Back then, I wondered why my elder sister spoke so desperately, and why Zachary, without any response, just left to continue his killing spree. But now, I understand.

He was just a child when he endured such brutal treatment.

I didn’t know his exact age, but he couldn’t have been older than me.

Enduring torture that even adults would find unbearable, and subjected to brainwashing sorcery… How could he remain unscathed?

‘Should I have risked running into the duke and come earlier?’

No, even if I had come earlier, could I have changed anything?

I was living in a flower garden.

To me, the duke was always smiling gently. But he wasn’t just any noble, he was a man who held secrets of the kingdom and the royal family. The power of the Serpentine family was immense, and so naturally, their deeds were equally cruel.

‘Gaining his affection? Disrupting the plan?’

This was beyond my capabilities.

It was a ludicrous plan.

How could anyone feel affection for a family that had tortured them so mercilessly? Even putting myself in his shoes, the conclusion was the same.

If someone tortured me, subjected me to a horrendous curse that took away my control over my own body, stealing my youth… Of course, I would burn with vengeance. I would think nothing less than their utter annihilation would suffice.

‘He’s too injured.’

Moreover, affection can only be fostered with a conscious individual, and Zachary was far from that state. My carefully crafted plan crumbled.

Feeling unbearably ashamed, I realized that knowing about an impending disaster didn’t necessarily mean I could change it. I had read stories in my previous life about people who knew the future and actively worked to change it.

I had believed that, like those protagonists, I could also act and alter the narrative. But now, all such hopes were shattered.

I was helpless.

So inept that even knowing the future, I had no means to change it.

Of course, if I only considered my survival, the solution was simple.

The source of all upcoming calamities was Zachary. Killing him here and now would prevent everything. He was utterly defenseless. If I brought a weapon and struck a vital spot, he would easily die.

So, if I solely wanted to survive and avoid a brutal death at the future Zachary’s hands, the logical action would be to eliminate him now.

‘But it’s wrong to kill for my survival.’

I had no desire to do so.

If I killed Zachary just to save myself, I felt it wouldn’t be living at all. What meaning could there be in a life sustained by taking another’s?

Besides, the Zachary before me looked so pitiable that I couldn’t bear to harm him. Instead, I felt an overwhelming urge to help him.

‘In the end, I can’t do anything but wait and brace myself for what’s to come.’

Would it have been different if Zachary had been conscious? Or if I had been a more positive and less cynical person, might I have found a new way to make things easier?

As these thoughts crossed my mind, I consciously avoided looking at Zachary. His presence was distressing, his appearance shockingly pitiable. Even this brief encounter would likely stay etched in my memory until my dying day.

I decided to retreat for now.

I needed to reflect and think things through calmly, having resigned myself to the fact that there was nothing I could do at this moment.

“…free, me.”

A chill ran down my spine as if struck by lightning.

I turned around, but no one was there. In the eerily silent setting, Zachary’s form remained unchanged, still slumped and lifeless, with no visible movement in his fingers.

‘I thought I heard a hoarse voice.’

But now, only silence filled the space. An indescribably eerie feeling washed over me.

Could it be a ghost?

In a family known for sorcery and curses, the presence of ghosts wouldn’t be strange. Overwhelmed with fear, I hastened my steps.

However, the voice that followed convinced me I hadn’t imagined it.

“Save… me, please.”

The voice was too distinct to be a hallucination. Reacting to the clear five syllables, I instinctively turned around and saw the only other being here capable of speaking.

He remained motionless, his posture unchanged. Yet, upon closer observation, there was a sign.

“Please.”

As he spoke, droplets of blood, clinging to the ends of his hair, fell with a soft sound to the floor.

Realizing that it was Zachary calling out in a worn-out voice, my mouth fell open.

“Are you okay?”

The moment I realized it was Zachary speaking to me, there was no hesitation. I had already spent all my time for hesitation in deciding to come here. I sprang up and sat down in front of him, looking up at him.

Up close, the boy’s eyes were still empty.

Originally, they were a deep blue, symbolizing his lineage from the Holy Empire, loved by the gods. But now, they looked lifeless, like a doll’s eyes. Yet, in his desire to live, he somehow managed to focus those vacant eyes on me.

“Save me, please.”

A pale voice leaked from his dry, bloodless lips. His voice was hoarse and broken, but there was a youthful quality to it.

‘What in the world…’

His appearance, the emptiness in his clouded, dull eyes, everything was baffling.

Moreover, considering the time that had passed since entering this place, I was convinced he must have reached the third stage of the ‘education.’ Wasn’t it supposed to render him incapable of expressing his will?

I examined Zachary calmly, trying to understand why he was in such a state. After a while, it became clear.

‘…The sorcery didn’t take hold properly.’

It had been five days.

By this time, he should have well entered the third stage. As I recall, the duke mentioned that the third stage prevents any form of self-expression. Yet, even after five days, he was still able to plead for his life?

‘It might be because of his divine power.’

Although not conclusively proven, it’s said that in ancient times, sorcery was shunned as a power contrary to the gods. As a result, sorcerers were expelled from the Holy Empire, and only our family persevered in this path.

If sorcery is indeed antagonistic to divine power, it might not work effectively on someone beloved by the gods.

‘That’s why they resorted to such intense torture.’

Mental torture alone can break most people’s will. However, there are a few with strong self-identities, often those who have been trained for a long time as key national intelligence sources, who do not easily lose themselves. These individuals typically endure more severe physical torture.

Those subjected to such harsh torture often endure unimaginable levels of pain. The duke didn’t go into detail about this, either considering my young age or perhaps he himself was not keen on discussing it.

The reason is apparent. Such cruelty is horrifying.

“…It hurts. I’m cold.”

Zachary murmured softly in front of me.

Even with his brief expression, I couldn’t begin to imagine the extent of his pain.

I sighed as I looked at my empty pockets. I should have brought something with me. What was I thinking coming here so unprepared, as if I was just out for a stroll?

Seeing Zachary covered in wounds, I didn’t know where to start or how to treat him, but I desperately wanted to apply some kind of ointment to ease his pain.

‘But the duke is too sensitive; he would notice even that.’

Topical medications have a scent. Even if I used colorless and odorless medicine, the feeling of something applied to the skin would be noticeable. Especially someone as sensitive as the duke would easily detect it.

So, there really was nothing I could do.

I couldn’t apply medicine, help him, or even facilitate his escape. The realization of my own helplessness was disheartening, but this wasn’t the time to wallow in self-pity.

“I’ll bring you some medicine.”

A somewhat viable idea came to mind. While topical ointments would be noticeable, oral medication would be less likely to be detected unless someone inspected his insides.

“Just wait here and I’ll…”

“Please save me.”

“…”

“It hurts.”

His dazed face continued to repeat the same words.

Clenching my fist, I quickly knocked six times and pushed myself into the passageway.

Staring into the endless darkness of the tunnel, I held out the glowing stone and began to crawl forward.