Chapter 014

Alejandro will definitely come to rescue me. That was the contract between me and Lehan, and he needs me. He must need me… right?

No, even if that weren’t the case, Alejandro clearly had an obligation to stop Alvaro, so he would come to save me.

Please come before I die.

“You’re strangely compliant.”

“I don’t like being in pain.”

The man shrugged and let out a sinister laugh.

“Smart. It’s better this way; we won’t tire each other out.”

The man who tied my hands to the armrest of the chair smelled like rotten onions. His fingers, exposed through the hood, were thin and withered.

Are there any other distinguishing features?

Besides his strange voice…

The man, who meticulously bound my legs, stepped back. Only after he lit dozens of candles in the room did I realize the source of the unpleasant smell here.

“…Blood?”

“Exactly! Blood taken from the neck of an innocent life. Only pure blood like this can complete the magic!”

In the corner, I saw the carcasses of animals scattered about.

“Ugh!”

I felt a wave of nausea. Is this real? It hit me again that this was a medieval-based fantasy world, where people were willing to harm others for their own purposes.

These awful bastards.

The man watched me as I gagged, grinning unpleasantly.

“You’ll end up like those things too, so don’t bother.”

The man shrugged his shoulders.

After carefully examining the magic circle, he drew a dagger and approached me.

“What, what are you trying to do? Don’t!!”

The man mumbled something incomprehensible, as if he couldn’t hear my voice.

“Ah!”

He grabbed my hair and twisted my head to expose my nape. His eyes rolled back, leaving only the whites visible. I might really die.

“D-Don’t do this. I still have so much I want to do… I need to make money, go to the Prada store, and eat at Mirande… H-h-huh-huh…”

Tears and snot streamed down my face. Maybe I should have tried to escape instead of complying? That would have bought me some time.

“You said you would protect me!”

Why isn’t he here yet!

He can’t not know I’ve been taken, right? No, that can’t be. I disappeared from the restaurant and didn’t return home, so there’s no way he doesn’t know.

He must be on his way to rescue me.

“Alejandro!!”

The man’s sinister mumbling was gradually fading. He raised the dagger above his head.

“Ahhh!! Lehan!!!!!!!!!!!”

* * *

Alejandro kicked the door open. The sorcerer, hit by something skillfully thrown by Rebecca, screamed and rolled on the floor.

“Ah!”

Fortunately, Evelina was not dead.

How dare she call a name she wasn’t even permitted to! Seeing her look strangely well made him feel better.

“So you’re still alive.”

“Did you expect me to be dead? Ugh! You said you would protect me… such a blatant lie…”

Alejandro cut the ropes that bound Evelina. He lifted her from the chair, where she had been crying nonstop.

“Well, I came to get you.”

He spoke softly as he held the trembling Evelina in his arms. Evelina clung to Alejandro’s embrace as if it were natural. Alejandro narrowed his eyes.

This too…

It feels good. Alejandro licked his lips with his tongue.

“I-I thought I was going to die…”

The words she mumbled were all fragmented and slurred. No one had ever been so rude to Alejandro before. He should definitely be feeling annoyed.

Alejandro lifted the corners of his lips slightly.

His subordinates, who had come with him, were binding the sorcerer and securing the mansion. A gag was stuffed into the squirming sorcerer’s mouth.

‘To have such skills to find a place like this.’

The traces of black magic remaining in this mansion were evident. Another mark left by the enemy. If he persistently pursues it, he might find something.

In that moment, Evelina buried her face in Alejandro’s chest, tears and snot streaming down.

“…Thank you for saving me.”

He heard a small whisper.

Thank you for saving me?

Alejandro’s red eyes darkened ominously.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Alejandro was the one who had brought her here. Abandoning her was no different from being an accomplice. For some reason, he felt a cruel desire. It was time to show this woman, who was resting comfortably in Alejandro’s embrace, the truth.

That Alejandro was no different from that sorcerer. Would she still react this way?

Alejandro opened his lips but then closed them again.

Strangely, words wouldn’t come out.

“The cleanup is complete.”

Alejandro nodded. Evelina slumped as if she had fainted. Given what she had been through, it was only natural.

Rebecca looked at Evelina with a strange gaze.

“She’s really defenseless.”

“She must trust me.”

“She should trust someone worth trusting… hmm. What if she ends up in the wrong hands?”

“Be nice to her.”

“Excuse me?”

“She’s pitiful.”

Rebecca smiled wryly. If that was the case, he should have helped her avoid getting caught up in such things. He’s the one who started all this…

“Okay.”

Rebecca answered while hiding her true feelings.

* * *

What are the odds of waking up to find my favorite character in front of me? Nearly zero. And I’m the woman who shattered that near-zero probability.

“Lehan…?”

“You shouldn’t call my name so recklessly, milady.”

It really is Lehan.

Tears began to spill uncontrollably.

The relief of not being dead and the comfort of being safe mixed together.

“Wha, whaa….”

Lehan tilted his head.

“Is my face scary?”

“N-no, it’s not that… Why are you so… late…?”

I spoke without knowing what I was saying. The emotions and thoughts I felt at that moment spilled out chaotically.

“Do you know how, how scared I was? I really thought I was going to die. This damn medieval world. What did I do to deserve this… Ugh… At least our country had decent security… Ugh… You can’t just… you can’t just kill people like that…”

I need to get my act together!

Lehan reached out his hand toward me. His long fingers gently wiped away my tears. Alejandro chuckled softly.

“You’re not a child.”

“I’m not a child, so….”

That makes it even scarier!

“Shh.”

Alejandro pressed my head down with his large hand. His hand had a refreshing scent.

“Stop crying.”

“If you tell me not to cry… I-I won’t cry…”

This is really my first time experiencing something like this!

When I heard that I had become a sacrifice, it didn’t feel real, but this time I truly realized that I could really die.

I grabbed Lehan’s sleeves.

And I understood that the only one I could lean on was really Alejandro. I also knew how terrifying that was.

Even though Alejandro is my favorite character, I know I shouldn’t trust him. We are only together because our interests align.

If Alejandro changes his mind, it would truly just be a matter of time before I die.

“I, I…”

Please don’t abandon me.

“What did you say?”

I choked up. Tears fell in drops. Do I really have to be this pathetic? Can’t I be a bit cooler and more impressive? Even if I possess a spirit, how…?

“D-Don’t abandon me…”

Alejandro’s eyes narrowed. Is he enjoying this?

What kind of person is he? He’s my favorite character, and I would give him everything, even my liver and gallbladder.

But objectively speaking, Alejandro isn’t exactly a good person. He’s someone who could easily abandon me at any moment.

“Promise me, quickly.”

I tugged at Alejandro’s sleeve.

“Promise that you won’t abandon me…”

I could see Alejandro biting his lip.

“Then what will you do for me? If I promise not to abandon you, what will you do?”

I knew it would come to this.

I sniffled. What do I even have right now? The business I’m starting is essentially relying on Alejandro.

All I have is this pitiful body.

And maybe the office I’m just starting, and the nanny who betrayed me? It’s truly pathetic.

Is there only one thing I can offer?

“I’ll do anything, Your Highness. Whatever you desire, anything at all.”

Alejandro smiled softly.

“Then keep your promise.”