Chapter 32
The Monster with Violet Eyes
They had celebrated the birth of a child between Mushila and Kain.
But one day, both of them vanished.
Since the Duke of De Gloston’s family opposed their union, people assumed Kain and Mushila had eloped for love.
When they searched for Mushila’s residence, however, they found nothing but shattered fragments of amethyst crystal.
Mushila’s crystal orb was supposed to glow navy blue.
So whose was this broken orb that shimmered purple?
Magus suspected it might belong to the child inside Mushila’s womb — yet the thought made no sense.
If it was truly the unborn child’s crystal orb, why would it be shattered?
Something felt terribly wrong.
For a child of the goddess Ella, the crystal orb is a conduit — a sacred medium that allows them to use their divine power.
Without it, their body itself becomes the vessel for that power, causing unbearable pain and preventing them from ever growing properly as a child of the goddess.
If Kain and Mushila had simply eloped, they would have taken the orb for their child’s sake, not destroyed it.
Magus read Teyshar’s red letter again.
From the words alone, he could sense only one thing — Mushila’s death.
“Then… Sir Kain…”
If Mushila was dead, then Kain was likely dead as well.
Magus could easily picture the Duke and Duchess of De Gloston grieving — still regretting their refusal to bless Kain and Mushila’s love.
“Sir Kain, what on earth happened to you?”
A flood of thoughts tangled through Magus’s mind, and he exhaled heavily. He felt as if he were going mad.
Maybe, just maybe, Mushila herself had deliberately shattered the amethyst orb.
Amethyst — that meant a child with violet eyes.
The seventh child of the goddess Ella, born with the power of prophecy.
The child of Ella with violet eyes was said to possess a power closest to the goddess herself.
Before the filthy creatures could swarm toward it, the child had to be taken to the Poloid Empire — to be protected.
“We must hurry to the Ishter Empire… but before that…”
Anger surged within Magus, but he rested his chin on his hand and calmed himself. There was something he had to do before leaving — something for the sake of the young one.
He clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles went white.
“Lady Mushila… dead…”
Tears streamed down his cheeks once more. He wiped them with his sleeve, stood up — then sat again as more tears fell.
After parting ways with Illina, Luans immediately went to meet his grandfather Daniel at the Duke of Greikan’s estate.
As soon as Daniel saw him enter the study, he embraced him warmly.
“Ah, Luans. I’ve heard the news — the monster is said to be in the Imperial Palace.”
“Yes. And that monster refuses to return to the Count’s estate.”
“Of course. A monster who has glimpsed the outside world will find it too fascinating to return. In such times, you must draw close, whisper love to it. That’s what you must do, Luans.”
“I’d like to, but the Marquis Spencer of the Poloid Empire keeps interfering.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
“The Marquis Spencer… you mean…”
“Yes, the very one the monster prophesied would kill Adrian.”
Daniel’s lips curled into a dark smile. Inside his mouth was as black as night, and with a long, snake-like tongue, he slowly licked his lips.
“Do you remember the tale I once told you — of the seven monsters that tormented mankind, Luans?”
“The one where the goddess Ella sent a great serpent down to earth to capture them because the people were terrified?”
“That’s the one,” Daniel said, smiling faintly.
“The great serpent devoured five of the seven monsters hidden among humans, but when it came to the navy-eyed and violet-eyed monsters, it was already too full. So instead, the serpent toyed with them — like a cat with its prey.”
Luans noticed that Daniel’s story differed from what he’d told before.
Previously, Daniel had said the monsters were captured and burned by humans after the serpent brought them down.
Now he was saying the serpent had played with them.
Still, Luans dared not interrupt — Daniel disliked questions while he spoke.
“But the serpent made a mistake. It forgot that the monster with violet eyes had the power to see the future.”
Luans felt an uneasy shiver. Daniel was different today — something dark and uncanny pulsed beneath his words.
“Yes… the white serpent grew arrogant. It believed such a weak monster could never escape its grasp.”
