Chapter 95
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 95
Grace observed them slowly before turning her gaze to Lucas, both the subject of this curse and her husband.
'Ah....'
My chest tightened.
Lucas's eyes held none of the emotions theirs did. He was smiling.
More precisely, he was offering me a gentle smile.
He said nothing, yet I understood exactly what he meant to convey.
Here, I stand beside you. So there is nothing for you to fear....
He simply supported me with tender, serene eyes, his silence speaking volumes.
Courage blossomed within me.
Whatever came, it would be all right.
And so I steeled myself.
"Breaking the Curse of Onium may have been mere chance."
"That's true. We cannot rule that out either."
Fresia seemed to ponder for a moment before looking toward Hiess.
"Hiess. You can transform at will, and you can undo it just as easily. You need no time at all."
Remarkably, the serpent could shift whenever it wished.
Moreover, with merely a stone, it could revert to human form instantly.
But the method of using that stone was rather agonizing.
The stones it carried at all times had to be swallowed, and the moment they entered the esophagus, they became hot enough to sear it.
Though only for a few seconds, the serpent that swallowed the stones had to endure the torment of a burning esophagus—a grueling ordeal indeed.
There was, however, one additional method available to the serpent.
To enter hibernation while in serpent form.
The problem was that such hibernation lasted an entire month.
For the 'Cursed', time held the most precious value.
Thus, most of the successive heads of house simply swallowed the stones.
"...Surely you don't mean for me to transform right now?"
"But you're the only one here who can change selectively. If need be, you can even undo the transformation yourself."
Other families required intense emotional upheaval or specific conditions to alter their forms, but the serpent was different.
Hiess glanced toward Grace.
He seemed hesitant, yet curiosity got the better of him, and with apparent resignation, he snapped his fingers together.
Snap—
With the sound, his eyes transformed.
His crimson pupils split vertically as a hazy white light poured forth, and his body underwent metamorphosis.
"...Oh."
Moments later, a long, pristine white serpent appeared before me.
Unlike other families whose bodies became menacingly massive upon transformation into beasts, Hiess Cerviente was a serpent of moderate size with skin as smooth and lustrous as silk—a creature of striking beauty.
"Sssssss—"
The serpent slithered through the scattered garments and approached Grace.
Grace recognized the snake immediately.
'...That snake from the Garden that bit me back then.'
So this man had been that snake.
It seemed slightly larger than before, but it was unmistakably the same snake.
She met the snake's gaze and raised one eyebrow slightly.
As if to say she recognized him, she narrowed her eyes at the snake, and it climbed up her arm without hesitation, resting its head against her chin.
The snake's skin was soft and cool, like cold silk.
The moment its small, delicate head nuzzled against her cheek.
"...Is this insane."
Lucas, who had been watching with an expression of disbelief, grabbed the snake by the neck.
"Hisss-!"
The captured snake instantly bared its fangs and flicked out its forked tongue.
Its split crimson tongue and venomous fangs were visible.
Anyone, no matter how powerful, would die within an hour from the venom pooling beneath those teeth.
"What? Bite me? Go ahead and try if you can."
Lucas twisted his lips into a grin and shook the snake's neck, taunting it.
The snake's long neck, fangs fully bared, coiled around his wrist.
Fresia, watching the scene unfold, sighed in exasperation and quickly intervened between the two—or rather, between the snake and the man.
"Stop it, Lucas. Is now really the time to fight?"
"That's right, sir. You're going to actually kill the snake at this rate."
"Hiss, put your fangs away...."
When Grace and Fresia pleaded earnestly, Lucas reluctantly released the snake.
The snake, which had been coiled around his wrist, lashed his hand with its small tail as if seeking revenge.
"...Ah, really, this time I'll—"
"Sir."
"I understand, Grace. But would you mind removing that white snake from my sight? I'd rather not see it."
The snake turned its head sharply as if to say it felt the same way.
Their quarrel looked oddly adorable, and Grace couldn't help but laugh softly.
Could they really hate each other that genuinely? Perhaps they were natural enemies.
"Grace."
Fresia called her name, urging her to try.
"Hm."
Grace took a short breath and bit her lower lip firmly.
'Let's try. I don't know if it will work, but let's try.'
She raised her hand sharply.
Since it was based on 'pain,' she couldn't hold back—she put all her strength into it and struck the snake's head, which was held high and rigid.
Smack—!
"...!"
Grace, startled that she had hit harder than expected, quickly withdrew her hand.
Lucas, watching from the side, let out a low whistle of approval.
Without even a moment to react, light flashed brilliantly, and the white, sleek serpent's body swelled in an instant.
In that moment, everyone realized their mistake.
The instant his body returned to its normal state, they had forgotten he would be completely naked!
"Eek!"
Startled, Grace Oellin quickly turned her head away and buried her face in Lucas Black's embrace.
Lucas Black immediately wrapped his arms around her head, shielding her eyes from the indecent sight.
"Oh...."
Hiess Cerviente, now human again without a stitch of clothing, casually cupped his cheek in wonder, seemingly unbothered.
"Incredible! It actually worked!"
