"Do you think you can escape?"
She shouted loudly. Her eyes, looking at Eve, were filled with madness.
Eve knew instinctively. That she would be in big trouble if she were caught by that woman.
'It's ruined!'
Sensing danger, Eve jumped down.
However, the hem of her dress caught on a splinter sticking out of the wall, hindering her actions.
“Ah!”
She was instantly irritated. There is no time to hesitate here!
Eve yanked the hem of her dress.
Squeak!
With a loud noise, the hem of the skirt was torn.
“Stand there!”
Desperate at the sharp voice, Eve jumped down without looking straight ahead.
Thud!
Her body collided with something.
“Ugh!”
Her body tilted forward with a loud noise. However, the pain was not that great compared to the sound.
The thing I bumped into. In other words, it was because what was at the bottom of the wall acted as a cushion. That was none other than...
"Huh? You..."
"..."
It was the man she had met at the casino. The man who had stolen the attention of all the Eastern women and engaged in a battle of wits with her.
Henry, who had suddenly found himself pinned beneath Eve, was staring at her with wide, astonished eyes.
Henry couldn't believe this situation.
After seeing her, his mind was unsettled, and he couldn't calm down. Eventually, he even went for a walk, something he usually finds bothersome.
Henry moved wherever his feet took him.
Walking absentmindedly, thinking only of her, he ended up in a place he absolutely should not have come to.
And he met her again there.
And just like a scene from a novel, he even caught her as she jumped
Not only did he take a direct hit from her, but he even fell while holding her. It was only natural that he should have felt great pain, but Henry had no time to worry about such trivial matters.
'A fateful meeting.'
It was because that sentence filled his mind.
'As if meeting by chance at the casino wasn't enough, we met again in this vast ocean.'
If this isn't a fated encounter, then what on earth is it?
Yes. This was fate. No, it was inevitability.
Henry's heart began to pound wildly.
Just then, while Henry was spreading his wings of fantasy all by himself.
Eve, who suddenly found herself sitting on top of him, thought.
'Why is this guy here?'
Something came to mind as Eve wore a bewildered expression.
'Did he come to arrest me because he knew I gave the wrong amount of money?'
It was a big problem. That money had already been exchanged for jewelry a long time ago.
Of course, she kept the jewel pouch tucked under her arm, but she couldn't let a single one be taken away.
'What should I do?'
Just as the gazes of two people with different thoughts met.
“It’s over there!”
A sharp voice was heard. When she turned her head, she saw the red-haired woman chasing her over the wall.
Eve regained consciousness.
Whatever it was, running away was the priority.
“S-sorry!”
Eve got up with a quick apology.
Then, she tried to run away with all her might, but her steps came to a sudden halt because of the men walking towards her from the front.
The men holding tridents stared at her with menacing eyes. They looked like guards protecting the mansion.
'If not that, then they must be fanatics.'
Eve bit her lip and stepped back.
Perhaps due to the pain, Henry was still unable to get up from where he had fallen.
“Where are you going?”
At that moment, a soft voice was heard from behind. A red-haired woman was slowly approaching her side.
"I've met a lot of people, but you're seriously the first one of your kind.
She smiled sweetly. It was dazzlingly beautiful, but Eve read the true meaning hidden within that smile.
"Uh?"
At that moment, the red-haired woman behind blinked in surprise.
"What brings our Prince to such a humble place?"
She looked at Henry and acknowledged him.
Red hair and light purple eyes, just like hers.
Henry, having regained his senses, sat up. Then, he moved Eve back as if to protect her.
Aria opened her eyes wide.
“Do you two know each other?”
Her expression brightened.
To think the Prince and the believer know each other.
'On top of that, even a protective attitude.'
The work was becoming more interesting. The smile on her lips deepened.
"What on earth are you up to?"
Henry muttered in a cold voice.
As Henry frowned, Aria let out a gasp.
"What? Were you two in that kind of relationship?"
However, the laughter stopped abruptly as if nothing had happened.
