/

Chapter 25




The villain's ending is only death, Chapter 25
It was a story completely different from what I had experienced. However, I deliberately chose stark words.
While this time I moved with a clear purpose, it was true that if a delicate noble lady wandered through back alleys without any escort, she could encounter countless worst-case scenarios.
“Do you understand now? Why I want to use Iclees as my bodyguard.”
“…….”
“I'm sorry to worry you, brother.”
I passed by the frozen Renald and climbed the stairs.
Behind me, Iclees followed like a dog, and Emily, with a solemn expression, bowed her head and followed as well.
Indifference is another form of contempt.
I could never, ever, look favorably upon the people in this house who had ignored Penelope's potential dangers.
‘For the sake of who I was before I came here.’
Just as I reached the top of the stairs.
〈SYSTEM〉 [Renald] Quest failed: [Watching the Festival]!
Would you like to try again?
(Reward: +3% Renald's affection, and other items.)
[Accept / Decline]
Without looking back, I chose ‘Decline.’
Even as I reached my room, Iclees followed me like a puppy.
I had no choice but to speak, noticing Emily's shock at his attempt to follow me inside.
“How far do you plan to follow me?”
Iclees couldn't enter further because I was blocking the doorway.
“But……”
He paused, tilting his head slightly before speaking hesitantly.
“You said to prove my worth.”
Hearing the reason for his blind obedience, I felt a bit disheartened.
‘Going back to the slave auction must be that terrifying for him.’
Suddenly, the yellow bead in the center of the choker around Iclees's neck shimmered.
‘The ring.’
Only then did I realize I held the magical tool that could control him in my hand.
My head, which had been excited at [18% Affection], cooled down.
The vivid image of him breaking his shackles and killing people in one swift move was still fresh in my mind.
A courteous knight who remained loyal to the end, even though his master was a villain, in Normal Mode.
But the untamed Iclees from before was even more dangerous than I could imagine.
Perhaps the reason he had been so obedient to Penelope was because of the choker around his neck.
‘Don’t be fooled by his gentle face. He’s the one who beat hyenas to death with his bare hands.’
I reaffirmed my caution towards Iclees several times in my mind before speaking.
“That doesn’t mean you have to serve me at night.”
“Then……”
“You heard me, right? That I brought you here to use you as my bodyguard.”
“Yes.”
Iclees answered meekly.
“Your first task is to make everyone in the dukedom accept you staying here.”
“Task……?”
“Yes. I can’t keep insisting on keeping someone useless here forever, can I?”
I recited the tasks he needed to do in a stern manner.
Only after I finished speaking did I realize I had been too indifferent, so I forced a kind tone.
“I believe you won’t disappoint me. Right?”
Iclees slowly nodded at my question.
His ashen eyes seemed to sparkle for some reason.
[Affection 20%]
At that moment, his affection level changed.
It was the closest to the ‘30% Affection’ given to male leads in Normal Mode.
‘Sigh… When will it reach 30%, and when will it go even higher to see the ending…’
I already felt exhausted at the thought of the long journey ahead.
“Emily, please show Iclees to the room the butler has prepared.”
“Yes, Miss.”
That’s when it happened.
“Master.”
Iclees’s dry voice sounded as troubled as my own.
“I’ll work hard to earn your praise.”
But I pretended it didn’t matter, reaching out to stroke his dirty hair.
Iclees, as if waiting for it, immediately rubbed his head against my palm.
The physiological fear of the man who had beaten people like a machine hadn’t completely disappeared.
Still, the hope that my choice was right, that I could escape from here, moved me.
“I’m so glad you’re my master, Master.”
* * *
After bringing Iclees into the house, I locked myself in my room for a while, pretending to be in self-imposed confinement.
The duke and Derrick, who had heard the fabricated story from me, ultimately didn’t drive Iclees away.
They also left me alone, despite my arrogant behavior of staying in my room all day without showing my face.
However, I was a bit chilled to hear through Emily that the duke was thoroughly investigating all the noble families in the empire with the name ‘Cluey’ recently.
