BID Chapter 12

The first and second stages are literally about erasing thoughts. The person is restrained, and a sorcery that gradually tightens its grip on the mind is applied. If the prince is still in these initial stages, escape might be somewhat easier, but beyond the third stage, it becomes impossible.

The third stage is about erasing the ‘self’.

During this period, sorcery is applied to the already mentally broken individual to ensure complete domination by the master, beginning the process of taking over the body’s control.

Typically, a human’s mind is fragile enough that the second stage is completed within three days, leading to the third stage. From here, it’s uncertain when the education will end because the duration varies from person to person. Though the average is around one month, many cases conclude much faster.

‘I must prevent it from reaching that stage. Beyond that, it’s irreversible.’

Once the third stage is completed, a person becomes almost vegetative, unable to control even their own body. In the fourth stage, they are made to pledge loyalty to the family.

“From the fourth stage, it’s essentially the final phase of education.”

From the fourth stage, sorcery and suggestion are repeatedly applied to control everything from bodily functions to even sexual desires.

The subjects must obey every command of the family members, whether it is to attack, undress, or fulfill any directive. Having gone through stages one to three, they no longer possess any sense of shame. Instead, a seed of ‘joy in loyalty’ is planted in their empty, desolate hearts.

In the fifth stage, strong and persistent fears are used to reinforce control. If successful up to this point, the final stage, the sixth, is self-justification.

The self-justification process.

When I first heard about it, I didn’t think it was a big deal, but with just a brief explanation from the duke, I realized how terrifying it actually was.

A person who has undergone all these stages comes to believe that they are ‘grateful for receiving such education,’ which is far from normal. How intensely must a person be tormented to reach that state of mind?

‘And this is something only the heads of the family can do.’

The duke explained each stage to me, but he didn’t reveal the crucial elements. Probably because such information was meant only for the heir, Erhan, or himself.

The fact that he shared this much with me was due to his fondness for me. Typically, the sorcery used by our family has been considered a betrayal to the gods, and even the royal family, let alone others, didn’t dare to meddle with it.

That’s how unsettling and unpleasant the stages are. Of course, I only knew the basics of the minor sorceries and the ‘education’ stages, not the detailed aspects. The more people know about these sorceries, the greater the chance of them being countered or disrupted.

‘But I also know the content of the book.’

Although I haven’t recalled everything yet, having read the book might give me some way to find a solution. My head throbbed with the complexity of thoughts as I continued to ponder deeply.

But the more I agonized, the more my head heated up without any clear solution emerging.

“My child, what’s the matter? You seem to be getting a fever again…”

Because, after all, I was just a frail fourteen-year-old child, too young and weak to face my mother’s worried gaze.

Even if I managed to help the prince escape right now with my underdeveloped and weak body, I couldn’t possibly handle the consequences that would follow.

So, what can I do right now?

That means, I am…

‘…Wait a minute. Can’t I at least cause some disruption?’

I didn’t have the power to completely twist the plot of the novel. Nor did I have the confidence to do so.

However, I didn’t want to just sit back with my hands tied, waiting for my death after receiving a death sentence.

I needed time to think about how to change the future.

I also had to devise a more concrete plan to move without getting caught by the duke.

“Mother, could you please leave me alone for a moment? I need to wash up; I’ve sweated a lot.”

Fortunately, my physical condition was not normal. Perhaps due to the aftermath of the nightmare, my forehead quickly became damp with sweat.

My mother seemed surprised when I asked her to leave, her eyes widening, but she quickly pulled out a handkerchief.

“Oh dear, look at my face. And what sweat…”

She gently wiped my forehead with the handkerchief, filled with tender love. I felt a strong desire to indulge in her affection, but I couldn’t afford that luxury right now.

“I want to wash up quickly.”

As I gently pushed her away, my mother looked at me with a slightly hurt expression. However, she soon signaled a servant nearby to prepare a bath.

“Oh, my child. I feel a bit sad every time you become more capable of doing things on your own.”

“No, it’s not that. But I smell of sweat… and now it’s a bit embarrassing.”

This was true. My mother, who disliked filth and uncultured behavior, made an exception in everything when it came to me.

Even though she would not pick up a handkerchief dropped on the ground, she wiped my forehead and personally took care of me when I was sick, which meant she truly loved me.

“You are the most precious thing I have. How could anything about you be embarrassing? That will never happen.”

She said this with such firmness.

Overwhelmed for a moment by her pouring affection, I looked up at her, speechless. She smiled warmly and rubbed her cheek against mine.

“Take good care of yourself.”

Sensing that my condition was not normal, my mother stood up from her seat earlier than usual, touching my face with a worried expression.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, my dear.”

Sometimes, her love feels overwhelming and yet, so precious.

My mother hugged me tightly once more, then stood up and walked towards the door. She left with her usual poised and elegant demeanor, as if she had never shown any weakness to me. I smiled faintly as I watched her leave, but as soon as the door closed with a ‘thud’, the smile vanished from my face.

As soon as my mother was out of sight, my expression hardened.

‘I want to survive this with her.’

I could probably find a way to save myself alone, but that wasn’t what I wanted.

My mother, as beautiful and noble as a character straight out of a fairy tale.

If all this is really a world from a book, and my memories are intact, then I want to survive with her. To do that, I couldn’t afford to waste this time.

I quickly got up and sat at the desk. Hastily, I opened a notebook and began jotting down notes in Korean, a language I hadn’t expected to use again after being reborn.

+++

[Day 3]

The day I first saw Zachary Thaddeus, I lost consciousness.

During the three days I was unconscious, the duke had likely already begun the ‘education’ process.

If the education had already started, it wasn’t feasible to attempt an immediate escape for him.

[Interference]

So, I thought of interference. If the future unfolds according to the original story, how can I disrupt the narrative?

Of course, I’m still a young child, not fully grown, and without any real power. Whatever I do must not require excessive effort.

Moreover, it must not bring too much trouble to my family, and since revealing Zachary’s existence could complicate matters, I need to find a way to assist him secretly and ensure his survival.

+++

“Sigh.”

Is there even such a method?

Feeling frustrated, I put down the pen and leaned my forehead against the desk, closing my eyes.

The safest approach would be to facilitate Zachary’s immediate escape, but since that’s not an option…

Is there a way to twist the story, even if just until his escape? How can I ensure Zachary doesn’t end up killing members of our family? What perspective must he hold towards us…?

“…What if he feels affection towards us?”

My eyes snapped open.

‘Why did I only think of this simple and fundamental idea now?’

As if I hadn’t been brooding with my head down, I swiftly raised my head. I tore up the scribbled paper that had become a mess like a mind map. Then, I wrote down one word boldly and stared at it.

Affection.

If Zachary could feel affection towards the members of our family, wouldn’t the likelihood of him killing us decrease, even if just slightly?

‘Instilling affection might be easier than I thought.’