By Zephyria 
The question escaped the Prince’s lips before he was even conscious of it. Only after asking did he recall that he had asked the same thing earlier, and then he realized that while the question was the same, the intent was different. It wasn’t about what intentions the man had for coming—not this time. This was closer to a pure curiosity.
The guard, looking back at the Prince, wore a bewildered expression. Blinking like a child asked a question he didn’t know the answer to, he gave the same response as before in a troubled tone.
“Because I am Lord Kaieon’s guard.”
Because he was a guard.
It wasn’t technically wrong. It was his duty to protect his master and ensure his safety. However, it was the middle of the night, and the Prince had not summoned him. He could have easily ignored the situation. And yet.
“When you become a royal guard, does the Chamberlain make you swear an Oath of the Moon River to fulfill your duties at the cost of your life?”
This was half-joke, half-serious. Unless there was some compulsory reason that forced him to do so. The guard looked at him with an incredulous face.
“How could they make every single one of the numerous guards take such an oath?”
Unless it was a formal contract with a witch or a mage, for a normal human to be bound by the Oath of the Moon River, a mage would have to be present to facilitate the contract. There was no way such a tedious process could be carried out for every single guard.
“I came because I wanted to. …Though I wasn’t of much help.”
“Right, you weren’t helpful at all.”
As the Prince replied indifferently and nodded, the guard’s shoulders slumped, looking disheartened. Watching this, the Prince felt his mood improve ever so slightly. Honestly, why had the man come?
The guard, walking while gloomily staring at the ground, suddenly seemed lost in serious thought. Then,
“But that pattern from earlier… …, …it’s nothing.”
The guard opened his mouth heavily, but shook his head and fell silent midway. The Prince immediately realized what he had been trying to say.
The pattern that had been revealed as the magically animated corpse dried up and crumbled. That unique pattern of the one who controlled the corpse was the mark of the Mage Guild Master.
The mage contracted with the King. The head of the Court Mages, a man possessing more powerful mana and corresponding power than anyone else. He was an old man who had rarely appeared in public for over a decade, whom the Prince had only seen a few times.
Just as the Prince had discovered the other’s identity, the other now knew who he was.
“Our relationship is already bad enough as it is, and of all people…”
The guard muttered like a sigh.
The relationship between the mages and the Prince was already strained. Had he been an ordinary noble instead of a prince, he might have been ostracized and driven to a distant frontier, or perhaps lost his life, long ago.
And yet, the opponent was a Court Mage—the leader of them, no less.
Whether this was something known to many of the Court Mages or entirely the Guild Master’s personal affair remained unknown, but it was clear that regardless, things had become complicated.
However, there was a more important fact that outweighed all of this.
What happened there today was not something possible with the power of a mage alone. To control something non-living from a distance and make that non-living thing use mana.
That surpassed the capabilities of a mage.
In other words—it had drawn closer. The thing the Prince had been chasing all this time.
The sensation, bordering on euphoria, was like finally spotting the back of one’s prey after wandering through a forest for a long time.
…But for now, more than that,
“Still, Court Mages must swear loyalty to the royal family when entering the palace, so he shouldn’t be able to harm Lord Kaieon, but… Ayak!!”
The guard, who had been muttering to himself, jumped in surprise as the cat clinging to his shoulder suddenly licked his cheek fiercely. He grabbed the purring, licking cat with one hand to pull it away, while using the other hand to wipe away a stray tear; it seems it had actually hurt.
“Do you know how much it hurts when you lick a wound like that?! …Why are you worrying about me, you… I’ve already given up my body… Ack! Don’t lick my arm too!!”
The Prince watched in silence as the guard struggled to fend off the cats that were licking him as if to give him a taste of his own medicine. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword, tightening and loosening.
Even though a clue he had long awaited had appeared, this irritation was so vivid that he could set aside the Guild Master’s mark for now.
If he cuts him, this inexplicable irritation will end.
If he doesn’t… was there a reason not to cut him?
Other than the fact that he hadn’t yet discovered the identity of this irritation, there was no reason why he shouldn’t cut the man. Even if the man would not harm him, that was not a reason why he shouldn’t be cut.
If so.
“Ah—you’ve been waiting so patiently. Good boy, good boy.”
Just as the Prince gripped the hilt of his sword, the guard walking ahead spoke. The Prince’s horse, seeing its master from a distance, approached with a clatter of hooves. Only when the horse reached the Prince did the guard drop his shoulders, as if finally relieved.
“Then I will inform the sentries on my way back. Lord Kaieon, please return and rest. …Will you be alright?”
The guard, who seemed to have walked from the city gates to this spot, looked at the Prince with an anxious gaze, even though the Prince would return quickly on horseback while the guard would have to walk for at least half an hour back to the capital. He looked as if he feared the Prince might collapse somewhere on the way. And yet, he himself looked as if he might collapse and die on the spot.
Yes, he looked like he could die at any moment.
Without even needing to be cut, he might just collapse and die on the way back.
“….”
The Prince lightly patted the horse’s neck and leaped onto the saddle. The guard looked up at him as he sank into thought, still holding the sword hilt in one hand. The guard’s gaze shifted briefly to the Prince’s hand, and he likely realized what the Prince was thinking. His face seemed to stiffen slightly.
Their eyes met again. As the Prince looked down at the guard who was silently staring up at him, he narrowed his eyes for a moment.
This was the part—the part that bothered him.
He had never seen prey that looked him straight in the eye without resignation, submission, or even the intent to resist, despite facing a predator that could absolutely kill it. What exactly was this unfamiliar thing?
The Prince stared intently at the guard. The guard, who didn’t even blink, did the same. Despite the clear signs of fear and tension, the guard did not avert his innocent gaze. After looking down at him for a while, the Prince slowly released the hilt of his sword. Relief spread across the guard’s stiffened face.
Right. It doesn’t have to be now. He can cut him anytime.
The Prince repeated the thought he had had many times before and took the reins.
“Tomorrow,”
The Prince opened his mouth indifferently, but then paused.
Tomorrow… what was he going to say after that? He had intended to tell him not to come. He had never cared about anyone around him before, but perhaps he simply disliked that tattered appearance.
However, he stopped himself from telling him not to come tomorrow.
If he doesn’t come… if he isn’t visible, it will be more irritating. It would be more reassuring to keep an unknown entity where it can be seen.
…But that wreck of a state.
“Come in the afternoon tomorrow.”
A sudden surge of annoyance washed over him. Annoyance was an uncommon sensation for the Prince. As he gave a short click of his tongue, the guard blinked, wondering what had come over him, and then bowed deeply, saying, “Thank you.”
Casting a brief glance at the man bowing deeply, the Prince kicked the horse’s flank. Following its master’s will, the horse leaped forward and galloped, the cold night air slapping against his ears.
It didn’t take long to leave the messy factory site.
From the factory site just outside the city walls to the city gate was a twenty or thirty-minute walk, or just a few minutes by horse. Though it wasn’t far and there was no reason to rush, the Prince spurred the horse. The horse increased its speed further.
