Lady Devil - Chapter 213

Griselda gazed steadily at the boy who had grown tall before her eyes. There was not even a calm ripple in her gaze. For that reason, it did not appear harsh. Like a teacher imparting an obvious life lesson to a young and foolish disciple. Who would dare accuse me of hypocrisy? Griselda felt an inexplicably lukewarm sensation behind her eyes.

In truth, her demands had always been consistent. After losing her husband and even his child to the flames of the curse, she had only shifted her target once, never changing by even an inch. Cruel duchess, unfortunate devil. Be strong alone. Be as tall as a cliff, as solid as an iron fortress. The murky resentment, hatred, contempt. Fiery and icy sorrow. Those crumbs shed by the distant outer walls, I who starved from sorrow and pain will swallow them all and save myself.

Thus you sustain me.

Nothing could be more consistent.

“Today, I did not come to see you.”

Griselda turned away from Johannes, who was barely standing as if about to collapse, and adjusted her clothing.

“I will pretend I did not see or hear how you have been looking at the young lady. There’s no point in trying to find out since no one would believe me anyway. It would be useless knowledge. However, you.”

Griselda closed her mouth for a moment. She straightened her posture. Then she approached Johannes, gazing at him intently.

“You… maintain this mindset. Consider it your own form of chastity and guard it with your life. Keep the young lady as an outsider to the curse. Never forget that her fate… depends on your actions alone. Even if it means gnawing at your own bones and flesh, you must accomplish this.”

She refrained from explicitly stating that her concern extended beyond just the duchess. Like a mother addressing her son, she pressed her entire palm near Johannes’ heart as he leaned to the side. Johannes’ pale gaze flowed downward, fixing on her eyes. Those wide-open eyes. As if entranced, as if wretched. Without even the slightest movement. He seemed to have stopped breathing altogether.

“Are you alright? You are Johannes Valdemar. And a devil.”

“……”

“Because you are… the root of all evil.”

Griselda lightly patted Johannes’ chest with her outstretched fingertips. With such a brief lingering, she imprints it like a spell. Johannes’ head, which had been biting his lips, finally dropped. Below the deeply sunken shadows of his eyes, he exhaled roughly, just once, even more deeply. He looked as if he was disgusted by Griselda’s touch.

“…Remove it.”

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