CHGD 03

Chapter 03

I had no desire to unnecessarily tattle, so I calmly spoke on Valos’s behalf.

“Yes, he guided me well. There was nothing…… particularly strange about it.”

Aside from the fact that he was eating raw liver.

Perhaps because I was focused on the octopus legs, the Count also didn’t seem particularly interested in the fact that Valos’s clothes were covered in blood.

“Is that so? I’m truly relieved.”

The Count smiled brightly once more. It was a lovable face that seemed to restore my mental strength just by looking at it.

That’s why it was even stranger.

It felt like discovering a splendid carousel inside a tomb—I just couldn’t get used to this unbalanced spectacle.

“I’ll apologize again, Deliana. I’m sorry you had to walk such a hard road alone. I will definitely…… keep you safe.”

“Oh, yes.”

His gaze was so earnest when he said that that I nodded without realizing it.

“Oh, speaking of which, I’m late with introductions. Originally, I planned to welcome you with a grand reception, but I didn’t expect we’d be greeting each other like this.”

Clearing his throat with a *hem*, he bowed in a fine posture and spoke.

“Nice to meet you, Deliana. I am Haster Archeim. Welcome to the Archeim County.”

“Nice to meet you too, Count Archeim. I’m Deliana…….”

I almost habitually added the surname Royd. Since we were married, it was natural to follow his surname. As if realizing my mistake, the Count let out a soft laugh.

“You don’t have to use it right away. When Deliana truly becomes part of our family, you can use it then.”

It was considerable consideration for a marriage I’d been practically sold into.

That aside, hearing the name Archeim deepened my suspicions.

Even if I was out of touch, I had never heard of any noble among the Empire’s high ranks using the name Archeim.

*The surname is too old for a newly risen noble. Is it just because they’re really in the middle of nowhere?*

The questions kept piling up. Moreover, seeing the state of the room just now, it was clear he wasn’t ordinary either. But I couldn’t be sure he was a monster either……

Anyway, my immediate priority was my safety.

“Um, Count.”

“Please, speak.”

“I’d like to go back home for a while.”

“……Pardon?”

The smile vanished from the Count’s face. I felt as if the temperature in the room had dropped.

I quickly added.

“I actually left something at home. And I haven’t properly said goodbye to my grandparents, so I’d like to go back home, even if just for a little while…….”

Being in a marriage I was practically sold into, I couldn’t bring myself to say I wouldn’t come back.

The Count listened quietly to my words. For some reason, it felt like I was making excuses, and my voice grew a little smaller.

“I see, but it’s too late now. How about we think about it tomorrow?”

“But…….”

“There are no people around here, so it’s dangerous at night. Even our soldiers don’t go out.”

In other words, he couldn’t deploy soldiers for me either.

“The castle is safe. So, how about we continue this conversation tomorrow?”

Perhaps because I’d had a human-like conversation, my chaotic mind settled a little.

The Count was right.

Having seen monsters as soon as I arrived, I couldn’t just ignore the dangers of the wasteland either.

Moreover, it was late, and drowsiness was washing over me. Somehow, the dim lighting of the room seemed to have a yellowish tint.

I slowly nodded in agreement.

“You made a good choice. First, I’ll have someone guide you to your bedroom.”

At that, Valos, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, tilted his head.

“Huh? Aren’t you sleeping together? You’re husband and wife, right?”

“Well…….”

The Count kept glancing at me. His eyes moved with an embarrassment that didn’t suit his beautiful face.

“Hmm. Of course, if Deliana is fine with it, I’ll prepare a place in my bedroom. Ah! Of course, if you’re uncomfortable, you can decline…….”

“I’ll pass.”

“…….”

Putting aside the Count’s true nature, I’d just seen his room filled with darkness. I wasn’t bold enough to stay in a place like that.

Perhaps because I’d calmed down compared to before, I was able to clearly express my refusal.

Not expecting me to decline so firmly, the Count stammered.

“We-well…… my bedroom is decorated with the Empire’s most valuable furniture.”

“Yes, it looks really nice.”

“The bed is wide too, so we don’t have to sleep right next to each other.”

“It looks that way.”

“……And still?”

“And still, I’ll decline for now.”

My mind was already made up. Of course, if the Count had insisted, I wouldn’t have had a choice, but fortunately, he was gentlemanly enough to respect my decision.

*Besides, sharing a bed on the first meeting is a bit much.*

We were only a married couple on paper, without even a wedding ceremony. We needed a process to open our hearts to each other.

Whether that process would lead to affection or a confrontation where identities were revealed remained to be seen.

“……I’ll call for a maid.”

The Count called for a maid in a deflated voice.

