Chapter 15

Chapter 15

It was good that Kid hadn’t come. It was good that I was still alive.

But the longer it went on, the more the fear grew.

Isn’t there a saying,  “the calm before the storm”?

Exhausted, after another sleepless night, I sprawled out on the bed like a rag doll.

I could try to take Kid’s absence as a positive sign.

Seniel had sworn not to kill me until I’d completely won him over. So maybe Kid simply trusted that promise and hadn’t bothered showing up.

‘But no way.’

Kid doesn’t trust people.

‘Will I even survive tonight?’

Four days left until I could escape by stowing away, and yet the way ahead felt endless.

I pressed hard at my eyes with my hands. Knock, knock. Someone tapped at the door. It was probably Seniel. Coming to check if I was still alive the moment I opened my eyes was something he really was diligent about.

“Vivi, it’s me. May I come in?”

Like a zombie, I dragged myself upright.

“Yes, come in.”

Seniel stepped inside, his hair tied back low. I lowered my hands from my eyes and spread my arms slightly, shrugging as if to say I was fine.

“See? Perfectly alive again today.”

Relief washed over Seniel’s pale face. He must have heard my voice through the door and already known I was alive, but he didn’t exhale until he actually saw me.

He covered his face with both hands. They were long, slender, beautiful hands.

‘Those jade-like hands… every time I see them, my stomach churns.’

I remembered that cutesy little replica from the first floor, or at least, what I wanted to believe was a replica. Disgustingly cute.

Seniel slowly lowered his hands. I had half expected him to burst into tears, but he didn’t. Instead, his eyes just brimmed with tears that never fell.

I had told him not to cry. But seeing him force it down like this made me uneasy in a different way.

‘If you want to cry, just cry.’

I averted my gaze, somehow convinced he was holding back because of what I’d said yesterday.

A memory from real life flashed up of those wildlife documentaries I used to watch. Every time an animal was dying pitifully on screen, I’d shout at the cameraman to save it from agony.

But now, I finally understood the cameraman’s heart. Just as they had to protect the natural order, I had to protect the original story’s rules.

‘Though me trying to survive at all is already wrecking the original to pieces.’

Still, at least I wasn’t doing something shameless like breaking up the leads. That was enough of a self justification for me.

No matter how pitiful he looked, there was nothing I could do for him.

And besides, even if Seniel felt like a different person, the fact remained: he was Kid. I couldn’t let myself feel entirely sorry for him.

Without meeting his eyes, I spoke.

“You’ve checked. Now you can go.”

“…….”

I thought he would obediently say “Yes” and leave, like yesterday. But there was no reply, no sound of retreating footsteps.

Maybe he still had something to say. I looked back at him. Seniel hesitated, opening and closing his mouth.

When I silently asked why he wasn’t leaving, he finally spoke.

“I trust you, Vivi, but today of all days, I think it’s better if I go far away today.”

“Why?”

It was only after I asked that I realized why.

‘So he knows it too. On his father’s death anniversary, Kid becomes especially unstable.’

At my sharp question, Seniel met my gaze, eyes clouded.

“……I didn’t tell you before, but today is my father’s death anniversary. On this day, Kid loses more of his reason than usual. So I thought maybe if I stayed away—”

“Absolutely not.”

Without thinking, I grabbed his wrist. Absolutely not. Letting him leave now, of all times, would be the same as sending my life away with him.

I had to make Kid see Seniel as my ally. I had to show that Seniel trusted me, that he was growing fond of me.

Seniel looked startled at my desperate grip.

His eyes, heavy with gloom and guilt, widened in surprise.

“Absolutely not. Tonight, too, you’ll take the flower I give you, go to bed without thinking of anything else, and do nothing beyond that.”

I was terrified he might try something foolish.

The thought of him wanting to protect me was touching but I couldn’t allow it.

Still holding his wrist, I rattled off a list of what he must not do, urgent and firm.

“No self punishing, absolutely not. Don’t even think about staying up all night. Not that I think you’d try, but don’t you dare write some kind of appeal to Kid. Don’t do any of it.”

“……Yes. Yes.” He answered reflexively, blinking in bewilderment, as if to ask how I had guessed. My heart pounded nervously.

‘So you really were going to do all of that, weren’t you?’

The thought of that and his innocent face made my head spin.

I clasped both his hands, pouring all my desperation into my voice.

“Damn it, what else… Anyway, nothing. Do nothing. Just like yesterday, go to the temple, come back, have dinner with me, and put the flower I give you in a vase. That’s it. Understood?”

My sharp tone made him wilt.

“……Yes. Understood. ……I’m sorry I couldn’t be of help.”

