The butler bowed and left. As Cedric walked me to my room, he said,
“Revril, I told you not to listen to what my mother says.”
“I couldn’t just keep ignoring it, especially when I didn’t even know when you’d return.”
Cedric looked at me silently. Then he gently placed his hand on my cheek. Feeling his warmth for the first time in a while, I instinctively looked up at him. Cedric stared deeply into my eyes. His emotions felt intense in his dark gaze.
“I should have come to you earlier.”
His voice held a hint of regret. I quickly responded, feeling sorry instead.
“No, it’s okay. If I hadn’t done something like that in the first place…”
Cedric kissed my cheek.
“Let’s stop talking about that.”
He gave a slight smile. I nodded. It wasn’t good for him either, and honestly, it made me feel bad too.
Just then, we reached the door, and Cedric opened it. I entered the room without saying a word.
A moment later, there was a knock at the door. Cedric didn’t seem surprised, as if he already knew who it was.
The visitor greeted Cedric, then bowed to me. I had seen him before. Cedric gently held my shoulder and spoke calmly.
“Revril, I called him to check your health. I’ve been worried.”
“Cedric, you don’t have to go this far…”
“Still, just in case. Please let him check.”
I had no choice but to sit down on the chair. The doctor carefully took my wrist, just like before, and stayed still for a moment. Then he slowly let go. His expression had changed—it was much more serious than before.
“My lady’s condition is worse than before. She seems to be under more pressure now.”
Cedric’s brows furrowed. I didn’t want to worry him more, so I forced a cheerful tone.
“Cedric, I’m fine. I probably just slept badly today. I’ve been tired from reading too much lately.”
Cedric gave a subtle signal to the doctor. The doctor bowed and left the room. A quiet silence fell. Cedric slowly walked up to me. As I watched, he knelt on one knee in front of me, held my hand, and looked into my eyes.
“Revril.”
His voice was low and gentle. It made me want him to stay by my side, softly calling my name forever. Somehow, my emotions began to overflow like a dam breaking after being held in for so long.
I barely held myself together and smiled. But maybe my smile was awkward, because Cedric spoke even more gently.
“Revril, rest. I’ll just stop by my mother’s place and come back.”
He stood up calmly. I called out his name a little late.
“Cedric.”
He turned around. I hesitated. Should I tell him what his mother had said? But I felt it would only make things worse between them, so I shook my head.
“It’s nothing. Go ahead.”
Cedric smiled and replied lightly,
“I’ll just greet her and come right back.”
After Cedric left the room, an odd sense of unease filled my heart. And now the doctor said my health had gotten worse too.
‘It’s good that Cedric came back, but…’
I sighed and lay down on the bed.
A sharp blade came at my neck. I opened my eyes wide. Darkness greeted me.
‘Was that a dream?’
I wiped the sweat from my forehead and let out a breath. I checked the time. It was too dark to see clearly, but by the moonlight, I could make out the hour hand. 11 PM. I must have slept longer than I thought.
‘There wasn’t anything tiring lately…’
As I turned my head weakly, I saw the medicine on the nightstand. The doctor had left it for me because my condition had worsened. I stared at the white pills.
Then, a horrifying sound echoed. A scream of someone in pain, crying out. I immediately got out of bed and looked out the window. The garden was lit, but I couldn’t see anything else.
I had heard a sound like that once before at the mansion. Back then, Cedric had shown up and reassured me. But now, no matter where I looked in the room, Cedric wasn’t there.
Feeling anxious, I pulled the bell cord.
A few minutes later, a maid entered the room.
“My lady, did you call?”
“Where’s Cedric?”
“He should be in his office.”
I got up right away and left the room. My heart pounded with worry. That dream earlier hadn’t been good either. A blade coming at my throat… it scared me. I felt like just seeing Cedric’s face would calm my anxious heart.
When I reached Cedric’s office, I knocked hurriedly. There was no answer from inside. Just in case, I tried the doorknob. It turned smoothly. The door opened without a sound, so I slowly stepped inside.
It was quiet. Cedric wasn’t there, and the lights were off, making the room dark.
‘Where did he go?’
Just then, I noticed the office chair turned toward the window. That back looked familiar.
I stepped back. It was someone I didn’t want to run into in this mansion. But as if she had heard my steps, she slowly turned her head. Her eyes were sunken, filled with deep darkness.
I managed to steady my startled heart and spoke.
“Mother.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I heard Cedric was here, so I came. But why are you…”
“I was wondering what it would have been like if Batis had this position instead. Not that monster.”
A ghostly gleam appeared in her eyes. A chill ran down my arms. I instinctively stepped back.
“How strange to see you here. I called for you all day, and yet you ignored me.”
“Ignored…?”
“Don’t pretend. Herder already told me everything. Is that how you treat a guest I invited to keep me company?”
“Mother, I—”
“I never expected much from someone raised in such an unrefined family, but how could you?”
“I didn’t mistreat him.”
I forced myself to speak, mustering what little confidence I had. I thought saying it might help ease the frustration in my heart. Cedric’s mother chuckled coldly.
“But Herder says differently. He said it looked like you were jealous, and it was unpleasant.”
“I didn’t say anything. Cedric—”
“Really? But if you didn’t say anything, how would Cedric know everything I said? You told him everything.”
“Mother, I didn’t—!”
I tried to say I didn’t, but she cut me off sharply.
“Do you feel good, driving a wedge between me and Cedric? Don’t you see he’s turning more into a monster because of you?”
I couldn’t reply. She had been calling him a monster from earlier, and I didn’t know how to answer. She stood up slowly, leaning on her cane.
“You know he’s cursed, right?”
As I stood silently, she came closer, leaning on her cane.
“He’s already become a monster. And lately, his symptoms have gotten worse.”
“His symptoms got worse?”
She widened her eyes and smiled.
“You didn’t know? Cedric sometimes becomes extremely cruel because of the curse.”
“…”
“Even now, he’s not in the mansion. I’m sure he’s out somewhere killing something. If he doesn’t, he loses control.”
Her words were so terrifying, my heart pounded. I unconsciously stepped back. But she walked toward me, smiling. The sound of her cane got closer.
She stared at me with sunken eyes.
“Maybe it’s because of you, but his curse has clearly gotten worse. He never went hunting late at night before. But now, just look—he’s not even here.”
I suddenly stopped. My back had touched the wall. She stared at me without blinking. Her thin, wrinkled face cast eerie shadows, making her look creepy. She looked at me and spoke like spitting venom.
“In the end, just like with Batis before, he’ll try to kill you too.”
I suddenly remembered the blade from my dream. But that was only a dream. Cedric would never do that to me. No matter what, his mother was wrong about him.
I stepped aside and headed for the door.
“The doctor visited you too, didn’t he?”
At her unexpected words, I turned my head. She was leaning on her cane, smiling at me.
“Isn’t it funny, a doctor checking on your condition so carefully?”
