Under the Realm of the Beast - Chapter 1: The Switched Groom (3)

Valetta spent countless nights seething with hatred for Leonard and resentment toward the deceased Friedrich. What does friendship even mean? What’s so special about being best friends that you would leave me behind and disappear so senselessly?

“Valetta, wait. When I return from this campaign, I’ll…”

Oh, Friedrich. That promise you made that day has become one you’ll never fulfill.

Her eyelids trembled as tears began to stream down her face, despite thinking she had cried herself dry long ago. Valetta wiped her damp cheeks, trying to ignore the loud splashing of rainwater against the wheels of the carriage.

Friedrich, I can’t forgive you.

You abandoned me. I had no family but you, and yet you saved Leonard and left me like this.

For every ounce of resentment she felt toward Friedrich, she harbored even greater hatred for Leonard. And the more she hated Leonard, the deeper the scars of loneliness carved into her soul.

The carriage came to a halt, signaling her arrival at the ballroom. Valetta wiped her tears and opened her eyes. Facing Leonard felt worse than death, but if she did run into him, she had already decided what to say.

I, Valetta Irfmann, will never forgive Leonard Carnies.

As she entered the grand ballroom, the attendees’ eyes instantly turned toward her. However, their gazes weren’t solely drawn by her striking beauty.

Of course, her appearance was a factor, but it wasn’t the only reason. Valetta carried a certain notoriety that was irresistible for gossipers. She was the brave hero’s only sister, the sibling of Friedrich Irfmann—the knight who protected the empire and slew the dragon.

“She looks so much like the late Count Irfmann.”

“I heard she’s living as a dependent in her cousin’s household. How pitiable.”

“Poor girl. She’s had no luck with her parents, and now no luck with her brother either.”

Valetta clenched her teeth, trying to block out the whispers, but the more she tried not to listen, the sharper their words seemed to pierce her. Each passing comment deepened her emotional wounds.

Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her aside.

“You—!”

It was Irmina, looking utterly flustered. Her eyes darted up and down, taking in Valetta’s appearance. The dress Valetta wore was unmistakably familiar—it was one of Irmina’s. But when Valetta wore it, the entire atmosphere of the gown seemed transformed.

“How did you even get here…?”

For once, Valetta was grateful to have Irmina as her distraction. Dealing with her cousin’s petty tantrums was infinitely easier than confronting the ghosts of her past.

“I borrowed your dress. I didn’t have anything suitable for the ball,” Valetta said calmly.

The truth was, she’d even declined the Empress’s three prior tea party invitations because she had nothing appropriate to wear. As a child, Valetta would have only cried in response to Irmina’s cruelty. She never would have dared to take her cousin’s belongings, let alone wear them to a formal event.

But everything changed the day Friedrich died.

With her sole protector gone, Valetta had no choice but to grow stronger to survive. She had learned to stand up to Irmina’s constant spite, even talking back—something she’d never dared to do before. The fact that her aunt and uncle had stolen the consolation money and rewards from the imperial family had been humiliation enough.

Straightening her shoulders, Valetta deliberately drew attention to the dress.

“Doesn’t it suit me?”

Her tone was almost playful, taunting. Valetta’s beauty was so radiant that even the outdated dress Irmina had discarded now looked timeless and elegant. The sight was so infuriating that Irmina, unable to utter her usual insults about Valetta being a freeloader, struggled to maintain her composure. She forced a nod, her lips twitching.

“Y-yes, it does…”

“Oh my, Valetta! That dress looks marvelous on you,” commented Lady Orléans, approaching with a delighted smile.

“Thank you for the compliment, Madam. It’s been a while. How have you been?” Valetta replied, her tone polite but confident as she returned the woman’s smile.

Seeing her own dress praised while Valetta basked in admiration made Irmina’s face flush red with anger. She clenched her fists as the Count and Countess Dampierre quickly began chatting with Lady Orléans, steering the conversation toward their shared excitement.

“By the way, did you hear, Countess? Grand Duke Carnies will be attending tonight!”

“Oh, of course! It’s been three months since his last campaign, hasn’t it?”

When the conversation turned to Grand Duke Carnies, Irmina’s cheeks flushed red.

