TPECIAD 07

7. Intruding Into Her

Daemon’s heart sank. Elise, who had wrapped herself in the blanket on the bed, was trembling and crying.

“Lady Elise.”

Calling her softly, he approached the bed. Elise, wearing a frightened expression, suddenly grabbed Daemon’s hand as she stood up from the bed.

“P-please… save me. Tonight I—ah!”

The pain had begun. Tears streamed down Elise’s wide golden eyes.

“Shh. Please say nothing.”

Daemon raised his hand and gently placed it over Elise’s lips. Gradually, the trembling in her body began to subside.

“Right now, the influence of the curse remains. If you speak about what you heard, you will experience pain.”

So that was it. She couldn’t speak. Until Daemon arrived, she hadn’t been able to open her mouth to say that she had heard the voice and that tonight’s episode would begin again. Instinctively, she had known—if she spoke, she would be swallowed by unbearable pain, enough to feel like death. With fear shaking her entire body, all she could do was collapse and cry. But as Daemon’s hand touched her, she slowly began to calm down, and the pain eased.

“Now it’s alright. I will stay by your side.”

Overcome with relief, her tears flowed even more.

“…I… was so…”

Unable to finish her words, Elise suddenly threw her arms around Daemon’s neck.

“I was so scared. I was so scared I couldn’t even speak… sob… sob…”

Her words broke apart as she cried uncontrollably. Daemon, taken aback by her sudden embrace, lost his words as well. Seeing her tears pouring out made his chest tighten. Moreover, as she clung to him, her soft body pressed directly against his. The unfamiliar sensations, along with her trembling, overwhelmed Daemon’s thoughts. The sight of a silver-haired woman embracing a handsome man dressed in a black uniform—his hair pitch black—was strangely harmonious, like a painting. Jeremy, who was watching, even felt a sense of melancholy from the scene.

Although Elise’s pain had subsided, her body still trembled from the overwhelming fear she had experienced moments ago. Daemon, unsure what to do with his hands, slowly patted her back. His large hand, which had been comforting her, came to rest on her back. Holding her warm, soft body, he could feel her quiet sobbing and even her heartbeat.

He wanted to make her feel more at ease. Supporting her back and legs with both arms, he lifted her. In an instant, Elise was cradled in his arms like a princess from a fairy tale. He held her like that, waiting for her crying to stop.

“Elise…”

After a while, her sobbing subsided and her breathing became steady. Daemon carefully tried to lay her back on the bed. As he did, her slender arms slipped limply downward, and he saw her face—she had fallen asleep while crying in his arms. Freed from extreme fear, she must have drifted off as her tension released. Perhaps the mana absorbed through contact with him had also caused her to fall asleep.

At that moment, two vivid red marks caught Daemon’s eye. On her pale neck, someone had left traces the previous day. A faint crease formed between Daemon’s brows.

There was only one person in the empire who could have left such marks on Elise—Emperor Rohan. He was the only one who had a relationship with her that would justify such a thing.

Yet…

Why does this bother me so much?

Daemon was troubled by the unfamiliar emotion stirring within him.

“Ha!”

He let out a dry laugh. He told himself it was simply because she was someone he intended to reclaim, and because he felt pity seeing her cry herself into unconsciousness.

A Few Hours Later

Two or three hours later, Elise awoke. Even while she slept, Daemon had been holding her hand. His aide, Heim, who had been reporting urgent matters and receiving instructions, was also in the guest room.

“Are you alright?”

Daemon asked gently.

“Yes… I’ve calmed down a lot.”

Feeling Daemon’s large, warm hand still holding hers, Elise’s face flushed red. After confirming she had awakened safely, Heim left the room.

“Then I will prepare as instructed.”

After finishing a light meal, the sun had already begun to set. Time was running out. Elise grew anxious. She tightened her grip on Daemon’s hand, which had been holding hers continuously. Daemon looked at the hand she was clutching—a pale, delicate hand.

While she had been asleep, she had wandered through dreams, shedding tears. A faint voice calling someone stirred Daemon’s heart.

“…Mom… mother…”

In his own childhood, Daemon too had desperately searched for his mother in his dreams. His past self—weak and in pain—overlapped with the Elise who now cried in her sleep.

Unconsciously, he raised his hand and wiped away her tears. He felt a sense of responsibility, thinking that her suffering might partly be his fault—after all, she had been forced into the position of a concubine and fallen into the pain of the curse. Seeing her so afraid of pain made her seem even more pitiful. Looking at her small, trembling white hand, Daemon spoke:

“When the curse activates, follow whatever the voice commands.”

“What… what did you say?”

Elise doubted her ears. Did that mean… she should go to the owner of the curse? Was he telling her to walk willingly into the very place that had caused her such unbearable suffering?

“You cannot defy that voice. That is how a curse works. If you try to resist or reveal the identity of the one who cast it, you will only be subjected to intense pain.”

