Theodore’s expression changed instantly from the sly smile he’d been wearing just moments before. With a rather serious look, he said:

“Alright, let’s stop playing around. Honestly, you have no idea how happy I was when I found you again.”

His blue eyes sparkled brilliantly. His clear gaze seemed noble and steadfast. I looked away, worried that my heart might waver if I kept staring.

Theodore paid no mind to my attitude and continued revealing his feelings.

“I don’t expect you to accept my feelings right away. But I want you to know this much—the time I spent with you while I was Teddy was genuine. I want you to stay by my side.”

“…”

“I never want to let you go again. I regretted so much after letting you leave.”

“…”

When I gave no response, Theodore let out a deep sigh and said:

“I’ll back down for today. But next time, I won’t let you go this easily, so be prepared.”

When I acted firmly, Theodore seemed to have no intention of forcing his thoughts on me any further. Just when I thought that was fortunate, he suddenly approached and briefly pressed his lips to my cheek before pulling away. Startled, I froze with my eyes wide open. What on earth was that…

“You’d better not think about running away.”

Theodore gave me a polite bow with a leisurely attitude and elegant posture. I stared blankly at him walking away from me.

To anyone watching, it would look like he was flirting with me. What was he scheming?

Even after I told him that Diane was the real saintess, he still came looking for me, so there must be some reason I didn’t know about.

He was probably trying to deceive me with sweet words to use me, but this time I had absolutely no intention of falling for it.

* * *

“I’m sorry to bring this up during such a busy time, but could I take about 3-4 days of vacation?”

“You’ve been working non-stop for two months. Take as much time as you need.”

After returning to Lettis Village and going back to the shop, I handed money to the shop owner and asked permission to take vacation. I was worried he might refuse, but fortunately the shop owner readily agreed.

“Thank you.”

After saying goodbye, I went straight home and started packing. Theodore had encountered me in Carrot Village today, but I had to consider the possibility that he might search the surrounding villages looking for me.

He said I shouldn’t think about running away? Why shouldn’t I?

I felt like I needed to take a vacation for a while and think about what to do next. I planned to go somewhere no one would find me.

I could buy whatever I needed, so I only had to pack lightly. After gathering just the bare minimum, I left the house.

Where should I go?

Since I hadn’t decided on a destination yet, I headed to the bookstore first. I’d only been in Beta Empire for two months, so I didn’t know much about this place.

I planned to look at maps and guidebooks before deciding where to go. For now, getting away from Lettis Village was the priority, so I headed to the stables to rent a horse.

After choosing the sturdiest horse and heading home, a thick shadow suddenly fell over my head. Feeling uneasy, I hurriedly tried to turn around, but someone struck the back of my neck.

I lost consciousness in an instant.

* * *

Clop clop. Clop clop. The sound of horse hooves and carriage wheels turning echoed in my ears. From the way my body was gently swaying, I realized I was currently in a carriage.

My mind was clear, but my eyes wouldn’t open yet. I tried to move my body first, but my hands and feet were tied so I couldn’t move.

An ominous thought crossed my mind. Taking me deliberately to a place away from the village meant…

I opened my eyes wide, trying to figure out what was happening. Then I couldn’t help but be shocked when I saw the woman sitting across from me.

“Diane? How are you here?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know where you were?”

I’d never told anyone, so how… 

Diane’s smiling face felt eerily unsettling. How could she know where I was?

I thought no one would be able to find me since I was hiding in a small village with both my name and identity concealed. But why was Diane, of all people, here?

Could it be…

“That’s right. You can’t escape from the original story.”

Diane, reading my thoughts, immediately resolved my doubts. But I couldn’t agree with her words. I’d already deviated from the original story long ago.

However, seeing how she found exactly where I was without me telling anyone, it seemed that Lettis Village was where Stella had been living after being banished in the novel.

D*mn. If I’d known this, I should have lived as a wanderer… I was caught off guard by not having read the original work.

“You should be busy enough dealing with the Alpha Empire. How are you here?”

“Why? Because you’re annoying me, that’s why.”

Diane’s gaze toward me was filled with hatred. Just taking away the crown prince’s purity didn’t seem like enough reason to give me such a cold stare. Had she perhaps noticed that I’d become the real saintess?

I glanced at Diane’s face, trying to read her thoughts, but her eyes weren’t sane, so I failed.

“I’m a chosen human. That’s why I possessed the protagonist’s body in the novel.”

The words that came from Diane’s mouth next were just as unsettling as her gaze.

“The moment I died, God spoke to me. He said he’d grant me anything I wanted. So I asked God—I wanted to become the protagonist in a novel and live a happy life.”

He said he’d grant anything? But why… Huh?

I’d heard the same words too. But why couldn’t I still remember the details clearly?

“It’s a persistent bad relationship, isn’t it? To break this persistent connection, one of us has to die. Don’t you think so?”

“What? You’re really going to kill me? You’re the protagonist—is it okay for you to commit murder?”

“Why would I dirty my own hands?”

I got chills when the carriage entered deep into a deserted forest and stopped. Masked men were approaching us. There were about six of them.

“You just need to be killed by bandits while traveling, right? I was worried it would be suspicious if you suddenly disappeared from the village, but you got vacation on your own?”

“Did you tail me? You came out personally this time?”

“I need to see your end with my own eyes to feel at peace.”

I recalled meeting Theodore in Carrot Village. To be kidnapped by Diane right after parting with him…

It seemed both he and Diane were able to come to Beta Empire taking advantage of the chaos of war, but why were they all doing this to me? Couldn’t they just let me live quietly alone?

How long do I have to be punished?

Bang! With an earsplitting roar, the carriage window shattered. Then men who forced open the carriage door roughly dragged me out and threw me onto the ground.

They didn’t touch Diane, and she watched me being dragged away from inside the carriage with pleased eyes.

I was scared and afraid, but I hadn’t lost hope. I believed in God’s words telling me to live freely.

“You shouldn’t touch me.”

Remembering the men who tried to kill me last time, I showed a confident attitude. Heh heh. Diane and the masked men all laughed at my bold appearance.

“Finish it quickly.”

As soon as Diane’s order was given, one of the masked men drew his sword and tried to strike down. That’s when it happened. Suddenly, with a bang, only the ground where the man was standing collapsed downward.

The startled man dropped the sword he was holding. Clang. The sword fell to the ground and pierced the man’s knee.

“Argh!”

The man screamed and fell to the ground. The situation was so shocking that no one present uttered a word. As the silence stretched on, Diane was the first to regain her composure. She stepped out of the carriage and shouted:

“What are you doing?!”

One of the men who belatedly came to his senses again pointed his sword at my neck. When the sharp tip of the sword lightly touched my neck, blood began to seep out slightly.

“Ugh!”

“What, nothing strange happened.”