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Chapter 2
Licio’s hand moved slowly, pressing against the bed as if to trap her. Even this simple gesture made Ellen feel her eyes spin once again.
Had her expression been amusing to him? A soft chuckle accompanied by his warm breath tickled her cheek.
“It’s nothing, just relax, Anais.”
His face slowly descended toward hers.
When the soft touch of his lips grazed her neck, Ellen squeezed her eyes shut. His breath was so hot it felt as if she were being branded.
“Ugh…”
The strange sensation of him drawing in a breath against her skin made her eyelashes tremble. Unable to handle the spreading heat, a pleading sound escaped her lips.
“St-stop…”
At that moment, a sharp twinge of pain ran through her.
“Ah!”
It was slight, but unmistakably there…
“Are you biting me?”
Ignoring her glaring eyes, Licio continued to rub her still-warm neck with his index finger.
“This will leave no room for doubt, right?”
“Even so…”
“Not enough?”
His gaze, fixed intently on her neck, was almost predatory, as if he could lunge and bite at any moment.
“N-no! You did well… Hoo, I’m tired. I should sleep now.”
She glanced subtly at him. She saw Licio slowly sweep his upper lip with his tongue, as if quenching a thirst.
Why did it feel like she had entered a wolf’s den?
“Anais, your husband… at night, he’s completely a beast! Please, hurry and help me!”
Ellen prayed again and again.
Licio could not fall asleep.
Her small, pale hand resting squarely on his chest…
It was distracting. Irritatingly distracting.
He should have stopped it when the sensation first started to creep up. No, it wasn’t too late. Carefully, Licio moved her hand away.
“Hngh.”
With a soft snort, her hand returned to occupy his chest.
He had known this would happen. Foolishly, he had let mana leak out.
At first, holding her felt pitiful because she was as light as a feather, and he had unintentionally let it slip.
The second time, she reminded him of someone from his childhood… someone who had left a deep mark on his heart.
“Today, I heard something incredible. Nobles supposedly confirm the first night after marriage.”
Recalling the memory, Licio let out a bitter chuckle.
“There’s no way such a thing exists.”
He had said the same back then. Yet, she already seemed convinced, having heard the story from somewhere unknown, though she pretended not to believe it.
Her cheeks flushed pink as she imagined things, green eyes sparkling with excitement.
How could he not indulge such expectations?
Even if the custom didn’t exist, it had to be created.
Who should be appointed as the marriage inspector to make it convincing?
A suitable candidate suddenly came to mind, and Licio’s lips curved into a subtle smile.
Then he realized his uncharacteristic behavior and stiffened.
“From the first night, everything’s a mess.”
Yet, why did her image remind him so much of Anais?
His rationality faltered. He needed to organize the tangled thoughts in his mind.
If he gave her mana, Anais could move. Her physical abilities would increase. Just like a strong swordsman who resists dark magic.
However, for Anais, already partially consumed by dark magic, it was only a temporary effect—not a cure.
So he kept quiet. He couldn’t let her cling to false hope.
Above all, he had no intention of giving her his heart or presence.
Once he drew the line firmly, Licio rose without hesitation and left the room.
Cold wind. Cold water. Something to cool down.
How much time had passed?
The touch on her cheek woke her. Somehow, she must have fallen asleep.
“Sleeping so soundly… I guess having a man nearby feels somewhat familiar.”
Sunlight streamed into the room; it must be morning.
Even so, she had fallen asleep—Ellen couldn’t help but feel a bit absurd.
“The marriage inspector is at the door.”
“Already?”
Her eyes wavered. Licio pulled the sheet up to cover her shoulders.
“Stay like this. I won’t lift the sheet.”
As soon as Licio left, a man entered promptly.
The inspector was different from what she had imagined.
“For an inspector, he’s in great shape. Could easily be a knight.”
Ellen subtly tilted her neck to give him a better view. The inspector cleared his throat.
Contrary to her worries, the awkward inspector simply stood at a distance, offered his congratulations, and left.
“Seems they left it in plain view on purpose.”
