Chapter 128
“From the first time I heard your story, I thought something was strange. I’d definitely set the scenario for ‘a happy, beloved noble daughter of a baron’s house’, but somehow, due to some error, you ended up as the illegitimate child of a count’s family.”
It was something she didn’t understand. Or perhaps, could understand.
“Anyway, it’s all right now. I’m here. Whether there was an error or anything, it has nothing to do with you anymore.”
Segleninde turned toward her with a smile, gently cupping Cynthia’s pale cheeks in both hands. She was frozen, unable even to tremble.
“Were you that startled by all that? Your face is so pale. You act so fierce with me, and yet you get scared by something like that? Really, there’s never a moment when I don’t have to look after you.”
He whispered affectionately and kissed her on the bridge of her nose. Just then, the door to the drawing room opened behind him, and the servants came in. Carrying rags and buckets, they hurried in and immediately began cleaning up the remains of Count Obel, now nothing more than a smear of blood-red liquid.
“Even so, I didn’t expect the bug to be this nasty. But I fixed it quickly, so it’s fine, right?”
Again, it was something she could understand.
Cynthia steadied herself and asked him,
“What are you even saying right now? You… Don’t tell me, did you know this world was a game?”
Bug, error, setting—none of these were words he should know.
Unless he was aware of the game.
Finally, Segleninde seemed to realize he’d left things unexplained, and added a few facts for her.
“You recognize this world as a game, don’t you? Because of that, it’s only right that I fit into that framework as well. I even used the method that would be easiest for you to accept, coming from your world to this one. When I set things up in this world, I referred quite a bit to that game, so you could say I knew about it, in a sense.”
He had known from the very beginning.
He knew she was a transmigrator. And that she’d come to this world through some means she recognized as a ‘game’.
The truth, coming at her without a single moment’s pause, left Cynthia buried in confusion.
“…What are you? And where…where is this? Is this even the place I know? ‘Coffin of the White Rose’, is that really what this is? Why did I even come here in the first place?”
“I’ll explain that to you slowly, so why don’t you calm down for now? There’s nothing to be afraid of anymore. Don’t be scared.”
Segleninde hugged her close with a gentle smile, rubbing her back. As if that was more important than any of the truth was making sure Cynthia wouldn’t be afraid.
Hunching over her trembling form, he rested his chin on Cynthia’s stiff shoulder and whispered,
“Thanks to all the strength you’ve shared with me, I’ve regained a lot of control. So from now on, I won’t let things like that get anywhere near you. That way, there really won’t be anything left for you to fear.”
Cynthia felt as though she couldn’t breathe. When she lifted her head and met Segleninde’s eyes, he smiled softly, his eyes curving. The moist flush in his eyes and cheeks showed unreserved affection for her.
But Cynthia was still trapped in confusion.
If she pieced together everything she’d just heard, this wasn’t a game world at all. This was a real, existing world—just not Earth. A strange world, one she’d been summoned to using the game only as a medium.
‘Then how did I even come here? Am I really still myself? Are my memories, the memories of Cynthia Obel, all real too? Then what am I? And Segleninde… Just what is he?’
Was it really just happenstance that brought her to this world?
Segleninde, seeing her face stiffening as if she were about to cry, hurriedly lowered his head and showered her cheeks, forehead, and the corners of her eyes with frantic kisses, trying desperately to soothe her.
He felt sorry for her, knowing how surprised she must be, but she was just too adorable. His woman, crying and trembling at just this much change, was so fragile and lovable that he couldn’t help but smile.
Really, she was so timid. Even though he’d erased everything that tormented or endangered her and assured her it would never happen again, she still trembled so pitifully in his arms.
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