«I don't think you're a monster.»

Having stated this, we can say that I didn't even lie.

The truth that there is no curse imposed on the Cassius family, in fact, does not exist, will be revealed in a couple of decades.

I knew about it because it was an immutable fact from the original novel.

The fear and contempt around the Cassius family will cease thanks to the intervention of Brisney, who will be able to find the essential evidence that the legend in fact, all this time was only a legend, and not reality.

Brisney and Robert will marry, and this will become a symbol of the protracted truce between this family and the rest of the kingdom. From this moment on, the life of the Cassius family will completely change.

However, there was still a lot of time before this moment came, and I was not sure that this time, everything would go according to a similar scenario. Because now, Brisney won't be in Robert's life.

But despite this, I hoped that even without her, the persecution of this family would someday stop. In the end, evolution does not stand still, and eventually everyone will finally understand that believing in some ancient legend is nonsense.

Even if this realization does not come today, and even far from soon.

And anyway, it was for this reason, unlike the others, that I was not afraid to die from the curse, and decided to make contact with Rachel.

Although, I still couldn't consider her an ordinary person. Even for the reason that just a couple of minutes ago, she was going to kill me just for talking to her!

Hearing my words, Rachel first fell into a stupor, after which she grimaced and roughly pushed me away.

— You're weird… Very strange… She muttered almost to herself, but I heard it anyway.

Well, at least this time, she's not trying to rip my hands off.

«You're not a monster,» I repeated, «and I think the judgments of people who think that are stupid.

Rachel couldn't hide her surprise at the words I said. Then, her expression darkened.

— Why do you think that?

— And…?

«All the aristocrats in this damn country call us the damned. Even the king is of the same opinion. So why… You're one of them, too.

— The fact that I was born into such a family does not say who I am, » I said, «And besides, I know for sure that you are not cursed.

— Why are you so sure about this…?

— Well, first of all, I've already looked into your eyes many times, and nothing has happened to me yet, — I smiled, — Besides, even after touching, I didn't feel anything. Isn't that proof?

Rachel was taken aback by my words.

— You… You're right…

Seeing her reaction, I mentally grinned, realizing that the «fish» was hooked.

I knew it was the way to act from the very beginning.

Due to the fact that during my stay in the hospital, I read a myriad of romance novels, I knew in advance what methods could help with the impact on such a difficult-to-fix personality as Rachel.

In most works where the main character is a tyrant, the heroine was able to win his heart precisely for the reason that she treated him differently from everyone else. Unlike other people who most often despised him, she gave him her love, and thus became special to him.

And considering that Rachel's type is almost identical to Robert, and their difference was only that she did not have time to chop up as many people as her son, then such a method should have worked for her.

And, it seems, it turned out that way.

In the end, I was able to tame Rachel faster than I had planned.

At least that's what I hoped at first…

Because I didn't expect at all what would happen in the next second.

— What do you say your name is?

— Leriana, » I smiled, —Leriana Ashford.»

«Do you really want to be my friend?»

— yes.

«And you're willing to do anything for that?»

— Y-yes…

— Then get on your knees.

— Wh-what?!

«Get on your knees, » Rachel repeated with a mocking grin, «A good dog should always obey its owner.»

My first mistake was that in the end, I forgot about one main rule.

The mother of the future tyrant, almost always turns out to be much worse than her son.