Chapter – 08
Ferdia looked at Sandia with a satisfied expression as she quickly understood what she meant. Perhaps she really was clever.
“And this will be the last time we speak formally like this. You understand what that means, right?”
It was an unspoken declaration that from now on, Ferdia would be her master. A statement meant to firmly establish hierarchy.
“I understand. Then how should I address you from now on? Should I call you Madam?”
Madam?
That was a title normally used for the lady of a household. Ferdia was about to deny it in embarrassment, but when she thought about it, she was going to marry him anyway. Even if only in name.
After organizing her thoughts briefly, Ferdia nodded and answered calmly.
“Th-then do that.”
Though she still stuttered slightly.
“A-anyway… we’ll work out the details one by one. Not just with you, Sandia, but also with the two behind you.”
“Understood… Madam.”
“…Yes.”
This feels unfamiliar.
Ferdia answered a beat late, and Sandia quickly continued.
“The Duke wishes to see you.”
“Ereb? Where?”
Her shoulders still flinched slightly. A sigh escaped her.
“He asked to meet you in the study.”
“Right away?”
“Not exactly…”
Usually, when the Duke called, it meant immediately. Everyone here was his subordinate after all. Sandia observed Ferdia’s reaction as she nodded.
“I’m too hungry right now. I need to eat first. Sandia, go tell Ereb that I skipped meals and I’m starving, so I’ll see him after I eat. I’ll borrow the other maids. I’m still unfamiliar with the castle layout.”
“…I will do that.”
If it had been someone else, they might have scolded her, saying food shouldn’t matter. But perhaps because Ferdia’s position was ambiguous, Sandia simply bowed quietly instead.
After changing clothes, Ferdia headed toward the dining hall while thinking about Sandia.
A pretty smart and sharp girl.
Despite her cute appearance, her stiff voice and expression felt awkward. Thinking about her, Ferdia chuckled quietly.
“This way.”
A maid personally opened the door and bowed. Naturally accepting the courtesy, Ferdia stepped inside the dining hall—then immediately looked surprised.
“Why are you here?”
“You said you were hungry, so I came to eat too.”
Ereb smiled gently while tapping a spoon against a piece of bread. He stood up and walked toward her.
After dismissing the maids, he held her shoulders and guided her to the table, pulled out her chair like a gentleman, and pushed it in once she sat.
Despite his courteous behavior, Ferdia still hadn’t recovered from his sudden appearance.
“How did you know? Sandia just left my room.”
There was some distance between her bedroom and the dining hall, but not enough time for this. Yet he had arrived first.
“How wouldn’t I know? My study is right next to your room, Pedi.”
“…What? Right next to it?”
“You didn’t know?”
She didn’t. Not at all.
If it was right next door, someone should have told her. Mentally, she corrected her opinion of Sandia from clever to rigid.
“What the…”
“Eat first. Aren’t you starving?”
“……”
The feast of steaming dishes before her made her swallow instinctively. Avoiding Ereb’s smiling gaze, she picked up her spoon.
“Th-then… I’ll eat first.”
“Enjoy.”
Ignoring his gentle smile as best she could, she took a spoonful of soup—and immediately felt her appetite surge.
Soon Ferdia was completely absorbed in eating, moving spoon, fork, and knife rapidly without caring about her appearance.
“I’m not going to steal your food.”
Even at his teasing voice, she couldn’t respond, stuffing food into her mouth aggressively. Finding her amusing, Ereb leisurely drank tea while waiting.
After finishing six plates, Ferdia finally regained awareness and let out a satisfied breath.
“…Did I eat too much?”
“It looked good.”
At his comment, she scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“Because of the war… I haven’t eaten like this for nearly half a year.”
“The war was long.”
As he answered, Ferdia studied him carefully before speaking.
“More importantly, why did you want to see me? You said you’d explain things in detail like yesterday, right?”
“That’s right. Though it seems you were waiting more for the food than for me. That hurts a little, but it can’t be helped.”
His gentle tone made it impossible to tell whether he was teasing or serious, so she ignored it.
“Let’s get to the point.”
She seemed particularly weak against this kind of teasing and often avoided it.
“Well, we have time, but I want to mention the most important thing first.”
“The most important thing?”
“Yeah.”
He placed both hands on the table and leaned forward slightly, smiling softly.
“The bloodline of the Grixia family. Have you heard of the Blood Frenzy?”
“Blood Frenzy?”
Her eyes narrowed.
The Grixia family—founding contributors of the Empire and its sword for 500 years. Always standing at the front lines, protecting and destroying enemies.
Their banner bore a silver eagle, while the imperial banner bore a golden one. Proof of their special relationship.
Over time, rumors began to circulate about them.
Blood Frenzy.
That was what people called their hidden secret.
As always, such stories began in the distant past before reaching the present.
“The Grixia bloodline isn’t entirely human,” Ereb said quietly. “According to founding records, the ancestor Terben was described as a silver wolf.”
“Silver wolf?”
“It may sound metaphorical. But according to the heads of the family, it was literal.”
He picked up a fork, searched through his salad, and popped a cherry tomato into his mouth. Ferdia’s eyes followed the motion.
“The Silver Wolf. Terben reportedly grew silver fur and attacked people under certain conditions.”
“You’re saying he was a werewolf?”
“Similar. But different. A Bricolakas.”
“What’s that?”
His tongue briefly appeared as he licked dressing from his lips.
“A being born after killing a werewolf. A predator of werewolves. The owner of silver fur. That’s a Bricolakas.”
“…Never heard of it. Sounds like a legend.”
“It is a legend. But according to family tradition, Terben really was one.”
Ferdia instinctively leaned back slightly.
“So… can you grow fur too?”
At her wary gaze, Ereb laughed.
“Unfortunately, after 500 years, the blood diluted. The silver fur disappeared…”
He paused.
When he opened his eyes again, his gentle atmosphere vanished. A violent aura replaced it, and his dark red eyes radiated killing intent.
“But these eyes remain.”
A chill ran down her spine as she looked at him again with that knowledge. She slowly set down her knife.
“This is what they call Blood Frenzy. The Grixia family curse.”
“Can you control it freely? Your whole presence changed.”
“Even controlling it this much took over ten years.”
She nodded, then frowned slightly.
“But what does that have to do with bringing me here? Or marrying me?”
“It has everything to do with it.”
He drank some water before continuing.
“As I said, the blood can be controlled… but there are periods when it can’t. During those times, every desire reaches its extreme.”
“Every desire?”
“Every desire a living being has. The strongest are hunger, sexual desire, and the urge to kill. Unless one is satisfied, the frenzy doesn’t subside.”
“…Which one is strongest for you?”
“Me?”
He rested his chin on his hand and answered casually:
“Sexual desire.”
“……”
Her face froze.
Seeing this, he grinned.
“I’m joking. No need to look so serious.”
“You really…”
“But I do need someone to help release that pressure. That’s why I need you, Ferdia.”
“Why?”
He looked at her quietly.
“I fell in love at first sight.”
“…What?”
Her eyes widened in shock.
“The moment I saw you on the battlefield, I felt it was fate. Your strength cutting through enemies. Your smile when our swords clashed. Your age. The fact you weren’t married. Everything was perfect.”
“….”
What is he saying?
Was that a confession? It sounded like one, but something about it felt unsettling.
Ereb continued calmly.
