“I was planning on using separate rooms from now on anyway. Don’t worry about it.”
Chaenggrang.
"... Yes?"
The knife fell from Randall's hand as he heard the word 'separate room'. He asked again with a thoughtful face like the Marquis the day before.
“Separate room... you mean?”
“Yes. Anyway, people will know that we didn’t have a first night together, and I don’t think we need to share a bedroom.”
Sylvia took a bite of her bread as she finished speaking. But her previous words were nothing more than an excuse.
'It'll be hard to get out if I share a room with Randall.'
Sylvia planned to sneak out at night for the time being, observe Bella, and find a way to approach her master. In such a situation, she could not share a bedroom with Randall. He possessed an animalistic sense that could sense even the darkness, and there was a risk of being caught even if she tried to escape using magic. It would be safer to use a completely different bedroom for the time being.
'It tastes good.'
Sylvia savored the fluffiness of the bread with a calm expression. Randall, who was unaware of such circumstances, had a look of bereavement on his face.
'Did I do something wrong without knowing it?'
He seriously tried to recall his memories, wondering if he had done something wrong. However, no matter how much he racked his brain and tried to recall his past self, nothing came to mind.
'Surely... Are you tired?'
He thought the only thing he had confidence in was his body. Could it be that she's tired of that too?!
"Thank you."
Randall smiled brightly, then lowered his head, took a bite of the meat on the end of his fork, and swallowed it.
“...Why are you laughing like that?”
“Just like that. It’s delicious. Ma’am, please have some too.”
Sylvia felt awkward and nagged Randall, but he smiled throughout the meal. Finally, unable to overcome her embarrassment, Sylvia slapped Randall on the shoulder, and only then did he stop laughing.
Originally, she was planning to sneak out of the castle after everyone, including the servants, had fallen asleep. However, since she couldn’t sleep, wouldn’t it be okay to leave a little early?
Randall stood in the doorway for a while, quietly looking at Sylvia, then took his footsteps. Randall approached the bedside, his footsteps quiet, and he sat down on the floor next to Sylvia’s bedside. Sylvia was taken aback.
'...What?'
She wanted to roll her eyes, but she couldn't, for fear that he might find out that she wasn't asleep. She didn't understand why he didn't leave even after confirming that she was asleep. But Randall sat there silently looking at Sylvia's face. She could feel his careful eyes moving from her forehead to her nose, to her lips, and then caressing her white cheeks again, and wandering over her eyelids.
“...”
Could it be this ticklish just from a person’s gaze?
Why are you looking at something so precious...
“...!”
Sylvia covered her mouth with one hand, startled by the thought that crossed her mind unconsciously. Her cheek, hidden by her palm, was noticeably flushed.
As if to prove that the employee's words were not a lie, the noise beyond the wall was getting closer and closer.
"Shit."
Bella, who threw off her crow mask, gritted her teeth and ran. She didn’t know where the information came from, but her first priority was to escape. In the middle of the path leading outside, she pressed down on a brick, and a hidden passage was revealed. The end of this passage leads to the forest behind the store. Bella quickly crossed the passage, intending to escape through the forest.
'Almost there...!'
“There’s a secret passage here!”
“Just in case, check that side too!”
"Yes!"
But as she reached the end of the passage, she heard several people's movements and shouts from the other side. Bella bit her lip, feeling that there was no way out.
If she were caught here, the Crown Prince would not help her. However, she had recently been using her brainwashing powers on Marquis Seicrine, so her strength was not as strong as usual. Even as she was struggling, the voices of the knights came closer.
'I guess I can deal with those two. I wonder if they'll be able to come to their senses by then... '
It's been months since Bella suppressed her instinct to kill a human. If she were to experience the pleasure of killing a human in this situation, she wouldn't be able to escape in time and would go crazy with her lack of strength and lose her life.
Chaenggrang.
"... Yes?"
The knife fell from Randall's hand as he heard the word 'separate room'. He asked again with a thoughtful face like the Marquis the day before.
