ELND Chapter 6

‘Imprint.’

Some called it a privilege granted only to the demon race.

But Cedric thought differently.

He was convinced it was a curse bestowed upon them.

A single night—just one encounter.

How could something so fleeting result in lifelong, intense love and obsession for only one partner?

To some, that might sound incredibly romantic.

But Cedric knew all too well the dark side of the imprint.

It was tolerable if the bond formed between two demons who loved each other. In that case, they could simply spend their lives loving and desiring no one but each other.

The real problem arose when the imprint bound a demon to a human—especially a human with no affinity for it whatsoever.

And if that human was someone as cunning as Rebecca, hiding her true nature… then it became even more dangerous.

Cedric had resented the matchmaker, Manakin, who had joined him and Rebecca in marriage from the very beginning.

She had provided safe and suitable matches to countless nobles of the Demon Realm, never once making a mistake.

But of all times—why now? Why with me? How could she make such a massive blunder?

The thought of himself, obsessed and begging for Rebecca’s love for the rest of his life, was horrifying.

Rebecca would surely threaten to leave if she didn’t get her way, and Cedric—afraid of losing her—would spiral into obsessive madness.

Eventually… I would willingly become her slave, desperate to lay everything at her feet.

That was the common fate of powerful beings driven mad by their imprints.

Cedric was determined not to crumble under the guise of love like so many others.

Especially not him—the protector of the Heart of Lillian.

If he ever lost himself to obsession, this entire continent would be plunged into ruin.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I have no intention of playing along with your plan.”

Cedric gently brushed his thumb against Rebecca’s chin as she looked up at him.

The touch was soft, but his gaze was ice-cold.

“No matter what, I will divorce you. And until then…”

He paused briefly, his eyes turning sharper.

“I will never hold you in my arms again.”

It was both a resolute declaration and a final warning.

But to Cedric’s surprise, Rebecca didn’t even flinch—she simply looked at him as if she had no idea what he meant.

Still playing dumb, huh?

Few humans even knew what an imprint was.

Yet Rebecca had behaved as though she understood it from the start.

She always denied it when questioned, but over time, Cedric became certain.

She knows—and she’s trying to exploit it to bind me to her.

He had long since grown numb to the betrayal.

When he looked back at her indifferently, her delicate brow was now deeply furrowed.

Finally. She’s starting to crack.

When pushed this hard, Rebecca always lost control of her emotions.

Cedric was sure her true colors would burst out now.

But then—

“…Who said I wanted you to hold me in the first place?”

Cedric’s blue eyes flickered in disbelief.

Rebecca glared at him, unbothered by the discomfort in the air.

She quickly straightened her robe, slapped his hand away, and stepped back coldly.

“Don’t flatter yourself, Your Grace.”

Her lips curled into a crooked smile.

Cedric was momentarily at a loss for words.

He’d seen Rebecca angry countless times.

But he had never seen her look at him like that—with such biting sarcasm and contempt.

“Seriously, do you still not understand why I’ve been so cooperative about the divorce?”

She even scolded him as though his ignorance was the real offense.

Cedric couldn’t even pretend to hide his confusion now.

Rebecca stared at him silently for a moment.

And for the first time since they were married, Cedric looked into her red eyes without a hint of emotion.

“I don’t love you anymore.”

Her red lips moved softly.

“I don’t want you anymore, either.”

Cedric’s eyes widened slightly.

Her gaze, her lips… had they always looked like that?

Listening to her voice echo like a hallucination, Cedric found himself lost in the thought.

Her face, her words—everything about her felt unfamiliar now.

Blinking slowly, Rebecca continued.

“So don’t worry. I won’t be throwing myself at you like that ever again.”

“……”

“Once we finalize the divorce under my conditions, I’ll move straight to the Shadow Mansion. We’ll have no more reason to see each other.”

There was no trace of affection in her crimson eyes.

Not even the longing, nor the resentment he had once seen there.

Only a cold, detached gaze—as if she were looking at something utterly worthless.

“So stop wasting my time with all this suspicion…”

“……”

“And just leave already, will you?”

