29.

I was speechless for a moment. Again.

It was like a needle poking the deepest part of my heart, an unpleasantly pricking sensation. I knew well what this sensation was.

It was guilt—a completely useless emotion when it came to my escape.

“…Still.”

A moment later, I opened my mouth with a dry voice.

“It might be uncomfortable for you.”

“I can endure a little discomfort as long as I get to breathe fresh air.”

Lucian shrugged nonchalantly.

Somehow, I found his consideration a bit annoying.

I was thoroughly using you. The reason I put on such a charade to get your favor was ultimately for my own benefit. Why are you considering my perspective?

It would be better if you just got mad at me like you did at the beginning or showed your annoyance.

‘No, it’s a pointless thought,’ I told myself.

After all, I was the one who had struggled to earn Lucian’s trust. And whatever my feelings might be, the current situation was quite positive.

The improvement in my relationship with Lucian meant that my chances of survival were increasing.

Instead of wasting my energy on unnecessary concerns, it was more efficient to celebrate the current progress.

“Then, how about going for a walk after dinner? It would be better because there would be fewer prying eyes.”

“Alright.”

Lucian’s face slowly lit up with anticipation.

Watching that innocent expression, my chest felt tight as if a boulder had been placed on it.

“Well then, I’ll see you again in the evening,” I said to Lucian, avoiding his gaze as I left.

** **

That evening, after the sun had completely set, I brought dinner and went to find Lucian.

Lucian was looking out the window without much interest as he ate his dinner, continuing to cast furtive glances outside.

I, who knew nothing about it, asked Lucian.

“Do you enjoy going for a walk that much?”

“What are you talking about?”

Perhaps flustered, Lucian’s pupils trembled violently.

“Are you sure? I thought you’ve been looking out the window the whole time since earlier.”

“…”

In response to my nonchalant answer, Lucian bit his lip and glared at me.

He had a somewhat fresh expression, more befitting a teenage boy than an adult.

For some reason, Lucian looked cute with that expression, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“To be honest, I’m looking forward to it.”

“What?”

“Going for a walk with the Viscount.”

“…”

In an instant, Lucian turned his head awkwardly.

Somehow, his ears and the back of his neck had turned bright red.

Did I touch a nerve too much?

Even if it was quite clear that I wanted to go for a walk, maybe I should have just played ignorant.

But then, Lucian gave me a meaningful look once again.

“What are you doing?”

“Hmm?”

“I said let’s go for a walk.”

Lucian suddenly stood up, stubbornly asserting despite avoiding my gaze.

“Well, if you really want to go for a walk, I guess we could go a bit earlier.”

Honestly, he’s not being very straightforward.

I let out a dry laugh and quickly got up.

“Sure, let’s go.”

** **

I held the end of Lucian’s chain and walked slowly.

Since I had left some people around his cell in advance, no one could meet us until we reached the courtyard.

Only the occasional sounds of clinking chains and the tapping of my heels echoed through the silent night.

It was so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping would be heard.

Lucian and I didn’t engage in much conversation.

“…”

“…”

Silence enveloped us.

But it wasn’t an awkward or heavy silence.

In fact…

‘It’s comfortable.’

Being able to quietly exist without the need to cater to someone’s preferences or worry about someone’s scrutiny is truly liberating.

“Oh.”

Lucian suddenly stopped walking.

Through the round-shaped opening, the school’s courtyard stretched out.

It was the place Lucian had been gazing out of the window at.

The pale moon hung like a fragment of a silver mirror in the clear night sky.

Under the silvery moonlight, the roses blooming in clusters glowed vividly red, as if soaked in moonlight.

It was surreal, like stepping into a dream.

Swoosh…

A breeze blew.

It was a wind carrying the fragrance of the rich roses.

Lucian’s golden hair above his pale forehead fluttered gently.

Lucian closed his eyes as if savoring even the touch of the wind. I silently watched him. Against the backdrop of the red roses that bloomed like crimson clouds, Lucian, with his shining golden hair fluttering in the wind, looked as beautiful as an angel sent by the heavens to this land.

He was flawless and without a single imperfection.

Suddenly, I became curious. The female protagonist of this world who would eventually capture the love of the three male protagonists. Who was she? How incredibly charming must she be to have effortlessly captured the heart of this perfect young man? What had Lucian seen in her to make him cast aside not only his own life but also the honor of the most prestigious family in the Empire without hesitation? Would his obsession with her lead him to struggle?

‘…They said she is as kind as an angel.’

The female protagonist warmly embraced the three male protagonists who were lacking in different ways. According to the original work, Lucian had mentioned that her warmth was like the sun, while Lucian in front of her was nothing more than a wilting flower. He had pleaded that he couldn’t breathe a second without her by his side, kneeling before her and washing her feet with tears. The description was so poignant that even though I knew it was a novel, I couldn’t help but empathize.

‘Really… she’s completely different from Elze.’

I smiled bitterly.

In contrast, what about the villain Elze described in the original work? She pursued an unattainable love, spent her life in loneliness, and eventually went mad with jealousy. Therefore, Elze was a completely opposite existence to the female protagonist.

“Lady Lepherian.”

Just as I heard a voice calling my name.

Just as I heard a voice calling my name, I woke up from my thoughts and looked at Lucian. Lucian, who had been hesitating for a moment, suddenly extended something towards me. It was a single rose that had bloomed brilliantly.

“What’s this…?”

At the same time, Lucian smiled. It was a smile that he had never shown me before, a perfectly clear smile without a speck of dust.

“This rose resembles Lady’s hair color.”

I felt my words stuck in my throat. Lucian carefully placed the rose on my head and then took a few steps back to look at me intently.

“Look at this.”

With a soft jingling sound, the sound of the chain around Lucian’s wrist was faint. Lucian’s elegant fingers gently touched my auburn hair.

“The color of the rose… It’s almost indistinguishable from Lady’s hair.”

“Is that so?”

For some reason, I felt a strange sensation deep inside, but I straightened my back as if nothing had happened. Lucian simply nodded.

“Yes, it’s very… Beautiful.”

I had never expected to hear such sweet words that the original villain would never hear. They were so sweet that I felt a bit dazed.

At that moment, a languid voice greeted me.

“Hello, my dear.”

Startled, I turned around. In a shadowy corner of the conservatory, where the roses had bloomed particularly profusely, a man suddenly appeared.

‘Could it be?’

Simultaneously, I felt goosebumps all over my body. Black hair that shone like the night, deep ruby eyes that glittered like the finest rubies, and a mole on the right side of his lips. He exuded a devilish decadence.

“It’s been a while.”

The man didn’t show the slightest interest in Lucian. He approached me, his hands deep in his pockets, and bent down to look me straight in the eyes.

The unmistakable scent of iron filled the air, and only I could see the scarlet eyes staring at me. The eyes were piercing, and the intense smell couldn’t be masked even by the strong scent of the roses.

“Long time no see, my dear.”

Dante Dessaby Offenheir, the most beautiful and cruel devil in this world, smiled seductively at me.