His entire body throbbed heavily. It wasn’t as bad as the night of the Dark Moon itself, but it was the night just before. His head felt like it would split open, and his body felt as if it were being crushed by a boulder. Inside his body, his organs were constantly churning.
This level of pain was nothing extraordinary, but indeed, he did want to rest today. It felt as if the pitch-black smoke he had inhaled earlier remained in his body, swirling and pounding every single cell.
He was always in poor condition around the Dark Moon, and right now, his complexion must have been corpse-like. To the point that the tattered guard would actually worry about him.
This was nothing compared to the Dark Moon. There was absolutely no need to look at him with such an anxious expression.
The Prince clicked his tongue. The annoyance would not fade.
In the meantime, the horse soon reached the city gate. The sentry who rushed out from the guard post changed his expression upon confirming the Prince’s crest on the saddle and stood straight.
“Torun, on duty at the 1st Post of the Capital,”
“A fire broke out in the abandoned warehouse at the old factory site, thirty Drauns northwest. Extinguish it immediately.”
“What? Yes, sir!”
“And before that, send people there right now. There will be a man coming from that direction. Mid-twenties, medium build, with a sword wound from shoulder to waist and burns across his body. Take a horse and go pick him up. Immediately.”
With the word ‘immediately,’ the Prince looked at the sentry. The sentry, meeting the Prince’s eyes, flinched as if he had been poked with a hot iron in the rear, shouted, “Yes, understood!” and hurriedly ran back into the guard post. The once-quiet post instantly became chaotic, and soon other posts spaced apart were also brightly lit.
The gatekeeper hurried to open the city gates, but the Prince did not enter, stopping in his tracks. Even though the sentries inside the post were following procedures with utmost speed, contacting all directions, the speed was not to his liking. Too slow.
Clicking his tongue lowly, the Prince finally recalled the obvious fact that it would have been faster to bring the guard along.
Until now, he had never thought of accompanying someone or coming back with someone. The idea had never even occurred to him. That was why he only now remembered that such a method existed.
Meanwhile, as the sentry’s message reached various places, a rider from the nearby post on the other side galloped out with an extra empty horse, intending to pick someone up. The Prince watched them disappear in the direction he had come from.
“….”
After staring in that direction for a moment, the Prince gripped the reins tightly and turned the horse toward the open city gates, as if cutting off any lingering attachment.
In the eastern part of the pitch-black sky, the faint signs of dawn were beginning to appear. Once he returned to the palace, the Prince’s heavy and lethargic body would fall into a death-like sleep, and by the time he woke, it would already be late afternoon. By then, the guard would have arrived.
Yes, he needed to rest now.
He erased the thought of returning there—to where that guard was slowly walking with his wrecked body or perhaps sitting down to rest along the way—and decided it was best to return to the palace.
After waking from that death-like sleep, the man would be standing by his side again.
Because he was his guard.
For that reason alone, he would have come to him.
The darkest place is under the lamp.
Isaac stared at the cats lying flat on their bellies side by side next to the shade of the tree where he sat. One was dozing with eyes half-closed, one was rolling around in the grass, and one was licking the back of Isaac’s hand.
“Do you know her?”
「We do.」
“You know? The Witch of Roberny?”
「Of course. We’re fellow witches.」
Isaac blinked and looked at the creatures responding nonchalantly.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
「You didn’t ask.」
“….”
Isaac’s round, blinking eyes narrowed by half. At the same time, his hand, which the cat had been licking, moved and snatched the creature’s whiskers.
“Augh, you little rascals, you cute little things, what should I do with you??”
The cat whose whiskers were caught hissed in anger and kicked out. Claw marks immediately appeared on the back of his hand, and beads of blood welled up.
「I told you that if you touched me recklessly, captivated by my beauty, you’d get a stern scolding!」
The one who kicked glared with eyes as large as lanterns and licked its front paw. As Isaac shook his hand, saying “Ouch,” another cat lifted its head and licked the back of his hand.
“Right, who is she, this Witch of Roberny. What kind of person—well, probably not a person—is she?”
「A bitch.」
“….”
The answer came back very concisely, and Isaac remained silent for a moment.
After all, witches were fundamentally malicious and wicked beings. Though they occasionally helped humans, the majority of the time they committed evil deeds. So, that statement wasn’t wrong, but…
「She was a lost cause since she was young.」, 「I knew it from the moment she turned Eleanora’s cherished hellhound into a roast and fed it to her.」, 「And what about when she skinned and burned Hettisha, whom everyone praised?」 The three began to chatter away.
「But now she’s been exiled from the land of the new moon and can never return, so if we cross over to the land of the new moon, we won’t have to encounter her.」
One of them spoke. Isaac raised an eyebrow.
“What did she do to get exiled?”
The three looked at Isaac simultaneously. As those large eyes all turned toward him at once, Isaac, overwhelmed by the intensity, instinctively shut his mouth. Then, the three spoke.
「She did something that should never be done.」
“What was it?”
「She bought her own life with the lives of other witches.」
Isaac fell silent. The pupils of the three cats were exceptionally glossy.
The Witch of Roberny—Alikisa—was a witch born with naturally powerful mana. Cruel and vicious by nature, she was flawless as a ‘witch,’ but she was so malicious even toward other witches that she was resented among them. However, because she was so strong, no one dared to touch her.
She took great pleasure in tormenting humans and plunging them into misery, spending her time between the human world and the land of the new moon. About a hundred years ago, during the height of the witch hunts, she fell into a trap set by an unprecedentedly powerful human mage and found herself in danger. At that time, in exchange for saving her own life, she sold information on the witches hiding in the human world, and as a result, numerous witches lost their lives.
Because of that, Alikisa was exiled from the land of the new moon and became able to live only in the human world.
“And then… she ended up joining hands with Roberni, is that it?”
Isaac asked back, scratching the bridge of his nose.
In her own way, it was a pragmatic and wise choice. Wasn’t Roberni a power in the shadows of the human world? However, the cats snorted.
「No way.」
「Would our noble kin ever trade with a lowly human?」
「Someone as proud as Alikisa would never trade directly with humans, whom she views as insects.」
「At most, a mage might have just enough qualification to almost become one of our subordinates, so she might make a contract with one.」
“…Augh, you cute little things…”
Isaac tried to snatch their whiskers again, but this time, all three dodged quickly, and he failed.
Isaac sighed inwardly and recalled the pattern he had seen last night. The pattern that had appeared for a moment as the corpse crumbled away was definitely the unique mark of the Mage Guild Master. Indeed, the connection was now clear.
Roberni with the Guild Master, and the Guild Master with the witch.
“…I heard the Guild Master always stays locked in his private laboratory in the Royal Palace and hardly ever comes out; when did he meet a witch? If they have a contract, don’t they have to meet regularly?”
No matter how brilliant a mage he was, if he had been contacting a witch in the Royal Palace research center, where the most renowned mages gather, it would have been impossible for it not to become a rumor. As Isaac muttered, the cats rolled their eyes.
「They’re always together, so why meet separately?」
“Always together?”
「They use the same body.」
Isaac blinked. The cats blinked back.
