๋ก๊ทธ์ธ๊ณต์
Chapter 13
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2022-04-25 16:35:56Radenor was saturated with grime. Poverty, hunger, hate, they hung in the air like a foul mist, unnerving and irritating me. It was the first long trip in my life, and I felt uncertain. I had a companion in Henry, but we would soon part ways, as he was needed back home. I insisted upon that. Henry was responsible for all matters outside Torrin, and Rick wouldn’t be able to handle it without him for long. And I... I would.
There was one more fact in my favor—I was hard to kill. I was immune to most poisons, I could use magic, and Henry was an ordinary human, who, whatever he said, had gotten out of shape during his stay in Torrin. He wasn’t that dashing fellow from seventeen years ago anymore.
We argued for a while but finally got on the same page. Seeing as how it was improper for a prince to show up at court without servants—princes were helpless and unable to take care of themselves, after all—Tom was to go with me as my servant, as well
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The Demonย ย ย Chapter 14
โEnough said. Does it still exist?โโIt does, but not for long.โโWeโll see...โI was in my human form, of course, all pretty and gentle-looking. I liked my appearance. Wasnโt I cute? Fair-haired, blue-eyed, a perfect replica of my mother. Except for the fact that her tongue hadnโt been forked, and when I lost control, that was how the reverse transformation started. My voice also became raspy, hissing, but why should I care, really? I wasnโt going to kiss anybody here or let anyone look inside my mouth, and the rest didnโt matter.The claws, however... For some reason, they were the second to transform. Gloves wouldnโt help. The only way was to keep myself in check every minute. I absolutely couldnโt blow up. Do half-demons have good self-control? Honestly, not really. But I was also a necromancer, and necromancers who wore their emotions on their sleeves didnโt live long. For us, calm and peace of mind were crucial. And I was calm, quiet as a grave. Which was the exact place where t
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-05-05The Demonย ย ย Chapter 15
The capital was all white houses, cobbled streets, amazing architecture, all meticulously planned and builtโand at the same time, a stark contrast between noble houses, all well-tended, flowers blooming in the yards, and people on the streets. As always, they were poor, pathetic, desperate. Looking at them, I started to realize how hard it was to pass by without stopping to help. Who else if not me? By the right of my blood and my lineage I was responsible for the country, and if I did nothing, I would be ashamed to look into the eyes of my ancestorsโeven demons. They had never surrendered without a fight, after all! The royal palace was glorious, surrounded by a fence made of bronze. Yet right next to the driveway, a legless cripple was sitting in the dust of the road, asking for alms. He truly was a cripple; I saw that by his aura. I had never seen anything like that in Torrin. I felt bad. Each time I remember his bleak expression, shame rolls up on me in waves. I threw a couple
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-05-05The Demonย ย ย Chapter 16
Late at night, Henry left his final instructions for Tom and me. We were to avoid needless confrontations, not kill whomever we wanted without thinking through all of the ramifications, not demonstrate all our talents, and not raise the dead wherever I wished. We were to take care of ourselves, too. I gave him a few of my motherโs trinkets as keepsakes.A small portrait of her which was left on the tableโlooks like Grandfather had come in here after she had left. A toy from her childhood. Henry still loved her, I saw that, and so I didnโt argue when he said that he would be leaving with the light of dawn. It would be better for him in Torrin.We went to bed after midnight. I woke before dawn. The hour of the necromancer. The best time for raising the dead and summoning demons. The dark hour, they call it. Tommy was snoring in the next room, while I tried to listen. What had awakened me? Or who? I didnโt know, yet...it felt like a chord singing in the nightโa sharp, clear sound... Was
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-05-06The Demonย ย ย Chapter 17
