Chapter 10

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Chapter 10

“Arya is dirty too. You have to wash again.”

For a moment, Arya didn’t understand what Kylian was saying, so she stared at him blankly. He, who spoke as if worried about her, was smiling like a monster.

“Pardon? What’s that supposed to m– Kyaaa!”

He grabbed Arya’s arm and pulled her into the bathtub, loosening the towel that was wrapped around her head. The négligée was all wet.

“Waahahahhaahha!”

“Hup!”

As Arya lay on him, her struggles spurted the water from the bathtub in all directions. She struggled so desperately that he helped her grab the bathtub lip.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s- it’s no…”

“It’s because Arya looked too serious.”

“Ah…”

Arya’s clothes and hair were suddenly wet again, but perhaps because Kylian looked happy, she didn’t feel angry. Actually, he was laughing like he was having fun, so she got a little hope that he wouldn’t try to kill her even if his memory returned in the future.

“I have to wash again because of Kylian.”

“I’ll wash you.”

“Pardon? Oh, I have already washed…”

“Aren’t you dirty because of me?”

“All I have to do is dry off the water!”

“No. You have to wash thoroughly again.”

‘I guess it’s because he’s the type that likes to keep things clean…? Well, I washed Kylian, so it made sense for him to wash me too. But in my case, it was my fault, and he didn’t do anything wrong to me, right? Perhaps… Are you trying to build a bond with me because the situation so far is so unsettling?’

Anxiety aroused.

“Ah…”

“Do you not like it?”

“No. Then, please.”

Somehow, Arya felt she should get closer to him and know him better. It was she, after all, who caused this trouble. Kylian was smiling as if he was happy. He was about to get up, so she grabbed the bathtub lip and tried to get up.

“Oh!”

Then she noticed that she had accidentally touched his abs. She was startled and tried to remove her hand, but he grabbed her wrist for a moment before letting it go.

“I’ll help you get up.”

“Yes.”

He put his hand under Arya’s armpit and lifted her, and his strength was so great that she was able to stand on her knees. When she finally emerged from the bathtub, her négligée was soaked, with the clinging material leaving nothing to be imagined.

“Ah, I…”

“Yes.”

For a moment, words did not come out easily. Her mind didn’t think it was possible, but in her heart, there was a strange sense of duty to keep in touch with him. It seemed that she lost her mind whenever she was close to Kylian. In the end, she declared.

“As expected, I can’t.”

She spoke and left. Arya’s wet hair and clothes were dripping water, dampening the carpet. She removed her clothes, wrapped her head in a towel again, and changed into a new négligée.

Arya had to leave the room for a while after putting on a comfortable dress. She had many clothes for her to wear, but, of course, there was nothing for Kylian to wear. Thus, she thought of stealing some of Duke Deloraine’s clothes.

“Where did you say Dad was?”

“His Excellency has been absent for a while.”

“Okay. So where’s Dad’s room?”

“I will guide you.”

At Arya Deloraine’s request, the maid smiled kindly and took the lead. The attitude of the people of this mansion toward Arya, a villain without blood or tears, was quite different from what the new body owner had expected. There was something kind and comfortable about them as if they were dealing with a little girl.

Arya was able to reach Duke Deloraine’s room without difficulty thanks to the maid, who looked behind her several times while going ahead.

“We are here.”

“Thanks.”

In order not to forget the way she came, she memorized everything she saw as she passed. Although she actually remembered the maid’s face that smiled every time she made eye contact rather than the things she saw.

Knock, knock-

“Father.”

As expected, it was quiet as if there was no one inside. She opened the door slightly and peered inside. There didn’t seem to be any signs of presence. So, very quietly, she opened the door and went inside. Strangely enough, the Duke’s room seemed to be the same size or a little smaller than her own room. Same floor. Of course, the rooms were located at the edges of the same floor.

Come to think of it, in the original story, it seemed that Arya Deloraine was so loved by the Duke that she even used the Duchess’ room.

Even the gold map with the ruby mark on it in the Duke’s room was just like hers. On the tabletop, crudely-shaped embroidery was beautifully folded as if precious. She looked at her fingertips, just in case. Perhaps the original Arya Deloraine enjoyed embroidering. As expected, her fingertips were split like someone who had done a lot of embroidery. She went near the bed, and amateurish drawings were hanging on the canopy.

