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Chapter: 7
Plea wasn’t entirely sure what effect the medicine she had made would actually have.
If she could lift the curse without using the drug, then when she returned to the future, her abilities would be acknowledged. The image of herself being told, “You did well. Good work,” made a quiet laugh escape her lips.
No matter how much he was treated like a troublesome child, there was no way they would allow him to consume something unverified. Even if it was meant to prevent a rampage, knights were always stationed by his side. Secretly slipping him the medicine would be difficult.
Besides, she couldn’t exactly say she was fully close with Heos yet.
That was when something flowed from the hand she was holding.
Her body staggered.
Miliana pressed her other hand to her forehead.
Ugh… again…?
Her brows knit together.
“Miliana?”
Heos’s puzzled voice reached her ears.
It had lessened compared to before, but when she stayed in contact with someone for too long, it still struck without warning. The sudden headache pounded relentlessly, and within the wavering blur of her vision, it always showed her something—whether of the future or the past.
And what she saw was…!
Miliana swallowed hard and spoke.
“I’m relieved to hear you say that.”
Her face had gone deathly pale, yet she forced a smile by lifting her trembling lips.
As if to instill a warning, the scene that flashed through her mind showed a fully grown Heos, tall and imposing, driving a sword straight through Kaiden’s heart. Blood poured out endlessly, yet Kaiden neither resented nor hated Heos—he only looked at him calmly.
Then, in a self-mocking voice, he said:
“So… this is your choice.”
That was all.
If anything, Heos’s expression looked even sadder. It was a face smeared with countless emotions, yet the sorrow stood out clearly.
Though it was only a fragmentary vision, it carried immense meaning.
She had witnessed the future as a third party, yet it felt as though a heavy stone had been placed on her chest. A sharp ache spread through her heart, and tears threatened to spill over. She didn’t know whose emotions they were, but the pain cut deeply all the same.
Miliana closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again, wiping the vision away.
This was why she hated seeing the future—especially when it hinted not at happiness, but at sorrow.
Heos’s curse had weakened for now. Its root hadn’t disappeared, so it could grow stronger again, but as long as she stayed by his side, it would be manageable.
So a temporary solution won’t be enough, huh…
Heos alternated his gaze between Miliana and the knights standing some distance away. He assumed she had suddenly fallen silent because of them.
“Do you not like those knights?”
“Huh?”
Miliana snapped out of her thoughts. The knight being pointed at flinched.
“Did they upset you by looking down on you? They barked at you earlier too. I’ve always hated the way they look at me whenever I’m about to lose control. They just keep repeating that it won’t happen, like parrots…”
“Y-You mustn’t say that, Young Master! You should be a kind master to the servants!”
In the future she had seen, servants of the household had also died by his hand.
“A master? No. They were ordered to bring you to me, but they didn’t listen. The only reason they’re letting you stay here now is because I seem safer when I’m with you. That’s why you’re allowed to be here.”
His voice gradually grew quieter, his expression sinking into gloom. Deep-rooted distrust lay buried in his heart.
“When I lose control, they’ll blame you. I’m sure of it.”
His expression was filled with conviction. The knights flinched at his words.
“Y-Young Master, that isn’t—”
“I know. I know that when I lose control, other people get hurt. But that’s not something I can control.”
Heos spoke while staring out the window. Something surged up inside him, throwing his control completely off. His emotions leapt wildly, like a plank bouncing out of place.
Yet everyone only ever told him to endure it. No one told him how to escape this suffocating feeling.
The servants said that his father had controlled his powers well even as a child—that he had even used his overwhelming strength to maintain public order. Compared to that, Heos felt utterly different. Whenever he heard such stories, it hurt.
It felt like they were saying he was incomplete, unlike his father—someone to be feared for the harm he might cause.
Miliana glanced nervously at the knights, then leaned in and whispered softly near Heos’s ear.
“Let it out as much as you want. If you keep suffering all alone, you’ll never find an answer.”
“What are you saying? Losing control is dangerous.”
Heos shook his head. Miliana shook hers as well.
Since arriving here, she had watched Heos constantly—both from afar and up close.
He was curled up, hugging his knees, as if fully aware that he himself was dangerous. It was as though he was suppressing the power struggling to burst out.
She spoke as gently as she could, so that he would feel safe, so that he could trust her.
“If you keep holding it in, you become more dangerous, Young Master.”
“I become dangerous?”
“Yes. You’ve endured for far too long. The ether that’s built up inside you has nowhere to go, so it turns into a rampage. Sometimes, you have to release it. Especially in your case… you’re unique. Too much ether staying in your body is dangerous.”
She spoke calmly, saying that rampages were unavoidable.
His eyes wavered slightly, as if he couldn’t believe her.
Whenever there were signs of a rampage, Heos had always been told the same things: Endure it. Don’t do it. Something terrible will happen. You’ll be punished. Even when he said he was in pain, he was only told to endure it for the sake of others. He had always suffered alone.
