I Was Hired by the Dark Prince for My Life's Worth - Chapter 55

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 55. Man and Beast
Gulp.
The Strange Man swallowed bread he hadn’t properly chewed, letting it slide down his throat.
The sound was oddly loud, but Yurian and I both pretended not to hear, turning our eyes away.
Yurian smiled and gestured down the long corridor ahead.
“To leave, keep the Prison wall at your back and go straight to the right.”
“…….”
“Avoid the left. It leads to the Party Hall.”
“The Party Hall….”
“There aren’t many guards there, so your status as an outsider will be discovered quickly.”
The Strange Man nodded blankly.
His face revealed nothing of what he was thinking.
His grip tightened on the bread in his hand.
Yurian gazed down at him for a moment, then rose to his feet.
“They say God grants humanity three chances.”
The torchlight cast his shadow long behind him.
I’d deliberately had it swapped in place of a candle.
As the flame flickered, the black shadow danced along with it.
“The first two are mistakes, but from the third onward, it is deliberate. If you commit sin again, then you will truly face punishment.”
“…….”
“I trust you’ll make the right choice.”
Yurian smiled beautifully, his eyes closing in that familiar way.
The Strange Man kept his head lowered, nodding repeatedly.
To all appearances, he looked genuinely reformed.
A scene of repentance stained with tears, as though he would never commit wrongdoing again.
“I will support your new life.”
With that warm farewell, Yurian turned and walked away at a pace that was neither slow nor fast.
“Thank you… truly, thank you….”
I watched the Strange Man muttering and bowing for a moment, then followed Yurian half a beat late.
As we rounded the corner beyond the corridor, I saw him waiting quietly against the wall.
His face wore that faint smile as always.
I approached his side and asked quietly.
‘…Will he really head to the Party Hall?’
[Why? Does he seem genuinely remorseful?]
‘Well… he was crying so hard.’
[Vanillin.]
Pfft.
He laughed so softly I could barely hear his breath.
Then he leaned close to my ear, as if about to whisper.
[Don’t be so naïve.]
Warm breath brushed against my ear.
The ticklish sensation made me shiver and take a step back to the side.
“……!”
It felt as if my fine hairs were standing on end.
He straightened his upper body, raising the corner of his mouth.
[Tears do not prove sincerity. They are merely the currency of a cheap transaction.]
‘A transaction…?’
[It is one of the easiest ways to gain trust.]
‘…….’
Could that really be true?
I couldn’t easily accept it.
Just moments ago, he was weeping and asking forgiveness for his wrongs.
He was crying piteously, swearing he would never commit evil again.
Could all of that be a lie?
I didn’t want to believe that humans were capable of such wickedness.
As if reading my expression, Yurian gave a small laugh.
[Watch his actions, not his words.]
Then he tilted his head slightly, pointing deeper into the alley.
[If you observe a little longer, you’ll understand.]
I have no idea where that certainty comes from.
Was it because of his deep-rooted distrust of humanity?
Or perhaps he had simply encountered too many people like this.
Hoping against hope that he was wrong, I leaned carefully past the wall.
The Strange Man was still eating bread.
He must have been quite starved in the Prison.
He crammed the last bite into his mouth with ravenous abandon, then wiped his lips and slowly rose to his feet.
The light in his eyes was similar to before.
Like a rabbit’s — bright red whites and glistening tears pooled above them.
……
He brushed the crumbs from his hands.
Then he raised both hands to cover his eyes and stood motionless for a long while.
No words, no movement.
Only tilting his head slightly upward as if calculating something, breathing out.
Watching him, I swallowed without meaning to.
No, surely not.
“The right is the exit… the left is the Party Hall….”
He mumbled in a slurred voice.
“A party of wealthy patrons… few guards….”
Swish.
He wiped away his tears, pulling his hands down and stretching both eyes wide.
“And I happen to be without money.”
When he opened his eyes again, his face was expressionless and dry, as if he had never wept.
