The Dark Fantasy Hero Possessed into a Romance Novel (4)
The day finally arrived, but that didn't mean Zeke's cold demeanor suddenly thawed.
Well, actually, it shifted in a very, very subtle way—little by little.
'Ah, this. Kinda... cute?'
On the journey to Lamieli, Serena became utterly engrossed in spotting his small acts of consideration, one by one.
Observing him was so captivating that even the grueling carriage ride felt tolerable.
Somehow, during meals, if she glanced away for a moment, the portion of food would increase just a bit.
When she stepped out of the carriage briefly to handle some business and returned, there'd be an extra layer of clothing laid out on her seat.
When she woke from sleep, the bandage wrapped around her arm was a little cleaner.
'He really isn't used to dealing with people. And with that stoic face of his.'
Imagining him bustling about secretly on her behalf brought a pfft of laughter bubbling out.
"What's so funny?"
"Hahaha. Nothing at all."
Zeke furrowed his brow, shot a glance out the window, then spoke.
"We're almost there."
"Oh! Really?"
"Yeah."
Serena looked at Zeke.
Still that icy aura and rigid expression.
But it wasn't as intimidating or frightening as at first.
'Have I gotten a bit used to him? Now, maybe...? Hmm, is there some way?'
Serena still wanted to keep Zeke at her mansion somehow.
"Um..."
"Hm?"
Zeke, who had been staring blankly out the window, turned his head.
"Even though you turned it down last time saying you didn't need it... I'll ask once more anyway."
Serena broke the ice.
Zeke's eyes widened ever so slightly.
"I just can't bear to hand you some money and send you off like that."
"..."
"House Yohayden never forgets a favor. That's why my conscience won't allow it."
"Hm."
In truth, Zeke no longer found Serena so off-putting.
He could feel her warmth seeping bit by bit through the cracks in his guarded heart.
It was just that someone with such a pure soul attaching herself to him felt a tad uncomfortable.
"But if I just shove money at you or insist you stay at the mansion, you'll refuse for sure."
'Ah, well, not exactly anymore. I was planning to take the money...'
Zeke felt a flush of embarrassment.
"So here's my promise: If the hospitality at the mansion doesn't suit you, feel free to leave anytime."
Ugh. W-well, if that's...
"No matter when you decide to leave the mansion, I won't try to stop you."
Hey, stray pup. Be that nice and you'll get stabbed in the back.
"I'll give you the best room in the mansion, proper compensation, and of course, the finest meals."
Her earnest eyes made Zeke's resolve waver.
The warm hand of kindness he'd craved back then—yet no one had ever extended.
And now, only after he'd given up on it...
Was it too late...? Or not...?
"Stay as long as you like, and I promise on my family's name that we won't force any demands on you."
'Hmm. W-well, if you put it that way...'
He'd thought it was too late, but a sliver of expectation poked its head up again.
"Should we draw up a contract?"
Now she was even offering to stamp it. Serena, daughter of a great house, laying all her cards on the table.
'Hah. Seriously. What the hell am I... to deserve this? Damn. Guess I am somebody, huh?'
Zeke felt a ticklish flutter in his chest.
Truth be told, once he arrived, he didn't have any brilliant alternatives lined up.
He could always scrape by in some mountain, grazing on grass—no problem sustaining life.
Or head straight to Lamieli Academy and figure out room and board there.
But needless to say, a cozy bed and sweet honey beat scraping by in dark fantasy style any day.
'Yeah! Just for a bit!! A tiny stay. Thanks, Serena Starter Pack!!!!'
It was a picture-perfect attitude flip.
But outwardly, Zeke simply nodded.
"Really!? Thank goodness!! I was so worried you'd just leave like this!!!"
Haa. Serena let out a sigh of relief and beamed from ear to ear.
"Once we're inside the mansion, I'll introduce you to everyone! I'm sure they'll all love you!"
"Doubt it."
In this world, the only person Zeke could trust was Serena Yohayden—her soul confirmed pure.
*
At last, the empire's heart, the capital Lamieli, drew tantalizingly close—you could feel it in your bones.
The carriage, jolting like a trampoline, steadied on smoothly paved roads,
and the scenery—hitherto just the horses' whinnies and Serena Yohayden's voice—began mingling with the hum of human chatter.
Squirm.
'Don't go adding unauthorized features to our Starter Pack.'
Zeke felt deeply uneasy, displeased with his own body.
This world's automatic, translated speech.
His well-trained physique and Earth-similar looks had made him think the hardware was fine,
but there was a fatal flaw.
Compulsion.
His body would jerk to a halt now and then, like rusty old junk.
Actions and words that were allowed versus forbidden.
He still couldn't pin down the criteria, but it was damn picky.
'Hah, even eating's a goddamn ordeal.'
Just moments ago, he'd wanted to properly thank Serena at least,
but all that came out was cold, curt words.
Topped off with archaic phrasing straight out of some historical drama.
'Bandaging her worked fine, though. Even said thanks properly then. What's the damn rule?'
