Anyone would be the same. Because the woman standing in the dark was so unrealistic. Red eyes resembling rubies and golden hair. Her whole body seemed to prove that she was the only ârealâ Felicite.
âPrincess, what brings you here? No, how did you come here?â
âHow?â
Siani looked at John as if she had heard a stupid question.
âYou sound like Iâm coming to a place where I shouldnât have come.â
He was asking if there was any place here, in Feliciteâs mansion, where she wasnât allowed to be.
âOf course, the basement is not a place you can come no matter how you say youâre a princess!â
John tried to refute. But he was speechless when he noticed something glowing at her neck. That necklace.
It was definitely the key. The key had only been granted to the owner of this basement.
How could that woman have that? Did the duke give permission? Why? Donât tell me that Siani FeliciteâŠ
âI, I, itâs not like that. Itâs because Iâm training right now.â
For now, John hurriedly hid his hands behind his back. He didnât know the details of what was going on in the duchy, but he got a hunch that that thing shouldnât be out of this womanâs sight.
âWhatâs wrong with you? I already came, but you didnât let Norma go.â
John tried to hide Redian from the womanâs sight but to no avail.
ââŠâ
Siani had already found Redian. Redian was also looking at Siani. Cold air flowed between the two gazes that collided in the air, but⊠neither of them turned their head or avoided it first. How long has it been like that?
âAs expected.â
Suddenly, Siani smiled.
âThis should be enough.â
With a friendly compliment.
* * *
Wow.
When I made eye contact with Redian, I tried to hide my expression. After going through several possessions, I was a person who could even talk in my sleep with manners. Nevertheless, I almost shouted, âThis is crazy. Youâre so handsome!â
This is what handsomeness is all about. The word âprettyâ wouldnât suit a guy who would later become a blood-crazed killer. But those disheveled silver hair and blue eyesâŠ
Wait a minute. But why isnât he even surprised to see me? My sudden appearance embarrassed the trainers. But Redian, unlike them, was only still. He was calm enough, which made it creepy. Well, after all, heâs the male lead of this crazy novel.
âThis should be enough.â
But I didnât have time to lose here either. I deliberately faced Redian and smiled kindly.
ââŠâ
I decided to pretend I didnât know that Redianâs eyes were shaking.
âYour name is John, right? Can you explain what this situation is?â
Looking at the situation slowly, I felt unpleasant. They werenât back alley thugs. But the bloody smell that poked the noseâs tip had already spread inside the cage.
âIâll tell you again, Princess, we were in the middle of training right now.â
âTraining?â
John nodded his head. âYes. Itâs training to train Normaâs body.â
Training. They were good at talking nonsense. It was an answer that could tell how Irik had been ruling the trainers and the basement.
âLord Irik, who has been in charge of this place, knows about it.â
Then, the dumbfounded trainers helped John.
âBut Lord Irik is not allowed to interfere in training.â
âThatâs right. Thatâs why Princess shouldnât come in like this.â
Their tone towards me grew stronger and stronger. I could smell it. The smell of them marking their territories.
âI donât know by what authority Princes came here on.â John nodded as if he hadnât noticed my expression. âThis is how weâve tamed the lower ones.â
The lower onesâŠ
I silently pondered over those words.
âAt least here, Princess has to follow our way.â
âReally? This is the basementâs way of controlling the lower one?â
Even though I talked about the bizarre nonsense, my expression was still kind.
âThen I can do the same one because youâre the lower one too.â
âW-what?â
âWhy? This place belongs to Felicite, and Iâm Princess of Felicite.â
On the other hand, Johnâs face was distorted.
âAs you said, itâs training to tame the lower ones.â
ââŠâ
âIs there a reason why I canât do that? If there is anything wrong with what I say, refute it.â
Only the cold silence grew stronger. No one could refute my words.
âI donât know how Irik has commanded this basement, butâŠâ
I stroked the necklace around my neck. âFrom now on, I will make the rules here.â
How much did I struggle to get this key? I didnât want to see the insignificant things messing around.