The man who had shed tears moments before, repenting and swearing he would not sin again — he was gone.
Shoulders squared and straight, lips no longer trembling.
The eyes that had glistened with tears were now parched and cold.
I stood gaping.
‘I suspected as much.’
He hadn’t repented at all.
[True nature does not change.]
Yurian replied as though it were obvious.
The Strange Man, without hesitation, pulled a Torch from its bracket on the wall.
Then he walked with long, purposeful strides.
Not toward the right where the exit lay, but to the left where the Party Hall awaited.
* * *
I have to admit, it was a shock.
[Vanillin.]
‘…Yes.’
[Everything is proceeding according to plan. Why do you look so troubled?]
‘I apologize….’
Trudge, trudge.
I moved forward without strength.
Yurian had been right. Everything was proceeding smoothly according to his plan.
The Strange Man a few blocks ahead, his march toward the Party Hall to set the fires — all of it.
All of it unfolded according to our design, and yet… it was something else.
A lack of human compassion, perhaps….
‘I suppose Your Highness was right after all… I realize now that we didn’t need to negotiate at all, as you said.’
[Ah, that.]
‘I honestly thought it was nonsense.’
Sigh.
I exhaled deeply once more.
This had been the greatest point of contention between us when we were devising the plan.
My position was to recruit the Strange Man through negotiation and persuasion; His position was that he would move of his own accord once freed.
— There is no need for the complexity of negotiation and persuasion. He will move exactly as you expect him to.
— And if he doesn’t?
— He will. All we need do is one thing. Remove the Candle and hang a Torch.
— Why a Torch?
— A Candle’s flame will not suffice to set a fire.
He had said so, touching my cheek as he spoke.
Remembering the sensation of his fingers against my skin, I raised a hand to my face.
That cool, soft touch.
In the end, Yurian was right.
Without a single word of persuasion needed, the Strange Man resolved to commit arson simply by exchanging the candle for a torch.
[Whether it’s persuasion, threats, or negotiation—those are dealings with humans. Not with a beast wearing a human’s face.]
‘How could I ever tell the difference?’
[Well, I suspect Vanillin wouldn’t be able to recognize it no matter how hard she tried.]
‘I have to admit, that does seem true….’
A sigh.
Another breath escaped my lungs, heavy and unbidden.
I was growing weary of people, if I was honest.
The world wasn’t as beautiful as a fairytale, not by half—it seemed far fuller of malice than goodwill.
‘What if I end up trusting no one, in the end?’
I looked down at my feet.
Unable to tell a beast in human form from a true human,
afraid that I might someday trust no one at all. The thought terrified me, irrationally.
[Hmm.]
Yurian, who had been walking ahead, stopped and turned to face me.
His shadow fell across my path.
He tilted his head.
[So you’ve been worrying about such things.]
‘…….’
[Were you very hurt?]
I didn’t answer, keeping my head bowed.
In truth, I was hurt.
Part of me wanted to shout at him—wanted to say that I’d told him so.
That he should have tried persuasion instead of coercion.
That true humans were capable of remorse.
But that hope had shattered completely.
[Oh, so you really were hurt.]
Tap.
A gentle warmth settled lightly atop my head.
Yurian’s hand—large and comforting.
[You don’t yet understand, but Vanillin need not harbor such fears.]
He slowly stroked my hair.
I blinked.
No need to worry? But why?
I raised my head, and our eyes met as though he’d been waiting.
His pale amber eyes curved upward in a smile, gentle as a crescent.
[Because you have me, don’t you?]
‘Ah…?’
I found I couldn’t look away.
My mouth fell open, vacant.
[Distinguishing human from beast—I will do that. You need only]
I forgot to breathe, gazing up at him.
‘Only…?’
His lips curved upward, blossoming into a smile.
Warmth radiated from his palm cradling the back of my head.
At last he smiled, beautiful as a white lily.
[Only follow me. Just as you do now.]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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