Chapter 13
13
I rubbed my eyes furiously, wondering if I had seen something wrong.
But the iridescent silver hair, the unusually pale skin, the sharp nose, the firmly closed lips, and the artistic jawline were undoubtedly Cadienne Mercedes, whom I had encountered last night.
'Why is he here?'
He was lying on the sofa with his eyes tightly shut, and he felt so devoid of warmth that he looked like a dead person.
'Surely he's not really dead, is he?'
Even though I knew that couldn't be the case, I realized I was tiptoeing toward him.
And...
'Wow, he's a real work of art...'
Cadienne, seen up close, was so beautiful that the word 'artwork' suited him better than 'person.' No, his face was more artistic than art itself.
'But his personality isn't so beautiful.'
Judging by the fact that he hadn't opened his eyes even though I had come this close, Cadienne was definitely asleep.
I set the book down beside me for a moment, knelt down, and admired his face for a while.
I know it's in my best interest to disappear quietly like this...
'Cadienne said that he barely sleeps due to the side effects of Magical Overload.'
Is that why he's here?
'Certainly, it's an environment that seems conducive to sleep.'
There aren't even any windows, so it's quiet, the subtle scent of books calms the mind and body, and since it's a 'No Unauthorized Access' zone, there's no one to disturb him.
'Has it always been like this?'
He has to leave his room and come all the way to this secluded place in Mercedes Manor just to barely get some sleep?
'I don't know much about Cadienne.'
I know the protagonist, Saintess Celestina, and Crown Prince Hysterrion better than anyone. What they like and dislike.
But even though Cadienne is a supporting character, there isn't much information revealed about him.
A being forgotten even by the author and readers. Practically ignored.
But even with the little information available, I could tell how difficult and lonely his life was.
Perhaps from the moment he was born until the moment he dies.
And just when I was seized by a strange sense of kinship.
"Ugh..."
Suddenly, Cadienne's neat brow furrowed, and a painful groan escaped from his slightly parted lips.
Startled, I hesitated, but soon realized that he hadn't woken up yet.
'Is he in pain?'
Soon, he twisted his body and let out a rough breath.
His forehead was also soaked with cold sweat.
Anyway, it felt like something terrible would happen if I left him like this, so I jumped up to call someone.
"Haa..."
That painful groan, which was hard to believe came from the black-hearted sub-male lead Cadienne, held my feet in place.
Come to think of it, a passage suddenly came to mind.
[Insanity erased his nights.
But on the lucky days he fell into a Nightmare, a terrible nightmare tormented him.
The nightmare was so bad that it seemed better not to sleep at all.
So, at some point, Cadienne began to refuse to sleep.
His nights were more terrible than his days.]
'That's right, it was said that Cadienne was tormented by some kind of nightmare.'
So later, even after his Insanity symptoms improved after meeting the female lead, Cadienne didn't sleep.
'Is he having that nightmare right now?'
I looked down at Cadienne, who was panting like a dying man.
What kind of dream is he having that makes him suffer so much?
But...
'If he's really having a nightmare.'
Maybe.
'I might be able to help...'
Because my ability is to manipulate dreams.
I slowly and carefully reached out my hand toward him.
And just as my fingertips were about to touch his forehead.
Thwack-
A large hand grabbed my wrist.
Startled, I froze.
His tightly closed eyelids slowly opened.
Soon, violet eyes filled with heat stared at me from a close distance.
His lips, which had been slightly parted as he exhaled hot breaths, slowly closed.
And just as the hot geothermal heat of midday cools down at night, his eyes, which had been burning hotly, gradually turned back into the barren and cold land they originally were.
His lips parted again.
"...What are you doing-"
Cadienne, who had said that much, looked down at his hand holding mine and narrowed his brow.
Then he roughly shook off my hand.
The force was so strong that I staggered for a moment.
I felt disgusted, as if I had become a bug.
'Of course, I was the one who tried to touch him first, but...'
It wasn't out of malice, but out of goodwill.
"What exactly are you doing here?"
But at the cold voice that followed, I quickly became a tail-wagging puppy and averted my gaze.
But when I think about it, isn't this an opportunity?
'I was aiming for a chance to be alone with him.'
Right now, only Cadienne and I are in this room.
But...
'Now is not the time.'
Cadienne's gaze toward me was very sharp.
It seemed calm at first glance, but the warning that he wouldn't let me get away with any nonsense was clearly conveyed.
