Märchen For A Villain - Chapter 8

The Grand Duke strode across the bed on which Isabelle was lying. Reminiscent of the owner, the resolute sound of footsteps occupied the quiet room.

 

“Get out.”

 

The Grand Duke’s cold command fell over the masseuse’s head.

 

The trembling masseuse cried and crawled out of the room.

 

walked out of the room, crawling on all fours.

 

“Why?”

 

The Grand Duke stood by the bed and stared at Isabelle. Isabelle bit her lip.

 

‘This is a situation where I must have done something wrong.’

 

I felt sorry. I just looked at the masseuse. Of course, this situation was not new.

 

Even in the past life, Isabelle has had a lot of misunderstandings like this.

 

‘I was really tired of making excuses to the prince each time. But do I have to do this again?’

 

“I didn’t do anything, Grand Duke.”

 

The Grand Duke tilted his head silently at Isabelle’s words.

 

“It was just the masseuse who suddenly cried……”

 

“Why don’t you come out of the tower?”

 

“!”

 

‘What. You’re not asking why I bully the masseuse?’

 

Isabelle, with her eyes wide open, looked at the Grand Duke. He still held something in his hand with a blunt look on his face.

 

“You don’t go out and stay inside to read novels like this.”

 

The Grand Duke recalled a report he had recently heard: the librarian called Isabelle the ‘great bookworm’, who borrowed all adult romance.

 

“No, how did you … And the words are weird. Romance novels are not like this.”

 

What’s wrong with reading this? Isabelle gave a small growl and glanced at the Grand Duke.

 

By the way, she wondered how the book she handed over to Verdel was in the Grand Duke’s hands.

 

“You must answer the question, Princess. Why don’t you go out of the tower?”

 

The Grand Duke folded his arms and looked down at Isabelle.

 

His purple eyes with a lower temperature than usual.

 

It rested on the hem of the blanket that Isabelle was holding on to and the pale shoulder exposed above it. The oil-coated skin gleamed in the sunlight coming through the gaps in the curtains caught his gaze.

 

‘That’s strange.’

 

He frowned.

 

Anxiety of unknown cause arose.

 

He didn’t like that woman’s shiny skin, and he was also angry with her red lips, which hesitated at his question.

 

The white neckline was exposed during the massage, and the fine hair was sticky on the skin.

 

He didn’t like anything, so he wanted to get out of this room quickly. The Grand Duke touched the earring on his left ear.

 

‘Maybe because of this.’

 

The black gem earring that reached his fingertips was as cold as usual. Isabelle’s gaze turned to his earring.

 

‘It’s the earring that was said to be the brand of the curse.’

 

He becomes a beast every night because of that?

 

‘There are rumors that the Grand Duke repeats marriage in order to break the terrible curse.’

 

Isabelle replied belatedly, remembering what Verdel had said.

 

“I was going to go out tomorrow.”

 

Yeah, she was going to go out tomorrow or so. She made up her mind like that every day and couldn’t do it because she was lazy.

 

“Tomorrow.”

 

The Grand Duke nodded his head.

 

“I’ll assign an escort.”

 

If it’s Snow, no one is going to attack her recklessly.

 

“Then rest.”

 

The Grand Duke turned around and left the room. And he handed the novel again to Verdel, who was waiting outside the room.

 

Verdel politely accepted it and hurriedly hid it in her arms.

 

“If she reads this, it means that your master is very healthy.”

 

“That, that!”

 

Verdel was startled and looked into the eyes of the Grand Duke.

 

“Take care of your master until the wedding.”

 

‘Don’t do nonsense.’

 

The Grand Duke gently tapped Verdel’s shoulder and whispered his last words.

 

“… … I’ll keep that in mind, Grand Duke.”

 

Verdel, who grew white, bowed her head and answered.

 

The Grand Duke went straight down the tower.

 

***

 

‘Ah, why can’t I sleep today?’

 

Was it because the Grand Duke found out about it?

 

Isabelle tossed and turned in bed then stood up.

 

Seeing the early morning moon that has already passed, she was going to stay up all night.

 

Isabelle draped her robe around her shoulders and left the room.

 

It was late at night when even the servants guarding the hallway leaned against the wall and fell asleep for a while. When she touched the elongated magic stone without going down the stairs, the portal activated and the light engulfed her body and she moved to the first floor of the tower.

 

“You go out like this.”

 

Every time she lightly dragged the indoor slippers, the night dew on the short grass dripped onto the side of her feet.

 

When she was slowly walking around inhaling the smell of the sea and soil she

was used to now.

 

Krerk- Kung!

 

A strange sound was heard in the wind.

 

‘A wolf? dog? I heard something barking.’

 

Isabelle held her shoulders and looked around.

 

There was nothing special except for the well-managed patronage.

 

‘Is that the sound of the Grand Duke turning into a beast?’ 

 

Even the corner tower sounds so eerie, how big is the mansion?

 

Isabelle quickly returned to the tower, understanding that she had given up her home here. While she tried to activate the portal again at the entrance to the tower.

 

‘Verdel?’

 

Isabelle glanced at the back of the tower.

 

The back view of Verdel carefully disappearing through the small door used by the servants behind the patronage.

 

‘What’s going on at this hour?’

 

Isabelle trembled at the sound of the beast roaring once more, but without realizing it, she followed behind her.

 

Passing through the small gate, a new village was visible below.

 

Huts lined up in rows.

 

‘This is a private residence for servants.’

