Three Weeks Later
“……”
Roer suddenly halted mid-stride and lifted his head.
As Ferzen had said, he had clawed his way forward relentlessly during that time, achieving no small measure of success. He had become a member of the Imperial Knights, and his marriage to the eldest daughter of the Alfred family loomed on the horizon.
Compared to his past, it was a brilliant glory he had grasped—one that could rightfully be called as much.
But precisely because of that, though he had never shown it outwardly, Roer felt his breath catch in his throat.
Climbing the mountain called Brutein, he now felt the majesty and pressure from its peak—things invisible from the base below—crushing down on his entire body.
He had to endure this altitude sickness and climb even higher.
The faint edge of the summit was visible now.
Yet the remaining distance felt unbearably heavy.
Even today proved it, didn't it?
The current Imperial family had bowed its head. Political interests may have played a role, but such was Brutein's standing within the Ernes Empire.
“……Here it is.”
Resuming his steps, Roer submitted the detailed testimony and sat on a bench, head bowed.
I need…… merits.
If climbing was too burdensome, then he just needed to fly.
The Claudia family needed wings like that now.
And the stage for that opportunity would come soon enough.
* * * * *
The dormitory students were no exception to the chaotic morning.
And Laura was heading to the dormitory rooftop, at Ferzen's request to see her briefly.
My corpse…… should be undamaged, right?
Last night, the aberration from the netherworld that had descended—how it had rampaged, and how it had been subdued.
All the students in A Dormitory had witnessed the entire sequence.
Laura had been among them, of course, and she had felt a twinge of admiration watching Ferzen command her past life's body to cleanly wrap things up.
Within the Euclid rank, transforming mana into lightning that matched the firepower of natural thunder…… was practically impossible.
So Ferzen must have induced a natural bolt instead.
In a mage-versus-mage fight or against an Aura Knight, the long preparation time would have rendered it meaningless.
But adapting methods situationally was essential sense for an elemental mage.
Creak!
Reaching the rooftop door, Laura pushed it open and stepped out.
“Ah……”
A man in a crisp suit stood smoking, facing the breeze.
The difference from usual? His arms were mangled, and he was relying on her past self's corpse for assistance.
“H-Hello……”
“Yes.”
Putting out his cigarette, Ferzen turned and looked down at her.
“Laura.”
“Y-Yes……”
“The full moon cycle is roughly 29 days. So around April 6th or 7th, your lycanthropy will flare again.”
“……”
“Last time, I had no choice but to take you to an inn room. But that won't work from now on. I'll purchase a small house, so meet me there when the time comes.”
“Th-That……”
She knew it wasn't, but since Ferzen was married…… it sounded like a whisper inviting an affair.
“Why redden your face needlessly? Do you think I'll make you my mistress?”
“N-No……”
“I told you then too—I'm not interested in your body.”
“……”
“I said 'purchase,' but there's no chance of failure, so I'll give you the address now.”
Her past self—Isabel's corpse—held out a neatly folded paper.
Taking it, Laura hesitated for a moment, bowed to Ferzen, and turned to leave……
“Laura.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Last week, I didn't have time to check.”
“Wh-What…… a-are you……”
“Have you already forgotten the music room?”
“Ah……”
“Then recite it.”
“……”
What a ruthless man.
It had only been a single request to play the piano.
Still, she couldn't deny accepting Ferzen's condition at the time, so after fumbling for a while, Laura opened her mouth.
“D-D-Dog…… d-d……”
“Speaking that slowly defeats the point of not stuttering.”
“……”
“Laura.”
“H-H-Hound…… d-d……”
“Enough. You're still far off.”
“……”
With her past self—an Apollyon-rank elemental mage—standing before her, the contrast to her current state brought shame and humiliation several times more intense than usual.
“……”
“Th-This kind of…… th-thing…… w-won't…… f-fix it……”
“We'll know once you try. And I'm merely enforcing the agreed terms justly, so don't act spoiled and cowardly.”
Biting her lip slightly, puffing her cheeks, Laura shot Ferzen a sidelong glare, sighed, and bowed her head.
“N-Next…… t-time……”
“Yes.”
Turning, Laura descended the rooftop. Soon after, Ferzen left the dormitory, boarded a carriage, and returned to the mansion where Euphemia awaited.
* * * * *
“Your arms……”
“Fractured. Even at best, it'll take two weeks to heal cleanly.”
“What…… happened?”
“You needn't know.”
“……”
“Go to your room. We'll have breakfast in the bedroom today.”
Ferzen's words were utterly curt, but Euphemia offered no small protest, merely shuffling back to the bedroom.
Wasn't she his wife in name at least? Shouldn't he share the circumstances of his injury?
Or was he drawing a line, deeming even that beyond a mere seed-bearer who just needed to give birth?
Well, it was hardly new at this point.
She'd been treated that way all along.
Oh, right……
With both arms numb, he wouldn't try to have relations.
He'd said two weeks at minimum, so on average, three weeks.
Her next fertile window might pass safely then.
Of course, depending on whether this month's cycle came……
“Haah……”
Sighing, Euphemia placed a hand on her lower belly.
