1 A Selfish Wish

I saw how it ended for me. How it would end for me in the years to come. Though I was blessed with blood with the strength of giants and the prana of a large lake. I WAS nothing more than taint. I couldn't save a damn thing, even that little flower who held me dearly. There was no excuse to let someone who has the heart of a blooming sun watch something so terrible. All because I was her father.

For ten years she was the only one who held favor to me as they drag my bloated body to the gallows. My body is strong and it took six guillotine chops to cut off my head. All I could hear was the sound of my precious daughter begging for the headsman to stop.

"You are a strange one," the wraith told me when I was in the middle of the in-between. "You are barely thirty and yet you died so poorly with such amazing constitution.

The woman who became the Archduchess, my partner, the Iron Woman Carwyn Ortiz. She looked down at me while holding on to the arm of her daughter. She had won in the end. I do not blame her for what she had done. All of her glory, her beauty, and her strength were wasted because of being partnered by a waste like me.

I feel nothing but disgust at myself. I Hadeon Ortiz was nothing more than someone who had lived his life unaware of the dangers that would come.

It was supposed to be my end and yet what was this? I was in the room where I used to watch the scenery of the sea. I could feel the giant slabs of flesh on me that made it hard even for me to move. The stench of fatty oil and this awful scent made me quiver.

I remember this day. I was told that this would be the first time I would be seeing my precious daughter after two years since we had done it. The door opened and before long a cold face walked in with an angel who looked at me curiously. Perhaps it was because I haven't seen her so long and so young that my face didn't falter with lust. She should be twenty right now.

Twenty-one years of old and yet here I am bloated and a waste of blood. I had no shame. To take a woman that was clearly beyond my reach as a wife. No wonder she would hold a grudge.

"This is my papa?" the little lady asked.

"Yes," Carwyn said coldly. There was only coldness on her face. That hidden disgust doesn't leave her eyes. The disappointment in her face was beyond fixing. I understand the hatred. I was different when we were young. I had promised so much and yet I had let despair cover me like a cloak.

I was a liar to Carwyn. There was no way anyone would marry a bloated thing like me if it wasn't for a contract that should have been burned a long time ago. Who in their right mind would throw herself into such a mess like me?

"Father looks like a bear!" said the little girl.

Carwyn held her little girl's hand. "She's young. Don't take it to heart.

"What kind of bear?" I asked the little girl.

"The big bear one!"

I laughed. She was clueless about the species of bear. I might be fat and considered a wastrel, but I was still well-read enough to understand the different kinds of beer.

"What is your name?"

"Roselia!" the little girl said cheerfully.

"Come, let me take a closer look at you," I said to the little girl. The little girl looked at her mother, asking for permission before she lets go of her hand.

I raised my fattened hands and placed a palm on Roselia's head. She was so small and so young that it was strange how she easily changed during the years. This little girl who seems like would be crushed by anyone's hand would have the courage to plead for her despicable father's life.

"Papa! Your hands are big!"

"Roselia!" Carwyn shouted. She took Roselia and carried her, as if afraid that the monster before her would do something. I was quite violent and I had a bad temper. Who knew that such temper could only be cured after being starved, beaten, and have my head desperately chopped.

I do not deserve these two. So I thought to myself that once I settled this body down. I would act the same way. Still, I had never harmed a child in my life. I might have been a bastard who had hurt those who disrespected me and insulted me for my form. But I was never going to be the same bastard as those who would slap their children. Even a disgusting freak like me could understand that there is a line that doesn't need to be crossed.

"She looks like you," I said.

Carwyn raised a brow. She was probably surprised that I didn't lash out like a child. Then again I have to thank the wraith for giving me a second chance. I don't know why he would give me some of his essences and allow me this favor. Perhaps he saw something that made him want to try his luck.

"She…is a good child. I shall raise her as per what the contract had said."

I nodded my head. "I shall provide the funds."

"Is that so?"

She was in disbelief. If this was before I would have forced her to serve me right here. To get that superiority over here that I craved so much. I won't deny that there was a big rotting part of me that still wanted her on all-fours licking on my member. The thought alone that I wanted her to do it disgusted me more than I should be.

"Yes," I told her. My face was frozen solid. "Make her grow as you wish. She is your daughter after all."

#

Carwyn left the master's room. She looked at the door. "What is his deal now?" she said. "He's rather tamed and for once he didn't have that disgusting look on his face."

"Mama?" Roselia asked.

