I couldn’t breathe.

The surging rain drummed on my whole body. The more I tried to run forward, the more my legs felt stiff.

I have to run away.

That very thought paralyzed my rationality but forced my body to move.

“Come here.”

The voice of the man approaching me could be heard not too far away.

He was relaxed—the opposite of me, who was running away desperately. The man rode a horse and moved towards me without rushing. His arrogance in catching me anytime made me hold my breath.

‘Why are you chasing me?’

As my legs struggled to keep moving, I painstakingly wracked my mind. No matter how many times I thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

‘You’re my father, but why?’

It was my stepfather, Count Blan, who was the pursuer.

And it was me, who he was trying to catch.

‘Why?’

Just why. Why the hell was he still chasing after me after six years?

I did my best to escape from him.

I set fire to the mansion, estranged his shallow son from him.

I was never confident enough to think that I wouldn’t be caught.

Ever since the day I set the mansion on fire and ran away, I’d been plagued with nightmares and anxieties that continued for years.

And I never forgot my family in those six years.

During that period, I thought that my family members, including my stepfather, wouldn’t look for me.

Six years.

It wasn’t a long enough time to forget a person, but still, my family looked for me. No, those perpetrators and bystanders shouldn’t be called family.

‘I didn’t ask you to like it anyway.’

The muddled voice echoed through my ears as if I were underwater. It was the voice of the man who I used and threw away. Dale Blan.

He was the superficial son of Count Blan, the cowardly bystander who once helped me.

‘Get on my back.’

It kept ringing in my ears, this voice that was almost like an auditory hallucination.

Maybe it was because of guilt.

I took advantage of him and threw him away, and I felt no regrets for doing so. However, I couldn’t help but worry about his safety right this second, now that my stepfather had found me.

‘If I get caught, it’s over.’

Yet, it was just a moment.

The most important thing right now was my own safety.

Ecyl Blan, my stepfather, must have come after me with a purpose.

He was the kind of person who’d use even his children as tools, but he never acted personally when it came to these things. What’s more, there’s no way he was mad enough to come get me himself.

He’s here in person, so there must be a reason why he needed to catch me.

The reason…

‘It’s my ability…’

I told my family that I could see the future. It was a foolish declaration that was a double-edged sword. It was something that raised my position for a little bit, but then, I was soon thrown into the pits of hell.

Because the future might change, I couldn’t say anything.

‘No. Don’t get caught.’

I ran forward desperately, as if I was possessed, and as I tripped over a jagged stone and my knees got scratched and bruised, I picked myself up and ran again.

My breath—the panic was strangling me.

And because of the rain, I couldn’t see anything in front of me.

“Ah…!”

Just as I was about to pass through an alley, a hand jutted out suddenly and wrapped around my waist.

Helplessly, I was dragged away.

My mouth was covered, and a foreign scent pierced through my senses.

It was a cool and strong scent.

It wasn’t Dale.

Then who was it? Peran?

A black coat filled my vision, so I couldn’t tell who it was.

I raised my head, but somehow all I could see was a pair of lips that had on a pleasant smile.

“Ugh…! Let go…! Get off!”

I bit the hand that was over my mouth and struggled with all my might. I didn’t know who it was, but I was sure it was a man I never met before.

I pushed the barrel of my revolver against the man’s jugular. But in return, the man who was at gunpoint just burst into a low laugh.

“Easy there… Shh.”

The man’s face drew closer to mine all of a sudden, and because it felt like he was about to kiss me, I froze.

“You’re being chased, huh?”

The hushed whisper was sweet, contrary to the situation.

“G-get off…!”

I pushed his chest as hard as I could, and he let out a suppressed groan.

I forgot to shoot.

And I tried to run away, it was all for naught because I was caught again.

“Come on. You’ll hurt yourself…”

His hand drew near once again, and my shoulders tensed up reflexively as I flinched away.

But the hand, which had grazed my cheek, soon tucked in a lock of hair behind my ear.

A smooth leather glove caressed my cheek. But right after, the man clasped the front of my shirt and pulled it up. To my surprise, I grabbed his wrist, but he didn’t stop.

