HDK l CH 6

Chapter 6

I looked at Ruri, who was still standing in the bathroom without leaving.
She tilted her head and said,

“Yes? I’ll be helping you with your bath today.”

Helping me bathe?
We literally just met today, though?

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re squeaky clean~”

What? Me?
Uh… I have hands, you know.
I’ve never even let a professional bath attendant do that before!

“I’ll… I’ll do it myself…”

I was afraid she’d insist on scrubbing my back, but luckily she smiled brightly.

“Oh, really? Then I’ll wait outside. Please call me if you need anything.”

I nodded as she left.
I felt a little guilty making someone wait by the door—but hey, I couldn’t resist a bubble bath.

I sank into the tub until my shoulders were covered, scooped up some bubbles, and stared at them in my palm.
Then I noticed the bracelet on my wrist.

‘Ah, I forgot to take it off. I hope it’s waterproof.’

I tried to remove it, but it wouldn’t come off.
As I frowned, one of the little beads began to glow.

I leaned closer. It blinked a few times like it was signaling something, then the light slowly faded away.

‘Weird… maybe it glows when it touches water?’

I shook off the water just in case, but nothing else happened.

After soaking until my whole body felt soft and wrinkly, I finally got out.

***

After enduring the embarrassment of having the maids help me dress, I could only think one thing:
I was in awe.

Not because the dress was beautiful—though it was.

‘To all the transmigrators who came before me… I truly respect you.
How did you walk so gracefully in these things?’

It was a long yellow dress. Pretty, yes—but…

‘I’ve never worn something this long before…’

With every step, the skirt tangled around my legs, making walking a struggle.

Ruri spoke carefully, as if she’d been waiting for this.

“My lady, this fabric is all the rage in the capital right now.
It’s meant to be worn with a petticoat underneath, so everyone usually holds up their skirts when walking indoors.”

“Oh… right.”

“I should’ve told you sooner. I’m sorry! You usually wore simpler dresses back at the estate, didn’t you?”

Another maid with black hair, Yuri, added,

“Yes, ladies from the countryside usually prefer stiffer dresses that are easier to move in.”

From their chatter, I pieced things together:
The original “Selene” must’ve been a noble lady from a rural estate.

She’d come to the capital at her brother Count Wedon’s suggestion for the social season.
The house had been newly renovated, and all the maids—including these two—were newly hired.

So, my awkwardness was easily explained away: a free-spirited country lady not used to capital manners.

“Hehe… right, that’s it…”

At first, I tried to act like a proper noblewoman, but by the end of the day, I gave up completely.

No one corrected me on how to hold a knife, the order to eat dishes, or how to walk.

‘Isn’t this all going too smoothly?’

It was almost suspicious how easy everything was.

Still, I decided not to overthink it.
The food was good, the environment comfortable—life here was great.

If I could live like this forever, I’d be happy.

After dinner, I headed straight for my bed like a migrating bird returning home—
but the blanket was gone.

“Where’s my blanket?”

The maids smiled kindly.

“It’s being washed, my lady. The new bedding hasn’t arrived yet.
Why don’t you go for a walk in the meantime?”

“The weather’s lovely—perhaps a bit of shopping?”

No, thank you.

I trudged out of the room toward the garden instead.
There was a comfy-looking bench there, after all.

“My lady~! Please wait!”

But even that plan was ruined.

“It’s dangerous to stay here right now—we’re trimming the trees today.”

The gardener, holding huge shears, tipped his hat.

Why. Why today of all days?

“If you’d like a stroll, there’s a hill right outside the back gate.
You might enjoy the view there.”

No, I would not.

But with no bedding and no peace in the garden, I had no choice but to wander around aimlessly.

Everywhere I went, people kept stopping me.

“We should’ve finished decorating before you arrived, I’m so sorry!
Do you have a favorite flower, my lady?”

“How was your trip to the capital?”

“Is the mansion to your liking? Is there anything uncomfortable?”

“How about the meals? Anything you prefer?”

“Haha…”

Could everyone please stop talking to me?

Since I was new here, they all seemed fascinated—asking question after question.

“Would you like me to call a maid to escort you, my lady?”

Ugh… I didn’t want to take a single step outside, but…

“Fine. I’ll just… go up the hill.”

I slumped my shoulders and walked toward the back gate.
There was a small path leading uphill.

Wait. Is this really a hill? Or Mount Everest?

After walking for just a few minutes, I was already gasping for air.

“Hah… huff…”

I swore I’d never go hiking again and collapsed under a large tree.

‘There aren’t… like… bugs or something here, right?’

I lay down in the shade, and my back practically sighed in relief.
Only then did I notice how pretty the sky was—bright blue and spotless.

‘The clouds look like bread… ah… bread sounds nice right now…’

A gentle breeze brushed past me.

‘Ahh… this is perfect…’

And I slowly drifted off to sleep.

***

Meanwhile…

Sirinyu left the imperial palace and climbed into his carriage.
His face was calm and cold, though anger boiled inside him.

He was the young head of the empire’s most powerful family—the Riephrix.
The Empire’s strongest warrior, the slayer of monsters, the cold-blooded noble with no mercy—
the one destined to kill the Demon King.

His entire life had been dedicated to that purpose.
Nothing had come easily, but nothing had stopped him either.
He had to succeed. Failure was not an option for a Riephrix.

But now, everything he’d lived for was shaking apart.

He closed his eyes, long lashes brushing down.

Long ago, before he was even born, a prophecy had been made—
one that foretold the coming of “the chosen one” who would end the Demon King.

When that person finally appeared, the empire rejoiced.
Some were hopeful, others skeptical, but everyone agreed:
the Demon King had to be destroyed.

Peace would return, monsters would vanish, and the Empire would be reborn.

But Sirinyu was different.

He had never put faith in anyone—not once in his life.
For him, this “chosen one” wasn’t hope—it was revenge.
A chance to finally destroy the Demon King who’d killed his parents.

And yet, before anything even began, the chosen one disappeared.

Over something so ridiculous.

The knight who delivered the message—normally calm and collected—could barely speak.

“She said… she doesn’t want to stay because… her family isn’t rich…
people don’t look up to her… and… there aren’t any handsome men around.”

No one was more stunned than Sirinyu himself.
But all the blame still fell on him.

“Why didn’t you go to her first?”
“Do you even care about saving the Empire?”
“Are you going to sacrifice the whole nation, just like your parents?”

Sirinyu scoffed at the memory.

He was used to hatred.

The Riephrix bloodline was marked by violet eyes—the sign of power to slay monsters.
But his left eye was blood-red, the color of a curse.

His father had called him a defective half-breed.
His mother had avoided him all her life.

From the moment he could walk, he was forced into brutal monster-slaying training.
No one praised him. No one ever showed affection.

He never learned how to love—or to be loved.

Killing the Demon King wasn’t about love or duty.
He just thought—maybe then, the emptiness inside him would finally disappear.

But that hope was long gone.
Now, killing monsters was all he had left.

He spent more nights drenched in blood than in peace.

Then, one day, the magic stone glowed again.
The sign that the chosen one had returned.

‘This time… it’ll be different.’

He wouldn’t let things fall apart again.
He wouldn’t let the nobles who wanted his family destroyed have their way.

And if the chosen one tried to run again?

He’d make sure she couldn’t.

‘Even if I have to break her legs to keep her from escaping.’