2. Farewell to My Peaceful Life as an Extra

Aaron de Monston was a character who, unlike his cold and prickly public image, harbored a passionate one-sided love.

‘Surely, a month before Marquis Parker’s party, around this time, the female protagonist was kidnapped and coincidentally rescued by the male protagonist passing by.’

Therefore, Cordelia de Royton, the object of Aaron’s one-sided love and the female protagonist, became the most crucial figure in Eileen’s revenge plan.

‘Farewell to my peaceful life as an extra.’

Eileen swallowed a bitter smile while bidding goodbye to her past.

“Miss, there must be many bugs in this forest that you hate……”

Daniel, who had been forcibly dragged along before dawn with the excuse that they had somewhere to go, sighed softly.

“That’s why we came here.”

“……What?”

Puzzled by the incomprehensible answer, Daniel tilted his head and questioned, but Eileen merely smiled. Eventually, he had no choice but to remove the cloak he wore and wrap it around Eileen.

“By the way, why didn’t you let Mary come along?”

“Hmm, because Daniel alone is enough……?”

There was no need to bring Mary, who was busy with household chores early in the morning. In this operation, the second most important person after Cordelia was none other than Daniel.

Eileen smiled awkwardly, letting her words trail off.

“Yes, if that’s your wish, Miss.”

Though it was clear she was hiding something, Daniel didn’t ask further. Meanwhile, the sun began to rise gradually.

‘When will she come?’

Eileen waited for Cordelia, her target, to appear, holding her breath.

The surroundings brightened, and rustling sounds echoed through the once quiet forest. Eileen slowly raised her head in anticipation.

‘Oh!’

Fluffy, soft-looking chestnut-brown hair and a round, fair face.

‘It’s her!’

Most convincingly, those large orange eyes that triggered protective instincts like a baby puppy.

A person who looked exactly like Cordelia, the female protagonist described in 『Oh, My Beautiful Countess』, appeared before Eileen’s eyes.

‘I’m sorry, Count Luke! Originally, you, the male protagonist, should rescue Cordelia and fall in love, but I’m in a hurry!’

Eileen tried to calm her rapidly beating heart.

“Let’s go, Daniel!”

Eileen shouted, nudging Daniel, who was lazily surveying the surroundings beside her.

“Miss, where exactly are we going……?”

Daniel hurriedly looked around at Eileen’s shout, but he couldn’t understand where they were supposed to go.

“Look over there, let’s hurry! Someone’s about to be kidnapped!”

“Ki-kidnapped?”

Startled by Eileen’s cry, Daniel quickly turned his head in the direction her finger pointed.

* * *

The time when morning mist began to clear.

It was the time when Cordelia took her daily morning walk.

Nothing made her happier than walking while breathing in the fresh air emitted by the green trees.

“Oh my, what flower is this?”

Today, too, Cordelia was walking alone in the forest as usual.

“……!”

But today was different from normal.

Suddenly, instead of fresh air, the strong scent of a cigar entered Cordelia’s nostrils.

“Wh-who……”

Knife marks deeply engraved on the forearm, like traces of a lived life, and the rough calluses felt on the skin.

Cordelia struggled to survive, barely rolling her eyes to see the arm blocking her breath.

“Mmmph……”

Cordelia screamed for help, but in the silent forest where not even the birds’ songs could be heard, her scream was an empty cry.

If she had known this would happen, she would have brought a knight escort as her father said.

But it was already too late for regrets.

‘Please, please, someone save me!’

A tear rolled down from Cordelia’s eyes and fell to the ground as her breath was blocked up to her chin.

At that moment—

“……Wh-what?”

Thud.

Simultaneously with Cordelia’s tear, a chunk of the kidnapper’s hair fell off. Before the kidnapper could assess the situation, a cold blade flashed at his neck.

“It would be better for you to let go of the lady.”

“Who are you!”

“I have no name to give to an idiot trying to kidnap someone.”

Daniel spoke with a warning tone, putting strength into the hand holding the sword.

The blade gradually approached the kidnapper’s neck, creating a shallow wound.

“Ugh……”

The pressure Daniel exuded was strong and threatening enough for even a mere kidnapper to sense.

But he couldn’t die alone like this.

The kidnapper pulled out a dagger from his waist and instantly brought it to Cordelia’s neck.

“Sa-save me……”

Cordelia flinched at the cool blade touching her neck and looked at Daniel with tearful eyes.

“If you don’t want to see this woman die, you’d better put away your sword.”

A vile, giggling laughter echoed through the forest.

“How childish.”

Daniel let out a scornful laugh and removed his sword from the kidnapper’s neck.

“Hah, so you’re just all show?”

The kidnapper felt like a winner when Daniel retreated more easily than expected. He snorted and slowly backed away.

“I don’t want to hear such words from a mere kidnapper.”

Daniel remained calm despite the kidnapper’s provocation.

Well, he could end it instantly by slicing the kidnapper’s neck, but he couldn’t show such a scene to his Miss and the lady he just met, especially early in the morning.

