When a person faces a fact that is difficult to accept, the first reaction is to deny it. Callion was no different. He mulled over the priest's words for a moment, then spoke in a calm voice.
“That can’t be. You must be mistaken. My body has definitely become strange since being attacked by the monster.”
It wasn't just a matter of his having become strange. In Callion's judgment, his body was in a very serious condition.
His gaze fell upon a woman who, for the past ten years, looked like nothing but a pumpkin—a pumpkin that irritated me to the core. Not content with that, he wanted to touch her, and he wanted to bite her. He even thought about doing it to her. But the bigger problem than that was…...
The image of Erna he had seen just moments ago flashed through Callion's mind. The way she twirled around while smiling brightly. Her golden hair was sparkling in the bright sunlight, and the sound of her laughter was.
Everything comes to mind vividly, as if time were frozen in that moment. That moment was perfect, nothing to add or subtract.
So Callion realized he had gone crazy. There was no way he would look at Erna, of all people, with eyes like that!
He extended his hand to the priest again.
“I’m not doubting you. People make mistakes. So, try searching for the monster’s poison properly one more time.”
At Callion's attitude that he must be mistaken, the priest grabbed his hand again and said
"God makes no mistakes."
"Can't God's representative make mistakes?"
At Callion's voice growing increasingly sharp, the priest used his divine power again as if resigned. As the golden energy flowing through the fluttering robe enveloped his body, Callion glared at the light. "Oh God, do not make a mistake this time; grasp this clearly."
However, a moment later, the priest said the same thing.
“There is no poison in your body, Grand Duke. There is a very faint trace of poison visible, but it appears to be from a very long time ago, not recent.”
Callion froze at the priest's words. Traces of ancient poison. It was clearly referring to the poison he had drunk as a child. Yet, despite having the power to detect such things, he could not find the poison inflicted by the monster two weeks ago. Callion pleaded with the priest in a subdued voice.
“I’m sorry, but could you please check it one more time?”
“...”
Although Callion couldn't see his face, he could tell for some reason that the priest was scrutinizing him with a very strange look. However, Callion didn't have the presence of mind to care about the priest's gaze.
'That can't be true.'
It must be poison. Everything he had felt until now had to be the aftereffects of the monster's poison. Otherwise...
Callion tried to recall all the emotions he had felt over the past two weeks.
He was afraid that the emotion would become entirely his own.
Callion trudged alone through the Grand Duke of Night's castle.
The priest, who had arrived during the day when the sun was high in the sky, was only able to leave the place late at night. This was because Callion kept insisting that it couldn't be true and demanded a re-examination.
The priest scanned his body until his divine power ran out, but he only repeatedly confirmed that there was not a single trace of monster poison.
Eventually, the priest, exhausted from trying everything, forgot his duty and began reciting stories of ancient curses to Callion, saying, "Grand Duke, do you know how countless kingdoms of the past disappeared? The curse of the gods..." In the end, Callion had to give up examining him any further and let the priest go.
Nevertheless, since the one who had come lightly was packed so full that he had to drive a wagon on his way back, the priest, hoping that the hand of the gods would reach Hessengard on his way back, bestowed a blessing upon Callion that he would obtain what he desired.
The priest returned with light steps, but Callion could not. There was no poison. He had thought that the countless lusts he had harbored until now were due to the monster's poison, but there was no poison.
Creak. Callion snapped back to reality at the sound of the door opening.
"Oh, my god."
When on earth had he gotten here? He had been opening the door connecting his room to the master bedroom. It wasn't like he was a pigeon trained to return home. He couldn't understand why his feet had naturally led him here, despite his dazed state. It was as if this were the place he was supposed to return to.
The couple's bedroom was just as it always was. Warm air, the comforting scent of herbs. A room where everything was neatly organized. However, since the two of them had been using it, this place was gradually changing.
His desk was placed, and Erna's documents piled up next to the sofa. At first, he would take the things he had brought back with him, but at some point, it gradually became a hassle. Pens and miscellaneous items piled up on his desk, and Erna's belongings gradually accumulated on the table next to the sofa as well.
