TBAH 07

Her and the Beast – Chapter : 0s7

After finishing the story, Astina realized that it was already late afternoon. The entire mansion was bustling with activity in preparation for the Grand Duke and Duchess’s first night together.

If Astina had arrived late that evening, the appointed day would have been tomorrow. However, the vassals were so eager to find out the result as soon as possible that they could hardly contain themselves.

For the first time in a long while, Astina felt as though she had become a tool rather than a person. The last time she had experienced such a feeling was because of her lord, Theodore.

She remembered that heavy voice.

[This is my final request, Martina.]

[Theodore, this is also my only wish. I cannot grant you that one thing.]

[You must do this. For your sake, and for mine.]

The king’s face was filled with worry. Rather than looking into Martina’s eyes, Theodore seemed to be looking at something beyond her.

Martina shed tears unlike any she had shed before.

[How could you do this to me? How could you be so cruel to me?]

[……I cherished you.]

[If you had, I wouldn’t be feeling this miserable.]

[…….]

[You have never loved me. I understand that now.]

Martina turned away.

And exactly one day later, Theodore declared her a rebel.

“That is all in the past.”

Astina deliberately spoke in a cold tone, trying to shake off her lingering regret.

The memories of that time were so intense that they repeatedly intruded into her daily life, even when she did not want them to.

How many years had passed since then? Even after being reborn, she still could not forget. Just how much longer would it take for her to finally be free?

What was the point of holding on to someone who was already dead?

Astina mocked herself. It seemed Theodore’s betrayal had hurt her more deeply than she had thought.

“Your Grace, you’ll hurt your hands.”

Although this marriage was incomplete in many ways, the servants naturally addressed her as the Grand Duchess.

At the maid’s call, Astina came back to her senses.

She had unknowingly clenched her fists tightly. When she slowly opened her fingers, she saw the marks her nails had left on her palms.

“Is the bathwater not at the right temperature?”

“No, it’s perfect.”

Astina smiled and answered the maid’s cautious question.

They had just begun preparing her for the first night. The bathtub was filled with fresh flowers, giving off a sweet fragrance.

She wanted to enjoy her bath a little longer, but there were many other things Astina needed to take care of.

“Your bath is finished.”

The maid said as she helped Astina out of the tub.

She had been soaking in the bathtub for two whole hours, so the moment she stepped out, she felt a chill.

The maids wrapped her body in soft towels and laid her down on a reclining chair.

Astina gently ran her hand over her arms, which were glistening with fragrant oil. Her skin, which had become rough from the dry weather, had turned smooth again.

After trimming her nails and even filing down the calluses she had developed from holding a sword, the maids turned their attention to Astina’s face. They removed the thick face mask they had applied earlier and gave her a gentle massage.

Then they applied more than ten different kinds of cosmetics to her face. Astina wondered whether all those products could possibly be absorbed into her skin.

The maids did not stop at skincare. They also finished her makeup. They simply arranged her hair and braided the front sections, letting them fall forward.

Astina was fairly accustomed to beauty treatments, but she had never had so many things done all at once before. She was beginning to feel so bored that she was almost falling asleep.

Above all, the maids’ attitudes were somewhat half-hearted.

They had followed the head maid’s instructions and done various things, but they could not hide the lack of enthusiasm in their eyes.

Well, what was the point of dressing her up when her groom wasn’t even human?

Even if she made a good impression on Terriod, at best, he would probably just consider her a fragrant meal.

Then why hadn’t they simply given up on dressing Astina altogether?

Everyone was polite, but Astina had no difficulty reading the thoughts hidden beneath their behavior.

This was the final courtesy they were showing to a woman about to walk to her death.

Even those who hoped Astina would return alive did not believe she would come back in one piece.

From the Atalenta family’s perspective, it would already be a great success if Astina survived in any form. After all, they would still have the opportunity to see a child born.

Astina suddenly let out a hollow laugh.

She had thought she would be safe, but no one in this mansion knew her true intentions. And yet, not a single person had tried to stop them from offering her to the Grand Duke.

How selfish can they be?

Or perhaps, on the contrary, their master was simply that precious to them.

She had occasionally heard stories about Grand Duke Terriod Atalenta before.

He was so famous that even Astina, who had no interest in the opposite sex, knew his name.

His fame had not begun when he became known as the Monster Grand Duke. It was because he was that Terriod that the rumors had spread so widely.

Ever since he made his debut in high society after coming of age, he had always been the center of attention.

His title as the Grand Duke of Atalenta played a major role, but what attracted the most attention was his appearance. His translucent silver hair and clear, water-blue eyes looked as though they had come straight out of a painting, melting the hearts of countless women.

Terriod was unquestionably the most popular unmarried nobleman in the empire.

Astina had no idea where all those women who had supposedly fallen ill from loving him had gone, or why she had ended up being sold in their place.

At last, the preparations were complete.

Astina looked down at her appearance. The only thing she was wearing was a thin slip.

Suddenly realizing something, Astina unconsciously muttered,

“I don’t even get to wear a wedding dress.”

Now that she was a married woman, unless she remarried, that opportunity was practically out of reach.

She had never wished to get married, but she had wanted to wear a beautiful, elaborate wedding dress at least once.

If her father’s bankruptcy had never happened, would she have had a proper wedding ceremony?

“Ah… Ugh…”

She had said it without thinking, but an unexpectedly strong reaction erupted around her.

