MHHC Chapter 28

Contract

So just close your eyes and stay quiet.

Then while you're alive, you'll overflow with honor and wealth, and after you die, that flesh-tearing revenge will pleasantly fill your impoverished heart to satisfaction.

'No!'

Adelheid covered her ears tightly with her hands. It was a horrifying, absolutely horrifying sound. An unbearable sense of self-loathing surged through her at the thought that she had dared to entertain such an idea, even for a single moment.

Was this the vulgar nature the Count had spoken of so exhaustively—the one he said existed within her?

'That's impossible... It can't be.'

At that moment, an unusual light flickered in Valentin's eyes. But Adelheidmissed it, shuddering at her own terribleness.

'I need to tell Padre about this immediately...'

[Adelheid.]

She flinched in surprise and looked up. This was the first time the dragon had spoken to her directly like this, rather than transmitting memories.

Though not as terrible as when memories were transmitted, it was still an awful sensation. It felt as if someone had ripped apart the thick walls she had erected and barged in brutally. Unable to overcome that unpleasant terror, Adelheit swayed and barely managed to grasp the table.

[I've shared everything with you, yet I still sense fear from you, Adelheid. That saddens me.]

"Saddens... you?"

Even as Adelheid gasped for breath, she narrowed her eyes. 'It' looked melancholy, just as it claimed. Was this conversation also an imitation? Since it seemed to have now fully recalled Valentin's memories, it could fish out useful things from there...

'Maybe it remembered everything from the very beginning. How foolish I must have looked.'

Her thoughts kept flowing in twisted directions. Adelheid crossed her arms, hugging her elbows as she took several steps back. Her face, soaked with tears, trembled pitifully like a rain-drenched lily.

Formal and informal speech tumbled out in a confused jumble.

"I don't understand why you're... doing this to me. Sad? If you've received His Grace's memories, you should... hate me. When have you even seen me..."

[Everything you know is not our everything.]

"That means..."

[You still doubt your husband's heart. That I have no feelings for you.]

"How... dare you... call yourself... my... husband?"

[We have the same body, the same memories, share the same ideals. I even hold that soul captive within this body.]

"......"

[Answer me, Adelheid. If not me, then who is your husband?]

Its eyes narrowed as if mocking her. A serpent's tongue—hiss—seemed to ring in her ear like a warning.

She shouldn't continue this conversation, shouldn't listen any longer to those wicked whispers. Though her cold reason thought that, another part of her chewed over those words. Yes. 'It' was right.

The same body, the same memories, the same ideals and the same soul. Everything that defined a person as that person was the same. Then if this 'thing' before her eyes wasn't Valentin, wasn't the Grand Duke of Ansgar, what on earth could it be...

'No. I'd rather not think about it.'

She scratched at her ears with her nails as if wanting to tear away its voice that clung to them. Its words were serpent's venom. Slowly seeping in, clouding proper judgment, and by the time she realized it, she would already be addicted beyond recovery.

'This isn't for me to judge. I need to inform Padre as soon as possible... about this matter.'

[Innocent Adelheid.]

A chuckling laugh was mixed into his voice.

[Do you really think the power of a few humans could stop me?]

Adelheid, who had been staggering back looking for a chance to retreat, froze stiff. For a moment she thought she had spoken her thoughts aloud, then looked at him, her face pale.

He was right. He had ways of knowing whatever schemes Adelheid cunningly devised. Since he was the god of all shadows and monsters... Eavesdropping through shadows on whatever conversations were held, disrupting plans before they could be implemented—that would be easier for him than breathing.

"......"

The golden eyes looking down at her had been consistent from beginning to end. Consistently beautiful yet merciless. Crying, contorting, showing concern, pretending to be gentle, craving affection. It could imitate anything, but the essence within had not changed for even a single moment.

'He' was not human. He was a disaster, terror, and the famous Dragon of Bitzleben. She realized that viscerally only now.

Her breathing quickened slightly.

"Hah... ngh..."

It took three hundred years for Nassau to be destroyed. Then how much time would it be for Ansgar... She couldn't take responsibility for everything all the way to that distant future. She understood with her head. It wasn't a mistake—she was simply unlucky to have been driven into a corner like this. However.

'Would this life have been peaceful if I hadn't heard? If I hadn't known at all...'

