BTTD 18

Chapter 18

The sun sank, and darkness settled over the land.

Because we rode without stopping—determined not to camp—we were able to enter Berenice in less than two days.

Berenice.

It confused me at first too, but people referred to the entire barren northern region as Berenice. Within it were small cities or villages like Shamandra. Among them, the land that housed the ducal castle was called Berenice within Berenice. It was easiest to think of it as the capital of the North.

So whenever someone said “Berenice,” we understood from context which Berenice they meant.

And right now—this was the Berenice where the ducal castle stood.

After passing through the main gate and racing down the broad avenue lined with towering trees on either side, I finally felt that we had returned.

“Everyone, wait at the training grounds.”

The moment we arrived at the estate, Valentin left those words behind and vanished.

The training grounds? Shouldn’t we rest now? What about my shower? It’s the middle of the night!

But when your superior says jump, you jump…

Watching everyone head toward the training grounds as if nothing were unusual, I kept my mouth shut and followed the knights. The field was brightly lit with torches and magic lamps, as bright as midday.

What on earth—

Excited men were sparring, grappling, even conducting mock subjugations—every kind of training imaginable.

They were working so intensely that the muscles exposed beneath their rolled-up sleeves looked downright furious.

Of course, even in that state there was discipline and dignity—but it was undeniably more savage than usual.

Among them, the hot-blooded knight Endy strode over, wiping sweat from his brow.

“Good work, everyone.”

After quickly meeting each person’s gaze, he looked at me seriously.

“Let’s have a spar.”

I literally just got back…

His eyes were blazing so fiercely that I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.

Just as I reluctantly prepared to accept, Devon—who seemed to appear from nowhere—stopped him.

“The Duke will be here shortly. Calm down and wait.”

Endy clicked his tongue in disappointment, whispering, “Next time then,” before trudging back. Every step he took made his angry back muscles ripple.

Perhaps word had spread that Valentin might appear at any moment, because the knights who had been moving like lunatics began hurriedly pulling their clothes back on.

“George.”

“Yes?”

“Why does the atmosphere feel different from usual?”

I pointed at the round moon lighting up the black night sky. That was definitely the moon up there.

In the months I’d stayed here, I’d never seen so many knights collectively drenched in sweat at this hour.

‘There’s dawn training tomorrow, too.’

What were they planning? Aside from a few on guard duty, everyone seemed to be gathered here.

As I looked around, George scratched the back of his head.

“There will be a monster subjugation soon.”

“Ah, the monster subjugation.”

I see.

…Wait, what?!

I jumped so abruptly that George’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“A problem…”

Yes. A huge one.

A monster subjugation. Already time for that major event!

While George looked at me in concern, I ruffled my hair.

“Sir Nathan probably doesn’t know. The monster subjugation is a large annual event held by the Rihaert Imperial Family. Before winter comes, they eliminate the monsters remaining in the forest. It’s such a grand affair that all the most prominent nobles in the capital participate.”

I nodded as if I were hearing this for the first time. But my mind was racing more than ever.

Because—

‘Lucy is the one who treats Valentin’s injuries during the subjugation.’

Empress Cordelia, who was always watching for a chance to kill Valentin, would make her move again this time.

Even though he had relinquished his claim to succession, the possibility of Valentin becoming Crown Prince had not entirely vanished.

‘And thanks to that, he grows closer to Lucy.’

My heart felt unbearably heavy.

I had declared that I would win Valentin’s love to avoid dying as a beast—but this reminded me once again that he already had someone destined for him.

‘No. It hasn’t happened yet. Even after I become human, the two of them could still fall in love.’

…

I crouched down, lowering my head.

There was no way Valentin would ever love me, a mere beast. And my attempts to earn his affection were nothing more than the last desperate struggle of someone with an expiration date.

I knew the guilt I felt toward Lucy was pointless. There was no future where Valentin and I ended up together.

But—

“I can’t give up.”

Valentin, who had kissed me without hesitation… who had returned to Laphelia Castle just to keep a promise to a beast—

I couldn’t let him go so easily.

If not him—the one who reached out a hand of salvation to me when loneliness had nearly killed me—then who could possibly save me?

I couldn’t extinguish the tiny flame of hope with my own hands, fragile as it was, ready to be snuffed out by the faintest breeze.

Because if I did, I would lose my reason to live.

‘That’s how I truly feel.’

At last, I clenched my fist and made a bold vow. I would face Lucy fairly.

And to do that—

‘I’ll save Valentin from danger. I’m the strongest and most magnificent one here. I’ll rescue him from any threat.’

Having made my decision, I shouted toward Endy, who had already returned to his spot.

