What kind of person is Irel Elorance? Raeyeon sometimes wonders.
Of course, she couldn't know. She could only vaguely guess through the attitudes of those who treated her. But one thing is clear…
‘She must have loved her family very much.’
That's for sure. Her parents, Calver and Louisa, loved their daughter to an alarming degree. To the point, they can point their finger straight at a Masaka - the one who can turn the entire kingdom into a sea of fire.
"Masaka Varkan, are you still awake? You want my daughter!!"
Calver roared, his face fierce. The Irel family, truly a noble family to the core, after confirming that their family member was safe and sound, still maintained the minimum virtue of inviting this uninvited guest into the living room.
In fact, it was more like a hearing to expose Varkan's every move, rather than a reception.
Of course, Varkan is not an easy person to deal with. Calver questioned him about taking his daughter away on his own and not returning it for many days, and why he dared to show up. Then Varkan, who was always smiling, calmly denied his actions.
Still holding that damn cigar in one lip.
"I'm sorry that I couldn't ask permission in advance. But how could I have predicted that the situation would turn out like that? I only brought Miss Irel to my house because I was afraid something bad would happen to her."
Not even a perfunctory apology or admission of guilt. With an attitude without any remorse, Varkan even glanced at Irel with eyes as sweet as honey.
“And the reason I came here… you probably understand, right.”
“Of course we understand.”
Varkan's brazenness while smoking a cigar in front of him made Calver so angry that he was speechless. In place of his father who was dangerously hypertensive, the eldest brother Michael stepped up.
"Didn't you come here because you heard that my sister is a Receiver? Like a jackal drooling hungrily, trying to get a bite of meat."
Michael coldly glared at Varkan, his voice carrying a rare contempt. This is the first time that a normally calm and upright man like him has shown such obvious disgust. In contrast to his muscular body, Michael's words were sharp, like an invisible whip whipping straight at the opponent.
“What are you talking about, I don't understand at all.”
Unfortunately, that whip was too soft to cause any damage to Varkan. He just shrugged his shoulders, acting indifferently, as if he really didn't understand what Michael was implying. Then, with a calm and brazen expression, he revealed his dark intentions wrapped in a shiny, artificially sweet shell.
“Just like butterflies are fascinated by the scent of flowers, it is only natural for a young man like me to be attracted to an attractive girl, right?”
“So… you're saying you love my daughter?”
Calver, because of the anger that rose to the top of his head, became terrifyingly cold. He smiled, an ironic smile covered with ice. Faced with that atmosphere, Varkan remained undeterred; he replied with a bright smile, so bright that it made others even more disgusted.
"I fell in love with her at first sight. Please accept my proposal."
That was the final straw, the final limit of Calver's patience. A resounding "bang" tore through the quiet space, the ancient wooden table in the living room was smashed in half. His clenched fist was still shaking with anger.
"You took my daughter away on your own, only to return it a few days later, and now you have the audacity to propose marriage? What kind of disrespect is this! Even if you are Masaka, you still have to maintain a minimum of integrity and morality, right?"
In this situation, the fact that Masaka is a privileged class becomes more hateful than ever. They are the only weapon humanity can rely on against Kitane, and because of that, they are allowed to escape almost all punishment.
Even if it kills people.
“…Hmm.”
Even when the table shattered and made a loud noise right in front of him, Varkan still did not move. Leaning back against the sofa comfortably, his whole body exuded incomprehensible confidence, as if nothing could hurt him. Oh, of course, accompanied by rich cigar smoke.
“I can't understand it.”
Varkan exhaled smoke and spoke in a low voice. Then he continued, as if trying to persuade, with a dark smirk.
“I don't think I'm an unworthy groom.”
Having finished speaking, Varkan stubbed out the ashes of his smoked cigar on the broken table. In fact, he is an outstanding person in terms of property, honor and personal ability. His tone was breathtakingly arrogant, as if he didn't understand why they rejected him.
He actually looked around as if he were examining the idiots who didn't know how to distinguish diamonds. Masaka, Son of the God Master. The privileged class can own anything they want. The eyes that were clearly looking down at them made the Irel family grit their teeth.
For more than twenty years, they have cherished and cared for Irel Elorance. But that damn Masaka suddenly appeared, making a shameless request, demanding to turn their beloved member into prey. The look of his arms clearly stretched out, as if he was searching for the item he had sent, was so disgusting that they wanted to spit in his face.
