Chapter 137 - Engagement

“Trust me, Serena. Sir Yohan is someone you can trust.”

Serin’s opinion of Yohan had completely reversed. The “monster” had become “someone trustworthy.” To Serena, there was something unfamiliar about the smile on her sister’s face as she spoke Yohan’s name. It felt strangely wrong.

“S-Serin, what are you talking about?”

Serin smiled gently.

“Exactly what I said. Sir Yohan wasn’t a monster.”

Serena was bewildered. Her sister’s changed attitude was far too difficult to accept.

“... Wait. I don’t understand. What on earth happened to you?”

Serin opened her mouth, then closed it, again and again. She seemed deeply hesitant about something. In the end, she could not give Serena an answer.

“I’m sorry. I can’t tell you anything right now. Serena, just trust your sister. I was wrong about Sir Yohan.”

Serena stared at her with trembling eyes. An inexplicable chill ran through her.

“Are you possessed or something? What on earth happened last night? What was that black hand, and why are you suddenly acting like this?”

Serin shook her head.

“I can’t answer that.”

Serena was nearly mad with frustration. She could not even use the Mind-Piercing Eye. Its power could not reach beyond the mirror.

“Please, just tell me! I feel like my chest is going to burst!”

Serin murmured, her face downcast.

“I’m sorry, Serena.”

Serena let out a breath of disbelief. Her expression hardened.

“... Fine. You say Sir Yohan is trustworthy?”

Serin nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then I can get engaged to him, can’t I?”

A shadow crossed Serin’s face. She spoke in a barely audible voice.

“Serena, if you marry Sir Yohan, you’ll become the person he treasures most, won’t you?”

Serena could not understand what she was getting at.

“Usually, yes... But does that matter right now?”

Serin suddenly glared at her.

“It matters to me! Serena, you’re trying to take what I have again!”

Utterly taken aback, Serena was at a loss for words. She could hardly believe her ears.

“S-Serin, what are you—”

Serin shouted through rising tears.

“Why do you always get everything?! Why do I have to give everything up?! Nothing in my life belongs to me!”

Serin envied Serena’s life. From the shadows within the mirrors, she had longed for the light. The beautiful dresses Serena wore, the delicious food she ate, the countless gifts she received every birthday—Serena had everything Serin had never once enjoyed.

Now her younger sister would have a husband, too. Serin’s only friend would belong to Serena. Just like their father, who loved only Serena, Yohan would eventually put Serin second. Everyone would cherish Serena alone.

Tears streamed down Serin’s face. Serena was too stunned to speak. Her sister seemed like a stranger.

“... S-Serin.”

“I’m leaving.”

Serin whirled around and vanished into the depths of the mirror. Serena stared blankly after her.

* * *

Serena missed the appointed time. She had agreed to visit the baron’s mansion around midday, but did not arrive until nearly evening.

In the mansion’s drawing room, Yohan spoke.

“You’re late, my lady.”

Serena’s expression was somber.

“... Surely you know why I’m late?”

“I imagine your conversation with Serin took longer than expected.”

Yohan referred to Serena’s sister simply as “Serin.” He used no honorific such as “Lady,” speaking of her as though she were a friend. What sort of relationship did those two have? No, before that—how did Yohan even know Serin existed? Everything was a mystery.

Serena spoke with a composed expression.

“Yes. My sister said some very strange things.”

“About me?”

Serena nodded.

“Yesterday she called you a monster. Today she called you a good person.”

Yohan gave her an amiable smile.

“I’m glad we cleared up the misunderstanding.”

Serena stared him straight in the eyes.

“... What on earth did you do to my sister?”

Yohan remained unruffled.

“Do to her? I merely became her friend.”

It defied all reason. Serin and Yohan could never meet. They could not even speak, let alone touch. The mirror in Serena’s room was the only means of communicating with Serin. At least, that was what Serena believed.

She spoke.

“You make it sound as though you’ve met my sister.”

Yohan replied evenly.

“I have. I was with Serin last night.”

Bewilderment spread across Serena’s face.

“How—”

Yohan cut her off.

“An archmage I know gave me some help.”

He was calmly confessing to crimes.

He knew an archmage.

He had received help from an archmage.

Both were terrible sins. Yohan was a criminal who belonged on the scaffold.

Serena gave an incredulous laugh.

“Are you confessing your crimes to me?”

Yohan shrugged.

“Well, I suppose I am.”

“I could go straight to the Church.”

The moment she reported him, Yohan would be doomed.

Yohan chuckled.

“I doubt you’ll be able to, my lady.”

House Marcano could not face the Church with a clear conscience. They had used magic to confine Serin in the world within the mirrors. If that came to light, the Marcano family would fall.

Serena spoke calmly.

“Now I know exactly what sort of person you are, Sir Yohan.”

The corners of Yohan’s mouth lifted in interest.

“I’d like to hear it.”

