Translator: Nox

Chapter 25

7. Alea

I opened my eyes inside the cave.

It was the middle of the night when I woke up. As I turned over, I realized I was resting my head on someone's firm knee.

Surprised, I abruptly sat up, and Enoch, who had been leaning against the cave wall with his eyes closed, slowly opened his eyes.

"Ah. You're awake."

Enoch spoke in a deeply husky voice. It was so sexy... Ah, this is not the time to be thinking about this.

"What happened?"

At my question, Enoch closed his mouth with a gloomy expression.

Just then, moonlight streamed into the cave, clearly illuminating his face.

"I'm sorry."

"About what?"

I blinked, clueless, and looked at Enoch's face.

"You had a fever. I thought it was a cold and wanted to give you medicine, but I couldn't figure out which one to give you from the medicine kit."

Only then did I look at the first-aid kit next to Enoch. The medicines were scattered messily inside the open lid.

"I've never felt so helpless in my life."

His well-sculpted face was twisted with anguish.

"It's not Enoch's fault. The dress disappeared... Oh, come to think of it, where was the dress?"

At my question, Enoch pressed his lips together with a troubled expression.

Looking at his face, I had a premonition. The moment I had been dreading had finally arrived. He must have met someone. One of the male leads, or the female lead, or both.

'Is peace over?'

Although we still get attacked by Monsters from time to time, so it can't be said to be very peaceful. I became dejected, drooping my shoulders and lowering my eyes.

At that moment, a gentle touch landed on my head. Surprisingly, Enoch was stroking my hair.

Surprised, I raised my head and met Enoch's eyes, who was looking at me with a puzzled expression. He was stroking my head like a puppy, with a completely selfless look on his face.

'What's with that look? Does he think I'm a real puppy?'

While I was thinking that, Enoch opened his mouth in a low voice.

"I met Sir Diego. He stole your clothes."

Damn it, I knew it.

'Wait, but the Imperial Guard Commander stole a bathing woman's clothes? Where did his chivalry go?'

"Where is that son of a btch, I mean, Sir Diego?"

Enoch apologized to me with a calm face.

"Since he was one of my men, I apologize for his misconduct."

"Why are you apologizing, Enoch?"

"If you want to receive an apology directly from him, tell me. I'll drag him here."

Looking at Enoch's expression, he really seemed ready to drag Diego in right away.

I sighed, feeling deflated for no reason. Would I be crazy enough to go meet another male lead on my own? That's like walking straight into hellfire.

Enoch alone was enough, but now I've picked up Kaiden as well. Dealing with just the two of them was already too much for me.

"It's okay. I'll take my revenge later."

At my answer, Enoch chuckled softly.

"I knew it. You didn't say you wouldn't take revenge."

"Of course, I have to. I'm the kind of person who repays what I receive. Tell Sir Diego to watch his back. Because I don't know when I'll go steal his clothes..."

Of course, not now, but I will definitely steal them before I escape the island.

"Is there no one else?"

I slyly probed Enoch. According to the original story, Diego should be with the other protagonists.

"That... I don't know."

Enoch gave an ambiguous answer, not knowing whether he really didn't know or was pretending not to know.

I tilted my head. I carefully examined Enoch's expression, but it was difficult to grasp his true feelings.

"Isn't it better to move together to escape the island? I thought we should gather information."

Enoch stopped stroking my head, rested his chin on his hand, and fell into thought. Soon, he said to me.

"That's a valid point, but I don't think we necessarily need to be together. We've agreed to exchange information with Sir Diego once every ten days."

As Enoch said, Diego was the Imperial Guard Commander of the Langrid Empire, so he was indeed one of Enoch's men. So I naturally thought he would suggest joining Diego, but Enoch's answer was unexpected.

"Is that so...?"

"He seems to be in a similar situation to us. He didn't know much."

He was still resting his chin on his hand, and he rolled his eyes to glance down at me. Then, he quietly reached out and stroked my head again.

'What is it? I thought we agreed not to bother each other, so why is he doing this?'

But the touch wasn't unpleasant. In fact, it strangely made me feel at ease. So this is what it feels like to have someone gently stroke your head.

Back in my Lee Jin-joo days, I had never received such a gentle touch. Like a puzzle piece that was wrongly placed in the world, I couldn't get along with people.

"If I get any useful information, I'll share it, so don't worry too much."

Was it because my expression had darkened again? Enoch said to me as if to reassure me.

I slowly nodded. Then, I suddenly looked down at the dress I was wearing.

'Come to think of it, didn't I faint while wearing only a Chemise?'

As if he read the meaning in my expression, Enoch quietly replied.

"I changed your clothes myself. I tried not to look as much as possible, so don't worry."

"So you did look?"

At my question, Enoch fell silent again.

Oh my god, I know exactly what it feels like to have your face turn pale.

The Chemise dress was a very thin cotton undergarment, and I was wet at the time, so my body must have been completely see-through.

If I die on this island, the cause of death will be shame.

"Oh my god, I'm ruined."

As I lamented, Enoch, who had been moving his lips as if he had a lot to say, dropped a bombshell.

"Is that what you're worried about? Then marrying me would neatly solve the problem."

"Are you serious?"

"Does it sound like a joke?"

No. It sounded too serious. Why is he like this?

"When I asked you to marry me, you refused so vehemently?"

"The situation and you have both changed since then."

'You too,' he said, referring to the changed me. But it didn't matter because Margaret was me and I was Margaret.

I can't figure out why he's acting like this. Did he eat something wrong?

I racked my brain to avoid the uncomfortable topic and clapped my hands together.

"Ah, Kaiden!"

Whether he noticed my efforts or not, Enoch stared at me silently before letting out a heavy sigh.

"He seemed to have a fever last night, but he seems to be okay now."

Enoch's face looked very tired.

I wondered if the crown prince was feeling a sense of futility after taking care of two patients alone. Anyway, it must have been very difficult.

"You've worked hard. I think my fever is completely gone now."

He quietly placed his hand on my cheek and nodded as if he had determined that I had no fever.

"Rest comfortably. I'll sleep over there."

"No..."

Enoch seemed to have something to say and reached out to grab me, but then he sighed and told me to sleep well.

I looked at him with a puzzled expression, smiled, and thanked him.

"Thank you."

Enoch looked at me with an inscrutable expression and quietly nodded.

I said good night to him, moved away from him and Kaiden, arranged my spot, and went to sleep.

Thus, I finished another day and fell asleep.

\ \ \

Rustle.

I felt a little heavy and tossed and turned, but the discomfort didn't go away, so I opened my eyes.

Then, I met eyes with blood-red pupils.

"What...!"

I was about to scream, but Kaiden, who was tied up, raised his wrist and put his index finger to his lips.

"Shh."

At that word, I reflexively closed my mouth as if I had been bewitched.

Red eyes, gleaming with madness, looked down at me and smiled prettily. Like Enoch, he's disgustingly handsome.

Even with his wrists tied, he moved just fine. He leaned his head close to me and whispered in my ear.

"Don't scream, the crown prince will wake up."

I turned my head and looked in the direction where Enoch was sleeping. Enoch was far away and still hadn't woken up.

"A platinum-blonde woman with Enoch the Crown Prince..."

Kaiden recognized Enoch as the crown prince at once. That means-

"Why did you lie, Margaret."

He also realized that I was Lady Flone.

"Is it because I said I didn't like Lady Flone?"

Kaiden scanned my face as if he was amused.

"Still, lying is bad."

Then, he tilted his head slightly and stared at me.