Chapter 9
Did Kanna see the cat’s eyes too? Worried her sister might get scared, Hena turned, but Kanna was staring not at the cat, but into empty space.
“Kanna?”
“It’s nothing, Sis. Huh? That cat….”
Kanna seemed to notice the cat just then. She tilted her head briefly, checked its collar, then ran to Lady Evangeline beaming.
“It’s the Lady’s cat? There you are.”
And when Kanna stroked its chin, the monster purred as if truly a cat.
Hena wanted to yank Kanna’s hand away and hide her behind, but their harmonious vibe was too wholesome to interrupt.
The cat was putting on airs because Kanna didn’t know its true nature. What if it turned feral the moment Hena moved? That fear rooted her feet.
Blind to Hena’s worry, Kanna followed Lady Evangeline inside.
“Sis? What’re you doing? Come on.”
Kanna urged the frozen Hena. Her beloved sister felt a bit unfamiliar, but Hena eventually entered.
Lady Evangeline said she was tired and didn’t need help settling, heading upstairs first. Hena grabbed Kanna’s hand, fearing she’d follow, and climbed. Recalling the fourth floor’s layout, she opened the door to the room right below.
As expected, this was definitely the late Countess’s room. Hena was hired after the Countess passed, so it was her first time inside.
Despite the Count’s threats not to go near, someone must have disobeyed and cleaned secretly—the state was quite pristine. It even felt lived-in.
As Hena looked around, Kanna, already changed, jumped onto the bed. She’d hated lying down at home, always sitting, but must be tired today.
Just recovered enough to move, and now injured again…. In pajamas, the neck wound and binding marks stood out starkly.
“Sis. I can hear the Lady walking upstairs.”
Kanna, seemingly resting with eyes closed, suddenly spoke.
Sound? Hena strained her ears—nothing. The Rohanson Mansion was especially quiet at night, but with thick carpet on Lady Evangeline’s floor and her quiet steps, how?
Hena glanced at the ceiling; the chandelier swayed, perhaps from a breeze. Must be mistaking that sound.
“Maybe the chandelier swaying?”
“Yeah? Guess so. Anyway, good choice on this room. I like it.”
Kanna nodded without retort, changing the subject.
“Bed’s big enough for us both.”
Lady Evangeline offered Hena a room too, but terrified to leave Kanna alone, Hena refused desperately. The Countess’s room was bigger than home, fine for two, and as Kanna said, the bed fit them easily.
Hena finished preparing and lay beside Kanna. First time co-sleeping in ages. In the dark, they faced each other playing hand games. The long day brought sleep swiftly. As she drifted off, Kanna whispered.
“Hey, Sis. Thanks for coming to save me today. I was really scared.”
Hena squeezed her hand. Feeling briefly distant from her sister pretending to be okay despite fear brought guilt. No matter what, Kanna was Hena’s precious sister.
***
My new goal: befriend Kanna. Approaching the knight commander male lead would just make me the obsessive villainess. Don’t even want romance with book characters—the real shortcut to escaping villainess fate is impressing the heroine!
All-in on Kanna for my survival!
From the kidnapping at first male lead meeting, this romance-fantasy seems pretty grim, so Kanna’s bound to need saving often. Offered them permanent stay at the mansion to bond and rescue during incidents—thanks to high favor, Kanna agreed readily. Bonus: Hena too!
Told them they could use the third floor; Count was away on business. Lights were on last night—not sleeping in after an all-nighter?
Silent glare; Butler bowed apologizing. Sigh. What’s venting at him do? All the Count’s fault.
“If you have a message, I’ll relay it.”
Hena planned to tell the Butler herself, but no stealing thunder. Speaking first could tank built-up favor—my loss.
Butler suggested a letter; reluctantly sent Count notice of using the empty third-floor room. Language patch for the win!
Worried bare notice might get curt refusal, tore a page from the Countess’s diary as attachment. A full page cursing her scam-marriage husband. Jerk! Guilt’ll make him approve. Handed to Butler.
“Don’t peek—just deliver. I’m watching.”
Teacher’s-back-of-head eyes trick. If Butler saw the curse diary, he might ditch it. No way.
Expected one day; took three. Count scrawled “do as you like,” adding next time talk to Butler, no letters to him. Then meet in person?
Next day, lights in Count’s room. He’s back. No point anyway—door-blocked—so skipped greeting.
Told uncomfortably quartered Hena and Kanna; Kanna loved it. Hena still uneasy, but heroine Kanna adapts fast.
***
“Dear. Please eat something. Locked in your room for three days—what’re you doing?”
Knocking pleas ignored. Who’s that? Wife? Mother? Married? Didn’t matter.
Now, fulfilling my mission mattered most. Dipped paint, drew lines. Captured flames swirling like ash on canvas. Charred body of a sacred angel remained.
I was a painter living off art. Hyped as genius rookie at debut, but mismatched noble tastes, fame crashed fast. Now parasitic on wife. Had to finish this masterpiece soon.
Wandering for inspiration, spotted eerie blaze. Sun-like flames died; few knights left, others evacuated. Crowd lost interest; someone peeked, yelled “angel!”
Too few knights for crowd control. Easy to check inside. Spotted the angel in burned ruins as said—instantly knew I must paint it.
Rushed home, grabbed brush.
No sketch. Memories fade—finish fast. No appetite. Fine starving to death.
Days passed? Week? Month? Or just two hours?
Nearing end, something lacking nagged. Can’t capture it? Pathetic. Anxious, picked cuticles—blood. Bit finger; metallic tang. Strange urge whipped me.
Hands for painting. Grabbed palette knife, stabbed thigh. Sharp pain; blood soaked pants. Dabbed brush in thigh blood, repainted. Angel’s halo now perfect.
***
Done!
Admiring densely filled paper, Kanna popped up behind.
“Lady. What’d you write? Can’t read it.”
“Nothing.”
Eek! S-scared me. Heart dropped. So focused, missed Kanna peeking. Good in Korean—almost busted. Especially heroine Kanna—never.
Casually covered. My earnestly planned villainess escape blueprint. Deduced original plot, pondered survival behavior—took two days.
“Kanna. Don’t be rude to the Lady.”
“It’s fine, Sis. The Lady likes me.”
Hena, back with two meals, scolded Kanna clinging to me. Hated awkward solo dining, so post-cohabitation, eat together in room to bond.
“Sis should join.”
“Dining hall’s comfier for me.”
Invited Hena; she got queasy, so agreed on just Kanna and me.
“All done.”
Quick meal; tea after.
Kanna eats heartily—meals go down easy together.
Brings appetite back…. Heroine power? She’d kill in real mukbangs.
Wait, mukbang stars are romance-fantasy heroines? Deductive nonsense; Hena called me.
“Lady. A letter arrived.”
