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Chapter 04

My assumption now is that this man in front of me has a son named Dean, and Dean is my current self. More precisely, I am the one who turned into that man, because I am now occupying a body that does not belong to me. This sounds strange and I myself feel confused to be in this situation, but in fact I can only believe that this is really happening.

Back to the current situation. I was still silent, unable to believe the words that came out of the mouth of the man in front of me-a man that I had never even considered as a part of my life. Yet in this world, he was my father, or rather, the father of the body that I now occupied. Dean. That name rang in my head again, haunting my every step since I was trapped in this absurd dimension.

“You will be their mate,” repeated the man who claimed to be my father-King Domiano, in a firm voice that left no room for protest. However, the protest still erupted from my mouth without me being able to stop it.

“What’s bothering your head that you’d sacrifice your own son for this?! I don’t even know what interest you have in doing that! It doesn’t benefit me in any way!”

The words rushed from my lips, accompanied by anger that burned in my chest. I don’t know where my courage came from, but one thing I knew for sure-I couldn’t accept this. Whatever this man’s intentions were, whatever the reason behind this crazy sacrifice, nothing could justify what he did to his own son. To Dean of course.

I don’t understand what the outcome of the agreement that man made, but the fact that I know for sure is that it will be favourable for this man.

‘Oh my, I just remembered,’ I thought with a tense face.

I just remembered the story that the museum guard told me. I, who had been to the museum many times, would occasionally chat with the old man and he would tell me the story behind this painting which was either historical or just the philosophy of the painting that I loved.

The main character in the painting was a crown prince and the only son of a king named King Domiano. And because he is bound by a treaty, the life of the man or Dean is adrift due to being fought over by two beings who are so majestic but have a never-ending dispute.

This is bad, if indeed I am really trapped in the story in the painting then that means I am now replacing the main character in the painting. What exactly is this world? How do I get out of here?

Alright, back to the current situation.

He just looked at me with a disturbed-looking face, as if I was just a child throwing a tantrum for no reason. His look of conviction made my anger even more intense. I didn’t want to be here, didn’t want to be part of this madness.

Without waiting for a response from King Domiano, I turned around and left the room with heavy steps. My head was spinning, my heart in turmoil. How could a father do this to his son? Sacrifice? Become a mate for angels and demons? What was this? A bad joke prepared by fate?

I continued to walk, travelling through the hallways of the palace that looked so unfamiliar yet somehow felt familiar. Every wall, every arch, every pillar bore a strange resemblance to the museum I visited before everything went dark. My heart was beating faster and faster. The more I looked, the more convinced I became that this place did indeed have a connection to that museum. Is it possible that this world is connected to my original world through paintings?

However, I didn’t have time to analyse all that. My steps quickened, trying to find a place to calm my mind. I passed through several doors before finally finding a bedroom that looked quite large. Without thinking, I pushed the door open and entered, locking myself inside the room.

I took a deep breath, my back resting against the wooden door that I locked tightly. My head was throbbing, as if every word that came out of King Domiano’s mouth had hit me hard. Sacrifice? An offering? What exactly happened to Dean? How could a father do this to his son?

The old man who guarded the museum only told a very short story that King Domiano made a pact with the devil and the angels, but it didn’t explain what kind of sacrifice it was and what it was for. I at least need a little more clues so that I can solve the problem here, no that’s too far, I’m not a hero who can solve problems. I mean, at least I can get out of here by any means necessary.

I stepped towards the large bed in the centre of the room, then sat on its edge, looking at the room around me. A feeling of emptiness slowly began to creep into my heart. If I, as an outsider, felt so trapped and betrayed, how did Dean really feel? Did he know his fate before he disappeared? Did he know that his father had sold him-literally-to two beings who were vying to make him their mate?

“Dean...” I murmured softly, the sound strange to my own ears. Dean wasn’t me, but I was now in his body. Is this a punishment? Or a bad luck that somehow befell me?

The thought was suffocating my chest. I felt as if I was trapped in the body of someone whose life was full of suffering. How could a son be betrayed by his own father in such a cruel way? King Domiano should have protected Dean, not made him a bargaining chip between the forces of heaven and hell.

My reverie was broken when there was a knock on the door. I let out a long sigh, not wanting to talk to anyone right now, let alone King Domiano. I heard his voice calling me from outside the door.

“Dean, we need to talk.” A man’s voice called out to me.

I bit my lip, feeling angry and frustrated. I didn’t want to talk to him. I didn’t even want to see his face.

“Go away! I don’t want to talk to you!” I shouted, my voice breaking with the emotions raging in my chest.

There was silence behind the door, yet I could sense that he was still standing there, wishing I would open the door and listen to his explanation. But I won’t. I couldn’t. How could I listen to a man who would sacrifice his own child for benefits I couldn’t even understand? Even if I did understand it, I still couldn’t accept the practice of offering anything to a child.

Finally, I heard his footsteps moving away, and silence fell over the room once more. I sat on the edge of the bed, pensive. I tried to make sense of the situation, tried to imagine what happened to Dean before I took over his body. How could he survive a life like this? How could he face his father who was so heartless?

Tears started to well up in my eyes. Dean must have felt so alone. A feeling I had now, as if I could feel his pain. No one deserves to be treated like this, let alone by his own family.

While I was still immersed in that thought, a voice came from the direction of the window. I raised my head quickly, and my chest was pounding. There, stood Junigo. He looked so majestic and terrifying at the same time. His black wings stretched out behind him, creating shadows that floated throughout the room.

The sparkle emanating from his crimson eyes evoked both fear and a fascination I couldn’t explain.

“Why do you reject me so much, sweet man?” his voice was low, almost a whisper that filled the room. “We are a perfect match. What’s so hard about accepting a handsome ruling demon like me?”

He stepped forward, getting closer to me, until finally standing right in front of me. I was still silent, caught between fear and strange attraction. How could a demon like him speak so softly? Was he tricking me? How horrible.

Junigo stretched out his hand, reaching for my chin with cold yet sweet fingers. His touch made my body tremble, but I couldn’t move, as if I was hypnotised by his presence.

“You can’t get away from me, Dean,” he continued, His voice getting lower. “I’ve waited too long for you.”

I swallowed hard, trying to find the words to respond, but nothing came out. It all felt so confusing. I wasn’t Dean, but in Junigo’s eyes, I was Dean. And at the same time, his gentle touch seemed to suppress all logic I had. I didn’t know what to do-resist, or give in to this man who was ‘supposedly’ a demon.

Junigo brings his face closer, making me feel a warm rush inside my body, this I can’t just refuse, not because I don’t want to but I can’t but Junigo’s gesture won’t allow me to refuse.

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