<Chapter 56>

‘Could it be related to the increase in scales…?’

Temenos felt a sudden surge of fear.

What if this cycle got even shorter? Not a year, but six months… three months… two months… If it keeps shrinking like that…

‘No. Maybe it’s just my body acting up. I might be imagining things.’

He swallowed a sleeping pill and forced himself to lie down on the sofa, attempting to sleep.

But by the next morning, contrary to his hopes, the unsettling nausea hadn’t gone away. In fact, it had grown worse.

Eventually, Temenos had no choice but to hastily leave Winstein Castle.

“David, I’ll be away for a few days. Please come up with a good excuse for Inosensia.”

“Pardon? So suddenly…? Wouldn’t it be better to tell Madam directly?”

If that were an option, he’d have done so already.

But…

—You’re leaving for several days? Why?

How could he possibly answer if Inosensia asked him that?

‘I mean… because I’m a monster… and I lose my sanity every two years and go berserk?’

When he was young, he hadn’t even understood what it was. Temenos had only discovered the truth behind this phenomenon five years ago, during the last hatching season.

On the northern frontier of the empire, atop the wall at the border where the monsters were driven out.

Standing at that very spot once again, Temenos took a deep breath.

The turbulent energy surging within couldn’t be suppressed. But he could shift it to his left hand. From there, he simply surrendered to his instincts with his eyes closed.

And when he came to his senses…

The seething force inside him would be gone. His left hand, which had transformed into something resembling an animal’s paw with elongated claws, would revert to normal.

Now stained with crimson blood.

Looking down at his left hand, identical to how it appeared five years ago—only slightly larger—Temenos thought to himself:  

‘Well, this should make this year’s hatching season a bit easier.’

Wiping the blood off his hand, Temenos surveyed the surroundings.

There were no monster corpses. Upon death, their bodies dissipated like mist.

But the blood remained, along with its putrid stench, evidence that his rampage had lasted more than a brief moment.

A day, maybe two… or perhaps three?

Temenos stared blankly at the full moon rising in the eastern sky.

As he gazed at the bright, round moon, clarity struck him.

“Come back here after the wedding, when the full moon rises.”

“All right. I’ll come back when the full moon rises.”

‘I made a promise.’

He’d already left Inosensia to sleep alone through far too many nights.

“I can’t sleep at night, I can’t eat properly, and just thinking about him makes me cry out of nowhere…”

‘She wouldn’t be crying again, would she?’

Using the claws on his left hand, Temenos scaled the wall in an instant and sprinted down the mountain path.

Even in summer, the northern border was cold enough to still show patches of snow. Naturally, the water was frozen too.

But he ignored all of that. Stripping off his clothes, he plunged into the icy water to cleanse himself before rushing toward the duchy.

By the time he arrived at the confessional, the surroundings were already pitch dark, and the full moon hung high above.

‘She must have left by now.’

It was late, and the odds were high. Yet, whether by fortune or misfortune, Ferry stood outside the confessional.

“Ferry, is my wife, Inosensia, inside?”

The white hamster Ferry had been playing with scurried up his arm, and he nodded.

‘Where does he even get these rodents?’ Temenos wondered, exhaling a mix of relief and exasperation.

“Keep it a secret that I was here.”

Ferry tilted his head quizzically, as though he understood, and Temenos reassured himself that Ferry, being mute, wouldn’t say a word. He pushed open the confessional door and took a seat.

Listening closely, he caught the sound of Inosensia’s breathing from the other side of the wooden screen. He spoke softly, “Have you been waiting long?”

The moment the words left his lips, he realized his mistake—he hadn’t disguised his voice.

“Well, at least you’re aware you’re late?”

Despite the sharpness in her tone, Inosensia didn’t seem to recognize the man on the other side of the screen. Temenos felt a wave of relief but also a sting of disappointment that his wife didn’t recognize his voice.

He couldn’t just blurt out, “It’s me, your husband,” so he quickly changed his tone and apologized properly.

“My apologies. Something urgent came up.”

“Hmm… But why does your tone sound like that? Aren’t you a knight escort? The wedding’s over. I’m the duchess now, you know?”

The haughty tone she used to declare herself the duchess shouldn’t have sounded so charming, yet it did.

Temenos rubbed the back of his neck and apologized again: “I’ll correct myself, Duchess.”

“Good. Then I’ll speak casually. Is that okay?”

“Of course. Please, feel free.”

As he readily agreed, a soft laugh came from the other side of the screen. Just that tiny sound made him feel like he could breathe a little easier.

“What kept you so late today? You should’ve rushed over as soon as you saw the full moon in the sky. You know the retired knights who came back thanks to me are training really hard, right? Do you want to join them too?”

“My apologies. I was carrying out tasks assigned by His Grace.”

“What kind of tasks? He didn’t even show his face to me. Did he grant you an audience?”

“…No, he sent his orders in writing.”

“Must be nice. I haven’t even gotten a single letter from him.”

For a moment, Temenos froze.

He forgot to breathe, staring at the wooden screen with only his eyes moving. His left ear twitched instinctively, picking up even the faintest sounds—fingers brushing against fabric, a sigh escaping her lips, hair brushing against clothing…

There were no sounds of her wiping away tears or sniffling. But Temenos didn’t relax.

“You’ve heard the rumors, haven’t you?”

“…What rumors?”

“What else? That my husband ran out of the marital bedroom on our wedding night and hasn’t set foot in it since.”

*  *  *

“That’s a rumor now?”

Not really. If it had spread, he’d be too ashamed to show his face in public.

‘You’re saying that for me to hear, aren’t you?’

Inosensia gave a short huff, swinging her legs idly on the chair.

‘So, has he gone berserk or not? Is he stable or unstable?’

Part of her wanted to storm into the confessional and crash her lips against his, but she relished this rare chance to use casual speech while he remained formal.

‘Still, judging by how he’s responding normally, he seems fine. So, was his absence just an excuse? Did he avoid me on purpose?’

‘That’s infuriating in its own way.’

Glaring at the wooden screen where Temenos sat, she spoke again, “By the way, did you complete the task I gave you?”

“Task?”

“Your penance. I told you to tell the wife who fell in love with you at first sight that you have feelings for her, even though you don’t.”

“……That—”

“Don’t lie. I’ll know.”

How would she know?

Because that wife is me, you idiot!

‘Haah, I can’t even say that.’

When no response came from the other side, Inosensia narrowed her eyes and continued, “At least you sleep in the same bedroom as your wife, right?”

From the other side of the screen came the sound of frantic coughing.

“What kind of question is that?”

“Just curious. I wanted to know if my situation is normal.”

“……”

“You don’t, do you? That’s not right. Even if you don’t love her, you should at least give her your body.”

More coughing followed, and she sighed.

‘So bashful… can he even handle a proper wedding night later?’

I mean, does he even know how? The only one who could’ve taught him is David, and I’m not sure I can really trust that mustache.

“…I’m still not… ready to give her my heart… but I should at least give her my body?”

“Of course. Ever heard of physical affection?”

“…I-I have.”

He has? Well, that’s unexpected.
 

<To be continued>

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