Admiral Claire did nothing when his daughter was kidnapped by Noah Rotsilt, a Duke of the Frogen Empire and Colonel in the military.
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, who witnessed the kidnapping, approached him and asked for his opinion, but he replied, "I have no intention of negotiating, even if my daughter is sacrificed." Upon hearing this, the lieutenant colonel was instantly reminded of Diana and froze in place.
It seemed odd to simply see it as the cool-headed judgment of a soldier defending his country. The lonely, gray-green eyes of the seemingly fragile girl came to mind, and he couldn't help but feel uneasy. The moment he saw the pitiful girl with black hair, he remembered the moment someone's last words overlapped like an afterimage.
'Please find that poor child.'
The doubts he felt the moment he first saw Diana became certainty, and that soon led to action.
A few days later, Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal visited the admiral's residence again.
"I'm sure I told you I had no intention of negotiating, but it seems they've still kept her alive. There's no separate will or word of her death."
There was concern and worry that she might be in trouble. Only when he heard the words, "I've spared her," did the admiral's face show a slight waver.
“Are you not planning on saving her?”
The admiral, who had been rubbing his chin at the lieutenant colonel's words, narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth.
"Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal. Wouldn't you want to save her, too?"
The admiral, in his uniform, stood upright, looking out the window. The lieutenant colonel, who was watching his back, narrowed his brows with concern. He remembered Diana's pale cheeks, rough hands, and emaciated body, thinking she was unbecoming of a general officer's daughter.
Her short, jagged bob cut came to mind. She looked utterly uncared for. Unlike Celine, who was adorned with flashy, luxurious accessories, she wore a simple outfit, devoid of even a single piece of common jewelry.
The admiral, who had been staring out the window, tilted his head back and sighed.
“They must be trying to cloud public opinion by holding Diana captive and claiming that the country is not saving their people.”
“It seems like a rescue operation must be carried out.”
“Are you going to go yourself?”
“I should take responsibility for the kidnapping that happened right before my eyes.”
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, dressed in his officer's uniform, brushed back his jet-black hair and put on the cap he was holding.
"Lieutenant Colonel, we've already begun the rescue operation. We've sent eight men, with Captain Miller as commander."
The lieutenant colonel's blue eyes, which had been listening for a moment, widened slightly before narrowing sharply. He was suspicious of the small force.
"If it fails, then I will go. This is the responsibility and duty of a soldier."
As the lieutenant colonel left, the admiral's lips twisted in an ugly grimace as he turned around.
I was momentarily speechless as I watched him spit out his enthusiastic invitation, completely stating my purpose: that I didn't want to go back and wanted to stay here as long as possible.
Duke Rotsilt was still looking straight at me with a relaxed expression.
'And my Princess doesn't seem to have any intention of running away.'
'I don't want to go back.'
It was a sharp remark. Was he trying to persuade me? I swallowed hard, pretending nothing had happened. Then I leaned back against the headboard and smiled leisurely.
“I ran away, didn’t I? Back then.”
The Duke, who had come face to face with me, observed me with interest.
“Didn’t you feel it when you ran away?”
"Yes?"
The Duke, who had briefly stepped back, covered his face with one hand and chuckled. His blue eyes, visible between his fingers, narrowed even further.
“I don’t know, I’ve never opened a door by myself before.”
Just looking at him made me feel like I was being secretly interrogated, so I stared at him with wide eyes. The Duke briefly glanced back toward the door, then lifted his chin, and the corners of his mouth turned up.
“I didn’t lock the door except on the first day.”
"What...?"
Oh, I don't think I've heard that clanking sound since the first day. Actually, I haven't even tried to open the door. I have no intention of leaving. I kept my mouth shut and tried to come up with a plausible excuse.
“Diana.”
He called my name for the first time. It was more like he was appreciating, ruminating, and monologued. His voice, muffled by breath, sounded hazy and languid, like the intoxication of strong alcohol.
“Yes? Your Excellency.”
“Please call my name too.”
"Yes?"
“Noah. My name.”
He took my hand and began spelling it out on my palm. Each time his long fingers traced across my palm, I felt a tingling sensation and squeezed my eyes shut. "Yes, I should call you by your name."
