SBFCV 05

Chapter 5

“Ha.”

The man let out a dumbfounded laugh.

It was because the monster had lowered its massive body to follow Aria, who had collapsed onto the ground.

The creature rested its massive chin on its huge forepaws and stared up at her.

As if asking to be petted.

‘I’m alive…’

Aria let out a shaky breath.

Not far away, Count Cortez lay unconscious, foam bubbling at his lips.

“Did it suddenly go insane or something?”

The man tilted his head for a moment, then lightly nudged the monster with his foot. The creature let out a whine and hid behind Aria’s back.

“Unbelievable. Rabid, is it?”

The man approached Aria. Each time he stepped forward, blood-red footprints dotted the foliage beneath him.

Men’s dress shoes, pitch black and soaked in blood.

Aria looked down at the shoes that stopped right in front of her, then lifted her head.

He was so tall she had to tilt her head all the way back to see him.

“What on earth are you?”

The eyes that had been half-lidded moments ago in boredom were now fixed squarely on her.

It lasted only an instant, but she saw something flicker within those eyes—polished like finely cut glass.

Interest.

“You’re wearing a strange mask.”

As the man said, Aria was wearing a large mask that loosely covered her face.

It was a keepsake from her mother.

“My hunting dogs instinctively react to powerful forces. They obey me because there is no power in this world greater than mine.”

“Are you stronger than I am?”

Of course not.

The man was overwhelmingly strong.

When she first saw him, his sheer presence had crushed her so intensely that she momentarily forgot how to breathe.

Even if Aria’s talent and knowledge were exceptional, she was still ten years old and completely untrained.

“You look far too weak.”

“Weaker than an insect.”

He looked her up and down as he spoke.

Siren are friends of animals…

Communicating with animals was one of a siren’s innate abilities.

I never imagined it’d work even on the infamous beasts of the Ingo Mountains.

Aria glanced at the monster, now docile as a lamb.

It kept rubbing its snout against her and begging for affection, making it hard to think straight. Her mask was already drenched in drool.

Truthfully, she had never used her ability to commune with animals.

She never had the chance.

Count Cortez always kept a crossbow in the wagon. Any time an animal approached Aria, he shot it.

“Did you summon it? Are you relying on wild beasts now? Ha. Ridiculous. You’ll never escape me.”

She still remembered clearly the sensation of hot blood splattering across her face—and the way warm bodies went stiff and fur lost its shine.

After experiencing that several times, Aria learned to avoid animals altogether.

Communicating with them had never even crossed her mind.

But these ones seem sturdy…

Their hides looked thick enough to withstand a crossbow bolt. Maybe it would feel like being poked with a toothpick.

…Maybe they’re kind of cute.

After hesitating, Aria reached out and petted the monster’s head. It puffed warm air at her and rolled on the ground, exposing its belly.

Cute…

Her hand moved to its belly on its own.

It looked like a wolf, but she could see why people called them dogs.

Its fur was soft, fluffy, smooth.

This was her first time touching something like this, and Aria felt she might become addicted to the sensation.

“Tsk.”

The man clicked his tongue.

“You’ll get buried in it at that rate.”

The monsters were huge and full of thick fur, and compared to them, Aria’s small figure was gradually disappearing.

“We’ll talk inside.”

The man grabbed the back of her neck and lifted her effortlessly.

“Your courage is admirable, Count.”

An elderly man with neatly swept-back white hair spoke. He was the Grand Duke’s chief butler.

“No one has ever dared to barge into Valentine Castle so recklessly while still alive.”

The butler placed a warm mug into Aria’s hands as he spoke.

“You should be thankful the young lady saved your life.”

Aria blinked and accepted the mug, peering inside.

It smelled like chocolate, and brown liquid rippled within.

What is this?

White, round things floated on top.

She poked one with her finger.

Soft and squishy—it startled her.

“They’re marshmallows,” the butler whispered into her ear.

Marsh… mello?

Does it taste like melon?

Aria was still staring seriously into the mug when the man leaning crookedly against the wall finally spoke.

“Call the gamekeeper.”

He was ordering the butler.

“Right now, my lord?”

“My hounds need feeding before the mountain beasts devour everything.”

Wait—feed?

Count Cortez, clutching his head in his ruined state, jerked upright.

“Th-there must be some mistake!”

