LVSFN 39

Chapter 39

Plop.

Right after hearing the gunshot, my legs gave out and I collapsed to the ground.

The moment I hit the floor, the damp earth seemed to cling to my ankles and pull me down.

What’s going on? What just happened?

Did I just get shot?

I barely managed to gather my senses and check my body, but there wasn’t any pain.

Right. When people are really shocked, they sometimes forget the pain, don’t they? I frantically searched to see if there was any bleeding, but there was no trace of a bullet wound.

‘I’m not hurt.’

It must have been a warning shot.

By now, the man had come quite close. I tried to get up and run again, but since my arms weren’t free, I couldn’t spring up quickly.

Huh, I thought you only needed legs to run. Turns out arms are more important than I thought.

Just as I managed to turn my body around, a foul stench of sweat wafted from above.

“There you are.”

The man looked down at me with a twisted smile.

“Whew, you’ve got guts, miss.”

He panted heavily, his voice cold and sharp.

“To be honest, I’d love to just shoot you.”

He spun the gun in his hand and pointed the muzzle at me.

He wasn’t taking me away immediately—clearly, he was trying to scare me.

But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing fear on my face. I wouldn’t show him any emotion.

Hey, Mr. Stinky Sweat, you might not know this, but I’m a woman who’s died nineteen times.

When I stared into the man’s eyes without looking away, he gave a hollow laugh and muttered under his breath.

“Bang, right on that pretty forehead… what a waste.”

With that one line, everything clicked.

The reason he wasn’t pulling the trigger—

He couldn’t act without orders.

Yes, there was someone giving him instructions.

Who could it be?

Was it really Failey?

Could this horrible thing be happening just because Jerlach and I are supposed to get married?

I had forgotten—

That in this world, there’s no evil a villainess wouldn’t commit.

“Miss, don’t waste your strength,” the man said, his expression shifting completely as he tucked the gun back into his coat.

I stumbled backward. I knew I was already like a rat in a trap, but I didn’t want to be dragged off without a fight.

If only my arms were free!

Then, an idea flashed through my mind.

Wasn’t this near the wine cellar? There might be broken glass or shards around.

As I kept backing up, I started groping the ground behind me. Luckily, my hands were tied behind me, so it looked natural.

That way, he wouldn’t notice I was searching for something.

Please, please!

Thankfully, he found my frantic scrambling amusing and followed me at a relaxed pace.

“Still not giving up? Go ahead, keep trying to run, huh?”

He was clearly enjoying the power he held over me.

It was infuriating, but I had to think practically.

If I could just buy time like this, I could endure his smug face for a bit longer.

After fumbling around for a while, my fingers brushed something cold and flat.

Found it.

I didn’t even have time to check if the edge was sharp.

I quickly grabbed the glass shard and jammed it between the ropes binding my wrists.

Even in that moment, I was relieved that it wasn’t a zip tie holding me.

Thank goodness this wasn’t the modern world.

If it had been, I’d really be in trouble.

‘Yes! It’s in!’

I twisted my wrist and wedged the glass piece into the rope.

Hopefully, it wouldn’t fall out while I was being dragged away.

Just then, the man exhaled sharply, as if tired of our little game of tag.

“Miss, don’t waste your energy. This time, I really won’t go easy on you.”

“Ugh!”

His palm was as big as a pot lid and reeked of alcohol.

I tried to kick him with my leg, but his expression darkened.

“Whoa, whoa. That’s enough of this hide-and-seek.”

Suddenly, he pulled something from inside his coat and pressed it to my face.

‘No!’

