A week has passed.
During that time, Duke Noah Rotsilt never visited, and I enjoyed my time alone and content.
Instead, a secretary named Vincent Ford occasionally visited my room. He was a handsome, gentlemanly man with dark brown hair and wheat-colored eyes, and he said he assisted the Duke with managing his lands and business. Vincent always stood upright, with a businesslike demeanor, checking on my health and only asking and answering necessary questions.
Why are all the people in this mansion so icy? The only person who smiles at me is the crazy Duke.
The secretary, with her dry face, opened her mouth, which Vincent had tightly shut.
"Miss Claire, the Admiral's office has responded with a 'no intention to negotiate' regarding your safety."
"As expected, I knew it," I said, drawing out the answer I'd been thinking of.
"It's a legitimate threat to use my death as a trigger for a preemptive strike. That's just like my father."
Vincent seemed momentarily shaken by my unassuming appearance.
A normal girl would have been terrified, crying, and throwing a tantrum. Besides, being confined for so long would have left a normal person mentally exhausted, but I'm fine.
In fact, I was quite nervous inside, but I pretended to be calm and lifted my chin. Vincent, who had been staring at me, made a face of admiration.
“You really don’t cry.”
"Yes?"
“Understood. I’ll be going now. The Duke will be visiting soon.”
A hint of disappointment crossed his face. Should I have just cried like a normal person? Watching Vincent leave, I resolved to push forward with this strategy. Perhaps that madman's goal was to make me cry.
Late at night, just as I was about to retire to bed, Duke Rotsilt arrived, his fox fur draped over one arm. His dazzling appearance brightened the dark room.
“I came to have a conversation with you.”
“I’m going to sleep now.”
I sat on the edge of the bed, my expression utterly weary. Despite my clear refusal to be alone, he pretended not to hear, pulled his chair over, and sat down opposite me. Then, with a bright face, as if delivering good news, he spoke in the same tone as his secretary.
“What should I do? Your father says he doesn’t need you.”
"I can't help it. If my death will benefit the country, then I must follow that will. But it will give my father a justification to kill you."
In the original, Duke Noah Rotsilt didn't kill Celine outright, but kept her, as she possessed ample utility. Even if he didn't know the specifics of the demands, he already anticipated her refusal to negotiate. I had to continually emphasize my value as a hostage.
It's difficult to be forced to escape in this frigid weather. This place is so remote, with nothing but forests to see, no matter how far I look. And having personally experienced the brutal cold, I've made this decision. My goal is to at least remain here comfortably until spring. If my life ever becomes endangered, I'm also planning to steal the car keys, escape in the mansion's most expensive car, and then sell it. I'll use that money to make something happen.
He looked at me, lost in thought, then leaned his elbows on the back of the chair, rested his chin on it, and smiled.
“That’s fun.”
I think my method is working, in a way. What he's showing me is probably a curiosity bordering on interest. In the original, he imprisoned Celine and mentally tormented her, but the way he treated me was quite different.
Unlike me, Celine hated being confined. The Duke used a kind of torture method: giving her a wrong map and making her wander the forest all night, forcing her to memorize the thick law books in a single day, and making impossible bets. He found it fascinating to watch her mentally devastated by repeatedly giving her hope when she gave up.
"How many people in that situation would check to see if the gun was loaded? They would have pulled the trigger right away."
Was that unusual? I shook my head, pretending nothing happened.
"It was a coincidence. I was messing around with this and that. If another opportunity had presented itself, I would have definitely run away..."
“My Princess is smart, isn’t she?”
The Duke smiled broadly, as if seeking agreement. I could only imagine the exhaustion of dealing with him, who only asked me questions I couldn't possibly answer. He observed me, my shoulders slumping with exhaustion, and, seemingly determined to stay true to his purpose, began to bring up various topics. Of course, they were all meaningless and pointless. As we exchanged awkward words, the Duke brushed the corners of his mouth.
The Duke, his eyes downcast and quiet, seemed to be searching for the next topic of conversation. "But can we just go now? It seems like you have nothing more to say to me." The man's voice was so sweet, like a lullaby, that I almost fell asleep listening to it. Finally, as if he'd found a topic, the Duke's eyelashes slowly rose. He asked, as if asking after someone he hadn't seen in a long time.
“How have you been? While you were in Belford.”
Why are you so interested in me?
"I've been well. My father loved me so much and would do anything for me. Although he refused to negotiate for the sake of the country, I'm sure he's deeply sorry and heartbroken now..."
“Yeah, I see.”
