't human. He was simply a filthy, squashed monster. Eric's eyes lit up. He murmured at Cedric, his gaze strangely tinged with danger.
"Monster..."
Eric muttered quietly to himself and approached Cedric, who looked like a monster. His pupils had long since dilated. With each step he took, he stumbled. The corners of his mouth quirked up in a smirk.
“Are you laughing?”
Cedric felt uncomfortable at the sight of Eric smiling at him. While his father was speaking, instead of reflecting, he was snickering and laughing.
“This won’t work. Follow me to the basement right now!”
Cedric didn't intend to punish Eric any further, but his rude behavior was unacceptable. If words didn't work out, he'd have to beat him. Violence, no matter what the reason, was unjustified. However, Cedric believed without a doubt that his actions were "love." He had no idea that his actions were eating away at his beloved son, Eric. Cedric's scolding voice didn't reach Eric. Eric still saw Cedric as a monster. And his ears were filled with a piercing ringing. He couldn't hear anything, but strangely, the word "basement" rang clearly in Eric's ears. That was a terrible place for Eric.
In Eric's eyes, Cedric wasn't human. He was simply a filthy, squashed monster. Eric's eyes lit up. He murmured at Cedric, his gaze strangely tinged with danger.
"Monster..."
Eric muttered quietly to himself and approached Cedric, who looked like a monster. His pupils had long since dilated. With each step he took, he stumbled. The corners of his mouth quirked up in a smirk.
“Are you laughing?”
Cedric felt uncomfortable at the sight of Eric smiling at him. While his father was speaking, instead of reflecting, he was snickering and laughing.
“This won’t work. Follow me to the basement right now!”
Cedric didn't intend to punish Eric any further, but his rude behavior was unacceptable. If words didn't work out, he'd have to beat him. Violence, no matter what the reason, was unjustified. However, Cedric believed without a doubt that his actions were "love." He had no idea that his actions were eating away at his beloved son, Eric. Cedric's scolding voice didn't reach Eric. Eric still saw Cedric as a monster. And his ears were filled with a piercing ringing. He couldn't hear anything, but strangely, the word "basement" rang clearly in Eric's ears. That was a terrible place for Eric.
Eric flinched at Cedric's voice and froze in place. He lowered his head and said nothing. Cedric fiercely scolded Eric, who had already approached him.
“Your father is talking, but you’re not even listening.”
His low, muffled voice was tinged with anger. Tercia sensed something was off and rose from her seat. She cautiously walked over to where Eric and Cedric were. Tercia gently patted her son Eric's back, hoping to comfort him, who must have been devastated by his father's scolding. However, hearing Eric's voice, Tercia froze in place.
“...I have to kill him.”
“Eric?”
A chilling voice. A low, murderous voice, as if it wasn't her son's. And in an instant, things happened.
"Die."
Eric grabbed the sharp scissors from Cedric's desk and lunged at him. Tercia's single scream could be heard from Cedric's room.
“Your father is talking, but you’re not even listening.”
His low, muffled voice was tinged with anger. Tercia sensed something was off and rose from her seat. She cautiously walked over to where Eric and Cedric were. Tercia gently patted her son Eric's back, hoping to comfort him, who must have been devastated by his father's scolding. However, hearing Eric's voice, Tercia froze in place.
“...I have to kill him.”
“Eric?”
A chilling voice. A low, murderous voice, as if it wasn't her son's. And in an instant, things happened.
"Die."
Eric grabbed the sharp scissors from Cedric's desk and lunged at him. Tercia's single scream could be heard from Cedric's room.
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