CHAPTER 014
Clop, clop,
The sound of hooves cut through the forest, sending a flock of early-morning birds fluttering into the sky. Two men, wearing short uniform jackets adorned with red lion crests on their shoulders, emerged from the forest horizon.
The two men dismounted and began crossing the river toward a cascading waterfall. Though they wore no armor, their agile and unhesitant movements on the stepping stones were striking.
Reaching the waterfall, their gaze fell upon a small cave. The entrance, appearing as if it had been slashed with a sharp blade, led them into the darkness.
“It was definitely here.”
“That it could reach the cave despite such severe injuries…”
The slender young blond man spoke, and the older man nodded, furrowing his brow. The numerous poisoned spears embedded in the black panther were enough to kill two male lions.
Flick, the young man pulled a small torch from his sleeve and lit it, illuminating the cave instantly.
“Father, look at this. Burnt firewood!”
The sharp gaze of Count Corald focused on the cold, extinguished firewood and the pile of branches and leaves beside it.
“It seems the monster lit a fire.”
“No, it was gravely wounded and fled here. Besides, it's absurd to think a black panther would light a fire. It must have taken refuge outside the cave once it reverted to human form.”
Shaking his head, Count Corald knelt down before the pile of firewood and concluded his speech.
“Even if we assume the monster lit the fire in human form, it wasn’t its doing. This was done by a person of lesser strength—a woman, perhaps.”
“So someone else brought these branches and leaves to help the injured black panther?”
Timothy squatted down, sifting through the leaves on the ground, and the Count nodded.
“Who…who could have helped the monster? Anyone in the empire or the continent would know to capture or report a black panther on sight. Helping such a fearsome and ruthless creature is unthinkable.”
“The world is always full of unthinkable things like humans turning into monsters.”
Count Corald, who had spent half his life on the battlefield, spoke with affectionate eyes to his still-pure son, Timothy.
His gaze, sharp as ever, scanned the surroundings meticulously.
Count Corald, unmatched in collecting and analyzing evidence at any scene, found faint footprints on the leaves and the dirt floor.
When the monster entered the cave, it was clearly a black panther, moving on all fours. Following the barely visible traces, Count Corald deduced that it left the cave on two legs, accompanied by two other adult men.
Faint, almost disappeared large footprints...and the traces of two men’s shoe heels.
Judging by the clarity of the footprints, the black panther entered the cave first and transformed back into a human the next day, leaving with two other men.
However…
Bending down, Count Corald traced a nearly vanished small footprint on the dirt floor with his finger, speaking quietly.
“A woman entered the cave with the black panther. She lit the fire and warmed the monster with the leaves.”
“Then, who is this woman who helped the black panther? Could she be a monster herself? Or a witch practicing dark magic?”
Timothy examined the small footprint his father had found, his large green eyes filled with confusion, and the Count responded.
“We don’t know who she is yet. The important thing is that the black panther, close to death, reverted to human form and walked out on two legs the next day. Do you understand what that means?”
“Gasp, what happened to the monster's wounds? Even if it turned back into a human, it wouldn’t have been able to move with such severe injuries.”
“I am curious about that as well. I’d very much like to find the woman and ask her.”
Count Corald’s sharp gaze lingered on the dirt floor before shifting deeper into the cave, away from the entrance. The same footprints continued there.
On what seemed like a day or two later, the small footprints returned to the cave, passing the pile of firewood and leaves and going deeper inside.
Following the faint traces, Count Corald walked further into the cave, with Timothy hurrying behind him.
Discovering a small hole in the center of a stack of stones of varying sizes, Count Corald exclaimed softly and pulled out a white slip of paper.
Standing beside his father, Timothy’s eyes widened in confusion as he looked at the small piece of paper.
“What language is this?”
The letters were incomprehensible, looking like a mix of drawings and characters somewhat resembling the Empire’s script.
“It’s an ancient language.”