But she was different.
“Young Master, it hurts a lot, doesn’t it? Your head, your heart—they hurt sometimes, don’t they?”
“Y-Yeah! That’s right!”
Sometimes his head felt like it was about to split open. His heart would pound violently. When he forced himself to endure it, the pressure only grew worse—like something was completely blocked. There were many times he’d clutched his chest, unable to breathe. And eventually, it would all lead to a rampage.
“As I thought. When the body hasn’t fully developed yet, strong ether alone can cause side effects just by existing. The stronger your power, the more inevitable rampages are. As your body grows, and your capacity to contain ether increases, things will gradually balance out. This is just between us—our secret.”
Feeling oddly guilty, Miliana glanced at the knights and pressed a finger to her lips.
This wasn’t something an ordinary maid should know. Given that rumors already labeled her a witch’s lackey, they could easily think she was deliberately encouraging his rampages.
“S-So… you really think that? That it’s okay even if I hurt people when I lose control?”
“It’s not okay. Hurting people is wrong. But sometimes, it can’t be avoided. If you hurt someone, then you apologize. Like today. You were worried about my injury, weren’t you? That’s why you kept me sitting beside you.”
“……”
Heos stared blankly up at her.
Miliana smiled gently.
“Of course, you should still try not to lose control! We can only wait for your body to grow. Until then, we need to make sure ether doesn’t pile up inside you—let it flow out naturally. That means using your abilities. Even something small is fine. It helps your body get used to it.”
“I can’t. Everyone hates it.”
“Do you not use your powers at all during ordinary times?”
At that moment, the door burst open.
Miliana startled and snapped her head up.
“Your Grace!”
The knights hurriedly saluted the man who had entered—Kaiden Ethelhardt.
Miliana held her breath.
The man who strangled me without hesitation.
Her neck, which had felt fine until now, throbbed faintly. Her hand moved to it instinctively. The fear from when his hands had clamped around her throat hadn’t faded yet.
Her head lowered naturally.
No. His Grace did it to protect the Young Master. It couldn’t be helped.
Kaiden swept his gaze around the room, then noticed Heos standing close beside Miliana.
Ian had told him that Heos often called for her. He hadn’t missed the sight of her flinching at his sudden appearance, rubbing the back of her neck. His eyes went to the bandages there.
Kaiden knew well that his grip was stronger than most. He let out a small sigh. Setting aside how suspicious she was, he did feel apologetic about injuring her neck—and about knocking her unconscious.
But…
The maid assigned to Heos was nowhere to be seen.
His brow furrowed. There had always been distance between Heos and the servants, but after everyone learned the truth about Erphilsi, it had grown worse.
Even the knights were pressed tightly against the walls, wary of Heos. The only one beside him was Miliana.
“Where is the maid assigned to Heos?”
Miliana tensed.
Does he dislike that I’m here?
If the dedicated maid were replaced, it could spell disaster for her. She was only allowed to stay by Heos’s side with that woman’s tacit consent.
“S-She went to take care of another task.”
“Another task? Taking care of Heos is her task.”
“T-That’s true…”
She shrank back, having been scolded for speaking up unnecessarily. Miliana herself thought the maid’s behavior—leaving as soon as she arrived—was wrong.
From behind them, Ian spoke.
“My apologies, Your Grace. I will reprimand her properly.”
“That won’t be necessary. There’s no reason to employ a maid who doesn’t even know what her duties are, or what should take priority.”
“Understood.”
Ian accepted his decision without objection. Just like that, the maid lost her job.
“F-Father… what brings you here…?”
Heos spoke awkwardly, unable to meet Kaiden’s eyes properly.
Kaiden stared straight at him.
It was fear—clear and unmistakable.
So it’s true… you really did give her permission to stay by your side. You even blocked me.
Having clearly seen Kaiden’s threatening behavior earlier, Heos anxiously stepped in front of Miliana, blocking his father’s approach. It was an unmistakable sign of refusal.
With behavior like that, it was only natural for Kaiden to be suspicious. It was rare for his son to open his heart to anyone like this.
He had reviewed her background. There was nothing overtly suspicious—only that she had lived in some orphanage.
“His Grace is here. You should greet him properly…” Miliana chattered on unnecessarily, trying to soothe Heos while watching Kaiden warily.
“It’s nothing. I was just curious whether you liked the gift.”
“…I do.”
A lie.
Kaiden let out a short laugh.
If he really liked it, the gift wouldn’t be lying around.
The color of the wrapping paper sticking out of the trash can was all too familiar.
“If you’re done with your business, please leave.”
The cold tone and stiff manner were exactly like Kaiden’s—but unlike his father’s confidence, Heos looked intimidated, gripping Miliana’s clothes tightly as he spoke.