Tommy hadnโt noticed anything, and as usual, I woke up early. In the countryside, we had risen with the sun, but that wasnโt the case in the royal palace.Rudolph had never opened his eyes before the eleventh bell. What was I to do? Have a stroll around the castle, of course. Maybe I could find some food?Tom offered to take me to the city with him, but I refused. I would find time for that later; right then, I wanted to have some alone time and think about the previous night. Was it a dream?The silver-black bracelet was cold on my skin and the only way to remove it was to cut my arm off. The symbol of Radenor was painted on it with simple, practiced strokesโmy country, my responsibilityโand one word, Alethar. The one who had created it, who had worn it, who had given himself and his family all for its sake.How did that bracelet get there after the death of its wearer? I didnโt know, but I was ready to believe in any miracle.Necromancy was capable of so much more than simply raisin
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-05-06The Demonย ย ย Chapter 18
The duel itself lasted for only twenty seconds. Rene, Ralf, and Leonid formed a triangle, with me and Ronald in the center. Ronald lunged at me, but it was clear by his stance that he had been taught in a fancy Kirnean fencing school, where elegance had always been more important than utility.I had been taught by Henryโand he had trained me to kill. I didnโt parry his strike. I didnโt have any reason to. I simply stepped aside and rapidly moved forward, slashing at the opponentโs neck with the very tip of my sword and assuming a low stance.Afterward, I stepped backโI had no desire to ruin my favorite doublet. The wound was...dirty. Blood poured out for several seconds, and Ronald was still trying to press his palms against his throat. It didnโt help. The instant he died, I knew. A gift of my power. The plump one turned pale with fright, yet he couldnโt refuse to fightโor I got the right to kill him right where he stood, or the seconds would. Edward Michel Tiernen knew that well.Aft
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-05-07The Demonย ย ย Chapter 19
In the palace, I was greeted my Tom ripping me a new one for putting my life in dangerโand my uncle doing the same for another reason. Dealing with the first one was simple. I just snorted and said that I wasnโt worth a dump if two gilded parrots could defeat me. Or would cockroaches stomp me to death with their tiny feet, too?The second one was harder. Uncle was majestic and imposing...and somehow reminded me of a gaudy fool in a village fair. Abigail was pressing her lips together with such force that I could see her teethโa rat was a rat.โAlex, how could you do that!โI fluttered my eyelashes as convincingly as I could.What else would I do?I donโt know anything; I havenโt seen anything; I havenโt killed anyone!โTwo dead bodies in one morning! Viscount Muerlath. Marquis Tiernen! By the way, Duke Tiernen is Her Majestyโs second cousin!โOh hell, the rat had some nerve. Making her second cousin a duke? I had to get an execution list, pronto. And the executioners.I didnโt deign t
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-05-07The Demonย ย ย Chapter 20
The next three days were quiet. I introduced Tom to Rene, and they seemed to get on well, even if, from the sidelines, they somewhat reminded me of two huge cats, sniffing and observing each other. They hit it off and dragged me for a strollโto a temple.Where else would three young, healthy guys go to have a taste of life in the capital? Only to the abode of the Bright Saint.Yet fate, apparently, was against showing our devotion. Along the way, we stumbled upon a brothel called Mistress Elizaโs, and Rene courteously invited us to have a look at that landmark. And there was a lot to look at there.As luck would have it, that part of my education had been mostly theoretical. Itโs not like I could even think about intimacy while I was wearing my true faceโvery few women considered a tail and scales attractive. And when I learned to change shape, it was too late, as we got Rudolphโs letter...The only thing left to do was to pick up experience along the way. I did know the theory, howev
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-05-08The Demonย ย ย Chapter 21
The Sunday dinner at Morinar estate was much more of a success. Count Morinar accepted me as if I were his familyโand not in that false manner I had gotten used to at court when they said one thing and meant something entirely different. No, he really had liked my grandfather. During his reign, the Morinar family had been in favor, and Henry Louis Morinar would love nothing more than to gain that influence backโthe more, the better. He also wasnโt kissing my rear and kowtowing to me. He simply treated me like a friend of his sonโtold a few interesting stories, gave good advice, invited me to visit his house at any time.Meanwhile, Henryโs wife, a pretty-looking, plump blonde woman in her forties, took a shining to Tom and me. For some reason, she had decided that I was a poor orphan who never got any motherly affection and started to feed me and dote on me.If Martha had seen that, sheโd probably have killed her right there. To consider her darling an orphan! Never. Still, I tried to