Though I still had questions about the Archeim family’s history and the true nature of the Count and Valos, I followed the maid’s guidance to my bedroom without any particular questions.

For now, I needed sleep more than those concerns.

Having gone through so many events, my mental strength had hit rock bottom long ago.

*Let’s sleep first. I’ll think later.*

To think that right after escaping my poor but safe family, I’d end up living in a den of monsters.

But I’d worry about the future after waking up.

Yawning repeatedly, I followed the maid.

—

After Deliana left, Valos stealthily watched his master, Haster.

Haster, whose expression had instantly turned cold, was quietly staring at the hallway Deliana had disappeared down.

“Valos.”

“Uh, yeah?”

“You’re absolutely sure Deliana didn’t find out, right?”

A chilling killing intent crept up his spine. Facing his master, who radiated an atmosphere as if he’d slit his throat at any wrong answer, Valos stammered.

“Ah, she didn’t find out. The lady didn’t say anything either.”

“……Right.”

Deliana’s testimony seemed more trustworthy than Valos’s unreliable answer.

Feeling somewhat believed thanks to that, Valos let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

[Do not reveal our identities to human guests.]

That was the first rule established when the residents gathered in this castle.

Since most humans who weren’t guests were prey, it didn’t matter much, but for humans like Deliana, special caution was required.

Of course, not many residents properly followed the rules, but for Valos, who was Haster’s direct subordinate, it was a very frightening rule.

*Besides, he seems to…… really cherish the lady.*

This was the first time Valos had seen Haster act this way toward a human. In the first place, Haster rarely even smiled. When he greeted Deliana with a bright smile, Valos wondered if he was having a nightmare.

If Haster found out that he’d shown his legs to Deliana, whom he cherished so much, even as a subordinate, he would face terrible punishment.

*But wait, didn’t she already meet Blacky?*

Blacky, who lived on the castle walls, unlike Valos, didn’t have the ability to transform into human form. And it seemed Deliana had already met Blacky. Was there any point in hiding it now?

*……I’ll pretend I don’t know.*

It seemed like a secret that wouldn’t do any good to poke into. Valos closed his eyes for his own safety.

“Valos, from now on, I want you to primarily patrol the annex where Deliana will be staying. Don’t let those who can’t maintain human form approach.”

“The annex…… the one by the lake? But there are quite a few residents living there.”

“Deliana likes lakes. I’ve already driven them all out.”

Valos blinked in surprise. Since Haster became the lord of this castle, the only area he hadn’t touched was the residential arrangements.

It wasn’t a special rule, but rather a means to avoid troublesome conflicts with residents. Changing that governing style meant that Deliana was that precious to him.

*There might be a storm of blood after a long time.*

Valos understood as a direct subordinate, but the other residents wouldn’t easily accept it.

Valos felt a little excited at the thought that he finally had something to do.

“Ah, but why didn’t you know the lady was coming, master? I thought you’d go out to meet her.”

“The timing was bad. Besides, the Royd family didn’t even send a messenger. And I happened to be stuck in the castle because of sudden business…….”

Even so, he never expected them to be so indifferent about their own daughter leaving.

It was a clear indication of how the Royd family viewed Deliana.

It was a miracle that she had crossed the Dead Lands alone and survived.

If anything had happened to her before she reached the castle, even the residents of the wasteland wouldn’t have been safe.

“The lady will be staying in the castle from now on, right?”

“Yes.”

“So she’s now the master’s family?”

“……Family?”

When Haster frowned and asked back, Valos tilted his head as if it were obvious.

“Husband and wife are family, aren’t they? Or not?”

“……Right, family.”

As if he’d never imagined it, Haster muttered the word ‘family’ with a fresh expression.

To beings like them, ‘family’ was an unfamiliar concept.

They might have offspring who inherited their blood and flesh, but it was extremely rare for them to choose a mate out of affection.

“Do you think she’ll see me as family too?”

“Don’t you think so?”

If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have entered the castle claiming to be the lady.

It was clear that her marriage was forced upon her, but she hadn’t shown any signs of rejecting Haster either.

Whether that meant acceptance or resignation was unknown.

“Family, family…….”

Haster kept muttering to himself. His appearance was unfamiliar.

He seemed to be enjoying the thought himself, the corners of his mouth gradually lifting.

It was hard to believe this was the same Haster who would execute his subordinates without blinking an eye.

“Valos.”

“Yeah?”

“I want to become her only family.”

“Uh…….”

Valos thought being husband and wife was enough, but ‘family’ in Haster’s words meant something else.

“She will come to think of this place as her only home.”

Hiding his uncontrollably lifted lips, Haster smiled.