Chapter 30; The curse of the Azuko family
I couldn't stop grinning like an idiot as I counted down the days until I'd see Jasmine again.
Seriously, it was embarrassing at this point.
Every morning I'd wake up, stare dramatically out the window like some lovesick heroine from a romance novel, and whisper
"Only three more days..."
Then two.
Then one.
I could barely sit still during lessons and ended up ordering an entire stack of new novels for us to gush over while drinking tea together.
.
"What's wrong with her?" Chris muttered from across the hallway, watching me suspiciously as I clutched another package of books to my chest.
"She appears excited about visiting Lady Jasmine," Oliver chuckled calmly, sipping his tea with the elegance of a noble painting
.
"Excited is an understatement," Chris deadpanned. "She nearly tackled a servant for delivering those books."
"That was self-defense," I argued immediately. "What if the corners bent?!"
Chris just stared at me while Oliver laughed quietly into his cup.
As the days passed, the long awaited visit finally arrived. I wore a cute green dress with gold embroidery and tied my hair back with a matching ribbon. The moment the carriage arrived, I practically launched myself inside so fast the poor driver nearly lost his balance.
"Can't wait to read!" I squealed happily, hugging the stack of novels like treasure.
Honestly, if this world had bookstores with membership cards, I'd already be bankrupt.
Meanwhile, at the Draco Estate. A room remained tightly shut. Inside, Prince Felix sat hunched against a velvet sofa, trembling violently. The air itself felt heavy around him. Broken glass littered the floor while deep claw marks scarred the walls.
His crimson eyes glowed unnaturally in the darkness.Outside the room stood Princess Jasmine and the head butler, both pale with worry. The king and queen were nowhere to be seen.
"Will he be alright?" Jasmine whispered shakily.The elderly butler lowered his gaze sadly.
"I pray so. His condition worsens with each episode... the darkness is consuming him faster now."
Jasmine bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.
"To think he still refused to let me cancel Lady Shiori's visit..." she murmured tearfully.
The butler smiled faintly.
"The young master has always had a soft spot for you, milady." He said as Inside the room, another crash echoed.
I arrived at the Draco Estate not long after.
Despite the servants offering help, I insisted on carrying the books myself.
As I reached the entrance, an unfamiliar elderly man opened the door for me.
"Welcome, Lady Shiori," the butler greeted gently.
I smiled politely as he guided me inside.
"I'm afraid Lord Felix is unwell and won't be able to join you and Lady Jasmine today."
"Oh... alright then," I nodded, slightly confused but deciding not to pry. Maybe he caught fantasy noble flu or something.
"You're here?!" Jasmine came rushing down the stairs, her eyes sparkling.
"Yep!" I grinned proudly while lifting the stack of books. "And I brought enough reading material to destroy our sleep schedules."
Jasmine laughed before taking my arm and leading me upstairs. The moment I entered her bedroom, my expectations shattered completely.
Instead of dark gothic elegance filled with cursed prince energy... The room was warm.
Cream colored walls mixed with soft shades of grey. Massive bookshelves lined the room from floor to ceiling, every novel neatly organized by genre and author.
There were reading cushions everywhere.
Candles lit, Blankets folded by the corner of the room, even A tiny tea station.
This wasn't a noble lady's room. This was paradise.
"Oh my gosh..." I gasped dramatically. "Your room is amazing." Jasmine smiled proudly.
"Thank you. Shall we begin?"
"We absolutely shall." We immediately dove into the novels like two fangirls deprived of oxygen.
An hour passed in complete chaos. At one point we were screaming over a confession scene.
At another point Jasmine nearly threw a pillow at me because I spoiled a plot twist by accident.
Eventually though, my bladder reminded me I was still human
"I'll be back," I said while standing. "If I vanish mysteriously, avenge me." I joked as
Jasmine snorted.
"I'll consider it." She smiled
After using the bathroom, I stepped back into the hallway... Only to realize every corridor looked exactly the same.
.
"...Well."
I stared at the identical doors lined across the hallway.
"Where was Jasmine's room again...?"
As I wandered aimlessly, I suddenly heard something slam violently nearby. Then another crash as heavy breathing followed
I froze.
The sound was coming from a nearby room.
I approached cautiously before knocking.
No response.
"Hello?"
Silence.
"...That's definitely not suspicious."
I tried the handle. It was locked
.
I shrugged and turned away—
CRASH.
Something shattered inside. Without thinking, I spun around and kicked the door open.
The sight inside made me freeze. The room was destroyed. Most of the Furniture were overturned. The Windows were shattered, even the Curtains we're ripped apart.
The scent of blood lingered heavily in the air.
And there, in the center of all the chaos,
Felix crouched in the center of the room.
His arms were covered in deep claw marks. Blood stained his fingertips. His silver hair was disheveled and his crimson eyes looked utterly inhuman.
No...
