UDBL~35

Chapter 35

Riana held back her question, but the doubt in her eyes was impossible to hide as she spoke.

“I was going to ask if I could go to the main building. I want to wash up.”

Killian looked her up and down. Her hair was messy, her clothes were dirty, and one foot was even barefoot. Her skin, usually fair, was now smudged with grime.

She definitely looked like she needed a bath.

“A wise decision.”

“So… does that mean I can go?”

Riana leaned toward the door, trying to leave the room. But the space between Killian and the door was too narrow.

She thought she had been blocking him from entering, but no—it was actually the other way around.

‘I was the one trapped, huh.’

Killian was stopping her from leaving.

Sure enough, he asked, “May I come in?”

“There’s nothing new to see. It’s the same as last time.”

So why bother coming in?

She tried to politely turn him down, but maybe she was too subtle. Killian stepped forward like he didn’t get it.

As he moved closer, Riana had no choice but to step aside. Of course, she could’ve stood her ground and headbutted him—but she wasn’t ready to go to prison yet.

Feeling defeated, Riana mumbled sarcastically.

“You really like the maid’s room, huh?”

“It’s the person inside that I like.”

He probably said that to all the other Isolation Tower maids, too.

Riana secretly scoffed and crossed her arms like a critic waiting for a performance to start.

The first scene of that performance was… magic.

Scrape. The chair under the desk slid out on its own.

Just as Killian gestured, the chair moved in front of Riana.

“Sit.”

He didn’t even look at her. His eyes were focused on the bottle in his hand. As soon as he opened it, a sharp scent filled the room.

“Wait, are you going to treat me?”

Now that she thought about it, her bare foot was stinging. She was so used to ignoring pain that she hadn’t noticed the injuries—she only cared that she was dirty.

“I’ve been bothered by it for a while.”

Riana didn’t fully trust Killian in many ways, but she did recognize his skill in his profession.

The Droche family’s magical potions were undeniably effective.

“Ahem.”

Riana sat down hesitantly.

Would be a waste to refuse such expensive medicine, right?

Killian let out a small laugh and knelt on one knee, reaching out toward Riana’s foot.

She didn’t expect him to treat her personally, so she freaked out and pulled her leg back.

“It’s dirty!”

“…I washed my hands.”

Killian replied in a slightly hurt tone. Riana blinked in disbelief.

No, not you…

Even she thought she looked dirty. How filthy must she seem to a duke?

Feeling embarrassed under his gaze, Riana shut her eyes tightly and muttered,

“No, I mean me. I was kind of rolling around earlier…”

Then Killian’s soft voice reached her ear.

“Where are you going, Miss Riana?”

His words sounded so natural that Riana, without thinking, looked down at her foot.

And unbelievably—it was clean.

‘Right. He’s a mage.’

Soft fingers gently wrapped around her now smooth foot. His touch was tender.

Thump, thump.

Riana’s heart pounded. But no, it wasn’t because she was falling for his obvious tricks.

She could’ve relaxed and felt flattered like the other maids at the Isolation Tower, but Riana chose a different path.

She chose to keep doubting him.

She remembered what she saw in the original story thanks to the memory potion—Killian’s conversation with Kim.

“Deborah? Who’s that?”
“Lady Millicent, the daughter of Viscount Millicent. She led the perfume potion line last season.”
“Oh, the one who tripled perfume sales?”
“Yes. Haven’t you heard the rumors? That you’ll marry Lady Millicent?”
“If she quits to become a princess, the company will suffer a loss.”

Originally, Killian only showed interest in Deborah out of competitiveness.

He wanted to win her over before the prince did. That was the start of their romance.

In the end, he even married her—so the original Killian was the victor.

That’s the kind of man he was: someone who had to get what he wanted.

‘I think I get it now.’

Riana realized why Killian didn’t fire her right away and instead went through all this effort.

‘I must’ve triggered something in him by accident.’

At some point, the “seduction and rejection between a duke and a maid” had become a game.

A simple game where whoever controls how the relationship ends is the winner.

At first, Riana was just trying to defend herself with everything she had…

‘But I must’ve triggered his “obsessive male lead” switch.’

Once such a man sets his eyes on a goal, he never gives up. That’s the nature of an obsessive male lead.

If he decided to seduce and fire the maid, he’d follow through no matter what.

‘He wants to win in both ways. Win the game of seduction and rejection and beat the prince.’

The proof was in his eyes—deep behind those calm blue irises.

They said, I won’t rest until I see you fall in love and devote yourself to me.

So, not firing her wasn’t mercy—it was pride.

He wanted to prove he could steal her heart and twist it however he pleased.

‘Sorry, but that’s not going to happen.’

The reward for winning this game? A beautiful, remote island.

And as someone born with the “villainess” label, Riana only got more determined when the stakes were high.

Her resolve flared. She looked away from Killian’s blue eyes.

She looked at the glowing yellow chandelier, the wooden ceiling carved with wave patterns…

Anything but the devilishly handsome man in front of her.

But no matter how hard she tried, it was hard not to notice the delicate touch on her foot.

“Ah—”

“Does it hurt?”

Killian removed his hand and asked. Riana, still awkwardly staring at the ceiling, replied,

“It just stings a little…”

“I’ll be more careful.”

Not only was his reply gentle, but his touch truly became lighter.

The medicine, now warm from his body heat, spread smoothly over her skin. It wasn’t really painful—it tickled.

But Riana squeezed her eyes shut and endured. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

“Do you have shoes to change into?”

“No…”

“Then let’s do this.”

Riana opened her eyes and looked at him. When their eyes met, he gave a slight smile—and then undid his cravat.

“What are you doing?”

“It was uncomfortable anyway. Miss Riana, take it to the main building.”

He reached for her foot again. Riana quickly held her breath and looked away.

He gently wrapped her foot in the silk cloth. With his long, elegant fingers, neat pink nails, and visible veins, he worked without magic.

‘Focus, Riana. Not looking doesn’t help if you’re imagining it!’

She shook her head, trying to erase the feeling of his hands from her mind.

Soon, Killian finished making the shoe.

“I like it.”

Let’s see how amazing it is. Riana narrowed her eyes and looked down.

Oh no.

Her left foot looked like it was wrapped in an engagement gift. And what was with that flower decoration around her ankle?

“If you like it, that’s good, I guess…”

“I’m glad you understand my sincerity.”

Sincerity? More like tricks. Riana smirked and stood up.

“Then I’ll head to the main building. I’ll drop this off and fix myself up. No way I can work like this.”

Killian agreed generously.

As Riana left the Isolation Tower, she frowned a bit at how comfortable the shoe was.

Seriously, did he have to be good at everything?

Thank goodness seduction was the only thing he wasn’t talented at.

After washing her hair, Riana came out in a bathrobe.

But oh no—the bed in the main building was even more tempting than the one in the tower.

She couldn’t resist. She sat on it.

‘Just one minute. I’ll sit for one minute, then go.’

She still had to dry her hair anyway.

The cool autumn air mixed with the warmth of her bath made her feel drowsy.

Then, as she closed her eyes, she heard something in her head.

— What are you going to do now?

Her eyes snapped open. The room lit by candlelight was still empty—just her alone.

— Still planning to run away to that island?

“…Shut up, Cat. You don’t know anything.”

You really didn’t. Just like I don’t know everything about you.

You didn’t know where I really came from, the secret I’m hiding in this world, or the feelings inside me that are messing everything up…

To be honest, we didn’t know each other well enough to even call ourselves friends.