Chapter 4

After finishing my bath, I put on a robe and wrapped my wet hair in a towel.

When I called for Jane, she came to dry my hair and asked if I liked the pajamas.

She said she picked something comfortable to move around in, but they were useless right now.

“I’m stepping out for a bit. Please get my day clothes and prepare the carriage.”

Jane’s hands, which were drying my hair, faltered. She spoke with an awkward tone.

“There was a message from the master… he said not to let you go out late at night, so I don’t think I can help with that.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not sure… I don’t really know.”

Come on, the master isn’t here. Can’t you just look the other way? And whether I like it or not, I’m Seniel’s wife. Doesn’t that put me on equal footing with him?

Jane glanced at me nervously, clearly afraid I might ignore Seniel’s orders and go out anyway.

‘Seniel must be worried I’ll run into Kid if I go out late at night.’

Apparently, it never crossed his mind that I might not come back at all.

I should’ve just told Seniel I knew his secret, that I’d keep my mouth shut if he helped me escape.

‘No. That’s too dangerous.’

If feelings got involved and Kid accessed Seniel’s memories, I’d be dead in an instant. That chilling possibility made me abandon the idea right away.

Jane, now drying my hair even slower, hesitated before speaking again.

“…The coachman went home early, too. The master said it was fine… If you really want to go out, I could sneak out and try to find a carriage?”

“It’s at least a thirty minute walk from here to the front gate, but if you’re willing to wait, I’ll go quickly and return,” She added. Her words made me sigh.

I could see the worry and pity in Jane’s eyes.

She didn’t know anything, so she probably pitied me for being alone without the master. She likely thought I was going out to find him or something.

‘The mansion is pretty far from the village. How was I going to walk all the way there?’

This secluded estate was so deep in the woods that it took a long carriage ride just to reach town. Walking would make it impossible to return before midnight.

Seniel wasn’t coming home tonight, so technically it didn’t matter if I roamed around at night, but something still didn’t sit right. My gut, sharpened by dying once already, was telling me not to go.

‘…In the original, I survived about a week. No need to rush things now.’

In the end, I shook my head. Jane’s expression brightened slightly. She had offered to help, but it seemed she wasn’t eager to hike all the way to the village either.

“If it’s going to take a while, that’s okay. You can head home now.”

I waved my hand, and Jane stepped back.

“I thought you might be thirsty at night, so I left a water bottle here. The oil lamp and matches are right here, too.”

She gave a polite bow.

“Well then, have a good night, madam. I’ll see you in the morning.”

I wasn’t sure it’d be a good night, but…

The door closed. Silence. Not even white noise like chirping insects. The place, already eerie, felt even more ominous.

I quickly changed into pajamas, and a chill ran down my spine. I curled up on the bed. There was nothing else I could do.

* * *

At first, I fell asleep quickly. I was exhausted.

But maybe my subconscious knew I had to stay alert, because I woke not long after.

‘What time is it?’

The curtains were drawn tight. I couldn’t even see what was in front of me, let alone a clock.

I squinted in the dark, but from the bed, there was no chance of seeing anything.

I had no choice but to feel my way outside and check up close.

But in this completely silent room, even the rustling of my blanket sounded loud. I was too scared to move in case I made a noise.

Realizing it was the dead of night and the servants had all gone home made me feel cold all over. My back was damp with sweat.

I tried to hold my breath and fall asleep again. I lay on my back and pulled the blanket up to my nose.

Somehow, I had this terrible feeling that the door was going to burst open any second.

I should’ve just let Jane fetch a carriage. Regret flooded me.

I cried quietly, silently calling for my late mother.

Creak.

That’s when I heard something strange.

I grabbed the blanket tightly, startled.

‘Did… Did I just imagine that?’

It was like after watching a horror movie when your brain exaggerates every little sound. I wanted to believe it was nothing.

But my heartbeat was pounding so loud I couldn’t focus on locating the sound.

‘Mom…’

No other sound followed. Maybe it was just the wind rattling a window. Or maybe my fear was playing tricks on me.

Still, I was already scared. A tear slipped from my eye.

Creak.

‘M-Mom!’

It wasn’t my imagination this time.

I jolted upright like I’d been shocked, but instinctively clamped a hand over my mouth to stop myself from screaming.