It happened in an instant, and at a blink of an eye, my clothes were pulled down with my shoulders exposed.

Heavy, cold raindrops were beating down on those shoulders.

‘This crazy…!’

All I wanted was to run away, but I even met a pervert!

Trying to suppress the urge to slit his throat right away, I bit my lips and jabbed my gun harder on his throat.

It was a warning. He better stop.

“I’ll help you.”

The man ignored my warning and traced a fingertip over my bare shoulder.

Six years ago, when I ran away from my father, I was shot.

Cautiously, the man had touched the scars that did not fade, and a pleasant voice and a ticklish breath reached my ears.

“Promise me you’ll be quiet.”

The man held a finger up to his lips.

“If you do, I’ll let go of you.”

Instead of resisting further, I nodded slowly. Defying him wouldn’t be the right move now.

The hand finally let go. At that moment, I asked.

“What?”

“Hm?”

“You. You suddenly popped out of nowhere, and now, just what…”

His hand had let go of me, but I still wasn’t free from him. The arm wrapped around my waist was still there.

This man’s incomprehensible behavior baffled me. As I tried to take a closer look at him, he suddenly snatched my hat off and placed a robe over me.

Cold rain continued to pour down over my head. The robe filled with unfamiliar scents wrapped around me and mixed with the rain.

“What are you doing?”

My words were pointed.

And once again, instead of answering me, the man reached out. The drops that beat down on the black leather gloves fell down.

I stared at the hand in bewilderment.

“Hold my hand. You’re hurt.”

“…”

“Aren’t you in a bit of trouble right now?”

“How can I trust an obviously suspicious man?”

How could I believe someone who showed up out of the blue and took off my clothes?!

Was he someone my father hired?

At that moment, I followed the man’s gaze as he looked at the entrance of the alley, and we saw someone pass through. It was my stepfather, Ecyl Blan, who galloped by with his horse.

I could see him straining his neck to look around for me as I evaded his pursuit.

He might see me.

I tucked my head in a hurry.

“Hey.”

Not long after, I could hear my father’s voice and the sound of his footsteps nearing the alley.

My heart was pounding out of my chest.

It also felt like I was delirious with a fever because of the anxiety gnawing at me.

“I’ll help you. Now, take my hand.”

The man’s voice was low, but even.

Both paths were blocked.

In front of me was the stepfather who strangled and tormented me.

And behind me was the man I didn’t know who claimed that he wanted to help me.

I had no choice.

“Hey. Come out for a second.”

But as I heard my father draw closer when I hesitated to take the mysterious man’s hand, he blocked me from my father’s sight as if he were protecting me.

At that moment, I grabbed the man’s hand frantically.

Then, his red lips curved beautifully in that dark alleyway, as if he were basking in the sunlight.

* * *

I was a normal, run-of-the-mill person before I got transmigrated into a book. It happened after I read it.

I hadn’t the slightest clue why I read it, or how I came in possession of the book.

However, what was certain was that I died in an accident after reading a book that I couldn’t even remember the title of.

And I had no idea why I got reincarnated here.

It didn’t make sense. It wasn’t supposed to be possible. But eventually, I came to accept that nonsense. I had no choice but to do so.

And the situation I found myself in after I transmigrated was the worst.

‘I can see the future.’

Rina Blan.

She was a side character who would die after being exploited by other greedy extras.

And because I was now her, I couldn’t afford to waste any time by denying my new reality.

Rina Blan, the owner of this body I possessed, had been set to be engaged with the First Imperial Prince.

But then, Rina made a mistake when she first met the First Prince—she had accidentally spilt tea over him.

It was a mistake that could have been overlooked, but the First Prince had tripped her, and in the end, there came the rumors of breaking up marriage talks between them.

Rina’s stepfather, who had been pushing for this marriage, was livid. He confined Rina in a small room under the pretext of probation, and starving her became a daily routine.

When I woke up as Rina, I tried to grasp my situation, but I felt my stomach cramping in on itself because of hunger.

I thought long and hard. How could I change the future and avoid dying miserably?

