Episode 38
====
"…As you know, this incident occurred due to Grand Duke's own actions."
Odelia added, as if making an excuse.
Ludville sighed briefly at her words.
"Who said otherwise?"
It was probably true that Purification was needed at regular intervals.
However, the period of three or five years must have been arbitrarily set by Odelia.
After all, she was the only one who could heal his unresponsive state.
The only thing he could choose now was 'acceptance.'
But…
He hadn't really wanted to live in the first place.
Not that he had the energy to take his own life.
He was just living as he drifted along without any will.
But the Princess had caught him.
Just before Demonization.
With a power close to a miracle, she had eliminated the Demonic Energy and offered to lend him that power without any compensation.
'No, she said she had ambitions.'
But the condition was only a 'five-year contract marriage.'
Wasn't that completely unprofitable?
That was almost like volunteering.
'Is she planning to assassinate me within five years and seize the title?'
That would make a bit more sense.
'It would be more interesting if that were her intention.'
But Odelia's intention was the exact opposite.
She was trying to pull him out and save him, somehow, as he kept getting closer to death on his own.
"Princess,"
Ludville asked abruptly.
"Yes?"
"Are there any side effects to your Purification ability?"
It was a pointed question.
"Using such a miraculous power, there must be a price. The law of equivalent exchange is subtly applied in this world."
"…"
Silence filled the sickroom for a moment.
The tips of Odelia's fingers twitched, but she naturally grasped the hem of her skirt.
After a moment of silence, Odelia spoke calmly, without batting an eye.
"That's why I set a long period."
"Hmm, it's okay if you Purify over a period of time?"
"There won't be any problems."
Ludville nodded without much suspicion.
"I see."
He instinctively asked a sharp question, but he didn't seem to consider the possibility that she was risking her life to Purify him.
"It seems to be a side effect that you can tolerate to some extent."
"…Something like that."
It was a natural reaction.
Who would readily assume that a stranger would suddenly sacrifice their life for them?
Odelia quietly sighed in relief inwardly.
She hadn't been caught. Not yet.
Fortunately, she was able to hide her worsened physical condition after using her Purification power by getting into the wagon and claiming she was tired.
So no one in the Ducal Palace would know about Odelia's condition.
Meanwhile, as Odelia reassured herself, a brief silence fell in the room.
Ludville glanced up at Odelia, who had a calm expression.
Ludville was in an unpleasant situation in a way, as all his options were blocked.
If it were normal, he would have told her to get lost and enjoy his new life as a Monster, or chased her away, telling her to mind her own business whether he lived or died.
Strangely…
The constraint wasn't that unpleasant.
It was planned, transparent, and even she didn't hide her attitude.
'Strange.'
Since the Princess was eagerly trying to fix him, he felt like readily telling her to do so.
It wasn't that he suddenly had a desire to live.
However, he had a strange and unfamiliar impulse to tell her to do whatever she wanted…
Ludville stared at her for a while without saying anything, then slowly turned his gaze away.
"…It hasn't been a fortnight yet. Let's talk about the contract again then."
Odelia felt a little disappointed inside.
But she immediately nodded and replied calmly.
"I understand."
Because she could instinctively feel that he was halfway there.
It seemed that what Ludville needed now was time to think.
The gamble had already been made.
And all that was left was to wait quietly until he gave a definite answer.
While doing what she could.
"Then, I'll wait until you call me."
* * *
Ludville suddenly left the castle.
With his aide, Edwin, tagging along behind him like a goldfish poop.
The person in question didn't want it and hadn't allowed it, but Edwin just followed along as if it were natural.
As always.
"Your Highness, I heard you almost became a Monster?"
As soon as Ludville saw Edwin, he frowned openly.
He didn't say anything, but his gaze was mixed with a rebuke as to why he was following him.
It was an intimidation that would make anyone tremble and sit down.
But Edwin brazenly countered with a look that seemed to say, 'Here we go again.'
"There's a saying that you have to become a Monster to catch Monsters. But that doesn't mean you should become a Monster in that sense…"
"…"
"You left me behind and now you're in this state. Why did you put me in the position of aide in the first place if you were going to be like this?"
"…"
Edwin poured out a stream of nagging, then narrowed his eyes.
It was because Ludville didn't seem to be listening to him at all.
"You're not saying anything because you can't even be bothered to talk to me, are you?"
"…I was just wondering why I put you as my aide in the first place."
"Don't you remember? You kept me around because I was funny."
"I must have had a big flaw in my sense of humor back then."
Ludville imagined sewing Edwin's mouth shut.
Unfortunately, his aide was the type to talk with his expressions and gestures if his mouth was blocked, so it was best to just leave him alone.
"So, where are you going?"
"Rosenbach."
"That rural village? Why are you going all the way there…"
Ludville silently drove the horse.
After realizing the power of Odelia's 'Purification ability,' Ludville felt a certain intuition.
Perhaps she held the key to 'Ancient Magic.'
No, maybe…
'Her power itself may be the reality and essence of the Cardel family.'
That's what he thought.
So Ludville decided to investigate the Cardel family in earnest.
He decided to visit a territory that the Cardel family was known to have Purified with 'Ancient Magic.'
And as a result, vague speculation gradually solidified into conviction.
The same phenomenon was repeated in every village.
A seemingly normal landscape on the outside.
Too quiet streets.
Smiling residents.
But there was an artificial atmosphere throughout the village, and the movements of the people were awkward like theater actors.
'…Illusion magic.'