Why do you keep interrupting me? Besides, you asked the question first, and you seem uninterested in my thoughtful response. He listened with a somewhat indifferent air, then stood up and draped a white fox fur coat over my shoulders. Unlike the faux fur, it felt soft against my skin, as if it were alive.
“I caught it.”
"Yes."
“Next time I’ll catch a bear or a tiger and make a nice carpet for you.”
I remembered the bearskin carpet that had once covered Celine's room. The bear's eyes, empty like dead fish, still felt cold and unsettling.
“No, I’m going to die for my country anyway, so why should you be nice to me?”
The Duke's gaze lingered on my patriotic tirade. His usually curved lips became straight. His expressionless face was terribly cold and forlorn, as if frost had settled over it.
“Do you want to die worthily for others?”
“Yeah, well, something like that.”
No, actually, I don't want to die. Can't I just stay comfortable like this for a long time?
Something subtle flashed across his eyes as he spoke deliberately to try to understand my true feelings.
"You think you're only considered valuable after death, like this fur? Even when dead, a person is worthless."
I asked him subtly what he planned to do next.
“If I become useless to you, won’t you kill me anyway?”
“No, I have no intention of killing you again. Just like you didn’t shoot me in the head.”
The Duke finally smiled beautifully, but his face didn't seem to be smiling much.
If you keep me alive, I might be of some use in future negotiations.
Since I was a layman in terms of strategy and tactics, I could not understand his intentions.
"They're probably building an army by now. They've probably prepared several large battleships. My death will be the trigger that prolongs the war, ultimately leading to something like the Hundred Years' War..."
“Yeah. I killed a deer today. Do you like venison?”
This guy doesn't listen to me at all. He seems to dismiss my words as nonsense.
“If you let me live and send me home, nothing will happen.”
“Do you want to go back?”
"...yes."
No. I really hope he doesn't send me back. It's too early to feel relieved just because he doesn't kill me.
Even though negotiations have broken down, there must be a reason why he is keeping me instead of killing me.
That man only says and does incomprehensible things, so I can't help but be suspicious.
As I racked my brain for words to try to figure out the Duke's intentions, his long fingers resting on his sleek suit trousers gently pressed against my cheek.
“You know what? I came here to rescue a real Princess, not a woman pretending to be one.”
“First of all, I’m not a Princess. I’m not royalty either.”
I wish you would stop using such embarrassing terms.
"Yeah, I'd like to be the only one who calls you that. I like you so much, I don't want to give you back."
I'm glad you like me, but I'm also quite confused because you keep saying things that could be misunderstood. While I was pondering how to respond, he added.
“And my Princess doesn’t seem to have any intention of running away.”
His mysterious blue eyes seemed even closer. His face was so close that his breath touched my cheek. A faint scent tickled my nostrils, making it difficult to breathe. Unable to meet his gaze, I lowered my gaze as if turning away. I could only tell he was smiling from the corners of his lips, which were gently turned upward. Finally, a plain voice was heard.
“Stay here. You don’t want to go back.”
The Duke brushed back his silver-white hair and smiled innocently like a boy. He always seemed so relaxed.
In contrast, my face suddenly turned pale.
This man is no ordinary man. He seems to know everything about me.
During that time, Duke Noah Rotsilt never visited, and I enjoyed my time alone and content.
Instead, a secretary named Vincent Ford occasionally visited my room. He was a handsome, gentlemanly man with dark brown hair and wheat-colored eyes, and he said he assisted the Duke with managing his lands and business. Vincent always stood upright, with a businesslike demeanor, checking on my health and only asking and answering necessary questions.
Why are all the people in this mansion so icy? The only person who smiles at me is the crazy Duke.
The secretary, with her dry face, opened her mouth, which Vincent had tightly shut.
"Miss Claire, the Admiral's office has responded with a 'no intention to negotiate' regarding your safety."
"As expected, I knew it," I said, drawing out the answer I'd been thinking of.
"It's a legitimate threat to use my death as a trigger for a preemptive strike. That's just like my father."
Vincent seemed momentarily shaken by my unassuming appearance.
A normal girl would have been terrified, crying, and throwing a tantrum. Besides, being confined for so long would have left a normal person mentally exhausted, but I'm fine.
In fact, I was quite nervous inside, but I pretended to be calm and lifted my chin. Vincent, who had been staring at me, made a face of admiration.
“You really don’t cry.”
"Yes?"
“Understood. I’ll be going now. The Duke will be visiting soon.”
A hint of disappointment crossed his face. Should I have just cried like a normal person? Watching Vincent leave, I resolved to push forward with this strategy. Perhaps that madman's goal was to make me cry.
Late at night, just as I was about to retire to bed, Duke Rotsilt arrived, his fox fur draped over one arm. His dazzling appearance brightened the dark room.