“Separate room... you mean?”
“Yes. Anyway, people will know that we didn’t have a first night together, and I don’t think we need to share a bedroom.”
Sylvia took a bite of her bread as she finished speaking. But her previous words were nothing more than an excuse.
'It'll be hard to get out if I share a room with Randall.'
Sylvia planned to sneak out at night for the time being, observe Bella, and find a way to approach her master. In such a situation, she could not share a bedroom with Randall. He possessed an animalistic sense that could sense even the darkness, and there was a risk of being caught even if she tried to escape using magic. It would be safer to use a completely different bedroom for the time being.
'It tastes good.'
Sylvia savored the fluffiness of the bread with a calm expression. Randall, who was unaware of such circumstances, had a look of bereavement on his face.
'Did I do something wrong without knowing it?'
He seriously tried to recall his memories, wondering if he had done something wrong. However, no matter how much he racked his brain and tried to recall his past self, nothing came to mind.
'Surely... Are you tired?'
He thought the only thing he had confidence in was his body. Could it be that she's tired of that too?!
In the end, Randall, who had not found the answer and was only filled with self-loathing, answered gloomily.
“...If you wish, Madam, I will do so.”
He wanted to keep saying 'why', but he was afraid that Sylvia would find him annoying. So Randall hid his confused feelings and picked up the knife with a calm face. Meanwhile, Sylvia, who was stirring the salad, furrowed her brow subtly at his answer.
'I feel bad for no reason since I didn't get any objections at all.'
It was nice that Randall had agreed to let them sleep in separate rooms. At the same time, she felt annoyed at the fact that he had agreed to sleep in separate rooms. Sylvia shook her head slightly to clear her mind and tried to focus on her meal. However, when Randall occasionally glanced at her with eyes dripping with regret, her conscience prickled. Sylvia, who had tried to ignore it, picked up a piece of meat on her fork and offered it to Randall to ease her guilt.
"...Eat."
"Yes?"
“You like meat, right? It looks delicious, so eat it.”
It's not like, "Eat it because it's delicious," but, "Eat it because it looks delicious," he said. Sylvia thought it was stupid, but she stubbornly did not put her hand down. Randall was deeply troubled for a moment.
'Give me a bottle and medicine...?'
What does it mean to ask him to use a separate room and to personally feed him food? And in the midst of all that, Sylvia says, "Eat it because it looks delicious," and she wonders if she's crazy or not. It's probably the former.
“...If you wish, Madam, I will do so.”
He wanted to keep saying 'why', but he was afraid that Sylvia would find him annoying. So Randall hid his confused feelings and picked up the knife with a calm face. Meanwhile, Sylvia, who was stirring the salad, furrowed her brow subtly at his answer.
'I feel bad for no reason since I didn't get any objections at all.'
It was nice that Randall had agreed to let them sleep in separate rooms. At the same time, she felt annoyed at the fact that he had agreed to sleep in separate rooms. Sylvia shook her head slightly to clear her mind and tried to focus on her meal. However, when Randall occasionally glanced at her with eyes dripping with regret, her conscience prickled. Sylvia, who had tried to ignore it, picked up a piece of meat on her fork and offered it to Randall to ease her guilt.
"...Eat."
"Yes?"
“You like meat, right? It looks delicious, so eat it.”
It's not like, "Eat it because it's delicious," but, "Eat it because it looks delicious," he said. Sylvia thought it was stupid, but she stubbornly did not put her hand down. Randall was deeply troubled for a moment.
'Give me a bottle and medicine...?'
What does it mean to ask him to use a separate room and to personally feed him food? And in the midst of all that, Sylvia says, "Eat it because it looks delicious," and she wonders if she's crazy or not. It's probably the former.
"Thank you."
Randall smiled brightly, then lowered his head, took a bite of the meat on the end of his fork, and swallowed it.
“...Why are you laughing like that?”
“Just like that. It’s delicious. Ma’am, please have some too.”
