# Chapter 33
Chapter 33
“…What did you say?”
Kiriel, who had been lying down reading a book, immediately frowned at the words of his lieutenant who came to his room.
Lieutenant Levon's eyes widened slightly at the sight of Kiriel Judias's fierce gaze, revealing a mix of emotions—anger, confusion, and something indescribable.
What kind of man was Kiriel Judias?
Since the end of the Holy War and the death of his older brother, he had been a man consumed by apathy.
It was as if apathy had taken human form.
Though he did the minimum required work due to his lieutenant’s persistence, he lived day by day with a lifeless, pale face, as if the reason for his life had disappeared.
He showed no emotions, and it was as if the only feelings left were indifference and disregard.
His face remained expressionless, and his voice was flat and cold.
“Levon.”
Kiriel furrowed his brows and urged him again, and Levon quickly adjusted his slipping glasses and opened his mouth.
“Lady Bunny has been poisoned by demonic energy.”
“So, why did she suddenly end up like that after going to the market?”
“According to the shadow that was following her, after visiting the market, it seems the young lady met the Duke within the estate grounds.”
At Levon's explanation, Kiriel grimaced and stood up, throwing a coat over his indoor clothes as he immediately headed out of the room.
Levon hurriedly followed behind him.
“Afterward, the young lady said she wanted to visit the Imperial Palace, and the Duke couldn’t refuse, so he took her there.”
“The Imperial Palace.”
Kiriel’s brow furrowed.
There was only one person in the Imperial Palace connected to demonic energy.
The only son of the Emperor.
The one cursed by demons, who sacrificed their lives to place a terrible curse on him.
The Crown Prince, Loel Labdia Rotis.
A child who had spent more time sick than healthy.
The unfortunate royal who was cursed at the age of just four.
Even though he had been cursed for five years, his strong will to live was impressive.
“Did she make contact with the Crown Prince?”
Kiriel, uncharacteristically furious, strode forward with long strides.
Levon shook his head quickly.
“That part hasn’t been confirmed yet.”
“And the girl?”
“She’s been moved to the family shrine because of her poisoning…”
Kiriel, having left the mansion, headed straight for the shrine.
From the entrance, an ominous energy was palpable.
Kiriel took a deep breath and walked in.
It seemed the news had spread as a crowd had already gathered in front of the shrine.
And among them, standing awkwardly at the edge, was a child who didn’t quite blend in with the group.
A boy with gray hair and golden eyes.
It was Allen, one of the children Kiriel had taken in.
Kiriel stopped in his tracks when he saw the child.
“Allen.”
“…My lord.”
At Kiriel’s call, Allen looked up at him with wide eyes.
Tension was evident in the boy's narrowed pupils as if he was nervous.
“B-Bunny...
She said she was going to buy potatoes, but she hasn’t come back.
I-I couldn’t go with her today because I had class… and now I hear she’s been cursed…”
Reading the fear in Allen’s stammering eyes, Kiriel rubbed his face roughly with his palm, trying to compose his expression.
Then, kneeling down on one knee, he spoke softly.
“Allen.”
“Yes.”
“Calm down.”
“…But.”
“I’ll go inside and see what’s happening, and we’ll do our best.
No one knows what’s going on yet, so…”
“Beep!”
At the sudden noise, Kiriel turned his head and noticed a small, bright red bird perched on Allen’s shoulder.
Kiriel narrowed his eyes.
A divine beast?
He could feel the faint energy of a divine beast.
“What’s that?”
“Oh… that’s…”
Allen hesitated, his lips trembling, before glancing around cautiously.
Then, with a determined look, he squeezed his eyes shut and spoke.
“It’s a bird that hatched from Bunny’s egg.
She was worried that you and others would be disappointed because it wasn’t a black flame dragon, so she asked me to hide it…”
Kiriel’s expression grew complicated at Allen’s words.
There was never a reason to be disappointed.
Given that the egg was presumed to be from a divine beast, the chances of it being a black flame dragon were nearly nonexistent.
‘But still… this is the one that hatched from the egg that ate up all those holy energy stones?’
It seemed… rather small and weak.
Kiriel squinted his eyes and stroked his chin.
A bird like this had never been recorded in any historical texts on summoned divine beasts or holy relics.
“…Divine beasts protect their owners, so I thought it would help, so I brought it with me.”
At Allen’s words, Kiriel looked at him silently.
Despite always pretending to be tough, Allen avoided eye contact and didn’t like interacting with people.
A boy who would rather walk away in frustration than face the malice that came his way.
After being mistreated and called a monster for ten long years, defeat seemed to be etched into his very bones.
“Allen.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll take care of that child.
You’re still young, and we don’t know what effect this might have on you, so go back to your room for now.”
Allen hesitated at Kiriel’s words.
He looked up briefly, then lowered his gaze again, disappointment flickering in his eyes.
It was clear he had wanted to go inside.
But there were too many uncertainties in letting a child who hadn’t fully matured into their holy power enter.
“Thank you for bringing the divine beast.
Having it nearby might help a little.
I’ll take it to your sister and tell her you brought it.”
“…!”
Allen’s eyes widened at Kiriel’s words.
“Sister.”
That single word seemed to pierce deeply into his heart.
As Allen nodded, Kiriel patted his hair briefly before standing up.
“I’ll take care of Bunny.
And…”
“Yes.”
Kiriel looked at Allen’s golden eyes, similar to those of a divine beast, as the boy tried to avert his gaze again, and spoke once more.
“From now on, stop calling me 'my lord.'”
“Huh?”
“If someone hears that, they might think we’re not family but strangers.”
After adding that, Kiriel quickly turned and walked away.
“If you all gather here, it won’t help anything.
You’d be better off dispersing and getting back to your own duties.”
With a cold tone, in stark contrast to the warm words he had spoken to Allen, Kiriel added a sharp remark to the others who had gathered, and then walked into the shrine.
Allen, who had been watching him, blinked slowly.
“‘If someone hears that, they might think we’re not family but strangers.’”
Family?
He had never imagined he would hear those words from Kiriel Judias.
Allen’s face turned red in an instant.
He rubbed his flushed face with his palms and slowly turned around.
‘I need to get stronger.’
Holy power, and his divine beast too, needed to grow stronger, so no one would have to worry.
Allen’s footsteps headed toward the training ground.
* * *
“I’m surprised.
I didn’t expect you to say something like that.”
“Something like what?”
“Kind words to the child, words of empathy.
I always thought you were made entirely of apathy, indifference, and the ice you brought from the North.”
“That’s not something you should say.”
Kiriel, frowning, responded to Levon, who was as sharp-tongued and cold as he was.
Levon shrugged nonchalantly, his expressionless face remaining the same.
“Still, for something that hatched from that egg, it looks too small and weak.
I’ve never seen a divine beast like this in any records.”
“…”
Kiriel narrowed his eyes as he looked at the small bird on his shoulder, then flung open the door to the healing room inside the shrine.
The sight that unfolded before him made his face harden instantly.
“It’s not working.
The healing power isn’t reaching her at all…”
“Neither is the purification power.”
“Her temperature is over 40 degrees now.
We’ve been giving her antipyretics directly into her veins, but the medicine isn’t working.”
The room was filled with the healing priests, purification priests, and the family doctor, all gathered together.
And among them, lying on the bed with a bright red face, breathing shallowly as she struggled to open her eyes, was the child.