Chapter 42
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A villainess locked away in a desolate tower—I had possessed her body.
Chapter 42
Knock, knock.
"Who is it?"
"I'm Beni, a staff member at the inn. I thought you might want some water while you were resting, so I brought some for you."
"Ah, thank you."
I had just bathed in hot water, so a cool glass of water was exactly what I needed.
"Would you mind leaving it outside the door?"
"Of course, understood."
After some time had passed, confirming that there was no one outside the door, I entered the chamber carrying the pitcher and water glass on the tray.
"Hmm... that's odd."
After verifying that the glass and pitcher contained no foreign substances or stains, I casually began pouring cool water into the cup when my body went rigid.
Guideline 2: Do not consume any liquids provided by the inn, regardless of type.
As mentioned in Guideline 1, this inn's sanitary conditions are rather poor.
Drinking unboiled beverages may result in stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, chills, and other ailments.
In truth, I desperately wanted to gulp down that clear, refreshing water immediately.
Moreover, I didn't suffer from stomach troubles easily, so I felt confident I could digest water without issue.
Yet despite this, I summoned superhuman patience and managed to refrain.
"Right... I must follow the guidelines."
If I didn't, and that Grand Duke with his laser-sharp gaze scolded me again, what would I do?
After setting the water glass on the nightstand beside the bed, I confirmed the door was properly locked before finally allowing myself to sink into the comfortable mattress.
"Mmm."
I was already drowsy.
"Something..."
Something felt like it needed doing, yet it didn't. Ah, never mind.
My body, weighed down by days of accumulated fatigue, surrendered instantly to sleep the moment it touched the plush mattress.
.
.
.
"Cough, cough!"
I kept breaking into dry coughs.
My throat felt scratchy, and my mind was foggy.
Even with my eyes open, I couldn't distinguish whether the space around me was reality or a dream.
...It felt like this when I had that sedated procedure done. Wait, what even is a sedated procedure?
Where am I? Who am I?
"Bonita...?"
My breathing came shallow, as though a stone had lodged in my throat.
Instinctively, I searched for Bonita first, but she didn't seem to be in this place.
The surroundings were far too dark to distinguish anything.
Staggering through the chamber, I eventually reached a window set into one wall.
"Ah, that's right...."
I'd simply collapsed into sleep from exhaustion, with no recollection of opening it for ventilation.
'Yet even accounting for neglected ventilation, could the air truly have grown so foul...?'
My blurred vision refused to clear no matter how many times I blinked.
Should I lodge another complaint? But what even was a complaint?
Experiencing every conceivable cognitive collapse, I extended my increasingly weakening hand and managed to push the window open. Only then did I slump against the wall, my strength utterly depleted.
Now even my clearest memories began to dissolve one by one.
Who had told me to sleep with the window open?
Who was Bonita? Why was I even here?
"I'm so dizzy."
I wanted to open the door and leave, yet something about that firmly sealed door filled me with inexplicable dread.
It felt as though someone I truly feared had solemnly warned me against it.
The fresh air flowing through the open window eased my suffocating breath somewhat, yet my mind remained shrouded in thick fog, offering no relief.
And then, someone knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
Knock, knock, knock!
Unable to muster any strength to move, I simply stared as a thin, whimpering sound reached my ears moments later.
"P-please help me."
It was a young boy's voice.
"Huh...?"
"My grandmother is very ill. Please help...!"
Of course I had to help. A child was calling for aid, and I was an adult.
Yet for some reason, my body wouldn't obey.
Hesitantly, I stirred.
I managed to rise, but it felt as though someone were pulling at my ankles.
'You cannot open that door.'
But why?
The knocking grew more frantic, the voice more desperate, yet I couldn't take a single step forward.
"I'm... I'm sorry."
"Please help! Please help!"
"I'm sorry. I can't open the door...."
The desperate pleas continued without end, and listening to them filled me with anxiety.
And yet... surely I could grant the wishes of this poor child, couldn't I?
Wouldn't it be fine to simply open the door and take a quick look?
"My grandmother is about to die! Please, I'm begging you!"
"No, I can't...."
"Please!"
As two conflicting impulses warred within my mind, a violent wind suddenly swept in from behind.
