Episode 4
It wasn’t long before they reached their destination.
After carefully bringing his horse to a stop, Leonhardt helped Celine down. A servant immediately came over to lead the horse away.
Celine looked up at the dazzling building before her. Through the wide-open gates, people dressed in splendid clothes came and went.
It seemed to be a noble’s mansion that was on friendly terms with the Bernui family.
Leonhardt spoke in a slightly displeased tone.
“We should’ve gone to the villa, but my father hates that place, so it’s unusable right now.”
“Where is this place?”
“The Grand Hotel. Haven’t you seen it before?”
Celine’s mind froze for a second.
‘Was there even a hotel in this game…?’
Even as she was guided by Leonhardt into the lobby, her head remained blank.
‘It’s so bright…’
Celine couldn’t decide where to rest her gaze — the ceiling crowded with chandeliers, the gilded decorations on every wall, or the marble surfaces that gleamed in the light.
When she happened to glance down, her eyes met the intricate red patterns swirling over the marble floor.
‘Amazing.’
Well, of course — this was where the Grand Duke’s heir would rest. Ordinary just wouldn’t do.
A balding, round-bellied manager came rushing out, panting.
“Oh dear, young master! It’s been ages!”
“About three years, I suppose.”
“If only you’d sent a messenger ahead, we would’ve been ready… But, ah, this young lady is…?”
“My companion.”
“Celine Hunt. Nice to meet you.”
“Ah, y–yes, nice to… meet you.”
The manager flinched at her confident self-introduction, scanning her up and down.
Celine didn’t care. So long as she didn’t die again, what others thought of her didn’t matter in the slightest.
“Do you have a room?”
“Of course, sir! Morgan! Take them to the Moransil suite!”
As Celine followed the attendant slowly, she spoke up.
“Wouldn’t it be better to get two rooms?”
“Two? Do we need that many?”
“It’s just… sharing one seems a bit strange, don’t you think?”
She looked at Leonhardt in confusion, but he looked just as puzzled.
“Why would you think that?”
“Never mind.”
Celine gave up on explaining and shrugged. As long as the beds were separate, she didn’t really mind.
‘What a miser.’
But the moment the attendant opened the door, she realized how foolish that thought had been.
A short hallway led to a cozy foyer, with around ten doors branching off from it.
“Are all rooms here like this?”
“Like what?”
“This isn’t a room — it’s a house!”
“A house? What makes you say that?”
“I thought it would just be a room with a bed…”
Leonhardt raised a brow.
“You didn’t think we’d just rent a bedroom, did you? What kind of hotel does that?”
Quite a lot, actually.
But she didn’t bother saying that aloud.
Leonhardt pointed to a door carved with cherubs blowing trumpets.
“That’s my sister’s old room. It should have everything a lady needs — use that one.”
Celine opened the door without much thought — and gasped.
It was like another world. The floor was covered with a plush violet carpet, and murals of blooming flower fields adorned the walls.
A fireplace stood ready along one wall, built just for this room.
But it was the bed that stole her breath — enormous, soft, and seemingly free of any deadly traps.
Just as she was about to rush toward it, the attendant hesitated.
“Young master, what should we do about dinner?”
“Send it up right away.”
Dinner!
Suddenly, the world looked beautiful.
She hadn’t had a warm meal in… she couldn’t even remember how long.
In the past, the highlight of her day had been buying the hardest, cheapest bread from a bakery using the few coins she scrounged together.
Lately, even that was gone, and her “meals” were flour mixed with water that reeked of mold.
Celine swallowed hard. Just the thought of real food made her feel full.
“Is there anything you can’t eat?”
“No! I love everything!”
Her eyes sparkled.
Moments later, she stared blankly at the silver dishes being set before her on the great mahogany table.
Steaming soup, golden bread that put any bakery to shame, a salad bursting with fresh greens, fragrant beef stew, and grilled salmon topped with popping trout roe…
She tried to savor each bite carefully — but the dishes vanished before she knew it.
Leonhardt, seated across from her, watched the woman who smiled as if she owned the world.
“So you don’t dislike food, I see.”
“Of course not.”
She murmured while savoring the lemon sherbet that melted on her tongue.
“You’re so thin, I thought maybe you had no appetite. I’ve seen cases like that.”
“It’s not that. I just didn’t have any.”
Celine poured herself a cup of warm tea and sighed contentedly.
“This feels nice.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I really do.”
When she stood, she swayed slightly. After a month and a half of near-starvation, her feast left her dizzy.
Leonhardt stiffened instantly.
“Must’ve eaten too much.”
“Be careful. One nightmare a day is enough.”
“You won’t have any tomorrow, so what’s there to worry about?”
“You never know.”
Leonhardt frowned.
“You’ve died tripping over rocks before, not just in that house. So be careful.”