“This, no way…”

No matter how you look at it, it was crude to say that it was drawn by an artist. It was as if an elementary school student were holding crayons for the first time. There were sunflowers, and there were roses. Some depicted red-haired families. And the text below it…

‘Dear Mom and Dad’

It was clear that the real Arya Deloraine had made those paintings when she was young. Arya came to her senses and went to the closet and opened the door. There she found shirts, trousers, and a uniform overcoat. ‘Apparently, this place is where you put the clothes you usually wear…’ While coming to this room she noticed a lot of dressing rooms.

‘Come to think of it, there were only simple clothes in the closet in my room. I may have a separate dressing room too.’

She packed a large shirt and pants that seemed might fit Kylian and crept toward the door. The moment she finally reached the door and was about to open it.

“What are you doing?”

“Dad?”

The door opened halfway and closed immediately. Someone pressed the door behind her back, and the half-opened one slammed shut. Arya broke in a cold sweat because she didn’t know what to say when asked why she was trying to steal his clothes. As she slowly turned around, she saw a familiar face.

“Dad?” Crown Prince Lionel entered the room and asked back amusingly while glaring at her, locked in his arms.

“Your Highness…”

“Yeah, that’s how you should call him.”

She didn’t know why Lionel had appeared, but he looked at her with a disgruntled expression on his face. His bright red eyes were as red as blood, and although they looked eerie, they were pretty.

“Your Highness, what are you doing here?”

“I have something to talk about with Duke Deloraine.”

“Ah… How’s Bell?”

“Okay.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Perhaps because of the fact that Bell was safe, she didn’t think he was such a bad person. Of course, it was sad to lose her strongest ally, but she considered it was because of something she did wrong.

He was the male lead of the original story. His personality was perfect and kind. He was so warm to Melina that she had felt touched several times while reading the novel. It was clear that he was acting disrespectfully to her, Arya Deloraine, who was different from Melina.

“Is that all you are curious about?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Then he frowned as if something was unpleasant. So, Arya thought hard.

‘What the hell is it that makes you feel wronged?’

“Any other questions?”

“Uh… well… no.”

No matter how much she thought about it, there was nothing more to be curious about. Above all, Arya only knew about this place indirectly from the book she had read. She didn’t even know the way to the main building yet.

‘What do I know, and what can I ask Crown Prince Lioniel?’

“Aren’t you going to say what you did wrong to me?”

“I, I apologize if I did anything wrong. But…”

“…”

“I do not know.”

Then he pouted and glared at her more frighteningly. Arya felt her heart suffocating again. She had been experiencing her heart sagging way too often now. Perhaps even as Arya Deloraine, she may not have a long life.

“Why are you taking Duke’s clothes?”

“I’ll- I’ll wear it to sleep.”

“That?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t seem to see that she was even carrying some pants. He only saw a white shirt on the outside.

“Do you like that?”

“…Yes.”

“Okay, then I’ll give you mine, too.”

“What? No! You don’t have to give me anything.”

“Why?”

“That…”

Because I don’t need it!

But his gaze was so powerful that she thought he would twist her head if she said that. To Lionel, she was someone who attempted kidnapping. She didn’t know why real Arya did so many bad things, but she wasn’t in a position to bully him.

“I am abashed.”

In this second life, I can’t be short-lived. Even though I think badly of myself now, too, I can’t help it.

“I see.”

He suddenly took a strand of Arya’s hair and kissed her.

“Wh- what…!”

“Your face turned red.”

He lowered his head as their eyes met at the same level. It seemed like her ears were on fire, but he chuckled quietly as if it was funny that she had turned so red.

“Do you want me to take off what I’m wearing now?”

“Pardon?”

Arya unconsciously lifted her head, but he was so close that she lowered her gaze straight to her toes.

“Were you always this shy?”

“…Yes.”

Maybe he was laughing at her, but he was laughing again. Recalling the original Arya Deloraine tormenting him, this level of bullying was the blood of a bird’s foot.

[tl/n: idiom meaning it’s something so small it’s trivial. She means the original Arya tormented him so much that what he did to her was nothing.]

However, she was ashamed and wanted to get out of this place quickly.

“What did you come to talk about with Father?”

“Who knows?”

She wasn’t curious actually. But he was too close, and she wanted to shake him off.

Arya pushed his face away with her hand, but it didn’t budge. He opened his mouth like he was about to bite her, and when she pulled her hand away startled, he smiled more deeply than before, looking down at her.

“Have a good conversation! I’ll be leaving!”

“Before you go.”

“Yes?”

“Goodnight kiss.”

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