 

They all looked the same, so it could be confusing, but Verdel managed to find her accommodation. Isabelle leaned close to the hut and peered through the small window.

 

“Oh my God, Rondo. How can you break it even though it’s tied up?”

 

“Boo!”

 

“Rondo, calm down. Mom will set you free.”

 

If it wasRondo, he was Verdel’s son, who would soon become an adult.

 

‘I heard he had a disability.’

 

Isabelle recalled Verdel’s rare family story.

 

‘I can’t secretly watch this.’

 

The moment Isabelle was about to turn back.

 

“Mom brought the magic hair, Rondo. Now, be still.”

 

‘hair?’

 

At that word, Isabelle looked into the small window again.

 

Verdel put a familiar long bundle of blonde hair into her son’s hands and muttered an unknown spell. Soon, a bright light appeared from there and penetrated into Rondo’s body.

 

“Ha…!”

 

Rondo, who had had a seizure while jumping in place with his hands and feet tied, found stability again.

 

‘Ah, my powers of recovery.’

 

Isabelle’s body had the ability to restore something.

 

Her body fluids were more effective than hair, followed by blood.

 

‘My heart is probably the most effective.’

 

The ability she had to hide and live desperately because it would be troublesome when it became known to those around her. According to Verdel, there were always people who tried to covet it, and each time Isabelle would curse them.

 

‘I thought Verdel was the only person who stood by my side without greed.’

 

From the edge of her heart, cold thin ice froze.

 

Rondo smiled happily and went back to bed, while Verdel sang a lullaby and patted his chest.

 

Isabelle, who watched up to there, turned around.

 

It felt like a cold piece of iron had landed on the back of her head.

 

‘The reason Verdel stayed by my side was because of my hair.’

 

She believed that she cared for her as much as she did, so the feeling of betrayal came to her as a bigger wound.

 

‘It’s fine. What did I expect ? After all, I was alone.’

 

Isabelle murmured a little with every step she took.

 

‘After I got possessed in a novel, I never really expected anything from other people.’

 

It’s funny really.

 

Don’t be shocked.

 

Why do I feel hurt?

 

Who am I?

 

“I am Isabelle Desar.”

 

Isabelle took a deep breath and raised her chin upright.

 

The night wind that touched her cheek was especially cold today.

 

****

 

Isabelle, who arrived near the tower, approached the Mana Stone with a cold face.

 

Kreung!

 

The cry of the beast was heard closer than before.

 

Was it because she hardened her heart with Verdel’s incident?

 

Kung!

 

The sound was getting closer and closer, but Isabelle didn’t care much and headed towards her destination blankly.

 

‘I’m exhausted.’

 

She tried to go downtown when she woke up today, but it seemed impossible.

 

The moment Isabelle was about to activate the portal.

 

A dark shadow fell over her head,

 

“Mom!”

 

Isabelle called for her mother, whom she did not know, and fell back.

 

In front of her stood a large four-legged beast. Its black fur-covered appearance resembled a wolf, but the pair of towering horns were not those of a wolf.

 

‘Is this the Grand Duke who said he would turn into a beast?’ 

 

Amethyst-like eyes twinkling in the moonlight, and black gem earrings with pointed ears.

 

“Grand Duke.”

 

Isabelle was not too surprised and just smiled in despair.

 

It was a world with mermaids and magic, so what was surprising about this creature?

 

‘Maybe this is the original version of Beauty and the Beast.’

 

Little Mermaid, Snow White, Beast.

 

Really, there was no other messed up fairy tales like this.

 

‘He turns into a beast every night, but he looks better than I thought.’

 

Isabelle, imagining something more disgusting, got up from her seat, dusted her clothes.

 

“Are you crazy right now?”

 

“Grrrrrr!”

 

“Haha, no matter how crazy you are, how can you not recognize your bride-to-be?”

 

Isabelle stepped back and glanced at the Grand Duke.

 

Torn clothes and blood could be seen through his sharp teeth.

 

“You’re not going to eat me, are you?”

 

He didn’t have human’s eyes.

 

Instead of answering Isabelle’s question, the Grand Duke growled more fiercely.

 

‘I have a bad feeling. I don’t think he understands.’

 

Carefully stepping backwards, the mana stone portal touched her back. It took a little bit of time for it to work.

 

‘Oh, maybe!’

 

Isabelle remembered something, took off her slippers and held it in her hand.

 

“Oh… … … Kong Kong. Are you a good boy?”

 

His hair was black, so she called him ‘Kongkong’.

 

She thought it would be less intimidating if she called him by a cute name. Isabelle gently shook her slippers.

 

Contrary to its vicious teeth, the purple eyes followed it slowly.

 

“Come on, catch it!”

 

Isabelle tossed the slippers away.

 

It spun and flew through the air and the beast made a big jump in the direction it was flying.

 

Meanwhile, Isabelle quickly placed her hand on the Manastone and activated the portal. Shh- White light enveloped Isabelle, and at the same time she entered her room in an instant.

 

The room was quiet.

 

Isabelle sighed in relief and looked down the tower.

 

It was said that animals hate high places.

 

The black beast was frantically biting the slippers he snatched up without even paying attention to the tower. If she hadn’t escaped, she’d be like that herself.

 

‘Okay. Let’s sleep first.’

 

She had many thoughts, but what’s the point?

 

Everything will be organized when she wakes up.

 

Isabelle lay on the bed and closed her eyes.