What the hell was that just now?
The incident was indeed fast, but I saw everything clearly how that free bird turned into a bloodstain in an instant.
Suddenly my hands trembled. My stomach felt cramped. I stepped backward.
One step.
Two steps.
I didn't know what I wanted to do with that. Run? Impossible. Scream? That could make my mistress angry.
I think I just want to go home.
But how? I couldn't even imagine a single vague scenario to get out of this mansion.
Besides, does leaving here mean I'm safe? As far as I could see, there was no civilization at all, only jungle, I'm sure there are many monsters there. Also, my clan is being hunted by the empire with a very high bounty.
It cannot be denied that right now, obeying Lilith Von Morthem is the safest path.
I'm truly confused.
"By the way, what's your name?"
I flinched when Lilith's soft voice entered my ears. The Villainess was still gazing at the scenery with her slender fingers touching the glass.
Uh, what?
Name?
What is my name?
Kim Dae-ho or Julian?
Julian is my name.
No, that's just the name of my body now!
"Julian."
I answered finally.
Lilith now looked at me and raised her eyebrows as if wanting more of an answer. I think I knew what she meant. So, I answered again:
"Julian Arclaine."
That's what you wanted, right?
Hearing that, the Villainess let out a long sigh. Instantly, the immense pressure in this room subsided enough for me to draw a slight breath of relief.
So it's true, there wasn't just psychological pressure, but also the pressure of magical energy emanating from her.
Why did she lower that pressure? Was it because I answered honestly?
I was drowning in confusion until I just realized that Lilith was now stepping closer. Her height was no more than my forehead.
Then, she did something beyond my expectations: she ducked slightly and sniffed me.
Startled, I stepped back a few paces.
What the hell is she doing?
"So this smell is from you. I think you need a bath."
Lilith covered her nose with two fingers as she said it.
Then, she walked to a cabinet and opened it. Her slender fingers searched for something inside.
A few moments later, she took out a set of clothes and placed them on the bed.
"Wear this after you bathe."
She was still covering her nose.
I was speechless, only able to gape my mouth into a perfect 'O' shape. Besides, Lilith's words were true, I was very smelly and it wasn't just one smell, but a combination of sweat, dirt, and the metallic scent of blood.
Lilith opened the door about to leave, but before that, she stopped and said, "Oh right, after you bathe, meet me downstairs, understand?"
"I-I understand, Ma'am."
The door closed.
The Villainess's footsteps grew farther with each moment, until finally I could no longer hear them.
Meaning, Lilith had gone far away.
Immediately, I took the set of clothes she had given and headed to the bathroom in this room.
Slowly, I closed the door until it clicked – Click!
Now there was no more Villainess future mass murderer. No more interrogation disguised as light conversation. There was only me and this bathroom.
I leaned my body against the door. Finally, I could release the breath I had been unconsciously holding all this time. When my lungs were empty, I greedily inhaled air like someone who had just drowned.
Damn, until when will I be Lilith's slave? Forever? No, no, I don't want that. The problem is, Julian's fate in the main story was never explained, which means he died while being here. So, that's my fate.
Why did I transmigrate anyway? It's not really a problem, actually, it's just that at the very least, not into the body of a very weak child, let alone the slave of a Villainess with Nihilistic views. What will I become later in her hands?
"Oh god…"
Maybe if I hadn't skipped school that time, I wouldn't be here because I wouldn't have been in the apartment.
Please tell me this is just a dream or a prank to give a repentant effect to a truant child.
"It's no use."
Getting up, I immediately headed to the large mirror in this room. Staring at the poor appearance of my body. Among that, the most annoying thing was the bandage covering one of my eyes.
Annoyed, I pulled the end of the bandage and slowly unwrapped it. The slow process made my thoughts drift back to Earth:
Is there anyone looking for me on Earth? My parents? Heh, I think not for now. I'm sure they'll send money every week to my phone without knowing I'm gone.
Friends? I only have Ji-hoon…
Wait, Ji-hoon! Wasn't he in the apartment with me before all this happened? So, did he transmigrate too? It should be highly likely, but it's not certain either. Even if he did, I don't know if I can meet him in this world.
Well fine, forget Ji-hoon, my safety is more important now.
After the bandage was completely removed, I brought myself closer to the mirror to see the back right part of Julian's head where the wound was. Then, I touched it.
"Ouch."