Once again, she dismissed him with that same icy tone.

The Next Morning.

I stretched under the morning sun filtering through the window.

After tossing and turning all night, my whole body ached.

Cedric… he really looked shocked last night. Maybe I went a bit too far and just ended up provoking him more…

I shook my head quickly.

No. This is a good thing.

He needed to see that I was no longer the obsessive woman he thought I was.

Only then would his hatred toward me gradually fade.

“If we sleep together—even once—I won’t be able to survive a day without you.”

Sure, Cedric’s cool and captivating voice echoed in my head several times throughout the night…

But seriously. One night? The Duke must think the first night is magical or something.

I shook off the awkward emotions from last night and got out of bed.

As usual, today’s schedule was written neatly on the bedside table.

But I barely glanced at it.

There was no need. The original Rebecca had no interest in duchess duties anyway, so my schedule was basically empty.

Being possessed by a villainess sucks—but having nothing to do? That part’s great.

While rubbing my stiff neck, the door creaked open.

“Your Grace, are you awake?”

Mina peeked in with a basin of water.

She came over naturally and helped me wash up.

After washing my face in rose-petal water, Mina handed me a soft towel.

I dried my face and glanced up at her.

“You’ve been talking, right? Like I asked?”

At my subtle question, Mina hesitated and pursed her lips.

I had asked her recently for a favor—to slowly spread word among the staff that I was no longer abusive.

Preferably with a few flattering embellishments.

“Well… I’ve been trying, but no one seems to believe it yet…”

Mina trailed off.

Well, yeah. Who’d believe a mad dog suddenly turned into a saint overnight?

This was why I needed the six-month buffer after the divorce.

I had to win over the half-demon servants and prove I had changed.

Alright. I’ll start with the ones in the Shadow Mansion.

If I didn’t have any duties—I’d make some.

Besides, it made sense to inspect the place before moving in.

“Mina, how many servants are stationed in the Shadow Mansion?”

“There aren’t many. Maybe… two hundred?”

“Perfect…”

I nodded, then looked back at her.

“Go to the head chef now and deliver my request. Tell him to prepare it as quickly as possible.”

A basket of desserts for 200 people.

Mina carried it in one hand like it was light as air, smiling brightly.

They say half-demons have two or three times the strength of humans…

I stared at her in awe as she hummed and walked with a spring in her step.

“Why are you so excited?”

“Hmm, because we’re going to the Shadow Mansion?”

“What, is there a pot of honey there or something?”

“Not exactly… but there’s someone sweet like honey—and shining like gold—living there!”

“Someone?”

“Hehe…”

Mina’s cheeks flushed pink as she twirled her hair with a finger.

Looked like there was a popular senior servant stationed over there.

“Oh! But Your Grace, why are you suddenly going to the Shadow Mansion?”

“…Just curious. I’m getting sick of the Light Mansion.”

I deflected casually, turning my gaze toward the now-visible estate.

As the name ‘Twins’ suggested, the Twins family originated from a pair of ancient half-demon brothers.

Those brothers later became the ancestors of all half-demons.

Thus, within the Twins estate stood two identical mansions representing them.

The Mansion of Light—and the Mansion of Shadow.

But the Shadow Mansion was mostly symbolic. The Twins rarely used it.

We crossed the garden path and stood before the Shadow Mansion. I tilted my head as I looked up.

Why leave a place this nice completely empty?

It was the same size and shape as the Light Mansion.

Three tall conical roofs. Large windows protruding from the first floor.

The only difference was the color.

Where the Light Mansion was built of ivory bricks with light brown roofs, the Shadow Mansion had elegant gray walls and a black roof.

I stared for a long time, quietly falling for its unique charm.

Then a wave of tension gripped me.

Of course no one’s going to welcome me. Even if they pretend otherwise.

No matter the reaction, I brought desserts—I was going in.

Still, the thought of facing people who probably hated me made me uneasy.

As I hesitated at the entrance—

A smooth, alluring voice echoed from behind.

“…At last, you’ve come to visit us, Your Grace.”