Chapter 5
Cession was furious. The Crown Prince, flustered, hastily retreated.
By the next day, rumors had spread like wildfire. The Crown Prince was now widely known as a thug who’d killed his brother’s loyal aide over a mere mistress—the exact opposite of the reputation boost he’d wanted.
To make matters worse, the Emperor placed him under house arrest. For a full year.
Anna and the servants wept at Hans’ funeral. Only Cession remained dry-eyed—he’d suspected Hans of being a spy. With no one else to confide in, he vented to Gremory.
“Hey, Mori. It’s just… weird. I thought Hans was the Crown Prince’s plant, but then the Prince went and killed him? Last night’s investigation confirmed he was a spy.”
“……”
As Cession used her as a sounding board, Gremory chewed on the black goat meat he’d offered.
“What was the point? Plant a spy just to kill him? A temper tantrum doesn’t explain it. That Prince couldn’t even kill a bird on a hunt—yet he murdered a man?”
“……”
“Well, it worked out for me. Betrayal aside, the spy’s gone, and the Prince’s locked up. A year of peace, thanks to that house arrest.”
Clueless, Cession rubbed his violet eyes. Then he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped goat blood from Gremory’s lips—a practiced gesture from caring for his sister.
“Did bringing you here bring me luck?”
He suddenly grinned.
“I’ve adopted a lucky charm.”
Gremory, now accustomed to his delusional conclusions, didn’t react. She set down her cutlery and scribbled in her notebook:
「One more black goat = +1 year of peace」
Cession laughed, ruffling her hair.
“Hah, our Mori’s cracking jokes now. You don’t need to ask—I’ll get you as many goats as you want.”
Gremory swatted his hand away and returned to eating.
Dawn, when all slept.
Gremory sensed movement and threw off her blankets. Iris, who’d been lingering since noon, crept closer.
What now?
Iris flinched under Gremory’s black gaze but clenched her fists and spoke.
—Why… are you helping my brother?
Gremory flexed her jaw.
Snap.
Her dangling tongue reattached.
“None of your business. Scram.”
—You’re a witch! You feed on human misery! So why make him happy instead of—
“Annoying. I’ll eat you next.”
—Eek!
Iris scrambled back. Gremory turned away and yanked the blankets over her head.
She’d hoped to scare her off, but then her shoulder prickled. Bolder than expected, Iris tapped it.
—Um.
“……”
—I don’t know why you’re helping him, but… thank you.
Gremory shrugged irritably. Undeterred, Iris continued.
—Since you’re helping him anyway… could you do it properly?
“No. Too much work. My goal is to live here quietly like dust. Nothing more.”
—‘Like dust’? You just murdered Hans yesterday—
“Still no. Get lost.”
This time, Iris retreated. But as she faded away, her voice darkened.
—There’s something you don’t know. When it happens, you’ll come to me.
“What?”
—Then we’ll make a deal. I’ll give you what you need, and you’ll help my brother.
She vanished. Gremory scratched her ear and snored.
Next afternoon.
Anna brought strange strips of meat.
“Lady Mori, jerky! Eating only raw meat must get dull, so I made it the northern tundra way!”
“……”
Gremory ignored it. Human-prepared food was vile—meat was best raw.
“Come on! I stayed up all night making this for you!”
“……”
“I used different spices since I didn’t know your taste. Try it!”
Persistent brat. She couldn’t outright ignore the girl who’d lost her family to her plague. Gremory reluctantly picked the reddest strip and bit down.
“……?”
Not bad. The spices were mild, the blood flavor strong. The seasoning was acceptable.
Her hand naturally reached for the second strip. Hmm, this one’s too spicy. Next—ugh, garlic. Hard pass.
Of six varieties, two met her standards. Anna beamed at the success rate.
“Yay! I’ll make more! Eat lots and get healthy. My wish is for you to walk again!”
Gremory froze mid-chew. Her wish was for someone else to walk? Why?
She scribbled in her notebook:
「Why?」
Her tongue was healed, but she hid it—suddenly regaining a severed tongue would seem odd to humans.
“You’re my friend and family now. I’ve talked so much, you know me well. And I know your pain too. We understand each other, so of course I’d worry!”
Gremory chewed slower. An unfamiliar warmth prickled her chest.
‘Worry’? She didn’t understand emotions, but she knew worry.
A conversation with a human friend—dead four years—resurfaced.
‘Gremory, I’m worried! Are you really okay there? You’re always hurt. Stay at my place if it’s hard.’
‘I’m fine. One burst of energy heals me.’
‘But… doesn’t it hurt?’
‘Why do you care?’
‘That’s what friends do!’
‘Tch. Humans exhaust themselves caring about others.’
‘Says you. You visit daily because you “worried” I’d be alone. You started coming after that burglary—I know you’re protecting me.’
……She hadn’t left her friend alone that day.
Anna kept chatting as she tidied the plates.
“My real wish is for my parents to return, but that’s impossible. So now I wish for the living.”
Fine. You’ve offered ‘jerky’ and satisfied me. A trivial wish like this, I’ll grant.
Gremory’s eyes glowed red. The contract sealed.
Grunt. She forced strength into her left leg and stood at the table.
“You prefer mild spices! Next time, I’ll crush leoren seeds—AAAH!”
Anna, focused on cleaning, nearly toppled backward. Gremory caught her wrist just in time.
“Y-You’re standing?! And you caught me?!”
Gremory nodded.
Anna clapped like a seal, overjoyed—
“Wonderful! Now you can work here!”
“?”
“All rescued ladies get hired as servants! But this mansion’s so gloomy, most quit or leave for treatment. Still, extra hands are always welcome, Mori!”
“……?”
“Let’s do laundry together, Mori. Time to earn your keep.”
Anna’s wish for Gremory’s recovery had an ulterior motive: free labor.
