Chapter 5

No way.

Bella drew in a sharp breath and forced herself to swallow the scream threatening to burst from her lips.

It’s him.

It was him.

My destined partner.

The man from her dream.

The one who had taken her life.

The gift sent by God.

And the only person who could save her from this terrible reality.

I never imagined I’d meet him this soon.

Unable to tear her eyes away from the man’s retreating figure, Bella slowly smiled.

Why is everything going so smoothly?

It was almost frightening.

Had the god of fate—who had always been so merciless to her—suddenly changed His mind?

Was this His way of apologizing?

Then again…

It doesn’t matter.

What kind of person is he?

Her gaze drifted back to him.

Black hair.

Black clothes.

It was obvious at a glance that he preferred colorless shades. Even his gloves were jet black.

Hm? Gloves? At this time of year? Why is he bundled up like that?

Bella tilted her head.

“Does he get cold easily?”

That was unexpected.

He looked like the sort of man impervious to anything, yet he was apparently vulnerable to chilly weather.

Although it was early autumn, the afternoons were still warm. Wearing gloves already seemed excessive.

“Avalan has unusually long winters.”

Evan answered from beside her.

“Though some people say it isn’t because of the climate. They say the duke is a clean freak.”

“…I see. A remarkably tidy handsome man.”

Watching him take a seat at one of the tables, Bella nodded.

Not that being handsome had anything to do with being obsessive about cleanliness.

This is the first time I’ve really seen his face.

In her dream, she’d been too busy staring at her own dead body to appreciate his appearance.

She had known he possessed an extraordinary presence.

She simply hadn’t realized it was this overwhelming.

The proof was all around him.

Even the noble ladies who had been trailing after him, desperate for his attention, couldn’t quite bring themselves to approach. The other nobles weren’t much different.

“Is he really that important?”

“Oh, incredibly.”

Evan nodded without hesitation.

“What exactly is this man?”

There was an invisible wall between the capital and the provinces.

Only the central nobility could attend meetings of the Imperial Council.

The provincial nobles spent their lives trying to gain entry into the capital.

And yet…

The very central nobles who normally looked down on everyone else were practically bowing to him.

“How old is he?”

“I think he turned twenty-four this year.”

Bella’s eyes widened.

“He’s younger than I expected.”

Twenty-four.

Goodness…

“I thought he’d be older.”

It wasn’t that he looked old.

Rather, perhaps it was because he dressed entirely in such somber colors.

Combined with the weighty aura he carried, he seemed far more mature than others his age.

Though his expression certainly contributes.

Most young men his age would be thrilled by the admiring gazes of noblewomen.

He, however, seemed utterly indifferent.

It was almost as though time itself stood still around him.

Maybe becoming a duke so young forced him to grow up early.

That seemed like a reasonable conclusion.

“When did he inherit the title?”

“When he was twelve.”

“That young? Then the previous duke…”

“He died early.”

So that was the story behind him.

Bella finally understood, at least a little, the melancholy air that seemed to surround the duke.

“What happened?”

“He took his own life.”

“…”

“And that’s not all. The duke before him… and the one before that… every previous Duke of Avalan ended their own lives as well.”

“…What?”

The revelation struck far deeper than she had expected.

For a moment, Bella forgot how to breathe.

No—

She couldn’t.

As she slowly turned her head, she met the duke’s calm blue eyes.

“For reasons nobody knows,” Evan continued, “the heirs of House Avalan always end their lives by their own hands.”

“What?”

“That’s why people call them a cursed bloodline. Though…” He shrugged. “It’s just gossip. There’s no proof.”

A cursed bloodline…

The words only deepened Bella’s curiosity.

She looked at him again.

His expression remained unchanged, as though nothing in the world could disturb him.

Around him, young ladies fidgeted anxiously, desperate to catch his eye.

Strangely enough…

Bella found herself doing the same.

She had never felt like this before.

Yet simply watching him filled her with restless impatience, tightening her chest until her heart pounded wildly.

“It’s too unsettling to be dismissed as coincidence,” Evan added. “Not one or two dukes—all of them met the same end.”

Bella disagreed.

Perhaps everyone else would call it coincidence.

She couldn’t.

Not anymore.

Someone who had already witnessed fate with her own eyes had long since stopped believing in coincidences.

To her…

A curse wasn’t something frightening.

It was fascinating.

So he’s carrying a secret that enormous.

The corners of her lips slowly curled upward.

Of course.

If he’s the messenger of death who came to kill me… he ought to have a story worthy of it.

Her eyes sparkled even brighter.

“Still… if those rumors are so terrible, why is he so popular?”

She pointed toward the shrieking noble ladies gathered in the distance.

Their cheeks were flushed red as they did everything they could to catch the duke’s attention.

She understood her own interest.

But what about them?

Why were they all so obsessed with a supposedly cursed duke?

Was there some special reason?

“The answer’s simple.”

Evan shrugged.

“He’s incredibly rich.”

“…”

“And whoever marries the Duke of Avalan becomes the mistress of the North.”

“…That’s a lot less interesting than I expected.”

Bella accepted the explanation, though it disappointed her.

So this fierce competition among the ladies…

It was all about wealth.

Or the prestige of becoming the Duchess of Avalan.

Watching them silently wage their elegant little war, Bella frowned.

I can’t let those women have him.

Anyone else would be one thing.

