Chapter 10
I Was Kidnapped by a Fan (10)
As expected, after we finished eating, Cloud brought me to the study and told me to write.
I had planned to run straight to Mary’s room after the meal, but with a reluctant expression, I had no choice but to enter the study.
What followed was a long period of staring blankly out the window.
If I had actually been able to write, that would have been great. Unfortunately, I wasn’t in that kind of situation. All I could do was wander around the study or look outside the window in hopes of finding inspiration.
But right now, I wasn’t really trying to find inspiration.
Instead, I was thinking about something else.
How can I make Cloud get tired of me?
A long time ago, the method for making Cloud lose interest in me had already become my escape plan.
The problem now was how to make him lose interest in either me or my novel.
“This is so hard…”
“What is?”
The sudden voice startled me, and I quickly turned around.
Fortunately, it wasn’t Cloud who had opened the door.
It was Mary.
I let out a sigh of relief and rubbed my pounding chest.
“You scared me, Mary.”
“I’m sorry. I knocked, but you didn’t answer…”
Embarrassed, Mary scratched her cheek.
I smiled.
“So, what’s the matter?”
“Oh, I brought you some cookies to eat while you think.”
“Cookies?”
Tilting my head, I watched as Mary took out a small pouch about the size of her palm.
When she spread the cloth open on the desk, freshly baked cookies appeared, still steaming.
Since I loved sweets, my eyes immediately lit up.
I picked one up, looked it over from every angle, then took a bite.
“They’re delicious!”
“I’m glad.”
“But where did these come from?”
Without even swallowing the first bite, I grabbed another cookie.
Watching me happily, Mary smiled.
“I made them with the maids here.”
“Huh? With the maids?”
“Yes. They all seemed kind and friendly. They said they wanted to make cookies for you to eat while you’re writing, so I joined them. Since I know your tastes best.”
I stopped eating and looked at Mary.
With her naturally friendly personality, she had already become comfortable in this mansion.
Of course, it was better than her feeling awkward around everyone.
Still…
Something about it left an unpleasant feeling in my heart.
We were slowly becoming accustomed to this place.
Little by little, we were blending into it.
That thought frightened me.
Don’t tell me…
Was this Cloud’s plan all along?
A chill ran down my spine.
I need to escape as soon as possible.
But before that…
These cookies really are good.
Cookies first.
✦ ✦ ✦
“A way to make His Grace get tired of you?”
Mary asked with wide eyes.
I nodded seriously.
“Yeah. Can you think of anything?”
“Hmm…”
Mary crossed her arms and thought carefully.
I anxiously waited for an answer.
After a long moment, she opened her eyes with an apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry. I can’t think of anything.”
“I see…”
I sighed in disappointment.
Mary looked flustered after seeing my face.
I smiled to reassure her and picked up another cookie.
Maybe eating something sweet would help me think better.
By the time I finished, every cookie on the cloth had disappeared.
As silence lingered between us, Mary cautiously spoke.
“Um… Miss.”
“Yes?”
“This is probably a suggestion you won’t like…”
She hesitated, nervously fidgeting.
It looked like she was afraid I’d get angry.
When I silently encouraged her to continue, she finally spoke.
“…How about finishing the next volume here?”
“…What?”
My eyes widened.
It was such an unexpected suggestion that I couldn’t understand it for a moment.
But Mary’s words—and her expression—made her meaning perfectly clear.
She was suggesting that I write the next volume here, in this mansion.
Unable to hide my surprise, I asked,
“Why would you think that?”
“His Grace kidnapped you and is putting pressure on you…”
“…but he’s also giving you the best possible environment to write. If you stay here, maybe the ideas for the next volume will naturally come to you.”
I rubbed my lips with my fingertips.
It was a habit whenever I fell into deep thought.
Since I remained silent, Mary continued nervously.
“And he said he’d let you go once you finish the next volume. I don’t think it’s such a bad idea.”
“…You’re right.”
Until now, I’d been so furious about being kidnapped that I’d never seriously considered that option.
But Mary was right.
Cloud really had provided the perfect writing environment.
The only reason I refused to write was because my pride wouldn’t allow me to do exactly what he wanted.
Besides…
There was no guarantee he’d actually let me leave after I finished.
Still…
He had promised it himself.
If I looked at his personality objectively, he probably would keep his word.
The only thing I’d have to sacrifice…
…was a little of my pride.
My pride…
…or my peace of mind and freedom?
As I weighed the two, my heart gradually leaned toward the latter.
“…It really would benefit both of us more if I just finished writing here and left.”
“Then…”
“…Okay.”
Seeing Mary’s surprised expression, I repeated myself.
“Let’s finish the next volume here.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Holding the now-empty cookie pouch, Mary left the room.
