FTA Ch 3

<episode 3>

 

The woman who introduced herself as Lenira was one of the few servants working at the Duke’s residence.

She readily agreed to guide Gloria into the Duke’s residence.

 

‘Even though he is the Duke, is it really this easy to meet him?’

 

There weren’t even any guards stationed at the Duke’s residence.

Moreover, while entering the residence, Gloria didn’t see any other servants except Lenira.

It made her feel somewhat foolish for covering her face with her robe, worried that someone might recognize her.

As Gloria looked around the old Duke’s residence, she began to suspect that the Duke’s situation was even more pitiful than she had imagined.

 

“This is the Duke’s bedroom…”

 

Standing in front of a grand, closed door, Lenira asked in a trembling voice.

 

“Are…, are you really planning to meet the Duke?”

“Yes.” Gloria nodded nonchalantly.

 

Lenira, holding her hands together, looked up at Gloria with wide eyes before closing them tightly and speaking in a soft voice.

 

“I… I really think you shouldn’t…”

“Is it because of the curse?”

 

Gloria had heard rumors about the Duke.

Five years ago, he went out to subdue monsters and returned cursed.

His body was said to be severely damaged, more than half of it ruined.

Lenira seemed surprised that Gloria would speak so directly about it, her eyes widening in shock.

 

“Are you worried, I’ll be infected by the curse?”

“N-no…”

“Are you sure?”

“….”

 

Gloria chuckled lightly, looking at Lenira.

The woman, who had been gazing at Gloria with uncertain eyes, eventually lowered her head.

 

“No, you’re right. I’m just worried that the saintess might suffer greatly…”

“Thank you for your concern.”

 

Gloria couldn’t hold back a dry chuckle. “It’s fine.”

 

It was almost ridiculous to receive such treatment, even from her own servants.

It seemed that the Duke’s situation was even worse than she had imagined.

 

“Thank you for guiding me.”

 

Without needing Lenira’s help, Gloria opened the door herself and walked into the room.

She could sense Lenira’s anxious presence behind her, but she didn’t mind and closed the door.

The room was very dark.

However, Gloria could tell that someone was sitting on the bed behind the red curtains.

Without hesitation, Gloria walked toward the bed.

Even though it was midday, the man seemed to be enveloped in a darkness as if it were the dead of night.

The man matched the description of the Duke she had heard in rumors.

 

‘Blond hair, rare green eyes.’

 

A radiant golden blond that hinted at royal blood, and a man with green eyes.

His sharp nose and elegant jawline stood out.

Despite having suffered immense pain for a long time, his striking beauty seemed untouched.

 

“…Who are you?”

 

The Duke seemed unable to see properly.

Gloria waved her hand in front of his face to confirm.

At that moment, the man’s brow furrowed in response, as if noticing the motion.

 

He said, “You’re not my maid.”

“Your eyes are good.”

 

It seemed he wasn’t completely defenseless after all.

In an instant, a fierce aura surrounded him, as if to attack.

Gloria calmly stepped back.

There was no need to provoke a man who was already openly showing signs of wariness.

 

“Hello.”

“I asked who you are.” he replied.

 

Hmm…

What should she say?

Gloria hesitated for a moment before speaking.

 

“Have you ever heard of the child of the prophecy?” Gloria asked.

“…The saintess?”

 

There was a trace of surprise in the Duke’s rough, cracked voice.

Gloria absentmindedly nodded, then quickly remembered that the Duke’s vision was impaired, and so she spoke.

 

“Yes. That’s right.”

 

The Duke froze at Gloria’s response.

After a brief silence, he slowly parted his lips.

 

“I’ve never heard the rumor that the saintess is crazy.”

“Really?”

 

That’s strange.

Gloria had a vague idea of the bizarre rumors circulating about her, but it was surprising that there was no mention of her being mad among them.

Well, it didn’t really matter whether such rumors existed or not.

 

“Then have you heard the rumor that I’m a fake?”

 

Once again, the Duke froze.

 

“That rumor is true. So I’ll probably be excommunicated from my family soon. Or, maybe I’ve already been excommunicated by now.” Gloria said.

“….”

 

A long silence passed.

The Duke sat in silence for a while, then twisted his lips into a wry smile.

 

“If you’re looking for someone to consult about your troubles, you’ve come to the wrong place.” he said.

“I’m not here for advice. I’m just informing you of my situation.”

 

Gloria, having grown tired of the Duke’s uncooperative attitude, stopped pretending to be polite.

 

“I know what your situation is, but you don’t know mine.”

“…Incredible.”

“It’s the same for me.”

 

Gloria decided that continuing the conversation was pointless.

She wasted no time in drawing her dagger from the cold scabbard on her left thigh.

She placed the sharp, exposed blade straight into the palm of her right hand.

 

“By the way, what happens to you next will be even more incredible.” Gloria said.

 

Without hesitation, Gloria slashed her palm with the dagger.
In an instant, a long wound appeared, and blood began to flow from it.

 

“Open your mouth.” she said.

“…What?”

 

Gloria pressed her bleeding hand over the Duke’s mouth.

The Duke mumbled and shook his head violently, but Gloria didn’t let go.

Gulp.

The Duke swallowed the blood that had collected in his mouth, his throat moving in a visible swallow.

After confirming this with indifferent eyes, Gloria removed her hand from his mouth.

 

“Hah… huff…”

 

The Duke gasped for breath, his chest rising and falling heavily, his firm torso visible through his disheveled clothing.

Gloria waited quietly until the Duke’s breathing calmed down.

Soon, his muddled, clouded eyes regained clarity.

 

“The curse…” The Duke muttered, as if in disbelief.

 

He realizing that his body was changing.

He repeatedly clenched and unclenched his hands, staring at them as if amazed by their lightness.

 

“You really didn’t know anything, did you?”

 

It was as if I was seeing myself as an innocent child.

Gloria couldn’t help but let out a derisive laugh.

 

“Really, you’ve been so naïve, like a fool.” Gloria said.

“…What?”

“Have you believed everything others told you up until now? You weren’t cursed in the first place.” she replied.

“….”

 

Finally, the Duke looked up at Gloria, his eyes filled with confusion.

Gloria gazed at his eyes, filled with confusion. This man had lived without even knowing what caused his suffering.

He was a discarded tool, used by others until he was no longer of value.

Gloria thought to herself that the Duke’s situation was strangely similar to her own.

 

“That wasn’t a curse. It was just a demon.”

 

The Duke asked in disbelief, “…A demon?”

“Yes, a demon.”

 

Gloria didn’t need to fabricate a lie to provoke him.

She simply needed to tell him the cruel truth.

 

“When you face monsters, the human body gets overwhelmed by the energy the monsters emit.”

 

The handsome face before her twisted grotesquely.

 

“And you’ve been suffering all this time simply because you didn’t receive the proper treatment.”

 

Around ten years ago, before the prophecy came to the empire.

The Duke who as the second prince at the time, was forced by the emperor to go on a monster-hunting expedition.

Soon after, his body was overwhelmed by the demon’s energy.

Nowadays, everyone knows that a member of the expedition must have someone with divine power to suppress demons, but back then, that knowledge didn’t exist.

At that time, there was a lack of understanding of demons, and the Duke’s body was consumed by their energy shortly after the mission began.

Not only the Duke but also his friends, who were forced into the monster hunt, suffered the same fate.

Although he was the son of the late emperor and had earned a title and small land for his efforts in fighting monsters

He had to live with the disgraceful rumor of the “Cursed Duke” and the unbearable pain.

 

“I know better than anyone. I’ve treated countless bodies that were being consumed by demons.” Gloria said firmly.