Chapter 50

There are three legendary beasts mentioned in ancient scriptures. These creatures, collectively referred to as the Primordial Beasts, possessed the complete form of a human and were venerated by pagans as ancient gods of calamity: Ribna the Founder, Gerard of Destruction, and Kaulynis of Plague.

“They’re… mythical beings,” Odelliana murmured, her voice tinged with disbelief. “Are you saying the Primordial Beasts actually exist?”

“Who knows?” Matthias replied with a shrug, his tone indifferent. “However, it’s said that Ribna’s remains have the power to nullify all magic.”

Odelliana’s eyes narrowed, her thoughts racing. Requiring the remains of someone whose existence was uncertain—if not outright mythical—seemed like a hopeless endeavor.

As I thought… Seeking the Chingene tribe might be the best way to uncover clues about the Curse of the Beasts, she concluded silently, her gaze dropping to the floor.

Realizing further questions about the curse would yield no meaningful answers, Odelliana sighed and changed the subject. “I shouldn’t have asked about something so trivial. Let’s move on from the topic of the beasts. Now, tell me about yourself. How was the exam?”

“It wasn’t difficult,” Matthias said matter-of-factly, his tone betraying no pride or excitement.

“That’s a relief,” Odelliana replied with a soft smile. Her expression grew more serious as she added, “Were there any kids bothering you because of your humble background?”

Matthias let out a derisive laugh, his lips curling into a smirk. “Of course not. I managed just fine. On the other hand…” His gaze darkened slightly as he leaned forward, a faint trace of reproach in his voice. “It seems you didn’t fare as well during my absence, Master.”

Odelliana flinched, his words cutting through her thin defenses.

“You promised your pupil you’d stay safe and sound,” Matthias continued, his tone calm but carrying a weight that made her squirm.

Although his words weren’t accusatory, Odelliana felt a pang of guilt. She fidgeted, her voice faltering as she made an awkward defense. “How could I have foreseen and prepared for such unexpected incidents?”

“It wasn’t an accident, but an event,” Matthias said, his voice steady, but with an edge of frustration. “If you’d slit its throat instead of merely its mouth from the beginning, none of this would’ve happened.”

Odelliana frowned, her tone sharp as she replied, “You’re too young to be saying such gruesome things.”

Matthias glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “You’re simply too merciful, Master.”

He sighed deeply, as if the weight of her actions had finally become unbearable. His gaze shifted to her blood-soaked leg, and he gave a short nod. “I’ll change your bandages.”

Without another word, he gently laid Odelliana down and left the room. A few moments later, he returned, his plate armor replaced by a light tunic, his hands freshly washed, and a set of clean bandages and medicinal salve in hand.

His movements were swift and precise, his focus evident as he began the task. Odelliana watched in silence, her mind racing. Does he really feel no discomfort handling blood-soaked, pus-covered bandages?

Gently, Matthias cleaned the wound with a fresh cloth, his touch tender yet efficient. He applied the ointment with care, then wrapped the wound in fresh bandages, working with practiced skill.

“You’re no longer just a squire but a knight now,” Odelliana remarked quietly, watching him. “You don’t have to do these things anymore.”

Matthias paused for a brief moment, his expression neutral. “Knights are still retainers bound to their lords.”

“…Doesn’t it disgust you?” she asked, her voice laced with a touch of disbelief.

“What about you could possibly be disgusting, Master?” Matthias replied, his voice smooth, his gaze unwavering. “There’s not a single unclean thing about you.”

Odelliana blinked, taken aback by his unwavering response. “Where did you learn to say such nauseating things?”

“I’m merely stating the truth,” he said calmly, his eyes never leaving her.

A silence hung between them for a moment, before Matthias spoke again, his tone softer. “Now that I’m back, I’ll personally take care of you from here on out, Master.”

Odelliana furrowed her brows, puzzled by his insistence. Why he felt compelled to take on such arduous and grueling tasks was beyond her comprehension.