Not only that, but I also heard that the training intensity and discipline of the knights in the family had become incredibly strict lately.
‘Surely, he won’t find that pig…’
Even if the duke did find him, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but something felt off, and it made me uneasy.
“Ah, I don’t know!”
Lost in thought, I threw the book I was holding and sprawled out on the bed.
The warm noon sunlight poured into the room through the half-drawn curtains.
Somehow, solving the big episode of ‘Saving Iclees’ had given me a brief moment of peace.
No one disturbed me as I lay on the bed, nibbling on snacks and reading books until late in the afternoon.
‘After all, self-imposed confinement is the best.’
If possible, I hoped Derrick would keep me in confinement until I saw the ending.
Wash for me, clean for me, and even bring me meals on time. What a happy life!
Knock knock.
“Oh, Miss! Are you still lying down? Get up quickly. It’s time for lunch.”
Just as I was thinking about it, the food arrived.
“What’s for lunch today?”
I still lay lazily, watching Emily enter the room with a tray.
“It’s pumpkin salad and roasted chicken legs.”
“That’s all?”
It was too meager. I openly showed my disappointment.
“I told the chef that you wanted something spicy, and he specially developed a sauce.”
“Really?”
But at the added information, I perked up and quickly sat up.
After singing ‘Spicy Chicken Legs’ to Emily for a while, it seemed the chef finally heard.
“You’re really something, Miss. Your taste has changed a lot lately. You used to ignore spicy foods……”
Emily, placing the prepared dishes in front of me, kept tilting her head in confusion.
I felt a twinge of guilt. No matter how much I had ignored and disliked her, Emily had been Penelope’s maid for years.
She seemed puzzled by the subtle changes in her mistress.
“People’s tastes change as they get older, you know.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
As I picked up my fork, Emily nodded nonchalantly.
Fortunately, Emily’s discomfort quickly disappeared.
“Eat, Miss.”
No longer playing tricks with the food for the noble lady, Emily diligently carved the meat and served it to me.
Thanks to her, I could enjoy the well-carved meat without lifting a finger.
“Does it taste good? Chew it well.”
Emily was completely focused on watching me eat as she carved the meat.
Her service was so attentive that I couldn’t recall her previous behavior.
Still, every time I ate, my nerves became sharper.
While she served me the food, she didn’t realize that I was carefully watching her with narrowed eyes.
‘Still, it needs to be spicier… This isn’t the taste of that spicy seasoning.’
I tasted the food cautiously, as if looking for a sign, and only relaxed when nothing seemed amiss after a few seconds.
What I really wanted was the spicy chicken I often ate with my college friends in my real life.
The chef’s ambitious dish was just a spicy roasted chicken leg.
‘I guess I’ll have to sing the sweet and spicy song now.’
Although it wasn’t what I wanted, I enjoyed the spicy taste I hadn’t had in a while and eagerly ate the meat she served.
“I’m full now.”
As I put down my fork, Emily quickly cleared the plate and brought out dessert.
“The founding ceremony is coming up soon, Miss.”
Emily casually spoke to me as I scooped melon sorbet.
“So what?”
“Yes! You always bought lots of interesting jewels during the festivals. Did you not find anything you liked this time?”
“I don’t know.”
In fact, my mind was preoccupied with other things, and I didn’t really pay attention to what was there.
Come to think of it, Renald had said something similar.
The previous Penelope seemed to be truly obsessed with jewels.
‘What a diligent consumer.’
Thinking of her walking in front of the miscellaneous goods shops during the festival, buying jewels, made me feel exasperated.
“Oh! By the way, the butler said the items you ordered from the jeweler have arrived.”
“Ordered? What……”
“You called the jeweler before the festival, remember?”
“Oh.”
Emily’s words reminded me of someone. I had completely forgotten because of Iclees.
“Should I go get them from the butler?”
Noticing my serious expression, Emily acted quickly. I nodded lightly in agreement.
“Yes, right away.”