“It's really impossible to reason.”
After a moment of silence, Calver spoke. His face looked at Varkan with contemptuous eyes, as if he were a disobedient animal.
"I'm warning you. Never bother my daughter again and get out of here immediately. That way, I won't pursue any further responsibility."
If you go out and die by Kitane's hands, all the better.
Calver gritted his teeth and muttered more, causing the smile on Varkan's lips to disappear.
Masaka are creatures born solely to kill Kitane. It was a glorious mission bestowed upon them by the Godhead, and for this alone the Masakas endured the terrible pain that flowed through their blood. Calver's words offended the entire value of their existence, no different from touching the scales upside down.
Irel, who stood back, also clearly witnessed the change on Varkan's face. Even though she watched because there was no chance to intervene due to the tense atmosphere, she knew she couldn't continue like this.
“Masaka Varkan.”
At this moment, Louisa, who had been sitting quietly next to Calver from the beginning until now, softly raised her voice.
“If it's okay, as her mother, I would like to say a word.”
“Please, ma'am.”
Varkan politely yielded, acting as if he were granting her the privilege of speaking. However, the last remaining freedom in him disappeared in the next moment.
"Watching it again and again, this disrespect is truly intolerable. I heard that you came from a wealthy family, but other than that, a man like you can't learn anything else."
Those were words that even Calver, even though he was so angry that he was about to explode, did not dare to utter. Yet Louisa, with a coldly calm expression, let them go without the slightest hesitation. Every word she said was like a sharp knife, stabbing straight into the fragile pride that Varkan tried to hide behind a fake smile.
Masaka's reputation, whether he likes it or not, still resonates everywhere. And so, stories about their past are also spread, distorted but still haunting. It is often said that whoever can endure the hottest fire can become the sharpest sword. Perhaps that is why most Masaka have a past full of injuries. Among them, Varkan is the one with a particularly sad story.
His mother was originally a prostitute who worked on the lowest floor of the mansion. According to regulations, those who give birth to Masaka must report to the Temple of God to receive rewards and houses. But, for some reason, Varkan's mother did not do so. While she was busy selling smiles to customers, Varkan was given to other courtesans to raise.
Until one day, a Kitane suddenly broke through the city wall and hid in the green palace area - the place with the weakest defense system. It massacred all the prostitutes in there. It was in that blood-stained place that Varkan's abilities first broke out. He lost his mother, but in return, he was reborn - from the illegitimate son of an unknown prostitute to "Son of the God Lord."
That sudden and dramatic change in status caused a stir in public opinion. Gossip, slander, jealousy and malice enveloped him like a mist that would not dissipate. And Varkan Ha Mash, who was born with a strange mischievous instinct, likes to create reasons for others to hate him.
He is a villain, but has an extraordinary charisma that makes people unable to stop. When he grew up, he built his own power, and that organization made those who once despised Varkan pay a heavy price - with honor, with status, even with their lives.
The sun rules the kingdom alone, but the darkness that that light does not touch is Varkan's domain. He is the King of the Night, the embodiment of sinister revenge.
Now, no one dares to criticize or laugh at him anymore. At least until now.
"…OH."
Varkan was silent for a moment at the insult Louisa poured out, then opened his mouth.
“Even though I came from a wealthy family, that's why I ended up in this situation, but I thought an educated lady like you would speak more noblely.”
Varkan crossed his legs, leaned back on the sofa, slowly sarcastically. His face still maintained a smile, but his lazy eyes now shone with clear murderous intent.
Unfortunately, this side has nothing to lose either. Louisa is like a mother bird desperately trying to protect her young from the teeth of a curious cat.
Even though she couldn't fight back, she still had to raise her beak, show her weak claws, and use an exaggerated attitude to chase them away. It is the morality of parents to protect their children.
"Love my daughter at first sight? With eyes like that of a lizard looking at a fly? Let's get rid of these ridiculous words."
The corners of Louisa's lips trembled. This was the first time a gentle lady like her raised her voice against a strong and threatening man like Varkan.
"You don't care what kind of person my daughter is, what she likes, or how to make her happy. Don't you?"
“Countess Elorance.”
Varkan called her name as a final warning. His voice was as fragile as a store of gunpowder about to explode. But Louisa, although trembling with overwhelming emotions, did not stop.
"Do you know why? Because what you want is just a convenient Receiver, nothing more and nothing less!!"
Louisa's voice gradually rose, and ended on a note of sadness.