Count Corald replied shortly, as if he could hardly believe it, scrutinizing the cute handwriting.
Judging by the handwriting, it belonged to a young woman. A young woman who knew the ancient Grethar language...
Grethar, an ancient language used by gods and mythical beings when they actively interacted with the human world, was last used during the early days of the Empire’s establishment but had disappeared from academia over the past millennium.
“What does it say?”
“I can’t read most of it either. Just...Emperor...Imperial Palace…”
Count Corald squinted, trying to piece together the words, and finally uttered the last word into the cave.
“Starting today...two months later…”
Timothy’s clear eyes looked at his father, completely puzzled, and the greatest monster hunter of the Empire, Count Corald le Hankerior, straightened up and slowly spoke.
“His Majesty the Emperor might be in danger. We must go to the capital.”
The old count, who had sworn never to repeat the mistake of failing to protect Crown Prince Luca, crumpled the note in his hand. The woman who knew the ancient language held the key to capturing the monster.
***
“Oh, how beautiful.”
“You look so pretty dressed like this. Like a fairy.”
The head maid and maids of Earl Laurel surrounded Arabelle, showering her with compliments as she stood awkwardly in front of the mirror.
Of course, they thought it wise to flatter the lady cherished by the Emperor for their own safety...but objectively, they were genuinely awestruck by Arabelle’s beauty.
When she had been brought into the bedroom, her face smudged with ash, sweat, and tears, they hadn’t realized. But now, Arabelle’s skin was so flawless it seemed to glow.
“Such soft, tender skin...No wonder His Majesty is so taken with you.”
The head maid had murmured to herself while helping Arabelle bathe.
Thanks to the philandering earl and his sons, they had seen countless beauties, but even the seasoned head maid and veteran maids were astonished by Arabelle’s loveliness.
The first time they saw Arabelle, she looked surprisingly plain, and they couldn’t find anything special about her. It was astonishing that the Emperor had brought a woman, who didn’t stand out among the noble ladies and held her dearly in his arms.
She was small and slender, with a face that wasn’t exceptionally beautiful—just an ordinary appearance. It was amazing that her small, oval face could contain eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Her large, clear eyes, reminiscent of a newborn fawn, were somewhat memorable.
Though she wasn’t strikingly beautiful, seductive, or voluptuously attractive, she strangely drew people’s attention.
Arabelle didn’t have the kind of blazing, intense beauty that would immediately capture everyone’s attention.
However, she possessed a subtle and tranquil charm, like moonlight or a calm lake. At first, she might not catch the eye, but after spending a short time with her, her pure and gentle energy warmly and peacefully enveloped those around her.
Arabelle was the first noble to show genuine respect and gratitude without any pretense. Her shy but sincere gestures and words touched the hearts of the maids.
Though the maids were weary of nobles, they couldn’t help but want to take care of Arabelle, who had a unique charm that transcended mere beauty.
“This doesn’t feel like me. Can’t I just wear the clothes I brought?”
Arabelle, standing in a lavender organza dress, pleaded, but the three maids shook their heads vigorously.
The dress was specially made for the Earl’s son’s lover, but after the Emperor’s visit last night, it would have forever remained in the box, never to see the light of day.
“The clothes you brought are too singed with ash to wear.”
This was half true and half false. The two old dresses Arabelle had packed in her bundle were indeed singed, but they weren’t so damaged that they couldn’t be washed and worn.
The maids shook their heads because the dress suited Arabelle far better than they had expected. The Earl’s son’s lover was taller and had a fuller figure, but it didn’t matter.
With skilled hands, the three maids quickly altered the dress to fit Arabelle perfectly. Quite a bit of fabric had been cut off and was now scattered on the carpet.
Having served the extravagant and trend-conscious Countess for years, the head maid had an excellent eye and dexterity.
The head maid expertly braided Arabelle’s long, fluttering brown hair into tight braids on both sides, then wound them up in a circular fashion at the nape of her neck.