“He doesn’t seem to know,” “Why doesn’t he know something every witch knows?” “Our Manbang must be a half-wit. Tsk tsk.” The cats, chattering among themselves, only spoke up after swiftly dodging Isaac’s hand as he tried to grab their whiskers once more.
“Alikisa has no body.”
The witches who had been slaughtered due to her betrayal cursed her as they died. Since curses cling to the physical form, Alikisa hid her own body deep in a place where no one could find it to evade the witches’ curses. The curses are still searching for her body, and—
“…She lives by dwelling in the bodies of others as vessels.”
Isaac was speechless as he watched the cat rub its face with its paw, speaking as if it were the most trivial matter in the world.
Inside the Guild Master’s body.
“It’s not easy for her either. Human bodies are far too weak to be used as vessels for a witch’s soul, so they can’t be used for long.”
“She’ll probably have to change the one she’s using now soon. I noticed yesterday that when she used magic through that corpse, her breath smelled fishy.”
“The human body she’s currently in must be almost entirely rotten.”
Did she find a new body to move into? There are plenty of greedy humans, so it wouldn’t be hard; the only problem is that it’s a hassle since she has to change them so often. The cats chattered nonchalantly, as if they were discussing a change of clothes.
Witches tempt humans with desire. And those who succumb to that temptation to fulfill their desires must always pay a price. Even knowing how fatal that price could be, there were countless people who could not overcome the temptation before them and entered into a contract. Especially those with a wish so intense that they would summon a witch.
“…Have you guys ever met that Witch of Roberny?”
“Of course we have. Not that we wanted to.”
“It can’t be helped. Witches must attend the grand assembly just before the Great Dark Moon. Not that we wanted to.”
“We have to see her face once every seven years. Not that we wanted to.”
The Grand Coven of Witches. Isaac nodded, recalling words his mother had told him when he was very young. It is a gathering of witches that takes place every seven years, starting from the midnight of the Dark Moon just before the Great Dark Moon, which every witch living in the human world must attend. A banquet where they gather at the location of the strongest witch in the human world and eat human flesh and drink blood until dawn.
“Is the Witch of Roberny the strongest among the witches remaining in the human world?”
“We are far more noble!”
“We are the wonderful and holy three brothers of the prestigious Gregorovius family!”
The cats bristled at Isaac’s question.
“…So, who is the strongest?”
“Her.”
“The wicked thing only has strength.”
Every word they spoke was dripping with a spiteful dissatisfaction, as if they were dying of annoyance. Right, I bet they are, Isaac clicked his tongue.
“Ugh, I hate seeing her. We have to see her again this year.”
“Once we cross over to the land of the new moon, we’ll never have to see her again.”
“Let’s cross over quickly.”
“Let’s just leave already.”
“That’s why you should hurry up and bring us the flint jar.”
Hurry up and bring it, bring it, bring it, the cats sang in a chorus of meows. They were loud enough to drive one crazy.
Isaac pushed away the snout of the cat that was still licking the back of his hand.
“I’d do it if I could. …Ah, stop licking, it hurts.”
“Hurts? Why does it hurt? There are no wounds.”
“Cat tongues are scratchy. Do you know how delicate my skin is!”
Isaac quickly grabbed the cat’s tongue with his fingers. Caught off guard, the cat hurriedly jerked its head back and let out a sharp hiss of irritation.
Just as they said, the wounds had all healed. When Isaac had returned home last night, his body battered and tattered, he had fainted the moment he collapsed onto the bed. While he was out, the cats must have licked him; by the time he woke up in the afternoon, both the sword cuts and the burns had vanished completely. …Instead, they had licked him so fervently that his skin stung as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper.
Fearing that people would find it suspicious that he had healed so perfectly, he had intentionally wrapped bandages around his arms and legs, but thanks to that, Isaac had returned in a pristine state without a single injury. Moreover, since it was the Dark Moon and his physical condition was at its peak, he wasn’t even tired; he was perfectly fine.
…Even if they often spout hateful things, they have their cute side. Isaac chuckled, looking at the one licking his fingertips again.
“This one has a bit of a savory taste. Salty and nutty.”
Suddenly, the one licking his fingertips chattered. Then, the one washing its face with its front paw tilted its head.
“Sometimes there are humans who are exceptionally delicious. You know, I heard their father was that tasty. That’s why Kali originally approached that human to eat him, but ended up getting hooked and lived to give birth to this one.”
“That’s right, that’s right. Indeed, if the ingredients are delicious, the food made from them is also delicious. As they say, you reap what you sow, and delicious parents produce delicious children.”
“…Huh…?”
Isaac stared blankly with his mouth open, blinking. What was this? He felt as if he had just heard some dark history regarding his parents… No, more importantly, what was with the drool forming at the corners of the mouths of the three cats as they stared intently at him?
“Your looks are very predatory right now…?”
“Slurp, slurp, slurp…”
“…I heard cat meat is good for neuralgia…”
As Isaac narrowed his eyes and stared back at them, the cats flinched and immediately snapped, “Kaaah!!” with wide eyes.
You insolent things, you can do it but I can’t? Isaac kicked out at them while sitting on the grass, but of course, they were not the type to be hit by such a kick. Isaac ended up lying flat on his back among the three cats, who had leaped away to a spot where his feet couldn’t reach and were hissing.
The sky was turning red. The sun was slowly setting over the western mountains. A moonless night was approaching.
The Prince had not woken up yet. Then again, recalling the complexion he had seen earlier, it seemed unlikely he would wake for three days and nights.
Following the Prince’s request to come in the afternoon, Isaac had woken up late, eaten lunch, and headed to Byeokyeong Palace. It was after three in the afternoon when he relieved the guard who had been guarding the bedroom with a grim expression. After the guard hurried away, leaving behind only a look of pity, Isaac had to stand there alone for a long while.
It was the day of the Dark Moon. It was a day when one could potentially die if they were unlucky enough to linger in the Prince’s sight. On this day, no one wanted to come near the Prince’s bedroom. To the point that even Natasha, who brought the afternoon tea tray according to the schedule, trembled as she asked, “Has Prince Kaieon woken up…?”
‘He seems to be sleeping still. There’s no sign of movement.’
‘I see… …Still, I must change the water pitcher…’
Natasha muttered with a pale face as she stood before the bedroom door. Seeing her hesitate for a long time, unable to find the courage to enter, Isaac offered, “Shall I put it inside for you?” and she gratefully handed the tray over to him.
Right, even if he’s asleep, it must feel like entering a predator’s den naked; there’s no way she’d be at ease, Isaac thought as he carefully opened the bedroom door without making a sound. The room, darkened by thick curtains, was profoundly silent.
Peering cautiously from a distance at the bed, he saw the Prince.
There was not a single movement. Not even the sound of breathing could be heard. For a moment, Isaac’s heart sank, wondering if he had died, as the Prince lay with his eyes closed, motionless. Looking at him for a while, appearing more unconscious than asleep, Isaac eventually muffled his footsteps, approached the bed, and placed the tray on the side table.
After replacing the water pitcher and glass, he looked toward the bed and saw the Prince’s face, devoid of any healthy color.