“…You really saw everything, didn’t you?”
“And I’ll see more tonight.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and stood up.
“Will you rest now?”
“Yes!”
She cheerfully moved to her room.
“Good dreams— ah, well, um… good luck!”
Leonhardt just sighed as she dove happily onto the bed.
It was soft — unbelievably soft.
“Ahh…”
A satisfied sigh escaped her lips.
She couldn’t wait to toss away her filthy clothes and crawl under the covers.
‘I wonder if there’s a nightgown? A robe would be nice too.’
As she rolled lazily across the bed, she noticed a curtained space.
‘What’s that?’
Enjoying the carpet’s softness beneath her bare feet, she drew the curtain open — and froze.
A luxurious wooden bathtub stood before her.
Her jaw dropped.
Even the dreadful mansion had a bathtub, but turning on the tap there meant rusty, bug-filled water dripped out.
She gripped the massive faucet and twisted it.
Hot steam poured out.
Celine couldn’t stop smiling. A bath.
After so long, she could finally wash properly. Before, the best she could do was splash herself with cold well water.
But now, before her eyes, was a tub full of hot, clean water.
She stripped off her clothes without hesitation. The rising steam kept her warm.
Splash!
The warm water enveloped her whole body.
“So good…”
She stretched out in bliss. The tub was big enough for two adults.
For the first time since her life had become a chain of deaths, she felt truly alive.
Her belly was full, her body was warm, and a soft bed awaited her.
But what filled her chest now wasn’t just physical comfort — it was relief.
Relief from safety.
No more scavenging for rotten food, no more dying in traps for pocket change.
Leonhardt would ensure her safety — at least for his own sake.
She tried to think more deeply about their situation, but the water was too warm, and her weary body relaxed completely.
She drifted into deep sleep.
“Kyaaa!”
Leonhardt bolted upright in the Moransil suite’s master bedroom, grabbed his sword, and rushed out.
His heart plummeted.
A woman’s screams echoed from Celine’s room — not the ones he’d heard in dreams, but real.
“What’s going on!?”
“S-sir, th-the young lady, she—!”
The maid stammered, too frightened to finish. Leonhardt brushed past her and stormed inside.
His eyes widened.
A naked woman hung half-submerged in the bathtub, her thin shoulders jutting out lifelessly.
“Sh-she was completely underwater, and she wasn’t breathing—”
Before the maid could finish, the water rippled — Celine moved.
The maid gasped.
Leonhardt rubbed his forehead and turned away, stepping out of the room with a groan. Another long night ahead.
Celine looked awkwardly at the pale maid. She must’ve passed out underwater after relaxing too much.
At least it had been a peaceful “death.”
“I’m sorry. That must’ve scared you.”
“A-are you all right? You weren’t breathing—”
“I’m perfectly fine! See? Breathing just fine!”
She puffed out her cheeks and exhaled dramatically. Honestly, she wouldn’t have minded dying like that a thousand times.
The maid looked torn between crying and laughing.
“Why did you come in, though?”
“Th-the young master came so quickly, I didn’t have time to prepare…”
Celine felt guilty imagining how terrified the poor maid must’ve been, but there was no helping it.
“Do you have a towel?”
“Yes…”
The maid brought a towel large enough to wrap her whole body.
“No nightclothes, I suppose?”
“There’s a robe, at least…”
Exactly what she wanted.
As she dried off and donned the robe, the maid kept asking if she needed a doctor. Celine waved her off.
“I’m fine. Really. Stronger than I look, I promise.”
After lighting the fireplace, the maid left. Celine snuggled under the blankets, ready to enjoy her luxurious bed.
Knock, knock.
She frowned, but given what she’d just caused, she couldn’t pretend to be asleep.
“Come in.”
Leonhardt entered slowly. Through his nightgown, she caught a glimpse of his well-built frame.
A sudden urge to flee overcame her. Even without anger or threat in his face, his sheer presence made her heart race.
His piercing gaze met hers.
“What was that this time?”
“I fell asleep.”
“Ha…”
A long sigh escaped him.
“Sorry.”
“It couldn’t be helped. But try to be more careful.”
“I will.”
Celine didn’t bother with excuses. After all, he’d suffered enough tonight because of her.
“At least I won’t drown again. My memory’s pretty good, you know?”
“Good memory, but too clumsy.”
The Celine he’d seen in his dreams remembered every trap she’d died in — and still managed to trip on rocks.
“Sorry about that. I’ll be careful.”
He said nothing for a moment, and she began to drift off again.
“If you’ve nothing else to say, I’ll sleep now.”
Her heavy eyelids drooped — until his voice cut through.
“I do.”
“What is it?”
His calm, firm words struck like a hammer.
“I’ll sleep here tonight.”