“Don’t you know the Admiral abandoned you? Are you pretending not to know?”
"Do you really know everything?" I bit my lip, barely managing to get the words out.
"Anyway, if something happens to my personal life, they won't sit idly by. Whether it's diplomatic retaliation or outright anger."
“That won’t happen. You’re my Princess.”
Where on earth do you get the urge to keep calling me "Princess"? There's no such thing in the original.
Of course, I am ignorant of the detailed history of this body, but no matter how much I think about it, it doesn't seem like royalty.
If that were the case, I wouldn't have been treated like that at the Admiral's house. It's more plausible that I was picked up.
I don't understand why she calls Celine a princess-pretender and calls me the princess. The only relief is that he doesn't seem to want to kill me yet. He seems quite intrigued by what he saw that day.
For now, I have to rebel and throw a tantrum to show that I don't want to be locked up and want to run away, and I have to create neglect, indifference, and interest.
Like an earthworm that squirms when stepped on.
From the next day onwards, I refused to eat and just lay down, or started a sit-in protest demanding to be sent back.
If I showed resignation and abandonment, he wouldn't find it amusing. Noah came into the room himself and personally fed me. He seemed to find it a bit of trivial amusement. But I also wondered if he had any reason to do this to a hostage abandoned for mere amusement.
I asked him as he fed me the meat soup.
“Excuse me, Duke.”
“Noah.”
He corrected me in detail.
“Noah. I don’t know why you’re doing this to me. You’re not killing me, you’re not sending me back.”
Noah's eyes widened as he placed his silver spoon on the tray. And again, that man's eyes were smiling.
The neatly pressed shirt and neat tie seemed ascetic, but instead, they exuded a depraved air, like a temptation leading to a forbidden sanctuary. I barely managed to gather my thoughts, which were drifting elsewhere.
“Why is that?”
Noah tilted his head and asked me back. The silver-white hair covering his forehead fell to one side.
I pulled out a thought from deep within me. That he would do this to an abandoned hostage. Could it be that he, who is so heartless, would...?
“Do you like raising animals?”
"Did you want to raise me like a pet?" Noah chuckled at my absurd question.
“I like them, but I’ve never raised one.”
He gave a subtle answer.
“First of all, you have no intention of killing me, right?”
I tried to get some confirmation. Noah's hand slowly reached out and caressed my cheek.
"Even if you pretend not to care, you must be very serious about your life. To the point where you want to hear the same answer over and over again."
“You repeatedly threatened me that I would die if I ran away.”
He spoke curtly and covered my face with both hands as I slowly avoided him.
“If you don’t run away, you won’t die. This isn’t a threat, it’s a concern.”
His voice was low and cool, but his expression was gentle and kind. What kind of contradictory person is this? I guess I've fallen for that noble madman.
I looked at him with bewildered eyes and nodded.
From then on, Noah completely ignored my pleas like, "Let me out," "Send me back," and "The army will be surrounding us by now." He then said thoughtful things like, "Yeah, yeah. I'll listen to you when you're done eating."
I also think it's fortunate that I seem to be enjoying my efforts in my own way.
But I don't find life fun.
After a week, I was tired of the hunger strike, and the frequent visits were becoming tiresome. I thought even I deserved some sunlight, so I requested a walk. Incidentally, prisoners get their fair share of sunlight, too.
And there was a need to understand the exterior structure of this mansion in case an escape plan had to be carried out in the future.
"Please, at least take some time for a walk. This place is on the outskirts, in the woods, so I can't run away."
Noah surprisingly readily agreed to my words.
“I was going to do that. I just didn’t think you wanted to go out.”
Was he secretly trying to figure it out? I felt uneasy, as if he was seeing right through me. It was like he was taming and enjoying himself, like a puppy drooling every time a bell rings.
The next afternoon, I was given permission to go for a walk. Donning a white fox fur coat and velvet gloves, I walked with Molly through the snow-covered garden. Coming out of the dimly lit room, the crisp winter breeze felt refreshing.
The afternoon sunlight reflected off the thick snow, dazzling me. Squinting, I raised my head and saw something sparkling and shining deep within the coniferous forest.
