171. monster (3)

It was a summer night, when the new year cast a thick darkness over the world, and the wind grew colder and colder. Beninga’s huge mansion towers over the hill and overlooks the manor. From that back door, two hooded people were escaping through the back door of the mansion in the dark. There was a rustle of footsteps in the grass, and bugs everywhere roared to hide their escape.

“… Are you really okay, madam?”

The one who took the lead was the servant who had delivered the note to Fleur this morning, and her old colleague. Fleur nodded heavily. He had no intention of receiving help this far, but the servant who now took on the role of a guide must be risking his own life to do something like this.

“I don’t think you should worry about me, but you should worry about yourself first. Is it really okay to help me like this?”

The servant smiled and shook his head.

“I think it’s a favor from an old colleague. Well, it’s nothing to call them old colleagues.”

There was bitterness in the servant’s voice. Fleur narrowed her eyes in apologetic expression, then shook her head and shook her head. All she has to think about now is the note and the contents written on it.

[When your sister died, Beninga concluded it was a suicide. The reason was that no trauma could be found. But no. Her death is not a suicide.]

It was strange. My sister had been depressed since being fired from the mansion, but she quickly went to look for a job at a restaurant in the estate. It was the determination that young Fleur could not be left alone. The will of the woman who lost her parents early and raised Fleur alone was not something that could be broken by slander and dismissal.

‘sister… Are you okay?’

‘It’s okay, Fleur. My aunt told me to go to work tomorrow, so don’t make that face.’

Fleur denied several times that there was no way that her older sister, who had stroked her hair, would have left her and turned to suicide. But after Clovis Benning took over, he had only buried those doubts deep in his heart. The servants I worked with told me that nothing good came of looking into the case in Beninga that they concluded was a suicide.

[Theodora Denia was murdered. And, I know who killed her.]

A heavy chill penetrated the left breast. In line with his heart pulsating with anxiety, Fleur’s steps quickened. The lungs became a rusty iron plate, roughly scraping the inhaled breath from the inside and sending it out again. The thought that oppressed his head made his vision blurry.

[If you want to know the truth, come to the cemetery at midnight today.]

The word “truth” kept ringing in my mind. The note that came to him had already forcibly pulled out half-buried memories and pushed them right in front of his eyes. I couldn’t bear to say that it was painful. Because it was something I had to know.

[It would be better if the people in Beninga didn’t know, except for the person who delivered the note. The same goes for your escort knight. If Leon Benning finds out about this, I can never guarantee your safety.]

The last words he left stuck like thorns. You might think it’s a trap, but she was strangely convinced that the note wasn’t a lie. It was not a matter of trust in my husband. The old colleague, who took off both feet to help him who was about to leave alone, did not stop himself from going to the meeting place to see if he knew something. Although he volunteered to serve as a guide and escort.

“You are almost there.”

The servant raised the lantern. The dim light revealed the outline of the cemetery. The grass bugs, which had been crying loudly until just before, were silent. It was as if the whole area was holding their breath and waiting for something. In the corner of the servant’s gaze, someone’s black shadow entered. The servant swallowed dry saliva and glanced back at Fleur. Her face, beautiful as the pale moon, stiffened.

“Madam, there you are. You were there first at the meeting place.”

Fleur creaked and forced a nod. The person who sent her the note seemed to have left alone. Fleur walked up the hill leading to the entrance of the cemetery, with a servant in front. The servant’s lantern only cleared the darkness in front of his eyes. It illuminated the entrance to the cemetery, and Fleur was able to face the person who sent the note to him.

“… Mr. Bernardo?”

Leon Benning’s knight, Bernardo Lennon, was standing there. There was no armament. Those sharp eyes were staring at Fleur and the servant. Bernardo let out a small sigh.

“I told you not to call me.”

“… sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize. It just meant being aware of your location.”

Bernardo added, turning his gaze completely to the servant. The servant nodded and stepped back. The story Bernardo was going to tell Fleur from now on was something he shouldn’t have known. When the servant withdrew, Bernardo opened his mouth again.

“No one is ready to face the truth. However, I think it would be better to prepare your mind for now.”

Fleur frowned as if he couldn’t understand.

“But why do you… Are you trying to tell me this?”

Bernardo stared at Fleur quietly. It seemed like he wouldn’t give me an answer. Just before the silence became too long, Bernardo sighed and continued.

“Is your heart ready?”

Fleur stared at him for a while. The area around the cemetery was strangely quiet. All of them were the result of being weighed down by the coercion of a knight exuding a lofty presence.

“I won’t collapse, so tell me.”

Bernardo took a deep breath, then exhaled. Uncharacteristically, Bernardo also seemed to have to make up his mind.

“It was 16 years ago, when I had just been assigned to this mansion.”

