PMFC 12

Chapter 12

It might sound like a fundamental observation, but it was true. Life never went exactly as planned, and things rarely unfolded the way you expected.

Moreover, this was none other than the Manor of Duke Maynard. The estate was enormous—so large that it might nearly rival the size of the imperial palace—and the guards stationed throughout could easily make up an entire order of knights.

In such a massive mansion, there had to be a secret way to slip out unnoticed. For instance, in case of a sudden enemy attack requiring an escape…?

Considering the military power and wealth of the Maynard family, though, scenarios that required running away, as in the original story, wouldn’t occur unless the emperor himself intervened.

Still, one couldn’t just stay idle. Even in the mighty Maynard household, it was natural to prepare for unexpected events.

So, I became convinced that there might indeed be some hidden mechanism even in this room.

“But where do I start?”

In movies, there’s usually a button or something hidden somewhere that opens a secret passage.

Absentmindedly, I reached toward the head of the bed, and my fingertips felt a very subtle inconsistency.

“Huh?”

The wall was perfectly smooth and seamless, except for this one slightly rough spot. Instinctively, I realized:

Ah, this must be it!

I steeled myself, promising not to be startled no matter what happened, and pressed the rough spot firmly.

Guu-gu-guun.

At the same time, a low vibration reverberated, and a space just wide enough for one person appeared.

Wait, can it really be this flimsy?

Even if I was lucky thanks to some mysterious skill of a possessed body I didn’t know about, it seemed odd that it could be discovered so easily.

Expecting a spectacular, thrilling adventure, I looked inside with a slightly disappointed expression.

“Oh, well… at least it looks like something’s here.”

The interior was, naturally, pitch dark.

I jumped down from the bed and grabbed two oil lamps, thinking I might get lost.

“Alright. Let’s go!”

With a surge of excitement from opening the secret space, I forgot the most critical fact: I knew how to open the door, but I had no idea where the passage led.

As soon as I stepped inside, the door shut behind me, as if it could recognize people.

“Oh… this is kind of scary.”

In truth, it was far more than just “kind of.”

I rubbed my goosebumps-covered arms, peering left and right. The path forked in two directions.

Ah.

At that moment, my head cleared, and rational thought returned.

In my previous life, escape rooms with friends posed no real danger. Even if we got stuck, staff could help, and we could leave anytime we wanted.

But now, this was reality, not a memory. If I couldn’t find a way out, I could be trapped indefinitely—a cold, cruel reality.

“This is really bad…”

I muttered under my breath and immediately shut my mouth, afraid that speaking the words aloud would somehow make the situation worse.

I searched the walls repeatedly, hoping for a way back, but unlike before, nothing responded to my touch.

I pressed and kicked walls in desperation, but still, nothing happened.

A wave of crushing despair and anxiety overwhelmed me.

I once again physically experienced the truth behind the warnings adults always give: there’s a reason you’re told not to do certain things. I licked my dry lips nervously.

“One side of the wall is supposed to guide you out.”

I remembered a comment from a boring tour guide on a school trip to Jeju Island: If you hold onto one side of the wall, you can find your way out. Back then, I ignored it, but now it was a ray of hope.

I held an oil lamp in my left hand and kept my right hand on the wall.

“…No, let’s not move recklessly. Something worse could happen. Haley will come at lunchtime anyway. I just need to wait until then. She’ll know I’m in here if I knock on the wall.”

I shook my head and collapsed in place, pressing my face to my knees, silently praying.

May Haley arrive quickly so I can escape before starving in this wall.

And once more, I reminded myself not to do anything reckless.

“Miss, it’s time for lunch.”

Haley hurried along, thinking of Reilla, who was sulking and pouting.

“Miss Reilla?”

But Reilla was nowhere to be seen.

Perhaps she had gone outside, but the guards were at the door, making that impossible.

“Miss?”

Afraid the guards might hear her, Haley didn’t call out loudly.

Trying to remain calm, she searched spaces where Reilla might have gone, but she was in neither the closet nor under the bed.

It was as if she had vanished.

Haley’s mind went blank, unsure of what to do first.

“Oh, no…”

It was none other than Reilla who had disappeared.

Miss Reilla, who might soon become a new member of the Maynard household!

“I have to inform the Duke immediately.”

It was far too soon for word of Reilla’s disappearance to spread. There were spies who had infiltrated the Maynard estate to find weaknesses—guards like the one at the door right now.

Haley regretted not staying close to Reilla and keeping watch.

Normally, a dozen or so maids should have been attending her. But Reilla liked being alone, and she found even ordinary attendants burdensome. A few days ago, with the Duke’s permission, Haley had reduced the staff.

I shouldn’t have done that.

Her face twisted with guilt, but Haley quickly masked it with a calm expression and left the room.

“Please don’t let anyone enter while Miss is resting.”

Suppressing thoughts of the worst outcome, Haley moved swiftly.

Finally reaching the Duke Maynard’s office, she knocked on the door urgently.

“Who is it? Ah, Miss Haley. What’s the matter? You don’t look well.”

“I need to speak with the Duke. It’s about Miss Reilla.”

“Come in.”

Heinrich, Duke Maynard’s assistant, opened the door for her, noting her pale, almost collapsing appearance.

Inside, Haley knelt before the Duke’s desk before he even looked up.

Thunk.

The sound made Duke Maynard raise his head.

“What is it?”

The reason why this had happened was unimportant. Haley bowed her head and spoke.

“Miss Reilla… has disappeared. It is my fault.”

Her voice trembled pitifully, full of fear and self-reproach.

“…What?”

The Duke’s reply came half a beat late. Haley continued.

“She was here two hours ago when she took her medicine. But when I brought lunch, she was nowhere. It is my fault, so please punish me.”

Her tone was firm, but her insides were in ruins.

“Call the captain of the guards immediately.”

Heinrich left at once.

“We need to proceed carefully so the children don’t hear. We’ll decide on punishment after Reilla is found.”

“…Thank you.”

The Duke watched the tearful, stunned Haley with pity. But that was all. His expression hardened; finding Reilla was the priority.

Sigh… all this trouble just because I did something foolish.

I massaged my aching rear, pressed against the hard floor, and sighed.

There was no one to blame but myself.

“If I get out of here, I’m going to be in big trouble, right?”

Time had no meaning here, but one oil lamp had already burned out, so quite some time had passed.

“They must know I’m missing, right?”

Clutching my empty stomach, I sighed again.

I buried my face in my knees, staring at the flickering flame. My eyes threatened to spill tears, and I rubbed them against my knees.

Then I heard a sound.

I jerked my head up and pressed my ear to the wall.

“…Miss!”

I couldn’t hear clearly in front, but it was unmistakable behind me.

She was calling me!

I swallowed the tears threatening to spill and summoned every ounce of strength to knock on the wall.

“I’m here!”

The solid stone wall was a formidable opponent for my small fists.

Each knock left my hands red and scraped, but I couldn’t stop. My call had to reach the other side.

“Haley!”

I shouted her name at the top of my lungs, but there was no response. I pressed my ear to the wall again—nothing.

Tears slipped down my face despite my will.

Like a broken faucet, I cried uncontrollably.

I didn’t care if I got punished—I just wanted to get out.

Once I started crying, it only grew louder. My pitiful sobs bounced off the walls, creating an eerie echo.