episode_0049

Rachel spoke quietly in a trembling voice.

“… I can’t believe it.”

There is no way his family has such a dirty past. No, it should never have happened.

The Empire is so angry that it will do anything to the devil. No matter how gigantic a pillar of the empire the dukedom is, it is only a matter of time before it collapses as soon as it is revealed that it is tied to the devil.

So, can he, a member of that duke family, survive?

No, that’s nonsense. No matter where you run, if you don’t escape the empire, you will be found and you will be executed. Even if you escape the empire, a life not much different awaits you. Because those are the words of someone who is tied to the devil.

“Rachel, I had a hard time believing it at first. Of course I thought that couldn’t be the case. I believed that our family would be clean and honorable.”

The matriarch’s voice was full of lamentation.

He is in a position where he has to protect everything, including his family, his territory, his position, and his honor. But how frustrating must it have been to face a problem that you couldn’t do anything about on your own.

And Rachel actually knew. That there was no way my father would lie.

Isn’t it just a bad thing and isn’t it something related to the devil? There would be no one in the empire who could lie about something like that.

“… Please tell us the story behind it.”

Rachel’s voice was calmer than ever. I realized that there was no point in running away, so I decided to just accept it calmly.

of course. I’m not sure if I can remain calm after hearing the story, but… .

Aren’t you the next head of the Iris duchy? No matter what story you hear, it is right to accept it and reflect on it.

That’s what all nobles should do.

Grrrr-.

The empty glass was filled with wine, and the story began to flow from the matriarch’s mouth again.

“It was some time later that I met the devil.”

* * * * *

It was a gloomy day with a cloudy sky.

Sigh-.

There was no knocking on the door, but the office door opened of its own accord.

The only person who can do such a thing is the wife next to him.

An angry Dekaron raised his gaze from the pile of documents and said.

“Who dares to open the door and get wet… .”

However, those words full of anger did not last until the end.

Was it instinct? It was because I realized that this guy was something foreign.

‘devil… .’

Although the castle’s security was tighter than ever and the mansion was full of employees, he confidently opened the door to the office and entered.

Also, the feeling it gave off was truly unpleasant, so it wasn’t difficult to tell.

This guy is the devil.

The devil who made a deal with the first head of the family.

Dekaron gulped and swallowed. Aren’t demons an object of fear and hatred? It was a natural reaction.

And the guy raised the corners of his mouth as if he was hoping for that kind of reaction.

“I’m here to get your reward.”

“… Please sit down first.”

Dekaron spoke as calmly as possible. At the same time, he firmly held his wife’s slightly trembling hand.

As scary as he was, reassuring his wife was even more important.

After he sat down in a suitable place, the Duke and Duchess naturally sat across from him.

The guy didn’t say anything. I just sit there looking at the couple.

Silence began to fall in the office.

The silence feels like it will collapse if you let go of the tension even for a moment.

The sound of spit dripping was unusually loud, and cold sweat formed on my clenched hands.

After a while, Dekaron couldn’t hold back and opened his mouth.

“What on earth are you trying to get?”

The first head of the family, who was just an ordinary commoner, hoped for wealth and honor through a deal with the devil. And the devil granted his wish.

It would be safe to say that the Iris family’s fame and wealth all came from the hands of the man in front of them.

If so, what did the first head of the family offer for that purpose?

Unfortunately, that much was not written in the diary. As if he didn’t want to tell.

After a moment of silence after Dekaron’s question, the devil burst into laughter and spoke.

“Voice.”

A voice mixed with a slight mockery echoed through the office, as if the situation was simply enjoyable.

Dekaron asked back as he felt goosebumps growing all over his body.

“… Do you mean the voice?”

“Yes, offering the voice of a distant descendant-, that was the deal. It was a very enjoyable transaction because I was able to see the ugly side of humans, which is a good thing if there is nothing to avoid immediately.”

