Dad Kidnapped the Obsessive Maniac

Episode 8

I was trembling as I couldn’t know what Yurián had revealed. Stepping back shakily, behind me, Francis, the captain of the guard, stood firm, blocking the way.

Heldbrandt was getting very close.

The BL novel I had seen, “Cry, Your Majesty,” was both my first and last. So, I was skeptical whether it was appropriate for the person in the submissive position to have such a sturdy, tall, muscular body.

“Hmm?”

My tension increased, hardening even more due to his smiling face.

Stay calm. If this lunatic really found out something, he wouldn’t bother talking to me right now. He probably would have torn me apart the moment I stepped out, or used his ability to induce a horrific hallucination.

Regain composure.

“Dad.”

“…”

He looked down at me with a cold gaze. It felt like my spine would completely disappear, but I had no choice if I wanted to survive.

“There’s blood.”

Reaching out, I wiped away the blood droplet clinging to Heldbrandt’s cheek. He looked at it, then laughed. Seeing his eyes squint, it was clear it wasn’t fake.

“Are you hurt?”

“It’s not Dad’s blood. Worried?”

“Yes.”

Trying to look as pitiful as possible, I didn’t avoid his gaze. As a result, he continued to look at me with amusement.

“I wish I could awaken with a healing ability.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want Dad to get hurt.”

That statement seemed to be the right answer, as he smiled contentedly. If it wasn’t an offensive ability, he wouldn’t even consider it a threat. Add to that a naive daughter who follows only him.

For Heldbrandt, who couldn’t let go of power, there was no better prey.

“Dad.”

“Yes?”

“Why is your neck like this?”

His laughter turned cold again. Apparently, Yurián had retaliated in some way; there were deep fingerprints on his neck.

Seeming concerned, Heldbrandt reached his hand to his neck and touched the marks. He stiffened. Wiping away the fingerprints beneath his Adam’s apple, Heldbrandt didn’t smile.

Then, as if forcibly detaching my hand, he grabbed it and asked, “Are you worried about Dad?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

His expression softened somehow. It wasn’t the fox-like mask he usually wore; it seemed like a genuine face, asking out of curiosity.

“I’m your daughter, right? Dad did that, calling me your masterpiece.”

“…Right.”

As he spoke, his eyes didn’t smile, only his mouth did. That was a fake smile. I was familiar with it now after seeing it a few times.

“Daughter, that guy did that.”

“…”

“So, make him kneel under your feet. Make him beg. Make him worship you as his owner. That’s the only way our daughter will awaken.”

“Yes.”

He conveyed his words somewhat wistfully and then left. Even as he left, he seemed fascinated by the fact that I touched the wound on my neck, briefly touching it with my hand before swiftly leaving.

* * *

Yurián was once again experiencing the most feared illusion that Heldbrandt had shown him.

‘If only I hadn’t given birth to someone like you….’

Yurián couldn’t move his body as he wanted. His body seemed like a machine operating independently, completely ignoring commands from his mind, as if his mind was intact yet his body acted on its own.

Even if he wished it to stop, he couldn’t halt it.

It was the side effect of Yurián’s ability.

‘I should have killed myself when that damn side effect started.’

The person before him, pouring out profanity while sobbing, was Yurián’s father. He was glaring at Yurián through his tears.

Yurián, held in his father’s arms, knew exactly who the person sprawled out in agony was.

‘If only it wasn’t you…! If only you weren’t here!’

Yurián was crying too, but there was no part of his body responding to his wishes.

I don’t want to kill.

Please, stop.

He disappeared for a moment, and every time the memory returned, the surroundings turned into a battlefield. Just like now.

“Grrr…!”

As Yurián closed and opened his eyes, this time his father was hanging from his hands, his neck tight.

“Ki…ll….”

“….”

“I don’t…want to…live… either.”

Yurián’s eyes, looking at him without resistance, with resentment, were familiar. Those red eyes. His father’s eyes, hating him but unable to kill him.

“I will curse you forever, Yurián.”

With those words, Yurián woke up. The illusion shown by Heldbrandt was repugnant to him. Unconsciously biting his lips and clenching his fists, he felt his mind becoming clearer due to the pain from the nails digging into his palms.

But the relentless illusion wasn’t over yet; it was even pulling out the memory of the day he first saw Yvonne.

“She is Princess Yvonne.”

The moment Yurián saw Princess Yvonne for the first time after the war was vivid. She covered her face with a mesh-like cloth during the New Year ceremony, so her face was not visible.

But when their eyes met, he involuntarily stopped moving. It felt like all the hair on his body was standing on end.

In that moment, memories of her and the emperor’s hypnotism blended together.

“Am I going to kill her like this too? Duke Leonhardt?”

Yurián couldn’t move his body again. This time, he was pressing down on Princess Yvonne’s delicate neck with both hands.

“Poor thing.”

In the illusion, Yvonne, in the midst of feeling drowsy, casually wiped Yurián’s cheek with her fingers. He became more afraid as his shameful tears fell onto Yvonne’s hands.

I don’t want to kill.

I don’t want to die.

The intense illusion didn’t end easily.