‘…’
Isaac clicked his tongue inwardly. Seeing firsthand how his physical condition deteriorated so severely every Dark Moon made him feel uneasy. While his own body felt heavy and strained during the full moon, it was incomparable to this.
It would have been better if he hadn’t been cursed.
Especially since it wasn’t a curse he brought upon himself through his own fault.
How cruel, Isaac thought, sighing inwardly. Despite making no sound, the Prince suddenly opened his eyes as if he had heard that very sigh.
‘—.’
It was a surprise. Isaac froze, even stopping his breath, because the Prince had suddenly opened his eyes while he was staring at his face.
The Prince’s gaze flickered near the ceiling, as if his vision were unclear. His eyes were cloudy, suggesting he hadn’t fully regained consciousness. After blinking a few times, only his pupils rolled to the side. It felt as if one could hear the sound of a deep blue marble rolling.
Their eyes met. It felt like cold water being poured onto Isaac’s heart. There was nothing human to be felt in that gaze.
Isaac stared back at him in frozen silence, and the Prince, having fixed his gaze on Isaac, blinked once, then twice. Then,
‘You…’
The Prince spoke. The voice flowing from his parched lips was equally dry, sounding as if it were leaking out while scraping harshly against his throat.
‘Yes, Prince Kaieon.’
Isaac answered. The Prince continued to stare intently at Isaac, blinking a couple more times. The tension in his eyes, which seemed to be forced open, suddenly vanished. His eyelids lowered again, as if he were relieved.
‘Right, you are there.’
‘Yes. I am. Do you need anything?’
Isaac asked, but the Prince’s words ended there. Having closed his eyes again, the Prince did not open them further and fell back into a sleep that looked like unconsciousness.
For a while after that, Isaac remained in place, staring silently at the Prince, before quietly, very quietly, leaving the bedroom.
After that, nothing happened. As evening approached and his break time arrived, Isaac ate the kish and tea Natasha had prepared instead of dinner and went out to the outer courtyard.
Seeing that there was no word from the guard who had taken over his post for the break, it seemed the Prince had still not woken up. He had been asleep all day. According to Natasha, that was generally the case during the day of the Dark Moon. She said it seemed to be an instinct to nourish the body in advance, as he exhausted so much energy throughout the night.
“…I wish he could just sleep soundly through the night without waking up.”
Isaac muttered to himself. He wished the Prince wouldn’t wake up until the Dark Moon night ended, so he wouldn’t have to vividly feel that terrible pain.
“He can’t. It hurts.”
“Would you be able to sleep if someone were stabbing you with iron skewers?”
“No, it’s actually much more painful than that.”
The cats, somehow having understood, chattered away again. Hearing that made him feel pitiful and sad once more, and Isaac let out a quiet sigh. It was the same feeling he had while looking down at the Prince by the bed earlier.
“It’s a good thing my blood helps…”
“Hey, hey, Manbang is saying something that sounds like Manbang again.”
“Goodness, there’s just no cure for that.”
Isaac grabbed the tails of the cats, who were huddling together and chattering again, and gave them a good shake before standing up. Looking up at the darkening sky and brushing the dried grass off his clothes, Isaac said, “I should head back in soon.” The cats also stood up and trotted around Isaac’s feet.
The sun is setting, it’s the Dark Moon, it’s our night, the creatures chattered excitedly. Looking down at them, Isaac let out a long sigh; though his physical condition was perfectly light and great, his heart was incredibly heavy.
“Now… the wish I’ll make this Dark Moon is…”
They say humans are creatures that get used to anything, but there are things one never gets used to, no matter how many times it happens. He felt he might never get used to it for the rest of his life. …No, maybe it’s because I’m not a human…
Isaac thought as his blood was being sucked. Once again, he couldn’t get used to this sensation, and goosebumps broke out all over his body.
The Prince, biting his neck and sucking his blood, was like a beast devoid of reason today as well. The body radiating heat, the ragged breathing, and the eyes where only instinct remained, without a shred of rationality.
With his neck bitten by the one who relentlessly sucked the blood that was the only salvation amidst terrifying pain, Isaac felt his blood being drawn out of his neck like a waterfall. The thought that the irrational Prince might accidentally kill him at this rate brought a vivid fear of death.
I might actually die this time.
How much time had passed in that heart-chilling fear? Suddenly, it felt as if the Prince was pulling away from Isaac’s neck. Just as he felt a moment of relief that it was finally over, the Prince slowly lowered his face from the nape of his neck like a beast. The feeling of the tip of the nose and the lips slowly tracing over the skin made the hair on his spine stand on end.
The Prince’s face stopped at Isaac’s chest. The breath tracing over his chest for a while, as if smelling him, was ticklish and chilly. …Just as he thought, Somehow this feels a bit erotic… Isaac felt the sensation of someone biting into his skin and thought, Of course it does.
It was right above the heart. As if trying to drink blood directly from the heart, the Prince bit into his chest and swallowed the blood. It felt as if his very life was being drained away. Fear surged again.
He felt his fingertips growing cold. Just as his head grew dizzy and a tingling sensation reached his toes, he finally felt the Prince’s ragged breathing calm down. Hearing the peaceful and steady sound of breathing, he realized that the Prince’s pain had subsided and he had regained his reason.
Even so, he remained pinned beneath him for a while as the Prince continued to swallow blood without pulling away, until—
“…Um… I’m really going to die at this rate…”
Only when he felt he was truly, actually going to die did Isaac manage to mutter in a fading voice. Perhaps because that voice sounded like someone on the verge of death, the Prince swallowed a couple more mouthfuls and then obediently lifted his head. Only after meeting those deep blue, clear eyes did Isaac feel completely relieved and let his entire body go limp.
It seemed the Prince was slowly pulling away from Isaac’s body. Then, suddenly, he bit into Isaac’s limp forearm.
“Ayak!!”
Until now, he hadn’t been able to make a sound, but when a pain arrived that didn’t feel like a threat to his life, Isaac let out a sudden scream.
I mean, if you’re going to bite my arm, bite the outside, why on earth the tender flesh on the inside… As Isaac struggled to pull his arm away, blinking back tears, the Prince unexpectedly let go obediently.
Feeling that he would be bitten more if he stayed limp, Isaac struggled to prop himself up and sit. He locked eyes with the Prince, who was licking the blood off his fingertips. …That was a close one.
“The taste is different.”
“Pardon?”
Surrounded by tigers who approached as if they had been waiting and began licking his forearm, neck, and chest clean, Isaac wiped a single tear from the corner of his eye and gave a puzzled look to the Prince, who was muttering something incomprehensible.
“The taste of the blood is different. The neck, the chest, and the arm, all of them.”
“…Is that so? It’s all my blood… that’s strange.”
As Isaac tilted his head, the tiger licking his neck suddenly spoke.
“What’s strange about it? Just because you cut them from the same cow, does the sirloin, tenderloin, and rib meat all taste the same?”
“Exactly. The taste must be different so you can pick and choose according to your preference. But for blood, the chest blood is the best. It’s closest to the heart, so it’s the richest and freshest.”
