ILBTD06

Episode 6

What did I have to like or dislike at this point? Things had already gotten out of hand. If he did trust me completely now, that would’ve been stranger.

Understanding Castian’s position, I answered with a bit more courage this time.

“No, it’s fine. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“…So, you’re saying it’s unfortunate that you have to pretend to be my lover.”

“What? No, I actually like that part.”

“…You like it?”

“Of course.”

It might be fake and temporary, but being the lover of my favorite character? Who would dislike that?

What I meant was that I understood him not trusting me—but pretending to be his lover? That was something I was grateful for.

Isn’t the one who’s uncomfortable you? A noble duke like you has to pretend to be romantically involved with a necromancer who’s socially despised in this world.

As I tilted my head and looked at him, Castian let out a small cough and stood up.

“If you’ve finished eating, it’s time to sleep.”

He called over two maids to help me wash up.

I was about to say I could wash on my own but stopped myself—maybe they were there to watch me, make sure I didn’t do anything suspicious. So I followed them quietly.

The maids were silent and efficient—clearly professionals.

Before I even realized it, I was all washed and dried, and back in the room.

Castian, who was seated at the desk, glanced over at me and nodded toward the sofa.

“Sleep there.”

I sat on the indicated sofa, but something about the calm end to such a chaotic day felt… unsettling.

I sneaked a glance at Castian, who was buried in a thick book.

I had possessed the body of a necromancer cursed by the world and now found myself faking a relationship with the male lead… and yet he was calmly reading a book?

Shouldn’t he be more on edge, considering he’s just a soul in a dead body?

Was he fearless… or just used to this?

Maybe you had to be that composed to be the hero destined to save the world.

While I was watching him, he suddenly looked up and our eyes met.

Caught staring, I quickly smiled awkwardly and lay down on the sofa.

With a sigh that made it clear he was displeased, Castian stood, walked to the bed, and came back with a blanket.

He spread it over me.

“It’ll get cold at night.”

I blinked up at him, confused again. Now what was he doing?

Without saying anything else, he turned off the lights in the room.

In the dark, I saw the silhouette of his body settling back into bed.

So he still needed to keep me close to monitor me… but still brought me a blanket?

This baguette-shaped man—was he really okay?

But my tired body didn’t ask questions. It began to relax without my permission.

Despite being a sofa, it was softer than the mattress in my original room.

The fluffy blanket smelled like sunshine. My body, bruised and battered from earlier, was begging me to just sleep.

I turned to my side and looked at Castian’s unmoving figure for a moment…

And before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.

While Lydia slept soundly on the sofa, Castian lay on the bed with his eyes closed in a kind of silent meditation.

With no need to eat or sleep—since his body was already dead—he had no reason to pretend.

But tonight, he pretended… for Lydia.

In the dark, he focused on the faint presence she gave off. Every little sound echoed with clarity.

The rustling of her blanket whenever she moved.

Her steady breathing.

Even the rhythm of her heartbeat.

After enduring it for a long while, Castian finally sat up.

Moving without a sound, he approached the sofa.

Lydia was curled up, hugging the blanket, fast asleep.

He looked up at the ceiling and let out a short, dry laugh.

Is this madness caused by necromancy too?

After hesitating countless times, Castian carefully lifted Lydia in his arms.

She looked so uncomfortable, all curled up like that—it was unbearable.

He laid her gently on the bed and adjusted her pillow. Lydia murmured something in her sleep and then slipped into deeper slumber.

Unconsciously, his hand reached out toward her pale face… then stopped.

“…Insane.”

Muttering to himself, he clenched his hand into a fist and turned away.

Sitting at the desk, he opened a book—one he didn’t even bother to read—just to hide his face.

The night passed quietly.

Day 2 of being trapped in a failed novel.

I woke up in the male lead’s bed and had breakfast with him.

Well… he didn’t eat, but he sat with me until I finished.

If it weren’t for the whole occult thriller genre part, it would’ve been the perfect morning.

I ate, drank tea, even had a snack—but then I had nothing to do.

Castian looked busy reviewing documents and receiving reports from his subordinates. I felt awkward, just lounging around.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

After all, those who don’t work, shouldn’t eat. I already wasn’t very likable, and if I kept freeloading like this, it would only make things worse.

I was ready to clean floors if that’s what it took. But Castian simply stared at me and nodded.

“Very well. Let’s go buy you some clothes.”

“…Excuse me? Clothes?”

“Edan. Prepare the carriage.”

Before I could ask why, I was already being taken to a clothing shop.

Castian interrogated the shop owner, demanding clothes that were comfortable, high-quality, and easy to put on alone. Then he handed me several dresses.

“There’s no time for custom pieces. These will have to do.”

“I like them all, really… but, Duke, is this really the right time for shopping?”

In response, Castian calmly held up a red dress to me.

“You look good in red.”

“That’s not the issue right now!”

“We can’t do anything until we find the Wandering Sage.”

…Well, he had a point.

He must be the most frustrated one here. If things had gone as planned, he’d be leading the expedition by now—not stuck buying clothes for a necromancer.

Still… he seemed oddly cheerful.

Maybe he was just good at hiding his emotions. He was, after all, supposed to be the hero of this world.

Despite how he must resent me, he still gave me food, his bed, and now even clothes.

He truly was a male lead worthy of saving the world.

We returned to the safehouse only after buying dresses, shoes, hats, gloves, and even a parasol.

But the moment we entered, something was off.

People were gathered around something, whispering anxiously.

It was a corpse, covered with a white sheet.

“What happened?”

“It’s Jonathan. He’s dead.”

“The one we stationed at the Imperial Palace?”

“Yes, Duke. He collapsed while fleeing and didn’t make it.”

“What happened in the palace?”

“We checked—everything’s quiet there.”

“Then who killed him?”

“We’re not sure… He died before reaching the safehouse.”

The agent lowered his head, voice trailing off. Jonathan had been found collapsed near the road by others and brought back here.

Castian’s jaw tightened as he looked at the body.

He didn’t have a close relationship with Emperor Michael of the Heimnad Empire, but as the protector of the realm, the safety of the Emperor and palace fell under his responsibility.

Jonathan had clearly discovered something.

Even after being attacked, he’d tried to return to report it. But now that he was dead, they had no idea what he’d seen or what he meant to say.

As Castian silently reined in his emotions, the rest of the agents also fell quiet.

I stayed behind him, trying to be invisible. I didn’t need to be told—it was best to stay silent right now.

Just as I was feeling sorry for Jonathan’s sense of duty, I looked up… and met Edan’s eyes.

Until now, the message in Edan’s gaze had been clear:

I will kill you someday.

So I’d always avoided eye contact. But this time, his look was… strange.

He whispered something to Castian, and then Castian turned to look at me with an unreadable expression. Then he nodded to Edan.

Jonathan’s body was soon moved to another room, with only Castian, Edan, and me left behind.

Castian stood by the body and called me.

“Lydia.”