The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

96 – The Turning Point

Glen’s criticism pierced Leticia’s heart like a sharp knife.

In retrospect, she was the one who triggered Glen’s misfortune.

Glen, abandoned by humans, grew up in an orphanage. The director of the orphanage was cruel and often beat the children. So, when the director got drunk, the children would tiptoe down the hallway to avoid being seen.

One day, Glen overheard the director’s conversation through a slightly ajar door.

The director had decided to sell Glen, who had exceptional looks since childhood, to a nobleman with pedophilic tendencies.

The decision was bold and swift. Glen escaped from the orphanage, taking his young body with him.

Glen was seven years old. It was a harsh winter.

The runaway Glen became a beggar, settling in an alleyway and starting to beg. He would occasionally offer his meager earnings to the local gangsters. At least he could eat and survive, which was a relief. That was until the police investigating a murder case swept through the alleyway.

With nowhere to go, Glen wandered aimlessly, day and night, without distinction.

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When he was on the verge of starving to death, he even stole things. Once, he got caught stealing an apple and was beaten to a pulp. The memory still lingered.

That was how he survived until the dawn of his ninth year.

Glen was kidnapped.

The reason was that he resembled a member of the fallen royal family.

Glen, who was sold into the slave market, received training for several months. It was a process of breaking his wild, survival instincts and taming him to obey his future master. He repeated the practice of submission countless times.

Later, he was put up for sale in an illegal auction.

That was when Glen saw a divine being descending from the sky.

A god with golden radiance, judging evil, and a voice that proclaimed justice. His hands performed miracles, healing wounds.

It was a moment of salvation he would never experience again.

At the end of that thread of mercy, Glen arrived at this place, the starting point of everything, and the beginning of a severed connection.

“I…”

Leticia couldn’t continue speaking.

The situation wasn’t good. It couldn’t be helped at that time.

… The excuse was too heavy, weighed down by the deep regret in her dark eyes, which resembled his.

“…”

Of course, the situation back then was an unprecedented political crisis.

Leticia’s tearful plea led to the disappearance of many demon elites without a trace. The solitary child who appeared, bearing the name of the baptism, was powerful enough to overturn the earth and pierce the sky.

It was truly overwhelming.

Even if she covered up other mistakes, the fact that the saint who was supposed to become the next high priestess had died was a blow that cornered Leticia, who was human. The demons’ resentment turned to hatred, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they turned their blades against Leticia, even if she was the only companion of the demon king.

He was still a child who couldn’t even speak properly. No matter how hard he struggled, it wouldn’t be strange if he got caught up in a conspiracy and died instantly.

So, she sent him away as a human.

It’s impossible for a non-demon to take the demon king’s throne, anyway. So, I believed it would be better to grow up among my own kind.

Strangely, the situation took a drastic turn with just one decision.

The demon king’s consort, who felt threatened, abandoned her own child. It was the crown prince, born after numerous sacrifices by many women. No one expected Letisha to go that far, so the impact was immense.

Before long, public opinion turned against Letisha, and everyone was watching the demon king’s reaction.

In a way, it was a twisted behavior where the mother benefited from her child’s sacrifice. Therefore, it was only natural that Letisha couldn’t even make excuses.

“… I don’t know how to apologize to you.”

“You don’t need to apologize.”

“But why…”

“It doesn’t matter what the past was like. I’m living well with the people who care about me.”

Glen’s next words pierced Letisha’s guilt deeply.

“… So, I want to leave the past in the past now.”

“Ah…”

From Letisha’s perspective, Glen was always in the present progressive tense. No matter how much time passed, Glen was a precious child who would eventually be reclaimed.

However, Glen said he had already buried Letisha in the past. In Glen’s happiness, surrounded by many people, Letisha was no longer necessary.

Letisha, who realized the asymmetry of their relationship, couldn’t help but sigh.

“I’m sorry, Glen.”

“You don’t need to apologize, I said.”

“But still… I… to you…”

“It’s really okay.”

Glen exhaled a sigh of relief, like someone who had let go of many things.