“I came to have a conversation with you.”
“I’m going to sleep now.”
I sat on the edge of the bed, my expression utterly weary. Despite my clear refusal to be alone, he pretended not to hear, pulled his chair over, and sat down opposite me. Then, with a bright face, as if delivering good news, he spoke in the same tone as his secretary.
“What should I do? Your father says he doesn’t need you.”
"I can't help it. If my death will benefit the country, then I must follow that will. But it will give my father a justification to kill you."
In the original, Duke Noah Rotsilt didn't kill Celine outright, but kept her, as she possessed ample utility. Even if he didn't know the specifics of the demands, he already anticipated her refusal to negotiate. I had to continually emphasize my value as a hostage.
It's difficult to be forced to escape in this frigid weather. This place is so remote, with nothing but forests to see, no matter how far I look. And having personally experienced the brutal cold, I've made this decision. My goal is to at least remain here comfortably until spring. If my life ever becomes endangered, I'm also planning to steal the car keys, escape in the mansion's most expensive car, and then sell it. I'll use that money to make something happen.
He looked at me, lost in thought, then leaned his elbows on the back of the chair, rested his chin on it, and smiled.
“That’s fun.”
I think my method is working, in a way. What he's showing me is probably a curiosity bordering on interest. In the original, he imprisoned Celine and mentally tormented her, but the way he treated me was quite different.
Unlike me, Celine hated being confined. The Duke used a kind of torture method: giving her a wrong map and making her wander the forest all night, forcing her to memorize the thick law books in a single day, and making impossible bets. He found it fascinating to watch her mentally devastated by repeatedly giving her hope when she gave up.
Duke Noah Rotsilt was a gentleman with a quirk. I didn't want to be subjected to such brutal torment, but I had come willingly because I already knew his methods. He observed his opponents, relishing the emotional changes in their expressions and reactions. I had to adjust the level appropriately so as not to bore him. In short, it was a push and pull of emotions.
“If you harm me or harass me, I will...”
I want to offer a calm warning, but I can't think of anything to threaten. That face seems to be anticipating some kind of serious threat. "Father's coming to scold you?" He chuckled happily, watching me, my mouth still and motionless, my thoughts frozen in place. A pleasant laugh escaped my lips, a slight gap now forming.
“No, that’s not true. It’s not gentlemanly to harass someone who doesn’t resist.”
“I guess you forgot that you pointed a gun at me.”
"That wasn't bullying. Are you curious about what really bothers you? I have some expertise in that area."
The Duke adjusted his tie and chuckled. I realized our conversation was going off track. It was difficult for this spicy man to be swayed in that direction. As I desperately tried to think of another topic, I remembered what he had said while pointing his gun at me and wanting to confirm something. I thought this might be a good opportunity to ask him for certainty.
“You said you had something to check while pointing a gun at me. Did you check it?”
"Yes."
I could roughly guess his intentions, but I couldn't be sure how he would have judged them. I asked nonchalantly, as if I hadn't paid much attention.
“What was it?”
“Intelligence and learning ability.”
What...?
I was taken aback by the unexpected answer, but I quickly composed myself.
“I’m just ordinary.”
“No, it’s not ordinary.”
"I'm not saying your intelligence is pathetic compared to mine, am I?" He continued, watching my eyes narrow with increasingly negative optimism.
“If you harm me or harass me, I will...”
I want to offer a calm warning, but I can't think of anything to threaten. That face seems to be anticipating some kind of serious threat. "Father's coming to scold you?" He chuckled happily, watching me, my mouth still and motionless, my thoughts frozen in place. A pleasant laugh escaped my lips, a slight gap now forming.
“No, that’s not true. It’s not gentlemanly to harass someone who doesn’t resist.”
“I guess you forgot that you pointed a gun at me.”
"That wasn't bullying. Are you curious about what really bothers you? I have some expertise in that area."
The Duke adjusted his tie and chuckled. I realized our conversation was going off track. It was difficult for this spicy man to be swayed in that direction. As I desperately tried to think of another topic, I remembered what he had said while pointing his gun at me and wanting to confirm something. I thought this might be a good opportunity to ask him for certainty.
“You said you had something to check while pointing a gun at me. Did you check it?”
"Yes."
I could roughly guess his intentions, but I couldn't be sure how he would have judged them. I asked nonchalantly, as if I hadn't paid much attention.
“What was it?”
“Intelligence and learning ability.”
What...?
I was taken aback by the unexpected answer, but I quickly composed myself.
“I’m just ordinary.”
“No, it’s not ordinary.”
