Chapter 4: Resting is for a Better Well-being, but Nightmare isn't...
As the problem was concluded, Philip ushered me out of the room, followed by Rudeus and Ghislaine. On the other hand, Sauros wasn't finished punishing the traitor, so we decided to leave them alone for now.
"What will happen to that butler afterward?" I asked, curious about the perpetrator's fate.
Philip stroked his chin, contemplating over the question. "Well, he will get fired and replaced with someone more trustworthy."
"And how will we make sure the recruit doesn't turn out the same way?" I pressed, unwilling to let the same mistake repeat itself.
Rudeus, who had been quietly listening, chimed in. "I suppose a thorough inspection of their background might help."
That was a reasonable suggestion, but it struck me how easily trust could be presented and broken in this place. Betrayal shouldn't be tolerated if the person's objectives jeopardize the relationship between master and servant.
"That seems to be a great idea," Philip agreed, nodding in acknowledgment.
Rudeus rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit bashful. "It's nothing, milord. I just want to help Eris however I can."
I couldn't help but grin a little, watching how his sincerity had earned him some favor. He was different from the typical protagonist I used to know.
"So, you're willing to do anything for my daughter, huh?" Philip mused curiously.
Rudeus stiffened, clearly shaken by his question. "Ah—well, yes. If it means helping her study and improve, of course."
"Is that so..." Philip muttered, his gaze contemplative as he stroked his chin again. Looking to the side, he commanded, "Ghislaine, please escort Eris back to her room, I would like a word with Rudeus in my office."
With a silent nod, the muscular cat woman motioned for me to follow her. I conceded, casting a final glance back at Rudeus and Philip as they turned down the opposite hallway.
Walking through the corridor, I took in the peacefulness of the manor. To my side, Ghislaine's towering presence had always exuded a sense of strength and reassurance, even though her silence was almost as grounding as it was daunting.
As we finally arrived at Eris' room, I paused at the entrance, feeling a sense of comfort as the familiarity of my environment washed over me.
-----------------------------------------------
Upon entering, I felt a mix of weariness and relief after what happened today. The room itself was cozy and relaxing, but I was aware of my headache and the lasting impact of the ordeal.
Looking back, Ghislaine lingered by the door, her watchful gaze softened for a moment.
"Thank you for everything today," I praised her while smiling gently.
Her eyes, steady and unwavering, met mine. She offered a slight nod, her expression saying more than words could manage. With a brief but meaningful look, she turned and closed the door, leaving me alone to process the day's events.
Sigh...
I let out a deep sigh and approached the bed, lying down as I tried to unpack everything that had happened. The headache, Rudeus' misunderstood mistake, the kidnapping plot, and the butler's betrayal—it was all so intense and oddly surreal.
However, the most bizarre of all was my control over Eris' body. It all originated from my wish to live a lavish life. It was great and all, but it made me wonder about something terrifying.
What happened to the original Eris? If I was inside her body, what happened to her mind and soul? Did she just disappear? If so, when and how?
As I was mulling over these questions, I just recalled a particular event mentioned by Rudeus that is not in the original story—the instant when Eris got struck in the head by a stay spell.
What if the magic parried by the kidnappers didn't just knock Eris out? What if it accidentally killed her and my soul somehow took her place?
Just thinking about the possibility made me sick to my stomach. The notion of taking over a dead person's body was utterly disturbing and painful.
What should I do? Should I reveal the truth to everyone? Wait, no. That would be disastrous, making things even more complicated. The best option I could think of was to carry on with the life the original Eris had started—and maybe, just maybe, change it for the better.
With that thought settled, I closed my eyes, hoping that both my headache and these heavy burdens would vanish by morning.
As I drifted to sleep, I began to dream about Eris and something else.
-----------------------------------------------
Inside the dream, I found myself standing in a mysterious alleyway. The sky was shrouded in dense clouds, plunging the area into a dark, ghostly twilight. Heavy fog clung to the ground, swirling around my feet like ghostly tendrils.
This place looked oddly familiar—but why?
I took a few steps forward, my footsteps reverberating softly. The atmosphere was thick and muted, amplifying each minuscule sound. I kept on walking, my mind trying to piece together where I might have seen this place before.
Each corner I turned, each building I passed, there was some memory calling out to me that I couldn't quite reach. What is this place trying to show me? And why does it seem important?
tap! tap! tap!
Just then, I heard several footsteps echoing from a distance. It was accompanied by muffled screaming and heavy breathing. Curious, I decided to check what was the fuss about.
As I turned around a corner, the scene before me left me frozen in shock. There was Rudeus, standing against two menacing figures with their faces covered in shadow. One of them was carrying a young girl with red hair on their shoulder, squirming and struggling.
It was Eris, or at least it was the real deal.
My heart distorted at the sight, realizing it was an event that happened in the novel. I wished to rush forward, to shout, to do anything to change what I was seeing. But there's some kind of invisible barrier stopping me from interfering.
All I could do was watch helplessly as the scene played out before me.
Rudeus looked tense as he prepared a fireball, hoping to frighten the kidnappers into freeing Eris. But then the traitorous butler showed up and proclaimed his evil plan, offering Rudeus a twisted deal. Fortunately, he refused, unwavering in his decision to save the young lady.
Firing the fireball in the air, it exploded like a firework and blinded the two men. He then took the opportunity to charge forward and proceeded to shoot a bunch of spells.
Watching this, I suddenly recalled—this was probably the instant when one of Rudeus' spells was parried and accidentally struck Eris on the head. Panic swelled within me as I pounded my fists against the invisible barrier, desperate to do something to stop the inevitable.
Break! Come on, break!
I slammed my fists harder, over and over, my mind racing with urgency.
Crack!
Finally, a small crack appeared, and I quickly widened the hole enough to slip through. Once I was out, I scanned the area, looking for a way to help without being noticed.
What could I do? Wait—there was a rock nearby!
I grabbed the rock, took aim, and hurled it toward one of the men. However, it instead landed on Rudeus, causing him to misfire a spell in their vulnerable area. Frightened, one of the men parried the spell, sending it hurtling directly toward Eris' head.
Oh no... What have I done?
I watched in horror as the spell connected, striking her with a sickening force. Her struggling ceased, and her body went limp in the kidnapper's arms.
This… was my doing?
A wave of dread crashed over me, realizing that my intervention had altered the story of the novel, leading to this exact tragic moment. In my attempt to change things, I'd only brought about the very event I was trying to prevent.
"It was all your fault..."
A voice echoed behind me. I turned around and saw the original Eris standing with her head bloody and her expression was contorted with anger.
"Wait, I didn't mean to! I was trying to save you!"
I backed away but ended up stumbling, and fell onto the ground. Looking up, I met her glare as she clenched her fist, and her arm poised to strike.
"Save me? No... YOU KILLED ME!!"
"AHHHHHHH!!!"
Her fist came hurtling toward me—and I jolted awake, screaming.
My breath came in shallow gasps as I sat up, feeling my pulse beating wildly. It was evening, rendering the room dark and silent. I clutched my chest, trembling, still haunted by the image of Eris' bloodied face, and the echo of her vengeful words.
For a long moment, I stayed on the bed, trying to regain my composure, clutching the blanket as though it were my only grip on reality.