Chapter 83
Chapter 83
The estate of the Winterbell Ducal Family was overwhelming in scale alone. Endless gardens and forests stretched out, and among them stood magnificent buildings. A breeze carrying the scent of spring blew through, rustling the leaves, while the distant sound of a fountain added life to the tranquil atmosphere.
I, Ran Winterbell, left all of this behind and headed toward where Ryan Winterbell was. With every step I took, the soft sound of gravel beneath my feet seemed to soothe my tense mind.
As I passed by my father’s residence, the Patriarch, I paused for a moment. The massive palace gleamed in silver, its sheer majesty embodying the power of the Winterbell Ducal Family. The spires sparkled under the sunlight, and the intricately carved stone walls seemed to breathe as if alive.
But my destination was the other palace beside it—slightly smaller in size, yet equally grand. Thinking of Ryan Winterbell, who would be waiting for me there, made my chest tighten in a strange way.
“Young Master Ran, this way.”
At the attendant’s respectful voice, I snapped out of my thoughts. Following his guidance, I slowly moved forward. Walking along the white marble path laid over the green lawn, I steadied my mind.
Ryan Winterbell, the eldest son of the Winterbell Ducal Family.
If I had to describe him in a single word…
‘Grotesque.’
In every sense of the word, all of his actions were grotesque. There was a considerable age gap between us to begin with, but his very life itself felt somehow alien. He was like a single mismatched piece in a perfectly assembled puzzle.
There was no particular reason for me to harbor ill feelings toward him. In fact, compared to the other siblings, Ryan Winterbell had always been kind to me. His smiling face and gentle tone of voice came to mind. Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was hidden behind that kindness.
And still, I felt that way.
There was no reason.
It was like an instinct.
‘It feels off. Just… that kind of feeling.’
Even according to what the attendants said, he had shown behavior as though he had become a completely different person overnight—just like me. Now he was, in both name and reality, the strongest legitimate heir representing Winterbell, but that hadn’t always been the case. What had happened at the moment of that change? Questions led to more questions.
As I approached Ryan Winterbell’s residence, its grandeur became even more striking. The windows, tinged with a blue hue, were mysterious like deep lakes, and the sharp towers seemed to pierce through the clouds. The enormous Winterbell Ducal Family crest adorning the entrance fully displayed the dignity of our house. Everything about it was overwhelming.
When I arrived at the door, the guards recognized me and bowed their heads. The Winterbell Ducal Family crest faintly gleamed on their armor.
“Young Master Ran, my lord is waiting for you.”
As the heavy doors opened, I took a deep breath. The faint scent of cypress drifted through the air. Since it was my first time visiting Ryan Winterbell’s residence, I felt tense in my own way. The residence of the most likely candidate to become the next Patriarch of the Winterbell Ducal Family.
I couldn’t even imagine what kind of conversation would take place here, or what events might unfold.
As I stepped inside, the luxurious interior decorations caught my eye. Ancient masterpieces hung upon the walls, crystal chandeliers shone elegantly from the ceiling, and a soft carpet covered the floor. Everything seemed to represent the dignity of the Winterbell Ducal Family.
But what caught my eye even more was the back of a man standing before the window. His silhouette was clearly outlined by the sunlight streaming in from outside. Broad shoulders, a straight back, and jet-black hair as dark as ebony. His mere figure exuded an overwhelming presence.
“You’ve come, Ran.”
Ryan Winterbell slowly turned around. A smile lingered on his face, yet his eyes remained sharp. Like a blade hidden deep beneath a lake.
I lowered my head as I answered, trying to keep my voice from trembling.
“Yes, Brother.”
Ryan Winterbell took a step closer. It felt as though his presence filled the entire room. The faint scent of his cologne drifted toward me. It was fresh, yet heavy.
“Come in. I’ve been waiting for you.”
At his words, I lifted my head. In his eyes, I could read something unusual. A tension different from usual—perhaps even something like anticipation.
I had a premonition that a great change was coming to the Winterbell Ducal Family—or perhaps even to this Empire. And I felt instinctively that I would be standing at the center of that change. Swallowing hard, I waited for Brother Ryan’s next words. I had a feeling that from this moment on, everything would change.
Ryan Winterbell’s room was filled with an antique atmosphere. Bookshelves covered the walls, a heavy leather sofa rested nearby, and a marble table stood at the center. Everything seemed to symbolize power, knowledge, and authority. The warm afternoon sunlight streaming through the window contrasted with the heavy air inside the room.
Ryan Winterbell opened his mouth. His voice was gentle, yet there was a hidden sharpness to it.
“Have you eaten?”
Even at this simple question, I couldn’t relax. I knew that there was always a deeper meaning hidden in everything Ryan Winterbell said and did.
“Yes. I have.”
My answer was short and dry.
