Dark Fantasy Normalized

9 – Fiancée

[She was a small, white bird-like girl]

[She seemed to provoke a man’s protective instincts and even his desire to possess her-]

[Her skin was extremely pale]

[Paler than a pure white dress]

[Paler than pure white hair]

[Skin that would normally give an impression of pallor]

[But the girl’s skin gave an impression of pure innocence]

[How clear those blue eyes were]

[As if a slight touch would cause the blue within them to bead and fall]

[Truly bewitching]

[Paradoxically, she was extremely harmless and precarious, thus having a tremendous impact on others]

[I quietly gazed into the girl’s eyes]

[Those clear eyes were trembling with depth]

[“Don’t you recognize me?”]

[I felt a fierce impulse]

[I wanted to soothe the girl immediately]

[I wanted to caress her innocent face with my hands]

[And if possible, I wanted to thoroughly dye this girl in my own colors]

[Dare I]

[Dare I covet this girl]

[But that was an excessive desire not permitted to me]

[She was someone I dared not even dream of possessing]

[So, I can only yearn]

[For their love]

[…For the master’s attention]

*

I am not some kind of parasitic fungus clinging to Lysir’s ego.

I am merely a kind of mutation, born from the fantasy world’s character becoming aware of their modern self.

There may be sudden changes in personality, emotions, and values, but memories do not alter.

…So, may I ask, who exactly are you?

“Lysir. I’ve missed you so much. It’s me, Pien. I’ve been counting the days until I could see you again.”

I will never let go again.

The girl murmured with a determined voice, hugging me even tighter.

In truth, her determination and increased strength were more endearing than anything else.

As I lowered my head, I saw the girl’s head clinging tightly to my chest.

Her hair was pure white, like freshly fallen snow, clean and soft.

A head small enough to fit in one hand.

She was like a little bird.

Faint and fragile, yet paradoxically impressive.

A b*stard child cannot survive with a poor memory.

My memory wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t remember such a girl.

I wanted to ask carefully.

Have you perhaps undergone intense dieting, plastic surgery, and bleaching?

“Lysir…”

As I remained still, Pien burrowed deeper into my embrace.

Isn’t this her way of asking for a hug?

“…”

I felt a sharp glare.

A middle-aged man was glaring at me from behind Pien.

Judging by his attire, he seemed to be a knight from another family-

Considering he was sitting at the same table as Pien until just now, he must be her escort.

As our eyes met, the man’s gaze grew even sharper.

Could it mean, “Hold me”?

Oh, whatever.

I moved my arms and embraced Pien.

“Ah… Rishir…”

The girl let out a sound of happiness and entrusted her body to my arms.

“…!!!”

Crack.

The guard glared and clenched his fist.

I’m flustered.

Wasn’t this agreed upon?

“Rishir… Are you not happy to see me…?”

At that moment, the girl looked up at me with anxious eyes.

Rishir, who was meeting the girl’s gaze, thought.

‘If I actually had a younger sister, would it feel like this?’

It was a thought that would have made anyone who overheard it glare.

Rishir organized his thoughts.

He tried to figure out how to deal with the girl in front of him.

He couldn’t remember, but for some reason, this girl was following him.

Therefore, as the elder, his stance was clear.

“What are you talking about? Of course, I’m happy.”

“…”

Pien doubted her ears for a moment.

Was it an illusion that this man’s tone seemed to treat her like a little child?

“Then, will you hold me? Stronger. So that I can feel you more clearly…”

“Shall I?”

As Pien requested, Rishir hugged her with all his might.

At that moment, when the foolish b*stard couldn’t see, the pure white girl was about to wear an alien smile.

“Ucha!”

“?”

Struggling.

Pien shook her leg.

Her expression hardened.

‘What are you doing?’

Lysir suddenly lifted Pien.

Without stopping there, he began to spin in place.

A spinning world. The two people, trapped in their own world, gazed at each other.

At a glance, it might seem romantic.

‘What are you really doing?’

But the speed.

It was a rapidity that couldn’t be matched by the soft value of romance.

The girl looked at him with cold eyes.

She demanded an explanation for this behavior.

Lysir smiled confidently.

Ah, this is centrifugal force.

Isn’t it fun?

‘What are you doing?’

After giving Pien a moment of ‘fun’, Lysir put her down.

Then, he met her eyes and patted her head.

“Are you satisfied?”

Pien blinked.

‘With what?’

Pien was confused.

