A black shadow slipped silently into the attic.
Moonlight poured through the large window, illuminating the entire space. Eugene's eyes took in everything—two worn-out beds and a washbasin in the corner. That was all.
You've been living... in a place like this.
His chest tightened. Every breath felt heavy, as if something was pressing down on his heart. He thought of the Baron's mansion—the luxurious drawing room, the grand dining hall, the corridors lined with expensive carpets.
The stark contrast stirred both anger and sorrow that rose in his throat.
The attic had nothing, yet it was spotlessly clean. Leah must have swept and scrubbed it every single day. Even in this old, shabby attic, he could tell how much she treasured her small space.
It pained him that this tiny room was her entire world. Eugene walked quietly to the bedside. With each step, his heart grew heavier. His sharp eyes slowly traced her face.
Pale skin. Hollow cheeks. And clear tear stains on those cheeks—she had cried a lot. The dried tears caught the moonlight with a faint gleam.
Tonight was the first time he'd felt her emotions through their blood connection. Endless despair had crashed over him like waves, and bone-chilling loneliness had wrapped around him. Eugene quietly placed his hand over his heart. How strong must her despair and loneliness have been for him to feel her pain?
You were suffering... this much.
Eugene's brow furrowed.
"Leah found out about the inheritance."
Before entering the attic, he'd accidentally overheard the Baron and his wife talking in the hallway. The memory came back vividly.
"What? So what happened?"
"What do you mean what happened? I told her it wasn't an inheritance but debt. A debt she could never repay in her lifetime. I told her Count Montclair would pay it off, so she had to marry him in return."
The Baron and his wife had lied to their young niece, pushing her into despair. And then they'd laughed with satisfaction.
Remembering the couple, Eugene's fists clenched. Veins bulged on the backs of his hands, and his jawline hardened. He gritted his teeth. His jaw muscles trembled. Rage flowed through his entire body.
"They pushed you into hell, and they laughed happily."
Eugene's quiet, low voice settled into the silent attic. Though he spoke softly to avoid waking Leah, his voice carried uncontrollable, burning fury.
"What should I do with people like that?"
Until now, he'd kept his distance from humans. He wasn't fully human himself, so he hadn't involved himself in human affairs. But this woman who'd saved his life—her situation was so pitiful that this time, he couldn't hold back.
Eugene slowly knelt on one knee. His knee touched the cold wooden floor, and her face came fully into view. Her long lashes cast shadows in the moonlight. He could see her straight nose and pale lips.
When he noticed her cute freckles, an urge to touch them arose. Eugene's hand moved slowly toward her cheek, then stopped in midair before pulling back.
If his cold hand touched her, she'd wake up. If she found him here, she'd scream. He wondered how he'd explain being in her room.
Eugene let out a small sigh and carefully studied her face again.
"If you wanted, I could tear them apart and kill them."
Eugene's voice was calm yet cruel. Twisting their necks, ripping out their hearts, making them disappear without a trace—these were easy tasks for him.
But if he did that, Leah would look at him like he was a monster. That thought made him hesitate.
"Or should I destroy them slowly? I could take everything they have and let them taste the same despair you felt."
If it were him, he would've already destroyed the Baron and his wife without mercy. But if it were her, she probably wouldn't want the downfall of the aunt and uncle who raised her.
He couldn't picture kind Leah seeking revenge. She would just fall into despair and cry, like now.
Eugene slowly stood up. Still, he didn't take his eyes off Leah.
Under the moonlight, she looked so fragile. As if she could break at any moment, making him want to protect her even more—an infinitely small and delicate being.
Then Eugene's gaze shifted to the side. Turning his head slowly, he saw David sleeping peacefully in the other bed with an innocent expression.
He knew how much Leah cherished her younger brother. To Leah, David was her only family, everything she had to protect.
"If you can't do it..."
Eugene's eyes grew cold as ice. His blue eyes momentarily flashed golden before returning to normal.
"I'll protect you both. Maybe... this is how I can repay the debt I owe you."
Eugene whispered, looking at Leah who had saved his life. The thought of protecting these vulnerable siblings who had nothing came to him strongly.
With his resolve firm, Eugene quietly left the attic. Just as silently as he'd entered. The door closed softly, and the attic returned to silence.
*
Eugene returned to his study.
The moment he closed the study door, Hector, who'd been waiting for him, rushed over. Having watched his brother suddenly leave the castle and return, Hector could no longer contain his curiosity.
"Brother, what happened?"
Eugene walked to the window and looked at the night sky as he answered.
"I felt Leah's emotions."
"What?"
Hector's eyes widened in shock. He tried to understand, asking carefully.
"You can feel the young lady's emotions?"
When Eugene nodded silently, Hector let out an incredulous laugh.
"Is it because each other's blood flows in your bodies? That's really strange. How can you feel her emotions?"
"I don't know either."
Eugene's voice dropped low. He slowly turned to face his younger brother.
"But I felt Leah's emotions. Deep despair."
Hector's expression instantly turned serious. The playfulness vanished from his face.
"What happened?"
In response to his brother's question, Eugene explained about the Baron and his wife. That Leah had inherited not a fortune but debt, and that she had to marry Count Montclair. Hector's face gradually hardened.