"Nothing my dearest," Carwyn said.

"Perhaps it's due to meeting my Roselia that he's acting like. Hmm, I guess I was too worried about him asking to service him…I even brought my lingerie just in case."

She arrives at the entrance of the mansion. Her maid Carrie was worried for her safety and asked about what had happened and was glad to see them unhurt.

"Mistress!" Carrie said with tears forming. "I am glad that none happened to you two!"

"We're fine. Our visit went better than I thought it would."

Carrie joined her fingers. "Did the Archduke asked for anything?"

"No…he agreed too easily."

It was bothering them that he would agree so easily. He was a stubborn man. A wastrel piece of shit that Carwyn wouldn't have touched if it weren't for her duties as his wife.

"We'll be careful, let's get out before he changes his mind."

They lived separately and all she had to do was stay fateful to House Ortiz. That was the price of borrowing the power of an Archduke.

"One day," Carwyn said to herself. "I will have everything…for my daughter."

#

Butler Micah entered the room. He looked at me with a strange expression.

"Butler…give me my family's sword."

"My Lord…what do you intend to do with it?"

"Do not ask, Micah," I said. "Bring me the elixirs that you have procured after seven days and seven nights."

"My Lord, is it alright?"

"It isn't. But I'll manage."

Butler Micah frowned. "Did the Duchess offended you, Milord?"

"No. I simply wanted to try something new. I am sick and tired of having this form, Micah. That's all. Do not let anyone enter my room for seven days and seven nights Micah. Anyone who tries will be dealt accordingly."

Butler Micah obeyed. He handed me the sword of the Ortiz that had given birth to the family. It was a sacred double-edged sword that could be used to save one's life. After using this sword it would take another ten years for the sword to be used again.

It might be cheating. Nonetheless, to return this body to at least a normal state I intend to offer my flesh and reduced me to a state where I could move at least.

I didn't hesitate to stab my body with the sword. The sacred sword knew of my intentions. It knew what I wanted to offer and although it would have laughed at what I was willing to offer in exchange for a form that could move. I cannot change what I had done before this.

I was fortunate enough for a second chance. A chance that trash like me should have in the first place. The wraith gave me this chance as a whim and I could only repay the wraith with what I have.

I will live and try hard as everyone else has.

To repent for what I have done.

To never witness my daughter cry for a worthless father again.

The pain came to me as if responding to my desire. Every part of my body burned and I felt like I was being gutted. The pain of being chopped six times seems like it was heaven compared to this. Waves of pain and anguish washed over me as could barely breathe.

The sacred sword melted and reformed my body and used my blood and flesh as an offering to this miracle. The Ortiz House had to go through this method and yet this was the last chance that I would have. The sacred sword would be nothing more than a sharp sword after this. Even after ten years, the sword would be nothing more than a magical sword.

I feel my soul burning. My very being 'judged' by my family as I burned myself with it. The pain could not be described. I had a mouth and yet I could not scream. I had my senses but they were all in pain as I smelled the burning fatty body that was me.

The smell of my impurities invading my senses. Every pore of my body was in so much pain that I was bleeding blood. The sacred sword gutted me and carved me into the new form that I desired. The impurities and the bad blood that my body had were vomited out of my mouth and nose.

"Be better, oh stranger with blessed blood. You will get your wish as long you struggle for it!"

The wraith's words kept me going. His essence and his sufferings mingling inside of me. I saw his past and what he was and we slowly formed into one singular being.

I was taking a painful shortcut. The increase in determination seems to have made the sacred sword became more determined as well. I was a gutted fat pig that was being bled to death. This was a sacrifice that could not be possible if it wasn't for the recentness of my body and determination.

I could not wait, knowing that if I wait then I would surely go back on my word. I know myself enough that doing this was something that I needed to do for myself.

I do not want to be the shameless and bloated monster.

Even if I don't love myself as I used to before.

Even if it means suffering for seven days to change myself. That was a small price to pay for what needs to be done.

The House of Ortiz was blessed. I was blessed with the bloodline and the sacred tools.

I didn't understand why my father had remained steadfast in his duties as the Ortiz.

I want to try my best this time. Even if it's for my selfish satisfaction. I was willing to gut myself to be better than this.

This was only an hour.

I still have seven days to suffer.

To be carved and reformed by the sacred sword of the Ortiz House.

I don't want to be a monster any longer.

This was the selfish wish of a deplorable bastard like me who wanted to be better than this.