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Chapter 114. The Heart’s Test
The duke opened his mouth in utter disbelief. When the smell of blood became apparent, his hands trembled.
Nelia, who had been blinking with much difficulty, closed her eyes shortly after. Blood dripped down from the skin where the arrow was pierced in her shoulder.
The duke wrapped his trembling hand around Nelia. Her body laid helplessly.
Then, Leighton’s trembling voice was heard.
“N-Nelia

”
He couldn’t believe what was happening. Surprised by the groan coming from Duke Hart, he shot the arrow in the bow in his hand, and Nelia hugged the duke in an instant.
As a result, Nelia was hit by the arrow.
Leighton was afraid. The area where the arrow pierced was close to her heart, and it was bleeding excessively. Leighton slowly took a step back. Then, he ran for the main gate while panting for breath.
Sigrid and Carlos, who opened their eyes belatedly, also raised their heads and looked around at the fishy smell of blood coming from close by.
It wasn’t long before they spotted Nelia, who had lost consciousness.
“What the hell just happened

”
Carlos forced out his strangled voice with eyes wide open.
“Who the h*ll

!”
“That’s not the point right now.”
Sigrid approached Nelia, with a solemn expression who still had her eyes closed. And he put his finger on her neck.
He felt a faint pulse.
“I have to open the door to the dimension.”
Sigrid rose with a firm face and recited a spell.
Then, a white circle appeared in the air. There was nothing but darkness inside the circle, which made it unable to see what was ahead.
“Listen carefully to my words, Duke.”
The duke slowly raised his head while still hugging Nelia. His eyes looked like he was trapped in a cave where no light could come in.
“If you cross this door, Sigrid’s heart would appear. Take the test and the heart will grant your wish.”
“

”
“And

 I can’t save the dead, but it’s possible to heal someone who almost died.”
Sigrid let out a deep sigh as he watched the duke, who lacked any responses.
Even to him, he thought the words were very sudden and unbelievable.
In this tense situation where Nelia fainted, it would be harder to believe whatever he said.
Then, the duke moved his lips.
“

Can you really save Nelia?”
There was no cadence in his subdued voice. However, it sounded desperate perhaps because of his eyes that looked at him.
“Yes, there is still time.”
“

”
“That’s why, go ahead and cross that door. There’s nothing good about wasting time like this.”
There was no answer from Duke Hart, but he stood up with Nelia still in his arms.
And he quickly entered the door of the dimension.
Relieved to see that, Sigrid turned to Carlos.
“You should hurry up and go along, too. Didn’t you come here to take the test to get Sigrid’s heart together?”
Upon the urging from Sigrid, Carlos drew his eyes from the blood and walked ahead.
When he eventually crossed the door of the dimension, Sigrid closed his eyes tightly.
“Really

 Nothing is ever going my way.”
***
When Duke Hart passed through the door of the dimension, he was in a dark cave.
When he walked quickly inside with Nelia in his arms, he saw something red flashing in the distance.
There was the dragon’s heart inside the cave, surrounded by blazing flames.
His heart was still pounding.
Before he realized it, Carlos was already standing beside Duke Hart, and murmured in wonder as he saw Sigrid’s heart.
“This is Sigrid’s heart

”
Duke Hart moved his feet as he felt Nelia shiver in his arms.
After arriving in front of Sigrid’s heart, the duke reached out without hesitation. It didn’t feel hot even if it was placed in the midst of the red flames that appeared like lava.
When the duke’s hand finally touched the beating heart, the duke’s vision turned dark.
He couldn’t see anything ahead as if he was blinded, but somehow he didn’t feel anxious about it.
Rather, a comforting feeling covered his whole body as if he were in his mother’s womb at the very beginning.
And when he opened his eyes again


“Shilian, you got up early today. What happened to our sleepyhead?”
He heard the voice of his loving father. When he turned his head, he saw his father with an expression as warm as his voice.
“Father

”
He felt like he was going to cry in delight.
It was his father, whom he had always missed. His father, whom he couldn’t even see in his dream, was appearing in front of him so vividly.
However, strangely, his sight was too low. A small hand was visible in the duke’s sight.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror beside him.
‘

!’
He looked incredibly young. He figured that he was going back to his childhood.
Strangely, it wasn’t just that.
He felt like his head was partially empty. Seeing his living father, he was so happy that her eyes turned red, but strangely, he felt empty in one corner of his heart.
As if he forgot something.
Perhaps because of that, both delight and emptiness filled his chest.
“Shilian, why are you crying?”
His father patted him on the head.
“I have to tell you good news because my Shilian is crying.”
The duke looked at him while wiping the tears from his eyes with his sleeves.
“Now, you don’t have to take transformations inhibitors.”
“

