Who Could Have Loved the Monster Princess? - Chapter 37

‘Normally, focusing on a single sense in a place like this would be dangerous, but…’

The sound was also an attack from the vengeful spirit. However, since it wasn’t directed at me, someone else must be under attack right now.

‘Perhaps it’s not a very powerful vengeful spirit?’

It seemed that the vengeful spirit wasn’t separating people into different spaces. Instead, anyone who invaded the territory appeared to be trapped in the same space. After all, the Demon King was dead, and there couldn’t possibly be a master-level vengeful spirit from the ruins in the Mondsera Mountains in a place like this.

‘At 4 o’clock…’

I succeeded in determining the direction and stepped toward it. But then, the sound of the vengeful spirit ceased, replaced by the sound of metal clashing.

“Damn it! It’s not that it couldn’t separate the space because it’s weak! It’s trying to bring about mutual destruction!”

As I got closer to the source of the noise, I could hear shouting and curses as well.

“Die! You bastards!”

I could tell instantly who it was. Those idiots I had left behind earlier.

‘How far does the vengeful spirit’s domain extend? Has it already spread to the vicinity of the manor?’

The situation was dire. I wasn’t sure if Sean was aware of what was happening or if his abilities had weakened after his retirement, causing him to take longer to deal with these evil spirits.

Sean was only twenty-three years old, but ever since he was five, he had been purifying the lands that had been ravaged by monsters. It wouldn’t be surprising if his powers had diminished after five years since the Demon King’s defeat.

The chaos continued as I rushed towards the scene, the sounds of the fight still ringing in my ears.

“Damn you! Because of your filthy tongue, we’re stuck in this hellhole where only commoners live!”

“You were the one who started with the damn lizard talk! You said you could seduce anyone if you just set your mind to it!”

“Die, all of you!”

“Ughh!”

The air was thick with curses, screams, and bitter resentment. It was a complete mess.

‘Oh no…! They’re farther than I thought.’

No, it seemed like the vengeful spirit was actively preventing me from reaching them, trying to stop me from intervening by dragging me into the chaos of their deaths. The deeper I focused on their voices, the more I realized how intense the situation was.

When I finally arrived, they were all on the ground, gravely wounded, their bodies battered and broken. Yet, despite their condition, they still managed to spew hate and venom.

As soon as Geoffrey saw me, he let out a furious yell.

“It’s because of you! It’s all your fault, you monster, that I’m in this mess!”

“I—I was just trying to return to the manor! Why—why is this happening to me?!”

Under the possession of the evil spirit, Little threw a rock at Geoffrey’s head with a sickening thud, and he crumpled forward, face hitting the ground. I rushed over and turned him just enough to check.

‘Didn’t crack his skull, at least.’

He was still breathing. Whether he was actually all right would need a healer to say, but for now, no one was dead. His blade that had fallen nearby was decorative — flashy, not functional. It explained how they’d walked away with only bruises.

‘Small mercies, I guess.’

Little was curled up beside them, sobbing uncontrollably. His cheek was swollen, and dusty boot prints were stamped across his back. Someone had clearly taken their frustrations out on him.

I pulled a small lock of my hair free and tucked it into each of their pockets, one by one.

‘Cursed lady’s hair.’

A potent charm ingredient — just a few strands could serve as a talisman.

It was an unlucky talisman, sure, but a talisman all the same. It wouldn’t save them from misfortune, but it might buy them some protection from the spirit trying to consume them. Bad luck was the lesser curse right now.

‘Now… how was it you broke free from a spirit’s territory again…?’

Up until I was fourteen, my father had taught me all sorts of things about monsters and the Demon King. But ever since I came to inherit the Duchy of Staedt, I’d been too busy learning what was needed to lead the family, so most of what I learned as a child had grown hazy.

I couldn’t get a sense of direction, and even my perception of distance felt dull.

‘There must be something the wraith has possessed.’

To resolve this, I had to find whatever object or location the wraith had latched onto. I didn’t have a way to destroy it, but with the curse placed on me, I could restrain or seal it.

I should have learned this from long ago. For someone like me, who could usually brute-force her way through anything, the idea of being trapped forever in a space like this was one of the few real threats.

As I scanned the area for a clue to jog my memory, I noticed a faint shadow slipping out just beneath my feet.

‘I remember now!’

The direction the shadow pointed — the place where the darkness overlapped — was where the master of this space would be.

I moved forward cautiously, step by step, careful not to lose my sense of direction under the wraith’s spell. I could feel its power growing stronger.

Then, from the direction I was heading, I heard voices. There were other people here.

‘I can’t protect everyone right now. Focus on subduing the wraith first.’

With that resolve, I pushed aside the brush blocking my path — and was met with familiar faces.

“Sean? Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

Sean had his staff aimed squarely at Crown Prince Carnelian’s throat, while the prince was gripping the staff to keep it at bay.

“Darling,”

“Belienne.”

Each of them called out to me once, then both took two steps back.

“Were you possessed by the wraith?”

I asked the crown prince directly. He frowned.

“I’m the one who was just attacked.”

“I don’t think Your Highness is possessed, so what happened?”