Duke of the Beast and the Vicarious Bride - Chapter 51

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※ This work contains depictions of coercive relationships, explicit language, and other graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

‘With a single word from me, your life too could tumble into such mire. If you wish to live slaughtering pigs, then by all means.’

Using Fiona’s wretched existence as an example of that punishment, he further stoked the child’s anxiety. And it proved quite effective. From that time onward, Jayden became a dog who obeyed the Count’s every command.

That they were both bastards yet their circumstances differed was likely due to their mothers’ status and their own genders.

‘In that you do not share a single drop of Troyes blood, you are even less than that girl Fiona. Yet you are male, so I have taken you in. Therefore, prepare the way well. Until I can pass the family to Joséphine.’

The only true heir born between the Count and Countess was Joséphine.

The seemingly perfect members of the Troyes family were thus patched together like tattered cloth.

Growing up in such abnormality, a strange feeling had arisen in Jayden’s heart at some point.

On the surface, she was his half-sister, yet seeing Fiona, with whom he shared not a drop of blood, stirred strange emotions. Complex feelings that defied definition.

She constantly reminded him of his own origins, yet in some ways he felt deep kinship with her—but she lived such a base existence he could not bear to look at her, and this stimulated his sense of unease, yet he could not stop thinking about her, this troublesome girl.

If asked whether his feelings toward Fiona were hatred or affection, Jayden would naturally choose hatred. Yet this hatred was as persistent as obsession; he could not cease his distorted interest in her.

He took comfort in watching her, always living in the mire. Yes, you must be as unhappy as I. Whether a shabby hell or a luxurious hell, they are both hell.

Though we share not a drop of blood, perhaps we could be called siblings living in the same hell.

But over time, this feeling twisted in a strange direction. When he brought Fiona north, that strange emotion nearly reached its peak.

‘If you cannot do this, speak now. If you ask for help, I will somehow create an escape.’

For some reason, he hesitated to thrust Fiona into the beast’s cage. That was why he had offered, going so far as to create an unreasonable retreat.

He had hoped she would not couple with the beast. If he could report that a terrified Fiona had fled, he might endure some harsh words from the Emperor and the Count, but he could keep her under his protection. Another woman could simply be selected as the Grand Duchess candidate.

He had even entertained the thought that perhaps he could flee with Fiona thus extracted. If they escaped this hell together. If they hid somewhere in the north, living reliant upon one another, perhaps someday Fiona would…

Dangerous yet tempting speculations arose.

Even to himself, this was a peculiar obsession.

But the girl, as obstinate as ever, held her ground to the very end.

Left alone in the darkness, surely she would not dare go near that beast—she would tremble and remain seated in fear.

He had been certain of this.

Yet she had coupled with that beast after all.

She had even given it a name, as if she would truly form an attachment to such a creature, behaving as though she genuinely accepted it as her husband.

He had deliberately humiliated her before the imperial officials and sent her down for several more nights, but Fiona continued to share her body with that beast without any sign of distress.

She even appeared more at ease and cheerful than when she had lived in the capital. It was unthinkable.

The emotion born of his abnormal obsession sent down twisted roots and blossomed into malice.

‘I still dwell in hell—how dare you escape before me?’

Thus Jayden wished once more to plunge Fiona into the swamp of misery. He wanted to punish the girl who had dared refuse his leniency and choose a beast instead, to make her taste bitterness. He wanted her to regret her choice and weep tears of blood. It was a wretched vengeance.

And in this situation, the most effective method…

‘Let her be harmed by that beast she has grown attached to—then she will understand.’

He would make her thoroughly realise why a beast is a beast. Jayden solidified his vile resolve.