This was not the appearance of a man who had become subservient to her at a glance.

It was not the appearance of someone dominated by false memories.

Could it be?

No. It couldn’t be.

It was a power that could easily dominate even a 5th rank knight.

There was no way this illegitimate child could be free from her mental interference.

Pien, who was momentarily unsure, spoke with a face full of emotion.

“I missed you, Rishir.”

Once again, Pien hugged Rishir fiercely.

Rishir smiled kindly and patted Pien’s head.

Pien’s passionate attempt to warm the surrounding air was lukewarmly thwarted.

At this point, it was beyond embarrassing and simply absurd.

‘What kind of guy is this?’

The effect of mental interference tends to be proportional to the subject’s disposition.

If the subject is an emotional person, the effect of mental interference appears more strongly.

If the subject is an insensitive person, the effect of mental interference appears weaker.

Pien thought that her mental interference was strong enough to dominate the man in front of her.

No, it wasn’t just enough; it was more than enough.

Under normal circumstances, the man in front of her should have already become her slave.

But look at him now.

“Pien, could you let go? Your friend behind you is glaring at me quite fiercely.”

It was a response to the intense hug.

A frivolous whisper devoid of any heat.

This was not the attitude of someone serving their master.

It was the attitude of someone dealing with a cute little girl who follows them well.

Pien had a headache.

How must his mental structure be for my mental interference to-

“Sorry. Our Gallant can be a bit peculiar.”

A violently insensitive fool.

That was Pien’s assessment of the man named Rishir.

The reason why mental interference did not have enough effect was because of this man’s damn insensitive personality.

“Unfortunately, there’s no need to rush. Rishir and I will be together from now on. Right?”

Pien clicked her tongue inwardly while wearing an innocent smile.

It seemed that her plan would involve more troublesome efforts than initially expected.

*

[“Was there a lady in the Dintal family?”]

[She suddenly appeared one day and became a member of the Dintal family.]

[That hair color]

[That appearance]

[She was clearly different from Dintal, but no one doubted her existence]

[“She is our youngest daughter. She has been confined to her room since childhood due to her frail body.”]

[“The priest and the doctor said she wouldn’t live past ten… So we tried not to get attached… But she has grown so strong…”]

[Who would dare to question the words of the masters of the family]

[“Has she been staying in her room all the time? Her behavior and personality are so pure, like white silk.”]

[How could anyone point the spear of suspicion at that lovely and delicate girl]

[She received all of Dintal’s love]

[“Father is ill? What should we do…”]

[She received all of Dintal’s love]

[“Mother, please rest. You have become so thin lately.”]

[She received all of Dintal’s love]

[“Brother? You look pale. Are you alright?”]

[She received all of Dintal’s love]

[“Gallant. Is it okay for a guard to be more exhausted than me? Haha. Just kidding. I was barely holding on too. Let’s rest here for a while.”]

[She received all of Dintal’s love]

[…She monopolized Dintal’s love]

[“Ha…”]

[She sighed excitedly in the bathtub]

[“Everyone. Thank you so much. You didn’t have to go this far-“]

[It was a strange sight]

[Several people surrounded the girl soaking in the bathtub]

[They stared into space with unfocused eyes and reached out towards the bathtub]

[Blood flowed from the scratches on their fingertips]

[Drip] [Drop]

[The bathwater in which the girl was soaking gradually turned red]

[“I’ll accept your kindness, excuse me for a moment.”]

[The girl smeared the bathwater on her body with her delicate arms]

[“Ha…”]

[With a sensual touch that didn’t suit her]

“Feels good…”

[The pure white girl smiled innocently]

*

“Lisir-nim. Enough of this, let’s go for a walk! A walk!”

There aren’t many men who could refuse when a girl like Pien said that.

My master’s voice echoed in my head.

-My disciple. Go home and rest well~ rest~ rest~… rest… (echo)

Master. I’m sorry.

I want to follow your words but, at the same time, I want to protect this innocent child’s smile.

Above all, that Galant who’s her guard is truly scary.

When I tried to refuse, he glared at me with wide eyes – I’m ashamed to admit, but this unworthy disciple is confident he’d be easily defeated in a fight with him at my current skill level.

“Lisir-nim, Lisir-nim! Look at that!”

Pien and I left the mansion and strolled through the streets of Heyyern.

Pien, clinging to my arm, was completely thrilled and dragged my arm this way and that.