Truth was, the emotional turbulence Zeke felt right now was pretty intense.
'What? Pretty stray pup? Who the hell said that shit! Drag 'em here!'
Pure goodwill he'd never once received in the dark fantasy world. Definitely a romance novel vibe—people like this exist here.
Surprisingly, he seemed weak to kindness with no strings attached, given how little he trusted people.
—Uncle!
A young girl's voice flashed in his mind, but Zeke shook his head.
* * *
"This the place?"
"Yes, Instructor. It's a bit modest, but I'll make sure you lack for nothing."
"..."
Zeke's eyes quaked at the sight of the mansion Serena led him to.
A massive gate.
White walls encircling the courtyard like sentinels, embedded with silver bars,
and atop it all, a stately mansion rose slightly, draped in vibrant flowers.
Zeke had never seen a house this grand, save the Demon King's castle.
He'd held faint expectations since she boasted of her great house,
but reality leaped far beyond them.
Gulp.
'Qu-Queen?'
Clang—
After ringing the gate bell and waiting a moment, the door swung open.
A neatly attired man emerged.
The mansion's butler, no doubt.
He stepped out with a worried look, then widened his eyes upon spotting Serena.
He rushed forward and seized her hands.
"Miss Serena!"
"Alfred."
"H-how...? We heard you were kidnapped by bandits! A-are you all right!?"
The butler inspected the bandages on her body, at a complete loss.
He sidelong-glanced at Zeke, but Serena's calm demeanor suggested he wasn't a bandit.
"Yeah, I'm fine... More importantly, bandits?"
"Yes, they..."
Zeke, arms crossed and watching from the side, lifted one corner of his mouth.
'Aha. The ones who ditched Serena reported she got kidnapped.'
Serena reached the same conclusion, her face hardening.
"Alfred, where are they?"
"Those ones...? They arrived yesterday; we've got them locked in the dungeon."
"Bring them to the courtyard."
"Y-yes, right away. But first... we should have the physician check your condition..."
"No, deal with them first. Summon the knights too."
Sensing something amiss from Serena's rigid expression, the butler nodded.
The courtyard they entered through the gate was vast enough to pass for a training ground.
Thud. Thud. As Serena strode in,
servants—summoned by the butler's call—poured out in a rush,
bowing their heads and lining up on either side.
And before them stood a grand chair adorned with pure gold and jewels.
Serena sat naturally, legs crossed.
A posture befitting one above others.
Unlike her huddled, cute self in the carriage, she now exuded the dignity of a continental ruler.
'Whoa, is that the same nerdy Serena?'
Suddenly self-conscious, Zeke wondered if he should line up with the servants.
"Instructor Zeke, over here."
"Hm."
Serena indicated his spot.
Zeke stiffened his face and took position right beside her.
Soon, a man and women—bound in ropes—were dragged out by knights.
"Se-Serena!!!"
"Forgive us!! We've committed an unforgivable sin!!"
"It wasn't like that!!"
"We came here to request aid!!!"
They shouted from their dirtied faces.
Serena's head burned with rage.
She committed each of their faces to memory.
Their frenzied panic gradually subsided.
At last, Serena spoke. Her voice trembled with betrayal.
"Not only did you abandon me while I was unconscious, you even filed a false report."
"That's—!"
"Why? You shouldn't have come here at all. Why drag yourselves here... and lie about me being kidnapped by bandits!?"
It was the first time everyone in the mansion had seen Serena this furious.
Tears welled up in Serena; she felt like bursting.
If Zeke hadn't been there,
she might've been deceived by their lies, the knights chasing ghosts,
and never found.
"Why did you do it! Why! What didn't I do for you!?"
At those words, a maid with deeply slitted eyes opened her mouth.
"No!!! I'm innocent! Miss Serena! You have to believe me!"
"Ciela..."
Ciela had been her longest-serving personal maid.
Sometimes like a big sister, sometimes a friend.
She had her selfish moments, sure,
but Serena could overlook that much.
From Ciela, the betrayal cut deepest.
"Ciela, anyone else I might doubt, but you? I trusted you! How could you?!"
"N-no! I didn't run! That man! He dragged me away by force! How could I leave you behind, Miss Serena?!"
Ciela glared venomously at the large bald man among the bound.
"He's the one who said to report the kidnapping!"
The man lashed back.
"Don't make me laugh! Ciela! When did I say that? You told me to say it! You were the one who said to run!"
"Miss Serena, believe me! It's true! I even told the butler beforehand to meet today because I had something to say—to confess everything!"
Serena glanced at the butler, head bowed beside her.
"Alfred, is that true?"
"Yes... She did say she had something to tell me privately."
"Really...? Ciela... I..."
Serena wanted to believe Ciela to the end.
She couldn't accept all that time together as wasted.
If she'd been forcibly dragged by that man
and come to confess it all...
'Ciela...'
Then, Zeke—who'd been silently observing—stepped forward.
"Hold on."
All eyes, brimming with questions, turned to him.