Chapter 71

Inside the building, which hadn’t seen human presence for quite some time, there wasn’t a single sign of life. The coldness characteristic of stone structures seeped into his body through the soles of his feet.

Esadien closed his eyes and took in the information transmitted through his whiskers and ears—the eerie wind, the chill in the air. Amidst all of that, he finally caught the faintest trace. Slowly, he opened his eyes. In the pitch-darkness, his pupils gleamed like ice.

‘Deeper inside.’

Minuelle was in a hidden space deeper within the building.

For Esadien, the question of whether even a beast could pick up signs from such a distant point never occurred. He simply used what he could. After all, even as a human, he had snuck into the Celeste estate for surveillance. He could go an entire night without revealing a trace of his presence. Now, in the perfect stealth body of a feline, the master of lurking and hiding, he had the ultimate advantage.

With a confident smile, Esadien melted into the shadows.

***

‘Ugh… my head.’

When waking up from unconsciousness, sight is never the first sense to return. I slowly blinked my heavy eyelids. My blurred vision gradually cleared.

‘Austin, that damned bastard.’

By the time I realized something was covering my mouth, it was too late. Like professionals, they smoothly pulled a cloth bag over my head and struck the back of it in one swift motion. I didn’t even have time to call for Gabbie or the knights.

My head was still throbbing. At first, I thought the crimson glow filling the room was a hallucination.

‘Austin, you crazy lunatic…’

Fire was everywhere—walls, ceilings—everything was engulfed in flames. It looked like something out of a circus act or a magic show. I scowled instinctively.

I was lying on something hard. I tried to get up, but thick leather straps pinned my limbs down.

‘Ah…’

The ceiling, ablaze and seemingly ready to collapse, made me shut my eyes and take deep breaths. The scorching air filled my lungs.

‘It’s fine. I’ll be fine. Fire can’t harm me.’

I tried to reassure myself. Think of it as a level-up opportunity, not something to fear. With that mindset, I quietly called out to Gabbie.

“Gabbie, are you there?”

I barely moved my lips, speaking through clenched teeth. But even so, the flames at the center of the ceiling flickered, and a tiny head popped out.

— Here! I’m here! This place is great!

As always, Gabbie looked the happiest when surrounded by fire.

Well, good for you…

“Don’t come out.”

‘You little firebug! What if Austin sees you?!’

“Please help me with these.”

I whispered the request with a sigh. My body still felt sluggish from the blow to the head.

But the one who answered wasn’t Gabbie.

“That would be a problem.”

“……”

Austin appeared suddenly in my vision, smiling faintly as he gently brushed my forehead and hair.

“You truly are like a flower, Minuelle.”

I tried to turn away from his revolting touch, but I couldn’t escape. All I achieved was giving him more surface to touch.

“When flowers try to run away, I want to break them.”

“Try not blaming others for a change.”

What, does he think I’m some handkerchief to wrap his emotions in? He gets rejected and immediately thinks about breaking me?

“And stop calling me a flower. It’s disgusting.”

“Can’t help it. You’re too beautiful.”

Of course, it’s somehow my fault again

“I didn’t dress up for your viewing pleasure.”

I was about ready to spit on him, but Austin didn’t seem to care. His handsome face lit up with a smile that, somehow, made me dislike him even more.

‘Oh Plendena, I’ve been so naive…’

Everyone at the temple—from Ramande to the High Priest and apostles—had kind hearts. And of course, they were all beautiful, being part of Plendena’s temple.

So I thought it made sense: the goddess of beauty would bestow her blessings on those with beautiful hearts. Beautiful people must have kind souls.

My family, Theodore, Esadien, even the Emperor and Crown Princess—all fit that assumption.

‘I let it slide with Lapheche since she’s the heroine and her antics are pretty mild, but…’

Watching someone like Austin shattered that theory into pieces. Whether there’s a goddess of beauty or not, people are the same everywhere. Good looks might soothe the eyes, but they don’t guarantee decency.

“Still want to break you, no matter the reason.”

Of course.

“You think I’ll just let you do that?”

“Impressive resolve—for someone who can’t move.”

Even as I glared at him with wide eyes, Austin just raised one corner of his mouth higher.

“Do you know where you’re lying right now?”

“What—ugh!”

A strange sensation made me gasp. I felt as if my whole body was being sucked in, like a giant suction cup was attached to the floor.