It turned out, Julian's head in that part had a soft texture as if it had no bone. No wonder when I woke up in this body, I immediately felt excruciating pain. If people on Earth saw this, they would definitely wonder why I'm still alive with that wound? Yeah me too. I think this has something to do with my Transmigration–
[Please refrain from touching your head for now so as not to hinder the regeneration process]
The System appeared without sound, there was only a floating panel showing text inside. The last time I saw this was when I had the headache.
"A System?"
In Novels, the System usually guides the host to get out of a situation. So, can this system do that?!
"System, please tell me why I transmigrated here… or, or, can you give me advice to get out of here? And a way to go home?"
Even to my own ears, my voice sounded desperate yet hopeful.
The System slowly faded as if its time to appear had run out.
"Huh?!"
I reached for the panel, but unfortunately, it was gone. Including my hope…
"Heh, thanks for nothing, System."
I tried to ignore it and splashed water on my face. There was no time to grumble, that Villainess must already be waiting for me downstairs.
…
About fifteen minutes passed, I had come out of the bathroom and was already wearing the clothes Lilith had given.
I frowned.
The clothes I was wearing were a plain black short-sleeved shirt. Then, it was layered with a thigh-length gray coat with a pattern resembling black waves. The pants were black, matching the pattern so everything was harmonious.
"Eh… isn't this too nice for a slave? Is she serious about wanting me to wear this?"
Since this was the clothing she gave me, I guess it was right. If she gets angry, well, that's her fault.
Taking a deep breath, I pulled my room door open. My eyes were greeted by the sight of a stone corridor with a red carpet on the floor.
During that walk, I couldn't stop adjusting my clothes. Honestly, I was a bit nervous and scared. Inside this large Mansion, I was sure there were other nobles besides Lilith. How would I answer their questions later? I had already imagined their terrifying stares.
At the end of this corridor, it turned out to be the central hall of this mansion, and I was on the third floor. As I expected, it was very majestic and luxurious. The pillars and walls had precise artistic paintings, there were some red curtains draping over the barrier railings, and a large chandelier with crystal lighting embedded in the center.
For a moment, I was amazed by the architecture.
Then, I approached the railing and looked down. It didn't take long for my eyes to catch the slender back of the Villainess who was sitting at the dining table. She looked like an ordinary woman while eating. In front of her was another plate filled with food. For whom?
After finding the stairs, I immediately headed there and went down.
Strange smells began to assault my nose. No, I recognized this smell, it was the smell of wine along with other mixtures.
"..."
I only realized it when I was almost at the bottom floor. It turned out, this place was very dirty. Some food was scattered on the floor along with plates and glasses also filled with wine. There were several buffet stations that were already empty.
With that, I guessed there had been a party last night. So, that was why Lilith was drunk and the reason she cried, it must have something to do with this and the engagement she mentioned.
–Clink!
My foot accidentally kicked a glass. Immediately, I was about to clean it up. But–
"Don't bother. Come here."
Lady Lilith said without turning around.
That was her command. So I obeyed.
Because I had no experience being a slave, I didn't know how to position myself, it felt like any position I would take would be awkward. Finally, I chose to stand beside her at a safe distance.
"Sit there and eat."
My mistress pointed to the chair in front of her where food had already been served.
Eh, so that's for me? Is this some kind of test?
"No, Ma'am, I'll just stand here."
The Villainess continued her meal as if she hadn't heard my words.
–Growl!
As a result of smelling the steak she was eating, my stomach rumbled.
"I said sit, didn't I?"
Lilith's voice now sounded threatening.
Because of that, I did what she said, which was to sit across from her.
A beautiful noblewoman eating at the same table as a skinny slave was certainly an unusual sight.
My Mental Energy [Level 1] had been depleted due to the earlier interrogation, so I was too tired to think about her reasons.
Awkwardly, I took a piece of meat and put it into my mouth. My eyes glanced at Lilith to make sure this was okay. Seeing no change in her expression, I continued eating.
At first, I ate it very slowly like a chef tasting the essence of his contestant's dish. But because it was so delicious, I became very greedy and no longer cared about my surroundings.
I only knew one thing: I was very hungry.
Then something strange passed by my shoulder…
…It turned out to be a hand made of wood with faint red threads at each joint leading upwards. At that moment, the body of the owner of that hand became visible. It was a female doll as tall as a human, it seemed she was about to take the dirty plate beside me.
I choked.
Suddenly the female doll tilted her head to ninety degrees – staring at me with her very terrifying face.
"Huahh!"