Sylvia felt awkward and nagged Randall, but he smiled throughout the meal. Finally, unable to overcome her embarrassment, Sylvia slapped Randall on the shoulder, and only then did he stop laughing.
***
That night, Sylvia went into the bedroom, leaving behind the shocked faces of the servants who had heard that they would be using separate rooms. It was not the master bedroom she had shared with Randall, but the Duchess’s bedroom.
"Hmm."
Sylvia sat down on the unfamiliar bed with a strange expression on her face. She reached out and touched the soft blanket, then tilted her head.
'Why does it look so big?'
The bed in the Duchess’s room was single, unlike the one in the master bedroom. Of course, it was large and luxurious for a single bed, but it was definitely smaller than a double bed. Still, it was a mystery why the bed looked so empty. Sylvia soon thought it was an illusion and climbed into bed. Even though she covered herself with the blanket, the goosebumps that had formed on her skin did not go away.
'It's a little cold.'
Sylvia unconsciously wrapped her arms around her shoulders and glanced behind her. Without the wide back that was always visible, the air in the room felt even colder.
'Should I just go out now? I don't think anyone will come in...'
"Hmm."
Sylvia sat down on the unfamiliar bed with a strange expression on her face. She reached out and touched the soft blanket, then tilted her head.
'Why does it look so big?'
The bed in the Duchess’s room was single, unlike the one in the master bedroom. Of course, it was large and luxurious for a single bed, but it was definitely smaller than a double bed. Still, it was a mystery why the bed looked so empty. Sylvia soon thought it was an illusion and climbed into bed. Even though she covered herself with the blanket, the goosebumps that had formed on her skin did not go away.
'It's a little cold.'
Sylvia unconsciously wrapped her arms around her shoulders and glanced behind her. Without the wide back that was always visible, the air in the room felt even colder.
'Should I just go out now? I don't think anyone will come in...'
Originally, she was planning to sneak out of the castle after everyone, including the servants, had fallen asleep. However, since she couldn’t sleep, wouldn’t it be okay to leave a little early?
After tossing and turning on the bed for a while, Sylvia finally decided to leave the castle and was about to get up. She thought she heard a small noise outside the room, and then heard a faint conversation.
"...Is?"
“...I guess you’re going to be there.”
Sylvia realized that it was Randall and Thelma's voices and quickly stopped moving and closed her eyes. Soon after, the bedroom door opened quietly and Randall came in. Sylvia was lying on her side so that if she lifted her eyelids, she could see the door. She felt a silent gaze on her face.
“...”
"...Is?"
“...I guess you’re going to be there.”
Sylvia realized that it was Randall and Thelma's voices and quickly stopped moving and closed her eyes. Soon after, the bedroom door opened quietly and Randall came in. Sylvia was lying on her side so that if she lifted her eyelids, she could see the door. She felt a silent gaze on her face.
“...”
Randall stood in the doorway for a while, quietly looking at Sylvia, then took his footsteps. Randall approached the bedside, his footsteps quiet, and he sat down on the floor next to Sylvia’s bedside. Sylvia was taken aback.
'...What?'
She wanted to roll her eyes, but she couldn't, for fear that he might find out that she wasn't asleep. She didn't understand why he didn't leave even after confirming that she was asleep. But Randall sat there silently looking at Sylvia's face. She could feel his careful eyes moving from her forehead to her nose, to her lips, and then caressing her white cheeks again, and wandering over her eyelids.
“...”
Could it be this ticklish just from a person’s gaze?
Sylvia felt unfamiliar. The sound of slow, calm breathing at regular intervals rang in her ears. Even though they weren’t covered with a blanket on the bed, just the presence of Randall made her feel warm, which had been cold.
Only then did she begin to feel sleepy, as the familiar breathing sound and warmth returned to her body. Sylvia tried not to fall asleep, thinking that she would leave the castle when Randall left, but at some point, she fell into a deep sleep. The sleep that had continued without even dreaming receded as suddenly as it had come.
“...!”
