Chapter 25: Rosetta

“Where am I being taken?”  

Inside the carriage, a black-haired woman with cat-like eyes asked the man sitting across from her in a trembling voice.  

Rexton, who had been staring straight ahead, turned his gaze to the woman. Despite wearing old and worn-out clothes, the tall and slender woman stood out. Her pale face contrasted with her shiny, long black hair, which only emphasized her delicate beauty. Her jet-black eyes sparkled like stars.  

However, despite her appearance, Rexton felt no particular emotion. He responded in a dry tone.  

“Don’t worry. We’re taking you to show your injuries to a priest.”  

“Oh.”  

The woman, clasping her hands together, kept glancing around nervously. She seemed flustered by the sudden events but didn’t appear particularly frightened. Her hand bore clear marks from being clawed by a lizard beastman.  

“Um, Lord Rexton.”  

“Yes, go ahead.”  

“Am I being taken to the person who saved me?”  

“I cannot tell you anything. My superior will explain.”  

“…I see.”  

Last night, Rosetta had been too out of her mind to process anything while being chased by human-like lizards. She had been fleeing from a cruel slave trader when she accidentally ran into some illegal beastman immigrants.  

And the moment she entered the square, Lord Rexton and a man called the Duke appeared, and she fainted on the spot.  

She had many questions she wanted to ask. But the man sitting across from her, Lord Rexton, was so taciturn that it only added to her frustration.  

Rosetta gave up asking and turned her gaze to the carriage window. Her eyes widened further at the grandeur of the mansion they were approaching.  

“Oh my. It’s so magnificent.”  

Her admiration continued even after she stepped out of the carriage. The Viscount of Rexton’s residence, where she had stayed the previous night, had been luxurious, but this mansion was like a massive castle.  

Living in a place like this must feel like being a princess.  

Filled with anticipation, Rosetta eagerly followed Rexton. She craned her neck to look up at the ornate chandeliers in the hallway, which she was seeing for the first time. But when they arrived in front of the study, she looked down at the floor and gasped.  

“Excuse me, do you keep animals here?”  

“What?”  

Rexton, who had been silent until then, opened his mouth in response to Rosetta’s question. He followed her gaze to the floor. On the marble floor in front of the study lay a few strands of grayish fur.  

The butler had supposedly cleaned thoroughly, but a few strands must have been left behind.  

The woman’s sharp eyes were impressive. Rexton feigned ignorance and replied, 

“No. It must have blown in from wild animals outside.”  

“I see. I thought maybe you kept animals here…”  

“Are you afraid of animals?”  

“No, I just don’t like them. I also have allergies.”  

“Ah, I see.”  

Ah, I see? Couldn’t he at least show some concern? A faint crease appeared between Rosetta’s delicate brows.  

Contrary to her feelings, Rexton firmly closed his lips and silently opened the door to the study.  

Suppressing her unease, Rosetta stepped into the open study. Seeing the two men inside, she bowed politely.  

“Hello, I’m Rosetta.”  

“Greetings.”  

The first to respond was a man wearing a black mask. Then, a man with sleek, gray-tinged black hair acknowledged her.  

“Greetings. I am Duke Xavier Auguste.”  

So this was the Duke’s residence.  

His clear, jewel-like teal eyes met hers. The inhuman quality of those eyes sent a chill down Rosetta’s spine and filled her with an inexplicable sense of discomfort.  

But as a commoner, she couldn’t afford to show her displeasure in front of a Duke. Fortunately, the masked man spoke kindly to her.  

“I heard from Duke Xavier about the circumstances. You were being chased by beastmen?”  

“Yes. It was terrifying.”  

“It’s fortunate that I, a priest, happened to be here. I’ll treat your injuries—if that’s alright with you?”  

“Oh, thank you.”  

The priest carefully took Rosetta’s hesitant hand. His fingers were as delicate as slender twigs.  

As golden holy power flowed into her body, she felt warmth and comfort, and her tense expression softened. She had lived a miserable, frustrating life—beaten by a cruel employer and nearly sold to a slave trader. It had been so long since she had been treated with any kindness.  

“How is she?”  

At Xavier’s question, the priest shook his head slightly, then smiled and spoke to Rosetta.  

“Other than minor scratches, there’s nothing wrong. Don’t worry, Miss Rosetta. A few days of rest, and you’ll be fine.”  

“Yes, thank you.”  

Rosetta smiled softly and replied to the priest. Then, blinking her star-like black eyes, she asked, 

“Are you the one who saved me? I fainted, so I’m not sure.”  

“Oh, no.”  

At his response, Rosetta’s gaze naturally shifted to the Duke.  

She didn’t like this handsome but cold man. But if he was her savior, that was a different story. Besides, wasn’t he the owner of this enormous and luxurious mansion?  

“Could it be you, Your Grace…?”  

“I was merely asked to save you. The same goes for Rexton.”  

“Asked? By whom?”  

“Someone.”  

“May I know their name?”  

Xavier hesitated. Based on Melvin’s observations, this woman was not the Saintess.  

Yuria Graham was undoubtedly the Saintess. But why didn’t she know she was the Saintess and instead asked him to save this woman, calling her the Saintess?  