If a child born looking just like that man toddled toward her, calling her 'Mama'…… honestly, she doubted she could love it.
But what sin had the child committed?
And after carrying it for nearly a year, wouldn't maternal love bloom even if reluctant? Her mind grew tangled.
If it was a girl, no less…… she'd be ignored by him, unloved……
Bang!
As her thoughts deepened, Ferzen flung open the door.
Trailing him was the corpse he commanded—beautiful even in death.
“Euphemia, starting next week, come to the Academy with me. I'll give instructions on the spot as needed. Schedules may change, so keep that in mind.”
She nodded silently in response.
Ferzen gazed at her a moment, then sat on the adjacent bed, speaking in a flat tone.
“If you don't want to show you're offended, act the part properly. Not like a child sulking over a missed birthday gift. Do you expect coddling?”
“Did you read my mind? Don't assume your guess is fact. I'm quite displeased.”
“……”
Uriel had been like that too. With his arms unusable, was her shrunken self swelling again?
She was talking back steadily.
Not that backtalk mattered……
“S-Sorry…… I…… misspoke.”
“……”
Sensing the shift post-words, Euphemia glanced at Ferzen's eyes and apologized.
“It stung that you withheld something you could have shared. And realizing anew my place as a mere seed-bearer for heirs…… anyway.”
“Your words have a glaring flaw, Euphemia.”
“……”
“You shouldn't feel displeasure at that. No—even if you do, you mustn't show actions laced with it before me.”
“I'm…… human too……”
“Do you truly believe all people equal? Even bound in marriage, you can't forget the hierarchy between us. Even if it feels unfair, consider the gains it brings you?”
“……”
“You're such a tiresome woman. Discard pointless pride; it'd be easier. Find happiness meekly in your given lot. I haven't been kinder lately expecting this outcome.”
Was he pushing too hard? The thought flickered, but her collar needed no loosening.
Their bond had twisted from the start; no tender romance would bloom now. She had to be thoroughly tamed.
“If you resent being raised and handled like livestock, if you crave achievement…… fine. I'll reclaim every investment in Ruerg right now.”
“Th-That……”
“And return it bit by bit based on your efforts. How about this: seduce me successfully outside your fertile window and receive my seed? That way, you'd feel the sacrifice for Ruerg in your bones. Weren't you playing the saint?”
“……”
“Strip bare now, kneel on the floor, raise your hips like a whore, and beg.”
Euphemia shook her head limply and spoke.
“I…… was wrong……”
“I've never taught verbal apologies alone.”
Creak……
Rising from the bed, Euphemia faced Ferzen, lifted her skirt hem herself, and bared her pale belly forward.
The promised posture of utter submission between them.
At the sight, Ferzen commanded Isabel's corpse forward and pressed its hand firmly into Euphemia's lower belly.
“Hng……!”
Not decayed, but rigor mortis had set in—Isabel's knuckles were icy and rigid, like grinding stone against her.
Knock knock.
A knock sounded from outside.
“Ah……”
Euphemia glanced faintly at Ferzen, whimpering……
“Enter.”
Pretending not to hear or see, Ferzen permitted the maids inside.
Bang!
“Ah……”
The maids with breakfast gaped at Euphemia's pose, hastily bowing.
“Th-Then…… call when finished……”
Thud!
Though brief, that instant felt eternal to Euphemia.
“H-Hic……!”
Overwhelmed, a sob nearly escaped despite herself, but she barely held it.
Swish.
“Come here.”
Deeming it enough, Ferzen sent Isabel's corpse away and softly called Euphemia.
She released her skirt, approached slowly, and carefully settled onto his lap as his eyes gestured.
Smack.
“Hng……”
Ferzen lowered his head to her teary eyes and upturned nose, kissing softly.
The stark contrast to moments ago brought Euphemia relief, unleashing the sobs she'd stifled.
“Hwaaaang……!”
Such profound grief—she wailed in Ferzen's arms.
Each time, he licked tears trailing her cheeks, showering gentle, soothing kisses.
Inflicting pain then balm…… yet it sank into her more easily than expected.
“Hic! Sniff……”
“Once done crying, eat breakfast before it cools.”
Using Isabel's corpse, Ferzen deboned the meat and fed it to her.
“Guh, hng!”
Hiccuping from her throat-rending cries, she still accepted it like a baby bird.
Gazing down, Ferzen continued soft kisses on her cheeks and forehead.
“Hng, mm……”
His efforts bore fruit; soon, Euphemia ate silently, hiccups ceased, accepting food from his hand.
“I…… I……”
“What?”
“……Need the bathroom.”
“I can't hear.”
“Makeup…… room……”
“……”
“N-Nature calls……”
Avoiding crude words like urine, she phrased it delicately.
“No need permission even for that. Go.”
His brief firmness proving effective, Ferzen chuckled at her seeking leave for bodily needs and sent her off.
“Mm……”
Rising, Euphemia wiped her eyes, occasionally hiccuping as she left.
And to Ferzen, she looked utterly adorable.