Chapter 117
Odette sprang up in surprise.
“Uh—Teacher? Where are you going?”
The patient called out in confusion as Odette walked away as if in a trance, but she had no time to look back.
Step by step, she moved toward the shelter’s entrance.
And just as she stepped out to where the woman had been standing—
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!—!
The bell tower’s chime, which shouldn’t have been ringing, suddenly resounded violently through the air again.
“Kiiiiiiiiiiiek!”
At the same time, a piercing, inhuman screech—like the cry of something dying—echoed from above her head.
This can’t be…
It was the sound of a new catastrophe manifesting.
Before she could even grasp the situation, a furious wind whipped around her, so strong that it was nearly impossible to keep her eyes open.
What is this? There was never such a disaster in my previous life…!
When she managed to look up, she saw a new calamity—just born—soaring rapidly above her, as though it had one clear purpose: to devour her.
I… can’t… move.
The monstrous wind sucked in the surrounding air with terrifying force.
From afar, she could see Zion and Johann running toward her, probably to eliminate the new disaster.
If I can just—hold on for a little longer—
She clung desperately to the shelter door, but the wind tore it clean off its hinges.
Unable to endure any longer, Odette’s body was lifted violently into the air. Her hat was ripped away by the wind.
“Of all places—the shelter? Odette?!”
“Odette!”
Zion and Johann shouted her name in panic.
But Odette’s gaze was not on them. Instead, her eyes locked on a woman standing on the ground below.
The woman’s bonnet had been blown away, revealing soft pink hair fluttering wildly in the wind.
A sweet, harmless face. Front teeth that made her look like a rabbit. It was unmistakably Charlotte.
But what truly horrified Odette was not who she was—
—it was her expression.
She’s… smiling.
Because the corners of Charlotte’s lips, as she stared out toward the sea, were curling upward—eerily.
Among the many gardens of the Summer Palace’s greenhouse, there was one that the Emperor cherished above all others—
—the “Exotic Garden.”
It was an extravagant, otherworldly collection of tropical birds and plants, each one so rare and costly it could make your head spin. Because of that, the Emperor had ordered the caretaker to keep it locked at all times, only opening it on his direct command.
But today is different,
—because the key was now in Dolly’s hands.
Rudolf had just handed her the key, meaning he’d successfully stolen it from the caretaker and even finished setting up the alcohol inside the Exotic Garden.
Now all Dolly had to do was bring Karl and Odette there.
Honestly, I wish I’d been the one to steal the key. That would’ve been way easier than dragging Karl to the Exotic Garden.
The Emperor loved the garden so much that, ironically, he hadn’t arranged tight security for the key.
Everyone invited to the Summer Palace was among the Emperor’s closest circle—no one in their right mind would risk his wrath by sneaking in there.
So really, what was so hard about getting the caretaker drunk on fruit wine and swiping the key while he was distracted?
Rudolf had asked her why bringing Karl from the infirmary was such a big deal.
Hah… Try doing it yourself! See if it’s really that easy!
Now, several minutes later, Dolly was still just staring at the infirmary doorknob, frozen.
She couldn’t bring herself to open it—not when she had to face whatever unpleasant, cold, and repulsive thing was waiting inside.
I know, I know. I can’t let Rudolf do it. Odette’s message will only sound believable if it comes from me.
As she hesitated, the memory of Odette’s face from the salon flashed in her mind—
“Idiot.”
The shape of her lips when she’d said it.
That memory made anger flare up. Fueled by it, Dolly finally grabbed the doorknob and turned it open.
But the instant she saw Karl’s back inside the infirmary—her courage plummeted right back down to zero.
Can you even call that thing human?
Rudolf had called him “handsome,” but that was because he’d only seen a photograph.
In person, his looks didn’t even register. The air around him felt thick, sticky, and repulsive—
…Huh? That’s weird. He doesn’t feel as disgusting as last time.
Before, it had been hard to even breathe near him. But now, she could actually look at him without suffocating.