Meanwhile, Valetta felt her heart pounding violently. Her throat went dry, and her hands trembled slightly. She didn’t want to hear anything about Leonard. The thought alone made her feel nauseous, prompting her to quietly slip away from the crowd.

“Valetta, are you feeling unwell?”

The voice belonged to Eric Regius, the heir to the Marquisate of Regius. She had encountered him several times before at similar events.

“I’m… fine,” Valetta replied, though her trembling hands and uneasy expression suggested otherwise.

Not wanting to attract any more sympathy, she accepted a glass of champagne from a passing servant and took a sip to moisten her dry throat. But in her current state, drinking champagne only made her queasiness worse, and a dull headache began to form.

“You don’t look well,” Eric said, his gaze full of concern as he studied her face.

Behind him, Irmina was glaring in their direction, her eyes practically burning with jealousy. Both Irmina and Valetta were at the prime age for marriage, and Irmina had been diligently searching for a suitable husband. Eric Regius was a particularly attractive prospect—handsome, broad-shouldered, and the sole heir to a marquisate.

“Valetta, what’s wrong?”

Irmina hurried over, feigning concern with a sweet smile, though her true motive was clear as she shot Eric a flirtatious look. While she dreamed of the near-impossible prospect of securing Grand Duke Carnies as a husband, she knew his position as a hero, a royal relative, and a dragon slayer placed him far beyond her reach.

Eric Regius, however, was within grasp. He was the highest-status man Irmina could realistically pursue, with qualities that made him an exceptional match in every regard.

“Nothing, it’s nothing,” Valetta muttered, wanting to escape from prying eyes and their suffocating attention. The thought of seeing Leonard, the man who had survived while her brother had died, left her feeling sick to her stomach. Her hands trembled as she struggled to maintain her composure.

“Excuse me for a moment, Eric. Thank you for your kindness,” Valetta said with a graceful nod, then quickly left the ballroom, practically fleeing to the garden behind the Rosaria Palace.

In the quiet garden, where not even the sound of footsteps could be heard, Valetta doubled over in the grass, dry-heaving. She hadn’t eaten much all day, so only the champagne she had sipped earlier came up. Once she finished, she rinsed her mouth at the fountain, splashing the cool water onto her face.

The orange hues of the setting sun reflected off the gently rippling water. From the brightly lit palace behind her, faint music wafted out, mixing with the sound of the fountain.

“The Empress… at least she’ll know I made an appearance,” Valetta murmured to herself. Perhaps she could consider that a small victory.

Sniffling slightly, she closed her weary eyes. The mere thought of Leonard was enough to unravel her emotions, a testament to how much she had loved and depended on her brother.

I don’t care. I’m not going to think about it anymore.

The weather in May was warm and soothing, and the earlier rain had left the grass fragrant and fresh. The music carried by the breeze felt almost like a lullaby. As Valetta wrestled with her emotions, a deep fatigue began to settle over her.

Just as she was beginning to relax, she heard the distant sound of commotion from inside the palace.

What’s going on…?

Then, from a distance, sharp voices reached her ears.

“The dress she’s wearing today? It’s one I was going to throw out because it was so outdated! But everyone keeps saying how beautiful it looks!”

“Irmina, listen to me. If that girl looks shabby, people will accuse us of mistreating a poor relative. It will reflect poorly on our family.”

“That’s not the point, Mother! She wasn’t even wearing proper makeup! And yet everyone kept saying she was beautiful! Even Eric Regius!”

Irmina’s tantrum came to an abrupt halt as her eyes met Valetta’s. Her face stiffened, realizing Valetta had overheard her jealous outburst. Embarrassed, her face turned red as she snapped, her voice sharp and defensive.

“What are you doing here?”

“Just sitting. What about you? Why are you here?”

Valetta knew exactly why Irmina had stepped out of the ballroom. Whenever they attended events together, Irmina would often slip away for a moment to compose herself, stewing in frustration. Despite her desire to be the center of attention, it was always Valetta who ended up surrounded by admirers.

“Valetta,” Irmina began sharply, her tone loaded with accusation. “I heard you charged the carriage fare to my father’s account. Where did you even get the nerve to do that?”

“Is Count Dampierre’s household so poor that it can’t afford a carriage fare?” Valetta replied coolly.

“This isn’t about money—it’s about your attitude!”

