The Heroines Who Framed Me Are Clinging to Me

Chapter 10 - The Blood Cult

Standing outside the room of the Grey Duchess, Lloyd swallowed dry saliva as he waited to be summoned.

A faint scent of blood lingered in the air, subtle enough that an ordinary person might not notice, but Lloyd knew this was no ordinary place.

‘Are they sacrificing people here?’

The scent of blood was strong enough to suggest that something sinister was happening within these walls.

If the estate was running something like a blood farm, it certainly wasn\'t good news for Lloyd.

As a captured slave, he knew he could easily end up as one of their offerings.

‘I need to prove my value somehow.’

If he couldn’t do that, he’d likely end up as nothing more than a sacrifice.

Surviving in this cursed mansion until he found a way to escape was his first priority.

“Enter.”

A voice called from beyond the door.

The voice was mature and elegant, but there was an undercurrent of something far more menacing.

◆

Villains.

Most people aren’t strictly good or evil, but there are always those who stand at the extremes.

The Grey Duchess was a prime example.

Her light gray hair was elegantly tied back, her posture exuding grace and power. She wore a purple dress that matched her piercing eyes, and even the bare, sensuous skin that peeked out from beneath her gown seemed to radiate authority. She was a villain who had transformed even her allure into a tool of power.

She smiled as she looked at Lloyd.

“You’ve come.”

What else could I do? If I had tried to escape, I would have watched my limbs being torn apart in front of my very eyes. The ‘journal’—that eerily accurate guide—had labeled her a villain, and those deemed villains by the journal were usually capable of such atrocities.

“Yes.”

“Was the transport carriage to your liking? I couldn’t make any special arrangements for you. All the children purchased at the auction had to ride in that carriage.”

Her words were soft, but Lloyd felt a cold chill, as if a snake were slowly wrapping itself around him. Though he didn’t show it, the atmosphere in the mansion was anything but normal.

“No, it was fine.”

—Hehe.

The Duchess chuckled softly behind her fan.

“You’re quite adept at playing along, despite your age.”

“What does age have to do with knowing one’s place?”

As he responded, Lloyd took a deep breath.

There was a sweet yet metallic scent in the air.

What is that smell?

He glanced around the room and noticed a vase of bright red flowers on an antique table. They smelled like blood.

— ‘Blood…’

The voice in his head whispered again.

Recently, the voice had become more vivid, almost as if it were gaining strength. Was he losing his mind? Hearing voices was a clear sign that he wasn’t sane.

Lloyd bit down on the inside of his cheek.

He needed to ignore the voice. Right now, he had to play the part of someone normal.

The journal, 【The Grey Duke Family (II)】, had only unlocked when he was brought here as a ‘test subject’ or something similar. In other words, his current status was that of a ‘test subject.’

Whatever that entailed, it certainly didn’t mean a normal life as a slave.

So Lloyd needed to win over the Duchess.

“So, how do you plan to justify the 100 million crones I paid for you?”

She asked the question calmly.

To Lloyd, it sounded like this:

‘If you can’t prove that you’re worth 100 million crones, you’ll become a test subject, child.’

The obvious retort—‘I never asked you to buy me for 100 million crones’—would be pointless.

She would just respond with, ‘Then prepare to become a test subject.’

Lloyd slowly raised his head.

The Duchess’s smile was confident and commanding.

This was her domain.

From the moment he entered, the playing field had been tilted in her favor.

Lloyd couldn’t help but be impressed.

‘I’ve never seen anyone in this world with such political acumen.’

She knew how to negotiate.

By trapping someone within her own space and negotiating within the boundaries she had set, she always ensured she got what she wanted.

This was also one of Lloyd’s favorite strategies.

‘Well, that’s how she managed to seize control of the Duke’s estate despite being a widow.’

So, what now?

He had become the hunted.

There were two approaches that came to mind.

The first was to prove that he was worth more than 100 million crones.

Or...

‘Break the rules of the game.’

Lloyd knelt on one knee, his posture respectful, but his words blunt.

“Duchess, you seek the throne, or at least something equivalent.”

The Duchess fell silent.

The playful gleam in her eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating stare that could freeze someone in their tracks.

Gulp.

Maybe he’d gone too far.

Even if he intended to disrupt the game, he had just brought up something that the Duchess likely considered a well-guarded secret. It was a move that could easily put him in her bad graces.

“…Ahahahahahaha!”

After a moment, the Duchess laughed.

Her laugh was chillingly beautiful, unrestrained by the fan she had been using to conceal her mouth. But beneath the sharp, hidden gaze of a cat’s claws, there was something unsettling.

“And if I were?”

Her tone had grown cold.

This was the crucial moment.

His fate depended on how he responded.

“If that is indeed your goal, then I would advise you to wait.”

“Wait?”

“Yes. Right now, you don’t have the space to expand your influence.”

“Space?”

She raised an eyebrow, a slight smile returning to her face.

“Interesting. Go on, explain what you mean.”

Lloyd’s heart raced.

This was a woman who had risen from humble beginnings to become the Duchess, the matriarch of the Grey Duke Family, and even then, she wasn’t satisfied. How could he satisfy her?