Odelliana watched Matthias quietly, her gaze softening as she observed him. He seemed to find his sole joy in serving her, his every action centered around her well-being. It was only now that the reality of his return truly began to sink in. The void that no one else could fill was now completely whole, and the sensation was nothing short of wonderful.

“Welcome back, Matthias,” she said, her voice low but sincere. “Thank you for returning to my side.”

Matthias paused, staring at her for a moment. His lips curled into a faint smile, one that spoke volumes more than words ever could. He leaned in, his face brushing against her hair, a gesture so familiar it almost seemed like time had not passed at all. It reminded her of a month ago, when he had grumbled about not wanting to take the knight’s exam. Despite his growth—taller and broader—he remained the same boy at heart.

“I’m back, Master,” he murmured softly, his voice warm, filled with a quiet affection.

***

“How is that bastard still alive?!” Hermann’s voice cracked with rage as he shouted, his face pale and haggard from the frustration. The moment the words left his mouth, the tightly shut door swung open, and someone stepped inside, cutting off his fury.

“Seems like you’re all better now,” Odette said dryly, her voice laced with amusement. “You’ve got the energy to yell first thing in the morning, after all.”

Hermann’s eyes narrowed, his glare cold as he looked at her. “What are you doing here? What do you want?”

“Do I need permission to visit a sick man?” Odette replied with a smirk, unbothered by his hostility.

Hermann scowled. “How long have you been back home? And you’re only showing your face now?”

“I stayed away on purpose, thinking of you,” Odette said with a casual shrug, her tone almost mocking. “You were beaten senseless in the streets by some nobody, weren’t you? Figured you’d need time to get over the shame before you could face anyone.”

Hermann glared at her, his fury rising once more, but he quickly pressed his fingers to his throbbing temples. He’d endured her sharp tongue since childhood, and he knew reprimanding her now would be a fruitless endeavor.

“If you’re here to mock me,” he muttered, barely holding back his irritation, “get lost.”

“I told you,” Odette said with a cool smile, unperturbed by his tone, “I’m here to check on you. So, what’s got you so furious?”

Her question reignited the anger Hermann had momentarily forgotten. His icy gaze flicked toward the knight standing stiffly nearby, the man’s posture rigid with unease.

“Is this mess because you couldn’t handle that pathetic wretch?” Hermann’s voice was like ice, his frustration barely contained.

The knight shifted uncomfortably, swallowing hard. “…He’s not as ordinary as he looks. I bribed several knight exam candidates to take his head, but it was no use. They were all defeated.”

Hermann’s glare hardened. “Then you should’ve dealt with him before he even set foot in the examination hall!”

The knight’s eyes dropped, his voice barely above a whisper. “…I have no excuse.”

The weight of his failure hung in the air. Skilled knights—tasked with taking out a mere 16-year-old boy—had failed miserably. It was a disgrace, and Hermann could hardly contain the bitter sting of humiliation.

Had he killed the knights outright, they could have charged him with murder. But instead, he had merely beaten them senseless, leaving them alive but unable to accuse him of anything. The fact that renowned knights from the Grüsewald family had been thrashed by a mere boy was humiliating enough on its own—without the need for legal recourse.

“Idiots,” Hermann muttered under his breath, his frustration boiling over. Still unable to stand on his own, he hurled an ashtray against the wall in a burst of rage.

Odette, sitting calmly beside his bed, let out a mocking laugh, as if she had anticipated this very outcome.

“I think I get the gist of it,” she said, her voice dripping with amusement. “You tried to get rid of that lowly squire my sister brought in, only to have it backfire, right?”

Hermann’s gaze snapped to her, a scowl forming on his face. “…How do you know about him?”

Odette raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “How could I not? He’s famous among the servants. The boy’s got quite a striking face.”

“Striking?” Hermann scoffed, disbelief coloring his tone. “Ha! What’s so great about a pretty-boy face like his?”

