Chapter 153
He didn’t even flinch.
A dull, heavy thud sounded, but the man who had been struck showed no reaction whatsoever. It was as if he hadn’t felt pain at all. For a moment, an uncanny chill crept through the Emperor.
‘Is that really a human body?’
The thought unsettled even a cold-blooded ruler like him, stiffening his expression. Then the Grand Duchess spoke, and he shifted his gaze.
“Your Majesty, forgive us. We will gladly accept punishment later, but for now… may we move this conversation somewhere more private?”
She meant the three of them alone. Myers glanced at the fallen knights. At his slight nod, young attendants rushed into the training ground to haul the injured men away. He gave them no further attention.
“Very well.”
A queasy unease churned in his stomach, dulling even his anger.
The Grand Duke truly was formidable. He possessed not only extraordinary skill but an absurd strength and an impossible body. Considering the grievous wounds he had once suffered in the swamp, it was almost unbelievable that he now stood so monstrously powerful.
Like a monster.
Leaving the perfectly human-looking man at his back, the Emperor departed the training ground toward the main palace, casting sidelong glances again and again, unable to shake the instinctive sense of foreboding creeping over him.
* * *
No matter how he thought about it, it made no sense.
How could a body be that hard? His right knuckles still throbbed as if he had punched a block of wood.
The Emperor studied the Grand Duke carefully. The Grand Duchess, in turn, studied the Emperor. The three sat facing one another, locked in a long, heavy silence.
Since the Emperor had not spoken, neither the Grand Duchess nor the Grand Duke dared to break it, though in truth, the Grand Duke remained silent because his mind had wandered elsewhere.
“…Grand Duke.”
When the Emperor finally spoke, the man answered promptly and respectfully.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
On the way here, Sylvia had secretly pinched the back of his hand several times. Judging from it, she must have been irritated by the way he had treated the Emperor so casually. She both feared the Emperor and placed great importance on decorum.
Only then did Kuinan adjust his behavior and adopt a properly deferential tone.
“That fight earlier, what was it about… No, answer this first.”
The Emperor looked unusually serious, his thoughts clearly tangled.
“Are you human?”
Sylvia was startled out of her composure. She did not show it outwardly, so the Emperor watched only the Grand Duke’s face, but she felt her heart lurch. Had she reacted even slightly, all their plans might have collapsed.
Both she and the monster beside her carried grand designs that could not fail. Many lives depended on them. Sylvia’s would save her family; Kuinan’s would save his kin. Though his plan would spell catastrophe for humanity—
Strangely, it did not trouble her much.
Her heart had grown cold, like a monster’s, without her noticing. Now she cared only for the handful of people close to her. Saving monsters or saving humans—either seemed equally sinful and righteous to her.
At last, the monster answered the Emperor.
“Why do you ask?”
Rather than fear, curiosity colored his voice. It was an unhelpful response in such a perilous moment. Sylvia shot him another sharp glance.
…Ahem.
As the monster cleared his throat, the Emperor continued, his sharp words tightening the already tense air.
“That absurd strength of yours. Your apparent inability to feel pain. It’s all suspicious. I can’t help wondering if you’re some kind of monster wearing human skin.”
Chillingly, he had guessed Kuinan’s true nature exactly.
Again Sylvia barely maintained her composure. One wrong tremor and it would feel as though the Emperor could read her thoughts. Fortunately, her husband concealed his emotions far more skillfully.
“I see. Would you like to test it?”
He extended his wrist, as if offering proof—human blood or monster’s blood. Without hesitation, the Emperor took out a dagger from his sleeve and handed it over, urging him to go ahead.
Kuinan’s face remained expressionless.
Only Sylvia watched in silent dread as he placed the blade against his own wrist.
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