BMLT CH 07

Chapter 7

Meeting that gaze, the aide felt a chill run down his spine.

The man’s curiosity resembled the cruelty of a child.

Like plucking the wings off a butterfly for fun—twisted, yet without malice.

…How can Lady Elje love a man like that?

The aide found himself thinking such an irreverent thought.

Dante Dessa von Oppenheimer.

Born as an illegitimate child of the imperial family,
he conquered the empire’s underworld and rose to the rank of marquis through his own power.

Every time the aide faced his master, he felt as if he were standing before something not quite human.

His appearance was as beautiful as a sculpture carved by a god—

But inside, he was empty.

He desired to be loved absolutely by others—

Yet he himself loved no one.

“Well, anyway, I’m busy dealing with rats right now.”

Dante’s faint curiosity toward Elje quickly faded.

His expression returned to boredom.

“I’ll go see her soon enough. Until then, tell Elje to keep herself entertained at the boarding school.”

“Yes, I will relay that.”

“Still…”

Dante suddenly let out a small laugh.

“An Elje who doesn’t cling desperately… that’s interesting.”

With that—

He left the basement.

The aide quietly closed the door behind him and watched his retreating figure.

Step. Step.

Footprints echoed along the cold stone stairs.

They were marked in red blood.

* * *

The next morning,

I carried breakfast and headed to see Lucian again.

“Good morning, Your Grace.”

The room was still dark, as the sun hadn’t risen yet.

Lucian, lying on the bed, glanced toward me.

At least he wasn’t as aggressive as yesterday.

…It looks like he didn’t sleep well.

His face was exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes.

Well, of course.

He had been dragged into this nightmare of a place and failed to escape.

There was no way he could rest peacefully.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

“How could I sleep well after being dragged into this garbage place and imprisoned?”

Just as expected—a sharp reply.

Since I had anticipated it, I simply lifted the tray in my hands.

“I brought breakfast.”

Warm soup, soft white bread, jam and bacon, an omelet, fruits, and juice—

A typical noble breakfast.

“All the food has been safely prepared, but I understand it’s hard for you to trust me.”

“……”

“So I’ll taste each dish first. You can eat afterward.”

“…No need.”

…What?

I blinked.

Lucian stared at me with dry eyes.

Then—

“I said I don’t need it.”

His voice was rough, like dry sand.

“Why…?”

“I’m not eating.”

I almost snapped back instinctively—

Why won’t you eat?—

But I swallowed the words.

…Right. His mind must be in chaos right now.

After everything that happened yesterday, it would be stranger if he did have an appetite.

I quietly withdrew the tray and stood up.

“Then I’ll take my leave for now.”

“……”

“I’ll bring lunch later. Please try to eat then.”

I asked sincerely, but Lucian didn’t seem to hear a word.

Suppressing a sigh, I said,

“Please rest well.”

“……”

He didn’t respond.

He simply stared out the barred window.

His gaze wandered outside, filled with longing.

As if he wanted to run out at any moment.

…Like a bird with broken wings, unable to fly again.

I turned away and left.

* * *

The relationship between Lucian and me only continued to worsen.

Because—

His refusal to eat lasted for an entire week.

What do I do… he’s really getting worse.

I anxiously observed him.

The healthy color had drained from his rose-like cheeks, and his face had grown thinner.

Now, he didn’t even get angry at me anymore.

He would just glance at me weakly, then close his eyes as if even raising his voice was too much effort.

Of course, I hadn’t simply done nothing.

At first, I tried everything to ease his mood.

“Good evening.”

“……”

“How are you feeling today?”

“……”

“I brought your meal. Could you at least eat a little?”

I kept talking to him persistently, but—

“……”

He either kept his mouth shut or ignored me entirely.

He looked like a noble flower slowly withering—

Deprived of water and sunlight.

He didn’t resist.

As if even spending energy on emotions was too exhausting.

As if it would be easier to just wither away and die.

Seeing him like that—

Fear tightened around my chest.

And in response, anger began to rise.

How long are you going to keep refusing food?

Honestly, I understood that he hated me.

After all, I was essentially his jailer.

It was fine if he didn’t trust me.

It was understandable if he resented me.

But—

Even so—

You don’t have to destroy yourself like this.

It would be better if he at least cursed me or got angry.

If things kept going like this—

If Lucian dies… my entire escape plan is over.

I bit down on my lip.

Call me selfish if you want.

My life mattered the most.

Whether the female lead and the three male leads tangled themselves in obsessive love and hatred—

I didn’t care.

The only thing I wanted—

Was to escape this miserable reverse-harem romance fantasy world.

And unless Lucian awakened his power and destroyed this place—

I had no way out.

Even if I somehow managed to escape—

I knew too much.

That the Duke of Kaleid was imprisoned here.

And Dante would make sure to silence me forever.

And the method he preferred most—

Was killing.

…A chill ran through my entire body.

That can’t happen.

I clenched my lips and glared at Lucian, who lay on the bed like a broken puppet.

An indescribable anger rose from deep inside me.

I knew it was irrational.

Still—

You’re one of the main characters of this world.

You’ll awaken a brilliant power.

You’ll reclaim your family from your cousin.

Even if you suffer and break along the way—

There’s a heroine who will heal you.

…And your life is guaranteed to the very end.

But me?

A walking death flag—

Someone destined to be tormented by you and the other male leads, and eventually killed horribly just to highlight the heroine.

“Why are you still refusing to eat?”

Before I realized it, I was questioning him in a cold voice.

“……”

Lucian simply closed his eyes, as if he couldn’t even be bothered to answer.

“Are you really planning to starve yourself to death?”

“Why ask something so pointless? It’s not like a cat worries about a mouse.”

I thought he would ignore me again—

But unexpectedly, his low voice answered.

He let out a faint scoff.

“No… you need to keep me alive, don’t you?”

“Your Grace.”

“So you won’t get abandoned by the Oppenheimer Marquis. Isn’t that right?”

…What did you just say?