The count glanced nervously at the man before stammering,

“All of my family knights and the expensive mercenaries I hired—becoming dog food? Impossible!”

He glared at Aria viciously.

Growl—

The beasts lying at her feet bared their teeth at him.

Instantly, the count dropped his gaze like a scolded child.

“As I said, Count, you owe your life to the young lady,” the butler said dryly. “You were nearly dog food as well.”

Then he offered a solution.

“We will compensate you immediately.”

“Have more complaints?”

The count froze at the generous offer.

“T-then the amount…”

The butler glanced at the man.

His eyes asked: How much shall we demand?

The man answered lazily,

“Whatever you want. Pay him.”

He could name any price.

The count’s lips twitched with greedy excitement.

“In fact, I brought my daughter today to introduce her.”

Unable to approach due to the beasts, the count gestured frantically for Aria to remove her mask.

She didn’t move at all.

The count laughed awkwardly and rushed to explain.

“You’ll understand her face when you see it later. She’s my legitimate daughter, born from my lawful wife.”

“Why hide her until now?”

“She was born mute.”

That single sentence explained everything.

The only reason he married a siren—despite her not being a noble—was to obtain a siren’s abilities for the Cortez family.

But a siren’s daughter who could not speak?

Worthless.

“Still, she’d make quite a suitable Grand Duchess even without a voice.”

A girl who cannot talk cannot reveal secrets. Someone who doesn’t exist might disappear without anyone noticing.

“If you pay properly for taking her, I’ll never visit the Grand Duchy again.”

He smiled like a merchant boasting about premium goods.

“She even learned writing on her own, without being taught. But break her arms a little and she becomes obedient.”

Aria listened quietly.

He had perfectly explained her value.

All she’d asked was that he sell her to the Grand Duchy—and he’d done a spectacular job.

She’ll suit Valentine’s taste. Useful and disposable.

But she caught something the butler, William, failed to hide: undisguised contempt.

“Count Cortez. You barged in unannounced, made a scene, and insulted Valentine and the young master.”

“Insult?! When did I—!”

“The only reason your rudeness was tolerated is because your father, Maestro Cortez, composed the masterpiece of the century under Valentine’s patronage.”

The count flushed bright red.

William’s words meant: You’re alive only because your genius father earned you mercy.

He drove the blade deeper.

“Valentine cherishes and supports the arts. We recognize the value of genius. Don’t overstep.”

Meaning: overstep again and a talentless fool like you won’t be spared.

The count trembled with humiliation.

Aria felt a thrill.

He touched your reverse scale, didn’t he?

The butler had completely grasped the count’s nature.

Born under a genius father’s shadow, always compared, always inferior.

As expected of the demon castle’s butler.

He knew even the intruder’s personal insecurities.

Aria watched him nervously.

Their eyes met.

“Oh, I see. You couldn’t drink because of the mask,” he said gently.

Huh?

Aria blinked in confusion.

The butler murmured, “The young master should have a suitable one from the last banquet.”

“I’ll prepare a more comfortable mask, so please enjoy your cocoa. It will warm you.”

With a soft smile and gentle tone—completely different from moments before.

Aria now learned that the chocolate-smelling drink was called cocoa.

Honestly… she was bewildered.

The butler, whose personality seemed anything but gentle, was being unusually kind to her.

Why?

At that moment, the beast at her feet barked.

“Woof! Woof-woof!”

Its tail swept the floor like a broom, begging for attention.

William stared and murmured in astonishment,

“I thought they were wolves… but they bark like dogs. Amazing.”

Simultaneously, Aria realized—

The butler valued her siren ability to tame monsters.

She should use that.

She pulled a new card from her bag and wrote quickly.

I can tame all animals.

She flipped to the next card.

I don’t know many things yet, but I’m useful.

I learn quickly.

Next card:

Please take me with you.

A thick silence fell.

So heavy she could barely breathe.

The count felt the murderous atmosphere and hastily snatched the cards, reading them.

His face twisted.

“Stop that nonsense and behave.”

He hissed and grabbed her arm harshly to drag her toward him.

The beasts growled, baring their fangs.

“Argh!”

A large pale hand suddenly seized Aria and tore her away, twisting the count’s arm.

“Good. I’ll buy her.”

The man pulled off the black hood that had covered half his face.

Aria stared at the face revealed before her.

The Grand Duke Valentine.

Just as she expected.

The man was Lloyd’s father.