It was fortunate no one else was in the room. Recalling last night, her face burned with embarrassment.
“It couldn’t be helped. Let’s forget it.”
Shaking off the embarrassment, Ellen took a deep breath.
She needed to sort out her thoughts about the current situation.
It had started when she became possessed by the noblewoman Anais.
Why had this happened? Perhaps because she had been unkind to Anais?
Anais, whose body now carried the chill of severe dark magic to the bone, had sought out Ellen among all the saints.
The problem was that Ellen was a saint worn down by life.
Anais constantly complained about engagements, siblings, and other matters with a weary expression, despite her noble beauty.
“What am I supposed to do? I’m not a god.”
Suppressing her dissatisfaction, Ellen managed a forced smile—for donations.
That day too, Anais came to her with absurd claims.
“Saint Ellen, it seems you receive God’s love. But why don’t you grant it to me?”
God’s love? Well, who knows. Could such a thing exist? Her predictable words flowed from her mouth like a wind-up doll.
“Anais, you too receive God’s love.”
Anais noticed the soullessness of her reply and blinked resentfully, her eyes moist.
If only she had shown a little kindness then… would it have been different?
“I envy you, Saint Ellen. Could we swap places?”
Startled by the sudden question, she frowned. It seemed too pointless to answer.
When Ellen kept her lips tightly shut, Anais added, trembling and earnest,
“You said I would be fine, but the situation is worsening. My family wants to kill me.”
Ah, the nonsense started again. First it was strangers, now family? Why me?
Ellen turned her gaze away, staring blankly into the distance, and replied without emotion:
“Anais, pray to God.”
She meant, not here, but before God. A saint obsessed with collecting donations could do nothing.
“Please, I beg you, Saint Ellen.”
Ellen glanced at her coldly. Anais rubbed her hands together, pleading as if she would not leave without an answer.
The line of believers was long. If she didn’t meet the daily quota, she would have to copy scripture all night.
And, truthfully, Ellen felt a slight pity and spoke almost absentmindedly:
“Yes, swap. In God’s eyes, you and I are no different.”
“Promise me?”
“Yes.”
Before she could say to leave, Anais jumped up joyfully, offering thanks.
The gloomy clouds of yesterday’s mood had turned into a sunlit smile.
Anais had always been strange, but today, even more so. A shiver ran through Ellen’s chest.
“Surely she isn’t about to do something reckless?”
Even sensing Anais’ precariousness, she did not ask what was wrong. She had no desire to meddle in noble affairs.
She nodded mechanically.
“Yes, I’m glad I could help.”
Watching Anais leave, Ellen felt unusually uneasy.
“I used to meddle in everyone’s business, but now…”
As a child, Ellen had always been the first to help when needed. But after a tragic event, she no longer intervened in others’ affairs.
Her worries were fleeting. As the next believer came in without pause, Anais naturally faded from Ellen’s mind.
Several days passed in a blur. Ellen hadn’t even realized Anais hadn’t visited—until she came across the news by chance.
“Anais Rahone, attacked by a dark magician and turned into a living ice statue?!”
Shocked, Ellen hurriedly read the article.
“Duke Deveser and Lady Rahone’s engagement on the verge of annulment! Her misfortune is someone else’s opportunity. With no ball scheduled, the dress shop is unexpectedly thriving.”
“People were injured, and they care about dresses? Nobles…”
Lady Rahone had gained an extravagant fortune through engagement to Duke Licio Deveser, per her late father’s will. Her reputation was low, so she was not invited to tea parties. She was a frivolous Rahone descendant.
No information on the attack—only mockery of Anais filled the pages.
Unable to continue, Ellen slammed the newspaper shut.
And her repetitive daily life continued, haunted by nightmares.
Dreams of becoming Anais. She had been watching Anais lying in bed, but somehow was drawn into her body.
Shadows fell across her body. Eyes flashed through the deep black robe—a robber’s gaze.
Words faintly reached her ears.
Before she dies… forcefully take her out… put in a bottle… dispose of the body…
A terrifying meeting unfolded before her.
