Chapter 6
“I never imagined the Marquis would think something like that.”
“It was just my wish.”
“That’s more touching than I expected. To think you even wanted to go on a date together with Ailee.”
Inside the carriage returning to the Grand Duke’s residence.
After having been pestered with questions from the nobles all evening following the banquet remarks, I pressed my tired eyes and smiled.
‘W-what!? Could it be that the Marquis of Zains has some connection with Lady Selena Bennett?!’
‘Maybe he’s trying to get in with the Bennett Grand Duke’s family. That would explain why he came along.’
‘Prince Lihardt must feel a bit embarrassed, huh?’
Amid the barrage of whispers, Layton calmly addressed Prince Lihardt.
“As your guardian, I intend to spend time with the young lady first. I hope you understand.”
At those words, it felt as though question marks floated above everyone’s heads.
The Marquis of Zains is now the guardian of the Bennett Grand Duke’s household?
Seeing the obvious questions, we didn’t bother answering and quickly left the banquet hall.
I quietly observed Layton, who was sitting opposite me, staring out the window.
He had already planned the time he would spend with Ailee and me.
It was truly a kind gesture.
The promise he made back then, that he would act as more than just a mere guardian, was clearly heartfelt and already being put into practice.
‘He’s more considerate than I thought.’
I didn’t expect him to be so considerate toward me as well.
Naturally kind, Layton seemed to care even about someone like me, who had stayed mostly within the mansion.
For every action, there is a reaction.
Layton’s true goal was to lift the curse, so it would be best to lift it quickly…
‘Ailee still needs more time to develop the holy power necessary to break the curse.’
The key to lifting Layton’s curse was Ailee’s holy power. In the original story, it didn’t manifest until she turned 18.
I shifted in my seat and moved toward the window like Layton, gazing outside.
Looking up, the moon was still a crescent.
In a few days, it would become full.
‘Before that, there must be a way to help Layton…’
After thinking for a while, a solution my father had left behind came to mind.
The “Titiano Flower,” capable of temporarily halting the suffering of the cursed.
The rare herb, cultivated by my father, who also possessed holy power like Ailee, could alleviate, even slightly, the torment consuming Layton.
Of course, it wasn’t a fundamental solution.
Only the vast holy power of Ailee could completely lift his curse.
Still,
‘For now, that might be the best I can do.’
Since I couldn’t heal him with holy power immediately, helping even temporarily would reduce his suffering a little.
Although it sounded simple, it wasn’t something that could be executed immediately.
‘But how can I make the Titiano Flower bloom right away?’
About a week remained before the upcoming full moon.
The Titiano Flower would grow quickly if infused with holy power, but could Ailee, who had yet to feel her holy power, do it?
There was only one answer:
Either test Ailee’s abilities, or…
‘…see if I can do it myself.’
“Why on earth did you involve yourself in such a complicated matter?”
“….”
Dressed in his neat black uniform, Layton didn’t answer, silently staring out the window.
Just returned from the banquet, he tugged at his cravat, a complicated expression on his face.
Why?
He stared into the air.
There was only one reason:
Part of his plan to lift the curse.
To approach the young ladies, who were struggling to protect the Grand Duke’s household after losing their parents, with kindness and earn their trust.
While they opened their hearts to him, he would uncover the secret of the curse from the Grand Duke’s household and lift it.
He was willing to do whatever it took to achieve this.
As he always had.
He didn’t care about the looks of hatred or fear he received.
The Emperor, who always kept the Zains family in check, fearing their growing influence.
The nobles, who called his family demonic and trembled in fear.
‘Let them think whatever they like.’
After all, he might truly be a demon.
Having come this far to use the innocent young ladies, that statement might very well be true.
It was appropriate to use the Grand Duke’s household to tighten control over those who had driven the Zains family into the shadows.
If the rumor spread that the infamous “demonic” Zains family’s heir was the Grand Duke’s guardian,
‘Nothing could serve as a better pretext to step into the central political scene.’
And the ones most anxious to see the Zains family back in politics?
He planned to make them aware.
So, for his goals, this level of acting was easy.
With the young lady seemingly slightly misunderstanding him, he could shamelessly act even kinder.
His plan was proceeding perfectly—except for one thing.
“The Marquis, I understand your plan, but… is it really necessary to stay at the Grand Duke’s residence?”
At his advisor Oliver’s words, Layton waved dismissively.
“Because I have a plan.”
Though he said it, Layton was slightly confused himself.
The only deviation from his plan: having promised, almost as if possessed, to stay at the Grand Duke’s residence.
Why had he agreed to a bold twelve-year-old girl’s suggestion?
The promise to act as guardian was sincere.
After all, the only solution to lifting the curse lay within the Grand Duke’s household.
But he had no intention of actually staying there.
Yet somehow, he had ended up here.
“But Marquis, what if the young ladies notice? Regarding your reputation.”
Layton glanced at Oliver, who looked perplexed, and asked calmly:
“What’s wrong with my reputation?”
“Well… the rumors about your family being demonic.”