Suddenly, the image of Noah's revolver's barrel reflecting in the light flashed through my mind like an ominous warning. As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I grabbed Molly's arm.
“Get down!”
Bang.
Soon, a gunshot rang out overhead, and the sound of a bullet passing close by and hitting a tree was heard.
Could it be that Noah is trying to scare me with this event?
I lay face down, as if crawling, while Molly pulled out her pistol and looked around. "He was a scary guy, knowing how to use a gun."
Judging by Molly's actions, at least it wasn't Noah's doing. Soon, men in Frogen uniforms rushed out of the forest, rifles in hand, and aimed their guns at Molly.
“Did you say Diana? I came to rescue you.”
A man spoke and reached out to me. It seemed like Belford had infiltrated the mansion wearing a Frogen uniform. From a distance, I could see soldiers guarding the mansion running toward me after hearing gunfire.
"You came to save me? Just don't shoot her. I'll follow you."
I was dumbfounded by the unbelievable situation, but I quickly stood in front of Molly. The man dragged me into the forest. Behind me, I heard the loud crack of bullets and shouts.
I've only ever seen such vivid engagements in games, movies, or dramas, and my legs are shaking. The day I was kidnapped, I was so excited by the thought of it that I didn't even feel fear, but not anymore.
“The Admiral has ordered this. Follow quietly.”
I had my suspicions. The Admiral couldn't possibly feel paternal love and worry about me now. Perhaps he wanted to avoid the stigma of being an incompetent Belford who failed to rescue the kidnapped Imperial citizens.
Besides, this man's speech doesn't sound like that of a soldier.
'Admiral'? He doesn't seem to have a higher rank than that.
I thought about it quickly.
He's not a soldier. He sent mercenaries to kill me under the guise of rescuing me.
"Admiral Claire's daughter, Diana, died during the rescue. She was a frail woman who rarely went out. Belford felt a deep anger towards Frogen..."
Currently, the two countries, Frogen and Belford, are negotiating, and they're likely trying to exploit my death. The image of a street child selling newspapers with the slogan "Extra, extra!" flashes before my eyes.
If we continue like this, I'll be secretly killed in the mountains and buried under the frozen ground.
“It’s over there!”
A fierce battle broke out between the soldiers and mercenaries from the mansion, who had been pursuing them closely. The sound of bullets bouncing off rocks and trees was eerie.
My legs felt frozen to the ground, but I had to move to survive.
While the mercenaries were distracted, I ducked and carefully slipped out. The crunch of fallen leaves was incredibly loud. Luckily, I was wearing fur, so I could see myself as an animal. I crept out of the way, then covered myself with fur and ran frantically.
They didn't seem to realize I'd escaped. They probably hadn't even considered running away. Several times, I stumbled over rocks and tree roots, rolling around as I fled deeper into the forest.
As I ran through the dry winter trees and the coniferous forest came into view, and the gunshots began to fade into the distance.
"Where should I go? If I go deeper, there'll be wolves."
The cold forest air was constantly blowing in and out, freezing my lungs. My hair and clothes were covered in dirt and fallen leaves, and blood was clumping down my knees.
I found a hollow in a large tree and hid inside. I had no idea where I was. It was deserted and quiet, with only the occasional sound of migratory birds flying by.
“What the hell is this... Why did I have to come to a place where war is going on?”
After the sun goes down, won't you come looking for me?
Of course, I don't know if they're the Admiral's mercenaries or Noah's subordinates. But since I'm a supporting character, I don't think I'll benefit from the unexpected help of someone coming to my rescue.
“I guess I’ll have to go back on my own.”
I waited until the sun set before pulling myself out of my huddled state. The temperature would drop even further in the dead of night, and I might freeze to death. As I walked, tracing back the memories of my run, I heard a sniffling sound from somewhere, followed by the crunch of fallen leaves.
The gloomy atmosphere made all my senses tense.
My instincts warned me of danger and told me to run, but my legs were shaking so badly that I could barely take a single step.
“Oh my...”
With a sense of unease, I turned my head and looked in that direction. Through the bushes, several lifelike eyes shone like lighthouse lights. Wild wolves of overwhelming size, ones I'd never seen before, were approaching me.
