January 18, 2021
"This should do."
Cabelenus threw James into the room. Even though he hadn't used much force, James staggered, struggling to regain his balance.
"What do you think you’re doing?!"
"This isn’t a conversation to be had in front of a child."
"In front of a child? Since when did you start caring so much about Mikael?"
James sneered.
"I didn’t realize before, but now I do."
"No, Your Highness knows nothing at all. You’re only pretending to care for Mikael to win Alicia’s favor."
"And you think you’re any different? You took care of Mikael for the same reason—to earn Alicia’s favor."
"I did no such thing. I only—"
"Then why did you shake off the boy’s hand just now? That so-called precious ‘family’ of yours seems to change depending on the situation."
James clenched his fists at the sight of those golden eyes staring straight at him. That gaze had always irritated him—arrogant, as if the man already knew everything, looking down on him like some kind of god.
"Leave."
"......Leave?"
"I believe I already warned you. Know your place. You were the one who ignored my warning."
"I can’t leave."
"Then I’ll make sure you do."
Cabelenus lazily brushed his fingers over the corner of his eye. Schwarhan was his domain. There were countless ways to make sure someone never set foot on his land again.
"Is that a threat?"
"It’s good that you understand."
"If you harm me, Alicia will find out immediately."
"And yet, after pulling that stunt, you still dare speak her name."
"What stunt?"
James’s brow furrowed.
"That’s what I should be asking you."
"What?"
"You made her cry."
Cabelenus’s gaze darkened, sinking like sediment settling at the bottom of a deep well. James instinctively took a step back, his expression twisting.
"So you went running to her already?"
"No. She didn’t say a word. But in my castle, there are only so many people who could spout nonsense and make her cry."
Cabelenus’s eyes landed on James’s throat. It was as thin and fragile as the rest of his untrained body. He wouldn’t even need a weapon—his bare hands would be more than enough to snap it.
"I never tolerated you because I liked you. I ignored your presence because she didn’t want me to interfere."
"......."
"You were the one who crossed the line."
"I didn’t say anything untrue."
"You didn’t?"
Cabelenus raised an eyebrow.
"The way Alicia acts around you and Mikael isn’t normal."
"So what?"
"You may not want to admit it, but Alicia doesn’t love you, Your Highness. That’s not love—it’s dependency. She clings to anyone who offers her even the slightest affection—"
Crash!
A chair toppled over with a loud bang. James exhaled sharply, staring at Cabelenus. The grand duke merely flicked his foot nonchalantly, his expression unreadable.
"What do you think you’re doing?!"
"I was trying to hold back from touching you, but you just won’t stop spewing nonsense."
"Such consideration is laughable."
James let out a dry scoff.
"I’ll say this one last time—watch yourself. I’m running out of patience."
Or perhaps, he had already reached his limit. Cabelenus spoke indifferently, but from the moment he had stepped into the room, his eyes had carried a murderous glint.
"Since when did you become so considerate?"
"Even if it disgusts me, the fact remains that you helped her."
Cabelenus let out a short chuckle. The only reason he could suppress his fury was because, for the past eight years, James had been more useful to Alicia than he himself had been.
"Don’t act like you care about Alicia."
"That’s my line."
"What are you talking about?"
James’s face twisted.
"If Alicia were really so desperate for affection from anyone, then why do you even have to say this?"
"What nonsense are you—"
"You said she follows anyone who gives her love."
"......."
"Then why are you so desperate over a woman like that?"
A sharp glint of fangs appeared between Cabelenus’s lips. His gaze, like the edge of a honed blade, locked precisely onto his prey.
"I was never desperate for Alicia."
"No. You are desperate. Even now."
Cabelenus’s smirk deepened.
"The real problem isn’t her—it’s your inferiority complex."
"......."
"Your feelings don’t matter. But don’t you dare force your self-righteous guilt onto her."
Cabelenus took a step closer. James instinctively clenched his teeth. The height difference was noticeable, but more than that—it was those beast-like golden eyes. Just looking into them sent a chill down his spine.
"I’m not forcing anything. I’m just trying to help her see reality."
"Reality?"
"If you can’t take responsibility for her, why do you keep shaking her resolve? Why do you make her dream of something impossible?"
Even though the beast’s gaze made his legs tremble, James refused to back down. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to meet Cabelenus’s stare.
"I have no idea what you’re talking about."
"Alicia is a commoner! That label will follow her—and Mikael—for the rest of their lives. The entire world will judge them!"
"I’ve already told you—I don’t care about that."
"Of course you don’t! You have nothing to lose! But Alicia is different! The scorn will be hers to bear alone! And in the end, she’ll suffer!"
James’s voice grew desperate. But Cabelenus’s expression remained cold, detached.
"You’re the same as always. All you ever do is run your mouth."
"What?"
"But do you know the truth? No matter how much you talk, you’re nothing but a third party in this."
"......."
"Don’t fool yourself. This is between her and me. You have no place in it."
Cabelenus took another step forward. The shadow cast over James’s face darkened.
"I won’t stand by and watch her walk into misery."
"You just don’t want to see things not go your way."
"Insulting me won’t—"
"You’re the one doing the insulting."
Cabelenus’s lips curled into a lazy smirk, an expression far too arrogant for the situation.
"You don’t know anything about her."
"......Are you saying I don’t?"
"If you knew what she’s survived, you wouldn’t be spewing such drivel about her being desperate for affection."
