The Raid (2)

"Haah..."

Somehow, I feel unsettled.

Abel Hardenberg.

He's truly an unfathomable man in so many ways.

The way he didn't resist when I was captured by those kidnappers earlier—was it because he was worried I'd get hurt?

Or was it all an act to win my favor?

The latter couldn't be it. There was no reason for him to do that. Honestly, the very thought is absurd.

'...Was he really worried about me?'

But that makes no sense.

The Abel who was called the mastermind ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the original work wouldn't possibly be concerned about me. Yet, no other reason comes to mind, and it's driving me insane.

'...For now, I'll just wait for him to return.'

Of course, even if he does come back, I can't ask him about it.

If I question Abel, who has no memory of that event, I'd only get scolded for spouting nonsense.

Lost in thought, I open the door to my room—and freeze at the sight of a man lying on my bed.

Ashen hair, scars etched across his face, clad in extravagant attire—he was sprawled across the bed, deeply asleep, having claimed the pillow as his own.

'...Abel?'

Why is he here?

I forced my already exhausted brain to work again. Then it hit me—Abel is an archmage.

Could he have used teleportation magic to return?

'...Lucky bastard.'

Some people take over a year just to learn basic shield magic, while others become archmages and casually teleport around.

With a sigh, I sat down on the bed.

There he was, sound asleep, completely oblivious to the turmoil in my heart.

Unlike the sharp impression he gave when awake, his sleeping face was nothing short of angelic.

If this were modern times, he could've easily been a top idol. I guess even masterminds in romance fantasies have to look the part.

'If only he were as kind as he looks.'

Always teasing people, oblivious to others' distress, acting clueless when it suits him.

And yet, the fact that he's oddly perceptive in the worst moments just pisses me off more.

With a hint of resentment, I poked his cheek with my index finger. He frowned slightly, then turned his head to the side.

'...I guess we've gotten somewhat comfortable?'

Even if it's in secret, we've reached a point where I can play little pranks like this.

More than anything, in this past month with him, I haven't suffered like before.

Originally, branded as the villainess, I would've been hated and even had my life threatened by now.

Most people around me would've rejected me without hesitation, treating me coldly just for being the villainess.

But the people of the Hardenberg Ducal Family were different.

From the maids to Abel himself, they treated me not as the villainess Adel, but simply as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠myself.

Unlike my own home, the Este County, where most servants didn't even bother hiding their disgust toward me.

Now, this place has even started to feel like a sanctuary.

'...I must've been exhausted.'

I must've been worn out from facing baseless malice and constant threats to my life.

To the point where the mansion of Abel Hardenberg—the original story's mastermind—feels like a refuge.

"Mmm..."

A sudden sound drew my attention back to Abel's face. He grimaced slightly, muttering something under his breath.

'Is he having a nightmare?'

I couldn't make out the words, but it didn't seem like a pleasant dream.

Maybe he's cold? I pulled out a blanket from the wardrobe and draped it over him.

Only then did his expression soften, as if comforted.

'...Wait, where am I supposed to sleep?'

Normally, I'd just sleep in this room.

But having Abel snoring softly beside me is distracting. Yet, I can't just go sleep in another room either.

Officially, we're a loving engaged couple.

If rumors spread that the fiancée, who supposedly fell in love at first sight, chose to sleep in a separate room instead of sharing a bed with her fiancé...

'...That would be its own problem.'

Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Sleeping here means dealing with Abel's presence right beside me.

But sleeping elsewhere risks raising suspicions among the servants about our supposedly affectionate engagement.

According to Abel, only Allen and Evan know about our contract.

'Haah... I'll just have to endure it...'

Resigned, I burrowed under the blanket and lay down beside him.

Abel's peaceful sleeping face was now right in front of me.

'...He's bigger than I thought.'

We've exchanged words countless times, but this is the first time I've seen him up close like this. Well, maybe I did at the ball earlier today.

But back then, I was too focused on dancing to notice—Abel's physique is larger than I imagined.

His shoulders were so broad they seemed to split the air, and the sharp line of his jaw made his size viscerally apparent.