Contempt filled Serena’s eyes.

“You’re a cunning Demon. One who toys so cleverly with other people’s weaknesses and feelings.”

Yohan clapped slowly.

“As expected of Lady Marcano. You have the right answer.”

He was being deliberately glib. The sight of it was utterly loathsome. Serena bit down on her lip.

“... That hideous demonic hand. You had something to do with that as well, didn’t you?”

A pitch-black hand had abducted Serin. Afterward, she had begun acting strangely. Yohan must have done something to her.

Yohan nodded.

“Yes. It was my hand.”

Serena frowned.

“What do you—”

Yohan spoke with a composed expression.

“I turn into a Demon at night. It was nighttime, and you saw my nighttime form.”

What nonsense was coming out of his mouth? Serena could no longer follow the conversation.

“Has a Demon bewitched you and finally driven you mad?”

There was probably a Demon Yohan served. That was as far as Serena’s suspicions went.

Yohan chuckled.

“I am not the one bewitched. As I told you, I am the Demon who does the bewitching.”

Serena laughed in disbelief. The Watcher of the Abyss was a madman.

“Enough with the jokes. They aren’t funny.”

Yohan spoke with a look of feigned innocence.

“Jokes? I’ve told you nothing but the truth.”

The conversation was going nowhere. Serena was unbearably frustrated. The fact that she could not use the Mind-Piercing Eye tightened around her heart like shackles.

“You really are the worst.”

Yohan considered for a moment. After tapping the table with his forefinger, he spoke.

“Very well. I’ll allow it, just this once.”

“... Allow what?”

“What you’re thinking of. The Mind-Piercing Eye.”

Serena looked incredulous.

“Are you serious?”

Yohan shrugged.

“Hurry up and use it, before I change my mind.”

Serena had dismissed everything he said as wordplay. Their conversation would go nowhere if she continued in that vein, so Yohan made a bold move: he allowed her to use the Mind-Piercing Eye. The moment her power revealed his true thoughts, her attitude would surely change.

Serena stared at him, trying to gauge his intentions. Of course, she could not read his thoughts merely by watching his expression.

“You gave me permission. Don’t go back on your word later.”

“Of course.”

An unusual light immediately appeared in Serena’s pupils. Blood trickled from her nose. The Mind-Piercing Eye was working.

A flood of information seeped into her. Her expression changed from moment to moment. Confusion, horror, disbelief—a host of emotions swirled through her. Wearing a faint smile, Yohan waited for her power to run its course.

A considerable time passed. Eventually, the strange light faded from Serena’s eyes. Without even wiping away her nosebleed, she stared blankly at the floor.

Every piece of information that had entered her mind was utterly bizarre. Could everything she had just heard be true? It was far too difficult to accept.

“... How is this possible?”

Yohan spoke calmly.

“The Mind-Piercing Eye conveys only facts.”

The Mind-Piercing Eye filtered out all false information. Everything Serena had learned was true. She knew that well herself.

“You really are—”

“The sun will set soon.”

Yohan looked out the window. Twilight was settling over the world. Serena swallowed hard.

Silence fell. Neither spoke a word. An uneasy tension pervaded the room.

As a drop of cold sweat fell from Serena, the sun vanished completely. The world sank into darkness. Yohan’s form was turning into black smoke.

Serena sprang to her feet.

“Y-you!”

Her pupils widened. Yohan’s body dispersed completely, and a hideous being took its place. Red eyes gleamed.

Maphel’tan slowly approached Serena. She backed away, breathing hard.

“Serena, do you believe me now?”

Serena’s eyes darted wildly. She murmured in a trembling voice.

“D-don’t come closer.”

Maphel’tan paid no heed to her fear. Smiling, he advanced one step at a time.

“How dare you look at your future husband that way?”

Serena shook her head frantically.

“N-no! Don’t! Get away!”

Her retreat came to an abrupt stop. She had hit the wall. There was nowhere left to go.

Maphel’tan closed the remaining distance between them. He gently stroked Serena’s black hair.

“Don’t be so afraid of me.”

Serena squeezed her eyes shut.

“Eek!”

Maphel’tan gently took her hand. Serena was nearly mad with terror. What on earth was he going to do to her? Her reason was failing her. She could not even scream.

Amid that overwhelming terror, Serena felt something unfamiliar against her finger. Something was being slipped onto her hand. A chilling voice reached her.

“Open your eyes.”

His words transformed into the ancient demonic tongue.

『 Open your eyes (Ka’ruun thal). 』

Words of compulsion were being inscribed. Serena could not resist. Her eyelids slowly rose.

“N-no. Please.”

“I wonder if you’ll like it.”

Maphel’tan gently lifted her hand. Serena’s facial muscles twitched.

“W-what is—”

Maphel’tan’s lips stretched into a broad smile.

“An engagement ring.”

A red ring encircled Serena’s long, pale ring finger.