Chapter 113

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Kairen stood before the mirror, combing back his thinning hair with his hand.

Reflected in the mirror was a man in his middle age.

Wrinkles around his eyes and oily skin.

A satisfied smile played on his lips.

“Heh heh…”

His gaze passed through the mirror, staring into the past.

“…I remember that night.”

Not long after becoming a knight of the Bloodbell family.

A night when the moon was exceptionally bright.

Kairen discovered that Charlotte’s room window was half-open.

Without realizing it, he placed his hand on the window frame, precariously hanging on, and peered inside the room.

On the white bed, a small and delicate body lay quietly.

Fine hair spread softly on the pillow, and her small chest rose and fell slowly, exhaling breaths of sleep.

“I was just looking…”

But at that moment, Charlotte opened her eyes.

Their eyes met.

“Kyaaaa!”

Charlotte’s scream lit up the castle, and the lord rushed in.

The lord was furious.

“You bastard…! How dare you, my precious daughter…!”

Kairen knelt down, burying his face in the floor.

“P-Please forgive me, Lord…! I was just….”

“Shut up! I’ll make sure you never set foot in this castle again!”

It was then.

“F-Father…”

Charlotte said in a trembling voice.

“I want to forgive him…”

That one sentence saved Kairen.

Thanks to Charlotte, Kairen was not expelled from the Bloodbell family.

But after that,

Kairen was forbidden from even approaching Charlotte or even looking at her.

“Hoo…”

Kairen took a long breath.

“Back then, even looking at you was a sin… but now… you’re wearing a dress for me and becoming my wife. Those pretty eyes and soft lips won’t be able to refuse me. Heh heh…!”

A viscous laugh leaked from Kairen’s lips.

“By the way, yesterday was a pity. Falling asleep drunk… but well, there’s no need to rush. Tonight, you’ll be completely mine anyway. Your body, your heart, even your family…!”

After almost being kicked out for peeking at Charlotte in the past, Kairen lived as diligently as possible.

At least on the surface.

Fortunately, his swordsmanship was outstanding, and thanks to his contributions in the war with the neighboring lord, the Bloodbell lord gradually forgot Kairen’s past and began to trust him.

Eventually, Kairen was able to rise to the position of captain of the knights.

In the midst of all this, the lord’s sudden death.

Kairen felt as if this was a divine revelation.

Charlotte was alone, and the real power of the castle naturally flowed to Kairen.

Kairen used the power of the captain of the knights to drive out knights and soldiers who did not follow him, one by one.

Therefore, there was no one in Bloodbell Castle now except those who followed Kairen.

No, except for one person.

Ramone.

A loyal dog of the Bloodbell family.

An old man who would give his life for Charlotte.

Ramone was currently locked up in the basement of the castle.

He wanted to kill him if he could, but Ramone was a capable butler.

Too good to kill.

‘Once the marriage is over and Charlotte is completely mine, that old man will eventually have to accept it.’

Kairen once again took a slow breath.

Imagining smelling Charlotte’s skin.

“Tonight, everything will be mine…! Kua ha ha…!”

Kairen’s laughter began to spread throughout the room.

◈

In front of the Bloodbell family’s castle gate.

As Lucy arrived, a knight with a sharp face blocked her way.

“This is Bloodbell Castle. What business do you have?”

Lucy quietly handed over the invitation.

“I came by invitation. A wedding invitation.”

The knight narrowed his eyes and looked at the invitation.

Charlotte’s handwriting, the seal’s pattern, the signature.

“…Confirmed. Follow me.”

As Lucy entered the castle following the knight, she felt a sense of alienation.

The castle was very quiet, and the soldiers’ eyes were frozen.

An atmosphere as if preparing for a war rather than a wedding.

The knight walking ahead said.

“First, you must greet the lord.”

“Lord?”

“I’m talking about Knight Commander Kairen Erdian, Charlotte’s fiancé.”

Lucy frowned slightly but nodded.

After a while.

Kairen could be found in the lord’s office on the second floor of the castle.

Beneath the wall with a large stuffed deer head hanging, a middle-aged man was sitting leisurely.

“Oh… Charlotte’s friend…?”

Kairen scanned Lucy up and down.

With sticky eyes.

“…Pretty. Which noble family are you from?”

Lucy did not avoid his gaze and said firmly.

“I’m not a noble.”

“…Is that so?”

Kairen had a thoughtful expression for a moment.

“Then, did you come alone without a guard?”

“Yes. I’m alone.”

At that moment, the corners of Kairen’s lips rose sharply.

“I see… I understand. Go see Charlotte now.”

Lucy nodded slightly and left the room.

Lucy’s steps were light and quiet.

Kairen stared at Lucy’s back for a long time, as if seeing through something.

After a while, when Lucy disappeared, Kairen said to the knight beside him.

“That wench. Keep her after the wedding is over.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Keu heu heu. Good fortune has rolled in.”

Kairen smiled contentedly and raised his wine glass.

◈

Charlotte’s room.

Lucy opened the door and quietly entered.

