The Duke's Bloody Feast
Anomaly detected. Crunch crunch.
The sound of bones shattering.
And then.
A still-beating red lump.
What he was chewing on was unmistakably a heart.
His jaw smeared with blood underneath.
Mindlessly.
What the hell is that?
It was beyond anything that could be packaged as a "wild northerner's delicacy."
Not even the heart of some small animal like a rabbit.
The size alone was comparable to his own head.
At least a wild boar.
Maybe even...
Urk.
I clamped my hand over my mouth to stifle the groan that threatened to escape, barely swallowing it down.
That might have been the best decision of my life.
The Northern Duke, mid-bite into the heart, seemed to sense a presence and slowly turned his head.
If I'd made a sound, I'd have been caught for sure.
I hurriedly moved before our eyes could meet.
Away from the door crack, into the shadowy corner.
The darkness of the twilight corridor enveloped me.
A good sign for me.
Creeeak—
With a eerie groan, the door opened, and he poked his head into the corridor.
Please, just go back in and finish your meal.
His unfocused eyes slowly scanned the hallway.
I held my breath, clutching the throbbing heart.
His gaze reached me.
I'm fucked.
Our eyes met.
Is this how it ends?
I didn't need to imagine what a madman eating a live heart would do if he caught someone spying on his secret feast.
Silence stretched on.
And then he quietly closed the door.
Why?
Our eyes had met, but he ignored me.
He'd clearly sensed a presence and was looking for me.
He just... couldn't see me, for some unknowable reason.
I let out the tiniest sigh of relief.
Anyway, I survived. That's what mattered.
The Northern Duke is weird.
This wasn't about his tastes or weaknesses for the young lady—it was witnessing a secret I shouldn't have.
What should I do now?
Run to the young lady and tell her the truth?
Or report it to the guards or knights?
Wrong.
A duke's household butler's job doesn't include grasping a grand duke's weakness and shaking it down.
That'd be begging to be killed.
Extras shouldn't overstep.
This is a fake medieval romance fantasy world. A strictly hierarchical society.
Take what I saw today to the grave. That's my job.
After waiting plenty, I cautiously stood up.
For now, head back and think. Escaping comes first.
I hurried down the long corridor.
Is this really a romance fantasy?
Who'd have thought the esteemed Northern Duke had such an absurd hobby.
I kept walking down the corridor.
My mind was so troubled it felt like it was taking way longer than the walk there.
And damn, he's still handsome even then.
I had a silly thought recalling the moment.
Blood smeared on his lips and all, and he still looked that good.
There must be people who'd be fine knowing the truth.
Am I going crazy? What kind of thoughts are these?
Suddenly, an eerie chill made me look around.
One corridor stretched on endlessly.
Infinitely.
I'm losing it.
The mansion layout couldn't possibly be that long.
Hallucination from exhaustion.
I hurried away.
This romance fantasy world is way more dangerous than I thought.
First, retreat to my safe room and sort my thoughts.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
My head was such a mess I couldn't sleep a wink.
Turns out this world's genre was horror masquerading as romance fantasy.
And I'd glimpsed the truth, standing on the edge.
How many people in the world could accept such nonsense in one night?
I thought I'd just clean up after the spoiled young ladies' catfights and live peacefully.
My precious peace shattered in an instant.
But the creepiest part? The world was astonishingly peaceful.
"A black mage's conspiracy? What do you mean, sir?"
"Sebas, you must be tired lately."
I'd been bustling around since morning gathering info, but it was all for nothing.
These were butlers I'd known for years and kind maids—they wouldn't lie.
No black mage plots in this world.
No clues about unknown monsters.
No rumors of nobles turning into monsters or acting strange.
At least it wasn't a dark fantasy on the brink of apocalypse. Small mercies.
So, did I just unluckily witness a rare fantasy mishap?
Was last night's incident just the Northern Duke's eccentricity?
"No way."
When I saw him with blood on his lips.
That chilling sensation screamed at me not to let my guard down.
Something's there.
A backstory even the people living here—and original novel readers—don't know.
I slapped my cheeks and stood before Scarlett's door.
Damn original author. It was a popular romance fantasy.
Who plants a genre-drift bomb like this?
What the hell were they thinking?
Even if I know this world's secret, what can I do?
The Northern Duke will leave for his territory in a hurry today, per the original plot.
And that weird corridor? I won't encounter it again unless I seek it out.
Maybe I'm just burying my head in the sand, but I have no moves right now.
"Ignore it for now. Stick to the script."
I'm anxious, but all I want is a normal daily life with my immature romance-fantasy lady.
It was time for her morning routine before heading to the banquet hall.
I opened the door. Scarlett, already in her dress, was having her hair done by a maid.
Our eyes met in the mirror, and hers lit up.
"Sebas! Perfect timing. Did you find out the Grand Duke's tastes?"
Her expectations were sky-high—no greeting, straight to the question.
I hid my bitter smile and bowed politely.
"My apologies, miss. I didn't have enough time."
Her face crumpled at my answer, lips pouting as she grumbled.
"No way. So I just sit there sucking my thumb while he chats with that woman today?"
"I have no excuse, miss."
I admitted my failure and bowed deeper.
The head maid's hands, carefully rolling Scarlett's bread-like bun, paused.
In the mirror, Scarlett's eyes widened as she asked cautiously.
"Sebas, you've never messed up something like this before. Are you feeling ill?"
I looked up at her reflection.
Her clear eyes, full of worry, reflected my haggard face.
"No. Some personal matters came up overnight, and I lost track of time sorting them."
"Oh no, is everything okay now?"
"Yes, I just wrapped it up perfectly."
A lie. Far from solved—it's only beginning.
But feeling her pure kindness firsthand firmed my resolve.
I'll keep this too-good-hearted lady from ever knowing the world's dark underbelly.
I can't bear imagining her face in despair confronting that horror.
And I absolutely won't let her go villainess-blackened down the path to ruin like in the original.
How? Only one way I can think of.
Follow the original plot. With a slight twist.
At least while the original rolls on, the world looks fine on the surface.
No world-ending threats during the long serialization.
That's reason enough to stick to the flow.
And care for the lady with all I have so she doesn't become the vicious villainess.
That's my role in this mad world.
I stood and took my usual spot behind her.
Scarlett eyed me worriedly, then sighed in relief seeing my normal expression return, and jumped up.
"Well, can't be helped. You must have your reasons you can't share. I'll handle the Grand Duke myself. My fatal charm makes it a piece of cake!"
Scarlett, in her secret weapon dress, snapped open her feather fan with a flourish and strode out confidently.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Hmph, I hear His Grace prefers a sturdy partner to cross swords with on the battlefield."
"Oh my, so you're saying that drab dress of yours suits the battlefield dust perfectly?"
"Are you done talking?"
Their staring contest started at breakfast.
How do they keep those eyes burning every day?
Women's worlds are beyond me.
Unfortunately, today's topic, the Northern Duke, won't show.
Per the original, some urgent territory issue would've sent him back early morning.
The one I need to watch isn't him—it's Ariel.
Keeping her and Scarlett from clashing is my role.
As I waited idly for her arrival.
Sudden cheers erupted, the banquet hall doors swung open, and a familiar figure strode in boldly.
"Kyaa! Your Highness Eisenvelts!"
"Oh my god, you're dazzlingly handsome again today!"
Kairon von Eisenvelts, Northern Grand Duke.
Why the hell are you coming out there?