Then one day, Erna said that her pen seemed broken and that she would use this one, so she took his pen. Before long, the pen ended up on the table next to the sofa.
Callion thought about taking it back, but decided to leave it there. Since this room was Erna's space as well as his, it didn't matter where he put it.
When on earth did it start?
Callion couldn't tell when on earth he had started taking it for granted that he shared time and space with Erna.
Just then, the sound of a door opening was heard. Callion turned his head to see Erna entering. He vividly remembered how Erna had looked when she entered this room on the first day. She had walked in with a determined expression, as if she were about to face the most terrible thing in the world. She had averted her gaze as if merely looking at him was painful. She would jump up as if she would die on the spot if their bodies touched. Erna was definitely like that, too...
Erna saw Callion and scurried over. Then, she turned her head slightly away from him. Her soft golden hair, delicately braided, swayed. On top of the hair was the green hair ornament he had seen earlier in the day.
“Hey, look at this. Isn’t it pretty? The new owner of the merchant guild coming to Hessengard sent this as a gift...”
It seems she liked it quite a bit. Judging by the fact that she boasted about it to the surrounding wizards several times during the day, and even brought it to him to show off.
It is beautiful. The dark green ribbon and the delicate gold decorations resting on it. Whoever made it, it was clear that it had been crafted for Erna from the very beginning. Otherwise, there was no way it would suit her so perfectly.
But what on earth was going on that the braided hair underneath looked prettier than that ornament? Callion recalled the priest's words. That there was no poison in his body. That meant all these emotions he was feeling right now were his own, not forced upon him by anyone.
It is not that the poison was made to feel pretty. It is that he thinks it is pretty.
It is not the poison that made him crave the body. It is he who craves the body.
It is not poison. All emotions are his.
Callion's lips parted. It had been daytime when he had heard the priest's words, but only now did he fully understand their meaning. All those storm-like desires that had swept him wildly for the past two weeks, using the poison as an excuse, were entirely his.
His face flushed in an instant. Callion knew all too well what kind of desire he had harbored. Endlessly lewd and promiscuous. And yet, a blind desire.
Callion could not easily admit to those desires. That couldn't be true. Then what was the hatred of the past ten years for?
Callion gathered the reason that had sustained him for the past 10 years.
He had to think. What would the unpoisoned self of the past have said?
"Hey, I said, how is it?"
Just then, Erna leaned her face close again and asked him. So, even though Callion thought it wasn't true, he ended up blurting it out.
"It's not pretty."
"What?"
Erna blinked her large eyes at Callion's words. Callion tightened his fist. Beneath her long eyelashes that seemed to cast shadows, he could see her sparkling green eyes trembling with bewilderment. But Callion ended up speaking again.
"You're ugly."
"That's ridiculous, really."
Erna sat in her office and looked at the hair ornament placed on the table. She had been excited all day since receiving it as a gift yesterday and had asked everyone she met if it wasn't pretty. Naturally, every single one of them complimented her, saying it looked beautiful and suited her very well.
Erna liked those words.
She knew all too well how unimpressive she had been in her childhood. If she had to pick the best thing that had ever been said to her, it would probably be that she was quiet and not bothersome. Erna craved those words because she had never once heard the compliments that her sisters always received.
Especially when she heard kind words from the people she liked, she felt like the emptiness in her heart, which had been there since childhood, was being filled.
"You're not a child, do you really like hearing that?"
Orpheus sometimes spoke with a look of incomprehension, but Erna answered brazenly.
“Yeah, fine. So, I’d like you to always praise me. That is your biggest job as my subordinate.”
“Yes, yes. Beautiful, wise, benevolent, elegant, and perfect Grand Duke Erna. Please sign this document immediately.”
Even though it was half-sarcasm, when Erna took the documents with a bright smile, Orphe gave a bitter smile as if she had lost. After that, Orphe often offered words of praise to Erna. It wasn't just Orphe. Erna frequently pestered her wizards and Vanessa for compliments as well.
