☀ Chapter 3 ☀
“Whaaat? Right now? You’re joking, aren’t you?”
“Please explain everything to Mother and Father for me. I’m leaving!”
“No, at least tell me where you’re going…!”
Pretending not to hear Hannah, I picked up the luggage I had prepared in advance and left the mansion.
Of course, if it was the Crown Prince, he would quickly find out where I was.
That’s what power could do.
But I had a plan too!
I’ll secretly live in one of Rion’s houses.
The house I had just left wasn’t the only property Rion owned.
If Ivan wanted to find me, he’d have to search through every single one of them.
That would take quite a while.
Thanks to the privilege of having an amazing older brother, I easily moved into my new home.
At last, I had my peaceful life back.
The house was a little small, but I had set up a decent laboratory in one corner.
I had also prepared all the basic necessities beforehand, so living here wasn’t a problem.
There was only one thing bothering me.
“…Hmm.”
Because of someone…
My face had become famous throughout the capital in just a few days.
Now, even when I went out to buy simple groceries, I had to pull my hat low over my face or keep my head down.
I feel like a criminal.
Still, important documents like marriage proposals would automatically be returned if the recipient wasn’t living at home, according to Imperial law.
So avoiding him like this was my only option.
He tried to kill me, and now he’s suddenly sending marriage proposals.
There’s definitely another reason behind this.
There was no way I could understand what the hidden mastermind was thinking.
Whatever it was…
It couldn’t possibly be good for me.
So all I had to do was quietly stay here until I finished my research.
Ding-dong—
While I was reading in my study, the doorbell rang.
Huh?
Who’s here? I’m not expecting anyone.
“Oh, right.”
“I ordered some flowers for the window.”
They had said they’d deliver them during the day.
I guess they had arrived.
“Coming!”
Click—
Without thinking, I opened the front door.
“…!”
Bang!
I slammed it shut again.
Was I hallucinating?
But…
Could a hallucination really be that beautiful?
My poor imagination could never create a face like that.
Which meant—
I-Is that really…?
Cold sweat slowly ran down my neck.
The moment I recognized him, I had instinctively closed the door.
Now I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t avoiding him.
I had practically confessed it with my actions.
I should’ve acted like I knew nothing and said, “Oh my, Your Highness, what brings you here?”
I panicked…
Did he come here on purpose to make me react like that?
As expected of the hidden mastermind.
His schemes were on another level.
“Hmm. Your stamina isn’t very good, but your reflexes are impressive.”
His voice sounded strangely clear.
Looking down, I realized why.
His foot was stuck between the door.
That’s why it wouldn’t close completely.
“Y-Your Highness! What are you doing?!”
“I’m delivering flowers.”
“How did you even find this place? Why are you here?”
Who exactly is this man?
Even my parents don’t know about this house!
How did you find it?!
“I’m serious.”
“I came to deliver flowers.”
Ivan shook the bouquet in his arms with an innocent expression.
“Don’t say such ridiculous things.”
“So…”
“Are you going to leave me standing outside?”
“It’s cold.”
The bright afternoon sun was shining warmly overhead.
He was dressed appropriately for the weather.
Yet he looked at me with pitiful eyes, claiming he was cold.
Not convincing at all.
Ugh…
People are starting to look over here.
The house faced the street.
If we kept making a scene, everyone would start watching.
Left with no choice, I slowly relaxed my grip on the door.
The moment I did—
Ivan smiled brightly and held out the bouquet.
“Here. It’s for you.”
“I never ordered such a huge bouquet.”
“You’ve got the wrong address.”
What bothered me the most…
Was the marriage proposal sitting right in the middle of the flowers as if it naturally belonged there.
I never imagined he’d personally deliver it.
He’s really going to force this into my hands…
I’m going crazy.
“Hmm. I see.”
Whether he listened to me or not—
Ivan simply placed the bouquet into my arms.
Then he casually walked into my house, sat down on the living room sofa, and made himself comfortable.
Only afterward did he remember to speak.
“Ah, pardon my rudeness.”
“You’re apologizing now?”
“We have something to discuss.”
His narrow eyes curved as he looked at me.
His unreadable gaze quietly followed my every movement.
Being alone with him is dangerous…
But I don’t really have a choice.
Fortunately…
Unlike last time…
I couldn’t feel the same murderous intent from him.
“Please go ahead.”
Swallowing a sigh, I reluctantly sat across from him.
“You ran away without telling me your name.”
“So I couldn’t properly address you.”
He smiled playfully.
“I assume your name isn’t ‘Hiccup.'”
He looked just like a polite snake.
A well-mannered serial killer.
“…I’m Rine Astel.”
