Chapter 45

The long rainy season had come to an end, giving way to the oppressive heat of summer.

Since Blair’s visit, Odelliana’s condition had improved dramatically. The panic attacks and bouts of hyperventilation caused by her crippling anxiety had gradually subsided and finally disappeared altogether. It was largely thanks to Blair’s unwavering promise to take full responsibility for her well-being. Though she couldn’t entirely bring herself to trust him, the mere fact that someone was willing to shoulder her burdens offered her a fragile sense of solace.

“Only a week remains until Matthias returns,” Odelliana murmured, almost to herself.

Malena, perched languidly in the corner of the room, arched an eyebrow. “You’ve been in unusually high spirits because of that. What would you have done if he hadn’t passed?”

Odelliana’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. “That would never happen. Not in a million years.”

Her confidence was unshakable. This was Matthias, after all—a beast in human form, incapable of failure in the face of a mere examination. Moreover, Adolf, one of the examiners, would undoubtedly tip the scales in his favor. Even with the competition from the heirs of other wealthy families, Odelliana felt reassured.

Still, her thoughts drifted, unbidden, to the darker undercurrents surrounding Matthias.
Does Matthias know about the Curse of the Beasts? she wondered.

The curse had haunted her thoughts since the day she first learned of it. The memory of the old tale surfaced like a ghost.

‘One child has a crippled leg, while the other… appears normal but bears a curse on the heart. This child with the weak heart… it will grow with the body until it bursts, killing the child.’

It was more than folklore—it was a death sentence. In her past life, Odette’s sudden decline in health and subsequent departure for treatment in a foreign land had likely been tied to this curse. The timing had been unmistakable, coinciding with Jocelyn’s rise to the throne. By the age of twenty-six, the curse would manifest fully, and Odette’s heart would fail.

Odelliana’s gaze turned distant as she counted the years. Less than four remained now.

But on the other hand… She gripped the edge of her chair tightly, her knuckles whitening. If I can endure for just four more years, Odette will die.

She wouldn’t have to lift a finger. Odette would crumble under the weight of her own affliction. Slowly, painfully, she would waste away, her cursed heart faltering with every passing day. The beauty Odette had once flaunted so proudly would erode like a sandcastle swept away by the tide. No one would remember a woman condemned to wither before their eyes.

Not even someone as fearless as Odette could escape the inevitability of death.

“Malena, have you ever heard of the Curse of the Beasts?” Odelliana asked.

“The Curse of the Beasts?” Malena repeated, tilting her head slightly as if tasting the words. “Hmm… no, I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

Odelliana wasn’t surprised by her answer. In truth, even among scholars, information about the Curse of the Beasts—or the beasts themselves—was scarce.

Beasts were shrouded in mystery, their existence acknowledged yet poorly understood. Their species were so varied that classification seemed an impossible task. While their forms generally resembled those of ordinary animals, distinct features set them apart—traits that unmistakably marked them as beasts. They were typically categorized by their intelligence and size, though even these metrics were crude approximations.

Most beasts lived deep within their own habitats, far from human settlements. Those that occasionally attacked villages were usually low-level beasts, cast out after losing territorial disputes. Such incidents were rare—over 90% of documented cases involved these lesser creatures, forming the foundation of humanity’s limited knowledge.

For the average person, beasts were little more than legends. Only those who specialized in beast hunting or undertook dangerous expeditions ever encountered them directly. To the rest, their existence was a distant, almost abstract reality.

Historically, large-scale explorations of beast territories had been undertaken. Yet even with these efforts, the vast regions the beasts called home remained largely unconquered. Humanity had only scratched the surface of their domain, leaving both the creatures and their habitats steeped in mystery.

Even within the Kingdom of Reveln lay the infamous “Land of Perpetual Winter,” an expansive and unyielding wilderness. For centuries, adventurers, scholars, and warriors had tried to explore its icy expanse, yet none had ever returned. Its secrets were buried under an eternal frost, a chilling reminder of humanity’s limitations.

“I don’t know much about curses,” Malena began, “but I do know a lunatic obsessed with beasts among my acquaintances.”

Odelliana’s eyes narrowed. “Tell me more.”

“He’s a man who specializes exclusively in hunting beasts,” Malena explained. “According to him, he’s encountered a wide variety of them. He believes that what we know about beasts is just the tip of the iceberg. He even claims that the legendary beasts wearing human faces are real.”

Odelliana’s brow arched slightly. “He met a beast wearing a human face?”

“Yes. He described it as a man whose entire body was pure white. Apparently, this man possessed a peculiar ability. The lunatic swears he saw a bizarre scene—a new beast being born from the corpse of one that had just been killed by this man’s hands.”

“A beast creating another beast?” Odelliana echoed, her tone tinged with skepticism.

