Chapter 73

“Ugh!”

Austin had aimed to end it in a single blow, but he was no easy opponent. At the last moment, he twisted his body, and only a deep wound was left on his back.

“A beast… in a place like this…”

As Austin alternated his gaze between Minuelle and Esadien, he snapped his fingers. Flames surged instantly, but Gabbie absorbed them to shield Esadien — it was a distraction. Covered by the flare, Austin lunged forward.

Swoosh!

But Esadien, a top-tier knight, didn’t miss the movement of a blade. Especially now, when his body’s senses far exceeded that of a human.

With such a short dagger, the only targets were vital areas that would end things quickly — the neck, crown, or eyes.

Knowing the target made defending much easier. With unexpected swiftness for a beast of his size, Esadien dodged and swiped Austin with a paw the size of a grown man’s head.

“Gah!”

And with the immense blow rendering Austin unable to rise, Esadien bit into the back of his neck without mercy.

Gulp. Gulp.

Blood poured out terrifyingly fast, and finally, Austin’s breathing stopped.

Though Esadien had hated him — and he had been his brother — it felt strange not to feel anything. But there was no time to dwell on it. Minuelle needed help.

Just as he turned—

Fwoosh!

Austin’s corpse burst into flames as if someone had set him alight. Stranger still, not even a trace of ash remained — the spot was completely clean. At first, Esadien thought it was Gabbie’s doing.

He had killed a royal, so maybe erasing all evidence was the best path forward. But would a spirit make such a political calculation?

— Spirit, did you…?

— No.

Gabbie denied it flatly, so firmly that Esadien didn’t even dare press the question.

— We have to get Minuelle out. The bleeding won’t stop.

— Her earrings hold a potion imbued with holy power from Plendena. Please remove one.

Esadien, now too large, couldn’t use his mouth without potentially engulfing her entire head. 

— This one?

— Yes.

As he responded, Esadien noticed that Gabbie had noticeably shrunk — from looking like a six-year-old to perhaps four or five.

But Minuelle’s wounds took priority. Her breathing was faint, and Esadien grew increasingly desperate.

— Quickly, pull out the knife!

At Gabbie’s signal, Esadien yanked the dagger from her stomach.

Oddly, not a single drop of blood clung to the blade. As it clattered to the side, black blood burst from her belly. Gabbie poured the potion on, and smoke hissed up with a sizzle.

— Poison…

— Yes. Fire will purify it, but the dose was severe.

— We have to get her to the castle!

Like a dog before him, Esadien swiftly hoisted Minuelle onto his back and bolted.

— It’s up to her now.

He ignored Gabbie’s words and ran.

The knights of Karnian, who encountered them in the corridor, panicked at the sight of a beast carrying Minuelle. Gabbie hurried to appear and explain the situation. More potions were administered, healing her visible wounds.

“Let’s get her into a carriage.”

“It won’t be her personal one — the ride will be rough.”

“Where’s the priest? Contact him immediately. He’ll join us at the castle!”

“Understood!”

While the knights scrambled, Minuelle groaned and opened her eyes.

“Agh… damn…”

Everyone except those already dispatched to deliver messages gathered in relief around her.

— Minuelle!

— Minuelle!

“My Lady!”

But the first venomous words out of her precious mouth froze everyone on the spot.

“Where’s that bastard prince?”

“Uh… my Lady?”

“That filthy… toxic waste of a man… stabbed me?”

“….”

It was the tone of a mercenary who’d spent ten years on the battlefield.

The knights, who once thought she was a delicate lamb raised in the sanctity of the temple, suddenly remembered something.

Lambs… have bad tempers.

Seeing the near-teary faces of the knights, Gabbie spoke to Minuelle so only she could hear.

— He’s dead.

“What?”

— Your beast saw you hurt and went berserk. He took care of him.

“What are you talking about? That little cub? How would he even…”

Minuelle, trying to lift her head to look for El, locked eyes with Esadien — and froze.

“……?”

Growl.

Why am I lying on top of a giant animal?