She wants to hear nice things from the people she likes.
That was the state of Erna's heart as she begged for praise.
She had gone around bragging to everyone in the Grand Duke's castle all day, so in the past, she would have been satisfied and quietly put it back in her jewelry box, but even after returning to her room, Erna felt unsatisfied. Then she soon realized the reason. She hadn't bragged to Callion.
In the past, it would have been unthinkable to boast about something to him. But yesterday, naturally, she felt that she had to show it to him.
Actually, she might have wanted to hear that she was pretty. After she became an adult, everyone in the Grand Duke's castle praised her, but Callion alone kept calling her a pumpkin until the very end. Thinking that he couldn't deny this, she deliberately braided her hair again and pinned it in.
Then, hearing what sounded like Callion entering, she hurriedly headed to the couple's bedroom. Sure enough, he was there. Unlike usual, he was wearing the Knights' uniform instead of his pajamas, but Erna felt a strong urge to ask him to look at this first, so she approached him, pointed to her head, and asked.
For the past two weeks, unlike before, he hadn't said a single unpleasant word. So she thought he would be the same today, but contrary to her expectations, he casually blurted out that she was ugly and, a moment later, left the room again as if running away. And he did not return.
While she was still troubled by yesterday's events, Vanessa visited her office.
"Grand Duke Erna, there is something I need you to review briefly."
“What is it? Give it to me.”
Erna accepted the documents Vanessa handed her. At that moment, a small light shot from Erna's hand along with a stinging pain.
"Ouch."
Erna shook her fingers and muttered.
“Divine power? Did you meet a priest? There are traces of divine power remaining?”
Then Vanessa answered.
“Yes, I brought the priest that Grand Duke Callion requested yesterday. He cast various blessings before leaving, and it seems he still has some strength left because of that.”
At those words, Erna jumped up.
"Did the new priest come yesterday?"
“Yes, that is the case, but...”
At that moment, Erna realized why Callion had been acting differently than usual yesterday.
'He has purified the monster's poison.'
Callion hadn't changed. He had simply returned to his old self.
“That can’t be. You must be mistaken. My body has definitely become strange since being attacked by the monster.”
It wasn't just a matter of his having become strange. In Callion's judgment, his body was in a very serious condition.
His gaze fell upon a woman who, for the past ten years, looked like nothing but a pumpkin—a pumpkin that irritated me to the core. Not content with that, he wanted to touch her, and he wanted to bite her. He even thought about doing it to her. But the bigger problem than that was…...
The image of Erna he had seen just moments ago flashed through Callion's mind. The way she twirled around while smiling brightly. Her golden hair was sparkling in the bright sunlight, and the sound of her laughter was.
Everything comes to mind vividly, as if time were frozen in that moment. That moment was perfect, nothing to add or subtract.
So Callion realized he had gone crazy. There was no way he would look at Erna, of all people, with eyes like that!
He extended his hand to the priest again.
“I’m not doubting you. People make mistakes. So, try searching for the monster’s poison properly one more time.”
At Callion's attitude that he must be mistaken, the priest grabbed his hand again and said
"God makes no mistakes."
"Can't God's representative make mistakes?"
At Callion's voice growing increasingly sharp, the priest used his divine power again as if resigned. As the golden energy flowing through the fluttering robe enveloped his body, Callion glared at the light. "Oh God, do not make a mistake this time; grasp this clearly."
However, a moment later, the priest said the same thing.
“There is no poison in your body, Grand Duke. There is a very faint trace of poison visible, but it appears to be from a very long time ago, not recent.”
Callion froze at the priest's words. Traces of ancient poison. It was clearly referring to the poison he had drunk as a child. Yet, despite having the power to detect such things, he could not find the poison inflicted by the monster two weeks ago. Callion pleaded with the priest in a subdued voice.
“I’m sorry, but could you please check it one more time?”
“...”
Although Callion couldn't see his face, he could tell for some reason that the priest was scrutinizing him with a very strange look. However, Callion didn't have the presence of mind to care about the priest's gaze.