“Exactly,” Malena replied with a wry chuckle. “Of course, no one believed him. Neither did I.”

“…It’s not exactly a credible story,” Odelliana murmured. Most people, herself included, would dismiss such claims as the ramblings of a madman.

Malena shrugged. “Still, I’ve heard there are ancient records about beasts wearing human faces. The problem is, most of those records are locked away in royal archives. But the fact that such documents exist suggests there might be some truth to it. The lunatic also said that the higher the rank of the beast, the closer its form was to that of a perfect human.”

Odelliana leaned forward slightly. “Could the ability he mentioned be what’s referred to as the Curse of the Beasts?”

“He never described it as a curse,” Malena replied, shaking her head. “And I’ve never heard of beasts casting curses on people.”

“Where is he now?” Odelliana asked.

Malena sighed, her expression growing faintly wistful. “I don’t know. He’s been wandering around like a restless soul, obsessed with his research. He never stays in one place for long. I’ve completely lost track of him.”

“…What a pity,” Odelliana muttered, her voice dropping. “I had questions I wanted to ask him.”

Malena tilted her head, studying her companion with mild curiosity. “About the Curse of the Beasts? Why the sudden interest?”

“…Just curious. Do you know anything about the Chingene people?” Odelliana asked, her tone casual, as though she didn’t expect much of an answer.

To her surprise, Malena nodded. “Yes. They live in the Principality of Padanian on the Eastern Continent. In Padanian, they’re also called the Okullo tribe. They’re said to be a mystical people, renowned for their skills in astrology and sorcery—some even claim they can predict calamities.”

“Then they must know a lot about curses, too,” Odelliana remarked, a glimmer of hope flickering in her voice.

“Curses are a form of sorcery, so it stands to reason they’d know more than most,” Malena replied matter-of-factly.

“Is there any way to meet them?”

Malena’s expression turned thoughtful. “Unless you travel directly to the Principality of Padanian, it would be difficult. They’re a minority even there, so their numbers are small. Occasionally, they come here on trading ships, but… I’ll see if I can have my colleagues look into it for you.”

Odelliana nodded, her mind racing. If the Chingene people held the key to breaking the curse, perhaps she could finally heal her leg. The mere thought filled her with longing. If only I weren’t a cripple… my life could be so much more than this.

Her determination solidified. Once I’ve gained stability and established my independence, I’ll have to go to the Principality of Padanian myself to find them.

But the thought was bittersweet. If she still had the authority of her position as a daughter of the Grüsewald family, she could have sent servants to Padanian in her stead. Now, stripped of power and resources, she was painfully aware of her limitations. A sigh escaped her lips. If only her body weren’t so broken, she wouldn’t have to rely on anyone. She could make the journey herself.

“It’s time to rest now,” Malena announced, pulling Odelliana from her thoughts. She moved with practiced efficiency, spreading fresh linens over the bed, tucking a sachet of sleep-inducing herbs under the pillow, lighting a candle, and burning a small coil of incense designed to promote restful sleep. Once satisfied with her preparations, she stood and smoothed her apron.

“I’ll take my leave.”

“Alright. Thank you for your hard work,” Odelliana replied softly.

After Malena left, silence settled over the room, broken only by the faint sound of raindrops pattering against the window. The damp scent of wet earth drifted in, carried by the rain.

Dragging herself to the window, Odelliana rested her arms on the sill and stared out at the downpour. A click of her tongue expressed her irritation. “Just when I thought it was finally clearing up, it pours again,” she muttered, watching the rivulets streak the glass.

Fortunately, it seemed to be just a passing shower. The rain lashed down with ferocity, flashes of lightning illuminating the night as resounding thunder reverberated through the ground. Odelliana remained at the window, watching the deluge soak the earth outside.

Then something unusual caught her attention.

What is this?

A faintly familiar scent wafted to her nose, subtle yet distinct. Most people wouldn’t have noticed it—it blended seamlessly with the damp, earthy smell of rain and the faint aroma of the sleep-inducing herbs Malena had prepared. But beneath those scents lurked an acrid undertone, sharp and metallic, tinged with the unmistakable bitterness of something burnt.

Odelliana’s brows furrowed as she inhaled cautiously, trying to place the scent. It took a moment, but recognition dawned like a bolt of lightning.

This is…!

Her heart raced. She hastily pulled up her sleeve, covering her nose and mouth to shield herself from further exposure. Then, moving with purpose despite her crippled leg, she crawled back to her bed. Reaching underneath it, her hand found the cold, familiar hilt of a hidden dagger.

She gripped it tightly, her pulse hammering in her ears. The scent left no room for doubt. She had encountered it before—this was the distinct, unmistakable smell of a paralytic poison derived from a certain toxic plant.