Whispers of a Scheming Demon - Chapter 138

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈

Chapter 138: Engagement (2)

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A red ring gleamed ominously on Serena’s pale finger.

The gemstone was as scarlet as human blood, filling anyone who saw it with a strange unease.

A rare object received from a demon. It could not possibly be an ordinary ring.

It surely contained some wicked magic.

At least, that was what Serena thought.

She looked at the ring with a despairing expression.

Her eyes were full of unease and fear.

“...Shackles.”

Mapheltan let out a faint, incredulous laugh at her murmur.

“It’s an ordinary engagement ring. You may not believe it, but it is.”

In truth, the ring was merely an accessory. A slightly, no, an extremely expensive luxury item.

There was not a single magical mechanism hidden within it.

Of course, Serena could not believe that.

She swiftly pulled the ring from her finger.

“T-Take it back! This thing!”

Just as she was about to throw it to the floor, Serena’s hand stopped abruptly in midair.

She had heard a voice so chilling that it froze her entire body.

“Do not act rashly.”

Red pupils stared intently at Serena.

Her gaze wavered.

Holding the ring aloft, Serena went stiff.

She could not bring herself to throw it away.

She felt that something terrible would happen if she did.

She knew it instinctively.

“W-Why me...?”

Mapheltan calmly cut her off.

“I will have Marcano’s gold and your Mind-Piercing Eye. This engagement is the process by which I will achieve that result. If you refuse this engagement, I will simply use another method to achieve the same result. You are an intelligent woman, so you understand what I mean.”

The moment you reject this engagement, I will consume you and your family in a far more dreadful manner.

That was what Mapheltan’s words sounded like to Serena.

She stared at him with trembling eyes, then lowered her head.

She could no longer meet those red eyes.

Sob... Hic.

A quiet sob echoed through the room.

Serena’s sadness, grief, and despair gave Mapheltan a powerful stimulus.

Human negative emotions were becoming a delicacy for demons.

A faint satisfaction spread across Mapheltan’s face.

His red eyes flashed.

An unfamiliar pleasure ran through his veins and spread across his body.

It was a foreign kind of pleasure.

It was distinctly different from the joy he had felt until now.

‘Sadness has another flavor.’

All human negative emotions gave demons great satisfaction.

Fear provided overwhelming joy, while sadness offered a quiet pleasure.

Mapheltan was familiar with the taste of fear.

The taste of sadness, on the other hand, was unfamiliar.

If he had to choose between them...

Mapheltan quickly shook his head.

‘No. What am I thinking?’

If he became any more absorbed in it, he felt as though he might awaken to a new stimulus.

He immediately dragged his nails across his chest.

Black blood trickled out.

His reason returned.

Mapheltan caught his breath and spoke.

“Serena, the choice is entirely yours. I will give you one last chance. Decide on the engagement by tomorrow morning.”

He turned and left the drawing room.

Quiet sobs echoed in the drawing room where Serena had been left alone, lasting through the night.

* * *

“Oh, how pitiful. Marrying a demon. What a fate for Lady Marcano.”

In the Archmage’s workshop, Lumina muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear.

Ilea, who was studying the mirror-shaped Ominous Book with her, let out a deep sigh.

“Lady Lumina, please focus on your research instead of mocking her.”

Lumina played innocent.

“Oh? So you heard me after all? But Ilea, doesn’t it bother you? Your own ‘Sir Johan’ and ‘Lord Mapheltan’ are getting married.”

Ilea did not like Serena.

No, Ilea disliked the fact that Johan was getting married.

She spoke evenly.

“It cannot be helped. It is all necessary for Mapheltan.”

Lumina pouted.

“How boring. This is when you should make a scene. That would be fun to watch.”

In truth, Ilea wanted to ruin this engagement immediately.

Whenever she heard the word engagement, her possessiveness toward Johan was stirred.

But she concealed her wishes.

She quietly respected Johan’s decision.

She did not want to trouble him over something pointless.

Johan was already far too busy with other matters.

Besides, this engagement was only a formality.

There were no feelings between Johan and Serena.

Thinking rationally, Ilea had no need to be wary of Serena.

She decided to get along with her.

In fact, Mapheltan had asked her to do so.

Ilea said to Lumina,

“I’m sorry, but nothing you’re hoping for will happen. I’ve decided to respect Mapheltan’s wishes.”

Lumina abruptly turned back to focus on her research.

Mapheltan, who had been leaning against the wall, spoke.

“Ilea, I am always grateful to you.”

Ilea smiled gently.

“It is nothing. More importantly, there is something I am curious about.”

“What is it?”

“If, just if, Lady Marcano refuses the engagement, what do you intend to do?”

Mapheltan needed Marcano’s wealth and the power of the Mind-Piercing Eye.