"Wow! So the wolf from Onium earlier transformed the same way? Amazing! This is so fascinating!"
"...Truly remarkable."
Fresia, who had been watching, clapped her hands in excitement.
The red-haired Kisis leaped down from the decorative shelf she had been perched on and bounced on her feet.
Even Bianie, who had remained silent until then, let out a startled cry.
And in the midst of it all.
"Wow...."
Hiess Cerviente, crouched down with only his lower half barely covered by scattered clothing, stared blankly at Grace Oellin.
"It's quite exhilarating, Miss Grace Oellin."
A flush crept across the bridge of his nose as he rubbed his reddened cheek.
"Lunatic."
Above Grace Oellin's head, Lucas Black's voice muttered darkly.
"It really works! Oh my goodness! This has never happened before. There's no record of such a thing ever occurring!"
Fresia sprang to her feet and began pacing the room.
Her trembling voice barely contained her barely suppressed excitement.
Unable to contain the goosebumps spreading across her entire body, Fresia seized the hand of Grace Oellin, who had slightly lifted her head.
"Your Highness...."
"Grace, I'm thinking...."
Fresia's face overflowed with joy.
She spoke as though she could no longer contain herself.
"Perhaps, just perhaps, through you our curse might finally be broken."
* * *
"My goodness! How fortunate you are, Marquess Oellin! After raising her like a precious jewel, it seems you've arranged such a splendid match for her!"
"You're mistaken, Marquess Kelos. You have no idea how much Grace has caused me to worry."
"Worry? Whatever do you mean?"
"Her delicate constitution—I lived in constant fear that she might collapse if I presented her anywhere. And the thought of reckless men becoming infatuated with Grace and making improper advances... I could scarcely sleep."
"Indeed, with a daughter so refined and brilliant, one can hardly blame you for cherishing her so dearly."
"Precisely. A father's heart is simply... well, it is what it is, is it not?"
Capren Oellin laughed with a warm, affable smile.
Though Grace was the true subject of this marriage, it was her father, the Marquess, whose presence dominated the celebration.
And with good reason—he held an official seat among the highest nobility, and his daughter had married none other than Lucas Black.
Merely basking in the prestige of the 'Black' name was extraordinary enough, yet his son Norman Oellin was also destined to forge ties with the Royal Family.
Every nobleman of consequence in Zeronium knew the lengths to which Capren Oellin had gone to secure such a connection with the Royal Family.
And word had reached their ears that it would truly come to pass.
It would be brought before the 42 Nobles Assembly in the coming days, where it would be pushed through with considerable force.
But that was not all.
According to whispers circulating in hushed tones, Duke Black had presented Marquess Oellin with a 'diamond mine' as a gesture of respect and goodwill.
Marquess Capren Oellin had now become a man who possessed wealth, honor, and power in equal measure.
"Hahahaha!"
Capren laughed heartily, claiming his place at the center of the celebration.
Beside him, Norman sipped champagne and chuckled along with his father in measured tones.
'How tedious.'
I thought I would surely see Trisha Onium here, yet she is nowhere to be found.
'So Rowen Ganash turned Trisha Onium away at his door?'
The thought made Norman smile to himself.
Such a grand love crumbling over mere gossip—how amusing.
If Trisha Onium discovered that I was the source of those rumors, she might come to despise me.
But it mattered little.
Since she was a woman I could never have, it was far better that no one else should have her either—better to taint her beyond redemption.
Better to ensure she could never become anyone's cure.
Marquess Capren called out to Norman, who had been quietly savoring his private amusement while sipping champagne.
"Go and pay your respects to Princess Vivian."
"Princess Vivian? She is here?"
Princess Vivian was so reclusive that few had ever laid eyes upon her.
She rarely appeared at the banquets held in the Royal Palace itself, so what could have brought her here?
'...Is the influence of Black truly so formidable?'
Grace had indeed secured quite an extraordinary position.
Norman thought this indifferently as he walked in the direction Marquess Capren had indicated.
It was near a plush sofa and tea table situated slightly apart from the center of the celebration.
Norman knew Princess Vivian's general appearance.
Light brown hair, pale green eyes, and a rather full-figured frame—that much he knew.
Just from the description, I could tell.
She was the very definition of ordinariness—the kind you'd see anywhere.
A few of his friends had claimed she possessed some charm, but that was clearly hollow consolation.
'Hmm. Carol is pretty, though.'
That cotton-candy-soft pink hair, the fuller figure she'd developed after bearing a child, those melancholic eyes—they stirred something primal in him.
Merely thinking of her awakened a peculiar hunger.
'Come to think of it, I haven't visited in days. I should pay her a call tomorrow.'
She'd coughed repeatedly, claiming she'd caught a severe cold.
Fearing infection, I'd left that place at once.
That had been a week ago, so by now she should be recovered.
Norman swallowed the appetite rising in his throat and surveyed the women gathered on the Terrace.
Two noble women sat together, engaged in cheerful conversation.
Through the light spilling from within the party hall, he examined their faces.
'Brown hair. Brown hair... Found her.'
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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