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, who witnessed the kidnapping, approached him and asked for his opinion, but he replied, "I have no intention of negotiating, even if my daughter is sacrificed." Upon hearing this, the lieutenant colonel was instantly reminded of Diana and froze in place.
It seemed odd to simply see it as the cool-headed judgment of a soldier defending his country. The lonely, gray-green eyes of the seemingly fragile girl came to mind, and he couldn't help but feel uneasy. The moment he saw the pitiful girl with black hair, he remembered the moment someone's last words overlapped like an afterimage.
'Please find that poor child.'
The doubts he felt the moment he first saw Diana became certainty, and that soon led to action.
A few days later, Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal visited the admiral's residence again.
"I'm sure I told you I had no intention of negotiating, but it seems they've still kept her alive. There's no separate will or word of her death."
There was concern and worry that she might be in trouble. Only when he heard the words, "I've spared her," did the admiral's face show a slight waver.
“Are you not planning on saving her?”
The admiral, who had been rubbing his chin at the lieutenant colonel's words, narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth.
"Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal. Wouldn't you want to save her, too?"
The admiral, in his uniform, stood upright, looking out the window. The lieutenant colonel, who was watching his back, narrowed his brows with concern. He remembered Diana's pale cheeks, rough hands, and emaciated body, thinking she was unbecoming of a general officer's daughter.
Her short, jagged bob cut came to mind. She looked utterly uncared for. Unlike Celine, who was adorned with flashy, luxurious accessories, she wore a simple outfit, devoid of even a single piece of common jewelry.
The admiral, who had been staring out the window, tilted his head back and sighed.
“They must be trying to cloud public opinion by holding Diana captive and claiming that the country is not saving their people.”
“It seems like a rescue operation must be carried out.”
“Are you going to go yourself?”
“I should take responsibility for the kidnapping that happened right before my eyes.”
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, dressed in his officer's uniform, brushed back his jet-black hair and put on the cap he was holding.
"Lieutenant Colonel, we've already begun the rescue operation. We've sent eight men, with Captain Miller as commander."
The lieutenant colonel's blue eyes, which had been listening for a moment, widened slightly before narrowing sharply. He was suspicious of the small force.
"If it fails, then I will go. This is the responsibility and duty of a soldier."
As the lieutenant colonel left, the admiral's lips twisted in an ugly grimace as he turned around.
***
I was momentarily speechless as I watched him spit out his enthusiastic invitation, completely stating my purpose: that I didn't want to go back and wanted to stay here as long as possible.
Duke Rotsilt was still looking straight at me with a relaxed expression.
'And my Princess doesn't seem to have any intention of running away.'
'I don't want to go back.'
It was a sharp remark. Was he trying to persuade me? I swallowed hard, pretending nothing had happened. Then I leaned back against the headboard and smiled leisurely.
“I ran away, didn’t I? Back then.”
The Duke, who had come face to face with me, observed me with interest.
“Didn’t you feel it when you ran away?”
"Yes?"
The Duke, who had briefly stepped back, covered his face with one hand and chuckled. His blue eyes, visible between his fingers, narrowed even further.
“I don’t know, I’ve never opened a door by myself before.”
Just looking at him made me feel like I was being secretly interrogated, so I stared at him with wide eyes. The Duke briefly glanced back toward the door, then lifted his chin, and the corners of his mouth turned up.
“I didn’t lock the door except on the first day.”
"What...?"
Oh, I don't think I've heard that clanking sound since the first day. Actually, I haven't even tried to open the door. I have no intention of leaving. I kept my mouth shut and tried to come up with a plausible excuse.
“Diana.”
He called my name for the first time. It was more like he was appreciating, ruminating, and monologued. His voice, muffled by breath, sounded hazy and languid, like the intoxication of strong alcohol.
“Yes? Your Excellency.”
“Please call my name too.”
"Yes?"
“Noah. My name.”
He took my hand and began spelling it out on my palm. Each time his long fingers traced across my palm, I felt a tingling sensation and squeezed my eyes shut. "Yes, I should call you by your name."