'That can't be true.'
It must be poison. Everything he had felt until now had to be the aftereffects of the monster's poison. Otherwise...
Callion tried to recall all the emotions he had felt over the past two weeks.
He was afraid that the emotion would become entirely his own.
***
Callion trudged alone through the Grand Duke of Night's castle.
The priest, who had arrived during the day when the sun was high in the sky, was only able to leave the place late at night. This was because Callion kept insisting that it couldn't be true and demanded a re-examination.
The priest scanned his body until his divine power ran out, but he only repeatedly confirmed that there was not a single trace of monster poison.
Eventually, the priest, exhausted from trying everything, forgot his duty and began reciting stories of ancient curses to Callion, saying, "Grand Duke, do you know how countless kingdoms of the past disappeared? The curse of the gods..." In the end, Callion had to give up examining him any further and let the priest go.
Nevertheless, since the one who had come lightly was packed so full that he had to drive a wagon on his way back, the priest, hoping that the hand of the gods would reach Hessengard on his way back, bestowed a blessing upon Callion that he would obtain what he desired.
The priest returned with light steps, but Callion could not. There was no poison. He had thought that the countless lusts he had harbored until now were due to the monster's poison, but there was no poison.
Creak. Callion snapped back to reality at the sound of the door opening.
"Oh, my god."
When on earth had he gotten here? He had been opening the door connecting his room to the master bedroom. It wasn't like he was a pigeon trained to return home. He couldn't understand why his feet had naturally led him here, despite his dazed state. It was as if this were the place he was supposed to return to.
The couple's bedroom was just as it always was. Warm air, the comforting scent of herbs. A room where everything was neatly organized. However, since the two of them had been using it, this place was gradually changing.
His desk was placed, and Erna's documents piled up next to the sofa. At first, he would take the things he had brought back with him, but at some point, it gradually became a hassle. Pens and miscellaneous items piled up on his desk, and Erna's belongings gradually accumulated on the table next to the sofa as well.
Then one day, Erna said that her pen seemed broken and that she would use this one, so she took his pen. Before long, the pen ended up on the table next to the sofa.
Callion thought about taking it back, but decided to leave it there. Since this room was Erna's space as well as his, it didn't matter where he put it.
When on earth did it start?
Callion couldn't tell when on earth he had started taking it for granted that he shared time and space with Erna.
Just then, the sound of a door opening was heard. Callion turned his head to see Erna entering. He vividly remembered how Erna had looked when she entered this room on the first day. She had walked in with a determined expression, as if she were about to face the most terrible thing in the world. She had averted her gaze as if merely looking at him was painful. She would jump up as if she would die on the spot if their bodies touched. Erna was definitely like that, too...
Erna saw Callion and scurried over. Then, she turned her head slightly away from him. Her soft golden hair, delicately braided, swayed. On top of the hair was the green hair ornament he had seen earlier in the day.
“Hey, look at this. Isn’t it pretty? The new owner of the merchant guild coming to Hessengard sent this as a gift...”
It seems she liked it quite a bit. Judging by the fact that she boasted about it to the surrounding wizards several times during the day, and even brought it to him to show off.
It is beautiful. The dark green ribbon and the delicate gold decorations resting on it. Whoever made it, it was clear that it had been crafted for Erna from the very beginning. Otherwise, there was no way it would suit her so perfectly.
But what on earth was going on that the braided hair underneath looked prettier than that ornament? Callion recalled the priest's words. That there was no poison in his body. That meant all these emotions he was feeling right now were his own, not forced upon him by anyone.
It is not that the poison was made to feel pretty. It is that he thinks it is pretty.
It is not the poison that made him crave the body. It is he who craves the body.
It is not poison. All emotions are his.
Callion's lips parted. It had been daytime when he had heard the priest's words, but only now did he fully understand their meaning. All those storm-like desires that had swept him wildly for the past two weeks, using the poison as an excuse, were entirely his.
