Chapter 89

“……”

Cynthia tried her best not to think, but it wasn’t easy.

Once the dam broke, belated questions surged in. If Segleninde could read thoughts, it meant he’d already figured out everything she was hiding. That she’d been lying to him all along.

But if that was true, there was no explanation for why he had spared her, not killing her until now.

Cynthia had been lying to Segleninde almost from the very beginning. The affection meter was just an imagined system she’d become attached to in order to make sense of his actions—harsh in words, yet kind in attitude—when, in truth, she couldn’t even tell if that really existed.

Why was he hiding things from her? Why was he lying to her? For what purpose?

It seemed the teddy bear had finally caught on to the situation from inside the inventory, as a flustered hidden choice popped up, but Cynthia didn’t know if it would make any difference. She’d already thought too much, and yet Segleninde simply kept his gaze on her, silently, as if waiting for her answer.

Swallowing her fear, Cynthia chose the hidden option. At the same time, a button tore from her sleeve and her mouth opened.

“…While you were washing up, I thought I’d try to find some clues for getting to the next floor in advance. So I found the key, but… was it, by any chance, something you… put here for me ahead of time?”

Her voice shook as she added those words without even realizing it. Her hand, too, trembled as she took out the key to the fourth-floor Sky Garden from her inventory and showed it to him, her fingertips quivering.

But suddenly, Segleninde grabbed her fingers. Startled, Cynthia flinched and tried to pull away, but he spoke.

“What am I supposed to do?”

“…What, what do you mean?”

“How am I supposed to make you stop shaking? What exactly do I have to do?”

The hand holding the key was limply drawn toward him.

The scent of rain-soaked grass and lush flowers filled her nose. Cynthia was pulled into Segleninde’s embrace as if being drawn in.

Beyond the thick muscles of his chest, she could hear a pulse racing peculiarly fast. His breathing trembled thinly.

“Don’t be afraid of me. I said I wouldn’t kill you. I promised to protect you. You said you trusted me.”

His voice was desperate. It was far too wretched for someone simply setting up a trap for their prey. He must be acting. This must be a lie, too.

The messages popping up in succession seemed to be conveying the truth to Cynthia.

From the very moment you fell into this world, there was never anything you could trust.

“Tomorrow. Let’s talk tomorrow. I’m tired and sleepy. And cold.”

All she wanted was to get out of this situation for now, so she muddled her answer. But when Segleninde didn’t move at all, she grew anxious and raised her voice.

“I-I found the key! See? I found the key, so tomorrow we have to go to the Fourth Floor. Right? If we get to the Fourth Floor, we can restore the mansion to the way it was. So. Right?”

Honestly, she didn’t even know what she was saying herself. Only her objective was clear.

She just wanted to get out of here and escape this situation. She hated this. A scary Segleninde? She’d just gotten used to him. She’d started to like him. And yet, he’d known the truth from the very beginning…

She was the only one who didn’t know anything.

Tears welled up in her confusion. She was scared. She hated it all. She just wanted to go home.

“……”

Sniffle. Only the sound of Cynthia sniffling broke the silence.

As she wiped away the tears running down her cheeks, Cynthia suddenly realized the presence embracing her had moved away and looked up.

He was gone, vanished as if erased from the spot. Cynthia was left alone in the atelier.

Still dazed, a message popped up before Cynthia’s eyes.

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