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Episode 2
Eldin started biting her nails, her face pale.
She paced around the small room, lost in deep worry.
How could she escape this household and stop that marriage?
Should she just run away?
But she’d probably be caught right away.
Or should she ask her father for help?
“Ha……”
Eldin let out a bitter laugh.
The world’s end would happen faster than her father listening to her.
Besides, the count had probably already signed a contract with the baron. She needed to find a way to cancel that contract.
What should I do… Should I take some money and run away? Cross the border and live alone? No, I don’t even have that kind of money—and I’d get caught quickly anyway. I’m weak. Is there no one… someone who could take me away from my father and break the contract with the baron?
As she hesitated, one possibility flashed through Eldin’s mind.
Duke Fernan Keilard.
Despite his young age, he had inherited the title of duke and possessed enormous wealth.
He was also known for having red eyes—the symbol of a demon—and was said to be cursed by a demon.
Some people even say they saw the duke turn into a monster.
Because of that supposed curse, people said he was someone to avoid.
He always wore a scowl, and anyone who crossed him was said to never survive.
No one had experienced his violence firsthand, but the rumors were endless.
They say you should never make eye contact with him…
Eldin swallowed hard.
She remembered what the maids had whispered back when she lived at the count’s estate.
The duke with red eyes was said to hate people looking into his eyes.
But… that’s exactly why. If I can lift that curse…
Because he was that kind of person, maybe he could pull her out of this hell.
If I tell him I can break the curse, maybe he’ll listen to my request.
In her past life, she had heard that the duke’s curse was eventually lifted. Since it had happened once before, maybe she could make it happen again if she tried.
She didn’t know the exact way to break the curse, but she was convinced there was no other way to escape Baron Brian’s grasp.
With that thought, Eldin opened the wardrobe.
Inside hung only one worn-out dress—the one she wore whenever she went outside.
She got dressed out of habit, without a maid’s help, biting her lip.
How do I even meet Duke Keilard? Is he in the capital?
She didn’t even know if he was there, but she couldn’t just sit around.
Please… let him be there.
Thinking of the cathedral where the duke was known to often stay, Eldin left the room.
The mansion had many maids, but they rarely stayed in the cold, dark basement.
They only came down to bring food.
Thanks to that, Eldin was able to leave the mansion easily, without being stopped.
As she reached the front gate, she called out to the coachman sitting there with a bored expression.
“Take me to White Street. Right now.”
Despite her urgent tone, the coachman replied indifferently.
“Do you have the master’s permission?”
“I do, so hurry and go.”
“…Ugh, what a hassle. Are you sure you got permission? Dressed like that?”
The coachman smirked and looked her up and down.
Eldin, fully aware of how shabby she looked, shrank her shoulders in embarrassment.
She handed him a gold coin she had secretly taken from a drawer for emergencies.
“This is enough, right? Please hurry.”
She quickly opened the carriage door and climbed inside.
The coachman, having taken the money, lazily got into the carriage.
As the carriage rattled forward, Eldin finally let out the breath she’d been holding.
This was the first time.
The first time she had acted on her own, without her father’s permission.
She clasped her hands tightly.
The moment she got on the carriage, fear came rushing in.
What if the duke isn’t there? Then I’ll get beaten by my father and sold to the baron anyway… No— even if he is there, what if he refuses my proposal…
Flinch.
Memories of what happened after being sold to the baron surfaced, and Eldin’s body began to tremble.
She had returned to before being sold, so her legs should be fine—but strangely, they felt stiff and frozen.
Just thinking about the baron filled her with fear. Trauma had taken root deep inside her.
She curled herself deep into the carriage, trying to calm down.
“It’s okay… it’s okay……”
No matter how many times she repeated it, her shaking wouldn’t stop.
Eldin had grown up watching her mother be abused by her father.
After her mother died, Eldin herself lived a life of abuse.
First from her father, then from the baron.
With not a single happy memory to hold onto, the present terrified her.
“Mom……”
Eldin buried her face in her arms and whispered.
But is the duke really cursed by a demon?
Trying to distract herself, she thought about him—and suddenly doubts arose.
Duke Fernan Keilard ruled the northern duchy. He had no close friends and was said to speak only with the emperor.