He needed to think big.

“The continent is currently divided into three powers.”

“…Three? There’s the Holy Constantine Empire, the Britannia Empire... Who is the third?”

“The heroes. Saint Aria, Princess Aina, and Claire of the Harold Trading Company. The three heroes.”

“But those girls belong to their respective factions.”

“However, you must have noticed how the common people view them differently. They practically worship them.”

The three heroes had slain the Demon King, who had tormented the continent for decades.

And they had also dealt with the traitorous hero from another world who had plotted to sell out the continent.

Regardless of the truth, the people’s support for them was unwavering and even reverential.

That, in itself, was power.

“So, what you’re suggesting is…”

“Yes. In the current situation, the Duchess has no room to maneuver. The legitimacy of the Empire, the sanctity of the Holy Church, and the legend of the three heroes—these alone have already filled the continent’s power structure.”

The Duchess opened her fan.

With a graceful flick, she brought it to her lips and lightly fanned herself before speaking again.

“We need to push the three heroes aside.”

“Exactly.”

“And wait?”

“The Demon King was defeated just a year ago. The reverence for the heroes will only continue to grow stronger.”

This explanation should suffice.

The Duchess seemed far more knowledgeable about politics and power than any other person Lloyd had encountered in this world. She was like a thousand-year-old fox.

Swoosh.

The Duchess smiled, crossing her legs in satisfaction. Lloyd quickly averted his eyes from the white skin that peeked out.

“That will be enough for today.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I didn’t have high expectations, but you may yet prove to be worth your price.”

“I hope I can continue to meet your expectations.”

“Of course.”

The Duchess stood with a soft smile.

Then, she personally opened the door.

“You’ll need to go through a few procedures. Don’t worry too much; you can rest afterward.”

…So far, so good.

Lloyd exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

“Thank you. But may I ask why you’re being so kind to me?”

She chuckled.

“What a bold question. Are you assuming I’m fond of you?”

“I can’t stand not knowing.”

“I’ll return the favor by using your own words.”

“……?”

“A tool belongs in the shed, a gem in the jewelry box. I liked that you understood a woman’s heart.”

Clap, clap. The Duchess clapped lightly.

Just the sound of it triggered Lloyd’s PTSD. Clap, clap, clap, clap. The applause echoed in his mind, and the voice inside him grew louder and more insistent.

— I smell blood… Let’s sever those wrists.

‘...Damn it.’

Why was the voice becoming clearer?

At first, Lloyd thought it was just his imagination, but now it seemed more like someone else’s voice. It felt like it had become even more distinct since he entered this mansion...

No. It doesn’t matter. Don’t listen.

Let’s just chalk it up to the strange atmosphere in this mansion.

— ‘Didn’t you have a question?’

Ah.

Without realizing it, Lloyd found himself speaking.

“I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Earlier, I saw some of the children being taken into the basement. Where were they being taken?”

“The basement?”

“Yes.”

The Duchess tilted her head, her expression puzzled.

“What are you talking about?”

“…?”

“There’s no basement in this mansion.”

But he was sure he saw them being taken down there.

“You must have been seeing things. You’re probably exhausted. Go and get some rest.”

◆

After Lloyd left the room, a butler approached the Duchess.

“He’s certainly no ordinary child.”

“You think so too?”

“Yes.”

The Duchess\'s thoughts were the same. From the first time she saw Lloyd, she felt it. The child was special. For someone in their early 10s, he was exceptionally bold and intelligent. That alone was enough to be valuable.

"The 100 million crones were not a waste."

"But we mustn\'t forget the purpose for which we bought the child."

"That\'s true. What do you think? Do you think the child might be \'the vessel\' for \'that person\'?"

The Duchess pronounced \'that person\' quietly.

"I don\'t think so."

"Why?"

"He has shown restraint. Even amidst the smell of blood in this place. The ruler of darkness is not someone who has such patience."

"True. He did not hesitate to speak about the podium. It’s different from the child’s personality."

The butler nodded quietly.

"Even if we fail to notice it, if the child stays in the mansion, that person will naturally reveal themselves. No matter how special Lloyd might be, could a human body withstand the status of the person?"

"That’s true. How about the other children? Did any of them have the potential to be a vessel?"

"After thorough examination, it seems none of them do."

"Hmm. Did we miss something? It was said that that person would reveal themselves at this auction."

"It was unavoidable because the three heroes are involved. But that person can be resurrected without our help. There’s no need to rush."

"Alright."

The Duchess leaned lightly on her desk and continued speaking.

"Let’s wait a bit as the child suggested."

"And what about the other children? Should we dispose of them as originally planned? We do need some test subjects after all…"

"No. Let’s observe them a little longer."

"Observe them? How?"

"Let’s use Lloyd as their prey. Apparently, he hasn’t been getting along well since the carriage."

"Yes."

"Oh, and what about the poison?"

The butler opened the wooden box he was holding.

— Squirm, squirm.

At a glance, black, poisonous-looking insects wriggled inside the box.

"Should we feed them all?"

"Feed them all. Including Lloyd."