“As you already know, I’m the second daughter of Count Astel.”
“Yes.”
“Lady Astel.”
“I imagine you have many questions for me.”
Is that even a real question?
Do you want me to ask you a thousand of them?
Still…
There’s a reason people say ignorance is bliss.
I quietly shook my head.
Seeing my cautious attitude, Ivan looked even more relaxed.
He seemed quite pleased.
“Let me correct what I said before.”
“I won’t kill you.”
“…How am I supposed to believe that?”
“Isn’t the fact that I came here myself enough?”
A gentle smile appeared on Ivan’s face.
It was the kind of smile that instantly put people at ease.
The first time I saw that smile…
I seriously considered giving up on returning to Korea and living in this world forever.
Even in the middle of my fear…
My favorite character was still my favorite character.
Little by little, my panicked mind began to calm down.
If he had truly wanted me dead…
He would have killed me the moment he found this house.
“Then why did you send me marriage proposals if you’re not going to kill me?”
“That’s exactly why I’m keeping you alive.”
“I’d rather explain the details at the Imperial Palace.”
“Why?”
He had already come all the way here.
So why suddenly move the conversation to the Imperial Palace?
As I looked at him in confusion, he glanced toward my hands.
“You’re trembling.”
Me?
Following his gaze, I looked down.
My hands were gripping the cushion tightly.
They were shaking so much that I hadn’t even noticed.
Well…
After witnessing someone being murdered right in front of me…
It would be a lie to say I wasn’t afraid of him.
Maybe his gentle personality wasn’t completely fake after all.
I thought it was just an act to hide the fact that he was the Butcher.
Even so… he’s still terrifying.
I quietly hid my trembling hands behind the cushion.
Pretending not to notice, Ivan politely looked away.
“I think you’d feel more comfortable talking at the Imperial Palace than being alone here with me.”
“It’ll also be easier to have everything officially witnessed.”
“Witnessed…?”
“Are you trying to negotiate with me?”
“Something like that.”
“It won’t be a bad offer.”
“I’ve found something I want from you.”
The Crown Prince, who possessed everything…
Wanted something from me?
I had no idea whether he was telling the truth.
But his expression was completely serious.
“…Please give me some time to think.”
“I’ll send a carriage in three days.”
After saying what he came to say, Ivan stood up to leave.
Then, just before walking out—
He suddenly stopped and turned back toward me.
“I’ll be waiting.”
“Please come.”
“I truly need you.”
If I didn’t know he was the hidden mastermind…
Those words would have made my heart race.
After quietly looking at him, I carefully asked,
“What if I run away?”
“Lady Astel.”
“Do you think I’m having you watched?”
Unable to answer, I silently nodded.
Ivan let out a quiet laugh.
“Of course not.”
“People suitable for surveillance are valuable.”
…
So what he really meant was—
“Finding you is so easy that I don’t even need someone watching you.”
“Don’t waste your effort trying to run.”
I wanted to tell him he was unbelievably arrogant.
Unfortunately…
He had the ability to back up his confidence.
Curse this status-based society.
“Are you planning to keep living here?”
“It’ll be difficult living alone without any servants.”
“And dangerous.”
“I’m fine.”
“Right now, the most dangerous person to me is Your Highness.”
“I see.”
“Then…”
“We’ll meet again soon.”
Even after my sharp reply, Ivan only smiled casually before leaving.
Seeing how easily he overlooked my disrespect…
He really must have wanted something from me.
Thud.
The front door closed.
Only then did all the tension finally leave my body.
I almost thought about running away again…
But after hearing what he had said…
Running was pointless.
Just as he claimed…
He would find me again almost immediately.
Maybe I should at least hear what he has to say.
Since I had already left home, I planned to continue living here for a while.
Reporters kept visiting the Astel estate.
Not to mention the hundreds of letters arriving every day from nobles I’d never even met.
At least no one knows about this place except Ivan.
Ironically…
The one person I least wanted finding me…
Was the only one who knew where I lived.
“More importantly…”
At this point, I had no choice but to accept the truth I’d been trying to ignore.
“Ivan is a magician.”
And not just any magician.
He was stronger than me.
Otherwise…
He would never have seen through my illusion magic.
Normally, if a magician killed people in pursuit of greater power, they would eventually become corrupted.
The stolen magic obtained through murder was poisonous.
“How strange.”
“He didn’t seem corrupted at all.”
According to the original novel…
Ivan had already killed dozens of people.
Yet both his body and mind seemed perfectly normal.
There had to be a reason for that.
“I suppose I’ll find out when I go.”
…
Still…
Just in case…
I’d better bring some holy water.
If anything happens, I’ll throw it at him and run.
