ELND Chapter 38

Chapter 38

. “Appreciate It While It Lasts”
November 7, 2023

“But Cedric, what if their real target isn’t the Grand Duchess but… Liliane’s Heart?”

Vincent’s voice lowered as it reverberated through the sitting room.

“Liliane’s Heart.”

It was a gemstone the size of a human heart, glowing with a deep crimson hue.

It looked unremarkable at first glance, but it contained the curse and grudge left behind by the primordial goddess Liliane upon her death.

“Only the human who possesses my heart will fully obtain what they desire. But as sweet as my kindness may be, the price will be cruel.”

‘Liliane’s Heart’ seduced people with promises of immense wealth, power, and everything their hearts could desire.

Even though they knew it would lead to a tragic end, people became blinded by greed for it.

Because of this, the world had faced peril numerous times in ancient history.

Rulers from both the human and demon realms were driven mad by their obsession with Liliane’s Heart, and the ensuing wars left the lands drenched in blood.

Eventually, after the final great war of antiquity, the human and demon realms agreed to sever contact and seal Liliane’s Heart forever.

The responsibility of managing this seal was entrusted to a pair of twin brothers, whose blood was half-human and half-demon.

And so, over the centuries, this duty was passed down to Cedric and Vincent, the descendants of the twin brothers.

Cedric pondered his cousin’s words as he took a sip of whiskey, then slowly spoke again.

“…I haven’t dismissed that possibility either.”

Cedric set his glass on the table and continued.

“But Vincent, if something had happened to Liliane’s Heart, do you think Manakin—that cantankerous old demon—would have just stayed still?”

Vincent nodded vigorously.

“Ah, true. That makes sense.”

The cursed artifact was sealed in the demon realm, within a mountain where the ancient dragon Manakin slumbered.

And the exact location was known only to Cedric and Vincent.

Vincent, who had been nodding continuously, paused and spoke.

“Still, since we’re here anyway, it might be good to go check the seal together.”

“Yeah, better safe than sorry.”

“…That Manakin, that damn old hag.”

Vincent let out a long sigh uncharacteristic of him.

“Last time we went to check the seal, I teased her a bit, and she immediately shot flames at my rear.”

“….”

“Lucky I dodged fast, otherwise the Norman family line might’ve ended right then and there.”

Vincent leaned back on the sofa, chuckling as he sipped his whiskey, and then spoke again.

“By the way, still no mark of binding?”

At Vincent’s frivolous question, Cedric grimaced once more.

“Manakin asked me the same thing last time.”

“….”

“She must be concerned because I’m at odds with the woman she chose for me.”

In the demon realm, the spouses of royalty or nobles were all chosen by the ancient dragon Manakin.

This system had been established in ancient times to prevent the abuses caused by the imprinting of power holders.

Manakin, with her exceptional foresight, chose their spouses, and her choices had never been wrong.

However, Cedric had always felt that Manakin’s choice was wrong when it came to his own marriage.

…Until very recently.

As Cedric fell into thought and the silence lingered, Vincent’s lips curved into a mischievous smirk as he observed him.

“Cedric. If you don’t intend to be marked by that woman… why not just let her go?”

Cedric’s brow furrowed, and he raised his head.

His expression was deadly enough to make anyone flinch, yet Vincent only laughed lightly, as if amused.

“No need to overthink, Cedric.”

“….”

“It’s also hard for a woman to spend her life beside a man who doesn’t want her.”

Vincent always spoke exactly what he thought, and Cedric had learned to usually ignore half of it.

But now, looking at Vincent, there was a hint of lethal intent in Cedric’s expression.

“Not enough with your words? Do you want me to cut your head off too?”

Vincent raised his eyes in surprise and muttered, “Oh-ho…” in admiration.

Cedric’s reaction seemed only to egg him on.

“Ah, if the reason the two of you haven’t separated is because Rebecca has feelings for you…”

“….”

“I might try to seduce her. I really like Rebecca, you see.”

Vincent twitched his nose and raised the corner of his lips.

“Unlike you, I won’t leave her lonely every night. Right? So, Ced…”

Cedric could no longer restrain himself, leaping across the table, and for a while, loud thuds echoed outside the sitting room.

An hour later, in the dining hall of the House of Light.

The grand table for dinner was filled, and the entire Twins family had gathered.

Bianca seemed thrilled to see so many family members together again.

