Tamed Monster - Chapter 13

The mission was to become close to the Crown Prince again, regain his place as his loyal retainer and footstool, infiltrate the palace, steal the formula for the deadly poison, and destroy all of it stored there.

It was the mission of the monster, Kuinan. Hector lamented how such a vital task that was tied to the survival of their entire species had fallen to this fool. But there was no alternative.

Kuinan was the only monster capable of perfectly mimicking a human’s appearance. Hector had some skill, but only ‘to some extent’. ‘To some extent’ wasn’t enough to fool the palace’s sensitive guards and attendants completely.

Above all, the Crown Prince would immediately discover their identities and attack.

After the Crown Prince left, Kuinan met his wife again in the bedroom and stared down at her. Her flushed cheeks held his gaze stubbornly.

“Did you have fun with the Crown Prince?”

Using crude language, the monster probed her. The “wife” was an indispensable key. Even though her status was lost, she was still undeniably royalty. She was also quite high in the succession line.

This was information the human Lancart had confided to Kuinan shortly before dying.

‘…Are you finished? You’re curious, cough, about all sorts of things.’

They had exchanged so much at the end that they felt like close friends. Though in the end, Kuinan had ended Lancart’s life himself. Before driving his nails into the Duke’s neck, he had received a request: to kill this woman.

“Fun? How could you say that?”

“Your cheeks were red. I thought you two were frolicking like colts in a flower field.”

To hate his wife so deeply that he’d make such a cruel request. It was not just indifference but active loathing.

Kuinan was quietly amazed. She didn’t seem that unbearable.

Or was it a spiteful resolve: if I can’t have her, no one will?

Knowing monsters don’t develop s****l interest in humans, Kuinan wondered why Lancart had made such a demand. He did intend to kill her, but felt uneasy. Killing her on that man’s orders felt like submitting to him. It was a blow to his pride.

“That’s an awful comparison! Don’t speak so carelessly. I don’t mind, but talking like that about the Crown Prince…”

“Nobody else hears it, so what? Anyway, what did you talk about with the Crown Prince?”

Prodding the woman was impulsive; the real point was the last question. What had the Crown Prince told her, and what plans were brewing?

Though Lancart was considered a fool now, the Crown Prince must have slipped some clues to this woman.

The seemingly ordinary yet not-so-ordinary woman’s deep blue eyes flickered for a moment. The Crown Prince must have warned her to keep quiet. Kuinan’s irritation flared up for real this time.

“Wife?”

“…Yes?”

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll go to the palace myself and ask the Crown Prince directly. But this time, I won’t bother using any politeness. Want to be wiped out with me?”

Even when he spoke politely, the serious warning from him was clear: unless Lancart changed that tone, there’d be no second meeting. Half was a joke, but half was serious.

Sylvia shouted hoarsely, looking pale.

“No, you can’t!”

“Then tell me.”

Sylvia wasn’t terribly afraid of either her husband or herself being killed. At that moment, she thought of her older sister and parents. She reluctantly told her husband about the conversation she had with the Crown Prince earlier.

“…First, he said to notify him immediately when Your Grace regains full sanity.”

“Hmm.”

“Aren’t you upset by the phrase ‘full sanity’?”

Lancart hadn’t been violent toward his wife. Though he had ignored many misfortunes falling on her, almost to a violent degree. The fake Lancart shook his head, saying he wasn’t upset.

In fact, none of the monsters were truly sane—they were all mad.

“I am insane.”

Slowly absorbing Lancart’s words, Sylvia blinked tightly, then let out a soft sigh and continued.