🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 28
Kelic wondered when Maybel would suggest using the Mark of Subjugation.
At first, he thought she had simply forgotten.
But a day passed, then two, and now even a week—and Maybel still hadn’t said a word.
Why? Why isn’t she saying anything?
In the Greenhurst Empire, beastmen were treated as commodities.
After all, both he and Aselt had been rescued from the black market.
Does she not know about the Mark of Subjugation?
He even worried over whether he should explain it to her.
But now, it seemed she knew—and had simply chosen not to say anything.
“That’s ridiculous! Why would I ever do something like that to you, oppa?!”
“N-no, it’s just… since you’re my little sister now, if you used it, maybe I could protect you better—”
“Absolutely not!”
Maybel cut him off sharply.
“I really hate things like that. So no matter what happens, you two should never get marked. Live your own lives.”
With a firm expression, she looked back and forth between them.
In truth, Aselt and Kelic had always assumed that one day, Zikmund would place the Mark of Subjugation on them.
Of course, they weren’t dismissing the Grand Duke Escalid family’s stance—that beastmen weren’t needed for alchemy.
But to avoid being marked by someone else, it seemed safer to be marked first.
For now, Zikmund had given them artifacts that nullified the mark.
But that didn’t mean they were completely safe.
Those artifacts had limited uses.
If they were ever forced into a situation where they couldn’t resist—and were marked repeatedly—
then eventually, they would have no choice but to submit.
Especially since a legendary species like a basilisk and a beast-type like a red fox were considered top-tier alchemical materials.
And yet, Maybel was telling them—
not to give up on themselves, no matter what.
It shattered the belief they had always held—that one day, in some form, they would inevitably become someone’s property.
“You can’t let someone else take your life. You have to live it yourself. Got it?”
Maybel placed her hands on her hips and puffed her cheeks slightly.
Clutching her fluffy cotton candy, she looked almost like a rabbit with a little tail sticking out.
“Y-yeah! We will!”
“Our youngest is amazing. You can even say things like that.”
Aselt chuckled and patted her head.
Maybel felt a bit embarrassed, wondering if she had gone too far—but she didn’t regret it.
Ahem. She cleared her throat awkwardly and took a small bite of her cotton candy.
“When the head of the household returns, let’s study together and figure out how to strengthen the artifacts.”
“Ugh, I hate studying!”
“Still, we should. Maybel’s going this far for us.”
As Kelic tried to slip away, Aselt lightly knocked him on the head.
“Tch, hyung only picks on me…”
Kelic grumbled, rubbing his head while still holding his skewer.
Aselt ignored him and wiped the cotton candy from the corner of Maybel’s mouth.
“Come to think of it, Master’s return is a bit late. Normally, we would’ve heard by now that he’s on his way.”
“Do you think something happened to him?”
Maybel asked worriedly, but Kelic snorted.
“Hah! No need to worry! Do you know how strong our master is?”
“Right. He’s the youngest Grand Master, after all. He’s probably so busy debating that horned spirit summoning method you discovered that he lost track of time.”
Well… knowing Zikmund’s obsession with alchemy, that did sound plausible.
Reassured, Maybel nodded.
By then, Kelic had already finished his skewer and spoke again,
“Actually, the ones we should be worrying about… are us.”
“Us?”
“Yeah. By now, the whole estate probably knows we’re gone.”
Ah… right. We snuck out.
“And they’ve probably found and blocked the hole I dug, too.”
“Then how did you usually get back in?”
“How? Well, that’s—”
Just as Kelic was about to answer—
“Like this!”
“Wah!”
Suddenly, Zack appeared from behind and grabbed Kelic by the back of his collar, lifting him into the air.
“U-uncle Zack?!”
Startled, Maybel looked up sharply.
Her hood slipped off, and her neatly tucked purple hair spilled out.
At once, people who had been searching scattered across the estate rushed toward them.
“Hey! Let go, Zack!”
Kelic struggled, but he was no match for the former mercenary captain.
“Stay still, young master! Where is Master Aselt?”
“I—I don’t know! He disappeared!”
“Hm? Is that true, young lady?”
Zack turned his sharp gaze toward Maybel.
Hic!
Startled, Maybel swallowed hard.
They said we wouldn’t get caught!
She inwardly blamed the two boys and squeezed her eyes shut—
Then suddenly, her gaze met Aselt’s from within the crowd.
Since when were you over there?! That’s cheating!
She glared at him, but Aselt only smiled apologetically and bowed his head slightly.
Then he pointed at his back and placed a finger over his lips.
A silent plea—
My wound hasn’t healed yet. If they find out I came out, I’ll get in even more trouble.
Maybel couldn’t refuse, knowing he was still injured.
“Miss?”
When she hesitated, Zack prompted her again.
“I—I…”
After a long pause, Maybel squeezed her eyes shut and said,
“I don’t know either…”
I’ll never sneak out again, she vowed silently.
* * *
“Honestly!”
As soon as they returned, Kelic and Maybel were thoroughly scolded by Ella.
“I hid all the disguise artifacts! When did you take them? And where did you even get the magic stone?!”
“W-well… from Master’s study… just a little…”
“I knew it!”
After hissing at Kelic, Ella turned sharply toward Maybel.
“And you too, miss! I trusted you—how could you do this as well?!”
When Ella was angry, she was truly terrifying.
Her normally gentle, closed eyes were wide open, and her melodic tone turned into a booming scold.
But knowing it came from concern only made Maybel feel more guilty.
With her hands clasped and head lowered, she spoke in a small voice,
“I’m sorry… I won’t do it again…”
“See? Maybel is reflecting on it.”
At that moment, Aselt suddenly appeared and took Maybel’s side.
Back in his usual appearance, he was wearing the sunglasses she had made for him.
“Hey! Hyung! When did you get back?! You always run off alone!”
Kelic pointed accusingly, but Aselt played dumb.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve been here the whole time. I missed Master, so I was reading in his bedroom—but I must’ve fallen asleep. Since no one can enter his room freely, you probably couldn’t find me.”
He lied smoothly without batting an eye.
Apparently, this was how Kelic always got caught while Aselt escaped.
Maybel stared at him, shocked and betrayed.
Aselt only chuckled and added,
“Ella, that’s enough. Please forgive Maybel. It’s a good thing she’s becoming more curious.”
Ella clearly didn’t fully believe him—but she had no proof.
In the end, she sighed and closed her eyes again.
“…Fine. As long as you understand not to do it again.”
“I’m sorry…”
As Maybel apologized again, Ella crouched down to meet her gaze.
“Miss~ Kelic can disguise himself because he’s a beastman~ but you can’t~ What if someone recognized you and had bad intentions? Do you know how worried I was~?”
Ella hugged her and gently patted her.
She told Maybel to just ask her next time if she wanted to go out.
Wrapped in her arms, Maybel promised—pinky swear—that she would.
So, it seemed like everything ended warmly…
“Also, Young Master Kelic will be making up for the lesson he missed today~”
“What?!”
Ella showed no mercy.