Her thoughts kept flowing toward extremes. While she was confused, Valentin watched Adelheid silently. He even seemed to wear a faint smile. That only intensified the confusion.

How on earth. How could he smile in this situation...

'Because he's not human.'

Her lips had been gnawed on so much they were ragged. She couldn't expect humanity from something that wasn't human.

He grabbed Adelheid's arm as she swayed as if about to faint. She was pulled toward him helplessly. Though chilling goosebumps rose on her back the moment his grip touched her arm, she didn't feel like resisting at all. There was no point.

It seemed to find this situation merely amusing.

[The price for waking the shadow from its long, long sleep is blood and flesh. Every contract I make must be fulfilled. After that, they simply take what was promised to me.]

"..."

[Adelheid. My pitiful wife. If you just close your eyes and pretend not to know, your husband's wish will be fulfilled.]

He smiled, narrowing his eyes beautifully.

[If that seems so terrible, propose a new contract to me. If you do, I'll graciously tip the scales of payment in your favor.]

The whisper was wicked. Her husband had already wagered all the lives of Ansgar's people to contract with the 'shadow.' If she proposed a 'new contract' that would generously change the price of the contract, she would have to give the dragon something at least comparable to tens of thousands of lives.

But all she truly owned was her body, a few human coins, and torn and worn clothes.

"B-but... I have nothing to give you. Really..."

[Well.]

"If there is such a thing, t-tell me. What do you want from me? Whatever it is, I'd rather something happen to me..."

[The price will depend on what wish you have.]

"My w-wish is to cancel receiving the people of Ansgar Castle as payment. And, if possible, I'd like you to return my husband's soul."

[...]

"Th-then in exchange, I'll do my very best to... ensure the first contract is fulfilled, wh-whatever method it takes..."

The dragon's lips moved slightly. Just that, yet Adelheid got the impression he was laughing aloud. Innocent Adelheid—he seemed about to say that while wiping away the tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

[Your husband's soul is asleep until the contract is fulfilled, so I cannot return it now. And what you've proposed cannot possibly be payment. Do you think the help of a mere human is necessary to me?]

"Then what... payment..."

[Of course you must be prepared to wager your everything, Adelheid.]

Valentin's extended index finger gently lifted Adelheid's chin.

[You alone, or the hundreds of thousands of lives that will sate my hunger three hundred years hence. Either is welcome to me.]

Ah. A despairing moan filled her mouth. If she contracted with a monster, her soul would never reach Morig's paradise.

But if she refused here, all the people of Ansgar would meet a terrible doom on the same day and hour.

Like Nassau's tragedy...

A hollow laugh filled her lungs. Though he seemed to be showing goodwill by letting her choose, in the end there was only one option. Adelheid barely clenched her trembling fists tight. She wanted to run away so many times, but whatever choice she made, it was obvious only regret would remain.

Then, rather.

"I-I'll contract."

Adelheid squeezed her eyes shut and said it.

"As payment, I don't know what you want from me, but I..."

[Eventually you'll be the one to want it first.]

"......"

[So please feel free to command me, Adelheid.]

Lips that had suddenly drawn close whispered gently at her ear.

[Your dragon.]

Poor, lovely Adelheid. You should have listened to your nursemaid's voice.

The Dragon of Bitzleben is cunning and vicious... Ah, what else did she say?

Ah.

Adelheid woke from sleep with a short moan. Bright sunlight was pouring down across her face. Someone must have forgotten to close the curtains. Perhaps because the weather had warmed, the sunlight was quite intense for early winter. She let out a satisfied moan into her mouth and did her best to bury her face in the pillow.

Perhaps because she had slept deeply for the first time in a while, both her cheeks were warm. Normally she should have gotten up and moved about already, but her body wouldn't quite obey, probably due to being too exhausted last night. If she just slept exactly five more minutes like this...

'Wait, last night?'

Her thoughts, which had been flowing aimlessly, stopped abruptly. Adelheid's eyes, which had been drowsy, snapped open. As she recalled last night, her sleepiness vanished instantly as if she'd been doused with cold water.

Right. So, last night.

She had apparently... met the Dragon of Bitzleben. She had made a contract and saved the lives of the Ansgar people. Three hundred years in the future, at that.

Thinking about it now in the morning with a clear head, she felt somehow as if she'd been terribly swindled. Under bright sunlight, everything tended to seem like a lie.

'Surely...'