4.

The dried rose-colored hair, which had been spread out long, slipped out of the door.

Thud.

The door closed.

Lucian, left alone in the room, gazed intently at the closed door.

“Elze.”

Lucian quietly uttered that name.

“…Elze Lepherian.”

As the heir to the prestigious Kalleid Ducal Family, it was only natural for him to hear various rumors about nobles.

Thus, Lucian already knew about Elze’s existence.

The mischievous daughter of the talented composer Lepherian, a disgrace to the family.

She refused to accept a strategic marriage proposal and ended up becoming the lover of the arrogant Marquis Offenheir.

Through her audacious actions, she used the powerful Marquis as her backing.

Eventually, she was branded as a ‘villainess’ and became the subject of ridicule…

However, the woman he actually met was slightly different from the rumors.

[Yesterday, you rolled on the floor while being suppressed. I want to check if there are any injuries and treat them if there are any.]

A delicate touch, caring for her wounds.

And…

[You need to be healthy, so you can one day escape from the boarding school, right?]

…What did that mean exactly?

Her appearance showed no trace of the ‘villainess’ he had imagined.

“…”

Lucian was a little confused.

‘No, this is probably just to lower my guard.’

He shook his head, trying to dispel his complex feelings.

It seems like various incidents have weakened his heart considerably.

And, of all things, it was due to the simple kindness of the caretaker he met at the Rose cross boarding school.

…Seeing himself being so softened like this.

But then.

‘Wait.’

Lucian felt a strong sense of discomfort.

He carefully watched the closed door with his blue eyes.

‘…Now that I think about it.’

When Elze left the room that time.

Lucian didn’t hear the sound of the door being locked.

‘Could it be that the door is open?’

He cautiously stood up from his seat.

Thanks to Elze extending the length of the chain, it was not uncomfortable for him to move, and he could easily approach the door.

He reached out and grasped the doorknob.

Thud.

The door opened surprisingly easily, as if it was unlocked.

‘Why… didn’t she lock the door?’

It was probably a mistake.

Lucian, swallowing his dry saliva, looked down at the iron chain binding his wrist.

‘This iron chain can be undone easily.’

Lucian was the sole heir of the Empire’s most prestigious noble family.

In other words, it meant that he had experienced a considerable amount of kidnapping and blackmail from a young age.

Because of that, he had learned various handy skills for situations like this.

A thin iron pin, for example, a hairpin or a clothespin, would be enough to easily unlock the chain around his wrist.

Moreover, this room was extremely luxurious, so it would be easy to find something to use to undo the iron chain.

Lucian, who surveyed the room with the eyes of a hawk, nodded.

‘Alright, it seems like I can escape.’

Confirming while being dragged along, the surveillance at the boarding school was quite strict.

He might not be able to escape outside the building and could be caught.

But that doesn’t mean he has to stay here quietly.

Lucian gritted his teeth.

‘Brother.’

His cousin, who had always been kind to him.

His caring older cousin who took care of him in place of his parents.

Is it true that his cousin betrayed him, and what on earth could be the reason for the betrayal?

And if he really betrayed him…

“I won’t just let it go.”

A blue fire glimmered in Lucian’s eyes.

But at the same time, there was one thought holding him back.

‘Damn it.’

Lucian clenched his fists tightly.

In truth, he already knew.

The chances of successfully escaping were extremely low, and if he were to escape outside the room…

‘Elze Lepherian.’

The fact that the woman would be in trouble.

That’s why, despite this golden opportunity, he hesitated to run away.

‘However…’

Lucian took a short deep breath and opened his eyes wide.

The once-confused blue eyes had now calmed down, as tranquil as a winter sea.

‘There’s no reason for me to be loyal to that woman.’

Although Elze had shown him various favors, there was no reason for him to stay obediently in this damn boarding school.

But…

[As I mentioned, I am on the Duke’s side.]

Her voice, as soft as a feather, clung persistently to his ears, leaving him with no choice.

‘Damn it.’