"I'm not saying your intelligence is pathetic compared to mine, am I?" He continued, watching my eyes narrow with increasingly negative optimism.
"How many people in that situation would check to see if the gun was loaded? They would have pulled the trigger right away."
Was that unusual? I shook my head, pretending nothing happened.
"It was a coincidence. I was messing around with this and that. If another opportunity had presented itself, I would have definitely run away..."
“My Princess is smart, isn’t she?”
The Duke smiled broadly, as if seeking agreement. I could only imagine the exhaustion of dealing with him, who only asked me questions I couldn't possibly answer. He observed me, my shoulders slumping with exhaustion, and, seemingly determined to stay true to his purpose, began to bring up various topics. Of course, they were all meaningless and pointless. As we exchanged awkward words, the Duke brushed the corners of his mouth.
The Duke, his eyes downcast and quiet, seemed to be searching for the next topic of conversation. "But can we just go now? It seems like you have nothing more to say to me." The man's voice was so sweet, like a lullaby, that I almost fell asleep listening to it. Finally, as if he'd found a topic, the Duke's eyelashes slowly rose. He asked, as if asking after someone he hadn't seen in a long time.
“How have you been? While you were in Belford.”
Why are you so interested in me?
"I've been well. My father loved me so much and would do anything for me. Although he refused to negotiate for the sake of the country, I'm sure he's deeply sorry and heartbroken now..."
“Yeah, I see.”
Why do you keep interrupting me? Besides, you asked the question first, and you seem uninterested in my thoughtful response. He listened with a somewhat indifferent air, then stood up and draped a white fox fur coat over my shoulders. Unlike the faux fur, it felt soft against my skin, as if it were alive.
“I caught it.”
"Yes."
“Next time I’ll catch a bear or a tiger and make a nice carpet for you.”
I remembered the bearskin carpet that had once covered Celine's room. The bear's eyes, empty like dead fish, still felt cold and unsettling.
“No, I’m going to die for my country anyway, so why should you be nice to me?”
The Duke's gaze lingered on my patriotic tirade. His usually curved lips became straight. His expressionless face was terribly cold and forlorn, as if frost had settled over it.
“Do you want to die worthily for others?”
“Yeah, well, something like that.”
No, actually, I don't want to die. Can't I just stay comfortable like this for a long time?
Something subtle flashed across his eyes as he spoke deliberately to try to understand my true feelings.
"You think you're only considered valuable after death, like this fur? Even when dead, a person is worthless."
I asked him subtly what he planned to do next.
“If I become useless to you, won’t you kill me anyway?”
“No, I have no intention of killing you again. Just like you didn’t shoot me in the head.”
The Duke finally smiled beautifully, but his face didn't seem to be smiling much.
If you keep me alive, I might be of some use in future negotiations.
Since I was a layman in terms of strategy and tactics, I could not understand his intentions.
"They're probably building an army by now. They've probably prepared several large battleships. My death will be the trigger that prolongs the war, ultimately leading to something like the Hundred Years' War..."
“Yeah. I killed a deer today. Do you like venison?”
This guy doesn't listen to me at all. He seems to dismiss my words as nonsense.
“If you let me live and send me home, nothing will happen.”
“Do you want to go back?”
"...yes."
No. I really hope he doesn't send me back. It's too early to feel relieved just because he doesn't kill me.
Even though negotiations have broken down, there must be a reason why he is keeping me instead of killing me.
That man only says and does incomprehensible things, so I can't help but be suspicious.
As I racked my brain for words to try to figure out the Duke's intentions, his long fingers resting on his sleek suit trousers gently pressed against my cheek.
“You know what? I came here to rescue a real Princess, not a woman pretending to be one.”
“First of all, I’m not a Princess. I’m not royalty either.”
I wish you would stop using such embarrassing terms.
"Yeah, I'd like to be the only one who calls you that. I like you so much, I don't want to give you back."
I'm glad you like me, but I'm also quite confused because you keep saying things that could be misunderstood. While I was pondering how to respond, he added.
“And my Princess doesn’t seem to have any intention of running away.”
His mysterious blue eyes seemed even closer. His face was so close that his breath touched my cheek. A faint scent tickled my nostrils, making it difficult to breathe. Unable to meet his gaze, I lowered my gaze as if turning away. I could only tell he was smiling from the corners of his lips, which were gently turned upward. Finally, a plain voice was heard.
“Stay here. You don’t want to go back.”
The Duke brushed back his silver-white hair and smiled innocently like a boy. He always seemed so relaxed.
In contrast, my face suddenly turned pale.
This man is no ordinary man. He seems to know everything about me.
Comments
Post a Comment