Memories of that day were slowly being reconstructed into language. Remembering that time, Bernardo’s eyes narrowed.

“When the incident happened, I was supervising the soldiers in the name of field management. Master Leon was also present at the scene, and Count Clovis at the time ordered him to return to the mansion with me, because the young master’s complexion was not looking good.”

Fleur’s eyes began to shake. Little by little, my head began to think of possibilities that shouldn’t exist.

“The young master confessed to me then.”

i killed I mean.

“stop!”

A sharp cry split the night sky, which was close to silence. Bernardo didn’t seem too surprised by Fleur’s sudden reaction. On the other hand, Fleur was glaring at Bernardo with a completely flushed face.

“Are you kidding me right now? Bocchannim, who was nine at the time, killed her sister? Did you dare to misunderstand me at this time just to tell me this story?”

Fleur urged with a voice that seemed like she would faint at any moment, but Bernardo didn’t care at all. He listened to Fleur’s pouring out words with an unchanging calm face.

“If you are just trying to make me fear and doubt my husband, you have completely failed. I will never betray him.”

Fleur’s words seemed to end in anger. However, instead of turning red with anger, her face was being engulfed in darker shadows. After Fleur’s words ended, Bernardo only told the rest of the story in a more firm voice.

“Bocchan said that she met her on her way home from a restaurant, pretending to be a coincidence. Then, they said they strangled her to death. It wasn’t a crowd. At that time, Bocchan was strong enough to defeat most of the soldiers in the territory.”

Fleur’s mouth twisted. Bernardo then told her the story of how Leon Benning had planned and why he killed her.

“I just wanted to try it. That was the reason.”

“… .”

Fleur’s shoulders trembled. I wanted to turn around right away and get away from that nonsense bullsh*t. But the fundamental question she had towards Leon Benning was holding her back. That day, when Leon Benning knocked on her door, it all started. A vague realization and foreboding about the essence of Leon Benning, hidden in love and longing, pity and affection.

“Nonsense, nonsense.”

“That is the motive behind all his actions. impulse. As for us… No, an ordinary person can never understand it.”

Conversation was cut off. Fleur bit her lip and spat out the words with difficulty.

“Why are you telling me this for now? And, for one thing, even if it were true. Why are you telling me this now?”

why.

Again, Bernardo did not give an answer. I just took another deep breath and listened to the words of my request.

“Believe it or not, that is the freedom of the wife. I’m not telling you this story to convince your wife or to make you suspicious, Bocchan. I just hope you don’t take this story lightly.”

The look in Bernardo’s eyes saying that was something Fleur couldn’t read.

“The story is over. You may return to the mansion now. Please, pay respect.”

Fleur blinked, and Bernardo was gone. As the sense of intimidation that had weighed down the surroundings disappeared, those who had been paying attention revealed their presence one by one. I heard the beating of the wings of owls hunting at night, and crickets chirping through the long grass.

“wife.”

He woke up to the sound of Fleur calling him and turned his head. A servant was looking at him anxiously from some distance away. Fleur closed her eyes. Even though it was summer, a cold wind blew in her heart. With a voice sharpened by the wind, Fleur spoke.

“… Let us go back too.”

—

“Are you studying today?”

Another month has passed since that day. After meeting the mages of the Mage Tower recently, Leon Benning seemed to be immersed in some kind of research while getting close to them. Lately, he’s been locked in a new laboratory in the basement of the mansion, and he can’t see his face.

“So it happened. Probably late at night.”

There was no way to find out what research he was doing. He would always disappear into the crypt with his aide, Bernardo, but some of the wizards he must have headed for together were never seen coming out of the crypt again.

“… It’s hard.”

“What is suffering? I do it because I enjoy it.”

When Leon Bening said that, he smiled as if he was having a lot of fun. Fleur looked at Leon Bening with worried eyes. As Fleur put on his coat, Leon Benning rose from his seat, carrying a bag said to be used for research.

“Then let’s go.”

“be careful.”

Leon Benning nodded and grabbed the doorknob. At that time, as if in a play, Leon Benning exaggeratedly exclaimed “Ah!” and turned his head toward Fleur.

“I think something interesting will probably be completed by the end of today. If I get a chance, I’d like to invite you to the basement this time.”

A voice that sounded excited. Fleur smiled and nodded at Leon Benning’s reaction. I haven’t forgotten what happened a month ago. However, since it was the first time seeing her husband like that, Fleur couldn’t help but smile complicatedly.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Leaving behind Fleur’s words, Leon Benning left the room. Fleur let out a long breath as Leon Benning left the room and sat down. The past month has been a series of anxiety and tension. I couldn’t put my mind to rest even for a moment.

“Theodora, baby.”

Theodora in the cradle was struggling with her limbs toward the sky. Fleur let out a small laugh and picked up her daughter. It is said that parents’ uneasy feelings are transmitted to their children, and Fleur recalled that fact and whispered to Theodora in a friendly voice.