“In that case, let’s discuss your sense of propriety. When will you or your family return the compensation and rewards given to me by the imperial family?”

“……”

At Valetta’s pointed question, Irmina’s mother, who had been standing nearby, suddenly found something else to focus on, deliberately avoiding the topic.

Irmina, clearly agitated, blurted out, “Leonard Carnies is here.”

“So?”

Valetta’s voice turned sharp, her anger bubbling to the surface. She hated the casual way Irmina mentioned his name, knowing full well how much she despised him. Friedrich wasn’t just anyone; he was her brother. And while the bond between her and Irmina was far weaker, they were still cousins who had once lived under the same roof. How could Irmina be so indifferent?

“You knew, didn’t you?” Irmina accused.

“What are you talking about?”

“You knew Leonard Carnies was here, and you’ve been hiding here to avoid him, haven’t you?”

“Irmina, I have no idea what you’re trying to say.”

“Leonard Carnies! That man… he’s cursed!”

“…Cursed?”

Irmina shuddered visibly as she recalled the grotesque sight she had witnessed earlier. The once-handsome hero had become a monstrous figure, his appearance horrifyingly deformed. She had approached him with excitement, eager to meet the famed dragon slayer up close, only to be confronted by something that barely resembled a human.

“Ugh!” Irmina gagged, clutching her stomach as the memory made her queasy. Torn pupils, scaly skin like that of a snake—it was a nightmarish visage. How could that thing possibly be a man? It was almost as if…

“You must be thrilled, right?”

Irmina’s voice dripped with venom, though she didn’t finish her thought. Didn’t you wish for Leonard Carnies to suffer? Well, your wish has come true.

Her words, biting and sarcastic, hung in the air as she turned sharply, dragging her mother back toward the palace. Irmina didn’t bother to say goodbye, leaving Valetta standing there in silence.

“……”

Exhausted by Irmina’s whirlwind appearance and stinging words, Valetta felt her energy drain away. She made up her mind—she would leave the palace and return home.

* * *

Leonard was cursed? Valetta couldn’t make sense of such words. It would be great if it were true, but she didn’t believe Irmina. Perhaps she had blurted nonsense out of jealousy, caught in the act by Leonard himself. After all, what were the odds of Leonard Carnies being cursed?

On the contrary, the fact that Irmina even brought him up caused something inside Valetta to stir again. This anger, she thought, would continue until the day she died.

“You murdered Friedrich, and yet you dare attend a ball.”

The thought turned her stomach. Overwhelmed by uncontrollable emotions, Valetta left for the back of the palace where carriages were stationed. The faint sound of music and laughter pouring out from the ballroom, along with the glow of chandeliers, made her inexplicably sorrowful. Friedrich should have been in there, basking in their joy. He should have been part of it.

It was then that she saw a carriage as extravagantly adorned as the imperial ones. Its ivory embellishments…

“Of all people…”

Of all people, why did it have to be Leonard Carnies? If there was any solace, it was that he, too, seemed to want to avoid her, hastily climbing into his carriage as if fleeing. But why did the sight of his retreating back spark a rebellious impulse in her? Perhaps she wanted to torment him.

“…Are you planning to ignore me now?”

She called out to his back. Leonard, who had been stepping into his carriage, froze mid-motion. When he turned slightly, she saw his face hidden behind a mask.

“Is it a masquerade ball already? And not even summer? Are your days so full of joy that they feel like a constant ball?”

Her sharp words made Leonard slowly turn around. Beneath the mask, golden eyes locked with hers. Those golden eyes were as fierce as a well-honed beast’s. With trembling hands, Leonard removed his mask.

“I’ve been cursed and turned into this. Does this ease your hatred?”

Snake-like skin, slit pupils, and a face neither human nor beast—a monster. Leonard Carnies, now bearing a hideous visage, gave Valetta a bitter smile. He knew well how much she despised and resented him. He even anticipated her derision, her sneer, the sparkle in her eyes as she mocked him.

But instead:
“I don’t see what part of you is cursed.”

Leonard’s head tilted slightly as if doubting what he’d just heard. His expression twisted in confusion as he asked,

“If surviving is a curse, what crime did I commit to walk alone through this cursed existence?”

“…What are you saying?”