TSMMT Ch 128

Herya the Enchantress (2)

Guiscard didn't clearly remember those times. However, he remembered Herya's sharp voice.

The forest was vast, and they slept with cave ceilings for roofs and piles of grass for beds. Having grown up in human civilization, Guiscard found it harder than expected.

Grumbling, she gave him berries or mushrooms, managing to stave off starvation to some degree, though it was never enough. Yet, Herya survived effortlessly on just a couple of fruits.

Unlike Guiscard, who grew increasingly filthy as the darkness of the forest consumed him, she remained as stunning as a forest goddess.

Naturally, the forest—infamous for its dangers—never attacked Herya. She blended seamlessly with the woods. She walked endlessly through the forest while Guiscard trailed behind her; in this place, she was the only one who could protect him.

Whether this woman had killed the maid he had regarded as his mother no longer mattered.

[Herya] "Hurry up! Ah, you're so irritating!"

She would beam brightly one moment, only to snap in irritation the next.

[Herya] "Try calling me Mother. Hmm?"

She would suddenly demand that he call her Mother.

[Herya] "Children truly are weak creatures."

She mocked his shivering form as if it were amusing. Once, bored out of her mind, she captured a monster and hurled it toward him. Perhaps because of such ordeals, Guiscard stopped expressing emotion altogether after that.

A dense forest where sunlight barely penetrated, a mysterious realm darker than night when even moonlight failed to breach the canopy. It was paradise for Herya, but absolute hell for Guiscard.

[Herya] "Why are you falling sick here of all places?! Should I just abandon you?!"

Severely malnourished and exposed to the freezing forest climate, Guiscard eventually collapsed.

[Herya] "Ah, such a hassle."

Grumbling, she left him behind and walked away.

Watching her retreating back, Guiscard realized he held no expectations whatsoever. Ultimately, he was abandoned by his mother, left to die. He waited in a daze for death to claim him. Yet, several suns set and nights passed.

[Herya] "Little monster. You didn't die."

She spoke with a laugh.

[Herya] "Is it because you inherit dragon blood?"

She dragged him somewhere, and his memory cut off again at that point. Only a mental suggestion to forget everything remained, wiping out most of his memories since entering the forest. Yet, recalling those times still left a primal terror lingering in his limbs.

Upon leaving the Abyssal Forest, she immediately contacted someone. They traveled somewhere once more, receiving lavish hospitality.

[Herya] "Gren!"

[Gren] "Ah, Herya."

Sprinting into the house, she embraced him with a radiant smile.

[Gren] "Who is this?"

Gren looked at Guiscard.

[Herya] "My maid's son. She died on the way here."

[Gren] "Ah, is that so?"

Disliking his gaze lingering on Guiscard, she wrapped her arms around his waist and spoke coquettishly.

[Herya] "Gren, I am sorry. That bastard was wretched."

[Gren] "..."

[Herya] "I repent. I heard your wife passed away?"

[Gren] "Yes."

[Herya] "You must be so lonely. Shall I comfort you?"

His hands caressed her body.

Guiscard watched the exchange before eventually walking outside, repulsed by an innate revulsion. As the muffled sounds reached him, he covered his ears tightly.

---

[Herya] "Men are all fools."

[Guiscard] "..."

[Herya] "Do you know who that man is? He's a man I dumped."

[Guiscard] "..."

[Herya] "Wondering why I dumped him? What good is a duke when his family was ruined? Besides, he's ugly. Your father was handsome."

[Guiscard] "..."

[Herya] "Yet, do you know what's funny? If I call him and offer my body, he yields everything to me. Simply because my flesh is beautiful, he hands over everything he owns."

Herya boasted inflatedly. Dressed in the Panborough garments Gren had presented to her, she appeared even more glamorous and gorgeous. In the forest or here, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

[Herya] "Don't become like those men."

Guiscard offered no response. Perhaps that offended her, for she narrowed her eyes and glared at him.

[Herya] "Why? Do you find me filthy?"

[Guiscard] "..."

[Herya] "Are you calling me filthy, hey?!"

She grabbed his chin roughly, turning his face toward her.

[Guiscard] "I don't think you are filthy."

[Herya] "Then what's with that face?! What is it?!"

It was true. He had no thoughts on the matter. Whether they engaged in such acts or not, he didn't want to know. He didn't care to pay attention. He didn't want to look. Yet, the question escaped his lips involuntarily.

[Guiscard] "Was my father also one of those foolish men?"

For an instant, her face twisted with hatred before crumbling into sorrow. Then she glared at him.

[Herya] "I should have abandoned you. If not for my mother... So irritating."

Spitting malicious words casually, she looked at him with disgust. Truthfully, young Guiscard didn't even understand what her intimacy with Gren signified.

[Herya] "Go away! Go back to Lodbrog! Go claim you're a prince and live comfortably! Hmm?"

[Guiscard] "..."

[Herya] "Get lost! Once you grow a bit older, you'll be the spitting image of that bastard's face—no one could deny it! That's why seeing your face infuriated me!"

[Guiscard] "..."

[Herya] "Ah... no. You can't go. Don't you dare go! If you show up, that bastard will be satisfied having only you!"

[Guiscard] "..."

[Herya] "Mad bastard. That swindling bastard..."