“…Ah…”

“And in the end, even through the pain, you will follow the commands of the caster.”

It was hopeless. Fear filled Elise’s eyes with tears.

“So, there is no need for you to endure the pain unnecessarily.”

But what would happen if she followed the voice and met the one behind it?

“I have a plan, so just follow the voice when you hear it.”

…Can I really do that? Elise’s fear was growing uncontrollably.

Reading her expression, Daemon reassured her.

“Only until I can determine where the caster is calling you.”

While Elise had been asleep, Daemon had already stationed hidden forces throughout the area. His intention was to track her movements as she followed the voice and locate the one who cast the curse.

However—

They won’t reveal themselves immediately. They are cunning.

The caster likely already knew that Elise had moved to the Grand Duke’s residence and anticipated that Daemon would try to use her as bait. Therefore, they would not summon her directly to their location. Instead, they would manipulate her slowly, draining her life little by little. Then, when an opportunity arose within the Grand Duke’s domain, they would attempt to consume her entirely.

Daemon still did not know the caster’s exact goal. Beyond the fact that the person possessed considerable magical power, nothing else was known. Thus, Daemon chose to proceed cautiously, observing and waiting for the caster to leave clues.

In the meantime, Elise would have to serve as bait, trembling in fear. There was no other option. Though he did not show it outwardly, Daemon felt apologetic toward her.

“If you seem to be in danger, I will break the curse using my mana.”

Only then did Elise feel somewhat reassured. Before she could meet the caster, Daemon would save her.

As Elise relaxed, Daemon silently watched her.

Time passed painfully slowly.

At last, the voice returned to Elise.

[Elise…]

“Ah…!”

Fear filled her eyes. Daemon understood what it meant.

The curse has activated.

“Open all the doors in the Grand Duke’s residence!”

At Daemon’s command, all doors in the residence were opened simultaneously. This was to ensure they would not miss Elise as she moved under the voice’s control.

As the curse took hold, Elise’s body began to tremble again. Tears welled in her golden eyes and fell rapidly, evoking pity in all who watched.

“Do not resist the voice’s command.”

Daemon reassured her.

“It’s alright. If it becomes dangerous, I will immediately break the curse.”

Trusting his words, Elise slowly began to move. Daemon followed closely behind her.

She passed through the guest room, then the office, and headed down the central staircase. Beyond the main gate lay the garden, fountains, and annex buildings. Everywhere, Daemon’s men were hidden, waiting. They would not lose sight of her.

With guards stationed in windows, corridors, the basement, and terraces, it was impossible for Elise to disappear unnoticed or come to harm within the residence.

[Elise… come… to me…]

“Haah… haah…”

[Come to me… now.]

Elise gasped for breath, overwhelmed by tension and fear. From the moment she heard the voice, her body had already begun moving beyond her control. Though she tried to resist as Daemon had instructed, the sensation of her body acting like a puppet was horrifying.

Before long, she passed through the gate and entered the center of the garden. A large fountain stood before her. Around it, Daemon’s men were hidden, ensuring they would not lose her among the trees or grass.

Step by step, Elise moved forward, with Daemon following behind.

Then—

“Ahhh!”

Elise screamed in pain. She was resisting the voice.

Damn it!

At that moment, Daemon realized what he had overlooked. The fountain lay directly before Elise.

Don’t tell me… this far?!

Recognizing the intent of the curse, Daemon quickly grabbed Elise.

Even as she struggled in pain, the voice in her mind continued to command firmly:

[Into the fountain! Now!]

“No… I won’t!”

Elise cried out. Being told to enter the water—it was as good as being told to die. Her consciousness resisted, but her body continued moving toward the fountain.

Daemon wrapped his arms around her waist and faced her directly.

“Elise!”

He called out urgently, his heart aching at her suffering.

Ah… as promised…

She thought weakly amidst the pain.

…I have to give permission…

Before any physical contact, Elise had insisted that her consent be obtained. And as she had requested, Emperor Rohan had issued an order: regardless of the type of contact, her permission must be obtained first.

But she couldn’t speak. No sound came out. Daemon exhaled deeply.

“Please forgive my rudeness.”

At that moment, Daemon’s heated lips pressed against Elise’s, swallowing hers in a sudden kiss. His breath, hot and intrusive, invaded her mouth.

“Mmph!”

Her breathing was cut off instantly. This was not the gentle, romantic kiss between lovers she had imagined—it was rough and deep, as if he intended to consume everything inside her.

Heat spread throughout her body, and she could not regain her composure. Her vision blurred, and her body felt as if it were melting. Each time he pushed deeper, Elise could only flail her arms helplessly.

[Daemon Cremian… so you… are the one…]

With those words, the voice fell silent, and the curse was broken. At that moment, Elise went limp in Daemon’s arms and lost consciousness.