What caught her eye at that moment was Charlotte, wearing a pure white dress and standing in front of the mirror.

She was cute enough to please Lucy.

“Charlotte.”

“Ah… you’ve come.”

Charlotte turned to look at Lucy.

Lucy quietly approached.

“I came because I heard you were getting married.”

“Ah, yeah… that’s what happened.”

“…”

Lucy’s eyes narrowed.

Charlotte’s dress was noble, and a small flower crown was placed on her head.

But her expression was dark for a bride about to get married.

No, it’s not just dark.

Her eyes were swollen red, and her fingertips were trembling slightly.

“…This isn’t a marriage you want.”

Charlotte flinched at Lucy’s words.

“N-No. This is… my choice. Ramone left too… I have to protect the family… and…”

Charlotte lowered her head deeply.

Hugging Acneros tightly in her arms.

“To protect… even Acneros… I, I have to get married….”

“…Ramone left?”

Lucy asked, as if surprised.

Charlotte nodded, bursting into tears.

“He-Heuk… He got tired of me… and left…”

“…”

Lucy thought that couldn’t be true.

Thinking back to the conversation she had with Ramone yesterday, Ramone seemed to cherish Charlotte very much.

He asked Lucy to come and visit often so that Charlotte wouldn’t be lonely.

For Ramone to get tired and leave in just one day, it didn’t make sense.

‘That bastard did it…’

Lucy looked at Charlotte again.

“Charlotte, you don’t have to get married.”

Charlotte slowly raised her eyes.

“What do you mean…?”

“I’ll take care of everything. Don’t worry.”

“…H-How can you?”

“I’m a witch.”

“But… but… this is a cycle… an unavoidable dark oath… a chain of contracts….”

“I’ll break it. A wind of blood will blow soon.”

“B-Blood wind…?!”

A smile formed on Charlotte’s lips.

Her eyes are sparkling too.

She seems to like it.

Lucy decided to make Charlotte a little happier.

“…The corrupt heart will be judged, and the hidden executor will awaken from the shadows.”

“Heu, heuek…!”

Charlotte tapped her feet.

She seems very happy.

“Then… then… the one to be judged will kneel on the river of blood, right?”

“Kneeling isn’t enough. He will be submerged up to his ankles in the black swamp, repeating the screams of pain for 999 years.”

“999 years…? That much…?!”

When Charlotte asked with a surprised expression, Lucy narrowed her eyes and muttered.

“That’s what a real judgment should be.”

Charlotte nodded, hugging Acneros tightly.

“Oh, a wind of blood will blow in the castle tonight… because the two of us witches have joined forces….”

“That’s right. So don’t cry anymore. Witches don’t cry.”

“…Thank you.”

Charlotte’s eyes were still red, but vitality was returning little by little.

Charlotte quietly asked.

“Then… is it okay if I use the ‘Mark of the Spirit’?”

At that moment, Lucy’s expression hardened slightly.

She wanted to say stop now, but she forced a smile and nodded.

“Of course, you can use it.”

“R-Really…?”

“Yeah. I’ll take responsibility.”

“Heu heu heut….”

It was then.

A voice was heard from outside the door.

—“Lady, please come out. The wedding ceremony is about to begin.”

Charlotte’s complexion turned pale at those words.

Charlotte looked at Lucy with anxious, trembling eyes.

Lucy quietly reached out her hand to Charlotte.

“A wind of blood will blow soon.”

“…Yeah.”

Charlotte held Lucy’s hand tightly.

◈

Inside Bloodbell Castle, the old chapel.

An old space where the name of God is no longer called.

Candles were lined up on each wall, and the huge door was tightly closed.

Knights and soldiers stood on both sides.

All of them were Kairen’s bodyguards.

Silver armor, expressionless faces, silent gazes.

There was no blessing.

Only surveillance and control existed.

And in front of them.

Kairen stood on the altar covered with a red carpet.

Wearing a black uniform with gold epaulettes and a sword at his waist.

A strangely relaxed smile was on his lips.

Creak.

The hall door opened.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the door.

Two girls appeared.

Lucy and Charlotte.

Charlotte was dressed in a pure white dress, holding Acneros in her arms.

Beside her, Lucy, calmly moving her steps, was holding Charlotte’s hand.

The footsteps of the two people softly brushed against the carpet.

Kairen opened his mouth.

“Oh, my bride…! You are truly beautiful. Your friend beside you is also very beautiful. Heu heu heut.”

Charlotte’s lips trembled.

Lucy squeezed Charlotte’s hand tighter.

“Well, let’s begin.”

Kairen called out a person who seemed to imitate a priest.

Rather than a priest, he was a suspicious man with knife scars on his face.

He unfolded a paper and said in a stiff voice.

“Ahem, ahem, we will begin the ceremony to prove the marriage between Charlotte Bloodbell and… Knight Commander Kairen Erdian.”

At that moment, Lucy raised the corners of her lips.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Thank you for reading…! Have a good night…!

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Ignoring the fact that no imperial matters with the aftermath of Bloodbell family were ever explained, another minecraft youtuber expose video will drop on the next chapter.