Chapter 185
“You won’t die. It’ll be tough for a while, but I trust you to handle it.”
“Waaah!!”
Alos screamed, but it was a futile cry.
With a gloomy expression, Alos was dragged along as Christian mounted his horse.
Just as they were about to leave the castle, an unexpected figure stopped them.
A calm, gentle-looking beauty.
It was Yurian.
“…Princess Yurian.”
“I came by to at least say goodbye since you’re heading somewhere dangerous.”
Yurian smiled softly.
Her smile was so lovely it seemed to brighten the surroundings, but Christian couldn’t look at it comfortably.
‘Has she gotten stronger?’
On the surface, her power seemed unchanged.
But the lingering trace of the demon’s influence had deepened significantly.
Only Christian, who had lived through the era of destruction, could sense it.
‘She’s received an additional blessing from the demon. But why?’
Christian’s gaze darkened.
More important than the fact that she had gained stronger demonic power was the reason behind it.
All demon contractors make their pact driven by a desperate wish.
What was Yurian hoping for?
‘She definitely didn’t make a pact to claim the head of the family.’
Yurian had never interfered while Christian was being appointed Grand Duke.
What she desired was something else, not the family headship.
‘I have no clue.’
Christian realized anew how little he truly knew about Yurian.
He had been far too indifferent toward her.
‘But one thing’s certain.’
Yurian was harboring something chilling.
The sharp tension radiating from her proved it.
Though she smiled gently, it felt as if a blade was hanging over them.
“Come to think of it, I never properly congratulated you on becoming Grand Duke. I should have looked after you as your older sister. Sorry.”
“No need for such pretense. You don’t care about me at all, do you?”
“!!”
For a moment, Yurian’s face stiffened.
But then she relaxed back into a soft expression.
“That’s not true. I do think you’re special in my own way.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Strange, isn’t it? We’re not even close. I don’t really understand it myself, but maybe it’s because I feel you’re different from others. I don’t even fully understand my own feelings.”
Christian fell silent, unable to grasp her unpredictable words.
Yurian chuckled softly.
“You’re going to the western territory yourself this time, right? To save the people?”
“…What do you mean?”
“I heard about how you treated the people during that recent outbreak of the Black Plague at Gold Cross. They even call you the Saint of Darkness, don’t they?”
Christian looked surprised.
That story hadn’t spread much in the Mage Empire.
Compared to other major events, it was a minor incident, so few paid much attention.
“Well, I was just trying to stop the cursed mages’ schemes. It wasn’t really for the people’s sake.”
“If it was just to interfere, you wouldn’t have gone so far as to treat all the patients so diligently. I heard you saved every single one.”
“…I just had the ability, so I used it while I could.”
“Heh, that’s what makes you different from most people. The world is full of those who have nothing but malice, not even a shred of goodwill.”
Yurian’s tone grew strange.
“They don’t even hesitate to drag others into hell for their own greed.”
Christian flinched.
‘Did she just—?’
Though she spoke casually, it wasn’t a throwaway comment.
Christian sensed that this was a crucial clue to Yurian’s true nature.
“You sound like you’ve been through something similar.”
He tried to probe, but she just laughed it off.
“Well, who knows? Heh. Anyway, I’ve kept you here long enough. Take care.”
With that, Yurian vanished suddenly.
After parting ways with Christian, Yurian climbed to the castle’s highest tower.
Facing the wind, she looked up at the sky.
“Been through something similar, huh.”
Her face darkened.
“More than just been through it.”
A horrific scene flashed through her mind.
The hell she had endured in the past.
If not for that, she would never have sold her soul to a demon.
At that moment, a high-pitched voice called out to her.
“How did you find Christian?”
Turning around, she saw a startling figure.
Radiant silver hair.
A face as beautiful as a woman’s.
Yet crossed by a chilling scar.
It was Gerard, the First Prince who had tried to kill Christian!
Gerard had fallen into Gehenna thanks to Christian’s cunning but had returned alive.
Not just alive—his eyes flickered with the ‘instrument’ of a demon.
Proof that Gerard had become a demon contractor.
“Are you feeling well now, brother?”
“Ah, thanks. But calling me ‘brother’ feels a bit off, doesn’t it?”
Gerard smirked.
“You’re not even my real sibling.”
“!!”
A shocking, meaningful statement.
Yurian didn’t deny it.
“Does that even matter to us?”
“Heh heh, right. You want the blood of the Dark Mage, and I just want to drink that blood alongside you.”
Gerard licked the scar that slashed across his face.
“So, what will you do about Christian?”
Yurian was silent for a moment.
She planned to stain the Dark Mage’s blood.
But strangely, unlike with others, she didn’t want Christian dead.
Especially not by her own hand.
‘But I can’t let him live if it gets in the way of my goal.’
There was only one way.