‘I have precognitive dreams. At first, I thought they were just coincidences when my dreams appeared in reality, but eventually… I realized it wasn’t just that.’

The only weapon I held in this strange world was my knowledge of the book’s contents.

I tried to survive by using the original narrative. However, that plan failed spectacularly.

Wasn’t it obvious that my father was chasing after me because he was desperate to take advantage of me?

“Hey. Come out for a second.”

The familiar voice drove away all my thoughts.

My father’s voice was right in front of me.

My heart was beating furiously.

I was out of my father’s sight because the man’s body was completely blocking me from him, and as he continued to do so, my father kept calling out to me, saying he was wrong and that I should come back.

“Even just a minute. Let me see you.”

It was an obvious lie. He wouldn’t let me go.

“Are you good at running?”

The calm question contradicted the situation, making me doubt if we were really in a dire state.

I wasn’t bad at running. But right now was a bad time.

I shook my head in case my voice would be heard.

“Ah. What should I do?”

The man murmured as if he was in trouble.

I just kept looking at his hand.

I wondered what the man was thinking. I was so panicked and I wanted to see his face, but I didn’t dare to look up.

What if my father saw my face when I raise my head?

With one finger, the man lifted my chin as if to wash away my worries.

It was only then that the face hidden in the darkness could be seen properly.

His amber eyes were fixed on my own eyes. His beauty rendered me speechless.

“May I kiss you?”

The same moment I frowned at what he just said, he placed my arms around his shoulders.

Then, to my surprise, he pulled me into an embrace.

A nice scent.

…And I could feel a pounding heart.

I was so close to him that I couldn’t tell if it was the sound of my heart or if it was the man’s heart.

“Excuse me. Is she with you?” my father asked.

The man turned around wordlessly, and my body, which was still in his embrace, also turned along with him when he did. Now, I had my back to my father.

My hands and back were tense, but the man patted me on the back.

“Do you have any business with us?”

It was a polite voice directed at my father.

“Ah, I’m looking for someone. May I see her?”

“My fiancée?”

“It’ll be just a moment.”

This man who turned me into his fiancée in mere seconds was silent, as if he was contemplating.

That brief silence was tormenting me.

“I don’t think I’m obligated to…”

But the man trailed off and said something else.

“May I know who you are?”

“…Apologies. I am Ecyl Blan.”

Only then did my father introduce himself. It wasn’t like him. He always put on the appearance of a gentleman.

Even his voice had a slight tremor.

“Aha, Count Blan.”

It wasn’t meant to acknowledge him.

The man said this in a dull voice.

“It’s my first time meeting you. I am Robin Vhind.”

As I was trying to guess the man’s identity, I raised my head at his introduction.

The Vhind family wasn’t mentioned in the novel, but they were definitely influential in this world.

I heard they were involved in business.

I didn’t know much about them, but I remember for sure that in the Blan territory, people were saying something about the Vhinds at the recent Parliament meeting.

When two or more people gathered, all sorts of rumors came and went.

I suddenly wondered what kind of face my father was making while recalling these rumors.

“Ah, is that so.”

My father muttered, now embarrassed and awkward.

Then, the silence stretched between them again.

It was the man named Robin Vhind who broke the vague silence.

“Did the person you were looking for pass by here?”

“I think so, yes.”

“That’s strange. No one else but us passed by here… Maybe you were mistaken?”

The man, who was pretending to be innocent, did not receive a response.

But after a while, my father’s reply was unexpected.

“Yes, I might have been.”

“It wouldn’t be too hard to check again. I’ll do it for you.”

The man looked down at me, and his eyes had a gentle curve to them.

The next moment, my body felt weightless.

“Just now…!”

I shut myself up right then even when I wanted to ask what the man was doing.

It was but an instant, yet it felt like I had eye contact with my father.

My heart was beating so hard with fright that I felt faint.

I had a lot to say, but all I could do was lower my head.

“Did you confirm it?”

“…I couldn’t see her face.”

Fortunately, it seemed like he didn’t recognize me.

But I was still within my father’s reach.