“Don’t you know the Admiral abandoned you? Are you pretending not to know?”
"Do you really know everything?" I bit my lip, barely managing to get the words out.
"Anyway, if something happens to my personal life, they won't sit idly by. Whether it's diplomatic retaliation or outright anger."
“That won’t happen. You’re my Princess.”
Where on earth do you get the urge to keep calling me "Princess"? There's no such thing in the original.
Of course, I am ignorant of the detailed history of this body, but no matter how much I think about it, it doesn't seem like royalty.
If that were the case, I wouldn't have been treated like that at the Admiral's house. It's more plausible that I was picked up.
I don't understand why she calls Celine a princess-pretender and calls me the princess. The only relief is that he doesn't seem to want to kill me yet. He seems quite intrigued by what he saw that day.
For now, I have to rebel and throw a tantrum to show that I don't want to be locked up and want to run away, and I have to create neglect, indifference, and interest.
Like an earthworm that squirms when stepped on.
From the next day onwards, I refused to eat and just lay down, or started a sit-in protest demanding to be sent back.
If I showed resignation and abandonment, he wouldn't find it amusing. Noah came into the room himself and personally fed me. He seemed to find it a bit of trivial amusement. But I also wondered if he had any reason to do this to a hostage abandoned for mere amusement.
I asked him as he fed me the meat soup.
“Excuse me, Duke.”
“Noah.”
He corrected me in detail.
“Noah. I don’t know why you’re doing this to me. You’re not killing me, you’re not sending me back.”
Noah's eyes widened as he placed his silver spoon on the tray. And again, that man's eyes were smiling.
The neatly pressed shirt and neat tie seemed ascetic, but instead, they exuded a depraved air, like a temptation leading to a forbidden sanctuary. I barely managed to gather my thoughts, which were drifting elsewhere.
“Why is that?”
Noah tilted his head and asked me back. The silver-white hair covering his forehead fell to one side.
I pulled out a thought from deep within me. That he would do this to an abandoned hostage. Could it be that he, who is so heartless, would...?
“Do you like raising animals?”
"Did you want to raise me like a pet?" Noah chuckled at my absurd question.
“I like them, but I’ve never raised one.”
He gave a subtle answer.
“First of all, you have no intention of killing me, right?”
I tried to get some confirmation. Noah's hand slowly reached out and caressed my cheek.
"Even if you pretend not to care, you must be very serious about your life. To the point where you want to hear the same answer over and over again."
“You repeatedly threatened me that I would die if I ran away.”
He spoke curtly and covered my face with both hands as I slowly avoided him.
“If you don’t run away, you won’t die. This isn’t a threat, it’s a concern.”
His voice was low and cool, but his expression was gentle and kind. What kind of contradictory person is this? I guess I've fallen for that noble madman.
I looked at him with bewildered eyes and nodded.
From then on, Noah completely ignored my pleas like, "Let me out," "Send me back," and "The army will be surrounding us by now." He then said thoughtful things like, "Yeah, yeah. I'll listen to you when you're done eating."
I also think it's fortunate that I seem to be enjoying my efforts in my own way.
But I don't find life fun.
After a week, I was tired of the hunger strike, and the frequent visits were becoming tiresome. I thought even I deserved some sunlight, so I requested a walk. Incidentally, prisoners get their fair share of sunlight, too.
And there was a need to understand the exterior structure of this mansion in case an escape plan had to be carried out in the future.
"Please, at least take some time for a walk. This place is on the outskirts, in the woods, so I can't run away."
Noah surprisingly readily agreed to my words.
“I was going to do that. I just didn’t think you wanted to go out.”
Was he secretly trying to figure it out? I felt uneasy, as if he was seeing right through me. It was like he was taming and enjoying himself, like a puppy drooling every time a bell rings.
The next afternoon, I was given permission to go for a walk. Donning a white fox fur coat and velvet gloves, I walked with Molly through the snow-covered garden. Coming out of the dimly lit room, the crisp winter breeze felt refreshing.
The afternoon sunlight reflected off the thick snow, dazzling me. Squinting, I raised my head and saw something sparkling and shining deep within the coniferous forest.
