Toxic Marriage - Chapter 8.2

Chapter 8.2

“Some of the master’s closest associates, like me, pledged their loyalty by eating the flesh he shared.”

“Wh-What…?”

“It may sound strange, but the master also needed subordinates he could trust and entrust with work.”

“… What do you gain by doing that?”

Erik smiled brightly seeing Freya’s gaze, which seemed like she was looking at something bizarre.

“What is the most valuable thing in this rough land? Safety.”

Although he expected Freya to make a face of disgust at such an unpleasant story, she fell silent, making him wonder if she had already become immune because of the pig liver.

“Yes, I understand. The next question is, I want to know what the Margrave can do with his power of evilness.”

“The essence of his evilness is the strength to kill people.”

“Not that. I saw it yesterday; the wind blew when he moved his hand.”

“Ah, ah. Such a thing is possible to some extent.”

“Anything else?”

Erik thought about what his master could do and realized that it was dangerous to give her too much information.

He quickly returned to his senses when he realized that he almost answered her question like flowing water.

“I can’t tell you more than that.”

“No, I have a right to know. If I’m so scared that I freeze in front of the Margrave, it will be hard for you to get what you want, right?”

“…”

“Can he read people’s thoughts or see through them?”

Rather than the way she shamelessly continued asking questions, Erik almost let out a laugh at the content of Freya’s question.

If he had such an ability, his master would have already lifted his curse and left this damned land.

“Judging by the look on your face, I don’t think he can?”

“Yes, that’s something out of a fairy tale.”

It would have been understandable to feel embarrassed or ashamed by such blatant disregard, but Freya remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.

Erik secretly stole a glance at her.

She had boldly offered a deal for her signature, but her momentum soon waned.

That was understandable, she was a woman who never seemed to have experienced anything rough in her life. She was also an outstanding beauty who seemed to be accustomed to being treated well.

In fact, Erik had never seen a woman like this in his entire life. He was proud that his twin sister had a pretty good face, but it was impossible to compare them.

‘And the more I see…’

It wasn’t just a face that was pretty and beautiful, it was a face that made him feel a strange emotion.

A woman who made him feel so strange… If she hadn’t been sold to Niflheim one day and come here to get married, she would have married a man of similar noble birth and lived a peaceful life as she had until now.

Erik looked at Freya with a little compassion, then came back to his senses at the sound of her voice.

“Alright, then this is my last question. The Margrave said my great-great-grandmother put a curse on him so that he would not leave this place. I’m curious as to why.”

“…”

“That’s not the kind of person my great-great-grandmother was said to be.”

Erik’s eyes became fiercer when she mentioned her great-great-grandmother.

The compassion he had for Freya disappeared like smoke. She had thrown a person’s life into a fiery pit, yet her great-great-granddaughter had such an innocent face.

It seemed that his master didn’t say anything to the woman, either because he was showing his last bit of mercy or because it was worthless to say anything, but Erik couldn’t just let it go.

‘She should at least know what her ancestor did.’

“Follow me. I will tell you the truth.”

Erik turned around with a somewhat cold voice. Freya and Risyr followed his steps, not knowing where they were going.

While crossing the castle, the servants constantly glanced at her attention-grabbing face. Erik thought Freya would squirm at their gaze, but she was walking quietly behind him.

‘I can’t figure her out at all.’

Even though she acted brazenly as if nothing was wrong, when she was silent, she looked troubled as if tears were welling up in her large eyes.

Well, he didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t, but what was certain was that she wouldn’t be able to pretend to be okay where she was going now. Once she realized how hypocritical her great-great-grandmother was.

“How much further do we have to go? The shoes Miss Freya is wearing right now are not suitable for walking long distances.”

Their destination was approaching when the escort knight with poor anger management skills and poor patience began to growl.

“We have arrived.”

Finally, they reached their destination. A corner of the castle, where there was once a very beautiful forest.

“This…”

But now, the forest, with only tree stumps remaining, looked more desolate than anywhere else.