Yurian spoke in a firm voice.
“You kill Christian for me. Take advantage of the chaos during this poisonous mage incident.”
“Heh heh, fine. Christian’s life is mine anyway—I have no intention of letting anyone else take it.”
Gerard’s lips curled into a sinister smile that matched his beautiful yet twisted face.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of grand spectacle you’ll put on this time.”
He raised his hand to stroke the scar on his face.
Madness gleamed in his jewel-like eyes.
“Every time I think of Christian, this scar tingles. Even now. Ah, it makes my heart race with excitement.”
Gerard vanished in a flash, and Yurian’s gaze grew heavy.
‘No choice.’
In the past, in that terrible hell.
She had sworn to become a demon.
So, everything was fine.
Behind Christian, a new threat was beginning to approach.
‘Yurian is dangerous.’
On the way to the western territory, Christian thought.
He had no idea what her true goal was, but one thing was certain.
Yurian carried a great danger within her.
‘I need to prepare.’
Perhaps Yurian would try to interfere during this poisonous mage crisis.
If that happened, what was already difficult would become even harder.
But that was fine.
‘After all, Princess Yurian doesn’t know what cards I’m hiding.’
Yes.
No matter what schemes the Poisonous Mage, Marquis Goras, had laid.
No matter what obstacles Marquis Langham tried to throw.
No matter what dangerous dagger Yurian might hurl.
It didn’t matter.
He would crush them all.
“Alos?”
“Yes, yes?”
“You remember what I told you to do, right?”
Alos’s face went pale.
“I’m counting on you.”
Thus began Christian’s ‘operation’ to manipulate everyone.
The next day.
They finally arrived at the western territory.
Upon arrival, a heavy atmosphere hung in the air.
Fear of the mysterious plague gripped the people.
“Who are those?”
“They’re from the main family. Is that Christian, the Grand Duke?”
A handsome young man appeared before the crowd.
“He might be the greatest genius in the family’s history.”
“If it’s him, maybe he can solve this plague.”
“Long live Grand Duke Christian!!”
“Long live!!”
Shouts of hope erupted.
But Christian’s reaction was strange.
Normally, he would have worn a smug, arrogant expression, but now he forced a smile.
There was a reason.
‘Ugh!! Damn demon! How could you make me do this!!’
Because it wasn’t really Christian.
Christian had disguised Alos as himself using the Crest of the Constellation, making him the double.
Alos squeezed his eyes shut and recalled the conversation he’d had with Christian.
You want me to be the double? But I don’t know anything about poison or disease.
It’s fine. Actually, it’s better.
Better?
The goal is to deceive the enemy’s eyes. Just act clueless and confused. Actually, to fool them completely, it might be better if you get poisoned yourself.
Hearing that, Alos swallowed hard.
He realized Christian’s plan wasn’t just about investigating the truth.
He was using Alos as bait to blind the enemy while plotting something terrifying.
But even so, getting poisoned? No way! I absolutely refuse!
Yeah, I can’t poison you myself. I’m a good guy. Instead, here.
…What is this?
It’s a medicinal elixir. An improved version. It boosts magic power much more efficiently than the old one. Even a fool like you can absorb it easily.
…Why are you giving me such a precious thing?
Alos looked at Christian suspiciously.
As expected.
But there are some side effects.
…What kind of side effects?
There’ll be symptoms similar to the plague spreading through the western territories. Ah, but it won’t be severe, so you don’t need to worry too much.
…Are you sure?
Probably? You won’t die from it.
Aaargh! What kind of ominous answer is that?! You’re basically saying you’ll poison me, aren’t you?!
A good elixir is always harsh on the body. If you don’t like it, then tough—no elixir for you.
The plan was to sacrifice Alos, making the others completely let their guard down.
Alos frowned but couldn’t refuse.
The elixir Christian handed over was a rare, precious remedy—something a lowly bastard like Alos from a minor branch could never hope to receive.
‘Ugh, you wicked demon! Sniff Lord Roy, I miss you so much. When will I ever be free from this devil’s grasp?’
Today, more than ever, Alos found himself longing for the young marquis Roy he’d met at the Gold Cross.
Meanwhile, Randol, the spy sent by Marquis Langham, let out a quiet chuckle.
‘As expected, it’s nothing special. Well, of course. No matter how much of a genius someone is, there’s no way they’d have deep knowledge of poisons and diseases. They’re all just puffed up by being called geniuses, clueless about their own limits. Serves them right.’
He watched as Alos, disguised as Christian, fumbled awkwardly.
‘Marquis Langham ordered me to cause trouble, but it looks like I won’t even need to lift a finger.’
Randol wrote a letter to Marquis Langham, assuring him there was no need to worry about Grand Duke Christian uncovering the truth.
But there was one thing the spy Randol didn’t know.
What the real Christian was doing at that very moment.