A Fine Vessel
Upper demon: “This child is a very… f-fine… vessel…”
“Sacred Blood… as a sacrifice… for the great ones…”
“Hah!”
Kiara bolted upright in bed, her body jerking in panic. The sweat-soaked sheets clung to her like a vise. Like someone’s hands. Like thorny vines digging in. She flung the covers aside and scrambled away from the bed as if fleeing for her life, retreating to the corner. She scanned the room frantically, confirming over and over that no one was there.
“Hah… hah…”
That dream again. An inexplicable nightmare. Voices of strange people echoed in fragments, chopped up so badly she couldn’t make sense of them. Every time she recalled it, pain and terror surged through her. Was it a dream, or a forgotten memory? She didn’t know. She wanted to know, but she didn’t.
What the hell… why does it keep…
In the end, from late night until the sun rose, without anyone’s comfort or care, Kiara hugged herself tight and endured the darkness. Amid the horrific silence and solitude. With her fear.
“My lady? Are you awake?”
“Shut up. Get out of my sight.”
Sleep wasn’t just sleeping for people. It was the most primal need of all. Even waking earlier than usual left her exhausted.
“My lady, this morning—”
“Forget it. Bring coffee. And if you’re late, you’re dead.”
What if she’d spent the whole night wide awake? Not once, but for nearly ten years? Good words and behavior were impossible. Irritation, hunger, and anxiety all spilled out.
“Here we go again. Who’s getting chewed out today?”
“If it’s just a chewing-out, count yourself lucky.”
The people of the Marcelo Duke’s residence knew nothing of this. They just called her a villainess and avoided her.
“…”
Kiara wasn’t blind to their reactions. She knew. She knew it all. She just didn’t explain. She didn’t know how to, and even if she did, no one would listen properly. She’d given up. Once a villainess, always a villainess. Maybe living like this was better than trying to defend herself.
Annoying…
She was drying up bit by bit like this when—
“My lady, a guest has arrived. Says he’s here for you.”
A guest had barged into the Marcelo Duke’s residence?
“My guest? I don’t have anyone who’d come looking for me.”
This wasn’t some street corner. It was the Marcelo Duke’s home. No one would impersonate a connection to the lady here unless they were suicidal or stark raving mad.
“Is it really? The guest who came… it’s Cain…”
“Cain?”
Really. Either a real guest here for the lady, or…
Kiara stepped forward hesitantly anyway. And when she entered the drawing room, what she saw was—
“My lady!”
“Cain?”
The real Cain. A real guest.
“Lend me the Marcelo magic circle, please!”
“???”
The real Mad Dog.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed.
“Let’s recap.”
Kiara eyed Cain, sitting beside her. Even looking again, his face was ruggedly masculine. Look at those pale, delicate noblemen. All identical, like staring at ghosts. But not Cain. He was a real man. Solid build. Scars etched everywhere. Those eyes brimming with predatory intensity. She liked it. Yeah. That’s how a man should be.
“You need to head to the Kasen Kingdom border right now, but the imperial magic circle is overheated and unusable. So you came to the next closest one, at the Marcelo Duke’s residence?”
“As expected of you, my lady. Perfect summary.”
“Flattery won’t make it happen.”
Cain looked crestfallen as she shot him a glare. Like a kicked puppy—it almost made her laugh. He could pull that face too? Interesting.
“I don’t know how you got to use the imperial magic circle so freely, but the duke’s is family property. We can’t just let outsiders use it willy-nilly. It costs a fortune each time, and overuse means we might not have it when we really need it.”
“There’s got to be a way.”
Desperation laced Cain’s voice, uncharacteristic for him.
“What’s the reason? Let’s hear that first.”
She wanted to know. What could drive this overwhelming man to swallow his pride and beg?
No way. Is it that?
There was only one thing that made a man desperate: a woman. And Cain was a man. A prime one in his twenties. If it really was because of a woman that he’d come all this way—
“A demon appeared at the border.”
“A demon?”
To be precise, an upper demon, but he kept that under wraps for now. It was top-secret alliance intel Wilhelm had shown him. No good came from blabbing.
“I have to go hunt it down.”
“All this for one demon?”
It was baffling. Absurd. She almost laughed.
“…So like you.”
That’s why she liked it. That’s why she wanted to help. Killing demons? Of course she’d do it.
“But in return.”
For some reason, Kiara felt mischievous. She wanted to toy with this overpowering man.
“Do me a favor.”
“What is it?”
Was there a demon in the duke’s residence? A contractor? Whatever it was, he’d send it flying with one hit if he saw it…
“Wanna sleep with me?”
“…?”
At first, he thought he’d misheard and waited. But chewing it over, he’d heard right.
“…”
Madness flickered in Cain’s eyes. The look Wilhelm would’ve recognized instantly. The moment he seriously pondered punching her.
“Kidding.”
Thankfully, no lady-beating incident occurred.
“I wanna go too.”
“…”
The lady-beating incident loomed again.
“This one’s serious.”
“Not kidding.”
“I’m bored out of my mind. I wanna get some air, but no one to go with.”
“You’re a lady. Don’t you have escort knights?”
“I do. But it’s like I don’t.”
Cain’s head tilted further askew. Should he really hit her? The internal conflict deepened.
“I’m letting you use the magic circle. You think that’s easy? Even I have to talk to my father directly to make it happen.”
“It’s demon hunting.”
“Not our duke’s family hunting it. You are.”
There were knights at the border too. Sending Cain wouldn’t solve everything.
“We should help each other, right? I help you, you help me. I’m not being unreasonable.”