Anyone would think I had tried to assassinate the Duke and failed.
It's unfair!
'If I try to get the family treasure in this situation, he won't let me go easily.'
It's true that my situation is urgent, but I'm not foolish enough to fly into the flames like a moth, knowing they're there.
In the end, I decided to retreat.
But I'm bitter to back down like this.
I should at least explain myself.
"You seemed to be groaning and having a nightmare, so I was just trying to wake you up."
"..."
Cadienne gave me a look as if to say, what are you talking about?
So-!
"I'm telling you this in case you misunderstand, it was definitely not mixed with any personal feelings. Well then!"
I turned around and left the room.
And immediately left the library.
Raymond, who found me, called out "Ms. Livia!" from behind, but I didn't look back.
It was because I was afraid that Cadienne would belatedly come after me with a sword, saying, 'How dare you talk back to me? Die.'
At least, the Cadienne I saw in the original work was capable of that.
Breathlessly, I returned to my room.
I tried to calm my pounding heart and thought.
"I was just trying to wake him up because he seemed to be having a nightmare."
Yeah, I didn't do anything wrong.
In the first place, I didn't know Cadienne was in that room.
But...
'That look.'
The look in his eyes, as if looking down on a trivial thing, with no emotion felt at all, is still vivid in my mind.
"Haa."
Will I really be able to persuade such a person to get the family treasure?
My heart wavered.
'No.'
I soon came to my senses.
In the end, there is only one way.
So, don't waver.
'Either I die or I faint anyway.'
Having made up my mind, I turned to the desk.
First, let's focus on Vincent's class tomorrow.
I finished organizing the remaining class materials.
* * *
After Livia ran away, Cadienne, who had gotten up, looked down at his hand.
And he recalled Livia's face as she looked down at him with a surprised expression.
The soft, flowing dark brown hair, the calm eyes, the rabbit-like wide amber eyes and reddened cheeks that didn't match, and the slightly parted cherry-colored lips.
It was a face Cadienne knew.
'Wasn't she Vincent's new tutor?'
Cadienne thought indifferently.
At that moment, a small "Hehe" sound was heard from the doorway.
"Is it funny?"
As if he already knew who the voice belonged to, Cadienne said coldly without turning around.
Raymond walked out from behind the door.
"I'm sorry. I should have informed her of Your Excellency's presence, but I was too busy organizing the books... Were you very surprised?"
Cadienne swept him with an icy gaze.
Raymond, who received the gaze with his whole body, lowered his head and said.
There was still a playful smile in his voice.
"You seem very angry. Did she commit an act of rudeness?"
Cadienne took out a pipe from his pocket as if it wasn't worth answering.
Despite the blatant disregard, Raymond said without paying attention.
"But Your Excellency was too harsh. To reject her hand so coldly. Do you know what her expression was like?"
At that moment, Cadienne's movements stopped.
Soon, Cadienne turned to Raymond.
Raymond, who met his eyes, shuddered once. If his gaze had been a sword, Raymond's neck would have been cut off in an instant.
'Really, he's no different from a monster.'
"Your nonsense is long. Isn't what you want 'information'? If you commit such a useless act again, I'll make it so you can never collect information again."
Raymond knew better than anyone that it wasn't just a simple warning.
Because there was no one who knew more about Cadienne Mercedes than Raymond.
'...He's really angry.'
If I touch him any more, it will be difficult to get out of here in one piece.
'Well, I had quite a bit of fun too.'
A meaningful smile formed on Raymond's lips as he thought of Livia.
Raymond bowed to Cadienne and left the spot.
Cadienne rummaged through his pocket and took out a silver pipe.
And he habitually put his lips to the mouthpiece.
It was an unconscious action, as he always suffered from terrible headaches after waking up.
But just before sucking on the mouthpiece, he suddenly noticed that his body condition was different from usual.
It doesn't hurt.
The splitting headache that felt like an ax was splitting his brain was not felt at all.
Rather, his body felt less tired than ever before.
This was the first time this had happened.
Cadienne's expression twisted.
'Why?'
Now that the things that had followed as naturally as breathing had disappeared, suspicion came before relief.
That was because he was the same as usual.
The only thing that changed...
Cadienne looked down at his hand again.
Was it just his imagination?
The hand that had touched Livia felt particularly like it wasn't his.
"..."
Cadienne's gaze turned to the collection of fairy tales that Livia had left behind.
His eyes, which had been like barren land, changed slightly.