His face flushed in an instant. Callion knew all too well what kind of desire he had harbored. Endlessly lewd and promiscuous. And yet, a blind desire.
Callion could not easily admit to those desires. That couldn't be true. Then what was the hatred of the past ten years for?
Callion gathered the reason that had sustained him for the past 10 years.
He had to think. What would the unpoisoned self of the past have said?
"Hey, I said, how is it?"
Just then, Erna leaned her face close again and asked him. So, even though Callion thought it wasn't true, he ended up blurting it out.
"It's not pretty."
"What?"
Erna blinked her large eyes at Callion's words. Callion tightened his fist. Beneath her long eyelashes that seemed to cast shadows, he could see her sparkling green eyes trembling with bewilderment. But Callion ended up speaking again.
"You're ugly."
***
"That's ridiculous, really."
Erna sat in her office and looked at the hair ornament placed on the table. She had been excited all day since receiving it as a gift yesterday and had asked everyone she met if it wasn't pretty. Naturally, every single one of them complimented her, saying it looked beautiful and suited her very well.
Erna liked those words.
She knew all too well how unimpressive she had been in her childhood. If she had to pick the best thing that had ever been said to her, it would probably be that she was quiet and not bothersome. Erna craved those words because she had never once heard the compliments that her sisters always received.
Especially when she heard kind words from the people she liked, she felt like the emptiness in her heart, which had been there since childhood, was being filled.
"You're not a child, do you really like hearing that?"
Orpheus sometimes spoke with a look of incomprehension, but Erna answered brazenly.
“Yeah, fine. So, I’d like you to always praise me. That is your biggest job as my subordinate.”
“Yes, yes. Beautiful, wise, benevolent, elegant, and perfect Grand Duke Erna. Please sign this document immediately.”
Even though it was half-sarcasm, when Erna took the documents with a bright smile, Orphe gave a bitter smile as if she had lost. After that, Orphe often offered words of praise to Erna. It wasn't just Orphe. Erna frequently pestered her wizards and Vanessa for compliments as well.
She wants to hear nice things from the people she likes.
That was the state of Erna's heart as she begged for praise.
She had gone around bragging to everyone in the Grand Duke's castle all day, so in the past, she would have been satisfied and quietly put it back in her jewelry box, but even after returning to her room, Erna felt unsatisfied. Then she soon realized the reason. She hadn't bragged to Callion.
In the past, it would have been unthinkable to boast about something to him. But yesterday, naturally, she felt that she had to show it to him.
Actually, she might have wanted to hear that she was pretty. After she became an adult, everyone in the Grand Duke's castle praised her, but Callion alone kept calling her a pumpkin until the very end. Thinking that he couldn't deny this, she deliberately braided her hair again and pinned it in.
Then, hearing what sounded like Callion entering, she hurriedly headed to the couple's bedroom. Sure enough, he was there. Unlike usual, he was wearing the Knights' uniform instead of his pajamas, but Erna felt a strong urge to ask him to look at this first, so she approached him, pointed to her head, and asked.
For the past two weeks, unlike before, he hadn't said a single unpleasant word. So she thought he would be the same today, but contrary to her expectations, he casually blurted out that she was ugly and, a moment later, left the room again as if running away. And he did not return.
While she was still troubled by yesterday's events, Vanessa visited her office.
"Grand Duke Erna, there is something I need you to review briefly."
“What is it? Give it to me.”
Erna accepted the documents Vanessa handed her. At that moment, a small light shot from Erna's hand along with a stinging pain.
"Ouch."
Erna shook her fingers and muttered.
“Divine power? Did you meet a priest? There are traces of divine power remaining?”
Then Vanessa answered.
“Yes, I brought the priest that Grand Duke Callion requested yesterday. He cast various blessings before leaving, and it seems he still has some strength left because of that.”
At those words, Erna jumped up.
"Did the new priest come yesterday?"
“Yes, that is the case, but...”
At that moment, Erna realized why Callion had been acting differently than usual yesterday.
'He has purified the monster's poison.'
Callion hadn't changed. He had simply returned to his old self.
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