Just before closing the door, she glanced back.
Philia was already writing with complete concentration.
Mary quietly watched her mistress for a moment before gently shutting the door.
“How did it go?”
An anxious voice immediately called out to her.
Without showing any surprise, Mary turned toward the speaker.
It was Ray—the knight who had brought both her and Philia to this mansion.
Ray always wore a smile.
But today, anxiety had replaced it.
Looking at him with mixed feelings, Mary replied,
“I said exactly what you told me to.”
“And?”
“I suggested that she write here.”
“What was her answer?”
“She agreed.”
Ray let out a deep sigh of relief.
It sounded partly sincere…
…and partly exaggerated.
Mary frowned.
Earlier, while happily returning after making cookies with the mansion’s maids, Ray had hurriedly stopped her.
He said he had a favor to ask.
It was actually an order from Duke Abelheim—Cloud himself.
Ray had been instructed to persuade Philia to start writing.
At first, Mary intended to refuse.
But then Ray delivered Cloud’s final message.
“If you refuse to obey my order… tell her I’ll keep the author locked inside this mansion forever.”
Everything Mary had said to Philia…
Every suggestion…
Every argument…
Had originally come from the duke himself.
Although it had all been for Philia’s own sake…
Mary still couldn’t shake the guilty feeling that she had betrayed her mistress.
Looking uneasily at Ray, she asked,
“What in the world is the Duke thinking?”
“I’d like to know that myself.”
Ray sighed heavily.
“What exactly is His Grace thinking…”
Fatigue was visible in his eyes.
Well…
It wasn’t as though he wanted to do this either.
At this point, Mary almost felt sorry for him.
So she handed him a small pouch she had secretly hidden away for herself.
Inside were the cookies that hadn’t turned out perfectly.
“Here. Eat these and cheer up.”
“What’s this?”
“Cookies. They were supposed to be for Miss, but these ones didn’t come out quite right…”
For failed cookies, they actually looked fairly good.
Ray picked one up and took a bite.
The rich aroma of butter and gentle sweetness spread through his mouth.
“…They’re delicious.”
“Would you like more?”
“You have more?”
“There should still be some left in the kitchen. Come with me. I’ll share them with you.”
Mary and Ray walked side by side toward the kitchen.
Since both of them served masters they cared about, conversation never stopped between them during the walk.
Little by little…
Mary was becoming accustomed to life in the mansion.
✦ ✦ ✦
Making up my mind had been easy.
Actually acting on that decision had been easy, too.
As soon as my conversation with Mary ended, I sat down, picked up my quill, dipped it into the black ink, and pressed the tip onto the paper.
That part was fine.
But the pen refused to move.
Only the black ink spot continued growing larger.
Simply making up my mind wasn’t enough to magically make words appear.
I couldn’t give up either.
So I forced my hand to move.
Eventually, black letters began filling the page.
If only this had been the next chapter of my novel.
Unfortunately…
It wasn’t.
What I’d written was merely a summary of the previous volumes.
Unlike the earlier summary I’d made to fool Cloud, this one was genuinely for my own writing process.
After carefully reading through it, I placed it beside me and began writing possible ideas for the next volume on another sheet of paper.
A little while later, I looked back and forth between the two pages and groaned.
“Which direction should I take the story…?”
Resting my chin on my hand, I thought for a while.
Then I picked up the pen again.
Whenever I didn’t know what to write…
I believed it was better to simply write something.
“It’s harder than I remembered…”
With every sentence I wrote, regret followed.
Writing after such a long break was far more difficult than I’d expected.
Even taking two days off dulls your sense for writing.
I’d been away from it for over a month.
Of course it would be difficult.
I should’ve at least practiced by writing short stories.
Clutching my head, I scribbled sentence after sentence.
Eventually…
I crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it into the trash.
As time passed, the trash bin overflowed with discarded pages.
When yet another draft failed to satisfy me, I crushed it up and shoved it inside.
Finally, I gave up and leaned against the back of my chair.
Staring at the pure white ceiling calmed my heart a little.
“…At this rate, when am I ever going to finish the next volume?”
But the calm didn’t last.
Anxiety soon replaced it.
Countless thoughts swirled through my mind until my head began to ache.
Trying to drive them away, I closed my eyes.
Just then…
Click.
The door opened.
Mentally exhausted, I didn’t even bother opening my eyes.
Assuming it was Mary, I spoke.
“Mary? Could you make me some tea? Something that’ll help clear my head.”
Naturally, I expected Mary to answer.
But no reply came.
Maybe it isn’t Mary?
Just as I started to open my eyes…
A familiar, beautiful voice whispered into my ear.
“Author… don’t you have any shame? How dare you order me around?”
