"What are you doing?"
The woman's voice came from behind him, accompanied by measured and threatening footsteps.
His heart immediately pounded, but Daeho tried to remain calm. He didn't move at all, still sitting in the chair, his mind racing.
A reckless move will kill me.
From a small mirror nearby, he saw the reflection of the woman from the previous night. But now, her appearance was completely different. Her hair was neatly cascading, shimmering in the sunlight, and her dress was clean and elegant. Her face was graceful, feeling different from the drunk woman last night.
Calmly, Daeho rose from his chair and slowly turned around. He looked into the woman's red eyes, trying to read the situation.
I must be polite. Bow. Don't show resistance.
"Sorry, Ma'am," he said while bowing deeply, his voice trying to be stable. "I... was just reading a book."
In his heart, he wondered: Is this the right response? Should I not have touched these books?
However, the woman's response was beyond his expectations.
"Thank goodness you're awake," she said in a soft voice, without a trace of anger or suspicion. She walked to a small table in the corner of the room, pouring water into a crystal glass.
Daeho could only stand still, watching her every move. The woman approached him again, offering the glass of water. His hand trembled as he took it. His panic was so great that he almost forgot how thirsty he was.
He stared at the water in the glass, doubt nagging at his mind. Is this safe? What if it's poisoned?
But his thirst was unbearable. With a bit of hesitation, he gulped down the contents of the glass. The water flowed past his dry throat, feeling so fresh and soothing. For a moment, he could forget all his fears.
He panted after finishing his drink, the thirst that had been gnawing at his throat was finally quenched. However, the tension hadn't completely disappeared. The woman just silently watched him, with an expression that was hard to read—not angry, but not friendly either. A silence that made him even more nervous.
Should I speak? Staying silent for too long is suspicious. Yes, I must start a conversation. Ask the most basic question.
With a voice that was still hoarse but trying to be controlled, Daeho finally broke the silence. "Ma'am... thank you for the water," he said, trying to start the conversation politely before asking the big question.
"Please forgive me, but... may I know, why am I here? My memory... is a bit messy."
He pretended to be an amnesia victim, his gaze full of well-acted confusion.
The woman didn't rush to answer. She observed Daeho for a moment before finally speaking in a flat voice, "I bought you."
"B-Bought?" Daeho choked, his eyes wide. From human trafficking? His heart beat fast.
"You looked utterly pathetic among the other slaves," the woman explained, her tone still steady, as if telling a normal story. "You were just lying there limp, with a dirty bandage wrapped around your head. I thought you were already a corpse when I first saw you. Turns out, you were still breathing."
Then, her gaze traced the bandage on his head.
"So, what about your head? What kind of injury did you suffer that was so severe?" she asked, and there was a subtle pressure in her voice. "Was it because of... Veridia?"
Veridia. The name hit him like a club. She knows. She knows the Ravencrest Clan is hunted by the Kingdom of Veridia. So, it's all true.
His head throbbed, panic intensifying. I can't tell the truth!
"I-I really don't remember," mumbled Daeho, bowing his head and fully playing the role of an amnesia victim. His voice trembled with despair. "The only thing I remember... is that I was already lying here when I opened my eyes. Everything... was dark."
The woman was silent for a moment, observing him carefully. The air in the room felt heavy.
"I understand."
Those two words felt so profound and meaningful, hanging in the air between them. Daeho couldn't read what was really behind the woman's gaze.
Then, with an alarming calmness, the woman asked the question:
"So, you are indeed a Ravencrest?"
I'm finished. This is it. Daeho's heart beat like a war drum. His mind spun wildly. What should I answer? Deny it? But if she already knows, lying now would just make me suspicious. Is there a specific physical trait that gave me away? My white hair? Or maybe something else I don't know about?
All options felt like traps. Yet, instinct whispered to him that for this question, honesty might be the only shield left. Admitting his clan identity didn't mean admitting everything.
With bated breath and a voice trying not to tremble, Daeho—who now had to fully become Asta—nodded slowly. "Yes," he admitted, ready to face the consequences of that confession.
However, the consequence that came was beyond his expectation.
The woman let out a soft sigh, and her expression, which was initially hard to read, now melted into something almost resembling... pity?
"Relax. You are safe with me now," she said, her voice softer. "Let me introduce myself, my name is Aurora."
Aurora? A beautiful name, but who is she really? "Alright, Lady Aurora," Asta replied, remaining cautious.
Aurora rose from her seat. Asta thought the woman would approach him, but instead she walked towards the table where the books were scattered. Her slender fingers touched the cover of the book Asta had just been reading.
"So," she said without turning, her voice suddenly turning very serious. "Do you know the real reason why your clan is hunted and purged?"
"I- I..." Asta's voice choked, not knowing what to answer.
Aurora didn't wait for his answer. She opened the book and looked at its pages with a scornful gaze. "What is written here is a lie. The official version of the Kingdom," she snapped, and now there was a fire of anger in her eyes. "The truth is, the Ravencrest Clan and clans like yours are actually Demon Hunters."
Asta froze in silence.
"Those who sit on the throne of the Kingdom of Veridia now are not human," Aurora hissed, bringing her face closer, her voice low and full of intensity. "They are Demons in disguise. They fear you, the Demon Hunters who could threaten their power. Ever since King Freyra ascended the throne, the heroes once revered have been slandered, attacked, and slaughtered. The purge continues to this day."
She looked Asta up and down, with a sense of admiration and wonder. "I am very impressed you survived. There must be another Ravencrest who protected you. Where is he?"
Cornered by the shocking truth and Aurora's piercing gaze, he couldn't lie.
"My father..." his voice trembled, filled with deep shame and betrayal. "He... he was the one who sold me."
Aurora nodded slowly, as if she had suspected. "Enough," she said, cutting him off firmly. "You look tired. Forget it for now." Her voice became flat and authoritative again, as if his heartfelt confession was nothing more than a mere confirmation for her.
She turned, looking at Asta with a sharp and undeniable gaze. "Remember this well. From now on, you are mine. You must obey every command and rule I give, unconditionally and without exception. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Ma'am," Asta replied while bowing, trying to hide the tremor of fear in his voice. She is truly terrifying, his mind roared.
Aurora said no more. She walked slowly towards the stained-glass window that displayed the expanse of dense forest outside. "And... one more thing," she said without turning, her voice almost a whisper. "Don't ever try to escape."
Asta followed her gaze downward, to the vast grounds surrounding the mansion. The view seemed calm and peaceful.
Just then, a small, innocent bird perched on a stone at the edge of the terrace, chirping cheerfully.
Zzztwip!
An arrow shot out so quickly from somewhere behind the trees, piercing the bird's body precisely. The bird was flung back, then fell motionless, leaving only a smear of red on the stone.
Asta's eyes widened.