“No, no, it’s the forearm. Especially near the veins, the aged blood is sufficiently matured and delicious.”
“You fools who don’t know the savory taste of neck blood! You are far from being called gourmets!”
“…Treating a person like some beef cattle… Stop licking! Get off me! Take your mouths off and get away right now?!”
Isaac flared up in anger and shook off the tigers clinging to him here and there. The tigers grumbled, “Look at him chasing us away now that his wounds are all healed,” and “How stingy, how stingy,” as they licked their lips regretfully and backed off.
As they said, Isaac stroked the skin where the wounds had vanished without a trace, but since the missing blood was still not replenished, he shook his head a couple of times.
“All three areas have a distinct taste. Yes, the taste is quite excellent. I wonder how other parts would be…”
The Prince spoke as he scanned Isaac from head to toe. Feeling those piercing blue eyes vividly upon him, Isaac shuddered, and the Prince’s eyes narrowed slightly. He seemed satisfied with the reaction.
“We shall postpone it until the next Dark Moon.”
With those words, the Prince readily rose from his seat. Isaac grumbled inwardly that the man was surprisingly spiteful.
As if to wash away the sweat that had drenched his body while enduring the pain, the Prince entered the massive bathtub in one corner of the bedroom and submerged himself up to the crown of his head. Only upon hearing the refreshing sound of water did Isaac finally realize that today’s ordeal had come to an end.
It felt as though more blood had been taken today than last time. His head spun. Since it was the night of the Dark Moon, he would recover quickly, but on any other day, he would have fainted from anemia at least ten times.
Isaac sighed and slowly moved his body. He cracked his neck from side to side and rolled his shoulders, checking that he was still intact. I survived today too. Thank you, God.
Hey, don’t you think he just had a very blasphemous thought? Quite unbecoming of a witch’s duty, the tigers whispered. Isaac ignored them and began doing calisthenics when the Prince emerged from the tub. Drying himself with a dry towel draped beside the bath, the Prince suddenly stopped and stared intently at one spot. Following his gaze absentmindedly, Isaac flinched. The Prince was looking toward the bedroom door. More specifically, he was looking at the guard standing straight and keeping watch by the door.
Standing by the bedroom door was a plain, modest-looking guard. He had the same face Isaac saw in the mirror every day.
The fact that this was not actually a person, but an illusion in human form, was known only to Isaac and the three tigers.
“…….”
Isaac looked at the Prince with anxiety as he stared fixedly at the guard. Did he notice something? Why is he looking like that? While Isaac watched nervously, the Prince walked toward the guard. Isaac’s heart sank.
The Prince stopped one step in front of the guard. He silently gazed at the guard, whose expression was stiff and clearly tense, and then reached out his hand. Watching the Prince lightly stroke from the guard’s head down to the shoulder as if patting him, Isaac froze, holding his breath.
“I am clearly touching him, yet I feel no sensation in my hand,” the Prince murmured.
「That is because although it seems you are in the same space, this is a different space separated by a magic barrier,」 one of the tigers replied. After a moment of contemplation, the Prince turned back and asked,
“How do I appear in this man’s eyes right now?”
「Exactly as you appeared just before the barrier was deployed.」
「If you were asleep, as a sleeping figure; if you were in pain, as a suffering figure.」
The Prince returned his gaze to the guard, lost in thought. Isaac recalled the moment the Dark Moon’s magic had manifested. The Prince had appeared as if trapped in the center of a searing, boiling agony. He had looked so wretched that Isaac had been the one to approach him first, telling him to bite or tear at anything.
“But why so suddenly… did that man do something?”
Isaac, looking anxiously at the Prince who continued to stare silently at the guard, finally asked cautiously. The Prince looked at the guard for a moment longer, answered a short “No,” and turned around. Seeing him approach again, Isaac felt inwardly relieved. Surely he wouldn’t be caught, but he couldn’t help the precarious feeling in his heart when the Prince stared so intently. But why did he look like that? …It was bothering him. Truly bothering.
“It’s a different guard than last time. Is he a new recruit?”
When Isaac asked with a straight face, the Prince gave a barely perceptible nod and replied only with an “Mm.”
“Is he good at his job?”
Isaac asked again, pretending not to know, but he flinched when the Prince’s gaze suddenly landed heavily upon him. What now? Did I say something wrong? Did I ask the wrong thing? As the saying goes, the thief’s foot tingles; Isaac felt his entire body tingling with guilt.
“Why are you so interested in my guard?” the Prince asked, staring at Isaac as if to pierce through him. Isaac quickly stammered, “No, well…”
“He was just standing there. I’m not interested. Not in the slightest,” Isaac stated flatly. Sweat ran down his spine under the Prince’s silent gaze. I shouldn’t have asked in the first place. I should have just avoided the topic. While he was regretting it belatedly, the Prince spoke slowly.
“When a witch takes an interest in a human, it is usually one of two things.”
Isaac, who had been avoiding eye contact by rolling his eyes downward, looked at the Prince in confusion.
“Either the human’s greed is so vast and hideous that it attracts wicked things, or,” the Prince paused before continuing, “they covet the human’s flesh.”
The moment the Prince finished speaking, Isaac felt relieved. It was neither. At least the part Isaac had been worried about had passed safely. Isaac, breathing a sigh of relief with a comfortable smile, started to speak but stopped. He had been about to say, Haha, it’s neither, but the thought flashed through his mind: Then he’ll ask why I was interested, and what should I answer then? As Isaac stood there with his mouth open, unable to say a word, the Prince continued slowly.
“Judging by that guard’s personality, I suspect it is not the first.”
“…….”
“I heard witches enjoy carnal pleasures. Do you covet that fellow’s body?”
Isaac only blinked. No, absolutely not. Of course, I love my own body, but it’s probably very different from the direction you’re thinking… Unable to figure out where or how to start explaining, Isaac could only blink in silence, and the Prince’s eyes narrowed.
“I thought witches preferred more flamboyant beauties, but unexpectedly, your taste is modest.”
The Prince spoke as if to himself, then suddenly stopped. After thinking for a moment, he spoke in a puzzled tone.
“But wasn’t it because of my appearance that you first summoned me with magic? If so, your taste shouldn’t be modest.”
Isaac couldn’t tell what the Prince was thinking as he gazed intently at him. Isaac was breaking into a cold sweat. He didn’t know how to explain this state of mind where he could neither answer yes nor no. Just then, the Prince’s eyebrows shot up as if a thought had suddenly occurred to him.
“Ah. Right. Come to think of it, what witches love is the blood of a pure virgin. Is that why that fellow caught your eye?”
Well, a human who is still a virgin at that age wouldn’t be very common, the Prince murmured as if he had finally figured it out. His words pierced Isaac’s chest like a dagger.
No, it was absolutely not that, and the premise of your question was wrong from the start, and more importantly—
“…Is it really alright to expose someone’s private and secret matters so bluntly…?”
Isaac murmured, clutching his aching heart, but the Prince only gave a cold snort.
“You would have known whether I spoke of it or not. Isn’t it the nature of your witch kind to sniff out such things like ghosts?”