“I’m letting you go today because I’m busy, but next time I won’t let you off!”

Besides, if he could make the kidnapper let his guard down, he could also rescue the lady safely without injury.

Daniel waited for that moment, focusing on each of the kidnapper’s movements.

“Haha! Farewell! Stupid knight!”

Unaware of this, the kidnapper couldn’t hide his joy as he moved away from the two.

“Hmm……?”

But that lasted only a moment. The kidnapper’s steps, retreating one by one, suddenly stopped.

“Wa-wait. That’s……?”

A familiar black clump of hair lying on the soil and leaves.

Having diligently applied hair growth tonic and combed with an expensive brush even this morning, he could be certain.

“My precious hair!”

That black clump of hair, fluttering here and there in the wind, was definitely his hair.

The kidnapper forgot his duty and abandoned Cordelia, running towards his hair.

“Ha. Can’t you just grow your hair again?”

Unlike the kidnapper, Daniel’s brown hair, densely covering up to his crown, fluttered in the wind. Daniel clicked his tongue briefly and shook his head from side to side.

“You bastard! Are you playing with me?!”

“Playing? That’s harsh. I’m always serious.”

“The enemy of my hair! I’ll kill you!”

How much money had he spent to grow his hair again!

The kidnapper, who lost sight of everything else, drew his dagger and rushed at Daniel.

However, shortly after,

“Pl-please spare me.”

Despite his bold cry, the kidnapper never got a chance to swing his knife and ended up battered, covered in dirt and bruises.

“Miss, it’s all over.”

Daniel tied up the kidnapper with the rope he had been carrying, then called for Eileen who had been hiding in a safe place.

“Thank you, Daniel.”

Eileen gave Daniel a bright smile, then approached Cordelia, who was trembling in a corner.

“Are you alright, Lady Cordelia?”

“Do-do you know me?”

Her orange eyes, brimming with tears and wavering, and her unstable voice were so pitiful. Eileen bent her knee to meet Cordelia’s gaze.

“Of course. Ah, I’m late with introductions. My name is Eileen Lia de Ceres.”

Eileen took out a handkerchief from her bosom, gently wiped Cordelia’s reddened eyes, and softly brushed off the dirt from her hair.

“Miss, the dirt……”

“It’s fine, Daniel. Continue what you were doing.”

Daniel sent a worried glance, but Eileen gestured lightly that it was okay.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Eileen’s bright smile instantly changed the air in the forest, which had been filled with only fear.

“Sob…… Yes! I’m perfectly fine thanks to you, Lady Eileen!”

She also completely captured Cordelia’s heart.

“I’m so glad, Lady Cordelia.”

“Lady Eileen……!”

Cordelia, with her puppy-like round eyes sparkling, firmly grasped Eileen’s hand.

‘Ugh…… My conscience.’

Those orange eyes, full of tears, became sharp thorns pricking Eileen’s conscience.

‘Get a grip, Eileen! You need revenge, revenge!’

Eileen blew away the guilt that was rising like clouds.

“There are many bugs here, and I’m also worried about your condition, so may I take you to a hospital?”

Eileen, gathering her resolve once more, clapped her hands lightly and spoke in a slightly exaggerated voice.

“Of course! Thank you so much!”

“Shall we go then?”

Eileen gently held Cordelia’s hand and followed Daniel to the carriage waiting for her.

“Teacher, are you leaving me like this!”

The kidnapper cried out desperately as Eileen’s group gradually moved away from him. But there was no response.

* * *

Knock knock.

“Miss!”

“Yes, come in.”

Hearing a clear knock followed by an excited voice, Eileen put down the pen she was holding.

“What is it?”

“A letter and gift have arrived for you!”

“A letter?”

When Eileen tilted her head and asked, Mary placed a large box and a letter on the desk.

“It’s from the Royton family!”

“Ah! Lady Cordelia?”

“Yes! Lady Cordelia, whom you rescued like a splendid hero from a book, sent it!”

Mary’s playful voice echoed through the study, and Eileen laughed helplessly as she picked up the envelope.

“Mary. Was there something special happening a week from now?”

Eileen, reading the letter carefully with a smile on her lips, raised her head and asked Mary.

“Hmm…… I don’t think there was anything.”

“Really?”

Eileen folded the letter and opened a drawer to put it in a small box.

“Is something happening?”

“Lady Cordelia wants to invite me to dinner.”

“Then we must clear that day no matter what!”

Mary clenched her fist as if making a resolution.

“You’ve just returned to Bereut and already made a friend your age, and now you’re invited to dinner!”

Mary’s voice, filled with emotion, echoed throughout Eileen’s study.

“Mary?”

“This is no time to be standing around! Miss, I’ll go tell the Master and Madam! They’ll be so happy!”

Mary left her final words and quickly ran out the door.

“Mary, wait!”

Eileen urgently reached out to grab Mary, but she had already disappeared from sight.

* * *