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Chapter : 8
A Fairy Tale for the Villain,
The Grand Duke strode toward the bed where Isabel lay.
The firm footsteps—much like their master—claimed the quiet room.
“Leave.”
The Grand Duke’s cold order dropped onto the masseur’s bowed head.
The trembling masseur burst into tears and scrambled out of the room like a four-legged animal.
“Why did you do that?”
The Grand Duke stood by the bed, staring down at Isabel.
Her lips tightened.
This feels like I did something horrible.
So unfair—she’d only looked at the masseur.
Though, she wasn’t unfamiliar with situations like this.
In her past life too, Isabel was endlessly misunderstood.
Explaining myself to the prince every time was exhausting.
And now she had to do it again?
“I didn’t do anything, Your Grace.”
At her words, the Grand Duke tilted his head silently.
“The massage girl suddenly started crying, and—”
“I asked why you haven’t left the tower.”
“!”
What. So he wasn’t accusing her of harassing the masseur?
Isabel blinked wide eyes at him.
Still expressionless, he raised what he held in his hand for her to see.
“You’re not staying inside just to read trash like this, are you?”
He recalled recent reports—how the librarian said the princess devoured adult romances and called her a “fully grown bookworm.”
“Wait—how do you know about that? And watch your wording. It’s not trash—it’s romance.”
What was wrong with reading it? Isabel muttered under her breath, sneaking a glare at him.
Though she did wonder how the book she had given Badel ended up in his hand.
“You still haven’t answered, Princess. Why haven’t you left the tower?”
Arms crossed, he looked down at her.
Those violet eyes were colder than usual.
They lingered on her clenched blanket and the bare white shoulder peeking above it.
Her oil-slick skin shone under the sunlight trickling through the curtains, catching his eyes again and again.
Strange.
He frowned.
An inexplicable irritation welled up.
He hated how her skin glistened. Hated how her red lips fidgeted instead of answering.
Hated her exposed pale neck, the fine strands of hair sticking to her skin.
He hated everything he was seeing and wanted to leave at once.
His hand brushed the earring on his left ear.
Is it because of this?
The obsidian earring was cold as always.
Her gaze drifted there too.
Ah, the cursed mark earring.
Wasn’t that what turned him into a beast every night?
They say the Grand Duke keeps remarrying to break that terrible curse…
Thinking of Badel’s story, Isabel finally replied.
“I was planning to go out tomorrow.”
Yes—tomorrow.
Every day she decided she would—then didn’t, because it was a hassle.
“Tomorrow, hm.”
He nodded.
“I’ll assign an escort.”
Snow would keep unwanted people away.
“Rest now.”
He turned and left.
Outside the room, he handed the romance novel back to Badel.
Badel took it hastily and stuffed it into her clothes.
“If she’s reading things like this, I’d say your master is in excellent health.”
“T-that’s—!”
Badel fidgeted nervously.
“Take good care of her until the wedding.”
No foolishness.
He slowly patted her shoulder and murmured the warning.
“…Yes, Your Grace.”
Pale as a sheet, Badel bowed her head.
The Grand Duke descended the tower.
Why can’t I sleep today?
Maybe because he’d seen her like that?
Isabel tossed and turned, then sat up.
The moon was already setting—she’d be awake until dawn at this rate.
She threw a cloak over her shoulders and slipped out.
Even the hallway servant had dozed off against the wall.
No need to take the stairs—she touched the tall magic stone, a portal flared, and she teleported to the first floor.
“So this is how I go out at night.”
Her indoor slippers whispered through dewy grass.
The salty sea breeze, the earthy scent—she inhaled deeply as she walked.
Grrr—Ruff!
A strange sound rode the wind.
Wolf? Dog? Something barked.
She tensed and looked around.
Only the manicured garden.
Is that sound… the Grand Duke transformed into a beast?
If the noise reached the remote tower, how loud must it be at the mansion?
Only now did she understand why he let her stay here.
Uneasy, she turned back toward the tower.
