Chapter 3
If Anna hadn’t been there, I’d already be dead….
I only cleared the brutal quests because Anna helped me little by little.
But if I don’t break the potion, I’ll die right now.
Thinking about it, there were many ways to replace Anna’s debt and job. Using what I know from the game, I could probably earn not just 60 gold but 600 gold soon enough — it’d just take time.
Sorry, Anna.
I steeled myself. I had no choice but to do it to survive. When I entered the retreat house, the sight in front of me made me hold my breath.
What is happening here?
Blood-red grass and a metallic, iron smell greeted me. Just as my head spun, a metallic clang snapped me back to attention.
Clang.
I lifted my eyes from the stained grass. A blond man stood alone, fighting several attackers.
Even though he was outnumbered, he was calm — more than calm, he seemed to be enjoying himself. His golden eyes curved in pleasure.
“You’re better than last time.”
But despite that compliment, the attackers couldn’t withstand even one of his moves. Every time he swung his sword, people fell and red blood scattered on the ground. With each fall, madness grew in his golden gaze.
“Heh. Still pretty trashy, though.”
He methodically defeated those around him, and soon only one attacker remained.
The last man trembled and stared at him. As the man stepped forward, the attacker stepped back.
Like a hunter savoring his prey, the man closed the distance slowly. The cornered attacker swung his sword, but it missed. The man’s blade pierced the attacker instead.
He leaned close and whispered kindly into the attacker’s ear.
“Tell my sister. Next time, entertain me more.”
At the words, I immediately recognized who he was.
Lian Hernandez.
First prince of the Landrio Empire, called the strongest in the game world — one of the male leads in The Woman Who Creates an Emperor.
Lian pulled his sword from the man’s body with a bored expression.
Seeing the red blood on the blade made my stomach drop.
He looked down at the fallen attacker and said without feeling, “Now that I think about it, he’s useless dead — can’t even tell my sister anything.”
I backed away slowly, not by logic but instinct.
A soft rustle. His golden eyes turned toward me.
“…!”
Of all things, a cursed sack of fertilizer lay at my feet — the gardener hadn’t tidied up.
Damn gardener! Take your trash away!
Cursing the gardener didn’t change the situation. I glanced up and met his gaze. He had definitely noticed me.
My throat clicked. He was a bit far, but he knew I was there. I thought, suddenly:
If I break the potion right in front of Lian, will I survive?
Lian was gentle to the heroine but merciless to others. If I broke the potion in front of him, he might fly into a rage and cut my throat with that sword.
The game said break the potion to deliver to Lian, but it didn’t say where to do it.
I turned and started to walk away. Voices called behind me, but I pretended not to hear.
The system said to break the potion — it didn’t say “break it in front of him.” Any place would do. With that logic, I hurried on.
Voices kept calling behind me, but I blocked them out.
I hear nothing. I’m only going to inform the house about this situation.
I kept repeating that to myself.
Footsteps sounded closer. I didn’t turn back, but it felt like Lian was near.
Damn.
Trying to break the potion somewhere quiet seemed impossible. When I quickened my pace, he matched me step for step. I broke into something like a jog, but couldn’t lose him. My pretending not to notice didn’t last long.
Lian grabbed my shoulder and spun me around. His face — so handsome it took my breath — was inches away.
Golden, cold eyes looked down at me. The metallic smell of blood and his frightening presence nearly suffocated me.
“Why are you running like a mouse?”
I could only open my mouth and make a sound; I couldn’t form words. Fear choked my voice. Still, I hid the potion behind my back.
If I hand the potion over, it’s over.
Either way I’d die — but I didn’t want to die right here. Or maybe if I refused, he’d kill me on the spot?
“Are you mute, or just refusing to answer?”
He tilted his head and watched me. Pale skin, sharp jaw — under normal circumstances I’d be breathless at his looks, but now it was sheer terror.
He stepped closer. Running away now would be a bad idea; I felt that instinctively.
His height cast a deep shadow over me. The darkness he made settled over my heart, too.
Say anything. If I don’t, I’ll die!
But my head was stone. No words came. Lian, losing patience, aimed his sword at me.
It slid cold across my nape and I snapped to attention. I forced my voice out.
“I-I’m a m-maid… of the Campbell house…”
But fear mangled my words. Lian still pointed his sword and asked, “A maid of the Campbell household?”
I nodded instead of answering.
“Then why were you running?”
“B-because I was scared.”
He looked puzzled at my answer. I pointed with my eyes at him.
Lian followed my gaze and studied himself. His white shirt was stained with red blood; even his arms and legs still dripped blood. No matter how handsome, blood-splattered like that would terrify someone away.
He nodded as if he understood, but didn’t put his sword away.
“Fine — you were scared. But why did a Campbell maid come to see me? You’re not here to check whether I’m dead or alive, are you?”
“…”
I didn’t know what to say. If I said I’d come to deliver a potion, he’d demand it. If I said anything else, he might think I was an assassin.
I should have broken the potion before I came to the retreat house.
Regret didn’t change the past.
When I bowed my head, Lian lifted my chin with the tip of his sword. Those noble golden eyes scrutinized me. With one look he made clear: answer well — or I might die.
“When you speak, look me in the eye. Or I’ll assume you have other motives and kill you.”
“Y-Your Highness.”
“You know I’m a prince, it seems.”
Lian smiled faintly. All royals have golden eyes; anyone could tell he was a prince at a glance.
“Tell me. Why did a Campbell maid come to me?”
“I didn’t come with a business to do for you…”
“You didn’t come with a business?”
I braced myself. I felt foolish and embarrassed by the lame excuse I was about to give, but it was the only thing I could think of in that moment.
And what you doing now? (눈‸눈)~