Isaac, who hadn’t smelled or noticed any such thing, felt wronged. However, it was true that witches could distinguish a pure human at a glance, so he had no grounds to argue. Furthermore, even if he claimed, ‘I didn’t take an interest in that guard because of that,’ what would he say if asked why he did take an interest?
As Isaac mumbled with a face like he had chewed a bug, the Prince leaned back comfortably on the sofa and asked,
“But does the witch kind not disregard gender? No matter how I look at you, you are a male.”
“Yes, that’s right. We do disregard gender. Though we are somewhat more free-spirited than humans.”
The Prince, sitting askew with his chin resting on the back of his hand, looked at Isaac for a moment and asked,
“So, how many women have you seduced?”
“It’s a secret.”
“…….”
“……. Probably not as many as you, Lord Kaieon.”
Unable to withstand that piercing gaze, Isaac added softly. After all, it wasn’t a lie. The Prince murmured, “I see,” while keeping his eyes on Isaac.
“However, I have never slept with a witch either.”
The Prince’s gaze, which did not waver once, became overwhelmingly burdensome. While there was likely no other intention, the combination of this context and that gaze made the pressure sky-high. Thus, Isaac averted his eyes as if escaping.
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t look at me like that……. I think transcending both species and gender at once is a bit much….”
It was then that the Prince’s gaze cooled. His eyes, which were already chilly, became even colder, as if they could freeze a heart.
Isaac flinched and held his breath. After casting a dry look at him for a while, the Prince spoke lowly.
“I have absolutely no intention of associating with those who covet lust regardless of whether they are beasts or humans.”
“――.”
What was contained in those firm words was contempt and hatred. There was nothing else. And Isaac recalled something he had already known but had momentarily forgotten.
Ah, right. That is the only thing this man wants. The extermination of witches. Wiping out every single witch is all he desires. That hatred was the only and absolute desire driving him.
Isaac slowly took a deep breath into his heavy, chilling heart. He hoped his heart would feel even a little lighter, but it had little effect. He sighed, rubbing the area around his heart.
He was told that the Curse would be broken if every witch in this country was eliminated. Perhaps after this man eliminated every witch in the world, he would mercilessly cut down Isaac as well—the witch who had been giving him blood all along.
…What about mixed-bloods? Must even a half-witch’s blood disappear without a trace?
Isaac thought gloomily, but since no answer came, he simply shook his head. Perhaps because his chest felt tight, his throat had gone bone-dry.
He swallowed hard and looked around instinctively, but saw nothing to quench his thirst. The water pitcher that had been on the side table was rolling on the floor, as if it had been thrown away while the Prince was writhing in pain. Noticing Isaac’s gaze on the empty pitcher, the Prince spoke.
“Why don’t you have some tea, like last time? I happen to be thirsty as well.”
“Pardon? Ah… no, I cannot use any more magic today….”
“Have you already made a wish? For what?”
The moment the Prince’s casual question flew, Isaac froze solid. As for what he had wished for… the identity of the illusion currently guarding the bedroom door was exactly that.
It couldn’t be helped. Today, Isaac had to stand guard at the bedroom door as the Prince’s guard, and at the same time, he had to come here and give his blood due to the contract, all while not being caught by the Prince. To satisfy all those conditions, he had no choice but to use his remaining wish on this.
Damn it, in the end, I can’t use a single one of the three wishes for myself. What a waste of effort… I wish I could at least wish for something like ‘please let me evade such questions brilliantly’ at times like this.
The Prince was gazing intently at Isaac, who was frozen and unable to speak. His gaze, which was initially indifferent, gradually turned puzzled as Isaac remained expressionless and lost. As the Prince fell into thought, Isaac could only break into a cold sweat.
“……. I see. To live mixed among humans, there must be various things one needs,” the Prince said slowly. Isaac, pressing down on his pounding heart, mumbled, “Yes, well, I suppose so.”
Fortunately, the Prince did not seem to intend to pry further, but those narrowed eyes were terrifying beyond measure. Isaac forced himself to look away, thinking that he definitely needed something to quench his thirst at times like this, and that next time, he must bring a large bottle of water.
“Witches use mana to trade with humans,” the Prince suddenly said. He quietly watched Isaac, who flinched into silence, and murmured as if to himself.
“If you can only use a limited amount of magic exclusively on the Dark Moon… then you are not a proper witch.”
That low conclusion pierced Isaac’s chest.
Isaac did not answer. And the Prince did not bother to ask further. He simply remained lost in thought.
The relationship between the royalty, nobility, and mages maintained an ambiguous balance.
The root cause could be found in the fact that almost all direct royal descendants were forced to enter contracts with mages due to the Curse placed upon the royal family. Consequently, power was gradually granted to the mages. This led to the emergence of groups who wished to be close to these mages who now held power, as well as those who sought to utilize their mana for personal greed, thereby further solidifying the support base of the mages.
On the other hand, there were many nobles who found it irritating that these people—who were commoners by birth—acted as if they were powerful families. While mana was a congenital trait close to a mutation, and mages occasionally appeared within the nobility, their numbers were very few, and none were particularly powerful. Thus, some nobles openly antagonized mages, while others pretended to be close to them while badmouthing them behind their backs.
As a result, the current situation was one where both nobles and mages treated each other with caution, pretending to be intimate while keeping each other in check.
Some royalty and nobles had an inseparable relationship with mages, like a needle and thread, and when nobles gathered for royal events, the mages they had contracted with usually accompanied them. Therefore, whether at a large or small event, a few mages were commonly seen everywhere, but…
“The Guild Master almost never appears, even at large events,” Isaac murmured. Despite his low voice, Brick, who was standing beside him, managed to hear and nodded.
“I heard he’s been obsessed with magic research since he was young. Some people say it’s a relief. Imagine how much more of a headache it would be if the mage contracted with the King openly craved power and made political moves. But why him all of a sudden?”
Instead of answering Brick’s puzzled question, Isaac looked around the Great Hall. In the spacious area where nearly a hundred royals and nobles were seated, and where their guards, attendants, and royal guards stood by the walls, more than a dozen mages were also visible.
Since attendance at the regular monthly state meetings was not mandatory for nobles, there was naturally no reason for the Guild Master to be here. Nevertheless, the reason Isaac was looking around to see if the man was present was that the Guild Master’s crest was vividly engraved in his mind.
Isaac looked at the Prince, who was sitting to the right of the center where the King sat at the very front of the Great Hall. As always, he sat with an expressionless face, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
“…….”
The Witch of Roberny dwells within the Guild Master’s body.
The Prince likely already suspected this fact. Given the Prince’s personality, he wouldn’t wait long. Furthermore, the witch had also realized that the Prince had noticed. Action must be taken before the witch flees.
If there was any consolation, it was that it wouldn’t be easy for the witch to find the next body to move into, and that she could not leave her current body without obtaining a new one.