That sharp, pungent smell I’d once caught in front of the bookstore hit my nose again, and everything went black.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

<Excuse me, may I ask something?>

<Go ahead.>

<Am I going to be executed for this?>

<What?>

<I mean… I made a big mistake, so I was wondering if I’ll be sentenced to death.>

<What’s your name?>

<Riverata Bernadette.>

<The daughter of the Marquis Bernadette?>

<Yes.>

<Why would you think you’d be executed?>

<Well, because I made a huge mistake while drunk…>

<You mean the one where you ruined not only your dress but also mine?>

<I’m so sorry. I really didn’t mean to.>

<I don’t know much about the Bernadette household, but… you must have a very free-spirited environment.>

<I’m sorry. I’ll take the clothes I ruined and wash them thoroughly, iron them crisp, and return them. Where should I send them?>

<That’s unnecessary. I threw them away.>

<So… I didn’t commit a crime serious enough to be executed?>

<No.>

<Ha… Thank goodness.>

<Are you afraid of dying?>

<Yes, very much so.>

<I don’t understand why you’re so scared, but don’t worry. I won’t let you die.>

When I opened my eyes again, a pounding headache hit me like a wave.

But even worse was the realization that I was back in the same place I had been locked up before.

So all that effort, and I ended up back in the wine cellar.

The moment I grasped that reality, pain surged through my body.

‘Ugh… It might be faster to find where I don’t hurt.’

My shoulders felt like they were about to pop out of their sockets from being tied behind my back.

My wrists were numb, and the repeated forced unconsciousness had left me with a splitting headache.

It hurts.

To make matters worse, both my legs were tied this time.

Isn’t this a bit too much?

Maybe because I’d tasted freedom once, this situation felt even more horrific than before, and I was furious at my own helplessness.

Is this how my 20th life ends?

Because I lived so carelessly, I die two days earlier than I was supposed to?

What happens to me after I die?

Will I go back to the world I came from?

If so, I should be happy… but why don’t I feel any joy?

This isn’t how I wanted it to end.

At that moment, I thought of Jerlach Signus.

I missed those noble eyes and the gaze that looked straight into mine.

He said he wouldn’t let me die.

Of course, he didn’t say that knowing my current situation, and it has nothing to do with now.

I knew it was a ridiculous fantasy, but I wished he’d burst through the door and save me.

‘Yeah, this is a novel, so… maybe something that dramatic could happen.’

But then I realized how pathetic that hope was.

If I’d wanted that kind of scene, I shouldn’t have claimed to be sick.

I should’ve just said I’d go to the castle a bit later.

Then maybe Jerlach, growing impatient, would’ve come looking for me.

Saying I wasn’t feeling well and would stay home was a mistake.

I should’ve just gone to Signus Castle.

I should’ve spent a fun time there while I still could.

If I was doomed to end up like this anyway, I should’ve at least enjoyed the time I had left.

It was too late, but I regretted it.

I should’ve savored the way that ice-cold man looked at me with gentle eyes.

If I ever get the chance to go back, this time, I’ll just follow my heart.

Just like I resolved at the beginning—I’ll do what I want to do.

So please… someone, anyone, get me out of here.

As I thought that, tears suddenly welled up.

I didn’t want to cry like a fool.

But realizing no one could help me and that I was truly alone, I couldn’t stop the tears.

Still, I didn’t want the man outside the door to know I was crying.

That was the last shred of pride I had left.

‘Maybe it’s a good thing they gagged me.’

Curled into a ball, I lay there, holding back sobs with trembling shoulders, crying and crying.

It was strange.

After crying out loud for a while, my heart started to calm down a little.

Though my face was a mess of tears and snot.

Right. I’ve died nineteen times already—you think I’m going to give up because of this? That part of me began to resurface.

Is there a saying that tells you how to mentally prepare when you’re thrown back into the tiger’s den?

They say as long as you stay alert, you’ll survive—but I already failed that.

…Maybe I should’ve studied Korean proverbs harder. I can’t think of a single one.

Wait, no—there’s that one: “Third time’s the charm.”

I only failed once. No need to act like it’s all over!

That was when I suddenly remembered—

I’d hidden the glass shard in the rope binding my wrists.

‘You idiot, you should’ve checked that first!’

Twisting my wrists sent a searing pain shooting up my arm. But I had to endure it!

What if it’s gone? What if it’s still there?

I twisted my hands as far as they would go and started feeling around the rope.

Please, please…!