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-05-08
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The Demonย ย ย Special Chapter
โHow do you know about the charm spells?โโHow could I not! Innis, do you know that your mother had an elder brother?โInnis grew pale.โY-yes. But heโs...โโDisappeared without a trace. Why would Sidon Andago need him?โI caught the girl so she wouldnโt faint.โTell me more, you corpse!โThat tone finally made him pay attention. The ghost looked at me once more, I released my power, and it was his turn to become paleโor, rather, translucent.โBy the Bright! YouโโโYep. Me. And if you donโt answer me right now, I will burn your chicken coop to the ground!โThe spirit sighed and began telling his story. He was also a necromancer, who, by a cruel twist of fate, had become a healer.If you make a drawback your advantage, you can heal with the power intended to destroy, that was true.I had never been taught that, but the Andago family seemed no stranger to experimentation.Anyway, Tidann had died like he was supposed to. But during his lifetime, he had conducted trials in that same labor
The Demonย ย ย Special Chapter
I was barely moving my lips, but she definitely heard me, as she ran her hand over her hair and all of a sudden, broke down in tears. It had been a while since I had felt myself that stupid.Still, Martha didnโt cry for long. She raised her head high.โAlex, boy, yer alive!โAnd there was so much love and happiness in her voice. She didnโt care about herself at all, the main thing was my safety.I couldnโt help but blurt out, from the bottom of my heart, โMotherโฆโTruly, the mother is not the one who gave birth.โI was so scared for you. After we spoke, I ran off here, yer snake led me. Everythingโs quiet, but the ghosts are all afraid. Lots of templars in the palace, all tip-toeing โround yer wifey. Methinks, โtwas the bitched viper who started all this, mark me word!โโMother, but whereโs Tommy? Rene?โโTommyโs on the lam, heโs taking his wife to Rick. Rene and his pa high-tailed, too. Probably hiding somewhere, โlest they lose their knobs in the heat.โโDid somebody getโโโYep. The
The Demonย ย ย Special Chapter
During dinner, I felt like I was the main course.The local residents questioned me about everything, starting from silk prices in Tevarr to my family, from weather to the royal palace.I squirmed like I was in a hot pan, trying to avoid telling too much. I was pretty good at that.By the end of dinner, Amorta graced me with a smile and a suggestive look from her thin eyelashes, while Sidon thawed out and started to tell me his hunting stories. If they had been true, all the beasts in Radenor wouldnโt be enough for him.I listened to them, nodded, and was finally rewarded with seeing the heir: Sidonโs complete copy. He had Amortaโs ears, but was the spitting image of his father otherwise.Maybe that was why he cherished the child so much. Innis was way too smart, sharp, and independent, not to mention, entirely Andago in her appearance.Blood couldnโt be locked away. I had to coo for a bit, while discreetly collecting a few stray hairs from the babyโs clothes.Letโs see if heโs truly
The Demonย ย ย Special Chapter
Summoning Ak-kvir was easy.He appeared almost right away and sniffed the air.โYou again, necromancer?โโDo you object?โโDo you have the payment?โI sneered viciously.โIโll figure something out.โโGet comfortable, then.โI sat down on his back, and Ak-kvir darted off straight ahead. Eight hours to the town?Dear Innis, just twenty minutes...and thatโs taking into account that the demon had grown very lazy.We passed the town wall in a few rough leaps.Good thing that Ak-kvirโs claws were saber-sharp and could pierce any stone three feet deep. And finally, I was left standing in a narrow street. Monsignors bandits, come on.I canโt believe nobody wants these easy pickings!Yeah, that was rhetorical.Five minutes later, a three-man group stumbled upon me.They were so delighted that it was even funny.โOh, look whoโs come to visit!โโA noble boy, bless his heart!โโYou there, stand and deliver!โThey tried to surround me; how naive. Did they want me to speak?Like dark lightning, I d
The Demonย ย ย Special Chapter