Ryan gave a slight nod and gestured toward the sofa with his hand.
“Sit.”
“Yes.”
I carefully sat down. The soft leather sofa sank slightly under my weight. Ryan moved gracefully toward a nearby cabinet. Refinement was evident in every one of his movements.
Ryan Winterbell took out a bottle of aged wine and a crystal wine glass. The label on the bottle caught my eye. It was wine from a prestigious house boasting centuries of history. Slowly, as if performing a ritual, he poured the wine with care.
The deep ruby-colored liquid filled the glass, releasing a subtle fragrance.
He handed the wine glass to me. For some reason, the sight of his fingers wrapped around the glass looked threatening.
I hesitated for a moment, staring blankly at the glass.
Countless thoughts stormed through my mind like a tempest.
Noticing my hesitation, Ryan Winterbell gave a good-natured smile and spoke. There was a playful warmth in his voice.
“I didn’t put any poison in it, so don’t worry and drink.”
At those words, I froze.
Old memories began to stir within me. The word ‘poison’ echoed in my ears.
“……”
Silence filled the room. It felt as though time had stopped. Only the sound of birds outside the window broke the stillness.
Did he know what poison meant to me when he said that? Because of that damned poison, I had lived half my life as a cripple. Painful memories from my childhood surged forward like a tidal wave. Cold sweat trickled down my back.
I slowly raised my head and met Ryan’s eyes. A smile still lingered in them, but deep within, something else seemed to be swirling. Anticipation? Or disappointment?
“I will decline. I don’t particularly wish to drink it.”
I tried to keep my voice from trembling, but I couldn’t completely hide the tension within it. Or perhaps it wasn’t tension, but anger.
Ryan Winterbell’s expression instantly turned cold. The warmth vanished from his eyes. It felt as though the air in the room had frozen in an instant.
What was he thinking?
Was he offended that I dared to refuse his offer?
Or did he already know the reason behind my refusal?
I held my breath and waited for his next reaction. The sound of my rapidly beating heart rang in my ears.
However, not long after, a smile returned to Ryan’s face, as if nothing had happened.
His ever-changing expressions always left me bewildered.
“Very well, do as you wish. But Ran, remember this. We are family. We must trust one another.”
His words carried warmth, yet at the same time, there was a certain nuance of warning in them. He slowly rose from his seat and walked toward the window. Sunlight illuminated his silver hair, creating a halo around him.
“Now, let us get to the main point. You know why you’re here, don’t you?”
At his words, I felt the tension tighten within me. I had a premonition that the conversation about to begin could change my fate—or perhaps even the fate of the entire Winterbell Ducal Family.
I slowly nodded and answered. I tried to steady my voice, but I couldn’t completely conceal the tension within it.
“Yes, Brother. Please tell me.”
Ryan slowly turned his head to look at me. His gaze was deep and complex. It felt as though centuries of time were contained within it. The sunlight streaming in from outside cast shadows across his face, making him appear even more mysterious and imposing.
A brief silence followed. The air in the room seemed to grow heavy. The distant ticking of a clock emphasized the tension of the moment.
Ryan opened his mouth. His voice was low and deep.
“Pandemonium. I suppose I should tell you about them.”
The moment I heard that name, a chill ran down my spine. Pandemonium. A sinister organization that inspired fear and threat with its name alone.
“……”
I nodded silently. Ryan slowly walked over to the desk. His fingers lightly brushed over the documents laid upon it.
“A criminal organization made up of the Empire’s worst offenders.”
At his words, I nodded inwardly. That much I already knew. But from his expression, I could sense that there was more to it.
“—is nothing more than the official story.”
Ryan’s voice suddenly turned sharp. His eyes gleamed coldly.
“Their power exceeds imagination. They aren’t just a ragtag group that gathered a few criminals together.”
I drew in a breath. Anxiety began to bloom inside my chest.
“Then?”
My voice trembled. Ryan slowly approached me. There was an oppressive weight in his steps.
“As you already know, Pandemonium has powerful individuals like the Sword Demon and witches among them.”
I nodded. Their existence was already widely known.
“But that alone wouldn’t make them a true threat. Even excluding them, there are numerous truly powerful criminals embedded within the organization. And according to the information I obtained…”
Ryan Winterbell stopped speaking. Unease and resolve crossed in his eyes. I held my breath and waited for his next words. The sound of my heart pounding rang in my ears.
What information was he about to reveal? From his expression alone, I could tell how dangerous and important it was. Ryan Winterbell took a deep breath and spoke.
“There are demons among them.”
In that instant, it felt as though time had stopped. I doubted my own ears. The air in the room seemed to freeze solid.
“…Demons?”
My voice was barely audible. Ryan’s eyes sharply observed my reaction.
“Yes. Demons. And it seems high-ranking demons are included as well.”