“Sir Endy! Let’s spar!”

* * *

In the Empress’s palace, the maid Antalika prepared a tea set with flawless movements.

Smooth porcelain cups and fragrant tea were meant for the guest in the reception room.

The mysterious figure who only appeared at night, cloaked in a black robe, never once touched the tea—but that didn’t matter. Appearances were important.

As someone who served in the imperial palace, she neither needed nor wanted to know his identity.

Antalika only hoped that after he left, Her Majesty the Empress would not be in a foul mood.

With two steaming cups of black tea on a tray, she quietly entered the reception room.

Without meeting anyone’s eyes, she set the cups down and slipped out like a shadow.

“…So who is by that filthy bastard’s side?”

“His identity hasn’t been confirmed, but it’s believed to be a monster.”

The Empress, pushing back her long red hair cascading to her waist, narrowed her blue eyes.

“A monster?”

“That’s the assumption. The Duke brought him as an apprentice knight. It’s said he slaughtered Caleb’s newly emerged group almost single-handedly. In Shamandra, his monstrous strength is already widely known.”

The robed figure clasped his hands and didn’t even glance at the tea.

He did not meet Empress Cordelia’s eyes, but she did not mind as she crossed her legs.

“For someone who claims no interest in the throne, he certainly draws attention.”

Lifting her chin arrogantly, Cordelia looked down at him.

“Mafi, there must be no mistakes in this monster subjugation. No variables.”

The one called Mafi did not answer immediately.

Instead, he took out a glass vial from his robe. Inside, a dark crimson liquid sloshed.

“With this alone, even the Duke of Berenice won’t be able to move.”

Interest flickered in the Empress’s eyes. A substance capable of threatening Valentin.

‘If you keep a monster at your side, then I’ll prepare something even worse.’

Caressing her scarlet lips, she stared at the ominously gleaming liquid.

At the thought of finally killing the fruit of sin, her lips curved thinly upward.

* * *

Riiiip!

Fluffy white stuffing burst out everywhere.

“No!”

I hurried to plug the hole before the stuffing could spill out beyond repair.

But the wound torn open by sharp claws was too deep. The cushion continued vomiting its white innards.

Please… how many is this now?

“These are expensive…”

No one scolded me no matter how many cushions I shredded. This was the Duke of Berenice’s estate, after all.

That was exactly the problem—no one said anything.

Whether furniture broke or cushions exploded, everything was restored by the next day.

Even Aila, who personally cleaned up my messes, never once complained.

Once, after I shattered a glass cup, I apologized. Astonishingly, she looked confused as to why I was sorry.

‘When one keeps a puppy, it’s hard to maintain a spotless house. His Grace told me he was prepared for this. It’s nothing at all.’

How shocked I’d been.

Wait—Aila. Weren’t you afraid of me?

This insane ducal household.

Everyone sincerely treated me like a dog.

‘No wonder Valentin just smiled brightly whenever I caused trouble.’

The Valentin in the novel I knew preferred cleanliness. He avoided intruding into others’ domains—or letting them into his.

Yet no matter how much I turned my room into chaos—or even messed up his—he didn’t mind at all.

If anything, he looked pleased.

“This won’t do.”

At this rate, I’ll truly fall into the pet-dog position. I’ll never get a kiss filled with romantic love.

I need to escape the reckless pet role.

As I clenched my fist in determination, I heard neat, measured footsteps approaching.

‘Valentin.’

Though his room was right next to mine, there was a high chance he’d enter mine first.

‘These days, he always looked at my face before returning to his own room.’

I hurriedly shoved the cushion under the bed. For perfect evidence concealment, I gathered the fallen stuffing and stuffed it under the rug.

Right then, the door swung open. Valentin didn’t even pretend to knock anymore.

Do I have no privacy?

I’d protested once. It was useless.

‘It’s my house.’

He’d answered so breezily that I’d had no comeback. The sorrow of a tenant…

“You’re back?”

I glanced once under the bed before awkwardly perching on the sofa.

Valentin narrowed his eyes, perhaps finding it strange that I didn’t run to him as usual. Then he passed me and sat in the armchair.

Aila followed him in, placing a pound cake dusted with white sugar icing on the table.

Valentin untied the clasp of his mantle and gestured for Aila to leave.

“Did you finish all your work?”

He had left early in the morning to handle matters concerning the new residents. According to Levi, he wouldn’t return until night.

Looking outside, the sun had only just set.

It seemed he hadn’t even eaten dinner, but Valentin answered casually.

“I finished early.”

As if that were something one could simply choose to do. Was he unwell?

“Why?”

He neatly folded his mantle and placed it beside him.

“You were waiting.”