"Damn! Selling their niece for money... and with lies."
Hector was also angry, curses escaping involuntarily. He clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, trying to control his rage.
"So you're going to pay off the debt and save the young lady?"
"It's not that I haven't thought about it."
Eugene shook his head. The traces of his struggle were clear in his expression.
"But if Leah finds out, she'll think it's strange. There's no connection between us—would she accept it?"
"True. She'd find it suspicious."
Hector nodded in agreement.
"Or she might not even trust you. So what will you do?"
"I need to break the contract between the Baron's family and Montclair."
Eugene's voice held certainty. His eyes gleamed sharply.
"How?"
Hector took a step forward and asked.
"That's why I need your help."
Eugene walked to his desk and sat down. He tapped his fingers on the desk, organizing his thoughts. Then he slowly began to explain his plan. Hector listened intently with a serious expression. Sometimes he nodded, sometimes he asked questions, filling in the gaps in the plan.
Late into the night, two men plotted in the study to save Leah. Moonlight streamed through the windows, illuminating their serious faces, and their whispers dissolved into the night's silence. As time passed, the plan took shape, and the brothers' eyes grew even more determined.
*
A few days later, at a grand evening party in the royal palace.
Nobles gathered beneath brilliant crystal chandeliers. Ladies in gorgeous silk gowns and gentlemen in elegant black tailcoats held wine glasses and chatted. The orchestra's elegant melodies filled the spacious hall.
In the center of it all stood Hector.
Dressed even more splendidly than usual in a silver brocade vest under his black dress coat, he mingled naturally at the heart of high society. Holding a crystal glass filled with rosé wine, he slowly crossed the hall. His eyes keenly scanned his surroundings. Though he appeared relaxed, he was actually searching for specific people.
People who had been harmed by Count Montclair.
According to the information his brother Eugene had gathered, Montclair owed money to many people. He was profiting by not paying on time, using delayed profit distributions from the mine as an excuse.
Just as brother said, that's the first target.
Hector's gaze fixed on a middle-aged man standing in a corner of the hall. Baron Bernhardt. A man who'd lost a tremendous amount of money to Montclair's mining investment fraud. Fatigue and anger were evident on his face.
Hector approached him naturally.
"Baron Bernhardt, good evening."
The middle-aged man turned his head. His face brightened slightly upon recognizing Hector.
"Ah, Marquis Hector. It's been a while."
"Indeed. You don't look well lately. Is something troubling you?"
At Hector's question, Baron Bernhardt's face hardened. He glanced around and lowered his voice.
"Actually... I haven't been able to get back the money I invested."
"An investment? Where did you invest?"
"Count Montclair's mining business."
Hector feigned surprise as if hearing this for the first time.
"Count Montclair? Isn't he known as quite a successful businessman in society?"
"That's just it. He's making money just like the rumors say, but he's not paying us back."
Baron Bernhardt gave a bitter smile. His hand gripped the wine glass tightly.
"The mine is generating substantial revenue, but he keeps delaying with excuses about distribution dates. In fact, the Count doesn't show us the profits, so we can't verify it with our own eyes. It's maddening. Many people have been deceived by him. It's essentially fraud. But everyone's afraid to speak up. There are rumors he's close to the royal family."
"I see..."
Hector pretended to think for a moment, then spoke carefully.
"But Baron, why don't you just ask for your investment back?"
"It's not that simple. The damned contract has a clause about distributing profits when they're generated. The Count claims no profits have been made yet, so he's not giving us our money. But the Count is definitely receiving profits. Yet he just keeps making excuses..."
Anger crept into Baron Bernhardt's voice.
"Baron."
Hector interrupted him. His voice was low but powerful.
"What if everyone in the same situation moved together? Alone, he can keep delaying, but if many people simultaneously demand repayment through legal means? He won't be able to refuse."
Baron Bernhardt's eyes widened. He slowly nodded, understanding Hector's intention.
"Marquis, you make an excellent point. If it's a court order, he can't refuse."
"Let me introduce you to a few people I know. They're all worried about the same thing."
And so, Hector planted the first seed.
*
That night, Hector worked tirelessly.
He sought out nobles who'd been victimized by Montclair one by one. Count Martinez, Baron Schneider, Baron Lorenz... They'd all been deceived by Montclair's fraud, and all were furious. But alone, none dared to rebel.
Hector united them.
"If you all work together, Montclair won't be able to ignore you."
"But if he's close to the royal family..."
"Even the royal family can't disregard the law. If you all file lawsuits in court and simultaneously demand debt repayment, he'll have no choice."
At Hector's words, the nobles' eyes began to change. Hope and determination filled eyes that had been full of resignation and fear.
"And..."
Hector lowered his voice. The nobles moved closer to him.
"This will teach Count Montclair a lesson. That fraud can't be forgiven."
"Exactly!"
"Now is the time. If you don't move together, he'll keep refusing to pay. But if you pressure him legally now..."
"Alright. Let's move together."
"Let's all file lawsuits in court and demand debt repayment at the same time!"
"No matter how much money he has, if he has to repay all his debts at once, he'll have no choice but to go bankrupt!"
Hector smiled with satisfaction. His eyes gleamed coldly.
This is going more smoothly than I thought. Count Montclair, you brought this on yourself.