Still, Dolly didn’t relax as she called out,
“Hey, you.”
Karl turned his head at the sound, his face expressionless. His crimson eyes, devoid of any light, met hers.
184 pesetas. He wasn’t unusually tall, yet somehow, he felt overwhelmingly large.
“What is it?”
His bored voice carried not a trace of interest—casual, dismissive, naturally condescending, as if he were still a crown prince despite being a slave.
Yet somehow, it didn’t even feel arrogant—more like it was only natural for him to speak that way.
Still uncomfortable, but at least not as nauseating as last time…
Gulping, Dolly spoke,
“The lady… called for you.”
Silence fell. Tick, tock, tick, tock—the sound of the clock’s second hand was painfully loud in her ears.
He won’t kill me for speaking informally, will he? Maybe I should’ve used honorifics…
Cold sweat trickled down her back. But contrary to her fears, Karl simply rose obediently from the bed.
“Where do I go?”
“Follow m— I mean, follow me.”
Dolly barely caught herself from using formal speech and turned toward the corridor.
Tap, tap.
Her footsteps echoed—and another set followed right behind her.
Whew… he’s actually following me.
That was the hardest part done. Now she just had to lead him to the Exotic Garden, through the secret underground passage no one ever used.
The air grew damp as they walked past the dark basement storage rooms, their footsteps echoing softly.
Maybe it’s just the underground air… Why does it feel like it’s getting harder to breathe?
At first it was just a tightness in her chest, but soon it felt like invisible hands were closing around her throat.
And as that suffocating pressure grew, she could feel Karl’s presence behind her getting heavier.
Faster. I need to walk faster.
Just as she tried to quicken her pace, Karl’s low voice came from behind her.
“What’s your name?”
It was such a simple question—yet her heart dropped like a stone.
“W-what?” she gasped, short of breath.
“I learned Paula’s name earlier,” he said softly. “Now I want to know yours.”
“Why… why would you ask that?”
Her voice trembled violently.
Don’t answer. Don’t ever answer. Her instincts screamed at her.
Karl tilted his head slightly, his tone calm—almost gentle.
“You’re scared, huh?”
“…”
“How strange. All I did was ask your name. Why would that frighten you?”
He looked genuinely puzzled, crimson eyes gazing at her as if she were an insignificant creature not worth thinking about.
And in that instant, Dolly knew.
‘Why would you be scared?’—he wasn’t curious about her.
That question wasn’t about this moment.
He’s remembering someone else who was afraid, just like me.
Disgusting.
It felt like snakes were crawling under her skin.
“It’s hard to make people feel at ease,” he murmured. “Just getting rid of intimidation isn’t enough. Acting gentle doesn’t help either. There’s too much to manage. …They’re always anxious, always scared.”
A soft chuckle.
“But that’s what makes them so cute.”
Dolly felt sweat soaking her palms.
Run. Run now.
Schemes and plans vanished from her head. She didn’t care about finishing the job anymore.
She just wanted to get away.
She spun around and sprinted down the corridor. Her footsteps pounded wildly—but no matter how far she ran, she felt Karl right behind her.
Only her own footsteps echoed, yet—
Why does it feel like he’s still right there?
As unease clawed up her spine, she turned her head slightly—
—and something struck the back of her neck.
Her body went rigid and crumpled to the floor like a mannequin.
There were no footsteps. How did he get behind me?
She couldn’t move a muscle, but her mind was painfully alert. Panic consumed her.
“Don’t worry,” Karl said softly. “I won’t kill you.”
“Hhh—”
A thick wave of pressure radiated from him, crushing her reason until her consciousness began to fade.
“I don’t steal my master’s prey,” he whispered. “So feel honored—being chosen as his prey.”
For the first time, emotion flickered in his empty red eyes. Terrifyingly enough, it was jealousy.
As though he believed it was a privilege far too grand for her—
—that the only person his master should ever set his sights on—
—was him.
