The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 52.2

The glass shattered like an explosion, scattering in all directions.

A sharp sound filled the narrow bedroom.

“Ha… ha….”

Duchess Narcissa, who had thrown the glass, was breathing heavily.

She felt hot inside as if she were about to explode.

She couldn’t calm down, no matter how much she destroyed everything in sight.

She glared at the broken mirror with wide eyes.

The mirror was cracked in all directions like a spider’s web.

Many reflections of herself were scattered.

Her once lovely and healthy blonde hair had become frizzy and tangled.

Dark circles had formed under her blue eyes from lack of sleep.

“Ahhh!”

Unable to contain her anger, she punched the mirror.

The shattered pieces of the mirror scratched her hand.

Even as blood dripped, she didn’t care.

She tangled her bloody hand through her hair.

Exile! Exile!

Because of that Eliza, she’d been stuck in this remote place for weeks.

Every day was hell.

She didn’t deserve this treatment.

She did nothing here.

Nothing at all.

She felt like trash.

An incompetent person who couldn’t contribute anything to the family.

That shouldn’t be.

What about the children?

How anxious must they be?

How shameful this is!

Being exiled because of one mere bastard while she, the lawful wife of the head of the family, was punished?

A villa with only the minimum number of servants.

From the perspective of a commoner, it was no different from a vacation, but not for her.

Moreover, those loyal to her had started to turn away, knowingly or unknowingly.

It was a sign that the power structure was already changing.

“No, it can’t go on like this….”

Narcissa muttered as she sat down on the floor.

“I can’t, I can’t just stay still… If I stay like this, I’ll just die. I’ll just be waiting for death. That can’t happen….”

She hadn’t expected things to go so wrong.

An assassin, for some unknown reason, had gotten involved with the candidate she had chosen, giving her legitimacy.

Unexpectedly, the Marquis Sardis touched Eliza, awakening her abilities as a mage.

Just these two incidents had ruined all the plans.

She had intended to slowly and rightfully kill Eliza.

She had waited, thinking the Bevel family would take some action, but there was no sign of that.

It can’t go on like this.

She had to do something.

“It’s not too late yet. Even now, it’s not too late… Anyway, if I stay like this, I’ll die. Then…. Hey, you.”

Narcissa pointed at the maid standing in the shadows.

The maids always waited in the corners, fearing they might be hit if they tried to stop her.

“Yes, Duchess.”

“Clean all this up and bring the physician and head maid.”

.

.

The maid quickly brought those waiting in the other room.

“Duchess, you summoned us.”

The head maid knelt before her.

While receiving treatment from the physician, Narcissa spoke.

“Contact Lamech.”

Lamech.

The head maid flinched at the mention of the name of the assassin guild.

The physician also looked surprised but pretended not to hear.

“Contact them immediately and tell them to kill Eliza. Say it’s to make up for their past mistake; they’ll understand.”

“Duchess….”

“Shut up and obey! Or should I kill you right now? Huh? Or would it satisfy you if I died?!”

It no longer mattered if it was revealed that she had ordered Eliza’s assassination.

As long as Eliza died, everything would be resolved.

They had to hurry and kill her before her power grew stronger.

The next head of the family and the division of assets must belong solely to my child.

Indecisive Barak.

While he ostracized Eliza for the greater good and chose the legitimate child, he couldn’t cut off his foolish feelings and subtly kept his eyes on Eliza.

Yet, despite his reputation, he was too cowardly to express it openly, revealing a rather dull side.

This can’t continue.

He needs to cut it off more ruthlessly.

Though I’ve left it alone until now, it’s reached a point where I can no longer sit back and watch.

As his wife, I will fill in that gap.

By killing Eliza, we will restore peace and balance to the entire family.

That life would be valuable, considering it’s for an illegitimate child.

“…Understood.”

The head maid quickly left, as if fleeing from Narcissa, who was throwing a fit.

Narcissa, still fuming, gulped down some wine.

The burning inside was more bearable than before.

‘I will surely kill you…’

I have never actually sent an assassin.

It’s unfair.

So, if I truly send an assassin, there will be no cause for regret.

Who sent the assassin to Eliza then?

It probably wasn’t Lamech.

If it were them, they wouldn’t have failed.

I’m curious, but it doesn’t matter now.

Everything will be resolved once Eliza dies.

Not knowing what the problem was, Narcissa blindly believed this.

‘To repay that debt, he’ll send a sure assassin… Unlike those amateurs who failed.’

Narcissa gulped down more wine and looked out the window.

It was raining.

Just like the day Eliza’s real mother died.

‘It’s a good day to kill.’

Before I knew it, I was smiling.

***

As the time for caring for the moon deer was coming to an end,

Eliza suddenly asked,

“Judas, where did you go earlier today?”

Hermes had already prepared a reason for that question.

I relayed it as it was.

“I went to the Front line of the demon realm with Sir Hermes. It was sort of an educational trip.”

“Just the two of you?”

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

“…….”

Eliza stared at me intently.

Her expression is usually the same, but it’s not without change.

It’s quite subtle, but it definitely changes.

And right now, Eliza is….

‘…Is she sulking?’

She slightly furrowed her brow and pouted her lips.

‘Why, why is she doing this?’

Eliza walked up to me.

She looked up at me with a displeased expression and then lightly bumped her forehead against my chest.

“Ah, miss?”

It didn’t hurt.

It was like a kitten coming to headbutt.

I was just confused as to why she was doing this.

“This is your punishment.”

“What did I do wrong…?”

“You don’t need to know.”

Eliza turned away as if she didn’t want to explain further.

I stood there blankly, rubbing my chest and watching her.

She acts quirky, but when she walks away, she does so elegantly.

As she was about to leave without a word, she suddenly stopped at the entrance.

