Queen of Revenge - Chapter 106

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

Chapter 106
* * *
The study in Count Valenstein’s Mansion remained illuminated late into the night.
Lucian glanced at the clock. The time the Count and Countess had permitted was nearly exhausted. He couldn’t remove the precious ancient texts from the premises, so if he found nothing more, he would need to conclude his research.
Lucian turned the page to finish reviewing the chapter he was reading.
Then, as if by fate, the final passage of the chapter seized his attention.
[There exist cases where demons, upon feeling intense longing for a human, have attempted to extend that human’s lifespan.]
Clang!
Lucian thrust himself up from his chair. A shiver cascaded down his neck and shot through his scalp.
A servant of the Earldom, entering the study cautiously, spoke to him.
“Secretary, the agreed-upon time has passed. Perhaps we should conclude—”
“Wait. Just one hour. No—ten minutes will suffice.”
Lucian gripped his pen and hastily transcribed the passage he had just discovered. Then he flipped through the ancient text frantically.
Below that passage, irrelevant content continued, and only after turning dozens more pages did related material appear again.
He moved his pen without pause to examine the content.
[Some records mention that demons placed their own lifespan within demon stones and gave them to humans, yet the essence failed to settle in the flesh and dispersed. In other cases, when humans forcibly attempted to accept it, their bodies could not withstand the strain and collapsed—a tragedy born of love, one might say.]
[Ultimately, the established doctrine holds that sharing lifespan is fundamentally impossible unless the bodies are identical. However, according to several unconfirmed cases, the exchange of bodily fluids temporarily blurs that boundary—.]
Lucian’s pen, moving without respite, faltered and trembled.
“Bodily fluids…?”
[When the essences of two beings intermingle through blood and breath, or contact equivalent to such, the demon stone mistakes them for a single body. Only then can even another absorb lifespan, though such moments are but fleeting, and the price is far from negligible.]
Lucian’s brows contorted.
‘A demon’s blood and breath, or a human bearing demonic power’s blood and breath, or contact equivalent to such…’
It was a method that didn’t require literally ‘consuming’ a demon.
A kiss, or even physical union alone, could yield some degree of effect.
Yet the prerequisite remained: the one transferring lifespan had to be ‘a demon or a human bearing demonic power.’
The thought of having Iolet engage in such an act with someone, wagering her lifespan, was distasteful, and besides—where would one even find such a human?
Iolet had asserted that ‘humans bearing demonic power do exist,’ but how could a human possibly possess such power—?
“Ah.”
The realization struck in an instant.
Lucian’s eyes trembled violently as he stared at the page he had transcribed.
A human could possess power that seemed inhuman. There existed far too clear an example proving this was not impossible.
“…Bara.”
Beyond the study window, the golden-haired girl thrust her head forward.
Bara, who had cheerfully roamed the Capital while Iolet strolled the night streets with Kairon, raised her eyebrows.
[Why?] [?]
That child was not human. Yet neither was she a demon.
But Bara’s parents were undoubtedly human.
While there existed the possibility they were not her biological parents, it seemed more reasonable to conclude she had been born human but, for some reason, had become something other than human.
Lucian cast aside his pen and flung the window wide open.
Bara scrunched her nose and waved a card.
[Why] [Why] [Why] [Why] [Why] [Why] [Why] [Why] [Why] [Why]
“When did you stop being human?”
Bara, who had been idly fluttering cards, tilted her head. Then she pressed her index finger to her lips.
‘Secret.’
“Are there more beings like you?”
Bara, who had been staring at Lucian, smiled faintly. She made hand gestures as if signing, but Lucian couldn’t understand her.
Bara, frustrated, rummaged through her card box. Soon a new card appeared before Lucian’s eyes.
[Many]
“Then who else besides you—.”
[But] [Won’t]
[Tell]
[Bara] [Scared]
After showing him a few more cards, Bara shook her head vigorously. Then she ducked completely out of sight below the window.
‘So there exists a being that made Bara this way, and there are quite a few of them…’
Before I even realized it, I had grasped the windowsill and leaned my body out into the open air.
My voice rose, flowing past my lips.
