HLRH | CH 08

The next morning.

Natalie was quietly obeying her confinement order, sitting in her room and planning for the night.

Bang!

“Natalie Ailsden!”

Anatole burst into the room, his hair messy. He must’ve just come back from the Imperial Palace.

“I heard you went out again. Didn’t I tell you to stay home and reflect on your actions?”

So someone tattled. Natalie sighed, knowing this was coming, and nodded calmly.

“Yeah. I just went out for some fresh air.”

Anatole’s face twisted in anger.

“Why are you so selfish? Father is doing everything he can to keep you from being accused of treason, and you go out for that kind of reason?”

He said it like he was worried for her, but really, he just didn’t want the family’s reputation damaged.

Natalie thought that bitterly and answered simply,

“I’m sorry.”

“…What?”

Anatole looked shocked, as if he’d heard wrong.

Natalie, who was always more stubborn than a bull and sharper than a spider, had never apologized before.

In the past, she would rather accept punishment than say sorry.

But now, she had no intention of wasting time defending her pride or trying to be understood.

‘Let’s just get this over with so I can plan.’

Natalie spoke in a mild, detached tone.

“I was wrong. I won’t do it again.”

“You…”

Anatole’s mouth opened and closed as if he couldn’t find the right words. Worried he’d start another long lecture, Natalie quickly interrupted.

“But I really did stay inside all day today. I’ll even eat in my room to show I’m reflecting. Oh, and it’d look bad to eat three full meals after doing something wrong, so I’ll just eat two.”

“What are you even saying…”

“Not good enough? Then one meal.”

“So now you’re being sarcastic too.”

He thought she was mocking him. His face stiffened, and he stepped closer.

“Listen carefully. The entire Empire — even the Imperial family — is watching us right now. Until your confinement is lifted, you must stay home. If you go out and cause more trouble—!”

Natalie sat quietly while he yelled, but his voice only grew louder.

She quickly cut in, looking calm.

“I’m not being sarcastic. I’m sorry. I really am reflecting on what I did.”

“Natalie…”

“I know Father and you have been cleaning up after my messes. I know it wasn’t worth it. I was spoiled and foolish.”

Her words poured out like a confession. Anatole looked confused, angry, and unsure all at once.

When his red eyes narrowed, Natalie smiled sweetly and finished,

“From now on, I’ll know my place. I’ll live quietly, obediently, and properly.”

“You… what are you…”

She thought that would finally satisfy him — but he still didn’t leave.

‘Why isn’t he leaving?’

Maybe she hadn’t done enough. So she asked seriously,

“Just saying sorry doesn’t feel sincere enough, does it? Oh, should I be punished instead? I don’t mind if you hit me.”

It would hurt, sure, but this was just a game world. As long as she didn’t die, a few bruises didn’t matter.

Natalie quickly stood up and grabbed the riding whip hanging on the wall for decoration.

Anatole looked at her like she’d completely lost her mind.

“Here.”

She handed him the whip as if she was doing him a favor. But Anatole stepped back, refusing to take it.

Thud. The whip fell onto the carpet.

“You want me to… punish you with this?”

“Yeah. Don’t people usually use this kind of thing to hit the legs?”

She had heard it from a baron’s daughter — that she’d been hit a few times as a child by a tutor to fix bad habits.

“…”

But Anatole’s expression only twisted further.

He opened his mouth as if to speak, stopped, then breathed deeply a few times.

“Usually? Usually? Who dared—”

He muttered to himself angrily, sounding almost dangerous, then suddenly asked sharply like he was interrogating her.

“Who have you been spending the most time with lately? Who have you been meeting?”

“What’s wrong with you?”

Why was he acting so strange? Natalie tilted her head.

And then—

Click!

The door burst open.

“Brother, you’re back!”

Sharon ran in with a bright smile and hugged Anatole’s waist.

“You’re really home now? Everything’s over, right?”

“…No. Father sent me to check on things at home. I have to go back soon.”

He patted her head a moment later. Sharon smiled happily — until she saw Natalie.

“S–Sorry! I didn’t mean to come in without knocking! I was just worried something happened to Brother and forgot this was your room—”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Perfect timing!

Natalie smiled softly, hoping Sharon would drag Anatole out like usual.

She picked up a book and sat on the couch, but Anatole was still standing there, frowning.

“Brother, let’s go. Before Natalie gets upset again, okay?”

Sharon whispered, tugging at his hand. Natalie beamed at the sweet, friendly siblings.

A few seconds later, Anatole finally let himself be pulled away.

When the door closed, Natalie exhaled in relief.

“Finally. Peace.”

She didn’t want to waste her energy on anything except winning over the male leads.

Love points were hard enough to raise as it was — she couldn’t afford to waste her stamina or time elsewhere.

Still, Anatole’s weird reaction lingered in her mind.

But she quickly shrugged it off.

‘He’s not even one of the main love interests.’

He was probably just surprised she wasn’t acting crazy anymore.

After all, he’d spent years scolding her to behave. Soon enough, he’d get used to this new, calm version of her.

Natalie returned to her planning, writing carefully.

“Miss, would you like your meal…?”

She was so focused that she didn’t even hear the servant outside the door.

By late afternoon, she realized she hadn’t eaten anything all day.

“I’m not even hungry.”

Her stomach was empty, but her head was full — she was too tense to feel hunger.

Even knowing the future didn’t stop her from feeling nervous.

She thought about calling a maid for dinner but decided it was too much trouble.

She washed up and got ready for bed as usual.

As night fell, one by one, the lights in the Ailsden mansion went out. The servants finished their work and headed to their quarters.

Then — at midnight.

Ding.

In the silent room, Natalie’s eyes flew open. She threw off her blanket and rushed to the window.

Bang!

She flung it open wide.

The sky was still dark and quiet. She rolled up her pajama sleeves and checked her knees — both were wrapped tightly in handkerchiefs.

“Prepared for injuries. Good.”

She changed into the leather boots hidden under her bed — the ones she only wore once a year for the hunting festival.

They weren’t professional gear, but running through fire in high heels would be idiotic.

“Perfect.”

She took a deep breath of the cool night air, ready for what was coming.

After about five minutes—

Sssshk, creeeak—

A faint, eerie noise came through the wind.

Natalie’s eyes lit up. Then she smelled something burning — faintly at first.

Whoosh! Kreee!

With a shriek, crimson flames erupted into the night sky.

The peaceful mansion exploded into chaos — shouts, screams, and lights flicking on everywhere.

“Fire!”

“Ahhh!”

“Get water! Hurry!”

Natalie looked down.

Huge spider monsters with six legs were spewing fire from their mouths, setting the mansion ablaze.

The Ailsden knights drew their swords and charged, while the servants frantically threw water everywhere.

But the flames only grew stronger.

The sulfur stench burned her nose. It was hell on earth.

‘What a waste,’ she thought calmly.

The Ailsden mansion — one of the Empire’s most beautiful — was turning to ash.

Of course, with their wealth, they could rebuild it easily. Still, it was a shame.

Everything was going according to plan so far.

“Alright then, time to go—”

She reached for the doorknob—

Thud.

Dust fell from the ceiling. Natalie looked up, puzzled.

“Huh?”

Was it from the fire below? She squinted. The ceiling began to vibrate with a deep rumble.

And then—

Kreeeee!

A piercing sound split the air.

Natalie clapped her hands over her ears — and saw the ceiling above her glowing red-hot.

‘Why is the ceiling on fire?’

The marble and jewels decorating the ceiling melted under the heat, dripping down like lava.

In an instant, the doorframe twisted — trapping her inside the burning room.