WSRN 04

chapter 4

“…Did I upset you, by any chance?”

“No? I’m quite fine. So, just make sure you keep your promise.”

I hadn’t made a promise yet. Still, I nodded.

Was she serious? How could those words not be sarcastic?

Was she implying that I should try the same with the Duke and see if I survive?

As I followed Blair cautiously, she suddenly stopped walking. Fortunately, since I had been moving carefully, I avoided bumping into her.

“…Now?”

Blair muttered something to herself and then whipped around to look at me.

“Wait here for a moment.”

“…Here?”

We were just in a hallway. By no measure was this a place where the Duke might be.

Blair’s gaze stayed fixed out the window, and without answering, she moved on while repeating her warning.

“Absolutely, do not move.”

Her eyes flashed briefly with a sharp light, so I obediently nodded.

Once Blair disappeared quickly, the dark hallway was filled only with silence. There was an eerie atmosphere.

I clenched my hands and looked around.

‘…Scary.’

It felt as if something could jump out at any moment. Was it my imagination, or did I hear a scream from outside the window?

Afraid to look back, I slowly stepped backward.

‘Blair did say not to move…’

Leaning my back against the wall should be fine. I swallowed and carefully adjusted my stance.

‘But why was she so insistent?’

Finally, my shoulder touched the wall with a thud. Just as I was about to press my body against it in relief, something hard pressed under my left foot.

“―!”

I wanted to scream, but something muffled my mouth. I rolled my eyes and saw a pale hand pressing gently against my lips.

The hand felt cold but, strangely, oddly familiar.

When I tried to pull it away, the white hand slipped off my lips as if escaping. At the same moment, a low voice, like a young predator warning its prey, murmured:

“Move. That hurts.”

“Sorry…”

I must have stepped on his foot. I apologized absentmindedly, then paused at the strange feeling and turned my head.

“Who… are you?”

In response, dark hair shook near me as if laughing. The voice echoed down the hallway again:

“And you—”

Under the dark shadow, our eyes almost met—like glass, his eyes glimmered.

A clicking sound came, and the small touch I had felt vanished into thin air.

Blair appeared, slightly disheveled, brushing her hair back as she walked toward me.

She raised an eyebrow when she saw me.

“What are you doing?”

“There’s someone over here…”

Blair narrowed her eyes and scanned the hallway. Then she spoke calmly:

“Nothing to worry about.”

Goosebumps ran all over me at her words. My head spun as if I were a poorly oiled robot.

I had held that hand with my own, and yet it disappeared without a trace. I felt a tap on my head.

Blair had lightly tapped me on the head. Seeing me tense up instantly, she laughed aloud.

“What a funny little chick.”

After a brief glance down at me, she turned and continued walking.

‘Did I imagine it because I was too weak?’

A shiver ran down my spine. What was that? I couldn’t even tell if it was human.

I quietly followed, keeping close behind Blair.

Even though I was scared, Blair felt reliable. It seemed she could handle anything that might pop out.

A cool breeze from her skirt drifted past me.

‘Did she just come back from outside?’

I tilted my head. I couldn’t imagine what urgent matter she could have handled outside so quickly.

‘This mansion is definitely suspicious.’

Before I could ponder further, we arrived in front of the Duke’s study.

Blair’s servant knocked, and she spoke:

“Your Grace. I’ve brought something precious.”

Without waiting for a reply, Blair flung the door open. I followed quickly.

Inside, there was a faintly bitter scent, and a middle-aged man sat rigidly at a desk, pen in hand.

Duke Hilberg resembled the grown-up male lead, but he also looked exactly like Blair—the same facial features, even a languid, bored air.

The only difference was slightly shorter hair. Almost as if Blair had been born all by herself. And…

‘Hmm, definitely the father of a K-novel male lead.’

Even in a house rumored darkly, he was still working at this hour. I found myself looking at him with a hint of sympathy, and our eyes met.

The Duke raised an eyebrow, then closed his eyes and rubbed them, saying:

“Blair Hilberg. What’s the meaning of this sudden matter?”

Ah, addressing someone formally when angry. Same as usual. Lost in thought, I was nudged by Blair.

In a calm voice, she said:

“What are you doing, little chick? Do it again. What you just did.”

Having faced the biggest challenge, I must have been too dazed to act properly. Now fully alert, I approached the Duke with confident steps.

I bowed while holding my dress, then carefully pulled out the Marianum flower I had brought. It had wilted slightly, losing some of its splendor, but the type of flower was still recognizable.

The Duke looked at it, then fixed his gaze on me.

“I greet the Lord of the Western Forest, Duke Hilberg. I am Elena Clinton.”

Following Blair’s guidance, I met the Duke’s eyes and slowly spoke the official words I had barely recalled:

“May the Marianum witness my wish: I desire to become the ward of Duke Hilberg.”

A quiet clap echoed from behind—Blair. She still held the door handle, smiling brightly at the Duke.

“Working late today… Congratulations, Your Grace. I’ll be going now.”

I nodded dumbly at Blair’s wave. The door closed silently, leaving me alone with the Duke.

“Old grudges only bring more trouble.”

The Duke’s low, cold voice sneered. He stood, his gaze sharp as a blade.

I froze. There would be no leniency here.

Noticing my nervous blinking, the Duke gestured to a low table in the middle of the room.

“Sit for now.”

“Yes!”

I moved quickly like a new recruit and sat on the sofa. Being short, my legs dangled above the floor.

I sat up straight, pressing my back away from the sofa. Then I heard a tongue-click and a soft thud behind me.

‘What was that?’

I glanced back and saw a thick cushion placed between the sofa and me. It made sitting much more comfortable.

“Thank you.”

I thought the Duke might be kinder than expected. I looked ahead and met his intense red eyes.

…Still seems angry. Why give me the cushion? Confusing.

“Guests like you rarely visit here.”

Clearly sarcastic.

He studied me again and asked bluntly:

“So, how much did that person offer to send you?”

“…Excuse me?”

What? I couldn’t understand. After blinking a few times, I realized he seemed to think I was someone’s spy or pawn.

I quickly composed myself and leaned slightly toward him.

“I don’t know who you mean, but I am no spy, Your Grace. A spy wouldn’t use such a cumbersome method.”

“How could I trust you?”

“I can’t provide solid proof either, but using such a bold approach would risk my life immediately. Why take such unnecessary risks?”

The Hilberg family had many enemies. The male lead had grown up surrounded by the scent of blood from his enemies.

Most spies were newly recruited servants, and within a week, they were caught by the Duke and purged publicly.

‘In a family that detects hostility so well, would anyone attempt infiltration directly in front of the Duke?’

The Duke chuckled lightly, poured two cups of tea from a nearby pot, drank one, and graciously pushed the other toward me.

I nodded politely and picked up the cup.

But after a sip, I immediately spat it out.

‘Ugh, why is this so bitter?’

The taste was unbearable. I set the cup down, determined never to drink it again.

The Duke shrugged.

“Not going to drink it?”

I nodded faintly. No matter the pressure, I didn’t want to put that taste in my mouth.

He smiled, apparently pleased.

“Quick to catch on.”