Suddenly, the image of Noah's revolver's barrel reflecting in the light flashed through my mind like an ominous warning. As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I grabbed Molly's arm.
“Get down!”
Bang.
Soon, a gunshot rang out overhead, and the sound of a bullet passing close by and hitting a tree was heard.
Could it be that Noah is trying to scare me with this event?
I lay face down, as if crawling, while Molly pulled out her pistol and looked around. "He was a scary guy, knowing how to use a gun."
Judging by Molly's actions, at least it wasn't Noah's doing. Soon, men in Frogen uniforms rushed out of the forest, rifles in hand, and aimed their guns at Molly.
“Did you say Diana? I came to rescue you.”
A man spoke and reached out to me. It seemed like Belford had infiltrated the mansion wearing a Frogen uniform. From a distance, I could see soldiers guarding the mansion running toward me after hearing gunfire.
"You came to save me? Just don't shoot her. I'll follow you."
I was dumbfounded by the unbelievable situation, but I quickly stood in front of Molly. The man dragged me into the forest. Behind me, I heard the loud crack of bullets and shouts.
I've only ever seen such vivid engagements in games, movies, or dramas, and my legs are shaking. The day I was kidnapped, I was so excited by the thought of it that I didn't even feel fear, but not anymore.
“The Admiral has ordered this. Follow quietly.”
I had my suspicions. The Admiral couldn't possibly feel paternal love and worry about me now. Perhaps he wanted to avoid the stigma of being an incompetent Belford who failed to rescue the kidnapped Imperial citizens.
Besides, this man's speech doesn't sound like that of a soldier.
'Admiral'? He doesn't seem to have a higher rank than that.
I thought about it quickly.
He's not a soldier. He sent mercenaries to kill me under the guise of rescuing me.
"Admiral Claire's daughter, Diana, died during the rescue. She was a frail woman who rarely went out. Belford felt a deep anger towards Frogen..."
Currently, the two countries, Frogen and Belford, are negotiating, and they're likely trying to exploit my death. The image of a street child selling newspapers with the slogan "Extra, extra!" flashes before my eyes.
If we continue like this, I'll be secretly killed in the mountains and buried under the frozen ground.
“It’s over there!”
A fierce battle broke out between the soldiers and mercenaries from the mansion, who had been pursuing them closely. The sound of bullets bouncing off rocks and trees was eerie.
My legs felt frozen to the ground, but I had to move to survive.
While the mercenaries were distracted, I ducked and carefully slipped out. The crunch of fallen leaves was incredibly loud. Luckily, I was wearing fur, so I could see myself as an animal. I crept out of the way, then covered myself with fur and ran frantically.
They didn't seem to realize I'd escaped. They probably hadn't even considered running away. Several times, I stumbled over rocks and tree roots, rolling around as I fled deeper into the forest.
As I ran through the dry winter trees and the coniferous forest came into view, and the gunshots began to fade into the distance.
"Where should I go? If I go deeper, there'll be wolves."
The cold forest air was constantly blowing in and out, freezing my lungs. My hair and clothes were covered in dirt and fallen leaves, and blood was clumping down my knees.
I found a hollow in a large tree and hid inside. I had no idea where I was. It was deserted and quiet, with only the occasional sound of migratory birds flying by.
“What the hell is this... Why did I have to come to a place where war is going on?”
After the sun goes down, won't you come looking for me?
Of course, I don't know if they're the Admiral's mercenaries or Noah's subordinates. But since I'm a supporting character, I don't think I'll benefit from the unexpected help of someone coming to my rescue.
“I guess I’ll have to go back on my own.”
I waited until the sun set before pulling myself out of my huddled state. The temperature would drop even further in the dead of night, and I might freeze to death. As I walked, tracing back the memories of my run, I heard a sniffling sound from somewhere, followed by the crunch of fallen leaves.
The gloomy atmosphere made all my senses tense.
My instincts warned me of danger and told me to run, but my legs were shaking so badly that I could barely take a single step.
“Oh my...”
With a sense of unease, I turned my head and looked in that direction. Through the bushes, several lifelike eyes shone like lighthouse lights. Wild wolves of overwhelming size, ones I'd never seen before, were approaching me.
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