Tommy was blissfully sleeping inside his house with Henrietta nestled against his shoulder, snuffling and smiling in her sleep. But when an ice-cold wave came over them, both had to rise up, their peace disturbed.That wind was something they could never hide or shield themselves from; it was a death wind, and it brought cold from the grave, making him feel as if he were in a coffin.Even dead men could wake up after feeling something like that...and sometimes, they did.โWhat!โThe darkness in the room grew thicker and took on Marthaโs shape, smiling with her mouth full of shark teeth.โItโs me, Tom. Martha.โInstantly, Tommy was relieved. He had seen that many times before.No big deal, Alex had pulled stunts much worse than that. When you live with necromancers, do as necromancers do.โWhatโs wrong?โโTreason. Take your wife and hide, I will warn the Morinars, so...try to get to Torrin. You are the most vulnerable of us all.โโHowโs Alex?โโAlive.โTommy breathed out.โGood. But wh
The Demonย ย ย Special Chapter
I had two options: either promptly summon Ak-kvir and get to the capital, wherein I would clean up the mess, but the schemers would have time to get away, that was as clear as day.The other option...Fine, youโve gotten rid of the rightful king.Now what?Oops.Well, you can sit on the throne of Radenor, you would even stay there...for like twenty seconds. After that, prepare a dust tray and a broom. No need for a coffin, the remains could be poured over a flowerbed in the palace garden. If I held off my return, I would get the chance to reveal the plotters.But what about my family?Well, that was a moot question. If I were a plotter, I would first kill the kingโmeโand then, if everything worked out well, switch to his entourage.Yet, I suspected that no templars had survived. Generally, I was a nice guy, but they had managed to really piss me off. I still had some time before they would attack Martha, Tommy, Rene, Dariola... Although, why would they attack Dariola?Her child was th
The Demonย ย ย Special Chapter
Surprised, Innis stared at the demon who had appeared in her pentagram. He wasnโt quite what she had expected. Visually, he seemed a proper demon: claws, scales, and a tail.But should he really be all bloody and unconscious?Grandpaโs diary never said anything like that. Too bad I couldnโt find any other notes.But...what am I to do with it? Try to call him? Shake him awake?No, reaching inside the pentagram was forbidden.What if I poke him with a stick? He canโt just lie there in my tower, can he?I have enough problems on my plate without a dead demon!**I was in agony. Every bit of my body that was still there was emanating with pain, even my tail. โDemon, are you alive? Demon! Damn you, youโre a rascal, not a demon!โIt was clearly a girlโs voice. She seemed young and quite upset. She had a throaty contralto, clear and singsong, like hot chocolate.I definitely wasnโt in a temple.Where then?I focused and tried to prop myself on my elbows, then open my eyes.Yeah, they had gi
The Demonย ย ย Special Chapter
After Martha told me that my wife was likely with child, I wasnโt even surprised or worried.She isnโt saying anything to me?There could be lots of reasons!Maybe she didnโt know so herself or wanted to make sure. What was there to discuss? I just had to charge the court healer with a task.Alas, I was wrong, and I had to pay for that mistake sooner than I had expected. Two days later, I found myself on the way to a small town called Livaren.I was still traveling around the country so the officials I had appointed would stay on edge. When the king shows up on your doorstep and demands an answer...or just shows up...it can really shake you up.Bad news came from Livaren.Somebody destroyed ten of my ghosts. I had to visit and figure out what was happening there. That was exactly what I did. I was used to nobody ever standing in my way. Have I already mentioned that sometimes, I can be a real idiot?The mayor, Baron Fagin, was cheerful. He had clearly screwed up. But considering that
The Demonย ย ย Special Chapter
Princess Dariola.What did she look like?Not a beauty, or at least I didnโt think so. She was tall, half a head taller than me, and thin as a rail.She had blonde hair and blue, watery eyes, and her lips were so pale they seemed almost white. She did have nice hands, with long thin fingers, worthy of an artist or a musician.I also liked her voice: high-pitched, clear. She would probably sound great singing merry songs somewhere in a meadow, during summer.Alas, but during our introduction, I didnโt seem to attract her much, either. I guess she thought me too weak and fragile, and I had no wish to disprove her.So, I just kissed her hand.โYour Highness.โJust a neutral phrase. No โMy princessโ or โWelcome to my kingdom.โThey made me an offer I could hardly refuse, and that was enough.Oh, I had divorced soon after getting crowned.The church granted me my request, even if they did try to negotiate. Your Majesty, of course, weโre ready to help you in any way you want, but weโve gott