Layton’s normally bright blue eyes, praised by Selena as kind, froze like an icy lake.
“No one judges me by such things.”
“Excuse me?”
“They know I’m not that kind of person.”
“…That’s a hasty conclusion.”
The person who had explored and wielded all the empire’s hidden darkness.
At just sixteen, had survived battlefields and returned to seize the marquisate, killing all the corrupt humans who opposed him.
Someone worthy of being called a demon, handling other demons.
That was Layton Zains.
Calling such a person kind?
That was… impossible.
“Whoever that is, they’re flattering you too much. Better not get close—clearly a materialistic person.”
“….”
“Really, Marquis. Be careful.”
Layton chuckled faintly, thinking back to the banquet conversation.
It hadn’t been flattery, which made it all the more troubling.
‘Marquis, it’s better to listen to what those young ladies are saying than to nonsense like that.’
‘It’s fine, Marquis.’
Had there ever been anything truly fine in his life?
He was used to it.
As always, he could easily ignore looks of hatred.
But…
‘Why did I feel that way at that moment?’
Hearing Selena’s comforting words, his chest strangely sank.
He couldn’t understand why, and it gave him a headache.
Why had he smiled then?
“Oliver, what do you think of Lady Selena?”
“Excuse me?”
Startled by the unexpected question, Oliver fell silent in thought.
Lady Selena Bennett.
Though still youthful, her golden hair and violet eyes were among the most beautiful in the empire.
Coupled with her unabashed, bold charm.
She could be a bit hot-headed and act unpredictably, yet that only made her more endearing.
A noble lady unlike any others.
Oliver spoke honestly:
“Even after all she’s been through, she remained composed. That left an impression.”
“Composed, you say?”
Layton tilted his head. Composed? She had seemed on the verge of collapsing.
Even confronting the rude count, she had been proud, but now she wavered like a candle in the wind.
So instead of refusing him, he had said he would stay.
Her brightened expression and relieved smile stayed in his mind.
‘Could it be that’s why I said I’d stay?’
And her effort to comfort him—was that why it affected him?
Thinking of Selena’s confident appearance at the banquet, he frowned slightly.
It wasn’t pity.
Neither of them was in a position to pity the other.
‘Then what is it? Affinity?’
He, too, had been alone all this time.
Losing his mother during childbirth, his father unable to care for him due to the curse.
Left alone, burdened with the head of the house’s responsibilities.
Perhaps recalling that solitary past, seeing someone striving so hard…
The reason remained unclear.
Despite acting recklessly beyond the original plan, for now:
‘The promise must be kept. The Grand Duke’s household is still valuable until the curse is lifted.’
The slight deviation from his plan had thankfully not derailed it.
And this minor deviation would have little impact on his objective.
It had to be that way.
Finally managing to sort through his complicated feelings, he picked up a letter from the table.
Oliver quickly added an explanation:
“It seems Nanny Marin sent this out of concern, since the curse’s time is approaching.”
Layton paused while looking at the document.
“Pointless action.”
“She’s concerned.”
“…Will that change anything?”
His sigh echoed through the room.
He had come seeking a way to lift the curse, but for now, there was nothing he could do.
‘That time will come again.’
The time no one could save him from—he feared it.
Unless an actual angel came to save him.
Laughing bitterly, Layton realized such luck would never arrive.
A week later.
In a dark room.
Under the full moon in the night sky, Layton writhed in pain, gasping for breath.
‘Damn, my mind…’
His vision blurred, and he could barely keep his eyes open.
The room was empty of guards, all driven away, and only faint groans echoed.
With eyes closed, sweat pouring, demons whispered around him.
“Layton, your existence is a curse.”
“Your powers will eventually devour you.”
“The demon’s curse will drag you into hell.”
Dark energy swirled around the bed.
Layton gritted his teeth until they bled.
If he lost consciousness, the curse would consume him again,
And he might have his soul controlled by demons.
Just like his father.
Controlled by demons, killing all who followed him, and ending his own life.
Gasping for breath, Layton clutched the white bedsheet tightly.
He just wanted to let go of it all.
As his mind began to fade, a delicate voice pierced the air.
“Good heavens, it’s this bad? You were going to endure it all…?”
The voice trembled faintly.
Was it fear? Worry?
Who could it be?
Could it be an illusion?
Perhaps a hallucination from the pain.
As he tried to open his eyes to see, the owner of the voice suddenly opened his mouth with a finger.
“There’s no choice, so forget it. It’s not that important.”
At the same moment, warm liquid entered his mouth.
Startled at first, his blazing chest began to calm.
Finally able to open his eyes, Layton steadied his breathing.
‘W-what… is this…?’
It felt like a dream that had lifted his pain.
Who had helped him?
He couldn’t believe it.
Clutching his still-dizzy head, he reached for the faint hand beside him.
“Oh? You’re awake…”
A startled voice came, but Layton had no choice but to ask:
In a low, hoarse voice, desperate:
“Are… you an angel…?”
Perhaps, indeed, an angel had come.
