He had tormented me and the other mixed-bloods mercilessly since we were young. I’ve had my bones broken after being shoved by that bastard more than once or twice. But as we grew up, the mixed-bloods began to stand out, and Lacus, who wasn’t exceptional at anything, fell out of his father’s favor.
“Y-you little…!”
Face flushed crimson, Lacus shouted. Honestly, the thing he does best is slandering mixed-bloods as mongrels, very on brand for him.
“There’s no point dealing with the dull-witted.”
I murmured languidly. Thunk. The hand that was about to slap my cheek froze in midair. While he was fuming, the faintly loosened paralytic incense had soaked his lungs to a syrupy numbness.
“So don’t speak to me carelessly.”
“Ugh!”
His tongue had already stiffened, so I didn’t get an answer. I tucked the incense away and walked past him up the stairs. Pitiful as Lacus was—steeped in victimhood and pettiness—I felt no particular resentment toward pure-blooded humans.
If anything, my steps only grew quicker. Father’s office was the last room at the end of the third floor. Stuffed animals decorated the ashen corridor, looking as if they might spring to life, their glossy eyes raking over me. Pretending not to see the strange ornaments, I opened the door where Father would be.
“Father, you called?”
Behind wine-dark curtains drawn over the windows, Father was reclining on the sofa at the center of the office. When I placed my hands together politely before him, his lined face turned to me.
“Yes. You’re a little late.”
“I’m sorry. I ran into Brother Lacus for a moment.”
I sat where he indicated and smiled sweetly. At the same time, his eyes pinched at the corners. He adjusted his glasses and clicked his tongue.
“Tsk. That boy is useless. If he at least had a decent face, there might be some use for him.”
Father got irritated just hearing Lacus’s name. Sometimes his reaction made me feel a flicker of pity for Lacus, but knowing his true nature, I never felt inclined to take his side.
“Anyway, how was that rare specimen?”
“I went to ease his pain. He seemed a bit sensitive.”
As expected, he was asking about Cartel. I deflected as I answered. Sensitive, my foot—he had enough vigor to pounce on me right away. Father couldn’t even imagine what I’d just been through. And he must never find out. I folded my eyes meekly in a smile.
“I’ll keep a close watch. I don’t think I can go down this week.”
Papers were piled high on his desk. All from the imperial capital, by the look of it, and seemingly urgent. For me, it was a very welcome remark.
“Leave it to me.”
I schooled my face to show neither too much delight nor the least resistance. Satisfied with my reply, Father nodded with a genial look.
“I’ll trust only you.”
Dismissed, I was able to rise. The moment I turned, I felt the gaze studying me prickle along my spine. He doubted and watched everyone, testing their loyalty. Floria was the most trusted daughter, but even she was no exception. I didn’t relax until I’d left the office.
At last, the door separated me from Father. Halfway down the ashen corridor, I was able to wipe the mechanical smile from my face.
‘Be careful.’
Even if Father wasn’t visiting for a week, I had to stay vigilant. I toyed with my necklace and turned my head.
“……”
Past Father’s office and the master bedroom, in the center, there was another room at the far end on the opposite side.
‘I should go downstairs.’
Whenever I came here, I always hesitated. But the outcome was the same. I could never pass this place by. After a long moment of wavering, I walked past the stairs leading down.
Knock, knock. The sound echoed in the quiet corridor. I waited a moment at the door, but no sound came from inside.
“…I’m coming in.”
Creak—the unoiled hinges scraped. In contrast, the spacious interior was filled with antique furniture and elegant ornaments. Yet it felt like no one lived there at all. In the barrenness sat a middle-aged lady, poised like a still life.
“It’s been a while, my Lady.”
I greeted her as I always did. As always, she stared straight ahead. A smile hung on her frozen lips like a doll’s, and her pale green pupils had no focus.
Elaine, Duchess Bennon—Father’s wife and the legitimate Duchess of House Bennon who bore Lacus. The lady’s hand, which I had touched as a child, had been warm. She had a gentle, kind nature and treated the mixed-bloods like her own children.
‘Floria, come here.’
She was also the only one who stood up to Father. The Duchess succeeded in helping the other-species captives escape Father’s grasp. And the next day, she became an idiot.
‘It wasn’t an accident.’
Publicly it was said to be an accident, but I knew. It was none other than Father who stopped her mind.
I stood there for a while, then reached my hand toward her. But I didn’t have the courage to take hers.
“……”
Only the attending maid came and went occasionally; even her own son, Lacus, never visited the Duchess. He would often demean his own mother as foolish and treat her as lowly.
“I’ll come again.”
The soft echo was the only sound that ever came from this place. With those words, I turned away. Back in my room, dragging heavy feet, all strength left my body.
“Haa.”
A snarl of thoughts scattered my mind into a mess.
Will I be able to do well? What if I make a mistake?
An unbearably grueling day. My eyelids, weary with fatigue, sank heavily. At the end of it lay deep darkness.
*** *** *** *** ***
The next morning.
After making thorough preparations, I went down to the cave. What happened yesterday must not happen again.
“……”
The moment I set foot in the cave, my eyes met Cartel’s. Propping his chin in his hand, he was watching me come down. From the way his ears moved, it seemed he had heard my footsteps from far off.
When I approached the bars, the enormous black leopard rose to its feet. I drew a breath and set my hand at my waist.
“Promise you won’t act like you did yesterday.”
I had to get his promise first so he wouldn’t pull anything strange. To my stern words, Cartel casually asked back.
[What did I do?]
He asked while circling around inside the pen. Thanks to that, I was the one left at a loss for words.
Should I tell him not to come close today? Or not to climb on top of me?
The words, too embarrassing to say out loud, dried up in my mouth.
[Well, fine.]
Watching me hesitate, he answered indifferently. It wasn’t remotely reassuring, but it was better than nothing. With a doubtful look, I stepped inside the bars.
“Lower your head. I can’t reach.”
Even at my needlessly sharp tone, he complied easily. The sealing orb that met my palm was still rough, and my face went stiff. As I had yesterday, I laid my hand on it and poured in mana. Maybe because I had done it once, it wasn’t so hard I thought I would die. Only after I had spent almost all my mana could I force Cartel into a human form.
“Put this on.”
Without even catching my breath, I backed away and tossed him the robe I’d prepared. I refused to face him naked like yesterday.
“What is this ragged thing?”
“Clothes. They’re clothes.”
He made a show of being annoyed and tried to set the robe aside. I panicked and stopped him, and the corners of his mouth tilted crookedly.
“I’ve never worn clothes before.”
“What?”
I asked in disbelief, then quickly accepted it. He had lived his whole life in a beast’s body; of course he had never worn anything.
I hadn’t thought it through. Feeling awkward, I stepped up to him.
“…I’ll dress you. But you have to hold still.”
“Of course.”
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