Subliminal Wayfarer

There is only one family in this country that uses such a crest.

Onium. The guardian of the kingdom.

They don’t come to the capital often, but they were a historic and traditional household trusted by the royal family.

Like House Blacke, they were one of the most influential voices among the 42 seats of the Zeronium noble council.

“How unusual for Onium to come all the way to the capital.”

It seemed a crowd had gathered to catch a rare glimpse of a member of the Onium family.

The seven families from the founding myth were always popular.

The most popular was, of course, the royal family, the Golden Eagle, Zenox.

Next in popularity was the Silver Wolf, Onium.

Being the family that guarded the borders and their infrequent appearances added to their mystique and popularity.

Although the family itself wasn’t extremely powerful, Onium was an important family.

They were known for their fierce nature due to guarding the borders, and their progressive tradition of allowing women to become heads of the family if they were capable won the people’s favor.

‘What foolish women think they can become heads of a family… Why do they covet men’s roles? They should just be grinding flour and roasting meat.’

Norman clicked his tongue in disapproval, glaring at the cheering women.

He was a thoroughly conservative man, one who admired and pursued the inherited power of men.

As a result, he couldn’t stand the sight of a woman who appeared even slightly superior to him.

“Now that I think about it, isn’t the current head of Onium a woman?”

Hah, what a disgraceful family. A woman as the head.

It was so absurd that he found himself curious about what kind of woman had become the household head.

Norman ordered the coachman to stop the carriage and watched the procession of Onium that had arrived in front of the temple.

The temple door opened, and Ganache, who had just expelled Norman, reappeared.

Norman gritted his teeth and glared at the guy.

Soon after, the door of Onium’s carriage opened, and someone stepped out.

Norman didn’t know if this person was the head of Onium, but they had arrived in the most luxurious carriage.

The first thing he saw was dazzling silver hair.

In the bright summer sunlight, the silver hair tied high shimmered as it reflected the rays, looking incredibly mysterious and beautiful.

“Wow!”

The crowd’s cheers grew louder just because ‘she’ stepped outside.

The woman was dressed not in a dress but in pants and a suit like men.

She wore a tailored jacket and a heavy, thick cape, much like a soldier’s uniform.

Norman’s face twisted in disgust.

That is NOT a woman.

Her appearance, stripped of femininity, was utterly grotesque to him.

He was about to turn away, thinking there was nothing more to see.

That was until the woman from Onium turned and looked in his direction.

“……!”

In that instant, Norman felt as though his breath had been taken away.

It was as if someone had struck his head with a hammer.

The red cape that had been an eyesore and the pants she wore all disappeared from his sight.

She…

She was so beautiful that everything else faded away.

She was dazzlingly graceful, fantastically beautiful, and exuded a very ethereal atmosphere.

Ah, was this the face of his ideal woman, even in his dreams?

The ideal he had held until now was useless.

The moment he saw her, his ideal became her.

“Young Master, shall we depart now?”

Norman, unable to respond to the attendant, stretched his neck out the window and stared at her.

That arrogant Ganache walked over to her and offered a handshake.

The two shook hands and exchanged a few words.

As she turned away, her face was no longer visible.

Norman couldn’t bring himself to start the carriage until her figure completely disappeared.

 

* * *

 

“You say you don’t know her at all? She seemed to know you very well, Grace…”

“Yes, that’s what’s strange. I think she might have mistaken me for someone else.”

They were talking about the peculiar old woman they had encountered at the countess’s mansion a short while ago.

When Selena asked if Grace knew who the woman was, Grace could only respond with a confused smile.

It was no surprise. Grace really had no idea who that woman was.

Grace prided herself on having a good memory, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall ever seeing the old woman before.

Yet, somehow, the encounter left her feeling odd.

The old woman’s clear gaze, which didn’t seem to be lying or mistaken, made it all the more puzzling.

‘She said it was when I was too young to remember.’

…That would mean around five or six years old, or even younger.

Even if the old woman’s words were true, how could she recognize someone who had grown up so much since then?

Unless she had an exceptionally keen eye, it would be difficult.

“Hmm, I see. But that old woman… didn’t seem to be mistaken.”

Grace agreed with Selena.

But now, it was impossible to return to the countess’s mansion and ask the old woman who she was.