“What does that mean?”
[What] [?]
“What does it mean to be a human with the power of demons?”
Bara, clinging to the outer wall below the window while gripping a vine, looked up.
The young girl gazed at Lucian intently with her crimson eyes.
Lucian held his breath, waiting for the answer Bara would reveal.
Bara, as if testing him, remained unresponsive for a while before reaching into her card box. Very slowly.
[Scary] [Guest]
[Ask]
10
“What’s troubling you, Iolet?”
Anastasia tilted her head as she called to Iolet.
Iolet suddenly snapped out of her reverie.
Anastasia, seated across from Iolet with a tea table between them, teased her mischievously.
“You said you had an amazing date with Kairon yesterday, so why the long face?”
“…It was amazing in several ways, yes.”
“You two fought?”
“No, it wasn’t so much a fight as a brief difference of opinion.”
“That’s fighting, isn’t it?”
Anastasia’s lips curled up with amusement.
“What happened?”
“…My husband wasn’t quite the person I expected. In some ways, he was completely different.”
Iolet reluctantly glossed over the matter.
“Two faces of your husband? How intriguing. So you were disappointed?”
“I suppose I was angry. It was certainly something to be angry about.”
“Yet you couldn’t bring yourself to be angry.”
“When I think about it, I’m not in a position to be angry either… and I didn’t sense any real danger. I wasn’t afraid.”
Kairon was undoubtedly a dangerous and domineering man, but I never felt his aggression was directed at me.
He had no reason to harbor resentment toward me, and even if he did, he would have no reason to pretend to care for me. Yesterday’s kiss had proven that one fact beyond all doubt.
Anastasia spun around with an intrigued expression.
“I don’t know the details, but it’s clear the Commander loves you dearly. The fact that he hid his true self and only showed you his better side proves it.”
“I feel like what he did was essentially a betrayal.”
“Then later, in bed, slap his cheek once and ask how he could deceive you so completely. And after you make passionate love, that settles it, doesn’t it?”
I stared at Anastasia with astonishment. Then I spoke.
“You must have fought quite a bit with the Crown Prince of Levia, Anastasia.”
“Ah, no. That’s not what I meant—!”
“My cousin seems to be a very affectionate person.”
Anastasia’s cheeks flushed crimson in an instant.
“Why are you suddenly bringing up my affairs? Never mind. I can’t say anything now.”
Anastasia waved her hand dismissively.
“So, won’t you come with me to the Dileto Trading Company? You were interested in the grain storage, weren’t you? I have business at the company anyway, and since the Grain Storage Facility is nearby, let’s go together while we’re out.”
The Dileto Trading Company was a large comprehensive merchant house that received investment from the Decart Grand Duchy, Queen Cecilia’s family.
“I’ll go. I want to.”
I rose to my feet, soothing my throbbing head.
After finishing our preparations and stepping outside, a carriage was waiting in front of the First Prince’s Palace.
Just as I was about to board, Anastasia, spotting someone over my shoulder, raised her eyebrows slightly.
“Your Majesty the Queen.”
Queen Cecilia was approaching us.
“I’m curious where you’re going with such joy. Princess Consort. And Princess. Your laughter carried over the walls all the way to the Queen’s Palace.”
“We’re stopping by the Dileto Trading Company to verify the grain for export. It was a scheduled visit, but since the Princess of Elovis happened to be bored, I invited her to join me.”
“Is that so?”
Cecilia smiled sweetly. Whether it was because Anastasia was with me or not, I had never seen the Queen smile so openly before.
“Are you planning to visit the Grain Storage Facility nearby as well? It would be good to send word ahead about your arrival time.”
“That’s already—”
Anastasia, about to answer, paused mid-sentence. I had gently tugged at the hem of her dress where the Queen couldn’t see.
“We’re having dinner by the riverside, Anastasia. So we shouldn’t arrive at the Grain Storage Facility until around four o’clock, wouldn’t you say?”
Queen Cecilia nodded.
“I see. I’ll have the Grain Storage Facility manager informed. Enjoy your time.”
With those words, she passed by us.
Anastasia turned to me with confusion.
“What was that about, Iolet? We were originally supposed to arrive at the Grain Storage Facility at three o’clock.”
“No, it’s just… something felt off. The way she specifically confirmed the exact time…”
I watched the Queen’s retreating figure intently.

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