Chapter 8
I took a short breath.
If I didn’t calm myself like this, I felt like I might actually lose my temper.
“…You’re right. I’m in a position where I have to keep you alive no matter what.”
After a moment,
I spoke as calmly as I could.
Lucian is my only lifeline.
So I can’t let our relationship completely break down.
No matter what, I need his help.
“However, the reason I want to keep you alive isn’t just to stay in the Marquis Oppenheimer’s favor.”
Repeating that to myself desperately,
I asked him quietly,
“Let me ask you instead. Why do you think I live only for the sake of being loved by someone?”
“……”
Lucian looked at me, slightly surprised.
I clenched my teeth.
I knew it too—
That “Elje” was nothing more than a villainess created to highlight the kind, gentle heroine.
But even so—
Even a villainess—
…should be allowed to hope to live life on her own terms.
“I want to live.”
I forced the words out.
“Not as some crazy woman obsessively clinging to the Marquis Oppenheimer… or as an arrogant villainess causing trouble in this place.”
I clenched my fists tightly to suppress the emotions rising inside me.
My nails dug painfully into my palm.
“I just… want to live as Elje Lepherian.”
“……”
Lucian’s blue eyes shook violently.
Meeting his stunned gaze,
I continued, my voice unsteady.
“And if I want to live as Elje Lepherian—if I want to achieve my dream…”
“…You.”
“Then I have to survive first.”
I bit my lip until it bled.
“To live without worrying whether I’ll see tomorrow… without being tied down by anyone… just living day by day like that…”
I took a deep breath.
“…Is that really such a greedy wish?”
My insides felt twisted.
I couldn’t bear to look at his face any longer.
So I turned sharply and left the room.
* * *
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
Clank, clatter.
The sound of the lock echoed harshly.
Click, click, click.
From beyond the thick door, the fading sound of heels echoed away.
Lucian stared at the closed door, his gaze complicated.
[“I don’t want to live as some crazy woman obsessively clinging to the Marquis… or as a foolish villainess causing trouble here. ”]
[“I just… want to live as Elje Lepherian. ”]
Lucian replayed her words in his mind.
It was the first time.
The always calm and composed Elje had shown such raw emotion.
Her honey-colored eyes, usually soft and sweet, had been sharp.
Her gentle tone hadn’t changed—
But the tension beneath it had been obvious.
Back then, she had seemed like a sandcastle—
Ready to collapse at the slightest touch.
…Strangely fragile.
But what does that matter?
Lucian scoffed.
Whatever pain Elje was going through—
Even if she wanted to live as herself instead of a villainess—
It had nothing to do with him.
Who am I to worry about someone else?
His cold thoughts were actually directed more at himself than at her.
Being dragged into this place, unable to do anything, trapped like a fool—
It disgusted him.
[“Are you really planning to starve yourself to death? ”]
Her cold question pierced him again.
Lucian lay sideways on the bed, clutching his head.
A dull headache throbbed.
…I don’t know anymore.
It wasn’t like he actually wanted to die.
He just… didn’t feel like eating.
Of course, part of him wanted to spite the people in this miserable place—
But more than that—
I feel sick.
Every time food was placed in front of him, nausea rose up.
It felt like he was being raised like livestock—
Like a beast being fed.
How long do I have to stay trapped here?
Is escape really impossible?
Is there no one I can ask for help?
Questions began to pile up beneath his anger.
They grew larger and larger—
Until they overwhelmed everything else.
Now, Lucian was simply confused.
And the question that tormented him the most—
…Did my brother really betray me?
His kind, reliable cousin.
The one he trusted like a parent.
…Was everything he showed me a lie?
At first, he thought everything Elje said was a lie.
If it were true, he had sworn to take revenge—
But deep down, he believed there must be some mistake.
That his cousin would come for him soon.
But reality was—
He was still here.
Alone.
In this miserable room.
Forget it. I’m just tired.
The pounding headache spread through his entire body.
Lucian curled up and closed his eyes.
And soon, he fell into a sleep that felt more like fainting.
* * *
After some time,
Back in my room, I felt like burying my head in shame.
What am I supposed to do now?
I had said far more than I needed to in front of Lucian.
[“To live without worrying about tomorrow… without being tied down… just living day by day…”]
[“…Is that really such a greedy wish? ”]
I thought I had held back my anger—
But I must have been more emotional than I realized.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have said something so embarrassing.
If I could, I’d just disappear from this world right now…
But what’s done is done.
And I’m the one who has to fix it.
I forced myself to think clearly.
I had to resolve the current situation—
Lucian losing all will to live and refusing to eat.
In the short term, I could force food down his throat—
But that had its limits.
So—
I need to find a way to reignite his will to live.
And then—
My eyes widened slightly.
There was a way.
The most effective way to bring back Lucian’s will to live.
That method was—
* * *
Click.
The door opened.
In the dim room,
Lucian, who looked even thinner than before, turned toward me with a pale face.
At least this time, he reacted to my presence.
That alone felt like progress.
“Hello, Your Grace.”
I placed the tray of food on the table and approached him carefully.
“I’m sorry about earlier today.”
“……”
“I lost my composure and showed you an unpleasant side of myself. I truly apologize.”
“……”
No matter what I said, Lucian only stared at me with empty eyes.
No response at all.
But—
Will he stay like that after seeing this?
I took out a letter and placed it in front of him.
On the high-quality envelope, the sender’s name was written in elegant handwriting.
Arthur Craig, Baron Craig.
Lucian’s cousin.
“…What is this?”
For the first time, a spark ignited in his lifeless blue eyes.
I gestured toward the envelope.
“Baron Craig—your cousin—sent this to our school.”
The veins on the back of Lucian’s hand bulged as he grabbed the letter.
I continued softly,
“Check the recipient as well.”
“……”
His eyes locked onto the envelope.
Then—
His dry lips moved.
“…Dante.”
The name came out like something dragged up from the depths of hell.
“…Dessa von Oppenheimer.”
The man Elje had obsessively loved in the original story.
The owner of this school.
And the man most likely to kill me right now.
Hearing that name—
I smiled brightly.
“That’s right.”
The method I chose to reignite Lucian’s will to live—
It was revenge.