Daniel clicked his tongue, licking his lips again with that same black tongue.
Luans looked at it closely — he’d always thought it was blackened by poison, a mark of Daniel’s endurance and strength.
But tonight, it looked more like a viper’s forked tongue.
“The violet-eyed monster begged a great black serpent that lived beneath the earth — told it it would reveal what it desired most, if only it helped her escape.”
“And the serpent accepted?”
“Indeed. Because of that monster, the serpents fought each other. The land burned, countless lives perished.”
Daniel smiled again.
“In the chaos, the violet-eyed and navy-eyed monsters disappeared without a trace.”
He slid a book back into the shelf, then turned. Their eyes met — Daniel’s blood-red gaze piercing into Luans’s soul.
A chill swept down Luans’s spine. His heart pounded uncontrollably.
“My point, Luans, is that arrogance always leads to loss.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“Tell me, Luans — are you certain that monster truly loves you?”
“Of course. But I think the Empress and Princess Charlotte have threatened her somehow. Lorenza keeps repeating that she can’t bring disgrace to the family.”
“Then we’ll have to remove those two soon.”
Daniel stroked Luans’s golden hair gently, his black tongue flicking once more over his lips.
“Don’t worry about Digen. I’ll deal with him. Now go.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
As soon as Luans left, silence filled the study.
Daniel stood still for a long moment, then turned toward the bookshelf.
One by one, he yanked books from the shelves and hurled them to the ground.
Thuds echoed through the room as books piled in chaos.
“Arrogant fools.”
“Children of the goddess Ella? What utter nonsense.”
He sneered.
“Being called monsters is more than they deserve.”
“You’re not going to destroy the crystal orb, are you, Mushila?”
“I am. The orb itself wishes it.”
A child of Ella without a crystal orb cannot awaken or grow — yet Mushila had laughed softly.
“Don’t worry. Even without the orb, we’ll bloom through love.”
“Bloom through love without a crystal orb? Excellent… Then I’ll make sure my newborn grandson grows beside the monster in your womb — and make them fall in love.”
“Kain’s and my child will never love what you desire.”
Foolish Mushila had unknowingly revealed the way to awaken power without an orb.
And Lorenza — who had fallen in love with Luans — had awakened the power of foresight.
If she’d had a crystal orb, her strength would have been unimaginable.
But perhaps it was for the best — a child of Ella empowered by an orb was far too dangerous.
“I’ve used them well enough. Once I devour the last violet-eyed child of Ella, the white serpent’s wish will be fulfilled…”
Daniel’s black tongue flicked once more across his lips.
“Just a little longer.”
Lorenza woke up groggily and accepted the fork that Teyshar handed her.
“Sleeping is important, Lady Lorenza, but so is never skipping a meal.”
“Lord Spencer… I’m still so sleepy.”
“You need strength even to sleep well, my lady. Eat, and you’ll rest better.”
Teyshar carefully cut the food into small pieces and placed them on her plate.
Half-asleep, Lorenza speared a piece with her fork and ate it.
A sweet and tangy flavor spread through her mouth, slowly bringing her back to life.
“It’s delicious.”
“You shouldn’t eat only meat and fish, so…”
He drizzled a brown sauce over her salad. Lorenza sniffed the air with curiosity.
“It’s a sauce made with milk, caramel, and a blend of spices — perfect over salad.”
“It’s so good.”
As Lorenza’s cheeks puffed out with food, Teyshar kept cutting and refilling her plate.
“Aren’t you eating, Lord Spencer?”
“Are you… concerned about me, my lady?”
“Shouldn’t I be?”
“Please, Lady Lorenza. Always be concerned about me.”
“Alright. I’ll care about you.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
Smiling softly, Teyshar wiped a bit of sauce from her cheek.
He knew well that raising a young tree took time and care.
“Your complexion is improving nicely.”
“Maybe it’s because I’ve been eating and sleeping well. Thank you for taking such good care of me.”
