Chapter 5
“Little one.”
“…Yes?”
“If anyone ever says things like that to you again, just let it go in one ear and out the other. All right?”
“…Let it go?”
“Yes. Forget it all. Those people just need someone to take their anger out on. So they say whatever comes to mind—no, whatever nonsense they want.”
“…But…”
“A curse is something placed only on the most wicked people—those who’ve committed sins even the gods cannot forgive. A curse on a child as kind, cute, and innocent as you? Who says that? If anyone ever says something like that again, bring them to me. I’ll scold them myself.”
“…Really?”
“Of course! And I’ll be the one to pat your head, too. I’ll pat it every single day.”
Grace answered firmly as the child looked up at her, large eyes still shimmering with tears.
For a moment, the child looked confused—then he broke into a shy smile. Seeing his black mask crease slightly from how brightly he smiled, Grace smiled back.
“Oh my, you’re even cuter when you smile. You’re handsome!”
“…You’re pretty too, milady. You look just like an angel.”
“Oh my, really? Thank you. I’m honored.”
Seeing Grace smile back at him, the child finally seemed to relax completely and moved closer to her.
Unable to resist his sweet, affectionate demeanor, Grace stretched out both arms and pulled him into a tight hug. The child startled for a moment, then let out a small laugh and wrapped his thin arms around her neck in return.
Patting his back, Grace walked over to a nearby bench and sat down. She placed the child on her lap and gently brushed his long hair aside.
“But why are you hiding such a handsome face behind all this long hair? And I’ve been wondering—why do you wear that mask?”
Was wearing a mask some kind of trend at Felix Castle?
She had seen countless ridiculous fashions become trends among nobles simply because nobles wore them, so she wondered if this was something similar. Thinking that, she lifted the hair covering half his face.
“…Ah!”
The moment his right eye was revealed—a vivid blue—Grace let out a gasp.
A red left eye and a blue right eye.
She already knew those bewitching, almost otherworldly odd-colored eyes.
…Duke Felix.
The man she had entered into a loveless political marriage with just yesterday.
The child before her had eyes exactly like his.
Then this child must be Leon Felix—the “cursed younger brother” of the so-called Monster Duke…
How had she not realized it immediately? The child’s exposed red left eye was identical to his.
Scolding herself silently, Grace stared blankly at Leon.
Leon’s eyes were mesmerizing, almost inhuman—just like Arthur’s. Grace found herself unable to look away from those strange odd-colored eyes.
Noticing her gaze, Leon glanced at her nervously. Recognizing the familiar look on her face, his eyes trembled, and he began to tear up. He hurriedly covered both eyes with his small hands.
“…P-please don’t hate me.”
“…What? No—of course not. Why would I hate you? Don’t cry.”
Grace panicked as Leon trembled with his eyes covered.
That was when—
“Leon!”
Arthur came running from the opposite side of the garden, calling Leon’s name urgently, knights following behind him.
Scanning the area frantically, Arthur soon locked eyes with Grace seated on the bench across from him.
He looked momentarily startled—but the instant he noticed Leon crying in her lap, his gaze turned harsh.
Striding quickly toward her, Arthur snatched Leon up into his arms as if pulling him away.
“…What do you think you’re doing?”
“…Pardon?”
“Have you already forgotten the conditions I set? I clearly told you that aside from interfering in Felix’s internal affairs and mistreating Leon, you were free to do whatever you wished.”
“…Ha.”
“Is this about Leon’s necklace?”
Arthur snarled at her, glaring fiercely.
Grace let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
Standing up from the bench, she glared right back at him.
“Why is the necklace suddenly being brought up? And what you just said—it sounds like you’re accusing me of abusing Leon.”
“Is that not the case?”
“No!”
Grace denied sharply.
Arthur stared at her with suspicion.
“Then why was Leon crying?”
“I don’t know! I really don’t! I just thought he was cute and pretty and tried to pat his head, and suddenly he covered his eyes and started crying—saying ‘please don’t hate me.’”
“…You saw his eyes?”
Arthur’s gaze grew even colder.
Then, as if everything finally made sense to him, he scoffed.
“Now I understand why Leon was crying.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“When you saw his eyes, did you freeze and stare, at a loss for words? Then avert your gaze like someone who’s just locked eyes with a monster—terrified?”
“…!”
“Just like you did at our wedding when you first met my eyes.”
Arthur stared at Grace with eyes chilled to the bone.
The moment Grace saw his gaze—and Leon shrinking in his arms—her heart sank.
Did I… think like that, even for a moment?
She reflected briefly, then shook her head.
No.
Unlike Arthur’s eyes, which had frightened her at first, Leon’s eyes had only felt mysterious—entrancing.
That was all.
Yes. That was the truth.
Meeting Arthur’s gaze with firm resolve, Grace spoke.
“…Fine. Since you say so, I’ll be honest. Yes, your eyes frightened me at first. But Leon’s eyes? Not even a little.”
“Spare me the pretty lies.”
“It’s not a lie.”
Frustrated at having her words dismissed, Grace protested. Arthur let out a derisive snort.
“There have been others who said the same. But without exception, once misfortune struck them, they grew afraid of Leon’s eyes too—and spoke cruel words to him.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because whenever ‘something strange’ happened to them, they all reacted the same way.”
“…!”
Arthur’s red and blue eyes were dark and heavy as he stared straight at Grace—as though he already knew what was to come.
A chill ran through her entire body.
Arthur let out a bitter smile as he looked at her frozen expression.
“What? Are you afraid?”
“……”
“I don’t need an answer. Your face says enough. Don’t approach Leon anymore.”
“…Ha. Duke, I admit I was wrong to fear something without truly experiencing it. But telling me not to approach him at all—I don’t understand that. If I want to overcome fear, shouldn’t I meet it more often instead of running away?”
Grace protested, feeling deeply wronged.
Arthur’s anger seemed to subside. He answered her calmly, his gaze steady.
“Will you still say that if something truly frightening happens to you?”
“What?”
“Every woman who has ever been connected to me blamed Leon and me for the misfortune that befell her. …Which I can understand. When unexpected disaster strikes, people want someone to blame.”
“……”
“I can endure it. I’ve dealt with people who change their attitudes at the flip of a hand before. But I refuse to let this child suffer through that again.”
“Duke, I—”
“I fear that you, too, will shake Leon’s heart with shallow sympathy, only to push him away later with cold eyes.”
“……”
“Excuse me. Return to your room and rest.”
With those calm but cutting words, Arthur turned away without hesitation.
Grace glared at his back as he walked away, holding Leon tightly in his arms. She wanted to shout that he was wrong—that she was different.
But her body wouldn’t move.
Because if she truly discovered him in Leon’s eyes—and if something truly strange happened to her—she wasn’t sure she could swear she wouldn’t be afraid.
Grace smiled bitterly.
“…!”
At that moment, Leon’s eyes met hers from Arthur’s arms.
Grace deliberately locked eyes with him—those round, odd-colored eyes staring straight at her.
She wanted to test herself.
Am I afraid?
No.
Arthur was wrong.
Instead of fear, all she saw was a fragile child—terrified that he might be hated.
Grace smiled softly at Leon.
Then she raised one hand slightly and waved, silently mouthing the words so only he could understand.
Goodbye, Leon. Let’s meet again tomorrow.
One word at a time, exaggerating her lips so he could read them easily.
Leon’s eyes widened as he understood.
Then he broke into a radiant smile, like a flower in full bloom, and waved back eagerly.
Ah… so cute.
Grace kept waving until Leon disappeared from sight.
