1524-chapter-18
The orphanage that Rayna and Lucius were heading to was the White Field Orphanage.
It was located about halfway between the Green Garden Orphanage in the central region of the empire, and the southern region.
After receiving the reply that there was a child with a similar appearance to Calyx, the two headed there.
Rayna expected the carriage to stop throughout the trip so they could eat and rest.
However, contrary to her expectations, the idyllic scenery outside the carriage window began to change into a busy street.
The carriage only stopped after they had reached a lodging establishment in the city.
“Why here…?”
Rayna looked at Lucius with curiosity in her eyes.
“We’ll rest here today and leave early tomorrow morning.”
“We’re taking a break?”
Not in the open, but a proper space?
Rayna’s eyes widened.
This, coming from Lucius, who has been coming and going in the past few days?
Back then, Lucius moved without stopping.
Yet, the same man said that they were going to rest during the short distance to White Field Orphanage.
Is he being considerate of me because I was weak?
Rayna was dumbfounded, but at the same time, she felt the same way.
He isn’t in a hurry to find Calyx.
Thinking that, Rayna alighted from the carriage.
The place they decided to stay was a typical lodging establishment with a restaurant on the first floor and guest rooms on the second floor.
While the driver and porter were organizing the carriage, Lucius approached Rayna.
“Let’s eat first.”
Rayna nodded at his suggestion.
Lucius calmly accepted the condition Rayna offered in exchange for accompanying him.
She didn’t even wonder why he asked her to dine with him.
Maybe he has the same thoughts as me.
She intended to create an opportunity to have a conversation and find out what was really going on.
Rayna headed to the restaurant with Lucius.
They sat down and ordered their food from the waiter.
“…”
Another heavy silence fell between the two.
Perhaps because it was past meal time, there was no one in the restaurant.
When the food they ordered was served, the two began eating in silence.
I have to start a conversation somehow.
Rayna glanced at Lucius and spoke.
“I didn’t know Grand Duke had a younger brother.”
“Then what do you know?”
“Pardon?”
Lucius looked up and stared at Rayna.
“Didn’t you act like you knew me well from the first time I saw you?”
“…”
“Usually, people who are extremely cautious of me fall into two categories.”
Lucius looked at Rayna and continued speaking.
“Either they want to kill me, or they have committed a grave sin against me.”
“…”
“When we met for the second time, you seemed surprised to see me.”
Rayna gulped.
Her gaze landed on Lucius’ hand.
Why does the ordinary cutlery knife he holds look so sharp?>/i>
“It’s because of the rumors about the Grand Duke.”
Rayna tried to sound calm.
“Most people, including me, come to know the Grand Duke through rumors.”
Her bright purple eyes stared straight at Lucius.
“The Grand Duke said that those who are extremely cautious of him can be divided into two categories. But I think there is a third category: those who’re worried for the same reason as I am.”
Rayna didn’t fail to notice that Lucius was trying to intimidate her.
She had no intention of being easily flustered by him.
In response to Rayna’s firm response, Lucius placed his elbow on the table.
He stared at her, brushing his hand over his mouth.
Is that a habit?
He would cover his lips and then stare at people.
“I cannot imagine the sense of loss the Grand Duke must be feeling, considering that the missing child is his younger brother.”
“Do you really think so?”
Rayna allowed her eyes to widen.
“You’ve only heard about me through rumors? Now that’s surprising.”
“…”
“Aren’t you going to ask why my brother’s existence was hidden?”
After stroking the corner of his mouth, Lucius removed his hand.
The corners of his mouth were curved.
Even with a smile on his lips, his expression didn’t soften.
Rather, there was a dangerous atmosphere that made people cower.
“Even if I ask you…”
Rayna lowered her gaze and continued speaking.
“You won’t tell me.”
“…”
“I don’t even want to know.”
Rayna gripped her fork tightly.
“I just plan to help the Grand Duke as much as I can.”
Rayna quietly raised her gaze and looked at Lucius again. She was curious about his reaction.
Lucius was smiling no longer.
The expressionless face only made his gaze look even colder.
Rayna lowered her gaze.
Rather than getting information about the curse, she focused on avoiding Lucius’ suspicion.
It can’t go on like this.
Was there something she could do?
“I guess there’s nothing more you want to ask me.”
While Rayna was lost in her thoughts, Lucius spoke.
He picked up a glass of water and got up after drinking.
“Then I’ll excuse myself.”