She reached the entrance and moved to activate the portal when—
Badel?
Isabel blinked.
Badel was sneaking through a small rear door used by servants.
What is she doing at this hour?
Another beastly howl rolled through the air.
Isabel flinched—but followed her instinctively.
Past a small gate, a cluster of huts appeared.
Staff housing.
Badel found one easily.
Isabel pressed herself to the wall and peeked through a tiny window.
“Goodness, Rondo. You’re breaking it even tied up!”
“Uu! Uu!”
“Calm down, sweetheart. Mama will free you soon.”
Rondo—Badel’s nearly-grown son.
He has a condition, Isabel remembered.
Badel had mentioned him once.
I shouldn’t be spying.
Isabel began to turn away—when—
“I brought magic hair, Rondo. Hold still.”
Hair?
She froze and peeked again.
Badel placed a familiar golden lock in her son’s hand and chanted a spell.
Light bloomed and flowed into Rondo’s body.
“Uu…”
The boy, who’d been thrashing wildly, stilled and relaxed.
My healing ability.
Isabel’s body could restore others.
Her fluids worked best—hair next—blood most of all.
My heart would probably cure anything.
Because of that, she’d hidden the ability desperately.
According to Badel, there were always people who coveted it—and Isabel’s sharp temper kept those pests away.
And Badel—Isabel had believed—was the only one who stayed without ulterior motives.
A thin layer of ice spread around her heart.
Rondo giggled and lay down again.
Badel sang a lullaby, patting his chest.
Isabel pulled away.
It felt like cold iron slammed into the back of her skull.
So Badel stayed because of my hair.
The one person she dared to trust—betrayed her in reality and here as well.
Enough. What was I expecting? I was always alone.
She murmured with each step.
Even in this novel, I never expected anything from others.
Ridiculous.
Don’t be hurt.
Why are you hurt at all?
Who do you think you are?
“I am Isabel Desar.”
She inhaled deeply, lifting her chin.
The night breeze stung extra cold.
Just as she neared the tower—
Grrrr—
The beast’s growl sounded much closer.
Maybe because her heart had already hardened.
Bark—!
The noise grew louder, but Isabel trudged on.
Suddenly exhausted.
She’d planned to go downtown tomorrow—but forget it.
She reached for the stone—
A huge shadow fell over her.
“Mama!”
She fell flat on her back—calling out for a mother she’d never met.
A massive four-legged beast stood before her.
Wolf-like black fur—but two curved horns rose from its head.
The Grand Duke…?
Moonlight gleamed on amethyst eyes—and a familiar obsidian earring.
“So it is Your Grace.”
Instead of shock, she let out a hollow laugh.
Mermaids existed. Magic existed. Why not this?
Is this Beauty and the Beast now?
Mermaid princess… Snow White… Beast.
What kind of mashed-up fairy tale was this?
Though honestly, he looks better than I imagined.
She dusted her backside and stood.
“Are you in your right mind?”
Grrrr—
“Haha—no matter how wild you get, surely you recognize your fiancée?”
She backed up slowly.
The beast’s bared teeth dripped with torn cloth and blood.
“You… don’t eat people, do you?”
Those eyes weren’t human.
He only growled louder.
Bad feeling. He doesn’t understand me.
Her back touched the portal stone.
She needed time to cast it.
Ah!
She slipped off her slipper and held it.
“Uh… Bean! Good boy?”
The fur was black like a bean—so Bean would do.
Cute name = less fear.
In theory.
She wiggled the slipper.
Those violet eyes followed the movement lazily.
“Fetch!”
She hurled it far.
The slipper spun—and the beast leapt after it.
Isabel slapped her palm onto the stone.
Light swallowed her—and she vanished into her room.
Silence.
She sighed and peered down from the window.
Beasts hated heights, supposedly.
Sure enough, the black monster ignored the tower—too busy shredding the slipper.
If she hadn’t escaped, that would’ve been her.
Enough. Sleep first.
She’d think tomorrow.
Isabel climbed into bed and closed her eyes.