Odette smirked, leaning back in her seat. “Faces that men mock are often the ones women find most attractive. Men and women have different tastes, you know. A ‘pretty-boy’ look is the highest compliment for a handsome man.”

Hermann shuddered involuntarily at Odette’s praise of Mathias’s appearance. His disdain was clear, even without words; his glare could have cut through stone.

“So, you’re saying,” Odette continued with a raised eyebrow, “you’re all riled up because that squire got under your skin, and the illustrious knights of Grüsewald ended up humiliated?”

Hermann’s fists clenched at his sides, and his lips curled into a snarl. “That brat’s become a knight! Can you find this funny?!” he seethed, his voice rising with each word.

Odette smirked again, her tone indifferent, almost detached. “So what? He’s just an apprentice knight, isn’t he? And who would want a knight of low birth? Passing the exam means nothing if no order will accept him. He’ll be stuck with nothing to show for it.”

Hermann’s frustration only deepened. “Do you think no knight order has extended him an offer? The royal knights themselves have already approached him! Rumors are everywhere!”

Odette’s brow furrowed in disbelief. “The royal knights? Really? Why?”

Hermann’s expression darkened further as he spat the words out. “Because he singlehandedly took down a Prove Beast. What knight order wouldn’t want someone like that?”

Odette was momentarily silent, considering the weight of his words. “Then recruit him into our order,” she said after a beat, her voice laced with frustration. “Instead of trying to get rid of a prodigy, why not bring him to our side? Are you stupid?”

“If that were possible,” Hermann muttered bitterly, “I wouldn’t have wasted my efforts in the first place.”

Hermann pressed his furrowed brow with his hand, groaning in frustration. His voice was tight with agitation as he muttered, “Have you seen her?”

Odette, leaning casually against the doorframe, tilted her head with a shrug. “My sister? She’s like a completely different person.”

Hermann’s eyes narrowed, a deep scowl forming on his face. “She is different. She’s lost her mind completely.”

Odette raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her eyes. “Hasn’t she always been a little unhinged?”

“This is different!” Hermann’s voice cracked with frustration. “You didn’t see her eyes. She looked like… she was ready to devour everything.”

“And how could she possibly manage that?” Odette asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she crossed her arms.

Hermann leaned forward, his gaze intense. “Odette, you may be ignorant, but do you really think someone who took down a Prove beast singlehandedly is nothing? This is serious. The boy my sister brought isn’t ordinary. He won’t stop at being an apprentice knight. If he rises to fame or earns distinctions as a knight…”

He trailed off, his words heavy with concern. Seeing him visibly shaken, Odette couldn’t help but burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she laughed mockingly.

“Brother, have you grown senile?” she teased, her voice dripping with amusement. “Or are you still reeling from the shock of your divorce?”

“Shut up!” Hermann shouted, his temper flaring as he shot her a glare. “What does that have to do with anything now?”

Odette’s smile only widened, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “The heir of Grüsewald, scared of a lowborn boy and a crippled woman?”

Hermann’s frustration deepened as he slammed his fist onto the armrest of his chair. “Odelliana didn’t pick him up just for his looks. She has an eye for talent. She must have recognized his extraordinary abilities.”

Odette shook her head dismissively, the smirk never leaving her face. “You’re overthinking this. You’re delusional. Get some rest—you clearly need it. Keep this up, and Blair might just take the head of the family from you.”

“Get out!” Hermann bellowed, veins bulging in his neck as he stood up, his fists clenched. His voice was sharp, and his gaze murderous.

Odette, still smirking, took a few steps toward the door. “Useless,” she muttered under her breath, casting a final, mocking glance at her brother. “All the men in this house are completely useless. Pull yourself together, Hermann.”

With that, she left, leaving him fuming behind her.

Hermann’s hands trembled with rage as he clenched his fists again. “Insufferable women…” he muttered bitterly, striking his legs in frustration as curses tumbled from his lips. His mind churned with fury, but it only made him feel more helpless.