She muttered curses with a resentful expression. Guiscard didn't know what had transpired between his father and mother. He only knew that his mother, desperate to hide him from his father, had passed him off as a maid's son.

[Herya] "Shut your mouth and stay quiet!"

[Guiscard] "..."

She shrieked through gritted teeth. Guiscard had absolutely no idea how to deal with his mother.

---

Guiscard lived quietly in Duke Gren's castle, holding his breath. Gren showered Herya with lavish treasures.

Under Herya's orders, Guiscard began working as a servant.

Occasionally, in the bedchamber Gren had just vacated, she would speak to him with a boastful expression.

[Herya] "Look at this. See what treasures this fool brings to me?"

[Guiscard] "..."

[Herya] "You beware of beautiful women too."

After a season passed, they traveled with Gren to the capital of Panborough.

[King] "Herya, ah, Herya!"

[Herya] "..."

[King] "I heard you vanished from that place!"

[Herya] "Ah, Brother."

Herya suddenly adopted a frail expression, sinking into someone's arms.

Guiscard stood frozen. The King of Panborough looked at Guiscard standing behind her.

[King] "Who is this?"

[Herya] "My maid's son, whom I took with me."

[King] "I see. More importantly, you've grown so thin. I told you not to marry him."

[Herya] "I regret it too. That bastard was trash. You have no idea how much I missed you, Brother."

Herya nestled affectionately against him, acting coquettishly in his arms.

Guiscard pondered.

Is that how she dominates someone from a position of power? Is that what dominance means?

Guiscard couldn't tell. Turning his head, he caught sight of Gren's contorted face, a sinister malice swirling with disgust. Though an ill omen nagged at him, he said nothing.

Herya would never listen to him anyway. This woman who had birthed him never looked at him.

He knew he must harbor no expectations whatsoever, none at all. Thus, he would speak of nothing.

---

Just a week after arriving at the royal castle of Panborough, they were dragged into the dungeon. For Guiscard, it was an unjust plight; he was simply performing assigned chores in the royal castle.

[Guard] "You wicked witch!"

While Guiscard was dragged along, Herya was brought in from the opposite side. Her upper body was stripped nearly bare, exposing her chest. People condemned her openly as she was dragged past.

[Herya] "AAAAAH!"

The ever-confident Herya was imprisoned just like that. Guiscard curled up in the corner, quietly observing her.

He was terrified. Yet, the downfall of the woman who had felt like an absolute ruler in the forest terrified him even more.

People spat on her. Herya trembled with humiliation. Calling her a wicked witch, the jailer kicked her roughly into the cell.

At first, Herya grabbed the iron bars and shrieked, but the jailer retreated, refusing to listen.

A few days later, a visitor arrived.

[Herya] "Gren, Gren, please save me."

[Gren] "..."

[Herya] "Gren!"

Looking at the man standing outside the cell, Herya begged.

[Herya] "I have no one but you..."

[Gren] "Why? Do you not have your proud husband, the King of Lodbrog, and your royal brother?"

[Herya] "Huh?"

[Gren] "What use is a mere duke in title like me?"

[Herya] "N-No!"

Gren let out a low, sinister chuckle.

[Gren] "This place suits a filthy whore like you perfectly. What are you whining about?"

[Herya] "Gren!"

[Gren] "Foolish bitch. Did you think everyone would fall at your feet if you offered your body?"

[Herya] "..."

[Gren] "I played along, knowing full well what you were. You were worth indulging just enough."

[Herya] "..."

[Gren] "Still, when a coquettish cat becomes arrogant, you just want to strangle it. That's exactly what you are."

Guiscard could only see Herya from behind. As she trembled, he could sense how much rage and humiliation consumed her. Hiding in the shadows of the cell, he watched Gren's uglified face contort.

[Gren] "You're a witch who tried to seduce your half-brother. His Majesty was disgusted by you."

[Herya] "I never did such a thing!"

[Gren] "Consider your track record. Even your brother claims lust flared whenever he looked at you. A witch's bewitchment. How tragic, isn't it?"

[Herya] "I didn't seduce him! Not him!"

She shook her head frantically. Gren squatted down to look at Herya.

[Gren] "That's why you should have accepted me. Rolling in filth while playing with people's hearts... so you brought this punishment upon yourself."

He spat on the floor. Herya trembled violently.

[Herya] "You... you framed me, didn't you?!"

[Gren] "Who can say?"

He smirked.

[Gren] "Testing the waters with this man and that man, only to run off to the King of Lodbrog. And is this the grand conclusion? Exiled with your son?"

[Herya] "H-How!"

[Gren] "As if I wouldn't know a bitch like you. You're selfish by nature. You wouldn't care for a maid's son; you'd have abandoned him along the way."

[Herya] "..."

[Gren] "Ah, beautiful Herya. You foolish woman. Do you know? Ever since you humiliated me so bitterly, I worked like a madman to elevate my house. Your brother trusts me far more than he trusts you now. I am no longer a duke in name only."

[Herya] "..."

[Gren] "Did you think I would gladly welcome you with open arms once you tumbled back into my lap?"

His face twisted with ecstatic malice. Intoxicated by victory, oblivious to how hideous he looked, he sneered.

[Gren] "No... I intend to kill you in the most miserable, agonizing way possible."

---

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