Whoooosh—!
"Huh?"
Crash!
Startled, I spun around to see an entire window frame torn clean away with a deafening screech.
"Eek!"
After shrieking in alarm, I forced myself to open my eyes once more, and a massive shadow crouched against the deep blue sky came into view.
No, that wasn't a shadow... it was a man?
"You wouldn't listen to a word in the Dining Hall earlier."
The man who had leaped down from the window frame strode toward me with long, purposeful strides, his legs carrying him to within arm's reach.
He was so tall I had to crane my neck back just to meet his gaze.
"Yet here, you're not ignoring me entirely, are you, Princess?"
The moment the clouds parted from the moonlight and the man's face became crystal clear before me, I forgot what I was about to say and my mouth fell open.
'Wow. He's gorgeous.'
But gorgeous didn't even begin to cover it.
His features were carved with the precision of a divine sculptor—sharp and unmistakably defined.
Yet there was nothing feminine about him; rather, his dark brows and strong jawline radiated an intensely commanding presence.
But those eyes—those deep green eyes were truly unforgettable. He looked like a masterpiece sculpted by the gods themselves.
No, he was a divine work of art.
"...Princess, what are you doing?"
"Oh!"
At the man's skeptical voice, I suddenly realized what I'd been doing and let out a sharp cry, stumbling backward.
Good heavens. Without even realizing it, I had reached out and placed my hand on his face!
"I-I'm so sorry."
But as the sensation of his smooth cheek lingered on my fingertips, I felt not just my face but my ears burning with heat.
I desperately tried to steady my wavering voice and began to make excuses.
"You're just so handsome that I lost my mind for a moment..."
"What?"
"I've rarely seen anyone quite this handsome. That is... you seem to be my type."
At that, the man's lips pressed firmly shut.
In the silence that followed, I gathered my courage and spoke again.
"Um, excuse me."
"What now?"
"...When you look at me like that, my heart races so much. Could you perhaps... look away for a moment...?"
Ha.
In that instant, the man let out a soft laugh and swept his hair back.
I wasn't sure what his smile meant, but one thing was certain—even this gesture looked like a photograph from a magazine.
"Wow."
Clap, clap, clap!
As I continued to marvel and even applaud, the man asked me with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Did you inhale some kind of intoxicating fragrance? The window was definitely closed..."
"Oh, that! I just opened the window."
"...Ha. I thought you were listening well, but I was wrong. I should have assigned a maid to watch you."
"What?"
Before I could even process his words, my entire field of vision suddenly shifted upward.
Belatedly understanding the situation, I realized the man had scooped me up into his arms like a princess.
"Kyaaah!"
So high!
And so devastatingly handsome!
So breathtakingly handsome that it was overwhelming...!
Holding me firmly against his chest, the man placed one foot on the windowsill and whispered softly.
"Hold on tight. I don't have the ability to catch you if you fall on your own."
"What?!"
Fall? Where? Before I could even finish the thought, an endless expanse of sky filled my vision.
Glancing back instinctively, I saw Young Boy standing inside the window with a look of dismay on his face.
Wait, was that a sword in his hand?
"Huh? Huh? Kyaaaaaaah!"
And then came the fall.
Only then did I realize that my Chamber was situated at a Second Floor height, slightly higher than average, but it was far too late.
With eyes wide open, I stared down at the ground where multiple people were engaged in combat.
Among them was a familiar face, but no matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn't remember who it was.
'Why are they fighting?'
Why was everything around me in such chaos?
"Ugh, I'm so dizzy...."
I couldn't tell when I'd hit the ground—by the time I blinked, I was already standing firmly on solid earth.
Amid the shouts of the combatants and the clash of weapons, the man who'd brought me down issued an order to someone.
"Take the Princess to the physician first. Her condition is not normal."
"Understood. Shall I escort her?"
The man, who had been silent for a moment and gazing down at me intently, shook his head.
"No, I'll take the Princess myself."
As I was led away by the man's hand, I couldn't suppress the laughter that kept bubbling up. And....
'I don't know who he is, but this Princess must have saved the kingdom in her past life.'
With that thought, everything before my eyes went completely black.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org