However, her cute smile gradually faded in front of Vincent.

Concerned, she carefully observed him before slowly speaking.

“I’m glad to see you again after such a long time, Vincent… but…”

“Hm?”

“What happened to you? Did you go hunting monsters again?”

It was understandable—Vincent’s face was in far worse shape than before.

‘What could possibly have happened in such a short time before dinner?’

I stared at Vincent in disbelief.

His jaw was bruised a deep purple from Cedric’s punches.

One of his eyelids was swollen, and blood had dried at the corners of his lips.

“This is all your brother’s doing, Bianca.”

Vincent removed the bloody gauze from his nostrils and pouted his lower lip.

“Huh? The Grand Duke would never do that…”

“It’s true. That guy’s surprisingly jealous and greedy!”

Vincent ground his teeth in anger toward Cedric, who continued to carve his steak as if nothing had happened.

Vincent, glaring at him, suddenly shoved a forkful of salad from Cedric’s plate into his own mouth.

“What are you doing?”

Cedric frowned.

“If you’re not going to eat it, give it to me, you greedy brat.”

“I never said I wasn’t eating it.”

“You’re not eating it, are you?”

“I’m saving it.”

“You really like saving it, huh?”

Cedric, caught in this absurd conversation, let out a long, frustrated sigh.

“Vincent, what business is it of yours what I do with my own food?”

“Saving it? You’ve been saving it all along?”

“…Here we go again.”

As the atmosphere between the two grew tense, I blinked, stuck in the middle.

Kind-hearted Bianca seemed ready to hand over her salad to either of them.

‘Why are they having such a serious conversation over salad of all things?’

Clearly, Cedric felt the same way.

Just as Cedric’s eyes narrowed at Vincent, the latter continued.

“If you leave what’s beside you unappreciated, greedy folks like me will snatch it away.”

Vincent, drinking white wine like water, chuckled and continued.

“So, appreciate it while it lasts, Grand Duke.”

At the same time, in the House of Darkness.

Adrian dismissed the servants to rest, leaving the mansion mostly empty.

He wandered alone through the quiet estate for a while.

Finally, he entered the Grand Duchess’s quarters to tidy up some things before Rebecca returned.

As the bright light filtered in through the window, Adrian approached it unconsciously.

Light streamed in from the House of Light.

It seemed Vincent’s honorary dinner was in full swing.

‘Is the Grand Duchess well?’

The thought made Adrian’s face grow even lonelier.

Previously, he would have felt relieved seeing Rebecca with Cedric.

He had always felt sorry for the Grand Duchess, watching her suffer, and genuinely wanted her happiness.

But when did it change?

Now, whenever he saw her with Cedric, he felt an uneasy twinge.

Ever since the ball at Count Dmitri’s, when he saw them kiss.

And just moments ago, when Cedric seemed to take Rebecca from him into his arms…

Adrian finally realized the truth of his feelings.

He had long harbored feelings for Rebecca.

Not as the Grand Duchess, but as a woman—he wanted her to notice him.

Lost in thought, recalling Rebecca, Adrian shook his head.

‘This is wrong.’

They were already married, and even having such thoughts felt sacrilegious.

Moreover, Rebecca loved Cedric fiercely.

He could not let his selfish desires interfere with her happiness.

He resolved to suppress his feelings for her no matter what.

At that moment, the sudden gust of wind from the open window scattered a stack of newspapers across the table.

They were papers Rebecca had been eagerly reading and collecting.

Hastily closing the window and gathering the scattered papers, Adrian froze.

‘…Why did she only collect articles like these?’

Most of the recent clippings were real estate ads.

Some had red circles, others starred marks.

It seemed as though she was urgently looking for a new place to live.

Adrian frowned as he examined them.

‘Could it be that the reason they’ve been separated recently…’

Given Rebecca’s noticeable disinterest in Cedric recently, he had wondered.

And remembering how diligently she had been managing her personal assets, it all seemed to fit.

‘The Grand Duchess must be planning to divorce the Grand Duke and leave this estate.’

Though he shouldn’t take pleasure in another’s misfortune…

A small spark of hope flickered in Adrian’s heart.

If his guess was correct, he could confess his feelings to Rebecca.

He could bring her true happiness—not through wishing another man’s love for her, but with his own heartfelt feelings.

Desire surged within him.

No longer as a mere butler, but as a lover, he longed to see Rebecca’s beautiful smile again.