...This is a romance fantasy novel, alright.

His appearance was so flawless it felt almost alien.

That's why she couldn't muster any real attraction to it.

Even though she had transmigrated into Adel's body, she hadn't reacted strongly to the Crown Prince's looks—the man Adel had once loved—precisely because of that same sense of dissonance.

If she had to describe it, it was like looking at a perfect doll.

Some might call a doll beautiful, but how many people would say they like a doll?

That was exactly the feeling.

And I'm full now, too.

At this rate, she'd probably never even date in this world, let alone marry.

Her standards were too high for ordinary men, yet she felt too much dissonance toward handsome ones...

...Might as well just sleep.

A strangely despondent mood settled over her, so she closed her eyes and decided to sleep. Before long, she sank into the plush comfort of the bed and drifted off. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

***

"...Haah."

Had she slept without covering herself with the blanket?

She'd dreamed of memories from her childhood.

The image of her biological father, Duke Ain von Hardenberg, abusing her still felt vivid before her eyes.

Now, she could curse and shake it off—but back then, it had been truly unbearable.

Maybe it was because she'd been trapped in a child's body.

Enduring that kind of abuse during the most emotionally vulnerable period had left her under immense stress.

If she hadn't had her past-life memories, those experiences would have become lifelong trauma.

That's how mercilessly that bastard had treated her.

Lost in thought, she opened her eyes—and froze at the unfamiliar ceiling above her. Normally, she'd be greeted by a plain white ceiling, so...

Why is it pink?

As she turned her head in confusion, a woman came into view.

Long, wavy black hair. Sharp, striking eyes.

It was unmistakably Adel.

But why was she sleeping beside him in her nightwear? He bolted upright and began retracing the events of last night.

...Am I an idiot?

No matter how exhausted he was, what kind of excuse was there for sleeping in his fiancée's bed?

Fortunately, he had no memories of doing anything inappropriate to her.

He'd already sobered up before falling asleep, so there was no risk of drunken misconduct.

And since his sleeping habits weren't bad, he probably hadn't inconvenienced her.

"Mmm..."

At the sound beside him, he turned his head—and locked eyes with her.

"...Abel?"

Adel stared at him with a dazed expression before slowly sitting up. She glanced down at her disheveled negligee, then blinked at him in bewilderment.

Why does she still look beautiful even in a situation like this?

The tousled negligee and slightly messy black hair gave her a decadent allure.

...Bad for my heart.

While he was thinking that, Adel's face scrunched slightly.

"...Don't tell me."

She hastily pulled the blanket up to cover her negligee. At a glance, she looked genuinely startled—but he could see right through her.

The subtle twitch of her facial muscles, delighted at having found the first thing she could tease him about.

Thwack.

"Eeek!"

He flicked her forehead, and Adel let out a strange noise before glaring at him with resentful eyes.

Rubbing her forehead with her right hand, she let out a pained whimper.

"Oww..."

"Teasing your fiancé like that is a bad habit, Adel."

"Tch. Fine, I get it."

Adel exhaled in disappointment and buttoned up her negligee.

As she straightened the futon, a mischievous grin suddenly crossed her face.

"Now that I think about it, Abel... why did you come to my room last night? Could it be...?"

Had she already forgotten getting flicked on the forehead? Seeing her triumphant expression, he couldn't help but sigh.

Adel even let out a smug "Hmph" as she side-eyed him.

...Haah.

Considering her personality, the only way to handle this was head-on.

"Of course, it was to see my lovely fiancée."

"...Huh?"

Seizing the chance to counterattack, he added,

"I must have been so excited that I forgot myself and dozed off." ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

His cringeworthy line seemed to embarrass her, as her face began flushing red.

Leaning closer to her tomato-red face, he continued,

"Sadly, I fell asleep first this time... but you can look forward to next time, Adel."

With a slight smirk, he watched as Adel ducked her head low.

"Okay, okay, stop! I surrender...!"

Hearing her admit defeat, he chuckled and pulled back.

This was his victory—his RoFan world experience had paid off.