But the first thing that caught my eye was not the glaring red hair.
82%
‘Why is it so high?’
As I blankly stared at the berserk rate above his head, which was slowly getting closer, I suddenly came to my senses.
“……!”
Dry gray eyes, like ashes left after burning all the Corruptors to nothing, stared straight at me.
Only then did I realize that he had called my name exactly.
‘…How did he recognize me?’
My hair and face were completely covered by a bonnet and a mask.
Unless he could read minds, there was no way he should know.
‘Did he recognize the duke’s maid uniform? Or… since I was once his master, did he recognize my build?’
As I tried to guess how he had figured me out, I bit my lip.
It didn’t matter how he knew.
This was a very bad time to face him.
The third male lead—who considered the very existence of his former master, Edith, humiliating, and who hated her for giving him the name of a male courtesan.
Dylan Frederick.
Unlike the other men who distanced themselves because Edith bullied the heroine or became obsessed with them, he had personal feelings involved.
‘He’ll be much harder to deal with.’
Unfortunately, I didn’t have the strength to have a standoff with one of the male leads right now.
I could collapse at any moment.
Just then—
“M-Miss Nancy!”
Aston called out to me at that exact moment.
She flinched as if she were about to run toward me.
I shook my head, signaling her not to come closer.
And then—
“……Thank you for saving us.”
“……”
“But you’ve mistaken me for someone else. Excuse me.”
After giving Dylan a brief bow, I quickly turned around.
In times like this, pride didn’t matter. Running away was the best option.
‘…I’m exhausted. I feel like I’m dying.’
It wasn’t just exhaustion. I was still shaken, my heart pounding wildly.
The Corruptors screaming and chasing us had been terrifying enough—
But watching that massive flame swallow them whole right in front of me was the most shocking part.
It truly made me realize just how powerful an S-rank Awakened’s ability was.
‘And Edith, who wasn’t even Awakened, thought about making enemies of monsters like him? Seriously…’
She should never have gotten involved with them in the first place.
Shivering, I hurried my steps.
Then—
Smack!
A strong grip suddenly seized my wrist.
“What—!”
“If you wanted to fool me completely, you should at least have put in some effort.”
“……”
“Did you think I wouldn’t know the name of my personal maid?”
The man muttered expressionlessly.
I looked up at him in surprise.
‘How would he—… Oh.’
He used to be Edith’s servant.
He had lived in the duke’s estate, so it wasn’t strange that he knew Nancy’s name.
It was a bit surprising that he still remembered the name of a mere maid, though.
As I recalled what I knew about the third male lead, my racing heart gradually calmed.
I glanced at the wrist he was holding and spoke firmly.
“Let go.”
“That would be difficult.”
“Why?”
“I cannot allow someone of unknown identity to wander around my territory. Especially…”
“……”
“Someone who might be trying to sneak away a child corrupted by demonic energy.”
His gaze shifted behind me.
I flinched reflexively.
I had just seen him burn the Corruptors without hesitation.
If he decided that Theo was a Corruptor and used his ability—
‘Damn it.’
I swallowed the curse that almost slipped out.
I knew better than anyone how cold the male leads were toward everyone except the heroine. After all, I had possessed the villainess who died after being abandoned by them.
Slowly—
With my free hand, I tore off my bonnet and mask.
“Is my identity confirmed now?”
I looked straight into Dylan’s eyes.
I didn’t feel embarrassed about being exposed.
I just wanted to escape this moment as quickly as possible.
“……”
But for some reason, even after confirming my identity as he wanted, he simply stared at me without blinking.
The delicate appearance that once made people mistake him for a girl when he was taken in by Edith was long gone.
The grown Dylan looked imposing at a glance.
He was undeniably handsome—enough to make many women’s hearts race.
And yet, his expressionless face and dry gray eyes only made me uncomfortable.
As if he were considering killing me right then and there.
‘I told you to let go. Why are you just staring?’
Growing anxious, I repeated myself.
“If you’ve confirmed it, please let go.”
“……”
“Sir.”
I had tried to avoid conflict, but I couldn’t hold back anymore.
Snap!
I forcefully shook off his grip as my wrist throbbed.
Then I stepped back several paces, clasping both hands to my chest so he couldn’t grab me again.
“You’re still terribly rude, Sir.”
“……Edith.”
“Lady Blake. Or Young Lady Blake.”
“……”
“Does the Frederick County not teach proper etiquette for addressing a lady?”
He had called my name casually again, so I corrected him immediately.
Then I smiled sweetly, as if muttering to myself.
‘What are you going to do? Spit on a smiling face?’
For the first time, a faint emotion appeared on Dylan’s face.
He seemed slightly confused, as if he hadn’t expected this reaction.
It was only natural.
If I were the real Edith, I would have screamed and caused a scene, not spoken sarcastically like this.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
“……What were you doing here, dressed like that?”
“Do I have to report every detail to you?”
I answered coldly.
The confusion that had flickered across his face disappeared instantly.
His expression turned cold again as he jerked his chin toward someone behind me.
“Then I’ll ask that woman.”
I scoffed inwardly at the obvious provocation.
‘You think that’ll scare me?’
Unfortunately for him, I had endured all kinds of oppression and attacks while serving as a research director. I was not easily shaken.
“Aston, come here.”
I called Aston, who had been watching nervously.
She hesitantly approached.
“Greet him. This is Count Frederick.”
“Pardon? Oh… Hello. I’m Lady Blake’s healer, Aston…”
Though startled by my sudden command, she obeyed.
Looking straight at Dylan, I added calmly,
“She’s someone I cherish. She’s from here.”
“……”
“The boy on her back is her younger brother. He suffers from seizures. The villagers accused him of being a Corruptor, so Aston and I came to bring him back.”
“……”
“I plan to sponsor him until he’s fully cured.”
As I smoothly told lie after lie without blinking, Dylan narrowed one eye.
“You… will sponsor him?”
“Yes.”
“While dressed as a maid?”
“If I had come as the young lady, people like you wouldn’t have just stood by and watched me enter this place.”
The frozen gate site, full of Corruptors, would have been a sore spot for the villagers.
If they had realized I was an outsider with Aston, someone would have stopped me long ago.
And if they knew I was the young lady, it would only be a matter of time before the news reached the duke’s household.
“……”
Unable to counter my flawless argument, Dylan merely parted his lips without responding.
Just then—
Clatter, clatter!
“Lord!”
Several men appeared behind Dylan, riding horses.
They quickly dismounted and knelt before him.
“M-My Lord. I am Gregory, the village chief of this town.”
An elderly man introduced himself nervously.
Dylan barely listened and pointed at Aston.
“Is the child on her back the one reported?”
“Y-Yes! That’s correct!”
“But I hear he’s not a Corruptor. What happened?”
“Pardon? T-That can’t be! Theo bit two villagers…!”
The chief shook his head vigorously.
Frowning, Dylan gestured to one of the men behind him.
“William.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Check.”
The man who received the order strode toward Aston.
“……!”
Aston’s face gradually turned pale as she watched him approach.
And than