"You’re acting like you know everything about Alicia yourself."
James’s lips twisted bitterly. Who was really the one who didn’t understand her?
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
"I may not know everything, but at least I know more than you."
"No. Your Highness knows nothing. If you truly understood Alicia, you would never have treated Mikael the way you did."
His emotions were twisted beyond recognition—right and wrong blurred into something indistinguishable. The only thing he was certain of was that he wanted to shatter those arrogant golden eyes.
"I don’t know how much longer I have to listen to your nonsense. In the end, none of this—"
"Mikael is a monster."
"......."
"Just as you predicted eight years ago, a monster was born."
For a brief moment, Cabelenus’s gaze wavered. It was slight, but James caught it and immediately pressed on.
"Eight years ago, Alicia didn’t give birth to a human—she bore a beast."
"......."
"It had four legs, clear as day. Even the midwife who received the child ran away in terror. Alicia was branded as a woman who had birthed a monster—she couldn’t even recover properly before she had to flee."
"So?"
"So? I’m telling you—it was a beast! He’s a monster!"
His eyes had faltered, but now they were steady again. Panic surged in James as he flailed his hands, grasping at the air. He knew what kind of man Cabelenus was—he had once tried to kill Mikael for being a monster. There was no way he would just let this slide so easily.
"Monster or human, it doesn’t matter anymore. I decided to protect him, so I will."
"You want to protect the child you once tried to kill? Is that all just to win Alicia’s favor? Are you trying to play the good man now?"
"It would be better to pretend."
"Urk—!"
Cabelenus grabbed James by the collar and threw him to the floor. James landed hard, gasping for air. A heavy boot pressed down on his chest.
"And yet, you still have the nerve to say such things to the man you thought would kill the child."
"K-Kuh—!"
"It would be easy to kill you. And ruining your life to the point where death would be preferable wouldn’t be much harder."
With just a little pressure, he could end James’s life as an artist. Cabelenus shifted his foot onto James’s hand. Even with a light touch, the sheer weight made James’s blood run cold.
"If you don’t want those hands broken, stay quiet. That includes your mouth, too."
"......."
"When I lift my foot, go straight to your room, pack your things, and leave this place immediately."
"T-This kind of threat—Aaagh!"
"I’d prefer if you stayed quiet. Even eight years of patience has its limits."
"Patience? What the hell do you think you’re enduring?"
Tears streamed down his face from the pain, but the worst of it was the humiliation. If things continued like this, he would be nothing more than a pathetic failure.
"You really don’t get it, do you?"
Cabelenus clicked his tongue. The fool under his boot had no idea—holding back from crushing him was harder than simply doing it. Sometimes, the only way to make someone understand was to teach them with their own body.
"Alicia is going to die!"
"I was hoping to end this peacefully, but I see now I need to make myself clearer."
"Alicia has been using up her own life to raise Mikael!"
"......What did you say?"
Cabelenus stopped in his tracks.
"For someone who claims to know her so well, you had no idea, did you?"
James smirked maliciously. The man who had been so sure of himself finally showed a crack in his confidence—it was enough to make his lips curl.
"Alicia possesses a power that grants wishes. And the price she pays for it is her own lifespan."
"......Her lifespan?"
"During the eight years you ignored her, she has been sacrificing her life to raise that child."
"......."
"In the end, your worst fear became reality."
Your son has been devouring her life like a parasite.
James slowly pushed himself up, staggering to his feet. He passed by Cabelenus, who stood motionless, and limped toward the door. His entire body throbbed, but his heart pounded wildly. It was only when he saw the small figure curled up near his room that he finally understood what he wanted to do.
"......Uncle, are you okay?"
Sensing someone nearby, Mikael lifted his head. Even after being rejected so coldly, the boy still worried about him. But to James’s distorted eyes, that concern only fueled his contempt.
He could no longer see Alicia in Mikael’s face.
All he could see was Cabelenus.
"Mikael."
James smiled, placing a hand gently on the boy’s shoulder.
"Is something wrong with—"
"You should call me Father."
"......."
"You already know who your real father is, don’t you?"
James’s grip tightened.
"U-Uncle, that hurts...."
"Of course, that man would never let you call him Father. Who would want a child like you?"
A parasite that devours its own mother.
The smile vanished from James’s face.
"Mikael. Do you know why your mother and your father separated?"
"......."
"It was because of you. Your birth is what ruined her life."
"......."
Mikael’s face paled, so stunned that he couldn’t even cry. But James didn’t stop. He tightened his hold on the boy’s shoulder, making sure he couldn’t run away.
"Your mother is only going to suffer more from now on."
"M-Mom is—"
"Because you’re a monster."
"......."
"Your mother’s life was ruined because of a monster like you—running around without a clue, trampling all over her misery."
Tears welled up in Mikael’s red-rimmed eyes. But James didn’t let go. If anything, he only gripped the boy’s shoulder even harder.
"Never forget this. Your mother’s suffering is all your fault."
He had spent years by Mikael’s side, almost as if he were his own child. There had been times when he had found him endearing, even lovable.
But the more he looked at Mikael’s face, the more he realized—
He no longer saw Alicia in him.
All he could see was Cabelenus.
The resemblance was undeniable.
No matter how innocent he looked now, Mikael was his father’s son.
Just like Cabelenus, Mikael would one day follow the same path—spilling the blood of countless people, conquering lands, becoming yet another monster.
The child of a beast would always be a beast.