Finding a human body where a witch could comfortably dwell is no easy task. Not only must the body’s energy align with the witch’s wicked aura, but it must also possess the minimum amount of mana required to contain a witch. For this, the host must inevitably be a mage. However, the higher the rank of the mage, the more acutely they understood—even more than ordinary people—the tremendous price that comes with a contract where one gives up their body and soul. Because they spent their time researching and using magic, they knew better than anyone how dangerous and terrifying a mana contract truly was.
Finding a mage willing to enter such a contract, even at the cost of their own soul’s ruin, would not be an easy task even for that witch. It would certainly be impossible within a day or two. Unless, perhaps, she already had someone with a wicked aura in her sights. No, even then, it would be difficult unless that person desired something so desperately that they were willing to risk their own destruction.
So, while it wasn’t a matter of seconds, they couldn’t simply sit idly by. …Nor could they.
“Hostilizing the Mage Guild would be truly foolish and a hassle, wouldn’t it?”
When Isaac spoke again, Brick nodded once more.
“Do you even have to ask? Even for the King, it wouldn’t be easy to cast them aside recklessly right now.”
Yes, as expected. In a situation where the mages’ power was so immense they could bring down a flying bird, no matter how much the Prince was revered by all, he could not rashly attack the Guild Master.
Then again, you never know… with that man, he might just barge in and slash the Guild Master’s throat on the spot… Actually, that’s what I’m afraid of.
Just thinking about it made the future seem bleak, and Isaac hunched his shoulders.
“But maybe the Mage Guild is cursed or something; they’ve been losing face quite a bit lately. Like what happened yesterday,” Brick muttered.
Isaac looked at him, puzzled.
“Why, did something happen?”
“Huh? Ah. You didn’t know? Tsk tsk, staying cooped up in Byeokyeong Palace has made you slow on the news. I’m talking about Lord Luorden. I heard he gave his mage a severe whipping.”
Isaac blinked, wondering what on earth he was talking about.
Lord Luorden was the eldest son of the King’s second brother, making him the King’s nephew. Though he had a somewhat boisterous temperament, he was hearty, sociable, and quite intelligent, holding a respectable position in the court. Above all, he was famous for treating his people well; he wasn’t the type to treat a contracted mage harshly. To think he would resort to whipping.
“What happened for him to do that?”
“I don’t know the exact reason, but apparently, the contract with the mage was temporarily broken. Just the other day, of all times, on the night of the Dark Moon.”
Isaac paused, his face twisting.
The night of the Dark Moon. That meant Lord Luorden must have endured that horrific pain in full.
“They say he tore at his own body, and perhaps intending to just die, he stabbed himself repeatedly with a knife until the whole room became a bloodbath. The servants who saw it were so terrified they nearly fainted and rushed to bring the mage. It didn’t last that long, but in just about an hour, Lord Luorden’s hair turned white and he became skin and bone.”
“So…”
“Yeah, so as soon as he regained some consciousness, he flew into a rage and lost his mind, whipping the mage right then and there.”
Isaac clicked his tongue. He could understand the sentiment, as it must have been an unimaginable pain, but…
“Mages are such prideful creatures; to whip one in front of people… It’s a good thing Court Mages take an oath of loyalty not to harm royalty before entering the palace, otherwise Lord Luorden would have had nightmares for a long time.”
“True. Besides, the mage contracted with Lord Luorden is famous for having pride that reaches the heavens and being utterly arrogant.”
“Was that so? Who was it?”
“You know, that genius mage who was adopted by the Guild Master. The one who had an arm cut off by Lord Kaieon not long ago.”
Only then did Isaac remember the young mage he had seen recently.
What remained vivid in his mind was the man’s eyes as he left that day—eyes devoid of light, filled only with resentment. Even thinking about it now, those pitch-black eyes sent a chill down his spine.
“That man…? But why did the contract suddenly break?”
“Who knows. Apparently, he endured the whipping steadfastly, as if he believed he was at fault. Someone who witnessed it said his gaze was terrifying, yet he personally cleaned the blood-soaked room before leaving.”
Brick shrugged lightly, mentioning that Lord Luorden had sent a consolation gift to the mage after calming down. Then, he frowned as if something was bothering him.
“But you know, can a contract be broken unilaterally?”
Isaac glanced at Brick, who seemed to be pondering something, and replied, “I guess.”
“Why?”
“No, it’s just that there have been rumors that the mage’s behavior has been strange lately.”
“…? What do you mean by strange?”
“They say he’s become significantly quieter than before and noticeably gloomier. A mage who is close with my brother mentioned in passing that the evil aura surrounding him is growing thicker, and it’s worrying. Because of that, my brother seems to be paying attention to it too.”
Well, my brother is the type to worry about every little thing, so it’s to be expected, Brick clicked his tongue lightly. As he said, Brown, Brick’s brother, was a delicate man who paid attention to the finest details due to his position as the Deputy Commander of the Royal Guard. Among the guards, there was a half-joke that one only needs to listen to a tenth of Brown’s worries.
“…”
Isaac let out a heavy sigh. For some reason, he had a bad feeling.
Basically, a magic contract cannot be broken unilaterally. To break it one-sidedly, there must be a much stronger magical interference, or one must possess something that can substitute for the other party—usually something close to the essence of life, such as a piece of the body or blood—or one party must die.
Despite his low voice, the official sitting right in front of him glanced back, sensitive to the presence. The two quickly played innocent and stared straight ahead with solemn faces. The state council meeting was proceeding without any special agenda, as usual.
Isaac could see Lord Luorden sitting further ahead in the Great Hall. Just as Brick had said, his hair had turned white, and his complexion looked as if he had aged ten years since the last time Isaac saw him. It had been a terrifying pain that stole away a person’s very life force.
Right in front of Luorden, in the center of the foremost seat of the Great Hall, sat the King, who always had a round, benevolent impression. Beside him were the State Chancellor, who looked strict but kind-hearted, the ever-peaceful Secretary, and the Prince, who looked languid and expressionless.
Still, he doesn’t get it. He really doesn’t know what that man is thinking. That’s why it’s even more nerve-wracking and frightening. If he were just to be looked at from a distance, it would be as heartwarming as admiring a living sculpture.
“Hmm… as expected, Lord Kaieon is dazzling just to look at… It would be perfect if he just sat there and did absolutely nothing.”
Brick muttered beside him. With his gaze fixed on the Prince just like Brick, Isaac replied.
“What are you talking about? Poems and songs praising the young hero who returned from subjugating magical beasts on the border will be rampant in the capital for the next hundred years.”
“…That’s because those people don’t have to meet him in person.”
That’s true… but since I’m currently serving him directly, I can’t openly say anything, Isaac thought, agreeing only internally. Brick gave him a sidelong glance.
“So. Are you safe?”
It wasn’t just his imagination that this subtle question sounded meaningful. Isaac suddenly flared up and glared at him.
“I am perfectly safe!”
“You don’t look safe.”
Brick’s gaze blatantly scanned Isaac’s body. The stare directed at the bandages wrapped around his limbs was piercing.
“No, this is just… anyway, I’m safe. Besides, it’s not like Lord Kaieon did this to me.”
