Chapter 98
In the end, I called a maid and asked her to tidy up the bed, but I honestly felt like jumping out the window and ending it all.
The maid who cleaned the bedroom was one of those who stayed expressionless no matter how recklessly I ate.
I prayed over and over that she was well-trained and could keep her mouth shut.
“Is there anything else you need?”
I couldn’t even look at her face and just asked for a map.
I wanted to ask her to bring the map from my room at the Marquess Christener’s house, but I held back.
When the maid laid the map on the table, I began listing the plans I had been making in my head for a long time.
Packing my things from the Marquess Christener’s house and escaping secretly… that was just the beginning, damn it!
Now I realized that step alone was insanely difficult.
After the last incident, the security around the Marquess Christener’s house had been greatly strengthened, and the surveillance on me had increased.
Right now, I couldn’t even move freely in the Luhanes Mansion.
“No, aaah!”
Bang! I slammed my head on the map and let out a silent scream.
Damn it, it was all because of those masked people. Those unknown people suddenly targeting me messed everything up.
Even if I managed to get to the Marquess Christener’s house, pack my things, and escape, the next problem would come immediately.
How do they track me wherever I go? Aren’t they the ones who try to kill me every time I move?
If I’m careless, I might die here before returning to my original world.
Even if I escape, I had to deal with them first.
That way, the surveillance on me would weaken, and I could survive until the way back to my world opened.
I turned my head slightly while lying on the map.
“I need to find and deal with them quickly.”
I still had no idea what organization those masked people belonged to or why they were after me.
“Wasn’t that maid dead back then…?”
I narrowed my eyes, remembering the maid who had been thrown against the wall by the artifact on my wrist.
If she was still alive, maybe she could figure out who was behind all this.
“She’s probably already investigating.”
I was sure that Rixion Luhanes had taken her to get information. His being busy surely included that task.
I asked the butler about the maid who had tried to kill me.
“I’m sorry. The Duke said he would handle it himself, so I don’t know anything.”
Of course, that was the exact answer I expected. If I wanted to know about her, I’d have to ask Rixion Luhanes directly.
I answered calmly that I understood and sent the butler away.
Although he said he would return soon, he had been summoned to the Imperial Palace, so I knew he wouldn’t come back quickly.
That meant I would once again be trapped in this frustrating space, endlessly waiting for Rixion Luhanes to arrive.
“Isn’t this exactly what Rixion Luhanes wants?”
When that thought hit me, I suddenly raised my head from the map.
Knock, knock.
Not long after sending the butler away, there was a knock at the door.
I thought it was already lunchtime and walked toward the door, checking the time.
Instead of answering, I opened it, and the butler who had just left had returned.
He politely explained why he came back.
“Marquess Christener has come to see you, Miss.”
People who feel guilty often act differently. Anyone who notices this would know that.
I knew this well, and I knew I had to be extra careful if the person was smart and perceptive.
Even though I knew, I was shaking my legs under the table and couldn’t meet Michael’s eyes.
Of course, suspicious and distrustful looks kept coming at me.
I avoided even those eyes, repeating “What do I do?” in my head.
I was anxious. Why did Michael suddenly come at this timing?
“Rixion Luhanes didn’t tell him about last night, did he? He couldn’t have… right?”
Even though it was likely Michael just came because he was worried, I still trembled with fear.
The long sigh broke the silence. Sitting across from me with arms crossed, Michael exhaled without saying a word.
I flinched and shrank at the sound of that sigh.
“I’ve heard everything from the Duke.”
Michael spoke solemnly, making me even more anxious. I finally looked up and met his serious gaze.
“W-What… what?”
I stammered, confused, and his expression hardened even more.
“What do you mean ‘what’? Of course it’s about you and Duke Luhanes.”
His tone was impatient and irritable, clearly annoyed at both the situation and the conversation.
Hearing Rixion Luhanes’ name made my heart pound—not with happiness, but with tension and fear.
“Listen. I’m not letting this go.”
Michael’s tone left no room for mercy. Hearing those words felt like a death sentence.
“Given the situation, we have no choice, but….”
“I’m never agreeing to an engagement!”
It felt like the conversation was about to turn to when the wedding should happen.
Unable to stand it, I jumped up and shouted fiercely:
“I’m not getting married!”
Michael looked at me as if I had no manners.
I slammed the table in anger without backing down.
“We’re adults! Just because we slept together once doesn’t mean I have to be responsible for life! Does that make sense?”
Finally, I declared once more firmly:
“I will never marry Rixion Luhanes!”
I glared at Michael, fuming, making it clear he should never try to persuade me.
I noticed then that Michael’s reaction was unusual.
Instead of his usual strict persuasion or scolding, he just stared at me in shock, like he had seen or heard something impossible.
Finally, he reacted:
“What the hell did you just say?”
I had never seen this expression from him before. His eyes were full of anger, icy and fierce.
“Sit down and tell me everything from the start. Don’t leave anything out.”
Later, Rixion walked down a busy street in the capital.
He stopped when something caught his eye: a stall full of small, sparkling accessories—necklaces, bracelets, rings, and other unique ornaments.
One item caught his attention: a ring with a gold-colored gem.
The gem was obviously fake, so he wouldn’t give something cheap like this to Elizabeth. But the color reminded him of her eyes.
Seeing that ring made him realize he had been too hasty to bring up the engagement this morning.
‘It was wrong to talk about engagement without even a ring.’
He imagined Elizabeth’s expression scolding him for being inexperienced in love.
When he thought about her face, even her shocked expression seemed cute, and he had to hold himself back from hugging her.
At the same time, memories of last night, like a dream, came flooding back.