She secured the updo with a purple velvet ribbon and added a small pin adorned with pearls and amethyst on one side for accent.
They managed to hold the reluctant young lady in place long enough to dab her plump, adorable lips with a natural tint made from crushed rose and peony petals, creating lips that looked as if they’d been touched by sweet fruit.
The maids’ lips twitched as they imagined the Emperor’s pleased expression.
Though the dress didn’t have a deeply plunging neckline, the round neck design was enough to reveal Arabelle’s slender, milky neck seductively.
The high-waisted empire dress covered Arabelle’s petite and thin figure, highlighting her graceful and elegant features.
Finally ready, the head maid and the maids smiled contentedly at their handiwork.
“See, we didn’t do much, and you look so beautiful. This is the real you, my lady.”
The head maid clasped her hands and spoke sincerely, causing Arabelle’s face to blush deeply.
Her reflection in the mirror felt unfamiliar and awkward, but it also made her a little excited. Mainly because of him, who would soon see her like this.
‘He’ll definitely tease me.’
The thought caused Arabelle’s nape to turn a rosy pink.
Knock, knock,
As a maid opened the door, the Emperor stood there.
Bathed in the sunlight streaming through the window opposite, the Emperor’s beauty was so dazzling that it was almost blinding. Even in a simple dark navy uniform, his handsomeness was heart-throbbing.
Furthermore, his perfectly handsome face had a touch of decadent charm, making the three middle-aged maids swallow quietly.
“I came to fetch you for breakfast.”
Though there was no need for him to come personally, the Emperor had done so anyway... as the quick-witted trio surmised. After bowing to the Emperor, they swiftly exited the room, not forgetting to close the door behind them.
“Did you sleep well last night...?”
The Emperor, with his long legs, had almost reached her when his steps halted abruptly. His gaze fell upon Arabelle standing in front of the mirror, and he didn’t finish his sentence, closing his mouth instead.
Arabelle quickly turned, grasped the hem of her dress, and bowed her waist and knees to greet him. The Emperor, with an enigmatic expression, nodded slightly.
“Thanks to you, I slept well. Did Your Majesty also sleep well?”
Her cheeks blushed a rosy pink as Arabelle, unable to meet the Emperor’s gaze, asked.
She could feel the Emperor’s eyes on her even without looking. It felt like hundreds of butterflies were fluttering in her chest.
Thud, thud, the sound of the Emperor’s shoes grew closer. His gray shoes entered Arabelle’s downcast vision. His long and firm index and middle fingers lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.
The scarlet eyes had a golden hue spreading from the center as his red lips slowly parted.
“Are you planning to go down to the garden for breakfast looking like this? To the gathering of local nobles who have come to welcome me?”
As his low, husky voice reached her ears, Arabelle’s eyes wavered in confusion.
‘Does he not like how I look? He must be displeased.’
She must seem embarrassingly provincial compared to the capital’s noble ladies.
Realizing what she hadn’t thought of before, her large eyes drooped weakly, but the hand supporting her chin shifted. His thumb now pressed against her lower lip.
His thick thumb pressed firmly against her lips, smudging the rosy tint.
Startled, Arabelle took a step back, but his other hand caught her waist.
He pulled her slim body into his embrace, preventing her from escaping. The quiet bedroom was so still that she could hear their breathing, and the Emperor’s scarlet eyes darkened as he stared at her now-rosy lips.
His thumb continued to smear her lower lip, then paused in the center.
As his thumb applied pressure, her lips parted slightly, creating a gap. The Emperor lowered his head, bringing his face to her level. His crimson eyes pursued her kind, fleeing gaze relentlessly, trapping them deep within his own.
Tilting his head closer, his breath warmed her parted lips as he whispered.
“Well, with your lips in such disarray, you can’t possibly go out for breakfast. We’ll have to eat in the bedroom and then be on our way.”
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