It was nerve-wracking. I waited, chewing the flesh in my mouth. Seconds felt like minutes.

Please.

“Well…”

I could hear a light chuckle.

The hand that was on my chin earlier caressed my cheek. I closed my eyes tightly. I shouldn’t have trusted this lunatic. It didn’t help any, but I put some strength in my chin so he couldn’t lift it.

But the man only stroked my cheek and didn’t do anything crazy like lift my face.

“That won’t do. My fiancée has gotten cold in this rain. If she gets sick, then I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“Ahem…”

“If you still insist…”

I thought he’d reveal me right away. In my bewilderment, my back flinched. When I looked up at the man, his eyes were wide open. But soon, they curved beautifully.

He smiled with his eyes, too…

For a moment, I was mesmerized, but I quickly returned to my senses. I frowned, not sure if I felt embarrassed or felt like I was going crazy.

“Pardon, but I do think the lady might get a fever.”

“…I apologize. Then, I’ll be on my way.”

My father finally backed off after this series of rejections.

It was ridiculous.

He’s just leaving?

This easy?

Even though the Vhind family was involved in the Parliament these days, shouldn’t the Blan family be able to at least stand their ground in front of them?

“…By the way.”

The retreating footsteps stopped in their tracks, and my father’s voice resounded throughout the alley.

“Let’s have a meal together next time.”

Then after that, he truly went on his way.

The sound of his footsteps over the damp ground was exceptionally loud. Then, the man whispered into my ear.

“He’s not gone yet.”

At those words, I quickly clung to the man.

How long has it been?

But I realized belatedly that I couldn’t hear anything anymore.

He was playing a joke.

“What is it?”

My late realization made the man smile even wider. Even though my strength wasn’t enough, he let me push him away.

As the urgency disappeared, my mind gradually became rational again.

Robin Vhind.

If what he said was true, then he’s a nobleman. I acted recklessly when I didn’t know who he was, but now, I could be dragged away for contempt against an aristocrat.

“You should know that you’re very suspicious, sir.”

“Huh?”

He smiled as though he was amused at my sudden polite tone.

He was so suspicious.

He just showed up and suddenly helped me. Everything was too convenient, including his timely appearance in this alley.

Conscious of my vigilance against him, he quietly said, “Oh.”

“I happened to see you being chased. I got worried, so I followed you.”

“Why were you worried about me?”

“Exactly. I was wondering about that myself. I thought that if I pretended not to see you, I’d end up awake all night long thinking about you.”

“You’re being very nosy.”

Even if I was still wary of him, I could understand where he was coming from.

I also had a similar experience. Long ago, I intervened in something that had nothing to do with me.

‘Why did you save me?’

I could still remember the voice of the boy who she met six years ago after I ran away from that hellish mansion.

The blurry face of the boy was still buried within my subconscious, unable to let go because of a lingering guilt.

“I have a lot of curiosity.”

After the man raised his hand, only then did I realize that I had yet to let go of it.

But when I tried to pull away, he held onto me fast and intertwined his fingers with mine.

“I know a safe place.”

Suddenly, the hood covering his face fell down. I was still trying to pull my hand out of his grasp, but I saw his face.

The man raised his head. With his leather gloves, he brushed up his black hair back, which had been falling forward, wet because of the rain.

His forehead was revealed. His hair was completely soaked, but because of this, perhaps it made him look more dangerous.

The most striking thing about him were his amber eyes. It was like they were glittering jewels.

Unconsciously, I stared into his eyes for a long time. When I realized this, I lowered my gaze in my embarrassment, looking down again. But this was a mistake.

His shirt, which was also soaked and sticking to his body, revealed the skin beneath it. It became evident to me how tightly knit his muscles were.

I desperately tried to avoid his gaze. Let’s imagine an old man’s face. Let’s do that.

“I’ll let you go once the rain stops pouring.”

Those amber eyes curved ever so beautifully.

He was so handsome that I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

“I’m fi…”

I was about to say I was fine and tried to refuse, but I stopped myself.