‘What’s wrong with her?’

Like a doll that suddenly stopped functioning, Eliza abruptly halted.

She looked outside and let out a low sigh.

“Rain….”

It was raining.

A rather heavy rain.

Eliza looked up at the sky.

She caught the raindrops in her palm.

Then she just stood still.

For an uncomfortably long time, she stood there quietly.

Lia, who was watching her, lowered her head and furrowed her brows.

She seemed to have a sympathetic expression.

“…I’ll go now.”

Eliza spoke after a long silence.

Unlike a moment ago when she seemed sulky, she smiled lightly.

It wasn’t a pleasant smile.

For some reason, it looked lonely and forlorn.

Does she dislike the rain?

“See you next time.”

“Yes, miss.”

Lia held up an umbrella, and Eliza walked away under it.

Her figure quickly became obscured by the rain.

‘See you next time.’

For some reason, that phrase seemed faint, like raindrops breaking and scattering like mist on the ground.

***

“…….”

I woke up, feeling a strange sensation.

It shouldn’t be like this, but it was warm and cozy.

Something soft and sweet-smelling was there.

I felt a sense of déjà vu.

I opened my tired eyes and looked down; Eliza was there.

It was just like what happened on her birthday.

She had snuck into my bed while I was sleeping.

‘She sure is talented…. Ugh. I can’t wake her up and tell her to leave…’

Does she even know that every time this happens, I worry whether it’s a matter of life and death?

It’s only the second time, but still.

“Uuuh….”

Eliza groaned, perhaps having a nightmare.

“Mommy…. No, don’t go….”

She whined, clutching my collar.

Her hands were trembling violently.

Upon closer inspection, her whole body was trembling.

What kind of dream is she having?

Her real mother?

I don’t know who it is.

But I’ve never seen them before.

From Eliza’s sleep talk, it seems that….

“Mom, Mom…. Ugh….”

Soon, she starts to sob.

I sighed inwardly.

I covered her with the blanket up to her shoulders, hugged her, and gently patted her back.

I murmured words of comfort to myself.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

I don’t know what would be okay, but I just wanted to say that.

…I don’t know either, now.

Whether she wakes up or not.

What if she wakes up?

Even if someone else finds out, Eliza would cover for me again.

If she can’t cover for me, then they could kill me.

I can’t be shameless enough to push away a struggling child in front of me.

If it leads to my execution, so be it. There’s no other way.

“I don’t know either. Do whatever you want.”

I find it funny how I’m resigning myself in such a peculiar direction.

I really have a big problem with being too kind.

I’m so kind that being close to Eliza is dangerous.

Every time Eliza is like this, I feel like my neck is dangling.

“If you just cling to me and cry, what am I supposed to do?”

As I patted her slowly, Eliza, who had been groaning, soon calmed down.

The frown on her face smoothed out.

She’s sleeping peacefully.

Does she suffer from nightmares every day?

“Mom….”

I don’t know all the details of Eliza’s family situation, but I’ve gotten a rough idea.

She must have been abused by her family as an illegitimate child.

From how she keeps calling for her mom, it seems her real mother was very kind and warm to her.

She might have been the only one.

She brought the red blanket and doll again today.

Not just today, but she always carries them wherever she goes.

What could she like about them so much?

“She looks just like a child when I see this….”

I quietly watched her while patting her.

In the darkness, I could barely make out her long, still eyelashes.

Her face was serene, like an angel’s.

A round face.

The child who would strangle me.

“How on earth would that happen?”

People are defined by their actions.

Eliza, who would strangle me.

And sometimes, Eliza, who is inexplicably kind to me.

I’m a simple and emotional person.

No matter how much I know about the future, if Eliza shows a completely different side of her now, I can’t help but be swayed.

Maybe.

Maybe, if we get close, that tragedy won’t happen anymore.

A childish, optimistic hope.

Eliza’s brow twitched.

She’s not waking up.

She groans uncomfortably and tears fall from the corners of her eyes.

“Why do you cry every time you sleep, little one?”

I carefully wiped away her tears.

And then I held her close.

“Don’t cry. I don’t like seeing it.”

Her groaning subsided.

She wrapped her arms around me and buried her face in my chest.

“If only that future didn’t exist, I could….”

I let out a shallow sigh and brushed away the foolish thoughts.

How meaningless these assumptions are.

Only, the warmth of Eliza in my arms was comforting.

Her hair, which tickled my nose, smelled sweet and cozy.

I closed my eyes. I should sleep too.

The steady sound of Eliza’s breathing.

The crackling of logs burning in the fireplace.

And the sound of rain pounding against the ground outside the window.

It’s pouring heavily.

The rain is so loud that it almost drowns out the other two sounds.

A torrential downpour that seems to break winter apart.

Is spring coming soon?

“How hard is it raining to make so much noise?”

Moreover, my survival instincts are heightened.

It feels like my life is in danger.

How much rain is falling….

“…Wait a minute.”

There, I felt a doubt.

Something’s strange.

The sound of rain isn’t coming from beyond the closed window.

It’s hitting my ears directly.

As if the window were open.

“Did Eliza climb through the window?”

That can’t be.

If she had, she would be soaking wet.

Besides, Eliza wouldn’t need to do that.

She could just teleport.

Did I leave the window open before going to bed?

No. Anna closed it, and I double-checked before sleeping.

“Anyway, the survival instincts don’t usually warn of this kind of danger….”

I opened my eyes wide.

Goosebumps rose all over my body.

Bang-!

A thunderous sound ripped through the air.

Lightning flashed and lit up the room.

As Eliza shrank and clung closer, I saw it.

A shadow stretching long over the bed where Eliza and I lay.

From behind me, towards the window.

Someone was standing there, looking down at the bed.