Chapter 3

I thought that placating Edwin might be the only way to survive, so exactly thirty minutes later, I stepped out of my room.

“…But you never told me which room you’re in.”

The problem was—I didn’t know where Edwin’s room was.

In noble households, the first floor was usually for receiving guests, and personal rooms were on the third floor. My own room was tucked away in the farthest, most isolated corner of the third floor.

Edwin, however, wasn’t truly family. But he was someone my father cherished, hoping to make him the next head of the house. That’s what made things confusing. Typically, aides and servants used the annex, not the main house.

To make matters worse, thanks to my stepmother’s ability, no knights or guards entered the mansion after evening fell. There wasn’t a single person around I could ask where Edwin’s room was.

Her ability was a form of life magic that let inanimate objects react like living things. That’s why her power paired so well with my father’s puppetry.

By infusing life energy into near-death puppets, they could fool anyone—completely indistinguishable from the living.

As I was lost in these thoughts, walking down the third-floor corridor, a door suddenly opened.

“Oh, my lady. You’re early.”

“Ah…”

I nearly screamed, but when my eyes met his, the sound stuck in my throat and sank back down.

“My apologies. I was just about to finish washing up.”

Water dripped from his hair—he looked like he had just stepped out of the shower. He was wearing only a thin robe.

“Then… I suppose we’ll have tea tomorrow instead. Finish your bath.”

I forced myself to stay calm and speak naturally. But then, his damp hand caught my wrist. The touch was lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—and strangely disorienting.

When I looked at him, silently asking him to release me, his state became even clearer.

Water trailed from his wet hair, down his temple and along his neck. Droplets slid along his thick neck, down his prominent collarbone.

The water ran over his defined shoulders and muscular frame, trickling lower. His robe was so loosely tied that as he turned, his entire upper body came into view.

Perfectly sculpted chest muscles, glistening with water, and the drops ran down, down along his abs—ridges like carved stone—before being absorbed into the towel wrapped around his waist.

Every breath he took sent a humid heat washing over me. His body radiated magical energy, thick and oppressive. His eyes had turned a deep red, as though activating his power.

Those red eyes—polished like rubies—glowed, their depths almost translucent.

Awakened ones always had red eyes when using their abilities. But since Edwin’s eyes were naturally red, I couldn’t tell if he was using his power—or if that was just how he looked.

I stared at his eyes as if hypnotized… until I realized he was looking straight back at me.

“My lady.”

“Let go.”

A strange smile curved his lips as he locked eyes with me.

Then, I noticed it—a long scar across his chest, visible through the gap in his robe.

“Aren’t you curious… who gave me this scar?”

Before I could react, he took my hand and pressed it against his chest, right over the wound. His skin was warm and damp—undeniably the flesh of a living being.

“Edwin.”

“When I got this scar… it really hurt.”

He guided my hand along the long scar trailing over his heart. Strangely, his heat felt like it was seeping into me, making me light-headed, almost feverish.

His gaze grew cold and distant, so I asked softly.

“Who did this to you?”

Then he smiled—radiantly—and replied.

“You did, my lady.”

I hesitated, then asked.

“Which lady?”

In House Rosmond, I was the youngest daughter.

“Haha.”

Edwin laughed, as though amused by my question.

“Was it Regina? Or Robellia? Maybe… Jerian?”

Regina seemed the most likely. She was three years older than me, and her ambition was tenfold mine. But her ability didn’t match her ambition, and she often lost to Abelon.

“Who knows?”

He was still smiling. When I tried to pull my hand away, he pressed down even harder and stared at me intently.

His eyes remained red, and I didn’t know whether he was using his ability or if it was just their natural color—it was all so confusing.

“Why did you get that scar?”

“I’m glad you asked.”

Every time he smiled, my heart felt like it would burst. I couldn’t predict when he might suddenly draw a sword and try to kill me.

“This scar came from betrayal.”

“I see…”

Now will you let go?

I looked at him with that meaning in my eyes, but instead, he intertwined his fingers with mine and pressed even harder. The pressure beneath my palm felt intense.

Maybe it was the force against the back of my hand, or the pulse throbbing under my palm—but though he was smiling, it felt like a clear warning: You won’t escape me.

“It hurt more than you could imagine.”

“…I see.”

“I really wanted to die then.”

“I see…”

The more he spoke, the more forced his smile looked. I had nothing to say, nothing to offer in return. I just wanted to get my hand back as soon as possible.

“So that’s why? It was Regina, wasn’t it?”

Instead of answering, he just smiled again. His eyes curved into crescent moons, but this time, there wasn’t a trace of amusement.

“Please, have a seat.”

At last, he let go. I walked to the sofa he’d glanced at and sat on its edge, ready to flee at any moment. My long, voluminous skirt helped conceal my tense posture.

“Did it hurt a lot?”

His eyes were fixed on me again, so I shifted the topic. He smiled genuinely this time and, instead of sitting in front of me, he came to my side. My heart pounded so hard I felt like I’d get indigestion from just drinking tea.

“I’m fine now.”

His robe was still loose, his abs still fully visible.

“Because I’ll pay it back.”

With that, he flipped the lid of the teapot and poured tea. The teapot warmed with magic, so the black tea in my cup was piping hot.

“Ah, didn’t you say you’d have milk, my lady?”

“No, black tea’s fine.”

I didn’t want to prolong this any further, so I said that. He smiled again—that chilling smile—and poured tea into his own cup.

“How about milk tea, then?”

“I’ll stick with black tea.”

I took the cup and asked a question without thinking.

“By the way, Edwin, what ability did you awaken?”

I didn’t know Edwin’s power. Even in the original story, his ability was only vaguely described as a ‘mental-type ability.’

Maybe it was Edwin’s power that influenced my father. No matter how little Duke Rosmond cared for his children, how could he have so easily decided to turn them into dolls?

Especially since this part never appeared in the original story.

I used to think Edwin had died when Father announced he would dispose of him. Since Edwin’s death deviated from the original, I thought the story’s flow had changed, and my complacency might have led to today’s nightmare.

“I’m just a bit exceptional, my lady.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“When the Master found me, he said the Rosmond children were utterly useless.”

“Tell me more.”

I couldn’t bring myself to drink the tea, so I raised the cup and only pretended to sip. I didn’t want anything touching my lips—not knowing what might be in it.

“Do you still want to be the head of the family, my lady?”

His sudden question caught me off guard. I kept my expression neutral and shook my head.

“No.”

“That’s a lie. You always look people straight in the eyes when you lie. And you lick your lips.”

As he said that, I realized I had, unknowingly, wet my lips. I froze, smiling to hide it.

“Young Master Abelon told me. You often caused trouble by coveting the position of heir.”

He was studying me, watching for a reaction.

It was true. I once dreamed of becoming the head of the Rosmond House. A noble title, especially as a duke, meant power, wealth, and freedom from a political marriage.

But now… those things weren’t worth more than my life.

“If you don’t want to answer, that’s fine. I’ve finished my tea. May I go now?”

“You were curious about my ability, weren’t you?”

Before I could rise, I looked at him. He smiled faintly and replied—

“My ability is telepathy, my lady.”

For a moment, my heart dropped—like it had fallen straight from the sky.