She squinted, taking in the sleek fur, those turquoise eyes, and an oddly familiar feeling.

“No way… you?”

Snort.

“You’re… El?”

The twitch of the beast’s mouth looked suspiciously like a grin.

— Gabbie’s not denying it. So… it really is him.

“Thank you.”

Minuelle whispered, gently stroking the proud beast’s snout. But having briefly held her breath in surprise, she grew dizzy and winced.

“Ugh…”

“My Lady, please — into the carriage. Just hang on a little longer.”

“Right. Thank you, sir.”

She smiled for the knights, then collapsed flat the moment the carriage door closed. Her insides burned from venom and fever.

***

“Lady Minuelle has returned!”

The castle, already on edge, fell silent — for a moment. Then the uproar grew louder than ever.

With Ramande still away, a doctor had been summoned urgently. The Grand Duke, Grand Duchess, and young ladies abandoned all else and rushed over.

“Minuelle! Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Just… a little tired.”

Her knees trembling, Minuelle gripped her mother’s hand tightly. This wasn’t something to speak of publicly — not the spirit, not the prince.

Then—

“Miss Minuelle, you’re back, I see?”

A familiar, leisurely voice. As her face went pale and her legs gave out, the Duke caught her in his arms.

“My dear?”

“H-How…”

With that same casual tone, Austin Roquate stood before her — alive.

“You said you weren’t feeling well and left first, yet here you are, arriving after me.”

“I left first…?”

“You did. Don’t you remember?”

“…Remember…”

She clenched her teeth hard. She remembered all too well — being dragged away, the hole torn through her stomach.

So how…how was he standing here?

— Gabbie.

— I don’t know. Not yet.

“Such a shame.”

Austin sighed, tapping his crossed arms as if disappointed in a purchase.

“To think, after being raised so carefully, you couldn’t even treat a guest properly.”

From that moment on, lies spilled from his mouth. He claimed he had fulfilled his duty as a suitor, that Minuelle had never once cooperated, that she had raised her voice so loudly at a café everyone had turned to look.

“Even if I’m the Emperor’s disgraced son, I never imagined she’d walk out on me.”

Fine. She could endure the alibi-spinning.

But then—

“Honestly, I must question her upbringing.”

Touch her parents, and all bets were off.

Minuelle’s rage soared like a rocket.

— Minuelle…

Esadien knew how much she adored her parents. If only he could return to human form — he’d shout back at Austin himself. Unable to help, he looked up at her with guilt.

— M-Minuelle?

Her pale cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish.

Esadien couldn’t even begin to guess her intentions as she shook off her mother’s support and stormed toward Austin.

Even the arrogant prince flinched as the pale, disheveled girl charged at him.

Before he could dodge—

Her hands seized his shoulders, eyes gleaming.

Everyone around witnessed the unthinkable.

“You son of a biiii—BLEEERGHH!”

Minuelle, having stored the blood rising in her throat like a squirrel with nuts, spewed it all over Austin.

‘She definitely cursed.’

‘Our little lady… called him a bastard.’

“……”

“……”

For one or two seconds after that vivid spectacle, silence fell over the room like a funeral shroud.

Then, as Minuelle collapsed with a look of relief, the room exploded into awkward, overcompensating activity.

***

Ramande and the remaining knights didn’t return until after sunset. After being pelted with reports, Ramande finally made his way to Minuelle’s bedroom in the pre-dawn hours.

Esadien, afraid the bed wouldn’t support his size, lay stretched out on the floor. When the door creaked open, he bared his teeth warily.

Ramande involuntarily gasped at the glowing eyes of the beast in the dark.

— Ah, it’s the priest. She’s asleep.

“Prince?”

— Yes.

“What on earth…? No, never mind. I heard Minuelle got into trouble again.”

Knowing it was Esadien, Ramande wasn’t afraid. He strode in and checked on her.

The moment his fingertips brushed her, he realized she was poisoned — and clicked his tongue sharply.

But Minuelle wasn’t the only one pale from exhaustion. Ramande looked unwell, too.