She remembered something her mother once said.
Those monsters don’t appear because of him.
But what she heard from others was different.
People said he was cruel and twisted because of the demon’s curse.
Maybe Mom was wrong.
Before her regression, the baron had claimed monsters were nothing but tools for profit, and that the duke did lowly work like a hunter.
On top of that, the baron often complained that the duke had started coming down to the capital more frequently.
She didn’t know if he’d still be there now, but before, the duke was known to spend most of his time at a cathedral on the outskirts of the city.
Watching the city buildings slowly fade away, Eldin bit her lip hard.
I hope… I hope the duke doesn’t get too angry when he hears my proposal… What if he thinks I’m being shameless? That can’t happen… This is my only hope……
She looked up at the sky through the carriage window.
But if the duke accepted her proposal.
If she could live a life different from before.
Eldin lowered her head.
She was scared because she didn’t know whether this choice was the right one.
What kind of person was the duke?
What does he look like… what’s his personality like… I hope he’s not scary. I hope he’s short and thin…… That way it won’t hurt as much if I get hit…… No… actually, looks don’t matter. Even if he’s old— even if he’s a grandfather— I don’t care. I just……
Please don’t hurt me.
Eldin whispered, her voice soaked with tears.
Droplets fell from beneath her bowed head.
How much time passed like that?
The carriage stopped, and the coachman spoke in a blunt voice.
“We’re here.”
Startled by his tone, Eldin lifted her head with a frightened expression.
Seeing the massive building outside the window, she slowly forced her stiff legs to move.
After stepping down from the carriage, she took a deep breath in front of the building.
The cathedral was located at the very back.
Every other area was open and arranged like a café, where people could relax freely.
At the tables inside, nobles were sitting and drinking tea.
Dressed shabbily, Eldin drew everyone’s attention.
“She looks like a beggar. Guess security isn’t great, even if it’s a cathedral.”
The nobles whispered.
Ignoring them, Eldin quickened her pace.
Once the coachman returned, he would report her whereabouts to her father. Her father would come after her soon.
She had to persuade the duke before that happened.
She hurried deeper into the building.
At most, she had about an hour.
If she failed within that time, she would fall into a hell she could never escape.
But when she reached the cathedral doors, guards standing there blocked her.
“Commoners aren’t allowed inside. Go back.”
Panicking, Eldin grabbed one guard’s arm and pleaded desperately.
“I have an appointment inside. Please let me in.”
“That’s not possible. Judging by your clothes… You don’t seem like a noble lady. And more importantly, Duke Keilard is praying right now.”
“I’m Eldin of House Pure, a count’s daughter. Please let me in.”
“Show your identification.”
The count had never let Eldin go outside.
He always claimed she was sick and needed to rest at home, hiding her existence.
Why did he hide her?
There was only one reason.
Eldin was a half-human, half-mermaid.
That was why the count never allowed her to be seen.
“We’ve seen plenty of kids claiming to be the count’s daughter. Go back.”
Since it was a public place, commoners often came hoping to rise in status.
The guard sighed and waved his hand dismissively.
Running out of time, Eldin began pushing past the guards.
Just as they were about to throw her out, thinking she was insane, the door opened, and someone stepped out.
It was Duke Keilard himself, coming out to check the commotion.
“What’s going on?”
The moment Eldin saw him, she shouted,
“I have a proposal for the duke. I can lift your curse—please talk to me, just once.”
At the word curse, the guards flinched and stared at her.
Mentioning a curse in front of the duke was practically taboo.
As expected, the atmosphere instantly froze.
The guards forced awkward smiles and backed away.
“Um… you two… talk.”
They had no desire to die horribly if this woman offended him.
Terrified, the guards slowly retreated down the corridor.
Duke Keilard crossed his arms crookedly and tilted his chin, as if telling her to speak.
Eldin took a sharp breath, her face pale, then straightened her posture.
“Please let me speak inside.”
“…You should be grateful I’m not throwing you out right now.”
“It’s important… something others mustn’t hear……”
Even as she spoke, she kept glancing around nervously, unable to relax.
Seeing her fail to focus despite standing before someone everyone feared, the duke lifted his thick arm, blocking her view, and said,
“Come in.”