He seemed to sink back into guilt over his own uselessness. His broad shoulders sagged.

It was hard to watch a grown man looking so deflated. To be precise, a handsome man looking so dejected.

I closed my eyes, pretending not to see. But the image of his tear brimmed eyes lingered. This time, I couldn’t bring myself to ignore him completely.

“It’s fine. Don’t apologize. You tried to help me, didn’t you?”

“But I wasn’t any help at all…….”

“What matters is the intention. And you’re already helping enough, Seniel. So cheer up.”

Whether he was truly helping or not was debatable, considering he was Kid, but I decided to call it help anyway.

‘Better to treat him as separate from Kid than to scold him and get nowhere.’

I patted his hand comfortingly.

“Come on, let’s work hard again today. All right?”

“……Work hard…… Yes. I will.”

What a good boy. Always did what he was told.

Satisfied, I opened the door for him to go get ready for work. Seniel gave me a faint smile before stepping out.

It looked like a forced smile, but it was still better than his sullen expression.

* * *

Once he left, I collapsed back onto the bed.

I just wanted to lie there all day. Ever since I’d woken up in Vivi’s body, I hadn’t had a single day’s rest.

‘Other transmigrators in romance-fantasy get doting tyrant dads, or they fangirl over the second male lead, or they raise adorable little leads, laughing their way through life.’

Why was I the only one stuck in a hardcore survival scenario?

My whole body ached. My vision blurred with fatigue.

I still had my meeting with Ezette later, but there was time.

Before I drifted off, I called a maid and asked her to wake me before lunch.

The moment she agreed, I shut my eyes and sank into sleep.

* * *

No matter how much I slept, I didn’t feel recharged. This was why staying up all night was a bad idea. If anyone wanted to literally feel their body breaking down in real time, I’d highly recommend pulling an all-nighter.

‘God, I’m so tired I keep babbling nonsense.’

I’d pulled all-nighters for assignments plenty of times. But never out of sheer terror for my life. That kind of fear drained my stamina even faster.

Groaning, I got myself ready to go out. Groaning again, I climbed into the carriage. The servants gave me odd looks.

The carriage set off. The scenery outside flashed past. My unfocused eyes stared blankly out the window.

I’d thought leaving the mansion would wake me up, but instead, my drowsiness only deepened as the tension ebbed.

Besides, I was on my way to meet Ezette.

Whatever she wanted, it was suspicious. But she was still the heroine. She was the only one who might truly help me.

‘And I’m finally free of all those suffocating guards.’

There was no need to wear protective gear to go see her, so I was comfortably dressed for once.

I nodded off until the carriage finally arrived.

When it stopped, I almost slammed my head into the opposite seat. I wiped the drool from my mouth with the back of my hand and stepped down.

* * *

‘Romance-fantasy setting or not, this café is spotless.’

It looked almost modern, except for the little details.

I entered and scanned the place for Ezette. No familiar face.

Had I mixed up the time? No, I was right on schedule. Then where was she?

Just in case, I peeked at the private rooms. Their doors had clear windows, so you could see inside.

‘There you are.’

Ezette sat in one of them. She wore plain clothes, the kind commoners might wear. But her face shone so brightly that shabby clothes couldn’t dim it.

Before I even opened the door, our eyes met. Ezette rose immediately, striding toward me with a tense, rigid expression.

‘What is this about?’

Her nervousness infected me.

Did she somehow realize Seniel was Kid? But then why meet in a public place like this?

Or was she planning to sell me out for cash? Was the heroine short on funds for her pursuit of Seniel?

My thoughts wouldn’t stop racing as I stepped inside.

The moment I did, Ezette fixed me with a grave look.

I was about to suggest we sit down to talk when suddenly, her height dropped. My gaze followed her down in shock.

I couldn’t hide my confusion.

“Sir Filaxis. What are you doing?”

Ezette had dropped to her knees before me.

At most, I had expected her to threaten me, or maybe beg me to be her ally. But kneel before me? That, I had never imagined.

Bowing her head low, she hid her face from me.

“I need your help.”

What on earth could require this?

“I’ll listen. But please sit and explain, at least.”

She didn’t move. Still kneeling, her voice was firm.

“I’ve long forgotten what happened before, so I won’t lower myself to blackmail. Instead, I’ll do anything you ask of me.”

“I can’t answer until I know what this is about, Sir.”

At last, she lifted her head.

I inhaled sharply at the sight.

‘What happened to you?’

Her face was etched with despair, misery, and desperate pleading. She looked more pitiful than someone with a terminal illness.

Slowly, she spoke.

“I need money.”