HBRS Ch 1

The duke’s piercingly blue eyes had not faded at all, even after twenty years. Instead of the ardor of his youth, experience had taken its place, giving him a more mature appearance. His strong, distinct features were enough to stir the hearts of those who beheld him, and his healthy cheeks and red lips evoked the urge to touch them immediately.

Damn it, damn it.

Luke struggled to suppress his trembling and excitement. He had expected to be consumed by fiery rage upon seeing his former lover, who had betrayed him, living well. However, the opposite was true.

He felt a heavy ache in his chest, a surge of familiarity, and the fluttering of his heart, all while simultaneously experiencing resentment and anger.

Conflicting emotions, seemingly impossible to coexist, erupted within him, demanding all his concentration to maintain his carefully crafted facade.

Richard’s face was as handsome as ever, just as it had been in his youth. However, the shadows under his eyes and the faint wrinkles that had begun to appear made him look strangely vulnerable. While the Richard of the past had been a cold-blooded man who ruthlessly crushed anything that stood in his way, the current Richard seemed as though he might crumble with the slightest push.

Like “prey.”

“…….”

Truly, irritating.

Luke dismissed the complex emotions he felt upon seeing his former lover with the single word “irritating” and offered a faint smile. A strange, lustful glint already shimmered in his yellow eyes.

Demons are beings driven purely by greed and pleasure. They must obtain what they desire, no matter the cost, and the word satisfaction does not exist in their lexicon.

Regardless of their personality in life, the moment they see an object that stirs their avarice, their innate desire begins to writhe.

Richard, weakened by the passage of time, evoked a sense of challenge and a subtle sadism in Luke. Seeing the man he could not possess in life ignited an ugly possessiveness within him.

All the while ascending from hell, he had honed a dark resolve: to utterly ruin Richard Valerion and drag him down to hell, just like himself.

However, seeing him now, aged with such elegance, changed his mind. Dragging him down to hell and devouring his soul piece by piece was no longer enough.

He felt he must possess him, after all.

He wanted to enslave him, to make him regret and repent for what he had done, forcing him to serve his master for the rest of his life.

Flash—.

Lightning flashed between the streaks of rain. Luke, his gaze fixed on Richard, opened his mouth again.

“The cause of your son’s death is information no one else possesses. If you wish to know more, will you promise to reward me?”

“Ha.”

Richard scoffed at Luke’s request. Not only had this man dared to interrupt the duke’s mourning, he now demanded a reward for information. He had thought the man merely insolent, but it was clear he was utterly mad.

“Insolent wretch…. Just a vagabond, after all. I have no words to exchange with a charlatan, so leave while you have the chance.”

Even as the duke issued his threatening ultimatum, Luke did not so much as blink. Instead, as if he could see right through Richard’s thoughts, he spoke in a voice tinged with amusement.

『You want to know the truth, don’t you?』

The low whisper tightened around Richard’s mind. At the same time, he suddenly felt like he “needed to know the truth.”

“……Persistent. So, how much do you want for this information? If the information is worthless, be prepared to become dog food.”

Although he felt uneasy, as though some force was compelling him, his mouth moved before he could refute the man’s words. Drawn in by the demon’s magic, Richard had no choice but to comply with the negotiation against his will.

“Ahaha, I don’t need money. I already have more than enough.”

Luke chuckled softly and looked directly into the duke’s eyes.

He was still the same, believing that money could solve anything. And he still believed that what Luke desired from him was not wealth.

The demon, wiping the smile from his face, drove a firm wedge into the soul flickering behind the duke’s eyes, ensuring he couldn’t escape.

『What I desire is your favor, Your Grace. Will you grant it to me?』

“…….”

What was that just now?

Richard flinched, a shiver running down his spine, and his body trembled. This time, he could feel it clearly. However he did it, this man had the power to compel a person’s actions. The sudden urge to grant this stranger’s request was certainly not normal.

Was he a mage sent by a noble? Or an assassin?

Whatever he was, he certainly hadn’t approached him with good intentions. Richard, unable to completely resist the suggestion, asked in a tone laced with suspicion.

“I’m not sure what kind of favor you mean. Do you wish me to bestow a title upon you as a reward for the information? Or perhaps you desire land?”

He detested riddles. His head throbbed with each question he posed to the man. It wasn’t simply the tediousness of the conversation, but a genuine, physiological discomfort.

There was something unsettling and strange about him. He’d been pondering the reason throughout their conversation, and he thought he finally understood.

The man hadn’t blinked once during their entire exchange. Those piercingly bright yellow eyes had been fixed on him, never wavering for a single moment.

Unless he was some kind of fish without eyelids, a human being simply couldn’t do that. Just as Richard began to think that “this is wrong,” the insidious voice slipped into his ear once more.

『Shall we go inside and talk? You’re soaked to the bone. You should at least dry yourself off.』

This was no mere invitation. For the master of the house to invite a demon inside carried a special meaning, and Luke pleaded earnestly, as if hoping the duke would grant him this wish.

“…….”

Richard narrowed his eyes upon hearing Luke’s request. Again, he felt the uncomfortable urge to usher this strange young man into his drawing-room. While an ordinary person might have felt a dreamlike sweetness upon hearing the magically laced voice, the proud duke was displeased by the fact that he was complying with all of the man’s requests so readily.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but accept the man’s proposal. Unable to think of a reasonable excuse to refuse, Richard turned away from Luke. He merely gestured with his chin for Luke to follow, ignoring the offer of his umbrella.

“Thank you.”

Luke politely expressed his gratitude for the duke’s invitation and followed. As they left the family cemetery and walked along a small path, the rain began to fall even harder. Richard continued to lead the way, refusing to accept the demon’s courtesy, and Luke followed with a leisurely gait, as though accustomed to such treatment.

The mansion’s gardens hadn’t changed at all over the years. As always, the well-maintained trees and fountain welcomed visitors, and the dirt path was meticulously kept, free of even a single weed.

“…….”

Twenty years ago, he had secretly met with Richard under the shade of that very tall tree. Back then, he had been somewhat aloof, but at least he was a man who knew how to laugh at a silly joke. Now, with the passage of time, he had become far more rigid and arrogant.

Entering the mansion after passing the place filled with old memories, Luke folded his umbrella and spoke in a voice just loud enough for the duke to hear.

『We will be discussing important matters, so please instruct them to let no one in.』

“…….”

As if he wouldn’t instruct his butler to do so on his own. The duke found the man’s meticulous demands impertinent. He was allowing him into his drawing-room, disregarding other appointments, solely because he possessed information about his son, yet the young man continued to act presumptuously.

“Have them thoroughly check him for any dangerous items before letting him in. Inform them that no special hospitality is required.”

This meant that instead of offering tea and refreshments, they were to strip the strange young man bare and check for hidden weapons before allowing him entry. The servants, realizing that he was an uninvited guest, escorted him with a somewhat rough manner, and the duke proceeded to the drawing-room.

He had acted harshly, irritated by the feeling of being manipulated by the man. After all, not even a day had passed since his son’s funeral. Even the Emperor wouldn’t dare request an audience with him at this time, yet this young man, whose origins and even name were unknown, was certainly overstepping his bounds.