Not inhuman.
Broken.
His gaze locked onto me instantly.
"Sweet..." he growled hoarsely. "...smell..."
My body locked up, the next second he lunged at me.
I barely dodged in time as he slammed into the wall behind me hard enough to crack it.
"What the heck is going on?!"
I kept dodging his attacks while trying to process the situation. At one point his fangs grazed my arm, tearing the sleeve clean open.
Felix suddenly froze. He stared at the ripped fabric before slowly bringing it closer to his face.
"Sweet... smell..." he murmured again.
"...So you're not completely gone," I muttered carefully
My mind raced. I could scream for help...
But if he panicked and escaped into the halls, servants could get hurt.
I stepped backward, trying to make distance but immediately tripped over a fallen curtain.
"Ah—!"
I hit the floor hard, Felix took the opportunity and moved instantly. He pinned me down by my shoulders before sinking his fangs into my neck without restraint. Pain exploded through me
I gasped sharply. He was terrifyingly strong.
His grip hurt as His fangs dug deeper into my skin.
But I noticed some off, His body trembled.
His grip loosened slightly. I blinked in surprise.
...Is he regaining consciousness?
From this close, I could finally see him properly. His lips were torn and bloody, like he'd bitten them repeatedly to stay sane.
His nails were chipped and cracked from clawing at the walls.
And his eyes.... They looked exhausted.
Hopeless. Like someone who'd already given up. My chest tightened painfully.
He's been suffering alone in this room the entire time...
At first I thought he was becoming some kind of Phantom. But now... I don't believe that was the case,
He just looked lost.
Just like—
Flashback
"I don't want to do this anymore..." Sanemi whispered brokenly, his eyes red from crying.
I pulled him closer immediately.
"It's okay," I whispered softly while stroking his hair. "I'm here."
Flashback ends
Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around Felix gently. His entire body immediately stiffened.
Then I slowly lifted one hand and stroked his hair softly
"It's alright now," I whispered with a small smile. "I'm here." He flinched like he wasn't used to being touched kindly. That alone nearly shattered my heart.
He wasn't a monster.Just another person drowning alone.
Felix slowly leaned into my touch before his body finally gave out completely. He collapsed against me unconscious.
"...Did he seriously fall asleep?"bRunning footsteps echoed down the hallway.
I looked up to see Jasmine, the butler, and a noble couple standing frozen outside the ruined doorway.
Their expressions turned pale instantly.
Felix POV
Being the firstborn son of the Draco family, my life was once perfect. The Servants admired me. My parents adored me. The kingdom praised me as the future heir.
I possessed everything people envied.
Power.
Status.
Beauty.
Then I turned five years old And everything was taken away.The first episode came suddenly. Pain unlike anything imaginable tore through my body while madness consumed my thoughts piece by piece.
My family called it a curse. Others called it divine punishment. But no matter the name, the result remained the same. I became a monster people feared.
During every episode, I lost myself completely. Blood, Hunger, Violence.
The urge to tear flesh apart with my own hands.
My family hid me away while desperately searching for a cure. Soon Servants began avoiding me. Nobles whispered behind closed doors. Even my parents slowly stopped looking me in the eye. Only Jasmine stayed.
Even as a child, she never feared me.
She became my entire world. But because of me, she too became isolated. Rumors spread throughout the kingdom.
The cursed prince. The tainted bloodline.
The beast hidden within the Draco Estate.
And eventually I realized something.
No matter how hard I tried... I would always end up alone.
"It's alright now, I'm here."
A soft voice interrupted my thoughts.
Warm fingers brushed gently through my hair. My mind blanked.
No one...No one had ever touched me like that before. Not even my own mother.
It felt warm and Safe.
...Nice.
Then darkness took me.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back in my room. Bandages wrapped around my arms. I was dress in Fresh clothes. I felt No pain.
I sat up immediately in shock.
"What...?"
My attendant nearly burst into tears.
"Master Felix! Are you alright?!"
"The pain..." I muttered in disbelief. "It's gone."
Then suddenly—
"Lady Shiori." I immediately stood.
"Where is she?!" I demanded
"She's resting in the guest room—"
Before he could finish, I was already out the door. I slammed the guest room open.
Only to freeze.
Lady Shiori sat comfortably on the bed eating pancakes. Like yesterday hadn't happened.
She looked up casually.
"Oh. Good morning."
I stared at her for a moment, then bowed deeply.
"I'm truly sorry."
"It's fine really," she said easily while chewing another bite. "I'm just glad you're alright now."
My eyes drifted unconsciously toward her neck.The bite marks had already faded, leaving only faint red traces behind.
She noticed me staring. Then immediately covered the marks dramatically.
"Sir, are you trying to flirt after attempted murder? Because your timing is terrible."
I nearly choked.
She burst out laughing. And for the first time in years...
The room didn't feel suffocating.