Chapter 27: The Villain's Ending is Only Death
For a moment, the room turned as cold as the northern plains.
Within the mansion, the word 'Crown Prince' was practically taboo.
His blood-red eyes were so chilling, as if he could slice my neck with a knife at any moment.
Even though it had been quite some time since the wound had healed and the bandages were removed, the thought of him made my neck throb again.
I couldn't just refuse the invitation from the palace.
I instinctively clenched my trembling fingertips and asked,
"......What will Father do?"
But the butler, who usually answered my questions directly, was unusually hesitant.
"Since the invitation is only for Miss Penelope...... the Duke is not yet aware."
Bang! I couldn't pretend to be calm anymore, and I slammed the table, jumping to my feet.
Both the butler and Emily looked at me in shock.
But I didn't feel their gazes at all.
'This guy is completely insane! This is worse than the game!'
That madman hadn't forgotten about me. In fact, it was clear he was doing this on purpose.
Ever since the birthday banquet of the Second Prince, he had been trying to drag me out and kill me.
- Next time we meet, I'll have to explain in detail why, how, and for what reason he started to like me.
When the chilling words he had spoken then replayed in my ears, I shuddered involuntarily.
'This wasn't in the episode, damn game!'
I furiously racked my brain, recalling the original game story.
But even after reconsidering, I couldn't be sure it wasn't there.
In the game, Penelope never managed to survive the maze garden.
"Miss, what should we do with the invitation?"
The butler, with a distorted face, cautiously asked my intentions.
"Hmm...... what can we do."
I sighed deeply and brushed back my light pink hair.
After collapsing back into the chair, I leaned against the backrest as if my body were melting.
"Miss, you're burning up, butler."
With half-lidded eyes, I spoke lazily, and the butler was momentarily taken aback.
"But this is a serious matter, Miss. Is it a cold?"
The butler, who had served in the Eckhart mansion for decades, quickly probed for the cause.
"Actually, it would be better if it were the lingering effects of the poison."
The butler bowed respectfully and hurriedly left the room.
I clutched my forehead, feeling a throbbing headache.
Emily, worried about my appearance, asked,
"Miss, are you okay? Should I inform the Duke and call a doctor?"
"No, it's not necessary......"
I was about to refuse instinctively but quickly changed my mind.
"No, that's fine. Go ahead and call a doctor."
Since things had come to this, I needed to announce it throughout the mansion and extend my seclusion.
'I need to stay in bed for a while, even if it's just under the covers.'
Until the Crown Prince completely loses interest in me.
During my extended period of confinement, Emily carried out my orders smoothly.
Fortunately, the cuffs were made on time.
Since it was the festival season, no one found it strange that she went out frequently.
"Everyone was indifferent at first, but their eyes changed when I brought out the jewel box."
After two days of gathering information from four places, Emily reported enthusiastically.
Mostly listening to her chatter, I perked up when she mentioned a strange merchant with only a man wearing a white rabbit mask.
'Good. He took the bait.'
It matched the description of Bunter from the game.
I stopped Emily, who was about to describe the other merchants, and said,
"You must have suffered in the rain. Go back to your quarters and rest."
"Yes, I'll be back this evening!"
Despite looking like a drenched mouse, Emily left the room energetically. Fortunately, she didn't seem to have caught a cold.
Thud, the door closed, and the room was enveloped in silence again.
I turned to look out the large window.
The sky, which had been sunny just a few days ago, was now a dull gray.
"Why does it rain all day?"
Resting my chin on my hand, I stared blankly at the drizzling rain, feeling my mood sink.
I hated rainy days. They always seemed to expose my weaknesses.
As a child, I envied friends whose mothers came to pick them up with umbrellas.
When I had to walk the playground in the pouring rain, the innocent question, "Don't you have a mom?" was incredibly embarrassing and miserable.
But those childish feelings never changed, even as I grew older.
The kids who huddled together with their umbrellas and left the school.
- Young Master! Hurry up and run!
- Miss, no one said it would rain today. I'm so annoyed, I'm all wet. Secretary Kim, let's go home quickly.
- What does it matter? She'll find her way! Let's go.
Vroom— The car drove away.
Standing in the suddenly empty schoolyard for a long time, I finally......
My frown deepened at the sudden memory.
I shuddered, trying to shake off the gloom.
"Is this the time to idly watch the rain?"
I jumped up from my seat. I needed to do something.
That way, I could escape this damn game sooner.
Grabbing an umbrella, I quietly slipped out of the room.
The Duke's mansion grounds, shrouded in a misty fog, were unusually quiet.
Due to the persistent rain, it seemed no one was outside.
I slowly crossed the garden.
I had come out thinking I needed to do something, but now that I was out, I had no idea what to do.
Instead, I was heading towards a place where there would be fewer people. Specifically, a place where the Duke's sons wouldn't be.
Swish, swish. How long had I walked in the rain, lost in thought?
When I finally snapped out of it, the surroundings were strangely familiar.
It was the forest path leading to the training ground.
After frantically searching for a way out for a while, I had become so familiar with the terrain that I could recognize it just by looking.
"I might run into Renald here."
I had already encountered Renald once, who was returning after training.
There was also a chance I might run into Derrick.
I had come too far. I quickly turned around.
I needed to do something, but that didn't apply to the two who needed to avoid seeing me to increase their affection.
Just as I was about to head back towards the mansion,
A sound of a sword cutting through the air came from somewhere. It was the sound of a sword being swung.
'He's training even in the rain?'
After hearing several times that the knights' training intensity had increased recently, I felt a bit strange.
It wasn't hard to guess why. It was because of me, the mysterious slave I had brought in from outside and designated as a bodyguard.
I started moving slowly again.
Frankly, I was curious about how the knights were reacting recently.
'They must be cursing me to high heaven.'
But it didn't matter much. After all, the one being cursed wasn't the real me.
I might as well check if Eclis is among them.
However, when I arrived at the training ground, it was empty.
Except for one figure swinging a wooden sword alone in a corner.
At first, I didn't recognize him. His ash-brown hair, drenched by the rain, blended perfectly with the gloomy gray sky.
I moved quietly and slowly, trying not to be noticed.
The figure became clearer as I approached.
The man was shirtless, swinging his sword mechanically up and down.
His back and shoulder muscles, moving roughly, were covered with deep scars.
He looked more menacing than pitiful.
The man didn't seem to notice my approach, so focused was he.
Finally, when I reached right behind him,
Suddenly, he turned his upper body like lightning. With a sharp sound, something cold touched my neck.
Eclis, breathing heavily, looked at me.
The intense killing intent directed at me made my hair stand on end.
His reflexes were unbelievable, considering he had been swinging his sword up and down just moments ago.
His eyes, which had been glaring at me as if to cut my throat, gradually recognized me.
The killing intent faded, and his eyes turned to confusion. Finally, when he fully recognized me, his face contorted.
He was so surprised that his voice trembled terribly.
Only then did I realize I had been holding my breath.
After a moment of trembling lips, my voice burst out as if the blocked breath had been released.
Despite the cold wooden sword still touching my neck, I pretended to be calm, unafraid, and unshaken, speaking kindly.
His ashen eyes wavered, lost.
The text above his head started to flicker again.