* * *

Yurián’s condition was extremely dire. He didn’t want to return immediately, but he needed to confirm what he had said to Heldebrandt.

However, that thought seemed to be a misjudgment.

Yurián was cornered in a corner, glaring at the door like a fierce beast. His neck was bathed in a bright red light, making it difficult to approach him as he looked like a wolf on the verge of attacking.

“Duke Leonhardt.”

He didn’t seem entirely in his right mind. Hesitant and retreating as if on guard, I couldn’t muster the courage to get closer.

The gaze he directed at me seemed unfocused. Seeing the red light on his neck, I wondered if he was exerting some force, and it was hard to see if he could see me well.

The key to the restraint device around his neck was deliberately moved to his thigh using the garter, making it challenging to be taken away if he broke free.

“Don’t come closer.”

It was strange that he was using informal language with me for the first time. He had always been polite, even when he thought I was a maid or a servant.

“Duke.”

“Go away.”

I couldn’t figure out what kind of trance he was under.

Fortunately, Heldebrandt’s hypnosis weakened once it was out of his sight. So, he might be in his right mind now, but considering the shock he had received, he might not be entirely sane.

“Did the Emperor send you?”

“Did you twist Dad neck?”

“Hah.”

I couldn’t have any meaningful conversation if I stayed like this, so I hesitantly approached. Clutching my awkward skirt tightly so I could escape quickly if he showed any odd behavior.

He was looking at me with caution, like releasing a wild animal into the room, making me feel frustrated and awkward.

“I regret not twisting the Emperor’s neck.”

“I agree. You should’ve done well. Why did you let him go?”

“What?”

My sincere feelings slipped out unintentionally in response to his mocking tone. It was true. If the Emperor had died at Yurián’s hands today, it would have been a happy ending.

I would have left the palace immediately. After the Emperor’s death, would anyone bother looking for the disappeared me? The useless princess who hadn’t even awakened her powers?

Most likely, they would have easily placed a suitable noble in charge and let the aristocrats manipulate him as they pleased.

“It’s sincere. I told you before. I want to leave with you when you leave.”

“….”

“I didn’t know Dad would come to see the ball.”

Seeing the bloodstains here and there, it didn’t seem pleasant. It seemed I made the right choice bringing a better first aid kit than last time. As Yurián stood up, I approached within reach. He still glared at me, but he also looked confused.

“Next time, wash up like last time… Ugh!”

With a loud crash, the first aid kit I had been holding fell to the floor. Startled by his attempt to get up, I stumbled backward in surprise. I worried that I might have hit my head and could be suffering from a concussion, but it seemed I had only hit my back hard enough to induce a cough.

“Cough…!”

“If I twist your neck, the emperor will be sad.”

I felt frustrated as I struggled to cough, a dry and unproductive effort. Yurián, who had knelt down beside me, looked at me, focusing on my throat.

Despite his attempts to twist my neck as if he was about to do it any moment, he refrained from actually doing so.

Nevertheless, there seemed to be some level of trust built over the past few days, unlike the initial caution he had exhibited.

“What kind of hallucination did you see? Did my father hypnotize you?”

“….”

“Did you see something terrifying? I’ve experienced it before, and it’s dreadful, isn’t it? Right?”

Perhaps not wanting to be caught crying, he approached me closely. There was even a willingness to embrace. Comforting a crying person wasn’t difficult.

“I saw something like that too…! Mom!”

I was so surprised that I slapped Yurián’s cheek. He had bitten my neck.

“D-Duke! Are you insane?”

He bit me very hard and then let go, his expression somehow softened, even dazed. Looking at him in disbelief and confusion, he quickly returned to a fake smiling face.

“Your Majesty wishes for me to kneel at the feet of him.”

“….”

“Then, shouldn’t there be at least a few marks like this?”

“Why would that be necessary?”

Unable to understand, I touched the part he had bitten, and as I stood up, he moved aside willingly.

“Aren’t you still underage?”

“I’m already past the age of majority. Are you mocking me for not having awakened yet?”

“No.”

My face felt like it was going to explode. But when I glared at him, he seemed equally embarrassed.

“Do you know what that means?”

“I don’t know.”

As if in distress, he covered his mouth and stepped back, and in the meantime, I quickly ran to the door.

“Your Highness.”

“What.”

“You should make one for me too.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Like the one I just made.”

I was momentarily shocked, and words failed me. I hadn’t missed sex education. But wasn’t making a duke kneel under my feet a form of submission?

But why would something like this be necessary?

“Your Highness, don’t you know what His Majesty wishes? Do you not know how he wants me to make you submit?”

“Probably wishes for me to become an obedient dog that listens well.”

“….”

His face turned red, even his ears, and his neck was also flushed.

“At least make one like this. So that I won’t be as embarrassed next time.”

“Ah….”

“You wouldn’t wish for me to die at Your Majesty’s hands, would you?”

Well, either way, it would be advantageous for me if he died.

But if Yurián died and I still didn’t awaken, Heldebrandt would probably kill me.

He seemed to sense my hesitation and continued speaking.

“Then come here.”