The way she marveled and enjoyed each and every ordinary sight of the street was enough to make even the passing strangers smile softly.

Some even looked at me with envious faces.

Those guys with the ‘hehehe’ face instead of ‘pleased’ face when they saw Pien clinging to my arm.

They’re going to be in big trouble.

What? ‘Hehehe’ while looking at a girl who looks barely like a middle schooler? Hehehe?

You should be thankful you were born in this era.

For a while, I obediently showed Pien around the streets of Heyyern.

Watching Pien as she explored the streets was quite enjoyable.

Then, how long had it been?

Doesn’t this child ever get tired?

I was just about to think that.

“Lisir-nim… I’m sorry… Just for a moment…”

The outing ended in a way that I hadn’t expected.

The strength pulling my arm weakened, and I thought she was getting tired, but Pien suddenly stopped in her tracks, breathing heavily and struggling for air.

Her complexion wasn’t good.

We stopped in our tracks in the deserted alley led by Pien.

“Miss!”

“Gallant… I’m fine, so please don’t make a fuss. And if you don’t mind, could you leave us for a moment?”

“…Understood.”

“Pien. Are you okay?”

“I’m sorry. Can we rest for a moment?”

I couldn’t help but nod at that precarious smile.

The weight on my arm grew heavier.

Pien clung to my arm for a while, trying to gather herself.

How much time had passed since then?

“Thank you, Lishir.”

Instead of labored breaths, I heard her voice and looked up to see Pien’s complexion had somewhat recovered.

“Are you feeling a bit better?”

“I’m sorry for worrying you. It’s embarrassing, but I’ve been a bit frail since I was young.”

Young. At that keyword, Pien’s gaze turned to a distant place.

A place a little farther than the end of the street.

“Lishir. Do you remember?”

“Hmm?”

“When I got lost on Heyern Street like this in the past, you helped me.”

“…Ah, that.”

I nodded, looking at the same place as Pien.

Sorry, but I don’t remember at all.

To exaggerate, I could even assert that such a thing never happened.

Gradually.

The sense of discomfort I had been feeling took shape.

Something is definitely strange.

The relationship between Pien and me.

No. This child named Pien.

From the beginning, there was a peculiar feeling about this child named Pien.

How should I put it?

A prickle of unease?

It was there, but faint, like it wasn’t quite real, so I didn’t pay it much mind.

“Lishir-nim.”

Pien stood before me.

Her slender hands wrapped around my right hand.

“Lishir-nim, what are your thoughts on this marriage?”

“Marriage? Ah. Could it be, the Diltan’s young lady they want me to marry?”

Pien smiled wryly.

“Actually… this marriage talk came about entirely because of me. I earnestly pleaded with my mother.”

Hehe.

Pien chuckled playfully.

“You know I’m not usually the type to ask anything of my mother? That’s why she granted this outrageous request.”

Pien carefully took my hand, which she was cradling in her own, and placed it over her left breast.

“I could no longer suppress my feelings for you, Lishir-nim. Do you feel it? My heartbeat?”

“…”

That was the moment.

The unease I felt from Pien became much clearer.

What the hell was this?

I unconsciously frowned.

“This is absurd…”

At my reaction, Pien murmured in a panic.

“Lishir-nim? Right now, are you… are you not feeling anything? When you look at me, don’t you feel a thing?”

Pien’s state shifted dramatically.

No longer the fragile, pure white girl, but an agitated, suspicious woman stood there.

“Lishir-nim…”

“Woah woah-“

Pien pressed herself close to me.

Her slender fingers crept up my thigh.

Too sticky a touch to be Pien’s, right?

I wanted to pull away, but it was weak, like Pien’s touch always was, so I hesitated.

It felt like I might get hurt if I shook it off with all my might.

“…Lysir? Consider it an honor. You’re the first one I’ve gone this far for.”

“Isn’t this kind of honor too early for us!?”

Pien, who had suddenly become a different person, stood on tiptoe and kissed me.

It was at that moment.

“…!!!”

Pien’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear apart.

Pien, caressing her lips, stepped back as if throwing her body backward.

“You, you… what are you…!!!”

“?

“What did you do to me!?!”

“???”

I’m bewildered.

You were the one leading.

(Blushing shyly)

“My power… my power…”

Pien’s hands trembled as she collapsed to the floor.

“…Why am I here?”

From outside the alley, Gallant’s bewildered voice was heard.

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[Resisted]

[Target of resistance: Jin-eon]

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