Ways, ways—
“Who is this?”
"This is Benny from the inn staff. I brought you some water in case you get thirsty while you sleep."
“Oh, thank you.”
After washing the dishes with hot water, a cold drink was exactly what I needed.
“Can you leave it at the door?”
"Yes, of course."
After a short while, after making sure that no one was near the door, she brought over the tray containing the jug and cup.
“Hmm… no problems.”
After ensuring that the cup and pitcher were free of any foreign substances or stains, I unconsciously poured myself a cup of water – only to freeze mid-act.
2. Do not drink any liquids provided by the hostel, regardless of the type.
As mentioned in the first directive, the hygiene standards in this hostel are low.
Drinking unboiled beverages may cause stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, chills, and other symptoms.
Honestly, I was desperate to taste a sip of that pure and refreshing water.
Plus, I rarely have stomach aches, so I figured I could handle it.
But even then, I mustered extraordinary self-control and put the cup down.
“Right… I have to follow the instructions.”
Otherwise, the Grand Duke with laser-like eyes would definitely have something to say.
After placing the cup on the bedside table, I made sure to close the door tightly before sinking into the comfortable bed.
“Hmm.”
I feel sleepy already.
“It feels like...”
Like I forgot to do something...or maybe not. anyway.
As soon as my body sank into the plush mattress, the exhaustion from the past few days caught up with me, and I slid into sleep.
.
.
.
Fuck, cough!
A persistent cough broke the silence.
My throat felt scratchy, and my mind became confused.
Even after I opened my eyes, I couldn't tell if I was dreaming or awake.
...This is similar to how I felt when I had an endoscopy under anesthesia. Wait, what even is an endoscopy?
Where am I? Who am I?
“Bonita…?”
I felt like something was stuck in my throat, making it difficult to breathe.
Instinctively, I called for Bonita, but she wasn't here.
The room was too dark to see anything.
After wandering around in a daze, she finally reached the window on one side of the room.
“Oh, right...”
I was so exhausted that I slept without airing the room.
“But still, can stagnant air alone make breathing that difficult?”
No matter how much I blinked, my blurry vision never cleared.
Should I complain again? Wait, what's the complaint?
As my mind was falling apart, I used my exhausted hands to open the window. Just then I collapsed against the wall, panting.
Now, even my clear memories started to fade one by one.
Who told me to sleep with the window open?
Who was Bonita? Why were you here?
“Giddy...”
I wanted to open the door and leave, but something told me - even warned me - not to do so.
It was as if someone I greatly feared insisted that I never open that door.
The fresh air seeping in through the open window made my breathing a little easier, but my head still felt like it was covered in a thick fog.
Then someone knocked on the door.
Knock knock.
Knock, knock, knock!
I didn't have the strength to move, so I just stared at the door.
After a moment, I heard a faint, trembling voice.
“Please help me...”
A young boy's voice.
“Hmm…?”
“My grandmother is very sick. Please help us...!”
Of course, I had to help. He was a child asking for help, and I was an adult.
But for some reason, my body wasn't moving properly.
Step, step.
I managed to stand up, but I felt like something was holding my ankles, preventing me from getting up.
Don't open that door.
Why?
The knocking on the door became louder and more urgent, and yet I could not take a single step forward.
"I'm sorry."
“Please help me! Please!”
“I'm sorry. I can't open the door...”
The boy's desperate cries did not stop. Just hearing it made me anxious.
But still...but still...shouldn't I at least check?
Isn't it okay to take a quick look?
“My grandmother will die soon! Please help us!”
“No…”
“Please!”
While my mind was waging war with itself, a violent storm swept through the room.
Whoosh!
“Huh?”
explosion!
Startled, I turned around just in time to see the window being ripped from its hinges with a loud crash.
"Yes!"
I stepped back in fear, then hesitantly opened my eyes again – and there, in a silhouette against the dark blue sky, was a huge shadow.
No, not a shadow... but a man?
“You completely ignored me at dinner earlier.”
The man jumped out of the window frame and headed towards me with long, strong steps.
He was so tall that I had to tilt my head back to see his face.
“But at least now, you're somewhat following instructions, princess.”
As the moonlight made its way through the clouds, his entire face came into view, and my mouth dropped open in amazement.
Oh, my God! He is very handsome.
No, it's very cool.
His features were chiseled, sharp, almost divine.
But he wasn't delicate or pretty – his strong eyebrows and sharp jawline gave him an undeniable masculine presence.
What caught most attention of all were his dark green eyes, rich in color and piercing in intensity.
It looked like a masterpiece carved by the hands of a god.
No, back off – it was a divine masterpiece.
“...Princess, what are you doing?”
"Yes!"
His low voice woke me from my distraction, so I gasped and fell backwards.
Oh, my God.
I reached out and touched his face without realizing it!
I'm very sorry!
But the memory of his soft skin under my fingertips made my face—and my ears—burn with embarrassment.
Desperately, I hastened to explain my position.
“You're so handsome, I lost my mind for a moment...”
“What?”
“I've never seen someone so beautiful. I think… I think you might be my type.”
He pressed his lips into a straight line.
There was a heavy silence between us before I summoned the courage to speak again.
“Hmm.”
“What now?”
“Can you… stop staring at me like that? My heart is beating so fast.”
Hah.
The man let out a low laugh, running a hand through his hair.
I didn't know what his smile meant, but I knew it deserved to be on the cover of a magazine.
“Wonderful…”
Clap, clap, clap!
I started clapping already.
He laughed lightly, then whispered in a playful tone: “Did you inhale a lot of hallucinogenic vapor? But the window was open...”
"Oh! I just opened it!"
“…Huh. I thought you were following orders, but it seems I was wrong. I should have assigned you a maid.”
“Huh?”
Before I could respond, my world suddenly turned upside down.
When I realized what had happened, I was in his arms like a princess.
“Kyaa!”
Very high!
And very handsome!
Very handsome!
As he climbed onto the windowsill, he whispered, "Hold on tight. I don't have time to catch you if you fall."
"…What?!"
Fall?! Where are you from?!
Before I could finish my thought, my vision filled with the sky.
Looking back, I saw the boy standing inside my room… with a knife in his hand.
"Huh? Wait, what—Kya!"
And then-
We fell.
I didn't realize that my room was on the second floor, which is slightly above average, until it was too late.
With wide eyes, I took in the scene below. A chaotic battle was taking place, with many people clashing against each other.
Among them, I spotted some familiar faces, but no matter how hard I tried to remember, I couldn't remember who they were.
Why are they fighting?
Why is everything so messy?
“Ah...I feel dizzy...”
At some point, I went down. When I blinked again, my feet were already firmly planted on solid ground.
Amid the shouts of fighters and the clash of weapons, the man who brought me here issued an order to someone nearby.
“Take the princess to the doctor first. Her condition is unusual.”
“Understood. Shall I accompany her?”
The man, who was staring at me silently, shook his head.
“No, I'll take it myself.”
As he held my hand and led me away, I couldn't hold back the laughter that kept coming out of me. Then…
“I don’t know who this princess is, but she must have saved a country in her previous life.”
That was the last thought that crossed my mind before everything sank into darkness.