CH 7

Even John, who had been running wild, hardened.

Oh my god.

Anyone would be the same. Because the woman standing in the dark was so unrealistic.  Red eyes resembling rubies and golden hair. Her whole body seemed to prove that she was the only ‘real’ Felicite.

“Princess, what brings you here? No, how did you come here?”

“How?”

Siani looked at John as if she had heard a stupid question.

“You sound like I’m coming to a place where I shouldn’t have come.”

He was asking if there was any place here, in Felicite’s mansion, where she wasn’t allowed to be.

“Of course, the basement is not a place you can come no matter how you say you’re a princess!”

John tried to refute. But he was speechless when he noticed something glowing at her neck. That necklace.

It was definitely the key. The key had only been granted to the owner of this basement.

How could that woman have that? Did the duke give permission? Why? Don’t tell me that Siani Felicite…

“I, I, it’s not like that. It’s because I’m training right now.”

For now, John hurriedly hid his hands behind his back. He didn’t know the details of what was going on in the duchy, but he got a hunch that that thing shouldn’t be out of this woman’s sight.

“What’s wrong with you? I already came, but you didn’t let Norma go.”

John tried to hide Redian from the woman’s sight but to no avail.

“…”

Siani had already found Redian. Redian was also looking at Siani. Cold air flowed between the two gazes that collided in the air, but… neither of them turned their head or avoided it first. How long has it been like that?

“As expected.”

Suddenly, Siani smiled.

“This should be enough.”

With a friendly compliment.

* * *

Wow.

When I made eye contact with Redian, I tried to hide my expression. After going through several possessions, I was a person who could even talk in my sleep with manners. Nevertheless, I almost shouted, ‘This is crazy. You’re so handsome!’

This is what handsomeness is all about. The word ‘pretty’ wouldn’t suit a guy who would later become a blood-crazed killer. But those disheveled silver hair and blue eyes…

Wait a minute. But why isn’t he even surprised to see me? My sudden appearance embarrassed the trainers. But Redian, unlike them, was only still. He was calm enough, which made it creepy. Well, after all, he’s the male lead of this crazy novel.

“This should be enough.”

But I didn’t have time to lose here either. I deliberately faced Redian and smiled kindly.

“…”

I decided to pretend I didn’t know that Redian’s eyes were shaking.

“Your name is John, right? Can you explain what this situation is?”

Looking at the situation slowly, I felt unpleasant. They weren’t back alley thugs. But the bloody smell that poked the nose’s tip had already spread inside the cage.

“I’ll tell you again, Princess, we were in the middle of training right now.”

“Training?”

John nodded his head. “Yes. It’s training to train Norma’s body.”

Training. They were good at talking nonsense. It was an answer that could tell how Irik had been ruling the trainers and the basement.

“Lord Irik, who has been in charge of this place, knows about it.”

Then, the dumbfounded trainers helped John.

“But Lord Irik is not allowed to interfere in training.”

“That’s right. That’s why Princess shouldn’t come in like this.”

Their tone towards me grew stronger and stronger. I could smell it. The smell of them marking their territories.

“I don’t know by what authority Princes came here on.” John nodded as if he hadn’t noticed my expression. “This is how we’ve tamed the lower ones.”

The lower ones…

I silently pondered over those words.

“At least here, Princess has to follow our way.”

“Really? This is the basement’s way of controlling the lower one?”

Even though I talked about the bizarre nonsense, my expression was still kind.

“Then I can do the same one because you’re the lower one too.”

“W-what?”

“Why? This place belongs to Felicite, and I’m Princess of Felicite.”

On the other hand, John’s face was distorted.

“As you said, it’s training to tame the lower ones.”

“…”

“Is there a reason why I can’t do that? If there is anything wrong with what I say, refute it.”

Only the cold silence grew stronger. No one could refute my words.

“I don’t know how Irik has commanded this basement, but…”

I stroked the necklace around my neck. “From now on, I will make the rules here.”