What?”
“Even if you don’t take it, you’ll still be able to maintain your human form.”
It was the situation he had dreamed of all his life, but doubts washed over him first.
“What do you mean?”
“Just as it is. The curse in the family is finally put to an end.”
Duke Hart’s mind became complicated.
‘The head of the Hart Family must have not been originally human.’
Whether it would be a dragon or a snake. The medicine was just maintaining one’s form. Therefore, it was probably impossible to be able to maintain one’s human form in the first place.
He couldn’t comprehend when his father said that the curse in the ducal family was over, but he couldn’t do anything other than nodding his head when seeing his father’s smiling face, which was brighter than ever.
“Then

 You won’t turn into a monster on the day of the total lunar eclipse?”
“Of course. Everything is finally going to be fine.”
Duke couldn’t accept the words at once.
‘

Is it true?’
However, he figured it out as time passed by.
Even though he had grown as tall as his father, when his father was beside him, he didn’t change either into a snake or a monster.
The same thing happened to him.
He didn’t have to worry about whether anyone would hate or be afraid to see him turn into a snake.
And yet, there were still times when he felt strange. As if his heart was empty, as if he had forgotten about someone.
‘Have I been forgetting something important?’
However, his current life was secured. It was as firm and secured as a noble jewel that had no flaws.
Time flew by and he grew up before he even realized it. Time passed on its own as fast as the fluttering wind.
“It’s time for our Shilian to get married.”
Duke Hart inadvertently stiffened at his mother’s words.
As he grew older, her mother often talked about marriage, but he didn’t really appreciate it.
He didn’t know why. He just didn’t feel good about it.
“There’s a young noble lady who has recently expressed her interest in you, Shilian. She is Young Lady Anath, the first daughter of the Marquis of Localin. She is widely known for her beautiful and outstanding personality.”
Duke Hart had also heard about Young Lady Anath. They actually had a brief conversation at the party.
She was surely a beautiful and kind young lady as her mother said.
However, that was all to it. He knew she would make a good bride, but he didn’t feel anything more than that.
When he showed an indifferent expression, her mother grumbled.
“Are you not interested again?”
“

”
“Anyway, you don’t know how to be grateful, Shilian.”
The duke eventually responded after heaving out a sigh.
What do you mean, Mother? That I’m not grateful?”
“It’s because you don’t seem to be grateful for being able to get married normally like others. Your father only got married to me because of the curse that turned him into a snake, but the same thing didn’t happen to you.”
Duke Hart rubbed his forehead as if he were tired of this. His mother’s repertoire. She always mentioned curses and said that he wasn’t grateful for his current life.
It was the talk she usually makes with him, but he was sensitive for some reason today.
It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to feel grateful for being able to get married normally like others.
Because


Duke Hart suddenly stopped thinking.
‘

’
He couldn’t think of anything to say after saying ‘because’.
The duke slowly closed and opened his eyes again.
He didn’t know why he felt as if his marriage were ever postponed due to the curse.
“Anyway, Shilian. If you refuse again this time, I won’t rush you to get married.”
Duke Hart couldn’t say no after seeing the expression his mother had.
“

Alright. I’ll have a talk with Young Lady Anath.”
Only then did his mother show a smile as bright as spring flowers.
“Yes, you thought it well.”
As his mother stood up with an excited gesture, she stopped in her place with widely-opened eyes.
“Oh, by the way.”
“What is it?”
“I had something to bring to your father, and I almost forgot.”
His mother spoke again with a smile.
“Shilian, will you go to the imperial palace on my behalf? I have to get other things done now.”
Although the request was burdensome, Duke Hart got up reluctantly from his seat.
“What should I bring to Father?”
***
Duke Hart brought the paperbag that his mother had handed to him and went to the imperial palace.
The duke passed the main gate and stared at the main palace for a moment.
It would be his workplace soon, but it was the kind of place he rarely ever got familiar with.
Then, someone as unfamiliar as this place passed by.
Prince Carlos.
He led the war to victory at the age of 15 with his highly extraordinary sword skill. Having the title of a ‘swordmaster, he was close to a complete master.
The title of illegitimate child didn’t matter to him. It was understandable that he, who had kept the empire safe, would earn people’s respect.
Carlos was praised as the perfect crown prince.
However, such a highly virtuous prince hated him. He used to treat the duke like an invisible being, even when they met at parties.
He didn’t know why.
However, he didn’t hate Carlos’ attitude toward him. On the contrary, he was grateful that the prince ignored him first.
His heart beat anxiously when he faced Carlos. He thought it was annoying because it reminded him of memories he didn’t want to recall. Overall, he didn’t have a good feeling about it.
“Sir Shilian.”
However, what got into him? He pretended to notice him first.
Due to this, his plan, which was to pass by and ignore him when their eyes met, ended up in vain. Once again, his heart was pounding in an unpleasant manner, but he tried to ignore it and approached him.
“Good morning, Your Highness.”
Carlos just stared at him without saying anything. Then, he spoke up slowly.
“You still look like a fool who doesn’t know anything.”