“It will be fine. Mom and Dad too.”

Perhaps feeling safe in her mother’s arms, Theodora soon fell asleep again. The child’s weak breath brushes against Fleur’s collar. Fleur’s hand gently patted Theodora’s back. She didn’t know what Leon Benning was thinking as he walked through that door.

Around that time, the basement of the mansion.

Leon Benning looked at the paper the old wizard had lifted. The time has come for the research that has been conducted with the wizards of the Mage Tower to finally bear fruit. The old wizard smiled bewitched as he looked at the magic theory written on the paper and the magic formula shining on the desk.

“Isn’t it beautiful? Count, these are the results of our research. This research opened my eyes. I wonder how my comrades who have been on the same path have not come up with this kind of magic.”

Leon Benning smiled at the excited wizard.

“I’m glad it helped you with your research.”

The wizard shook his head vigorously. A snort was about to come out of the wrinkled nose. The report, which was held in a hand that looked like a bare tree branch, was fluttering about.

“Help, help! Count, do not underestimate your role. You’re not a wizard, but you were practically co-authors on this subject’s research!”

Leon Benning looked intently at the wizard who was starting to get excited. I didn’t like the fuss. If I were to even talk about the contents of my research, all my plans would go to waste. The sorcerer, who had been spitting and arguing passionately, felt Leon Benning’s momentum directly on his skin and covered his mouth with his fist to clear his throat.

“Well. then. Would you like to see it?”

Leon Benning winked at Bernardo, who was standing quietly behind him. The wizard looked surprised when he saw Bernardo slowly approaching from afar.

“Ah, are you a volunteer this time? quite… .”

“It’s not a resource, it’s just that I asked them to participate. Isn’t that right, Bernardo?”

Bernardo looked blankly at Leon Benning. I didn’t know what kind of research he was doing, but I knew very well that it was nothing out of the ordinary. But there was no other choice.

“Yes. Count.”

The wizard, who had been watching the scene blankly, burst into laughter and dragged Bernardo into a chair.

“Well, whether you were forced to do it or volunteered, what does it mean? Count, would it be all right if we proceed with the experiment now?”

Leon Benning nodded lightly. The wizard took out a dagger and held it. Bernardo frowned at the glint of the silver dagger’s blade. A smirk appeared on the wizard’s face as he looked at that expression.

“Are you okay? I’m thinking of using a dagger to engrave a spell. It will be quite painful.”

“… .”

Bernardo looked at the wizard, then turned back to Leon Benning. At the age of nine, they were eyes that had lost their humanity even more than when they committed their first murder. I shouldn’t have thought that following him was the only way to live. Did he expect this man to bring change to him in a life that only moved like a doll? Now, if you refuse this test for which you don’t even know what the purpose is… .

no.

It’s too late. Bernardo and Leon Bening had already come too far to think otherwise. Bernardo very slowly lowered his head in agreement.

“It’s okay. I tend to tolerate pain quite well.”

Without warning, the wizard placed the dagger on the back of Bernardo’s right hand. At the sensation of cold metal digging into his flesh, Bernardo frowned for a moment, but he didn’t show any signs of pain.

“You are very strong in pain. Then, can we do it in earnest now?”

Bernardo nodded. The wizard slowly lowered the sword as it was. The back of Bernardo’s hand was torn, and dark red blood poured out. The magician’s lips swelled as he spat out words. It seemed like he was casting a spell.

“… ruler. Then, like this here.”

The wizard murmured one last time and completed the circle. A drop of sweat ran down Bernardo’s forehead. I could endure the pain of cutting the knife into my flesh, but from the moment the wizard started muttering, the unbearable pain seemed to spread through the back of my hand and all over my body. especially the head. Head.

“Bernardo Lennon.”

“?!”

With the sound of the Count calling for Bernardo, Bernardo’s body stumbled and fell forward. With a loud noise, the chair Bernardo was sitting on fell sideways. On the back of his hand, where blood was still leaking out, the magician’s engraving was radiating light.

“You will become a knight who will be loyal to me forever. If you jump into a pit of fire, you will jump into a pit of fire, and if you ask to slaughter a million people, you will slaughter. Also, if you are asked to sacrifice your life for me, I will immediately stab you in the chest with a knife and take out your beating heart and offer it to you.”

It was strange. Leon Benning’s words began to bind Bernardo like a spell. Allegiance to Leon Benning began to distort with those words.

take away, take away He was losing his mind and body to Leon Benning. Bernardo threw his arms in the air, trying to catch the consciousness being sucked in. My heart didn’t listen. I couldn’t pump up mana as vigorously as usual.

“Come on, Bernardo.”