Cain’s head slowly righted itself. Fair point. Hard to call it pure stubbornness. Magic circles were vital magical assets. Each use burned through massive funds.
“Fine.”
He’d grant her request since she’d granted his. But. Taking her along didn’t mean guaranteeing safety…
“Right. Safety’s extra, yeah?”
“There’s a separate usage fee.”
“Thorough. I like it. Then one extra magic circle use in emergencies.”
“I’ll escort you safely, my lady.”
Deal struck. Cain extended his hand first. Kiara eyed it a moment, then smiled and clasped it.
“Good. Let’s go.”
She led Cain straight to the magic circle.
“Wait, my lady. No permission from the duke?”
“Nope.”
“??”
“We’re just going.”
The magic circle, her outing—doing it all without asking the duke?
“That’s how it’s done. Act first, ask later.”
“Ah.”
“Forgiveness is easier than permission.”
“True enough.”
Villainess through and through. Worlds apart from any protagonist.
The Efer Empire-Kasen Kingdom border region.
Clop-clop-clop—
Several carriages rolled along. The escorts weren’t numerous. But every armed member was a knight. Something ordinary nobles could only dream of. Possible only because the carriage’s occupant was no ordinary person.
“How’s your body feeling, Lady Estelle?”
“Much better, Your Highness. Thanks to your concern…”
“Mm. We’ll both enroll in the Continental Academy soon. Calling me ‘Your Highness’ feels off—why not just my name? And drop the ‘Lady’ for you too.”
Estelle hesitated at Prince’s suggestion. But it wasn’t pushy; it made sense.
“…Yes. Prince.”
“Good. Estelle.”
Yeah. Perfect. No interlopers to worry about.
Sending the kingdom’s others via magic circle was a stroke of genius.
The empire’s third prince, Arhen, or Border Count Evan. Those two would’ve surely come to greet her. Couldn’t have alone time with Estelle then.
Kept the carriage travel as secret as possible too.
They wouldn’t learn until after reaching the empire. By then, he’d grow even closer to Estelle.
Prince clenched his fist, envisioning a rosy future.
“The academy. Exciting, isn’t it? It’ll be a great experience.”
“A great experience and opportunity. That’s why I’m worried. Someone from my humble family as one of Kasen Kingdom’s first students…”
“Now, now. Don’t say that. The Continental Academy is open to low nobles and even commoners. Discussion over—no need to worry.”
In truth, many alliance nobles had voted against it. Plenty of prestigious heirs; why let in lowly low nobles?
How dare they. Calling Estelle lowly.
Back then, Prince, Arhen, and Evan had united to crush the opposition. They’d even pushed for commoners. That way, low nobles wouldn’t dare mistreat her.
“The academy’s undergraduate departments are divided into three. Which for you, Estelle?”
“I think administration. I know nothing of swordsmanship or magic.”
“I see.”
Administration department. Prince pondered. Should he apply there too? But then he couldn’t show off his prowess. Knight department might be better. What to do—
“Your Highness.”
An escort knight’s voice from outside the carriage.
“We may need to stop for a bit.”
Prince glanced out the window. Clouds gathered, but it wasn’t night. No reason to rest yet.
“…How bad?”
Prince grasped the situation instantly. Demons. Ones lurking nearby.
“Trust in the royal knights.”
This route had been confirmed safe multiple times. Bad premonition. Prince bit his lip.
“Good luck.”
“We’ll meet your expectations, Your Highness.”
The knights formed a protective ring around the carriage. Superhuman resolve—no fear or terror. They held an aura ready to cleave any foe.
“Ehehehe!”
But the demon that appeared exceeded imagination.
What the hell is that.
Revolting form blending man and woman. Yet the overwhelming aura it exuded.
“Human males. Plenty?”
A woman’s voice from a male-like face.
“Females too.”
A male laughed from a made-up face.
“I’ll suck every last drop of your essence!!”
The demon charged. Knights met it head-on. Only one visible demon. Quick dispatch. But from the first clash, things went wrong.
“Keurk!”
An arm morphed into a long blade, swinging wildly. One knight barely blocked and was hurled back. The enemy didn’t miss the split-second opening, thrusting its hand forward.
Puuk!—
Knights who toyed with demon soldiers. Handled even mid demons with ease. Yet a gaping hole pierced that knight’s chest. Mana barriers offered no resistance.
“It’s an upper demon!”
Every knight bit their lips at the shout. An upper demon here? Impossible. Most had died or fled. What they saw now were mostly lowers or mids. This route was a verified safe path. No place for an upper demon to pop up suddenly.
A trap? Traitor in the kingdom?
This targets the prince!
Dire straits. Dozens of mids they could handle. But uppers needed far more knights.
“Eee! A sweet scent from over there!”
The demon toyed leisurely with the knights, then reached out. Flames erupted from its hand, hurtling toward the carriage.
“Your Highness!”
The door flew open—someone had been watching outside. Prince scooped Estelle and leaped out. The carriage erupted in flames behind them.
“Everyone! Fight to the death—take down the demon!”
The knights’ assault intensified. Wounds multiplied on the upper demon. But it showed no strain. Rather, the knights’ stamina flagged.
“Kuh!”
One knight’s leg was slashed; he staggered. The demon lunged without mercy, jaws stretching.
Crunch!!—
It tore off the knight’s head and devoured it. The others recoiled in horror.
“Damn it…!”
Were upper demons always this strong? They hadn’t fought one in years. They’d all vanished at some point. And the reason was…
“Out of the way.”
A black silhouette brushed past the knights. Speed even the upper demon couldn’t detect.
“Nice to meet you!!”
Cain’s grin stretched from ear to ear.