âDid you harass people like this every night?â
I looked at Redian for a moment. From his forehead to the corners of his eyes and lips, there was no place that wasnât swollen. How many years have they been doing this?
âGive it to me.â
âYes, yes?â
âGive me your hand.â
âWhy my hand, whyâŠâ
âDonât make me say it twice.â
John, who was hesitating, eventually held out his hand, which he had hidden behind his back.
Itâs crazy. When I saw a viciously large hand, I remembered the memory of my previous life. Wherever I go, there are always cowards like this.
âJohn, you know Iâll be coming back again, right?â
ââŠâ
âBefore that, all those wounds you inflicted with your hands should be healed. If not.â
I looked down at his hand that twitched, then warned him.
âIâll take your wrist in return.â
âP-Princess!â
âWhether to listen to Irik or to listen to me from now on, it will be your choice.â
ââŠâ
âI have no intention of ignoring something like this happening in my family.â
âP-Princess!â
âTake a note.â
There was no need for a long word.
âIn the end, we donât know who will have this basement.â
ââŠâ
âIf you donât believe me, check it out tomorrow. Iâm going to cut off the weapon dealer who gave you these weapons.â
Looking at those flickering eyes, I gave the first command. âAh, move Redian to the charge where other Norma lives. Like I said, Iâll be visiting often from now on.â
ââŠâ
âItâs very annoying to come through the central area every time.â
It was their choice whether to follow my order or not. But they had no choice but to follow it anyway.
This ended with my smile towards those people who turned pale. If I didnât like them, I could just cut them.
âHi, Redian.â
ââŠâ
After all, this was my purpose.
I turned around and greeted Redian. To be honest, if it wasnât for Redian, I wouldnât have thought of going this far.
He saw me. That Iâm this kind of person.
I went a little overboard to show off my existence to him. Anyway, today was the first official meeting between the boy and me, so I meant to do well.
ââŠâ
But Redian was cold. He just looked at me with those eyes that seemed to be observing prey.
âYou guys get out.â
I kicked out the trainers first. And then, finally, it was just the two of us who were left.
âI promised you.â
Taking a step closer, I spread my palms out.
âNow, here.â
ââŠâ
Blue eyes gently shifted to my palm.
Early education was important. Looking at him like this, he looked like an obedient dog.
âIâll give you two candies if youâre holding up well.â
ââŠAh, candy.â
What? Ah? Aah, candy? I wasnât expecting him to be happy, but whatâs with this bitter reaction?
âItâs the candy I bought from the most famous dessert shop by sending someone to the main street. Itâs very sweet and delicious.â
Of course, it was a lie.
âEven the trainers out there wouldnât have eaten it.â
âNo need.â
This time, the answer came back so cold that my hand was embarrassed.
âWhat do you want?â
âWant?â
Redian asked, roughly wiping the blood from his mouth.
âUm, all I want is for you to eat these candies.â
ââŠâ
His expression was cold as if telling me to stop talking nonsense and get to the point.
What should I do with this? Seeing Redian like that, my mind started to get complicated.
As soon as Redian was born, he went to and from the underground guild, so he didnât seem ready to receive my affection. As if he had learned when you received something, you had to give them back something.
Huh, at this point, Iâll have to change the strategy.
âAlright, letâs make a deal with me.â
âWho should I kill?â
ââŠKill?â
I was taken aback by the machine-like voice asking what he should do. How on earth did he live until now that the word âkillsâ came out of his mouth easily?
âYou donât have to kill anyone.â
ââŠâ
Redian stared at me as if he didnât understand what I was saying.
âI wonât ask you to kill people. Iâll always give you the best things.â
I wanted to tidy up that silver hair that covered his pretty eyes, but I stopped. It was something I should do only when we got closer.
âIf you follow my words again, no one will bother you anymore.â
ââŠâ
âIâll protect you.â
Iâll protect you. I hoped those words would reach Redian.
âTherefore, serve me as your master.â
When that bloodless, pale face contorted.
âItâs not the family of Duke FeliciteâŠâ
I whispered while making eye contact with the boy. âI mean to me.â