"Then I'll have to serve you even more kindly."
She slowly reached out her hand.
Henry noticed it and reached out his hand as well, but Aria was faster.
Henry's body slumped limply. Eve flinched and stepped back.
She knocked him down without lifting a finger. It was clear that she possessed tremendous power.
"Our Prince really relies too much on his looks. If it were me, I'd split the power."
She clicked her tongue in disapproval and gestured toward the guard.
"Take him with respect. It would be a big problem if anything else happened."
The men took Henry inside.
'This is my only chance. I have to run away quickly...'
It was when Eve clenched her fist tightly. The red-haired woman's gaze fell upon Eve.
"You probably won't get a chance."
As if she had read Eve's thoughts, she smiled sweetly.
“See you later.”
With those words, Eve's world darkened again.
Thump. Her body slumped limply.
***
I forgot.
Eve opened her eyes again. After blinking a few times, her vision returned. She lightly shook her dizzy head.
"Hi?"
She smiled and waved her hand. It was the red-haired one who had imprisoned her here.
"Are you awake? How are you feeling?"
"..."
"Are you the quiet type? I don't really like being silent."
She, grumbling playfully, sat down on the chair opposite. The setup made it look like she was about to have a job interview
"My name is Aria. They call me Ren here. The kid behind me is my friend, Charles."
Another red-haired person stood behind her. Their face was expressionless, as if they were watching someone else's business.
Eve tried to move her body. Her hands and feet were tied just like before.
"It’s no use moving. It’s never going to work."
Aria smiled faintly as if she knew everything. Eve bit her lip.
'Why did they lock me up in the first place?'
She didn't understand.
'Could it be that he covets my jewels?'
Eve lowered her head to check if the pocket was safe.
"Ah. I didn't touch that. It looks like you worked hard to get it, so I wouldn't be so heartless as to take it."
Then Aria waved her hand as if to say not to worry.
Eve opened her eyes wide. What is this?
'You didn't read my mind? And how did you know I went through so much trouble to get it?'
"That's right. I read your mind."
'How on earth? Do you use mind reading?'
"It's not mind reading; I can see and hear. Ah, but..."
Aria, who had been trailing off, let out a chuckle.
"I can tell what you're thinking just by looking at your face."
She smiled broadly. It was a blindingly beautiful smile, but Eve was not in the mood to smile back.
"So, why did you come here?"
Eve did not answer. She did not want to speak, and she did not think it would be of any help even if she did.
Then Aria pouted her lips sadly.
"It can't be helped. I was trying to be kind to you, so I'll excuse myself."
She rose from her seat. At the approaching gesture, Eve squirmed and stepped back. A cold hand was placed on Eve's head.
Aria slowly closed her eyes. As she concentrated, a blurry figure appeared. It seemed to be that woman's thoughts.
Aria focused to see more clearly. The blurry figure grew darker.
The distinct figure was...
"Ah!"
Then, suddenly, Aria pulled her hand away.
Eve also looked surprised at the sight, as if she had had a seizure.
“Lady Aria!”
Charles quickly supported Aria.
Gasping for breath, Aria muttered with a shocked look on her face.
"You, you..."
Aria shouted as if she couldn't believe it.
"Your head is really dirty!"
She recoiled and stepped back as if facing a monster.
"What? What on earth are you thinking?"
Aria glared at Eve with a shocked look on her face.
"Fe- female bring joyful? What is this? Is it some kind of spell?"
"What did you put under your feet? Surely not a person?"
"I can't forget the positions I just saw...!"
Questions poured in one after another. Aria could not escape the shock of the genre she was experiencing for the first time.
"..."
And Eve watched the scene in silence. Suddenly, without lifting a finger, it plunged her into terror. By a single thought.
'Should I like this, or not...?'
It seemed like she might be able to get out safely with this.
'Are you still reading? Shall I imagine something even worse?'
It was at that moment that Eve was seriously contemplating.
Aria, who had been breathing heavily, stopped moving.
"But... where did you learn all those things?"
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