“To be honest, I was worried until I came here. I didn’t know how to talk to you, or how to greet you, and I had a lot of concerns…”

“… Yeah.”

“Anyway, it all became meaningless. Now, I just want to go home and rest.”

“What…?”

Letisha was shocked, so shocked that she grabbed Glen’s sleeve.

“You want to go home? Your home is…”

Here.

She tried to finish her sentence, but her lips wouldn’t move anymore. Even she knew it was too ridiculous.

When comparing her memories of being abandoned by her parents and her current relationships, it was clear which one was superior.

“Ah… Uh.”

Still, she couldn’t let go of his sleeve. It was pathetic.

She had finally met the child she had longed for every moment, and she didn’t want to part ways without a promise. Her desire was too strong to bury her past longing with the reality that she was living well.

At least, she wanted to grab onto the opportunity.

The opportunity to raise him well and change his heart, even now.

“Mother.”

“Yes, Glen…”

“I can’t live in the demon world anymore.”

“Oh, no… No, I’m sure you can change your mind…”

Just then, Glen cut off Letisha’s protesting words. It was an unprecedented behavior for the always polite Glen.

“I’ve found someone I like.”

“… Hmm?”

For a moment, Letisha’s thoughts were blank, and Glen took the opportunity to speak.

“There are people who know my entire background and still accept me. And there are friends who keep my secrets and remain by my side. There are also people who always make me smile… and someone I respect greatly. I like those people.”

“…”

“And… there’s someone special among them, someone I like a little more.”

Glen’s only place to return to was a house filled with people who cared about him in various ways.

It was different from his past, where he wandered and was abused. If he hadn’t met them, Glen would have grabbed Letisha’s hand without hesitation.

“Can’t you… stay here a little longer? If you give me a chance to change your mind… I…”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s been too long… too many years have passed…”

“I feel the same way.”

Glen had been alone for too long. He had finally reached the present after navigating through the dark, desolate landscape. He couldn’t give up on the bonds he had formed…

“… Your family is here, isn’t it?”

“They’re here, too.”

Despite Letisha’s fervent appeal, Glen calmly corrected her.

He recalled the scene where he warned Roselle Peter at the hunting festival.

[Why was Eco so kind to him? He wasn’t more beautiful than Glen, and they weren’t family…]

Glen answered the question without hesitation.

[They’re family.]

With a gentle, soft smile.

[Maybe someday… we can become real family.]

Yes, they were family.

Even if they weren’t related by blood, they cherished each other and didn’t abandon one another. Hart had directly defined that relationship for Glen, who had been alone. From that point on, Glen’s place to return to was set.

“… Hmm.”

Glen thought that far and let out a sigh. He imagined how Hart and Elpecia would think about the current situation.

Those kind people wouldn’t have come all the way here just to destroy their blood ties.

It was Glen’s role to resolve the emotional knots and rebuild their relationships. And it was also Glen’s role to have the will to do so.

They had come to respect Glen’s choice.

“If I do cut ties, though… the president and vice president will be worried.”

No matter what, they had brought the demon king here to give Glen a chance to choose. It was natural to be concerned about the bad ending.

“But… I…”

Glen was conflicted. The moment he realized it, he understood.

He was still angry.

No matter the circumstances, he resented his parents for abandoning him.

If he thought about how Hart and Elpecia would feel uncomfortable, it was right to show his will to improve their relationships. Even if Glen didn’t stay in the demon king’s realm, there were many ways to have a warm farewell.

The reason he was maintaining a cold demeanor and ignoring those methods was because of his anger.

“… Sigh.”

He had thought he had buried it long ago, but seeing their faces had reignited the emotions he had suppressed. As soon as he became aware of it, his head cooled down again.

A more composed Glen opened his mouth.

“As I said, I have no intention of staying here.”

“Glenn…”

“Instead.”

Glenn spoke with a strong tone, proposing an alternative.

“I’ll find a way to make it happen soon.”

Recalling Hart and Elpisia’s other goals.

“Then, I’ll need Mother’s help.”