Offer your voice. There would be no other meaning to it. It was just difficult to accept.

Why did he sacrifice his descendants in the distant future, and why did his turn come to him? Although it was true that I enjoyed it and enjoyed it, it only felt unfair.

However, it was impossible to think that the first head of the family was ugly. Because he also had the thought that he would like his future descendants to experience this in his stead.

‘It’s either me or Rachel.’

If we were to say that he was a distant descendant of the first head of the family, then his wife would not be included.

Rachel can never be the only one -. I thought so, but… .

Because the day was cloudy, it seemed as if heaven’s care could not reach us.

“Rachel Iris. I will take her voice.”

thud-!

Dekaron jumped up, slamming his fist on the table.

“I will never leave it like that. I will do whatever it takes to kill you… .”

“Yes yes-, I know. You must be my precious daughter. Since your wife is not in good health, there will be no more children between you.”

“… What do you want to say?”

Dekaron spoke with his brows furrowed, and the devil pushed up the corner of his mouth.

“That’s why. Because it will be invaluable to you. It’s more fun that way, right?”

“This crazy bastard-!”

Dekaron raised his clenched fist.

I knew that nothing good could come of this, but even so, I couldn’t bear it.

If the same situation came up, any parent would do the same.

It was then that I heard my wife’s low voice.

“Dekaron.”

She called his name affectionately yet firmly. The feeling it gave was strangely cold, and thanks to this, Dekaron, who regained his senses, lowered his fist and sat down again.

“You have a good wife, Duke.”

What the devil said was definitely right, but I couldn’t take it in a pleasant way.

However, I couldn’t lose my reason again, so I just gritted my teeth and continued thinking.

I hope so for a while.

“… Let’s return the deal to nothing. There is no need for wealth or fame. I just need to be able to live happily with my family.”

It was a decision I made without hesitation. Because nothing of any value can compare to family.

Of course, there’s no way he would accept that.

“You can’t do that. Haven’t you already enjoyed everything that you will enjoy from generation to generation?”

“It wasn’t a deal I wanted to do in the first place.”

“Unhappiness usually comes suddenly.”

A sigh came out of my mouth. Because it really seemed like there was no way out.

First, I had no intention of giving Rachel’s voice, so I thought about it over and over again.

The guy didn’t particularly urge or demand an answer. He was just looking at me with a smile, as if he was enjoying every moment.

How much time has passed like that?

Raindrops fell from the cloudy sky and were hitting the window.

said the devil.

“Good. So let’s do it like this. Giving birth to a new child. A child with the duke’s blood, who will be cursed. How do you feel?”

To give birth to a child who would sacrifice herself for herself was truly a terrible story.

It’s literally an idea that the devil would think.

However, humans who were cornered were no different from demons.

“… Is that really true?”

“You… !”

Dana, startled by Dekaron’s answer, turned her head and looked at his face.

The face that I always thought was cool was twisted and distorted and stained with pain.

It was natural. From the perspective of the parents who raised Rachel, there is no way they would be happy about sacrificing their child.

Nevertheless, the reason I couldn’t stop him was because there was no way to stop him.

The devil said with a bright smile as if he was satisfied.

“Yes, the devil doesn’t lie. Transactions are always fulfilled accurately.”

* * * * *

Rachel, who was listening to Dekaron’s story, asked in a trembling voice.

“Then Luna… .”

“Yes, this is the child who lost his voice on your behalf.”

A calm voice that conveys only the truth.

Inside was a sadness of unknown depth.

“Well, then why did your mother die? Why are you crying every night… .”

“My child is the prettiest in the world, but that doesn’t mean other people’s children are ugly. That’s how parents are.”

Misunderstandings and illusions.

The truth I heard.

Rachel stood up with a trembling body.

“… sorry. I’m tired.”

With those last words, she left the office.

Dekaron, who was left alone, thought as he filled his empty glass with wine.

It’s a night I really want to see my wife.