Then I heard footsteps, heavy and deliberate, echoing in the stillness.

It had to be my imagination. Just like before. ‘I’m just… scared, so I’m hearing…’

The door opened.

* * *

I didn’t know that when terror peaks, your nerves go on high alert instead of passing out.

I shut my eyes tightly, pretending to be asleep. Or rather, I had to pretend because…

‘My body won’t move!’

I prayed it was a ghost, not a person.

But the approaching footsteps were unmistakably human.

Swish, swish. I heard the sound of something like a jackknife being flicked. Like he was playing with it in his hands.

Strike. A match was lit. Then, click, the lamp turned on.

‘Mom…’

I was certain now. It was Kid. It couldn’t be anyone else.

So much for hoping it was a ghost.

He had a twisted habit of revealing his face before killing someone, so he could watch their reactions.

At first, everyone feels relief.

They think, “It’s Seniel, the High Priest. He won’t kill me.”

But then, when the violence begins, they’re confused, terrified. They usually ask why.

And when a part of their body is fully severed, and Kid laughs with joy, that’s when they realize. Seniel is Kid. And they fall into utter despair.

Kid loved watching that hope drain from their faces.

Step, step. He was right in front of me. Death was close.

‘Was it like this in the original? Really? This is insane.’

There was no way. In the novel, it said Vivi died about a week after meeting Kid. There was no mention of an earlier encounter.

‘Am I really going to die now…?’

I struggled to move, as if paralyzed in a nightmare.

But not even a finger twitched. Then I noticed that it was silent again.

He’d stopped walking. Like he was watching for my reaction.

Crash!

A glass shattered violently. Judging by the sound, it must’ve been the cup Jane had left for me.

And that cup had been on the nightstand beside the bed.

In other words, Kid was now…

“Is that what you call pretending to sleep?”

Even though I hadn’t moved when the glass broke, I couldn’t help flinching at the sudden sound of his voice.

His tone was a mix of boredom and cruelty. I almost wet myself.

At this point, I wanted to beg him to just kill me gently.

But even that wasn’t an option. Ever since he came in, my body had been frozen.

So much for the comfy pajamas I picked to escape in. All that effort, and this was all I managed.

“I know you’re not sleeping, but you’re not waking up.”

I couoldn’t get up…

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over me.

Even with my eyes closed, I could feel his presence. I gasped silently.

I felt something soft yet pointed press against my cheek. Not a knife, duller than that, but harder than cotton.

‘Is he poking me with his finger?’

Whatever it was, my eyebrow twitched every time he poked.

“This acting is top notch.”

The pokes came faster.

“If you don’t get up by the count of three—”

Miraculously, my body shot upright. Damn him. He was a doctor, after all.

“Hey! I’m up!”

I felt his breath on my nose. My vision filled with something crimson.

It didn’t take long to realize that it was Kid’s eyes.

“Hiiik!”

I hadn’t expected him to be that close. I scooted back in a panic. He didn’t follow, just watched me with his eyes.

He was Seniel, yet he wasn’t Seniel at all.

His curly hair hung loose, and madness flickered in his eyes. Twirling his knife skillfully, Kid drawled:

“I don’t particularly hold a grudge against you. But I’m in a very bad mood right now.”

“…….”

“You’re scared, but you don’t even ask who I am?”

Kid’s eyes narrowed. He frowned, clearly irritated, like he could crush anyone in front of him.

“Did Seniel tell you about me?”

With a growl, the knife shot up under my chin. One inch closer and it’d slice my neck.

“N-No. I don’t… I don’t know who you are.”

He hated being confused with Seniel, so pretending ignorance was safest.

Kid stared at me, judging whether I was lying.

“Well, if he’d told you everything, he’d have helped you escape instead of sending you to me. Damn him.”

Yes, exactly. You’re very smart and reasonable. I know nothing.

“Well, whatever. Whether you know or not… you’re going to die now.”

P-Please spare me. The words wouldn’t leave my lips. My eyes filled with tears.

Suddenly, Kid smiled, his eyes forming gentle crescents.

“You’ve been quiet without making a sound, so I’ll be especially lenient and let you go without any pain. I hate being noisy. Any last words?”

“Wa-wait a minute.”

“Are those your last words? I’ll be sure to tell your husband.”

I shut my eyes tightly.