Sylvia suddenly came to her senses and opened her eyes. Unlike before she closed her eyes, the room was bright due to the sunlight streaming in through the window. She quickly checked the head of the bed and found that the seat where Randall had been sitting was empty. However, as if to tell her that it had not been long since he had left, his scent lingered faintly there. Sylvia stared blankly at the head of the bed. A mutter escaped her lips without thinking.
"...What?"
“...!”
Sylvia suddenly came to her senses and opened her eyes. Unlike before she closed her eyes, the room was bright due to the sunlight streaming in through the window. She quickly checked the head of the bed and found that the seat where Randall had been sitting was empty. However, as if to tell her that it had not been long since he had left, his scent lingered faintly there. Sylvia stared blankly at the head of the bed. A mutter escaped her lips without thinking.
"...What?"
Why are you looking at something so precious...
“...!”
Sylvia covered her mouth with one hand, startled by the thought that crossed her mind unconsciously. Her cheek, hidden by her palm, was noticeably flushed.
***
The next day. As Sylvia was leaving her room, she ran into Randall and warned him not to come into her bedroom. He was flustered, but he soon nodded sadly.
'...Did I go a little too far? It's not like it'll wear out if he looks at it, and I was the one who said he can look at it whenever he wants.'
It was late at night when she realized that she had gotten overly angry because of her embarrassment. However, it was true that Randall’s gaze was ticklish and embarrassing, so Sylvia shook off her thoughts and tightened her cloak’s strap. In preparation for the unexpected, Sylvia placed a person detection spell in her bedroom and used a movement spell. The place she arrived at using the movement spell was on top of a building in the market street. The streets at night were quieter than during the day, but people were still coming and going. Sylvia used her magic to avoid people’s eyes and moved to a position where she could see the door of the ‘Signless Store.’ Then she sat on the roof and watched the customers coming and going, lost in thought.
'You would be wary if you knew I was the Duchess of Belfort.'
The day they first met. Bella offered Sylvia a job because she didn't know she was the Duchess of Belfort. Otherwise, she wouldn't have approached Randall's wife, who was an enemy of the Demon Tribe and probably the enemy of her master.
'If I change my face and approach, it's hard to let your guard down... Ah, maybe it'll be okay if I have a pretty face?'
At that time, she remembered that Bella liked her face. As soon as Sylvia made up her mind, she started using magic to change her face. It was a kind of modified version of the perception-impairing magic. It was a transformation so sophisticated that modern wizards, including Auston, would have been terrified if they had seen it, but she didn't think much of it.
'Okay, let's go.'
As Sylvia finished her disguise and took a deep breath, she furrowed her eyebrows at the sight of a group of figures moving at the end of the alley.
'What?'
Those who were wrapped in black clothes approached quickly and silently. Soon, they reached the 'store without a sign' and immediately broke down the door and went in.
“Whoa, whaaaaah!”
“What are you guys!”
A scream erupted from inside the store. At that moment, Sylvia's eyes widened as she spotted a tall man standing out among the black-clad attackers.
'... Randall?'
The man was clearly Randall. He was leading the men with his sword in hand, shouting loudly.
“Don’t let a single one escape! Find ‘Bella’ first!”
"All right!"
Looking closely, it turned out that the people who had raided the store with Randall were the Knights of Belfort. Sylvia sat up in confusion.
'How did that guy...!'
Could it be that the recent busyness was for this work? Sylvia instinctively assessed the situation even in confusion.
'I can't let Bella get caught here now.'
Her goal was to pretend to dig up Bella's background and take the opportunity to die. However, if Bella is caught here, that opportunity will be lost.
“...”
Sylvia bit her lip and glanced up at the sky with fearful eyes, then immediately jumped down from the roof.
'...Did I go a little too far? It's not like it'll wear out if he looks at it, and I was the one who said he can look at it whenever he wants.'