Perhaps they had mistaken her words for her last will. One of the maids gasped, and the tip of her nose turned red. Soon, large tears began pouring down her cheeks.

Her crying quickly spread to the others, and before long, everyone’s eyes were filled with tears.

Astina was caught off guard by this unexpected reaction.

“You will return safely, Your Grace.”

Hamilton, the head maid, spoke with tears in her eyes.

The head maid had a stern appearance and was someone the younger maids feared. Seeing her cry turned the entire room into a sea of tears.

Astina wondered whether she should cry along with them or comfort them by saying everything would be all right.

If I cry with them, my makeup will be ruined.

She couldn’t waste all their hard work. More importantly, she didn’t want to endure that long makeup session all over again.

Astina put on a faint smile to calm the maids.

“I don’t understand why everyone is crying. A wife is simply going to see her husband, as she should. What’s wrong with that?”

Apparently, she had touched an especially painful subject.

The wailing grew even louder. Head Maid Hamilton even took out her handkerchief and blew her nose.

Oliver, who had been about to enter the room, hesitated when he heard the maids crying. Feeling as though he had become the villain, he awkwardly opened the door.

“Your Grace, it is time.”

At the butler’s announcement, everyone fell silent.

Astina gave them a faint smile before following Oliver outside.

As though making an excuse, Oliver said,

“He is docile after eating.”

What exactly had the Monster Grand Duke eaten?

Astina recalled the rumors that had circulated in the capital. Since servants had reportedly been dying one after another, she wondered whether his food might have been human.

However, Astina soon shook her head.

If Terriod had really been eating people from his own mansion, the servants would not have shown such devotion to their master.

Walking one step ahead of Oliver, Astina spoke.

“At last, I get to see my groom’s face.”

“…….”

“Smile. Isn’t this a happy wedding day?”

Astina smiled warmly first, as though setting an example. She disliked the butler’s expression. He had arranged everything, yet now he looked as though he were suffering from guilt.

Astina’s words made Oliver’s face turn pale. He squeezed his eyes shut.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“I have no excuse. This old man’s greed was too great, and I have committed many sins.”

Astina stared quietly at Oliver, who had bowed his head like a criminal.

If she demanded an apology, she would have to summon all the vassals who had agreed to this decision as well.

Objectively speaking, Oliver’s choice had been fortunate for the Count of Lete. It was true that they had escaped the brink of bankruptcy thanks to the Atalenta family’s assistance.

If Kanna had come, the opposite result might have occurred. But in any case, the person standing here was Astina.

Astina had decided to do her best to repay the amount of money the Atalenta family had given the Count of Lete. After all, they had already paid the price.

In other words, she would try her best to avoid killing the Grand Duke.

“This is the place.”

At last, they arrived at the Grand Duke’s bedroom, and Oliver stopped walking. Astina also quietly came to a halt.

Even from a distance, it was easy to tell who the owner of the room was. The enormous door, carved from a single piece of solid wood, looked like a work of art. Servants stood in neat rows on either side of the magnificent entrance.

Astina narrowed her eyes. There were several people who appeared to be doctors.

A few maids stood behind Astina, ready to support her in case the Grand Duchess collapsed.

However, Astina walked toward the door with confident steps.

“It is dark inside.”

A servant standing near the door handed Astina a lamp and a key.

At the same moment, the cry of a beast came from inside.

All the servants instinctively shrank back.

Only Astina did not retreat. She calmly stepped inside.

Someone watching her lips moved slightly.

“May God protect her.”

The door closed.

The servants stared anxiously at the bedroom door.

No one had the courage to look inside. The room was well soundproofed, so they could barely hear anything either.

Had about half an hour passed?

Head Maid Hamilton approached Oliver. She carefully made a suggestion.

“It would be better to send the younger maids back. They might be frightened if they see the blood.”

At her words, one of the nearby servants flinched as though a chill had run down his spine.

Oliver glanced around before nodding.

“Those who are afraid may return to their quarters now.”

About five people hurriedly left.

Those who remained bit their lips anxiously. If Astina did not come out within an hour, they intended to enter and rescue her.

The butler asked the doctor whether they had any anesthetic. The doctor replied that they had enough to put even a wild bear to sleep.

It was then.

A tremendous roar erupted from inside the room.

Everyone trembled at the beast’s savage cry. Those who believed in God repeatedly made the sign of the cross.

And a moment later, just as suddenly as it had begun, everything became quiet.

The color drained from Oliver’s face.

In the end, his master had swallowed his new bride whole!

He let out a deep sigh.

It was true that Astina’s confident attitude had made him harbor some strange expectations without realizing it.

But how could a fragile woman possibly stand a chance against a monster that even a group of grown men could not handle?

Lady Hamilton also seemed to anticipate Astina’s death and lowered her head.

Everyone standing there mourned the short-lived marriage.

And then the door opened.

They could hardly believe their eyes.

The person who had come out of the room was undoubtedly Astina.

But Astina, who had opened the door and stepped outside, looked far too unharmed.

There wasn’t a single trace of injury on her.

Oliver suddenly noticed the clump of fur in Astina’s hand.

At first glance, it even looked somewhat like Terriod’s paw.

Everyone who sensed something strange quietly lowered their eyes.

“There is a problem.”

Astina said, pointing at the beast—presumably the Grand Duke—that she had beaten unconscious.

“It won’t stand up. That’s the problem.”