How much did I struggle to get this key? I didn’t want to see the insignificant things messing around.

“Did you harass people like this every night?”

I looked at Redian for a moment. From his forehead to the corners of his eyes and lips, there was no place that wasn’t swollen.  How many years have they been doing this?

“Give it to me.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Give me your hand.”

“Why my hand, why…”

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

John, who was hesitating, eventually held out his hand, which he had hidden behind his back.

It’s crazy. When I saw a viciously large hand, I remembered the memory of my previous life. Wherever I go, there are always cowards like this.

“John, you know I’ll be coming back again, right?”

“…”

“Before that, all those wounds you inflicted with your hands should be healed. If not.”

I looked down at his hand that twitched, then warned him.

“I’ll take your wrist in return.”

“P-Princess!”

“Whether to listen to Irik or to listen to me from now on, it will be your choice.”

“…”

“I have no intention of ignoring something like this happening in my family.”

“P-Princess!”

“Take a note.”

There was no need for a long word.

“In the end, we don’t know who will have this basement.”

“…”

“If you don’t believe me, check it out tomorrow. I’m going to cut off the weapon dealer who gave you these weapons.”

Looking at those flickering eyes, I gave the first command. “Ah, move Redian to the charge where other Norma lives. Like I said, I’ll be visiting often from now on.”

“…”

“It’s very annoying to come through the central area every time.”

It was their choice whether to follow my order or not. But they had no choice but to follow it anyway.

This ended with my smile towards those people who turned pale. If I didn’t like them, I could just cut them.

“Hi, Redian.”

“…”

After all, this was my purpose.

I turned around and greeted Redian. To be honest, if it wasn’t for Redian, I wouldn’t have thought of going this far.

He saw me. That I’m this kind of person.

I went a little overboard to show off my existence to him. Anyway, today was the first official meeting between the boy and me, so I meant to do well.

“…”

But Redian was cold. He just looked at me with those eyes that seemed to be observing prey.

“You guys get out.”

I kicked out the trainers first. And then, finally, it was just the two of us who were left.

“I promised you.”

Taking a step closer, I spread my palms out.

“Now, here.”

“…”

Blue eyes gently shifted to my palm.

Early education was important. Looking at him like this, he looked like an obedient dog.

“I’ll give you two candies if you’re holding up well.”

“…Ah, candy.”

What? Ah? Aah, candy? I wasn’t expecting him to be happy, but what’s with this bitter reaction?

“It’s the candy I bought from the most famous dessert shop by sending someone to the main street. It’s very sweet and delicious.”

Of course, it was a lie.

“Even the trainers out there wouldn’t have eaten it.”

“No need.”

This time, the answer came back so cold that my hand was embarrassed.

“What do you want?”

“Want?”

Redian asked, roughly wiping the blood from his mouth.

“Um, all I want is for you to eat these candies.”

“…”

His expression was cold as if telling me to stop talking nonsense and get to the point.

What should I do with this? Seeing Redian like that, my mind started to get complicated.

As soon as Redian was born, he went to and from the underground guild, so he didn’t seem ready to receive my affection. As if he had learned when you received something, you had to give them back something.

Huh, at this point, I’ll have to change the strategy.

“Alright, let’s make a deal with me.”

“Who should I kill?”

“…Kill?”

I was taken aback by the machine-like voice asking what he should do. How on earth did he live until now that the word ‘kills’ came out of his mouth easily?

“You don’t have to kill anyone.”

“…”

Redian stared at me as if he didn’t understand what I was saying.

“I won’t ask you to kill people. I’ll always give you the best things.”

I wanted to tidy up that silver hair that covered his pretty eyes, but I stopped. It was something I should do only when we got closer.

“If you follow my words again, no one will bother you anymore.”

“…”

“I’ll protect you.”

I’ll protect you. I hoped those words would reach Redian.

“Therefore, serve me as your master.”

When that bloodless, pale face contorted.

“It’s not the family of Duke Felicite…”

I whispered while making eye contact with the boy. “I mean to me.”