But she absolutely refused to lose him to women like that.

If they were judging solely by reasons…

Surely she was the woman here who suited him best.

Bella was convinced of it.

She remained tucked away in her corner, quietly observing the invisible battle unfolding from afar.

Then—

“His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, arrives!“

At the attendant’s announcement, the bustling hall instantly fell silent.

The gathered nobles split neatly into two lines, creating a magnificent path down the center.

The Emperor strode through in a flowing crimson robe.

Taking his seat upon the golden throne, he stroked his long beard before surveying the crowd.

Bella discreetly studied him.

He’s aged a great deal.

Time spared no one.

The deep wrinkles around his eyes only sharpened his already stern features.

The gentle, benevolent emperor she remembered was gone.

His face was clouded with worry.

Even the relaxed confidence of his younger years had vanished.

Now he looked like a man forever being chased by something unseen.

Compared to thirteen years ago…

He was practically a different person.

“You may all rise.”

The Emperor addressed the nobles still bowing before him.

One by one, they straightened.

Though hundreds filled the grand hall, only the soft rustling of clothing could be heard.

Everyone waited for the Emperor’s speech commemorating the Empire’s Founding Festival.

“Ahem.“

He cleared his throat loudly before spreading his arms.

“Proud citizens of Argen! You have all heard the reports regarding the troubling movements of our neighboring nations.”

The nobles began murmuring among themselves.

It wasn’t exactly new information.

While other kingdoms struggled with shortages of resources…

Argen alone had remained prosperous.

Naturally, that prosperity had attracted greedy eyes.

“But fear not! We possess those whom God Himself has bestowed upon us!”

As the Emperor’s voice thundered through the hall, the great door to the left swung open.

Figures dressed in white robes entered alongside armed soldiers.

Their sudden appearance stirred excitement throughout the room.

Bella herself couldn’t help reacting.

It had been a long time since she’d seen them.

“My goodness… aren’t those the Morpheus?”

“I can’t believe His Majesty brought the Morpheus before the public. We’ve begged to see them for years, yet he always kept them hidden.”

“That only proves how desperate the situation has become. I’ve heard even the Temple has begun distancing itself from the Imperial Family.”

“Naturally. The priests worship the Morpheus, while the Emperor treats them like tools. Of course they’re displeased.”

Whispers criticizing the Imperial Household spread throughout the hall.

Even so…

The Morpheus had the desired effect.

Children seeing them for the first time…

Even nobles who had seen them before…

Hope shone in every pair of eyes.

They truly were Argen’s hope.

And the tool that maintains the Emperor’s authority, Bella thought with a bitter smile.

The Morpheus were the very symbol of Argen.

As long as they existed, neighboring nations dared not invade recklessly.

Should they provoke the Morpheus’ terrifying power…

An entire kingdom could disappear overnight.

“So there is nothing to fear!” the Emperor declared.

“We are the people chosen by God! So long as the Morpheus stand with us, Argen shall remain the ruler of the continent! A glorious future awaits our Empire!”

Thunderous cheers erupted throughout the hall.

Most were swept up in the Emperor’s passionate speech.

Not everyone.

“As expected… the Fourth Seat is still vacant.”

“And not only the Fourth. I hear the First Morpheus is barely clinging to life.”

“Wait… does that mean there will be two empty seats?”

“The neighboring countries are already restless because the Fourth has been missing for so long…”

“This is becoming serious.”

Young nobles exchanged anxious looks, their faces heavy with concern.

Public confidence has fallen that much…

Bella finally understood why the Emperor had revealed the Morpheus to the public.

Finding all seven Morpheus was the Emperor’s sacred duty.

Yet Emperor Argen VIII had failed to locate the Fourth Morpheus for thirteen years.

Among the priests, whispers had already begun calling him incompetent.

I’m sorry, Uncle… Evan…

But Bella was absolutely certain of one thing.

She would never allow anyone to discover that she was the missing Fourth Morpheus the Empire had been searching for so desperately.

Besides…

She no longer had much time left.

What happened afterward hardly mattered.

The Emperor returned to his throne and released a weary sigh.

An attendant hurried over and whispered something into his ear.

The Emperor’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Well, well… if it isn’t you.”

He smiled warmly toward someone in the crowd.

“It’s been a long time, Duke. I’d heard rumors you were in the capital, but I scarcely believed them.”

“It has indeed been some time, Your Majesty. I trust you have been in good health.”

For the first time since his arrival, the duke finally spoke.

His low, composed voice alone was enough to send the surrounding noble ladies into another fit of squeals.

The Emperor frowned slightly.

“Ahem.“

The hall quieted.

“I’ve heard remarkable things about your exploits in the recent border war. I had intended to summon you myself because of it, so this is excellent timing. How long do you intend to remain in the capital?”

“I plan to leave as soon as the Founding Festival concludes. I cannot abandon the border for long.”

A chorus of disappointed sighs echoed throughout the hall.

The Emperor glanced at the lovestruck ladies interrupting the conversation, then smiled knowingly as though an idea had just occurred to him.

“Come to think of it…”

“How old are you now, Duke?”

“Twenty-four.”

“Then I’d say it’s about time you got married.”

“…Pardon?”

For the first time, a crack appeared in the duke’s composed expression.

At the same moment…

The eyes of every unmarried woman in the hall burst into flames.

Like hunters who had just spotted the greatest prey of their lives.