Chapter 34
In the end, Cheshion stood up from his seat and started pacing.
‘Could it be… that I like Mori?’
Cheshion had always been confident that he wasn’t a fool. But right now, he felt like nothing more than a clueless, spineless idiot.
Do I really like Mori? Or am I just annoyed because a scoundrel is approaching someone I care about?
Knock knock. With a sound of knocking, Isolen entered after finishing some paperwork. She spotted Cheshion pacing around and chuckled.
“Your Highness.”
“Huh, what is it?”
“It’s fine. You’re getting older, so it’s time for you to start dating.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Isn’t it because you’re pacing around because of Mori’s love letter? It even came from Kenneth Ortega, the most handsome man in the continent.”
“What? That guy is the most handsome in the continent? Ha, no way. I’ll never admit that.”
Isolen laughed as she watched Cheshion getting angry about the wrong thing.
“Hurry up. If you don’t make a move first, that guy might charm Mori away.”
Isolen placed the documents on the desk and left the office. Cheshion stared at her back, letting out a bitter laugh.
‘Is it really necessary to rush and take Mori away? I don’t hate Mori dating another man; I just hate Kenneth’s personality.’
At that moment, Cheshion saw a black cat jumping out of the window. The cat, with ruby-like eyes, landed lightly and walked out of the Duke’s residence leisurely.
‘What… Mori…? Are you going to meet that guy?’
Cheshion collapsed into the sofa. It was only then that he realized how deep his feelings for Mori were, and he let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
“What is love?”
After receiving Kenneth’s love letter, Grimory began to truly wonder about love.
What kind of love makes Kenneth struggle even with my sister’s enemy? Iris had explained love to her before, but it didn’t really resonate. So, Grimory decided to go out and explore love on her own.
The first place they arrived at was a small mansion of a wealthy commoner. On the outside, it seemed ordinary, but an ominous black aura was emanating from it.
Iris, who had come along, asked,
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Why did you choose here first?
“Wait a little longer. The love I learned about is like that.”
After a short while, the husband left for work. Then, another man entered the mansion and began spending time with the woman like a couple.
They ate delicious food together. Then they sat and talked, and even kissed.
It was an affair.
“I heard in the Demon Realm that’s what love is. Making people feel uneasy and breaking them.”
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Hmm… It’s twisted, but that’s one form of love. Well, they’re happy, even though it’s a bit dangerous.
“But why do humans go through such dangerous things?”
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There are different circumstances, but most of the time, it’s due to arranged marriages. People marry unwillingly for their families and then find love with someone else.
“If the husband came back now, it would be a mess.”
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Exactly. It doesn’t seem like a very desirable kind of love. How about we go see another form of love?
Iris decided that she should guide her, otherwise Grimory would end up spending the whole day visiting houses where affairs were happening.
“Where are we going?”
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Let’s go to the place I found when I went out last night. It looks like it could use some help, and it’ll be a good place to visit now.
The next destination was a remote village.
In front of a dilapidated small house, a man who seemed to only have a cart to his name was sitting and crying loudly.
-
Talk to him. You might see a proper form of love.
Grimory was annoyed by Iris’s command, but curious about this “proper form of love,” she reluctantly transformed into her human form and approached the man.
“Hey, why are you crying?”
“Go away! Damn it!”
“…”
Grimory was impressed. She crossed her arms and nodded with a satisfied look.
“Your spirit pleases me. I, the witch Grimory, will grant one of your wishes.”
“What are you saying! Unless you’re going to save my sick daughter, get lost!”
“Treating an illness is nothing for me.”
It seemed that the daughter was ill. Grimory, understanding it as a request to save her daughter, tried to enter the man’s house, but he blocked her path.
“Damn it, don’t touch my daughter!”
“Then I can’t treat her.”
At that moment, the middle-aged village chief passing by stopped and spoke to them.
“Don’t mind Ian. He’s got a bad temper. Talking to him only wastes your time.”
Grimory walked away from the man’s house, sticking her lips out. The village chief was concerned.
“Did you get hurt somewhere?”
“No, thanks for worrying.”
“Haha, speaking so casually! You’re quite bold for someone so young. Anyway, don’t worry about that house. Ian got what he deserved.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you see Ian’s attitude? He’s a horrible person. Even though the villagers have tried to be kind to him, he just curses at them. No matter how bad things are for him, I don’t want to help him.”
Grimory shot a glance at Iris, realizing that this wasn’t the “proper love” she was hoping to see. It seemed like they had gone down the wrong path.
However, Iris remained determined and insisted,
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You’ll definitely see it. Let’s learn more about that house.
Grimory looked at Iris, irritated, and whispered,
“I didn’t want to see this kind of love. Be honest, were you planning to use me to save that man’s daughter?”
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…No, I wasn’t.
“Your face says otherwise.”
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Anyway, it’s still a form of love. The love between parent and child is love too.
Iris stared at the distant mountains.
Grimory sighed but, since they were already here, decided to help the man named Ian. She waved at the village chief as she left.
“Anyway, thanks for the info. I’m off now.”
“Hey, I told you not to go there!”
The village chief eventually gave up and turned away. When Grimory returned to Ian’s house, he was sobbing, kicking his empty cart.
“Hey.”
“What are you doing here again?”
The emaciated Ian yelled, wary of Grimory.
“Here.”
Grimory handed him a handkerchief, slightly wrinkled from being carried around, but still good enough to wipe away his tears.
Ian alternated between the handkerchief and Grimory’s face before taking the handkerchief and wiping his face. His demeanor softened.
“…Don’t get involved in my business. I’m receiving my due punishment.”
Ian’s surroundings were filled with darkness. Grimory could read the life hidden within that darkness.
He was once the head of a normal family. But one day, his wife fell ill, and with no money, he entrusted her to a quack doctor.
His wife passed away, but the quack had already taken the money and run. Since then, Ian became distrustful and wary of everyone.
“Why do you think you’re the one being punished?” Grimory asked, looking directly at him.
Ian stared at her, his expression one of silent questioning, as though asking why she seemed to know everything about him.
After a moment, he looked down, thinking the village chief had already told her everything.
“I was stupid and gave all my money to that quack. It’s all my fault. If I had that money, I could have gone to a convent and saved my daughter.”
The convent’s medicine was very cheap. But even then, Ian didn’t have enough money and had been crying on the ground.
Grimory furrowed her brow. Sometimes, there are humans who are more wicked than witches and more demonic than demons. Ian had crossed paths with one of them, which led him to his current state.
“The village chief seemed to want to help you.”
“I have my pride. I’ve treated the villagers terribly. How could I ask for help now? It’s been a long time since anyone spoke to me like this. I appreciate it.”
Ian turned and went back inside.
“I just want to die without pain, with my daughter. I want to be with my wife. That’s my last wish.”
And he closed the door. Grimory’s eyes glowed red.
“Contract finalized—”
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Stop! There’s no way that’s his real wish!”