As the old woman said, if fate would have it, they might meet again soon…

If that were to happen, she could ask how the old woman knew her.

Right now, there was something more important to address.

“Um… Madam. There’s something I would like to ask.”

“Hmm, what is it?”

Selena, who had been watching the scenery beyond the rattling carriage, looked at Grace with an expression that welcomed any questions.

“Can you tell me more about the curse?”

The process of Lucas turning into a horse and then back into a human.

Grace, who was born and raised in this country and had learned about noble and founding histories, had never heard of such a curse existing in one of the most powerful noble families in the land.

 

“I’m sorry. This is all I can say for now. When we make our vows of marriage, then… I will tell you everything.”

 

On the night Lucas returned to his human form.

When she asked about the curse, he had said this.

This is all I can say for now.

His eyes held not inner conflict, but sincerity. He seemed to want to say more but couldn’t, and his lips had quivered as if holding back words.

…And then there was the kiss on her earlobe.

‘W-What am I thinking about?’

She tried to ignore the lingering sensation on her earlobe and focused her mind.

Just hearing the word ‘curse’ was frightening.

Yet, Selena and Lucas had strangely contradictory reactions to it.

They were clearly hesitant and found it difficult to talk about the curse, but oddly, they didn’t seem afraid of the curse itself.

Instead, they seemed to take it very naturally and as a matter of course.

Grace felt a sense of dissonance in their different attitudes.

How could a curse that transforms a human into a beast seem so trivial?

Especially… a curse that didn’t seem to affect only House Blacke.

“You want to know more about the curse? Didn’t Lucas tell you anything, Grace?”

“He said he couldn’t explain more himself, as if he were forbidden to speak.”

Selena nodded.

“That’s right. Lucas isn’t allowed to speak about it… yet.”

“Then, Elder Madam, could you…”

“But I can’t either.”

“What?”

Selena smiled sweetly and gently cupped Grace’s cheek as if she were a cherished daughter.

“None of us can, Grace. At least, not yet… There’s a vow of silence in place.”

A vow of silence?

“What do you mean?”

“Normally, anyone involved with this curse cannot speak of it at all. However… since you are now somewhat involved in the curse, it seems you’re allowed to know a bit more.”

“I don’t understand, Madam.”

“At the wedding, Grace, you will likely have to make a certain ‘vow’. This will bind you to us, as it does for all outsiders to this curse. That’s all I can tell you.”

Even if she wanted to explain, she couldn’t.

It was clearly a matter of great importance.

Grace nodded in understanding.

Selena, who had been watching Grace intently, added cautiously.

“After the wedding, Grace, you will share our fate. I’m sorry to bring this up now, but… are you truly okay with that?”

Selena was asking if Grace was truly okay with being caught up in this curse.

Grace saw the guilt in Selena’s eyes.

No one was to blame for this situation.

They had simply lost the riding crop for a moment, and Grace happened to find it.

It wasn’t something done with intent or malice.

Therefore, neither Selena nor Lucas needed to feel remorseful towards her.

Grace gently placed her hand over Selena’s and smiled.

“I’m okay, Elder Madam.”

Her family had forced many things upon her that weren’t okay at all. They had never sought her consent, nor felt any guilt or penitence.

They had forced her to grow up when she lost her mother, and had sold off her mother’s cherished possessions.

Sometimes, she had been exposed to unjust verbal and physical abuse simply because she was a girl.

It had hurt, but she didn’t know it was wrong. She had been exposed to their verbal and physical abuse for so long that it felt normal.

She had a desire to escape but never truly thought of them as bad people.

No, she couldn’t think that way. She had been thoroughly conditioned by their violence.

‘…But now, I understand.’

Norman and Kafrenn O’Ellin were indeed bad people.

No one should have treated her that way.

Even if they were family—no, especially because they were family, they shouldn’t have treated her that way.

She realized this by watching Selena and Lucas.

She could feel their kindness and concern for her, and this made her understand.

Because of this warmth, Grace wanted to be with these people who showed her such care.

She didn’t know how terrifying the curse was, but she felt that with Lucas by her side, she could manage.

“I am truly okay.”

Grace smiled.

Selena, seeing Grace’s sincere smile, smiled back at her.

At that moment, it seemed like nothing bad could happen to them, and peace surrounded them.