Chapter 46
Because he spoke like a normal person.
Because we had been talking for quite a long time.
I had completely overlooked it.
The fact that the male lead No. 4 was a madman who had once publicly harassed the crown prince… and that he had a fiery temperament that could flip the entire situation upside down whenever he felt like it.
“……”
A chilling silence swept through the room.
The strange tension between Serze and me returned.
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through my mind.
If he suddenly decided to kill me, just like he said earlier…
What should I do then?
‘Call the bell? Or use my ability to knock him out again?’
Fortunately, my rampage levels had already dropped back to a manageable state after being somewhat purified.
‘If I rush him now… can I grab his arm?’
Tap. Tap. Tap.
I stared at his fingers drumming steadily on the table while running simulations in my head.
Then—
Tap.
His fingers suddenly stopped.
And then—
“It’s a joke, Countess. Relax your face.”
“……”
“I said it’s a joke.”
He looked at me, frozen stiff, and chuckled.
At that moment, the strange tension enveloping us shattered in an instant.
“Even I can’t take on three awakened ones at once. And the duke’s lackey there is an S-rank just like me.”
It was a statement rooted in reality.
Of course, I knew that too.
But I couldn’t relax my expression.
Because it didn’t sound like a joke.
Because it felt like, for just a moment, he had seriously considered killing me.
When I stared at him with a displeased expression, he frowned.
“If you don’t want to make a deal with me that badly, then I have no choice.”
“……”
“I’ll just spread rumors that the Countess confessed her feelings to me at the banquet.”
“W-What?!”
I tried to stay calm, but I couldn’t react to that.
“What do you mean by—!”
“See? That would damage you more than simply spreading that you awakened.”
It felt like my blood was boiling.
Seeing my intense reaction, he laughed like it was amusing.
Not being able to punch his face felt like a lifelong regret.
I gritted my teeth and replaced insults with the most polite words I could muster.
“You really are… the most wicked, crude, and worst person I have ever met.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He tilted his head with an annoying response.
Then added—
“You’re not exactly harmless either. Think about how you tried to use my weakness to shake me. There aren’t many people who would act that boldly in front of me.”
“Well, of course—but I would never do anything that would damage your honor.”
“Is liking me something that damages your honor?”
“……”
“Hah!”
This time, he seemed genuinely irritated. He scoffed loudly and ran a hand through his hair.
“Honestly… who’s calling who wicked?”
“……Instead, I have one condition.”
“What is it?”
As expected, he showed no intention of leaving or abandoning the deal.
No matter how I brought up his weaknesses, he remained unmoved.
If I was going to hear threats about being killed anyway, it was time to face reality.
‘Where exactly is my life heading…?’
Barely holding back tears, I declared solemnly:
“Do not ever threaten me or try to kill me again.”
“I told you, it was a joke.”
“That includes anything similar to that kind of threat. If you can’t promise that, then the deal is off. And if you break that during the deal, it’s immediately void.”
If I couldn’t avoid it, I had to at least gain something.
The biggest variable in this meeting was him himself.
Serze looked at me with an odd gaze.
“…This is a bit disappointing. I thought I had been quite sincere with you so far.”
“What do you mean by sincere?”
“Didn’t you see what I wrote on the invitation?”
It was a sudden change of topic.
As I tried to recall the invitation, he recited it himself impatiently.
“To those who survive until the end—raise a toast.”
“……”
“I highly value those who survive by any means necessary, Countess. It means I never intended to kill you from the moment I met you.”
It sounded almost like, “Sorry I stabbed you—I didn’t actually mean to kill you.”
I stiffly asked,
“…Is that… so?”
“If I truly intended to kill you, why would I bother controlling my ability and listening to your answer? I could have simply snapped your neck and declared it an immediate execution of a suspect.”
‘This madman…’
As frustrating as it was, he had a point.
The thought that I might have died right there sent a chill down my spine.
Clap. Clap. Clap!
Suddenly, he clapped his hands a couple of times.
“I was quite impressed when you struck my head with the stool and staged the situation. I thought from the moment we made eye contact at the banquet that you weren’t ordinary… but this confirms it.”
Being called a “madman” by a madman felt insulting.
“Why… did you think that?”
“Everyone else avoided my gaze like they were afraid of being caught in the crossfire. But you alone kept staring at me. As if you were challenging me.”
“That’s—!”
I was just too shocked and terrified to move!
‘How could he interpret that as a challenge?’
I had no idea how to explain myself, so I just stared at him helplessly.
Then suddenly, the smile disappeared from his lips.
“Be proud of your survival instinct, Countess. If you had just run away from the purifier’s room using your ability, it would have been boring.”
If you hadn’t caught my interest, you’d be dead by now.
I clearly understood what he meant.
“…So the fact that I survived by striking your head and setting things up—was that entertaining to you?”
At my question, he smiled as if I had answered correctly.
“Hide and seek was quite good too. Shall we play again sometime?”
“No!”
I stood up abruptly, trembling with anger.
At any rate, the deal was now concluded.
“If you’re done speaking, please get up.”
“I haven’t even finished my tea, that’s harsh.”
Unlike me, who was ready to leave immediately, he leaned back comfortably and raised his teacup.
How irritating.
“When will you leave?”
“I still have a meal appointment with the duke.”
“Then please enjoy your time slowly. Unfortunately, I am not feeling well, so I won’t be able to attend the meal.”
A polite way of saying “don’t hold me any longer.” He snorted.
Thankfully, there seemed to be nothing more to discuss beyond the deal, so he turned away from me and quietly drank his tea.
Not forgetting the earring he had given me, I quickly left the reception room.
The moment I reached for the doorknob—
“By the way, that’s strange.”
A low murmur came from behind me.
“As far as I know, the Countess, despite being a non-awakened, was raised with quite favorable treatment. I heard that Lady Blake is the type who would use her mouth as a weapon even if she got sucked into a gate…”
“……”
“I’m curious—when did you become so determined about survival?”
I turned back, slightly surprised.
He wasn’t looking at me.
And yet, he saw through me more accurately than anyone I had ever met.
“—It feels like she’s become a completely different person!”
“—Ever since she woke up from that coma, she’s been like a different person.”
Everyone said Edith had changed.
But how exactly the once arrogant and haughty countess had changed…
He was the first person who had recognized the stubborn, relentless “me” inside.
With wavering eyes, I looked at him before steadying myself.
“…Well.”
“…?”
“I suppose it’s because I realized…”
“…?”
“…that you can’t survive with just your mouth alone.”
“…?”
“…and that in the end, the only one who can protect me is myself.”
For a moment, he turned to look at me.
Our eyes met.
His jet-black eyes, polished like onyx, flickered with an unreadable emotion for a brief moment.
But before I could grasp its meaning, he turned away.
Once his mouth—previously spouting only harsh words—fell silent, the sight of him drinking tea looked almost like a painting.
His face, which once felt devilish, now seemed surprisingly refined.
‘So this is why they’re called male leads…’
The thought slipped out before I realized it, and I frowned.
Then I turned around sharply.
And left the reception room without hesitation.