“Huh?”
“Have a good rest.”
Lucius left without Rayna even having a chance to stop him.
You’re just going to leave like this?
Bewildered, Rayna looked at the empty seat Lucius had left.
Uh?
Rayna shifted her gaze to Lucius’ abandoned plate and slightly narrowed her eyes.
The food that Lucius ate was…
Was he so much of a sweet tooth that he couldn’t eat much, lest he got tired of it?
* * *
Rayna asked the staff for some warm bath water, before going up to the second floor.
Her room was right next to Lucius’.
Passing by his closed door, Rayna entered the guest room booked for her.
“Haa…”
Only after arriving in her own space was Rayna able to breathe.
Having to suddenly move far away after being cooped up in her mansion left her depleted. Not only that, her companion was Lucius.
She didn’t want to be caught defenseless in front of him, so she girdered her guts the entire time.
As she lightly clenched her fist and patted her shoulder, an employee came over.
Rayna watched quietly from the side as the staff filled the bathtub with warm water.
“Excuse me.”
At Rayna’s call, the staff turned to look at her.
“Did the guest room next door request anything from you?”
The employee didn’t immediately understand what Rayna asked and raised her eyebrows.
“Did he ever ask for bath water or anything else like me?”
The maid wondered about the purpose behind her question, but knowing that the person staying in the next room was Rayna’s companion, she answered indifferently.
“Other than bath water, nothing.”
Rayna nodded. The servant nodded and left the room.
Lucius seems to be planning on sleeping and not doing anything else today.
Relieved, Rayna washed and headed to the bed.
As her body, which had been stiff from tension, gradually relaxed, she quickly became tired.
Lying on the bed, her eyelids suddenly became heavy.
I’ll be fast asleep, and before I know it, it’ll be morning.
Thinking such, Rayna closed her eyes.
However, contrary to her expectations, she didn’t sleep well.
As soon as she fell asleep, she had another nightmare about the monster.
This time, as soon as she opened her eyes in her dream, the monster was right in front of her.
The monster looked so terrifying that she couldn’t get used to it even after seeing it again.
It was when she tried to run away.
[What is your name?]
A rough and fierce voice rang in her head.
Is the monster talking to me?
[I ask, what is your name?]
The monster stared blankly at Rayna and waited for her answer.
“…Rayna.”
After saying her name, Rayna grabbed at her neck.
This time, she could speak.
[Rayna.]
The monster approached her.
When Rayna instinctively took a step back, the monster stopped.
Keeping a distance, the monster spoke again.
[How far are you willing to go for Calyx?]
“What?”
[Would you sacrifice your soul?]
Rayna frowned at the sudden question.
“Why are you asking me this?”
Rayna slowly realized that this dream was no ordinary dream.
Not only was she aware of the fact that she was dreaming, rather than being a product of her subconsciousness, the monster also seemed to have an ego.
[Don’t you want to save Calyx?]
“I want to save him, but I don’t want to sacrifice my soul. You’re telling me to die.”
The monster growled, making a sound.
A screeching sound came from its throat, but somehow Rayna felt like the monster was laughing.
[Your life won’t be at risk. All you have to do is sacrifice your soul.]
“…”
[Then Calyx can get better.]
If I sacrifice my soul, Calyx can be healed.
Rayna was suspicious of the monster’s claim.
“What are you?”
Why are you talking to me in my dreams?
[I’m the one who drives Calyx to death.]
Rayna was startled.
“So you’re saying you’re the curse placed on Calyx?”
If the curse were to take shape, wouldn’t it look exactly like the monster in front of her?
[Curse.]
The monster looked down at its own body.
[Indeed. My existence has now become nothing short of a curse.]
The monster muttered as if it were talking to himself, then raised its gaze again to look at Rayna.
[If you want to save Calyx, offer your soul to me.]
“Why should I believe you?”
[If you offer your soul to me, I’ll make a contract with you.]
Contract?
When Rayna failed to understand, the monster explained.
[If you make a contract with me, Lucius cannot touch you.]
Rayna was shocked.
She never expected the monster to bring up Lucius.
Besides, it seemed to know that Rayna was afraid of Lucius.
[…If I had…]
The monster’s voice gradually became fainter.
“Wait a minute, I couldn’t hear you. Say it again.”
The monster turned its head.
It spoke while looking somewhere.
[Rayna, there’s no time.]
With those last words, Rayna woke up from her dream.
__