Lucian bit back the curse in his mouth and swiftly slipped out of the room.

* * *

A tumultuous day was finally coming to an end.

However, “coming to an end” and “ended” were entirely different things.

Having safely returned to my comfortable bedroom, I briefly glanced out the window.

Everyone was deeply asleep in the night.

The area outside the window was still tranquil.

‘When will it happen?’

Lucian, being a clever male protagonist, would probably have noticed something odd in the room by now.

The fact that I left the room without locking the door.

I sparkled with interest.

‘In that case… How will Lucian react?’

Escape.

Or not to escape.

Either choice wasn’t bad for me.

But if Lucian attempts to escape…

‘He’ll fail.’

But why did I pretend to make a mistake and leave the door open, leading Lucian to escape?

The reason was simple.

‘Hope must be crushed in advance.’

Since he has only recently been brought here, he might obediently stay quiet for now.

But Lucian will likely attempt an escape soon.

However, if he manages to escape perfectly…

Well, that’s not the case.

If he continues to attempt escapes without succeeding, it will only increase Dante’s vigilance.

According to the original story, Lucian can’t escape this boarding school until he awakens his nobility’s abilities.

So, it’s much better to pre-condition him that escape is impossible.

More precisely, I must engrave the idea that a collaborator, or rather, without ‘Elze,’ escape is impossible.

Moreover, as a caretaker at the boarding school, I hold some influence…

‘Lucian will find it difficult to keep rejecting me continuously.’

But if he doesn’t attempt to escape, that’s not bad either.

At least, it means he trusts me enough to stay inside the room.

However…

‘Is that really possible?’

I shrugged my shoulders.

Lucian and I have only known each other for a few days at most.

Whether it’s trust or simple liking between humans, the basis for his actions is too shallow.

Besides, am I not the villainess who obsessively clings to Marquis Offenheir?

Even if I spoke a few flattering words, it’s unlikely that Lucian would immediately develop favorable feelings towards me.

I’d be relieved if he didn’t disdain me…

And at that moment.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Someone forcefully knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

As soon as I gave permission, a maid rushed into the room.

And then, she urgently shouted to me.

“Miss Elze, something has happened!”

“What is it?”

“One of the special students tried to escape…!”

“Ah, I see.”

I smiled coldly.

Everything was going according to plan.

* * *

Tap, tap, tap.

The sound of my high heels echoed resplendently in the lavish hall.

Tap.

My slow steps finally came to a halt.

With a solemn gaze, I looked down at my feet.

Right in front of the pointed tip of my shoe, I saw Lucian, helplessly rolling on the floor like a dog.

“Kuh, let go…!”

Lucian struggled desperately, but it was all in vain.

Two large guards clung to him, exerting all their weight to pin him down.

With only the strength of an eighteen-year-old who recently came of age, there was no way for Lucian to escape the guards’ grasp.

“Hmm.”

For all the grand escape he attempted, he couldn’t even cross the boarding school’s fence.

Which means…

‘It seems my plan didn’t go off-track.’

It was the plan to pre-condition him that escape is impossible.

As evidence, Lucian’s face was stained with a mixture of defeat, anger, and despair.

“Miss Elze.”

At that moment, Victor approached me.

“Isn’t Miss Elze partially responsible for this student’s escape problem?”

His snake-like eyes scrutinized me up and down.

There was not a hint of favor in his gaze.

No, rather…

‘Does he really have to be so blatantly pleased?’

Victor’s expression seemed to shout out that he wanted to catch me red-handed.

“According to what I heard, Miss Elze left the solitary cell door open for that student. How could you overlook checking the doors?”

“So?”

In true villainess fashion, I narrowed my eyes and glared at Victor.

“Are you here to scold me?”

“No, how could I?”

Victor pretended to step back.

“I just wanted to kindly advise you to be more careful in the future. Also…”

A sinister smile slowly spread across Victor’s face.

A wicked smile.

“Considering the severity of this incident, I think we should report it to marquis Offenheir.”