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Chapter 5
In a hazy memory, a scene always surfaced when Edith closed her eyes.
The gentle lapping of water.
A soft humming echoing in the bathroom.
“Mom! Mom, your eyes are sparkling!”
At that moment, the beautiful melody paused, and her mother looked down at her. Edith couldn’t recall her exact features; perhaps it was because her mother had died when she was so young, but memories of her were always blurred. Yet, in that scene, the blue eyes shining beneath the shadows were crystal clear. Those curved blue eyes sparkled like a sun-dappled sea.
“Really? Someday, my Edith’s eyes will sparkle just like this.”
Denok chewed over her words, his brow furrowed. “That… can’t be. I understood merfolk were extinct.”
“Yes, they are extinct. Now, that is.” Edith exhaled slowly to ease her tension. “My mother was the last descendant.”
Her father had attempted countless things to avert an early demise. He consumed every known medicinal herb in the world and seized anything rumored to possess mystical power. Among these were even living mysteries. Legends claimed merfolk boasted extraordinary abilities and long lifespans, and thus, it was widely accepted that humans, desiring their powers, hunted them to extinction.
The remaining merfolk fled to land, mingling with humans, hoping to escape extermination.
This was due to the merfolk’s ‘brainwashing’ ability, which allowed them to control others as they wished. However, for some unknown reason, these compulsions occasionally broke, leading to the merfolk’s identities being exposed, and most were subsequently slaughtered. Merfolk children were typically born human and unable to manifest their abilities. Yet, her mother, though human, had been born with the powers of a merfolk.
“And I, too, was born with the merfolk’s power.”
In truth, the original Edith had long been unable to manifest her abilities, which was why her father had always treated her as useless. But it wasn’t that she had no power.
It was simply too weak, with too many limitations.
In the original story, Edith realized through today’s events that a very faint version of her mother’s ability had indeed manifested in her. Sharing saliva and engaging in close contact were the conditions required for her to use her power. While she couldn’t exert strong control, like forcing actions, she could at least soothe surging magic.
She revealed everything to him: her family’s short lifespans, her father’s machinations, and every step of his plan to put her here.
Denok calmly absorbed her story with a weary expression, his brow furrowing only when she mentioned her father’s desire for her to bear his child. He then mulled over her words for a long moment before rising from the sofa.
“…I appreciate the antidote, but I no longer wish to be involved in this matter.” His voice was so terribly low that Edith instinctively flinched, pulling back her neck. “We will consider this incident never to have happened. The cost of the antidote will suffice as payment.”
He walked past her as she sat on the sofa. Perhaps letting him go like this would lead to his greater happiness. But.
Edith bit her lip for a moment, then looked at his retreating back and spoke coldly, “You’ll be in a difficult position if you leave now.”
Denok’s back froze.
“Tomorrow, a massive rumor will spread throughout high society.”
“…”
“That Grand Duke Luciano and Lady Sertia spent the night together.”
Edith muttered what she remembered from the original story. “If you deny it, my honor will be shattered.”
She met his gaze as he slowly turned.
“Then my father will use that as an excuse to push me onto you again.” If this didn’t work, he’d try another method. If that failed, yet another.
“Are you threatening me?”
Edith replied by not replying, and Denok narrowed his eyes. “Though my honor may be insignificant…”
“Ugh!”
The moment he took a step, her throat began to constrict, suffocating her. His magic, reflecting its master’s rage, denied her even a wisp of air. Her vision narrowed, and her breath hitched.
“I am not so magnanimous as to simply let such treatment pass, Lady.”
As Edith gnawed the inside of her mouth to remain conscious, he had already approached her, his face devoid of expression, and lifted her chin.
“What exactly do you want?”
“…”
“You told me everything, revealed a precious antidote, and even your ability.”
His deep, sunken purple eyes pierced her. “Tell me your true intentions.”
Feeling a throbbing pain in her jaw, Edith uttered in a faint voice, “To… marry you.”
She was sorry to him, but this was her only way to escape her father.
“…You were an insane lady. A proposal to a beast afflicted with madness.” Open contempt flashed in Denok’s eyes. He seemed to genuinely believe her mad now.
But when she spoke her next words, his face slowly hardened.
“It’s not madness… it’s a magic surge symptom.”
He flinched. “How do you know that?”
His condition, known as madness, the rumor of him becoming violent every night—in truth, it was all closer to PTSD.
The fire at the Grand Ducal villa, everyone died, and the Grand Duke’s son went missing, only to be found later.
He remembered nothing and was tormented by the fear that he might have caused his parents’ deaths in a rampage. This was why he experienced abnormal symptoms of magic surging every night. Now, remembering the original story, Edith understood why he suffered what was called ‘madness’ every night, and how she could use it.
“I… can soothe your surging magic every night.”
“…”
“You must have felt it, Your Highness. After you kissed me, not only did the effects of the poison subside, but Your Highness’s magic also calmed.”
Denok’s eyes were too deep to read his intentions. But Edith couldn’t back down. She had to play every card she had here.
“If I use my ability, at least you won’t writhe in pain all night.”
The past Edith had ignored his suffering, but the current Edith could resolve his sleepless nights.
“I’m not asking for much. Just marry me for one year. After that, I’ll find my freedom and leave cleanly.”
In a year, the original heroine would appear anyway, resolving his madness. Edith would live as his wife until the heroine arrived, then find a way to escape her father and leave. To live freely in a place where no one knew her, where no one would try to exploit her.
“How about it?”
It was the only way to avoid predetermined misfortune and for both him and her to be free.
“Will you make a deal with me?”
A moment later, Edith pushed open the tightly closed door and staggered into the hallway, her legs feeling weak. She braced herself against the wall, taking a step, when she felt a subtle presence behind her.
“My Lady.”
It was a familiar voice.
Of course. I knew you’d be waiting.
Edith swallowed a sneer and turned to face the speaker.