Leon Benning’s words were gentle and gentle, as if admonishing a child. Bernardo twisted his body to resist the restraints to the end, but his originally thin ego was about to scatter like dandelion seeds. A smile appeared on Leon Benning’s face. That summer, the smile of the nine-year-old child who had confessed to murder to himself was still young.

“I knew everything about you.”

Bernardo shook his head. Leon Benning continued, raising his hand over Bernardo’s head whether he did it or not.

“Fleur may not have known it at all, but the fact that you secretly had pity and affection for Fleur, the fact that you tried to summon her and tell her the truth of the day, and the fact that you were trying to get her out of this estate with my daughter sooner or later. also Haven’t you forgotten who this mansion belongs to, Bernardo?”

Bernardo raised his eyes. Leon Benning dyed that inorganic smile even thicker.

“I’m sorry. I thought about summoning you and killing you right away, but wasn’t your talent too precious to do that? If you make up your mind and start running amok, I won’t be able to kill you. so… This was a necessary measure. Both as your master and as Fleur’s husband.”

Pudeudeuk.

Power went into the hands of Leon Benning. Bernardo’s eyes were bloodshot red. He stayed sane until the end and resisted Leon Benning. Leon Benning looked at the desperate Bernardo as if he felt sorry for him, and let out a hollow laugh.

“The subject of this research in cooperation with the Magic Tower is ‘brainwashing and curses’. Bernardo. It’s been so much fun watching you all this time. Well, you and Fleur will all end here.”

“not… okay… .”

Leon Benning smirked. Bernardo’s pupils were clouding as he looked at him. Leon Benning left him where he was and approached the entrance to the cellar. With a voice feigning excitement, Leon Benning gave a loud command to the waiting servant.

“Bring Fleur!”

oh

where did it go wrong

Bernardo stretched out his hand. Leon Benning was laughing, looking down at himself from a place he couldn’t hold. In the consciousness that gradually faded, Fleur’s figure appeared in front of Bernardo’s eyes like an illusion.

Footsteps are heard. It was Fleur’s unique, light and graceful step. As if time had slowed down, the cellar door opened, and light shone brightly into the cellar.

“Are you done?”

The last voice Bernardo could hear was Fleur’s beautiful trembling.

“Bernardo Lennon.”

My eyesight was darkened. The knight is dead, and the monster brings the dead knight back to life. Bernardo raised his bloody hand and grabbed the hilt.

“Kill this woman.”

—

“Dear Bernardo, how far did you hear?”

You knew everything. This man knew it all. Fleur realized the whole truth as the cellar door closed behind him. That what Bernardo had told him was true, and that he couldn’t return alive today.

“If you know everything, why are you asking again?”

Still, I was confident that I had failed to hate this man until the end. Because the Leon Benning that Fleur saw was a pitiful person. Because he was the person he had been with the longest in his life and remained as his son-in-law forever. Leon Benning, who was looking at Fleur, had a smile so inorganic that he couldn’t believe it was the same person.

“It is true that I killed him. Then, by the lake, I killed her.”

The face was not distorted. My heart didn’t even drop. Fleur just stood nailed to the spot and nodded. Leon Benning looked at her curiously and laughed.

“Strange. It’s not the reaction I thought it would be.”

Fleur said in a trembling voice.

“You, in the end, remain this kind of person. The time I spent with you must have just passed by your instinctive interest.”

After hearing Fleur’s words, Leon Benning nodded coldly. Behind him stood Bernardo, whose eyes were scattered all over the place before he knew it. Fleur looked at the man who had lost his senses.

“It was very interesting. Now it’s time to look at the most interesting.”

Leon Benning looked at Bernardo and said. Dude, there’s no need to explain in detail how Bernardo was looking at Fleur.

“Bernardo Lennon.”

“Yes, Count.”

Bernardo’s voice went blank. Wouldn’t it make a sound like this if you put a voice organ on a doll?

“Kill this woman.”

Sreung-!

The sword was pulled out of its scabbard and wept bitterly. A single tear flowed from Fleur’s eyes as she stared at the sad blue sword.

“Theodora, I will take very good care of her.”

Leon Benning lowered his hand after saying that. Bernardo’s sword flashed once.

fluff.

Fleur’s death was instant. Leon Benning looked down at Fleur’s dead body on the floor with impassive eyes. Blood spilled out, staining the basement floor red. Leon Benning turned his head away from Fleur and smiled languidly.

“Okay, that was interesting.”

—

thud.

Leon Benning awoke from his thoughts. The gate leading to Daejeon was closed. On the ivory background, two people were glaring at Leon Benning. It was a knight with light brown hair and a knight with flowing beautiful platinum hair.

Read at noblemtl. com

Now, what will it be this time?

Leon Benning rose from his seat. Toward Theodora and Maxime, Leon Benning opened his mouth. A warm voice came out.

“Welcome, daughter.”