beast chapter 3

“…It must have been a dream.”

When she opened her eyes, there was no light, only cold reality. A wistful look crossed Ariette’s face. A dream like that… maybe I’m lonelier than I thought.

“Pull yourself together!” She slapped her own cheeks. Better to eat than wallow. She opened a small, worn tin case and took out a dried apricot. The tart sweetness spreading through her mouth helped her focus. A long drink of cool water seemed to lift her spirits further.

Ariette clenched her fists, let out a forceful breath, and quickly folded her blanket into her bag. As she slung it over her shoulder…

“…Huh?”

She saw a light. A pure white light emanating from her right pinky finger. The light stretched like a thread, leading somewhere into the maze.

It… wasn’t a dream?

Her heart began to pound with hope. Ariette carefully followed the thin, white light. Right, left, right, right, then straight ahead. After she’d walked for a while, the thread of light shifted slightly. She followed its new direction and rounded a corner.

“…!”

A massive tree filled her vision. No matter how far she craned her neck, she couldn’t see its top. It must have been hundreds of years old.

Bound to the enormous trunk was a man. Vines, thick as the tree’s roots, coiled around his arms and legs like snakes. Over these, chains were wrapped, binding his limbs even tighter.

He wore only a tattered loincloth and hung his head weakly, yet his posture was less pathetic than dazzling. His exposed torso resembled a meticulously sculpted statue, and his marble-pale skin shimmered. Brilliant sunlight fractured in the cascade of his long silver hair. His eyes were closed, his face expressionless, yet he possessed a sacred, breathtaking beauty.

Ariette held her breath. He seemed less human and more like a divine being sealed to the tree, or perhaps the last spirit left in the world.

…Is he dead?

Mesmerized, Ariette approached him. Rustle. The moment her foot crushed a fallen leaf, the man’s long eyelashes fluttered and slowly lifted, revealing ruby-red eyes beneath.

Ariette’s breath hitched. Their gazes locked in midair, as if by fate. The man’s eyes curved into a gentle smile.

“Hello, lovely lady.” The smile was sweet enough to melt. “We meet again.”

Ariette’s cheeks flushed. She had never seen such a beautiful man in her life.

“Hello.” His voice was as smooth as honey. It tickled her ears, and she self-consciously touched her earlobes. She licked her dry lips, glanced at him, then met his eyes directly before quickly looking down, startled.

“H-hello…”

“What’s your name?”

“Ariette Blanche.”

“Ariette. Beautiful. Both your name and your face.”

She rolled her large eyes. She’d heard the word “beautiful” countless times in her life, but hearing it from him felt different. It was as if butterflies were fluttering in her stomach.

“I’m Beelzebub Erde. You can call me Beelze, Beelzebub, Erde… anything is fine. Your voice is so lovely, I think I’d enjoy even your insults.”