Subliminal Wayfarer

“What happens if someone breaks the vow of silence?”

“Oh, you wouldn’t want to know.”

“I-Is it… dangerous?”

Selena grinned mischievously and whispered in a low voice, as if sharing a secret.

“The contractors are under a spell that prevents them from speaking about it to outsiders. Their tongues freeze and their mouths stop moving. So, the fact that you, Grace, are allowed to know this much is already an exception. Normally, I wouldn’t be able to say anything about it.”

“I see. Then… is it possible to write it down and communicate that way?”

“Ah, of course not. Writing it down is also forbidden. The act of thinking about it and trying to communicate it externally is controlled.”

As if reading her thoughts, Selena quickly explained.

With a playful smile, Selena whispered to Grace.

“Then, do you want to guess what happens to the insiders, those directly involved in the curse, if they speak about it carelessly?”

Grace, sensing the tension, lowered her voice too.

“…What happens?”

Selena deliberately paused for a moment.

Then she whispered meaningfully into Grace’s ear.

“They all turn into animals. I’ve heard that no matter what is done, they can’t be changed back. And then, at some unpredictable moment, they return to their human form. It could be a week, or a year—no one knows.”

Hiiiing!

Somehow, Grace felt as if she could hear a familiar horse’s neigh in her ear.

 

* * *

 

“What did you say, Father?”

Norman, having just returned home, was shocked to hear the news even before he could complain about the treatment he had received at the temple.

“Lucas… Blacke is giving us something?”

“A diamond mine. He’s giving us a diamond mine.”

Kafrenn O’Ellin said with a rather pleased expression.

His face flushed with alcohol, he poured Norman a drink.

It was a drink from the stash Kafrenn, who usually didn’t care for alcohol, had hidden away.

It was a ten-year-old wine gifted by Marquis Songfrey, often seen with Kafrenn, but cheaper than the one Norman and his friends had stolen last time.

Come to think of it, that wine was also a gift from Lucas Blacke.

‘…But damn, is he serious? That guy’s giving away a diamond mine?’

Norman was dumbfounded.

No matter how immense the wealth of House Blacke was, how could they promise to give away one entire mine?

“That wench was such a burden when she was young, but now she’s being so helpful. Hohohoho.”

Kafrenn burst into laughter.

Had his father always been so easily amused?

Norman, displeased even with his father’s good mood due to Grace, remained silent.

“Ahem, anyway, Norman. It’s about time you started paying attention to the family’s affairs, don’t you think?”

The focus of the conversation shifted to Norman.

Grace had always been the family’s burden, but now his father was looking at Norman with the same look he always gave Grace in the past.

‘…That wretched little girl.’

Norman ground his teeth.

There are some people one dislikes no matter what. For Norman, that person was Grace.

He found her utterly insufferable.

He hated her without reason and loathed her without cause.

“And how about the Youth Council, Norman? You can become the next chair, right?”

“That’s too diffi—”

“Norman! Making difficult things possible is what ability is! Are you saying you haven’t gained a single vote while hanging around with those guys?”

The Youth Council was like a preparatory noble council.

It’s a group of about a hundred young nobles that handled minor issues not dealt with by the main noble council, serving as a training ground for upcoming future council members.

Of course, that was the ‘official’ function. In reality, everyone was just too preoccupied with arbitrary power struggles.

The strongest family took the top seat, and the rest simply followed that family’s opinions.

Currently, the top seat was held by Lubert, one of the seven ducal households.

Kysis Lubert.

At just nineteen, that brat had the Youth Council in the palm of his hand.

The Lubert family had produced many outstanding statesmen and administrators.

Although Kysis Lubert appeared a bit scatterbrained and playful, he was not someone to be underestimated.

Rumor had it that he was close to the Serpiente family, and there was little he didn’t know.

So, everyone feared him. There were very few nobles without some skeletons in their closets.

‘And I’m supposed to take the chairmanship from someone like that.’

Young Duke Kysis Lubert and Count Arcmois, didn’t seem particularly greedy for honor or power.

However, it was clear that Lysis Lubert hated losing what he already had.

 

“An election for the position of chairperson? What a hassle… Why even bother? This seat is mine anyway.”

 

He said it playfully, but the way he gazed at each noble in the Youth Council made it clear.

He had no intention of handing over his seat to anyone else.

Not knowing these circumstances, Norman’s father was unreasonably demanding that he secure the position, which infuriated Norman.

“To think you can’t even control the youth council properly. You have a long way to go. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Kafrenn, drunk already, clicked his tongue.

Norman was seething. It seemed everyone, be it at the temple or at home, underestimated him.

He ground his teeth and clenched his fists silently.

“Is it because our family isn’t strong enough yet? If that’s the case, we should hasten your marriage to Her Highness Vivian. Once you’re part of the royal family, no one will dare look down on you.”

“Father! I don’t want t—”

“Norman O’Ellin! Don’t you dare defy me!”

His father’s thunderous voice boomed.

Norman clenched his fists tighter and held back.

He mustn’t defy his father. Everything could be ruined.

‘Hah.’

Kafrenn rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache and then softened his tone, trying to soothe him.

“Do you know how much dowry comes with marrying the princess? Money begets honor, and honor begets money. Marriage is just a means to an end, so don’t stress over it. Focus on what you can gain.”

“…Yes, Father. I understand.”

His father was right. There was no fault in his reasoning, though it didn’t make Norman feel any better.

For now, he pretended to agree.

“Look at Grace, she brought a diamond mine. Imagine how much more she can bring as a duchess.”

“…Hah. That girl, she’s actually doing something useful. I wonder how promiscuously she’s been using that pathetic body of hers.”

“Norman, watch your mouth!”

Kafrenn pretended to be stern.

“There’s no need to let unnecessary words ruin a good fortune. Once the marriage is finalized, you can discipline her as you see fit.”

Kafrenn added the word discipline, indicating he also found Grace’s behavior concerning.

Discipline. Right. He had always liked that word.

Norman grinned crookedly and agreed.

No matter how much she thought she could escape by marrying out, she would never be free from the shadow of House O’Ellin.

In this country, women’s rights were abysmal anyway.

Even if she married and belonged to her husband, it wasn’t unusual for her father or brother to discipline her.

Legally, it wasn’t allowed, but customarily, it was not considered ‘wrong’.

‘…Though I hear that group, Wings or whatever, is causing a ruckus these days.’

Wings.

This was a women’s group led by Freesia, the second princess.