No matter what method he used, he would have to obtain both.

He stared at the ceiling and spoke.

“That will not happen. Serena is an intelligent woman.”

The moment she rejected the engagement, Mapheltan and Serena would become enemies.

The victor in their conflict had already been decided.

House Marcano could never defeat Johan and Mapheltan.

Serena knew that well.

Through the Mind-Piercing Eye, she had seen every weapon Johan possessed.

Serena accepting the engagement was already a foregone conclusion.

Ilea spoke.

“That is why I said if. Answer for fun. What is your plan if that woman rejects the proposal?”

Mapheltan always kept a second-best option in mind.

This time was no exception.

He had considered what to do if things went wrong.

Mapheltan spoke calmly.

“...Well, some blood would have to be shed.”

Ilea considered his words for a moment, then smiled with her eyes.

“You will need my power. Please tell me whenever you need it.”

Lumina turned and glanced at Ilea.

There was an inexplicable cruelty mixed into Ilea’s smile.

Lumina found it somewhat chilling.

She murmured softly.

“Just what you would expect from a Witch. Scary, scary.”

Mapheltan nodded.

“I will ask if I need you. Though there should be little reason for you to step in.”

Ilea smiled softly, then returned to her research.

Mapheltan fell into thought again.

‘Serena, accept my proposal. Please.’

He did not want to ruin an innocent human.

* * *

Morning came.

At the appointed time, Johan entered the drawing room again.

Serena sat in a chair with her eyes closed.

Her demeanor was very calm.

Even the air around her had settled into stillness.

Sensing his presence, Serena slowly opened her eyes.

“You have arrived, Sir Johan.”

Mapheltan was gone, and Johan had taken his place.

Just as Johan had said, he truly became human during the day.

“Lady Marcano, did you have a restful night?”

He met Serena’s eyes.

The fear had completely vanished from her gaze.

No, her expression lacked emotion itself.

Serena seemed somehow detached.

She spoke calmly.

“Thanks to you, I spent a long night awake. I couldn’t sleep, so my eyes keep closing.”

Johan nodded.

“Since you are tired, I will get straight to the point. Will you accept my proposal?”

Serena slowly placed her hand on the table.

A red ring was on her ring finger.

She spoke in a dry voice.

“Is that answer enough?”

She had accepted.

Johan looked pleased.

“A good choice, Lady Marcano. As expected, you are a wise woman.”

He was quite pleased.

Without suffering any loss, he had achieved the best possible outcome.

Serena spoke.

“In return, may I ask a few things of you?”

Johan gave an amiable smile.

“Please ask for anything.”

He was feeling quite generous at the moment.

He intended to accommodate most requests.

Serena said,

“First, I want to give Serin, my older sister, her freedom. Is that possible?”

Serin had spent her entire life trapped within the mirror.

She could not leave it.

If anyone could change her circumstances, it might be Johan.

After all, he was acquainted with an Archmage.

Johan immediately answered.

“Very well. The moment you overcome the side effects of the Mind-Piercing Eye, Serin will be free as well.”

For now, Serin still had to remain in the world within the mirror.

She was bearing the side effects of the Mind-Piercing Eye in Serena’s place.

If she were not in the world within the mirror, Serin would die from those side effects.

No one wanted such an ending.

Serena spoke in a subdued voice.

“Swear it.”

Johan slightly lowered his head.

“I will make a covenant upon my life.”

Serena nodded, then spoke again.

“My next request.”

“Please, speak freely.”

“Allow me to use the Mind-Piercing Eye one last time.”

“Do you intend to confirm my true feelings about the oath I just made?”

All promises made by demons were nothing but illusions.

Everything they said was deceit.

Serena spoke evenly.

“That is one reason, but there is something else I want to confirm.”

“What is it? Let us hear it first.”

“My fate and my family’s fate. If you intend to ruin us, then I believe I must prepare myself as well.”

Johan fell into thought for a moment.

Only after quite some time did he speak.

“Remember this. This is the last time you may use the Mind-Piercing Eye on me.”

Serena nodded.

“Very well. Then I will ask. Sir Johan, in your ultimate goal, what will happen to me, Serin, my family, and my father? We will likely be ruined and fall into misery.”

Johan stared at Serena without answering.

His true feelings surged into Serena’s mind.

Her eyebrows twitched.

As time passed, her expression changed from moment to moment.

Disbelief, confusion, bewilderment. Countless emotions swept over her, until Serena finally went blank with shock.

Johan spoke.

“I hope my intentions have been conveyed clearly.”

He wanted one clear thing.

He wished for everyone’s peace and happiness.

Serena had confirmed those true feelings.

Everyone who stands beside me will be happy. Serena, Serin. The same goes for you two.

Those words lingered in Serena’s mind.