Chapter 7
“That’s true.”
Tepe let out a sigh and cautiously glanced at Edward.
The truth was, House Tesseron wasn’t completely unaware of the temple’s schemes.
In fact, they had already begun their own investigation because the temple had recently become suspiciously determined to push Sepina toward the duke.
Edward’s observation that Sepina’s holy power fluctuated greatly had only strengthened their suspicions.
“Lately, the temple has been referring to Lady Sepina as ‘Your Grace’s possession’ or ‘something that belongs to Your Grace’ far more often.”
“…Even though the Tesseron family hasn’t found your true mate yet, they keep insisting she’ll become Lady Sepina.”
Tepe frowned as he continued Gorgo’s explanation.
In the first place, no one could predict who would awaken as the Dragon Incarnation’s true mate.
If they could, there would never have been Dragon Incarnations who died early because they failed to find their mate.
“Yet the temple was far too confident.”
That was why they had investigated.
In the end…
The Tesseron family concluded that the temple was conducting some kind of experiment.
“Now that I think about it… they were probably trying to give Lady Sepina powers similar to those of a true mate.”
Without realizing it, they had come very close to the truth.
Because Lucy really was the source of the power being given to Sepina.
Gorgo continued calmly.
“And if the temple openly called even Lady Sepina ‘something that belongs to Your Grace’…”
“…”
“…Then there’s no need to wonder how they referred to the other test subjects.”
If Edward questioned them about the experiments, the temple would surely shamelessly claim—
“Everything we did was for Your Grace’s sake.”
And they would probably go even further, saying that the test subjects also belonged to him, just like Sepina.
Tepe would have bet his last roast pig on it.
“And His Grace would’ve gone one step further.”
If the temple said, “They belong to you,”
Edward was exactly the kind of man who would answer,
“They belong to me? Then I’ll take them.”
…Which explained why he had brought back the temple’s test subject without hesitation.
“So that’s why he decided ‘Temple test subject = Mine.'”
Only now did Tepe finally understand.
Meanwhile, Gorgo had reached the same conclusion from the opposite direction.
“…More importantly…”
His gaze shifted to the girl’s wrists.
Following his gaze, Tepe looked too and flinched.
Round wounds, as if blood had repeatedly been drawn from her, covered her wrists.
There were also marks left by chains.
And countless needle marks covered her arms.
“Those marks…”
“…They’re evidence of experiments.”
Edward answered before Gorgo could.
His eyes remained fixed on the unconscious woman in his arms.
“What a strange woman.”
When she’d spoken to him earlier, she’d sounded bold and confident.
“But she couldn’t hide her expression.”
Even while speaking so smoothly…
Her face had been full of desperation.
She had clearly been afraid of him.
Yet at the same time…
Her eyes had sparkled as if she’d finally found a lifeline.
She had clung tightly to his arm and shoulder with her tiny hands, afraid he might disappear.
He rather liked that desperation.
Most people would say that made his personality terrible.
Edward wouldn’t deny it.
In fact…
He had always believed that people with nothing left to lose were much easier to control.
So this woman shouldn’t be difficult either.
After all…
She owed him her life.
She wouldn’t dare run away.
Edward removed one of his gloves.
With his bare fingers, he gently twirled a strand of the sleeping girl’s hair.
He had only touched her hair…
Yet the foul energy inside him settled immediately.
His mind became calm.
The purification even felt strangely familiar.
Judging from that reaction…
Perhaps the true source of the purification he’d been receiving through Sepina all this time…
…had actually been this woman.
Satisfied with his own conclusion, he smiled.
“A test subject capable of purification.”
“This actually works out well.”
Recently, the temple had been becoming far too bold for his liking.
The temple and the Dragon Incarnation had always depended on one another.
But they had also constantly struggled over which side held more authority.
Sepina herself had been crossing the line more and more often.
Edward wasn’t foolish enough to miss the greed hidden in her eyes.
Perhaps…
The reason her purification always felt so disgusting…
…was because her own lingering desires had seeped into it.
“But if I have this woman…”
He would no longer have to endure that unpleasant feeling or worry about losing control.
There would be no reason to stay in the capital where Sepina lived.
He could finally return to his northern territory, which he hadn’t been able to visit properly for quite some time.
The more he thought about it…
The better his mood became.
“I don’t know where this little mouse came from…”
“But her timing couldn’t have been better.”
His thoughts drifted back to the woman’s expression after she had seen his face.
She had looked completely stunned.
Then she had fainted.
“She must have fallen for me.”
People losing themselves after seeing his face was nothing new.
Many had stared at him in awe or even fainted before.
Normally…
He wouldn’t have cared.
But somehow…
The dazed expression on this woman had pleased him more than usual.
She was already desperate.
If she had also fallen in love with him…
Things would become even easier.
“That’s probably why…”
…his heart felt unusually light.
As he absentmindedly stroked her hair like a satisfied predator…
Tepe cautiously asked,
“So… what are you planning to do with her?”
“I’m taking her with us.”
“All the way back to the duchy? Are you sure that’s alright?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Well…”
Tepe glanced outside the carriage.
Dong… Dong… Dong…
The temple’s emergency bell was still ringing.
The light from the soldiers’ torches flickered through the carriage window.
“They’re searching this hard, so she must be a very important test subject.”
Gorgo nodded.
“Tepe has a point.”
“They may send people after us.”
“…”
“And even if you take her with us…”
“…Honestly, she doesn’t look like she’ll survive very long.”
It sounded cruel.
But it was simply the truth.
The filthy, undernourished woman looked so weak that she might collapse if someone merely poked her.
People who performed purification needed to be healthy.
Purifying others required considerable stamina.
Tepe carefully added,
“Honestly, instead of purifying your miasma…”
“…she looks like the one who needs purification herself.”
By then…
Edward’s crooked smile only grew wider.
“Who said I was planning to keep her forever?”
“So… you’ll throw her away later?”
Even from another man’s perspective, Edward’s beautiful lips curved into a wicked smile.
“You don’t have to look so troubled.”
“…”
“She doesn’t seem to be such an innocent little test subject.”
“She isn’t?”
“She tried to win me over first.”
Edward remembered the way her small tongue had skillfully talked earlier.
“Master, that woman is a fake!”
“The temple keeps insisting Lady Sepina is your true mate, but the truth is…”
Of course…
She had mostly told him things he had already suspected.
Still…
For someone so tiny…
She certainly knew how to talk.
Without thinking, his fingertips brushed lightly across his own lips.
“She clearly knows something.”
“That’s why she tried to make me an offer first.”
“…”
“Such a bold little mouse.”
“Huh? A mouse?”
“Isn’t that the duke’s favorite animal?”
“Did His Grace just give her that much praise?”
While Tepe and Gorgo looked completely confused…
Edward smiled.
“Either way…”
“We’ll use her for as long as she’s useful.”
“…Until you find your true mate?”
Tepe asked.
Edward gave him an unreadable smile.
“Yes.”
“Until then.”
“…”
“I’ll keep her only until her purification ability is exhausted.”
“Then I’ll throw her away.”
After saying that…
He gently held the end of her hair.
Even her dry, split ends reminded him of the fur of a starving little mouse.
Enjoying the soft texture, Edward thought,
“She’s already fallen for me.”
“If I simply feed her well…”
“She’ll follow me around obediently.”
…
That assumption didn’t last even a single day.
* * *
Rustle.
The very next day.
After stepping out of the carriage to stretch, Edward suddenly found a sheet of paper fluttering in front of him.
He looked at the person holding it out.
“What is this?”
The woman holding the paper had trembling fingertips.
Even so, she answered confidently,
“It’s a contract!”