My father may have left this alley, but he could still be looking for me nearby. Wouldn’t it be better to follow this man and accept his outstretched hand rather than walk around aimlessly alone? I knew now who was more dangerous between the man and my father.

The man’s behavior earlier just confirmed that he wasn’t someone my father hired.

‘It’s not going to be a big deal…”

I could just use the gun.

And so I nodded, hoping that I wouldn’t need to use the last bullet.

I had no other choice in this place where my father could still be lurking.

* * *

With me in tow, we went on our way to his mansion. We didn’t exchange any words while we were in the carriage.

“…”

But, he observed me relentlessly.

I didn’t look at him on purpose because I was burdened by the weight behind his gaze, believing that he would see right through me.

So when we happened to make eye contact, I would turn my gaze away immediately.

He was someone who helped me escape from my father.

There was a possibility that he was a pervert or a psychopath, but my father was more of a threat than any other kind of nutcase in the world.

My father had locked me up and strangled me. On the other hand, this man sitting opposite me had helped me out of guilt.

If I walked away and ran through the streets, the same situation could just happen again.

‘It couldn’t be helped. This is the best option.’

There was some relief in thinking so.

“Are you uncomfortable with me?”

Well, besides the obvious, of course it was uncomfortable.

“A little bit.”

He wouldn’t have believed it if I answered no.

Suddenly, I heard the carriage stopping. Then, at the same time, the door slowly began to open. When I directed my gaze towards the sound, an unfamiliar face could be seen through the opened carriage door.

“Welcome back, Baron.”

It was a butler.

“Don’t worry. This is the safest place.

The man reassured me when he saw that I hesitated.

I took off the coat that was draped over my shoulders and returned it to the owner. I almost went crazy because my eyes kept gravitating towards his body.

The fair skin that I could glimpse underneath the translucent rain-soaked shirt…

Droplets of water dripping from his black hair and bright red lips contrasting his pale skin…

It’s quite…

Ah, the most dangerous variable now was this man.

“It’s still raining.”

When I took off the coat, the man looked up at the sky. Even though the rain had let up a little, there was still a light drizzle.

“I’m… fine.”

Just as I was trying to stop him from putting the coat back on my shoulders, I suddenly felt lightheaded.

My arm was hurting as if it was about to break while I’m holding the coat, but the man in front of me was dangerous…

I was about to lose my mind here.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“I can bear with it.”

“But it would be better if you wore it.”

“Rather than me, you should take it.”

My eyes were fixed on what I was trying to imply. Then, I pointed to his kind of, but not really exposed chest.

Then, he said that again.

“Oh.”

I stretched out my arms to open the coat meticulously. But right as I did, another question was thrown at me.

“Then, aren’t you coming in?”

It crossed my mind that this man may be the most dangerous to me right now, but when I was faced with the huge mansion, I was reluctant again.

The very thought that he might be hiding malicious intentions behind that beautiful face made me hesitate.

Let’s go through it one by one.

If he was a lunatic, then he’d just be as dangerous as Count Blan here.

But there was no other option.

It was too late for me to turn away and go back.

The carriage had already been sent away, I had no money on me because I left in a hurry, and my arm where I had been shot was practically useless right now.

“I’ll be in your care just for today. I’ll leave as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.”

He listened to my wishes without saying a word, and as we entered through the open gate, I agonized a little more.

Holding a gun hidden under my jacket was more difficult than it looked.

“Stay here until the rain stops at least. Or do you have somewhere else to go?”

“Not really, but…”

She had nowhere else to go. However, I couldn’t impose on a stranger for long.

It was the same as letting everything go and trusting a man to solve my problems.

It’s true that pure kindness exists in the world, but I’m sure this man wants something from me.

“You hurt your arm, too.”

“It’ll be better soon. It’s nothing.”

“How did you get hurt?”

I held my injured arm as though I were hiding it. It was the son of Count Blan who hurt my arm.

‘Do you know how hard it was to find you?’

The man who had found me was the Count’s youngest son, Bane. He had hated me for a long time.

The malice behind his eyes as he looked at me was vivid when he saw I was living a completely different life.

“It was an accident.”

Bane was the same kind of perpetrator as his father.