It was late at night when she realized that she had gotten overly angry because of her embarrassment. However, it was true that Randall’s gaze was ticklish and embarrassing, so Sylvia shook off her thoughts and tightened her cloak’s strap. In preparation for the unexpected, Sylvia placed a person detection spell in her bedroom and used a movement spell. The place she arrived at using the movement spell was on top of a building in the market street. The streets at night were quieter than during the day, but people were still coming and going. Sylvia used her magic to avoid people’s eyes and moved to a position where she could see the door of the ‘Signless Store.’ Then she sat on the roof and watched the customers coming and going, lost in thought.
'You would be wary if you knew I was the Duchess of Belfort.'
The day they first met. Bella offered Sylvia a job because she didn't know she was the Duchess of Belfort. Otherwise, she wouldn't have approached Randall's wife, who was an enemy of the Demon Tribe and probably the enemy of her master.
'If I change my face and approach, it's hard to let your guard down... Ah, maybe it'll be okay if I have a pretty face?'
At that time, she remembered that Bella liked her face. As soon as Sylvia made up her mind, she started using magic to change her face. It was a kind of modified version of the perception-impairing magic. It was a transformation so sophisticated that modern wizards, including Auston, would have been terrified if they had seen it, but she didn't think much of it.
'Okay, let's go.'
As Sylvia finished her disguise and took a deep breath, she furrowed her eyebrows at the sight of a group of figures moving at the end of the alley.
'What?'
Those who were wrapped in black clothes approached quickly and silently. Soon, they reached the 'store without a sign' and immediately broke down the door and went in.
“Whoa, whaaaaah!”
“What are you guys!”
A scream erupted from inside the store. At that moment, Sylvia's eyes widened as she spotted a tall man standing out among the black-clad attackers.
'... Randall?'
The man was clearly Randall. He was leading the men with his sword in hand, shouting loudly.
“Don’t let a single one escape! Find ‘Bella’ first!”
"All right!"
Looking closely, it turned out that the people who had raided the store with Randall were the Knights of Belfort. Sylvia sat up in confusion.
'How did that guy...!'
Could it be that the recent busyness was for this work? Sylvia instinctively assessed the situation even in confusion.
'I can't let Bella get caught here now.'
Her goal was to pretend to dig up Bella's background and take the opportunity to die. However, if Bella is caught here, that opportunity will be lost.
“...”
Sylvia bit her lip and glanced up at the sky with fearful eyes, then immediately jumped down from the roof.
***
Bella, who was in the party hall inside the store, dropped her jaw at the employee's urgent words.
"What?"
“The Knights of Belfort are looking for you right now! They are looking for you to prosecute you for illegal gambling and drug distribution...!”
"What?"
“The Knights of Belfort are looking for you right now! They are looking for you to prosecute you for illegal gambling and drug distribution...!”
As if to prove that the employee's words were not a lie, the noise beyond the wall was getting closer and closer.
"Shit."
Bella, who threw off her crow mask, gritted her teeth and ran. She didn’t know where the information came from, but her first priority was to escape. In the middle of the path leading outside, she pressed down on a brick, and a hidden passage was revealed. The end of this passage leads to the forest behind the store. Bella quickly crossed the passage, intending to escape through the forest.
'Almost there...!'
“There’s a secret passage here!”
“Just in case, check that side too!”
"Yes!"
But as she reached the end of the passage, she heard several people's movements and shouts from the other side. Bella bit her lip, feeling that there was no way out.
'Should we fight?'
If she were caught here, the Crown Prince would not help her. However, she had recently been using her brainwashing powers on Marquis Seicrine, so her strength was not as strong as usual. Even as she was struggling, the voices of the knights came closer.
'I guess I can deal with those two. I wonder if they'll be able to come to their senses by then... '
It's been months since Bella suppressed her instinct to kill a human. If she were to experience the pleasure of killing a human in this situation, she wouldn't be able to escape in time and would go crazy with her lack of strength and lose her life.
Finally, Bella gritted her teeth and brought out the darkness. Her pink eyes were filled with red energy. It was the moment she took a step forward and was about to swing her hand.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment