Sikar Blake’s heart began to pound wildly.

“What? Say that again! Again!”

Gillian let out a sigh with tired eyes.

“Let’s go sit down first. My legs ache—I’ve been stuck without moving in that cramped underground dungeon for so long. You people were utterly inhumane. You didn’t even let me take a single walk. Staying in such a narrow space makes a person feel like they’ll turn to stone. But even then, I didn’t turn to stone—because of the promise you made me.”

Gillian leaned back as he sat on the plush sofa in the hall.

“I can’t remember the last time I sat on such a soft sofa.”

“Speak plainly. What do you mean by ‘they disappear once they achieve what they want’? Say it clearly!”

“When I seized the throne I desired. When I fulfilled my wish. That ecstasy, that joy—it was indescribable. But then—they vanished. Isn’t that hilarious?”

“What’s your evidence?”

“They were all strange. Their clothing was odd, their speech unnatural. And they knew who I was. I captured every black-eyed human who caught my eye and locked them all in prison—darker, murkier, and more lightless than even the cell I was trapped in. As you know, under the worst conditions, human hope diminishes. Their common wish was very simple: to leave that place. That was the only thing they wanted.”

“Did you imprison them just to observe that?”

“At first, I imprisoned them to uncover their identities—their appearances and everything else seemed suspicious. When I asked the first human I captured where their homeland was, they said I wouldn’t believe them even if they told me. Eventually, desperate to escape this place, they pointed me to where Kian Blake was—but Kian wasn’t there. Then they told me to watch Reidox closely—but there was nothing special about him either. Then you announced your marriage? Up until then, I hadn’t cared about your marriage—I didn’t know you’d marry a black-eyed woman.”

Sikar ran his hand through his hair, feeling fatigue surge through him.

“Don’t dodge the point. Just tell me why the black-eyed people disappear.”

“You’re still as impatient as ever. Anyway, the first human I captured always begged to be released. But of course I couldn’t just let them go easily. I kept them imprisoned for quite a while before releasing them. The moment I freed them—they vanished, as if teleporting. At first, I didn’t think much of it. But when the second captured human also disappeared upon release, I started thinking: they vanish when their wishes are granted. So when I captured the third human, I gave them just enough food to keep them from starving. They said their only wish was a proper meal—so I gave it to them, and they disappeared.”

Gillian spoke with a smile, but Sikar couldn’t laugh. He couldn’t verify Gillian’s memories, so he had no way of confirming whether it was true.

“Is that true?”

“If you want to verify whether I’m telling the truth, try it yourself. Grant your wife what she wants—and see what happens.”

What my wife wants…

Sikar carefully recalled what Yura Blake desired. Yura…

Just as Sikar was about to remember what Yura wished for, Gillian smiled slyly—as if reading Sikar’s thoughts—and spoke.

“It’s your curse, isn’t it? If your wife truly loves you, she must wish for your curse to be lifted. You’ve found Kian—so lift your curse first. Then you can see whether your wife disappears or not. Heh heh. Wouldn’t that be entertaining?”

Gillian began laughing heartily, clutching his stomach as he watched Sikar grind his teeth.

“I’ve been itching to see that expression of yours for so long. But I had to wait until this palace was fully completed. Seeing that face today—even just today—makes the wait worthwhile. Puhahaha. If you don’t lift the curse, you’ll die someday. If you do lift it, your wife will vanish. I’m very eager to see what decision you’ll make.”

“Shut up.”

Sikar’s voice no longer reached Gillian’s ears. He simply began giggling, clutching his own stomach with one hand.

“Heh heh. The you I know can’t move an inch when it comes to family. You’ll probably choose death and cling to your wife—even if it means sacrificing yourself for Kian, the boy you adopted. Heh heh. After you die, I’ll watch how well your wife fares all alone. I’ll live right here, waiting for that day. It’ll be the greatest spectacle of my life.”

Gillian’s voice no longer reached Sikar’s ears either.

If I lift the curse… Yura will disappear…

His head throbbed from a thought he’d never entertained before.

Even if he tried to dismiss Gillian’s words as nonsense, there was no way to prove where those black-eyed people he claimed to have seen were now.

Moreover, Gillian was vile—but he wasn’t someone who made things up.

The most important thing he could do now was ensure no one else learned of this.

Sikar spoke quietly to Gillian, who was still giggling.

“Don’t tell anyone this. The moment you speak of it, I’ll turn this place into your real prison—the dark, cramped, suffocating dungeon you hate so much.”

Gillian abruptly stopped giggling.

Yura Blake had been waiting for Sikar until he returned to Daisy Palace.

Knowing full well Yura would ask what had happened with Gillian, Sikar—unsure what excuse to make on the spot—ordered Vika Lamberst to put Yura to sleep.

“What’s so serious?”

“That’s none of your business, Vika.”

“I don’t really care much about the Duke’s affairs anyway. As long as you don’t harm me, it’s none of my concern.”

“The reason you’re a decent guy is that you don’t bother me.”

“I don’t need that kind of praise—just tell me when you’ll nullify the pact.”

If the pact isn’t nullified, Vika will die. Since the moment the pact was forged, their fates have been bound together—if things continue like this, Vika won’t escape death.

He’d intended to nullify it eventually anyway, but the timing arrived sooner than expected.

“Fine. Let’s nullify it now.”

Vika’s eyes widened—he’d always grumbled and muttered, habitually asking Sikar to nullify the pact whenever they met.

Today, he’d merely repeated his usual complaint—but this time, Sikar immediately replied with agreement.

Suspicious, Vika narrowed his eyes.

“Nullify? So you’re saying you’ll dissolve the contract before your curse is lifted? You’re agreeing so readily—that’s even more suspicious. Are you planning something else to do to me?”

“No. I’ll truly nullify it.”

“Why suddenly?”

“I can’t drag you around forever.”

“Say it properly—it’s not that you’re dragging me around, it’s that you’ve been hauling me around.”

“If you don’t want nullification, you can wait until my curse is lifted—for me, that’s not a bad option either.”

Vika, who had been frowning suspiciously, blinked rapidly when he saw Sikar about to retract his words.

“No, no—I want it nullified. Immediately!”

“In exchange, you must protect Kian until he comes of age. That’s the price for your freedom.”

“…Is that really freedom? Nullifying the pact alone won’t change anything—you’re still binding me to the same life as before.”

“If you think that way, we’ll treat the contract nullification as if it never happened.”

“No, no—I’ll do as you say.”

“Then, after swearing an oath to Kian, I’ll nullify the contract.”

“Calculating bastard.”

“In an era overflowing with vile people like you, one must be calculating to survive.”

“Once the contract is nullified, don’t even think about treating me like your personal servant anymore! Understand?!”

“Fine. But for now, I’m still your pact master—so obey me. Go check on how Kian is doing, and find out whether Reidox has returned or is still here—then report back.”

Normally, Vika would have grumbled again about being used, complaining how annoying and tiresome it was—but today, he shrugged his shoulders as if in high spirits.

“Fine.”

“If Reidox is still in the palace, tell him to come to Daisy Palace’s garden.”

“Understood.”

Faster than most horses through the forest, Vika immediately dashed toward the woods.

Shortly after returning, Vika reported that Reidox was still in his office—and Sikar donned his coat and headed to the garden.

The spot where Sikar stood was the very place where, not long ago, he had proposed to Yura.

The first person in the world to whom he’d ever proposed. Sikar recalled the first time he met Yura.

He remembered her trembling yet stubbornly speaking down to him—and a faint smile escaped his lips.

Now, recalling how she’d glared up at him, fists clenched tightly despite her fear of him—he couldn’t help but find her unbearably adorable.

As he sank into memories of all that had happened since, Reidox approached.

“What is it, my lord?”

Though he’d summoned Reidox because the story he’d heard from Gillian was something Reidox absolutely needed to know, delivering such grim news was undeniably uncomfortable for him.

But it was a story he absolutely had to tell.

First, Sikar wanted to understand how deeply and how much Reidox cared for Seo Yeon.

“You might think this sounds ridiculous, but given the gravity of the matter, I must ask: What do you think of Seo Yeon?”

As expected, Reidox’s expression went momentarily blank before he blinked several times as if regaining composure.

“What do you mean, my lord?”

“I asked what you think of Seo Yeon.”

“Well… I intend to take her as my wife. Of course, if the children object, I won’t proceed. But why are you suddenly asking me this?”

“Would you be fine if she were gone?”

“This is rather startling, my lord. Do you realize you’re suddenly saying something utterly out of nowhere?”

“Yes. I suppose you can’t help but think that. But this is also an extremely important matter. So answer honestly: Do you think you could live without Seo Yeon?”

Though flustered, Reidox lowered his head and answered solemnly to Sikar’s question.

“I suppose I’d survive—since the children are there. But without her, I’d be terribly lonely. And deeply saddened. Now, please tell me—why are you asking me this?”

“Because she might disappear depending on what you do.”

“What?”

“You must find out what Seo Yeon truly desires from now on—or else she will vanish.”