I felt nauseous.

I did say it was nothing, but it wasn’t something I could say lightly.

“You got shot accidentally?”

“Yes.”

As I averted my gaze, I found a familiar fruit tree inside a glass greenhouse, where only the tree was separated.

“Oh…”

I stopped walking unconsciously.

It was the same ripe red fruit that we ate six years ago on the day I ran away with the boy I saved.

We had it to eat because there was nothing else for us, but I remembered it distinctly because it tasted very good.

I often bought and ate that fruit as I traveled over the years, but there wasn’t a time when it tasted better than it did that day.

I remembered that time.

One day, six years ago, when I ran away just like I did today.

And the fruit that would sometimes appear in my nightmares.

“Do you like that fruit?”

“No. It’s too sweet.”

That’s all the man answered, but he walked toward the tree.

Standing beneath it, he picked one fruit out without any difficulty and offered it to me.

“Even so, I have some memories with it. Thanks.”

“Ah, you’re welcome.”

I asked only because I was glad to see the fruit again, but there was no other meaning.

“As long as you’re eating well.”

“What?”

Ah, did he think I wanted him to eat some as well? I looked at him with curious eyes.

He might have meant for me to ‘eat well’ instead. As I thought about it, the fruit was suddenly brought to my lips.

The man’s fingers brushed against my lips as I opened them in astonishment.

As soon as I tried to pull back, his thumb brushed against my teeth, then disappeared.

“See? You’re eating well.”

He smiled nonchalantly as though nothing had happened.

As the sweet liquid ran down my neck, I wondered if I should point out his rudeness or not, but I stopped myself.

It was troublesome that the fruit that I had tasted was endlessly sweet.

* * *

I was led to the guest room on the second floor.

With the help of the maids, I finished taking a bath and putting on new clothes.

I had to fold the sleeves of my shirt six times since it was too big for me.

‘We don’t have any extra clothes. I apologize.’

The shirt smelled good.

It was obvious that this shirt was Robin’s. My clothes were soaked in blood, so I couldn’t wear them again after taking them off.

Holding onto my gun, I looked around the room once I was left alone.

This room had only the necessary furniture in it, and it wasn’t comparable to the accommodation I had at the guild where I stayed.

After running away from my stepfather, I traveled all over the country. Then, I finally settled down at an information guild.

I can’t go back there now.

Knock, knock.

Someone was outside the door. I hid the gun under my clothes while looking at where the sound came from.

“Can I come in?”

It was Robin Vhind, the owner of this mansion.

“Ah, yes.”

I had been blocking the door, so I opened it enough for Robin to come through.

“Would you like a light drink?”

Robin had two wine glasses in his hand, and a wine bottle in the other, which he shook playfully.

After contemplating, I nodded.

There’s nothing like alcohol to forget the pain.

We sat down at the sofa, then I downed the red liquid alongside Robin, who was drinking his wine leisurely.

It was pitiful to drink without food available.

The following silence was awkward. So, while drinking in that prolonged silence, I thought of something to say.

“Thank you for your help.”

Sadly, that was all I could think of.”

I sipped my wine as he looked at me without saying anything, feeling awkward.

Suddenly, his hand came forward to hold my elbow, and I was startled by his sudden touch.

“You’re hurt. I should treat you.”

Robin tugged on my elbow.

I thought of stopping him, but I decided against it.

I knew how to use healing magic, but right now I was in no condition to do so because I don’t have any energy left.

If it was roughly treated now, it would be hard to treat it properly later.

Robin stood and crouched down to lean forward, and his jawline could be seen up close.

“…”

It made me feel flustered.

As I averted my eyes, I cast a curious glance over the finger that had wandered toward the wound.

“Did it hurt a lot?”

“Well… a little bit.”

“Who did this?”

The amber eyes that were so close to her, framed by long eyelashes, were full of curiosity.

Somehow, it looked as though he was in a bad mood.

I didn’t know what to say. I was caught off guard.

Of course, it’s good to be pretty, handsome and shiny like this, but… My heart fluttered as his face drew closer.

“Who was it?” Robin asked again.