Strictly speaking, the Prince wasn’t entirely without responsibility for why he was wearing bandages, but Isaac just clicked his tongue and answered that way. Although he had been wearing bandages since the day before the Dark Moon, after escaping the burning warehouse a few days ago, he was perfectly fine underneath. For the most part, the only useful thing those cats—who were otherwise useless and only good at annoying people with their mouths—did was heal wounds. However, he couldn’t just appear perfectly fine the next day after being tattered and injured, so he continued to wear the bandages.
“Right, Lord Kaieon might cut your throat if he dislikes you, but he doesn’t usually just injure you. But since you appeared so hurt, people are…”
Brick trailed off. Finding it strangely suspicious, Isaac, who had become out of the loop regarding rumors since starting work at Byeokyeong Palace, pressed him.
“People what?”
“…They say Lord Kaieon secretly favors you.”
The way Brick asked was highly suspicious. Isaac’s mouth hung open, he blinked, and then hunched his shoulders. Hearing such an unexpected piece of nonsense made his spine tingle.
“What kind of weird rumor is that?”
“Why? I heard he asks where you are when you’re not around.”
“…Uh, just once. That time I accidentally fell fast asleep under the shade of a tree during my break, like a madman.”
That happened just yesterday; had the rumor spread that quickly? He already knew the court was like this, but the rumors were incredibly fast. Isaac’s face crumpled.
No matter how good his condition was being near the Dark Moon, he felt languid after wandering around throughout the Dark Moon. Moreover, perhaps because his tension had eased, drowsiness hit him after lunch. So, thinking he would just close his eyes for a moment until the lunch break ended, he lay down in the shade of the backyard trees and fell lightly asleep. He never dreamed that the first thing he would see upon waking would be the yellowish, slanting sunlight.
He was devastated. He couldn’t believe it; he was confused as to whether he was dreaming with his eyes open or if he was still asleep. It was all well and good that he had a sweet, deep sleep and felt refreshed…
As he rushed frantically to the Prince’s office, Isaac thought he was dead. The Prince was indifferent to everything around him and had absolutely no interest in the affairs of his subordinates, but he was never lenient toward negligence of duty.
Why did no one wake me? What kind of punishment will fall upon me? With a pale face, Isaac entered the office and locked eyes with the Prince, who was flipping through a bundle of papers.
‘I am sorry. I meant to just close my eyes for a moment…’
The Prince looked at Isaac, who stood stiffly in a rigid posture. However, that expressionless gaze only lasted a moment; the Prince dropped his eyes back to the papers, and that was it. He said nothing and simply continued his work as if nothing had happened. And Isaac just stood there stiffly, wondering when the thunderous roar would fall—after that bundle of papers was finished? After the next one? He waited anxiously. Until the day had completely set, five thick bundles of papers were finished, and a servant came to announce that dinner was ready.
Even after that, nothing happened in the end, and Isaac was still following the Prince, walking on eggshells.
Actually, since it was just yesterday, he figured nothing would happen now. The Prince wasn’t the type to procrastude his work, nor did he hold grudges. Moreover, above all, when he went to the dining hall for dinner, the Chamberlain had been glancing at Isaac with a peculiar look. When Isaac, with a miserable face, wrongly vented his frustration on the Chamberlain for not waking him, the Chamberlain quickly waved his hand and explained that he had tried to wake him.
Apparently, after the Prince, who had been reading a book in the study, closed the book, he looked around and asked, ‘Where is the guard?’ The Chamberlain, who had been momentarily distracted talking to a subordinate about the palace’s Royal Consort, only then realized Isaac was missing and exclaimed in surprise, ‘I saw him taking a nap earlier… I will send someone to find him immediately.’ To which the Prince, glancing out the window at the shade of the tree, simply said, ‘It’s fine. Leave him,’ and that was the end of it.
The Chamberlain had agonized over whether it would be better to wake him or not, but as someone who had followed the Prince’s orders to the letter—and believed that was why he had survived thus far—he ultimately left Isaac alone. The result was Isaac’s sweet, deep sleep, oblivious to the world until late afternoon.
“Why did he just leave you alone…?”
Brick muttered, tilting his head repeatedly with a suspicious look.
“I wonder… but you seem really dissatisfied with that, huh…?”
If this weren’t the Great Hall in the middle of a state council meeting, Isaac thought he would grab this guy by the collar. He stared at Brick with cold eyes.
“No, it’s not that I’m dissatisfied, it’s just too strange. Lord Kaieon isn’t the type to do that…”
“What do you mean ‘no’—of course, I don’t think so either—but he can be unexpectedly lenient with his subordinates.”
…Even so, Isaac thought that in a case of such negligence of duty, even if he didn’t kill him, the Prince would have very bluntly said, ‘You don’t need to come in starting tomorrow.’
“In the meantime, since you’re walking around with bandages wrapped all over, people are more likely to think that way. That Lord Kaieon seems to quite like you.”
“What does walking around in bandages because I’m hurt have to do with him liking me?”
What kind of bizarre logic is this? When Isaac looked at Brick in disbelief, Brick instead looked at him as if he were the absurd one and scolded him, “This guy used to be quick-witted and sharp, why has he become so dim?” before shaking his head.
“Think about it. He’s a man who either eliminates people or doesn’t care about them at all. Yet, while he might let you get hurt, he doesn’t eliminate you. Doesn’t that have a commonality with something? Don’t you get it?”
While listening to Brick click his tongue, a light bulb went off in Isaac’s head. He finally understood what this guy was talking about. Isaac’s expression instantly soured.
“So you’re saying…”
“Who else has there been besides the ‘pet’ who survived? Someone whose body was damaged because of him, but whose life was spared.”
And you went to Byeokyeong Palace as his guard—which everyone accepts as being a ‘pet’—in the first place, Brick explained calmly, then suddenly lowered his voice.
“Now, just tell me. What’s the truth?”
“…You guys made another bet, didn’t you.”
When Isaac asked bleakly, Brick responded with a bright smile and patted Isaac’s shoulder instead of answering. He did.
Isaac stepped firmly on Brick’s foot with his heel and looked forward. He didn’t even look back, regardless of the silent scream coming from beside him.
He already knew, but there were too many words and troubles in this palace. He didn’t know how many false rumors, mixed with guesses and conjectures, were floating around. If it was a rumor about someone famous or prominent, it was common for a simple sneeze on the street to be distorted into a terminal illness. So, it went without saying when it came to that Prince.
Presumably, somewhere in the palace right now, I’m known as a masochistic pet who accepts Lord Kaieon’s sadistic sexual acts with my whole body, and thus is forgiven for most mistakes…
Isaac lightly pressed his head, feeling a sudden headache coming on, and looked toward the front of the Great Hall.
The sculpture-like man, who stood out more than anyone else despite saying nothing and making no movement, sat expressionlessly with his hand on his temple as if languid.
“Certainly, if a person is that handsome, they transcend gender. I can firmly assert that I have no interest in men and only like women, but sometimes when I look at Lord Kaieon, I think I could definitely sleep with him.”
To Brick, who muttered while looking in the same direction as Isaac, Isaac thought, What kind of nonsense is this now? but he simply nodded.
“Hmm, I guess that could be possible.”