I frantically slapped the floor with my palm, but it was perfectly cool and hard.

‘Then what is it?’

As I met the eyes of Austin, who was watching my antics with amusement, I slowly began to realize.

The ring of fire surrounding my heart had faded.

“Do you see now? My flower.”

“You crazy… Why am I your… No, I told you I’m not a flower in the first place!”

“This is an altar.”

“What?”

“Hiding a makeshift altar from the Grand Duchess was no easy feat. Imagine catching this opportunity—if only you were more like your sisters, always out and about, this day would’ve come sooner.”

What is he even talking about?

Gabbie peeked at me nervously from the ceiling. He must’ve sensed my dwindling strength.

‘Don’t come out! Just absorb the fire around you instead!’

Unable to speak, I could only hope he understood my eyes.

— Got it.

I instinctively glanced at Austin. Thankfully, he hadn’t heard Gabbie’s voice.

At the same time, the fire engulfing the ceiling and walls began to fade.

‘He understood me…’

As I kept my eyes on the ceiling, Austin followed my gaze upward. I quickly thrashed in distraction.

“Strange, isn’t it? Even your resistance is cute. I killed the others outright.”

“You’ve got such a lovely personality.”

“Glad you noticed.”

“……”

Despite trying to hold it in, my shoulders trembled in horror. This man was beyond reasoning.

“So that clingy fool Esadien was obsessed with you for a reason.”

“Leave him out of this. We’re not even engaged anymore.”

I took a deep breath. As Gabbie consumed the flames, the fire ring around my heart began to strengthen again.

‘Please… free me. Please.’

That power never responded when I trained alone, but now, in desperation, I pushed with everything I had.

My instincts screamed that I might really die here.

‘No. I don’t want this. I…’

Even after ten years, I hadn’t forgotten the end of that life—coughing until dizzy, suffocating in smoke, burning doorknobs, despair.

‘I don’t want to die!’

At that desperate cry, something finally shifted. A wisp of energy slipped from the halted ring.

Just as the restraints glowed with heat—

“Tsk.”

With a click of the tongue, the energy was pulled away again.

“Haa!”

The hollow exhaustion hit me like a punch, and I opened my eyes wide. Austin chuckled darkly.

I bit my lip so hard it bled. He was toying with me.

“Frustrating? You should’ve just accepted my proposal.”

“I’d rather die than marry trash like you.”

“Haha. Let’s see how long you stick to that.”

His green eyes narrowed in pleasure, and I thought:

‘Like a snake…’

“I’ll strip you of your strength and will, and keep you blooming in my grasp forever.”

“You want an empty shell?”

“That would be easier.”

“What?”

“Your fierce fire will be purified—easier to handle and…”

Still speaking, Austin snapped his fingers, igniting a flame at their tips.

“Stronger.”

With a breath, the flame turned blue. I forgot to breathe.

‘Austin can control fire…?’

He smiled.

“Surprised?”

“You…”

“See? Don’t we make a perfect pair?”

“……”

“We’re the only ones who can truly wield fire. I’m the only one who can understand you.”

His whispering voice was like the devil’s own.

“Just say one word. I’ll tell you everything. I’ll even let you go. You’ll be free.”

The smile vanished from his face.

Maybe stepping into his plan wasn’t the worst idea. It would lead to a life completely different from the one I’d known.

But—

“Freedom granted by your permission?”

That’s not freedom, you lunatic.

“You think it means something to become empress by crushing my powers and my family underfoot?”

Austin’s face darkened. I didn’t care.

“You think you understand me? When you’d betray your family and try to kill mine?”

We may look like we live in the same world—but I can say with certainty: that’s a lie.

Yours is a world where people kill insubordinate followers and use any means for their goal…

And mine—where someone still cares for a wounded ten year old.

We might both wield fire, but that’s where the similarity ends.

“You’re filth, Austin Roquate.”

“…How dare you.”

Our eyes locked. I saw it then—his fire and mine burning with the same name: rage.

For the first time since I opened my eyes, I smiled.

“What now? Gonna kill me?”

“……”

“You can’t burn me.”

Because I am the one who made the contract with the spirit.

No fire can consume me.

‘Right, Gabbie?’

— Not entirely wrong.

‘Then lend me your strength.’

— You’ve kept me bottled up this whole time, and now you ask?

Even through his grumbling, I smiled. Because Gabbie, despite everything, was already gathering every bit of fire to give back to me.