The oracle Yuria received had been accurate. She knew the timing and location, information even Melvin didn’t know. The only thing that had changed was the subject. Well, Melvin had mentioned that the Saintess was chosen indiscriminately.  

‘Perhaps she doesn’t know.’  

For some reason, Xavier didn’t want to reveal Yuria Graham’s name to the black-haired woman sitting before him.  

“There’s no need to—”  

“Lady Yuria Graham of the Baron Graham family asked us to save you.” 

Melvin interjected.  

“The Baron’s daughter?”  

Rosetta clasped her hands together, her eyes welling with tears of gratitude.  

“She requested we take care of Miss Rosetta’s safety. Isn’t that right, Duke Xavier?”  

“……”  

Xavier glared at Melvin with an intimidating gaze, but the priest was unfazed.  

“Miss Rosetta’s accommodations will be arranged at the temple, so don’t worry.”  

“What? Really? Thank you so much.”  

Rosetta was purely delighted that she wouldn’t have to return to her previous miserable life. She liked this mansion, but she had heard that temples were also incredibly beautiful.  

“But I’d like to thank this Lady Yuria Graham in person.”  

“Ah.”  

Melvin glanced at Xavier, who sighed as if giving up.  

“I’ll take you to the temple to meet her next time.”  

“Thank you!”  

The girl expressed her joy with her whole body, tears glistening in her eyes.  

Her beauty was undeniable, but that was as far as it went. The two distinguished men showed no further interest in her. Feeling slightly dejected, Rosetta bowed and left the study.  

‘I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like me before.’  

Outside the study, the ever-cold Rexton was waiting.  

‘Ugh, it’s freezing both inside and out. Poor Rosetta.’  

Rosetta hugged herself with both arms as she stood beside Rexton. Surprisingly, Rexton spoke first.  

“If you’re done, please follow them.”  

“Pardon?”  

Rexton gestured toward a group of women who appeared to be maids, lined up as if waiting to escort her.  

“There are orders to take special care of you. A bath has been prepared. Follow them.”  

“What? Really?”  

Of course, that was Melvin’s request. Overjoyed, Rosetta followed the maids down the hallway.  

As soon as Rosetta left the study, Xavier asked Melvin with a low voice,

 “Why did you do that?”  

“Do what?”  

Melvin removed the black mask from his face with a clattering sound and placed it on the table. His youthful, papal features were revealed. Pulling out a handkerchief, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at Xavier indifferently.  

“You told her that Lady Yuria Graham asked us to save her?”  

“Why not? It’s the truth.”  

Though he answered with a smile, Melvin thought it would be better to keep Rosetta and Xavier apart, even for a short while. Something about her resemblance to the mysterious woman he had seen in his visions gave him an ominous feeling.  

“Your honesty is going to cause problems.”  

“Then why ask if you already know?”  

“Thanks, anyway.”  

“For now, I’ll take care of Miss Rosetta. Don’t concern yourself.”  

Melvin then gave Xavier a sly look.  

Xavier, noticing the mischievous glint in Melvin’s eyes, stared at him with a questioning expression. Melvin chuckled.  

“It’s time for you to get married, Xavier.”  

“……”  

“You said you were kissed as a cat and turned back into a human? And you saw the Saintess’s star?”  

“I caught a glimpse of it as a cat.”  

At first, he thought it was a dream. Memories from his time as a cat always felt dreamlike.  

But the golden star shining brilliantly on Yuria Graham’s back—how could he forget such a breathtaking sight?  

And then her lips as they approached him.  

‘Sweet.’  

No, why was he thinking about this again?  

While Xavier wrestled with his inner turmoil, Melvin continued speaking.  

“Propose to her before the Crown Prince figures it out. She’s the real one.”  

“Are you certain?”  

“Of course. Sharing enough holy power with a single kiss to last three days? That’s extraordinary.”  

“Yuria Graham…”  

“She’s the Saintess, without a doubt. I swear it on my name and to the gods.”  

Xavier closed his eyes tightly.  

For 23 years, he had endured countless hardships while transforming into a beast. Even when holy power allowed him to become human, he suffered nightly from the violent curse that felt as if his limbs were being torn apart. He had lived gritting his teeth, suppressing his screams, afraid someone might find out.  

But the night he received Yuria Graham’s kiss, the pain subsided, and he was able to sleep peacefully. It was an irresistible temptation for him.  

“Convince the Saintess to marry you.”  

“I’ll handle it myself.”  

The Auguste family had borne the duty of fighting the Beast Kingdom for generations. Since one of their ancestors had stepped foot in Moirai’s Forbidden Land, their descendants had been cursed just like the beastmen. Only four of Xavier’s closest confidants—Rexton, Jude, Albert, and Melvin—knew this secret within the Empire.  

The only difference between the Auguste bloodline and Moirai’s royal family was that the Augustes couldn’t freely shift between human, beast, or battle mode with immense power. Without the aid of holy power, they were nothing more than pitiful beasts.  

His father, like their ancestors, had relied solely on the holy power secretly provided by the temple and passed away young, leaving Xavier as the sole direct descendant of the Auguste bloodline.

He had resolved to end the Auguste lineage in his generation.