“You wouldn’t know even if I told you.”

Robin may be familiar with the Blan family, but I didn’t want to explain. It was troublesome.

He sat next to me and stared at me, filling up the empty glasses with red liquid once more.

As if it wasn’t the answer he wanted to hear.

“I’m curious who it was. Why don’t you tell me? I saved you after all.”

“……It was just an accident…”

“I’m curious.”

The wine tasted especially sweet today. No. Sweet things weren’t right, for me who had been drinking cheap beer all this time, I liked it better if the wine was moderately sweet and more bitter.

But still, I liked wine, so this was fine.

Taking in the nice scent coming from the glass, I sipped on my wine again with a pretty man I could look at right here as a side dish.

Robin waited a little more for my answer, but soon reached towards my arm wordlessly.

I forgot that he had offered to treat my arm, so I slapped his hand away, only for the glass I was holding to break on the ground when I let go.

“Ah, oh no…”

A glass shard had scratched his cheek under the eye. Beneath our feet, the ground was soaked with wine like it was blood.

“Are you hurt?”

I was surprised when I saw Robin.

“Me?”

He raised an eyebrow slightly when he saw how startled I was, pointing at himself in bewilderment.

“Yes, you’re bleeding.”

“Are you drunk?”

“There’s blood…”

“Are you drunk after just this?”

Why did he keep trying to say something else?

He didn’t seem to realize that he was hurt. I looked at my arm as well to see if I was also scratched there, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

I could see my arms because the sleeves were rolled up. I suddenly got angry when I saw the wound.

“That bastard Bane…”

I wouldn’t have been hurt if it wasn’t for him. I couldn’t feel this pain if he hadn’t shot me.

“Bane.”

Already halfway drunk, only when Robin muttered in return the name that I realized that I said this out loud in front of him.

He pulled my arm gently, and my body followed his lead.

It was a strange feeling. It tickled and stung as though it was getting healed.

He must know how to use magic…

Maybe it’s because I drank, but it didn’t hurt that much. I watched the wound close up under his hand, dazed.

Robin turned his gaze, and as I followed it, I saw my stomach.

He reached out, and I was frozen, just watching him reach out to touch me.

I should get mad at him, but I didn’t want to. It didn’t feel bad.

“You shouldn’t drink.

He was about to touch the gun that was concealed by the shirt.

“Your guards are down.”

“…”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to carry you later.”

Then, my view was reversed.

It was dizzying.

* * *

Before I knew it, I was lying on my bed.

I reached down towards my stomach in a hurry, and thankfully the gun was still there.

I looked at Robin with the gun in my hand without him knowing.

“I’ll go out after you fall asleep.”

“Why do you need to do that?”

“I’m afraid you’ll suddenly disappear.”

He was an odd man.

Robin sat beside me and pulled up the blanket to my chin, and I closed my eyes without meaning to. The blanket was so warm.

And my arm was still throbbing, so sleep was tempting.

“Long time no see.”

Right before I fell asleep, I faintly heard him say something.

But I couldn’t understand what he meant.

All I could distinguish was a languid voice that whispered softly.

* * *

There was no difference between night and day in that basement. The floor was humid. A monster would appear. This darkness, where I couldn’t see an inch in front of me, was frightening.

But what was more excruciating was the gaze of the man who stared at me.

‘I can’t stand any deception.’

It was my stepfather.

He didn’t visit the basement often, but when he came here, all he would do was watch me.

‘I know you’re a prophet. What’s your secret with lying so shamelessly?’

His eyes that were glistening with greed were disgusting.

My biggest mistake ever since reincarnating was to say that I knew the future. It was the one choice that led me to misery.

My stepfather was greedy.

He did all sorts of dirty things while being on the side of the First Prince as he fought for succession.

‘I’m asking you again. Who do you think will be the next Emperor?’

While he did all the dirty work to ensure the succession of the Crown Prince, he would ceaselessly wonder about the future.

And he was anxious to hear my answers.

Of course, there was a reason why he started believing the nonsense I said about seeing the future.

He was a thorough man who considered many possibilities.