BELLE’s P.O.V

“What are you doing here?” I was panicking until I heard his voice.

“Are you calmed down now?” He asks again.

I nodded.

He slowly loosen his grip around me as well as his hand covering my mouth.

“Why are you out here at this hour?” He asks again.

Woah, he’s talking a lot huh? What happens to the man with a few words?

When I didn’t answer, he looked at me with his intense eyes.

I looked away. “I-I thought you’re a bad guy…” I said, embarrassed by my actions.

I didn’t know it was him! If I knew from the start I wouldn’t come this far…

He’s wearing a different clothes he used when they first got here. He’s also holding a glass with a red liquor inside. Is that a wine? Where did he get that?

“You can’t drink this.” He said.

What?

“Oh…” Hit by embarrassment, he saw me looking at his wine. I’m tempted though, I didn’t reach adulthood in my past life so I didn’t get the chance to drink alcohol.

“Why are you here?” I ask him.

He just shrugged and looked at the fountain. What’s with his attitude?

He reminded me of May! They’ll pass as sister and brother!

He doesn’t talk to me, he just stares at the fountain the whole time.

It’s a little awkward for me because we’re not really close.

I don’t know what to say or what to do. Should I go now?

“I’ll go now…” I didn’t look at him. I just walked without looking back at him.

While walking through the hallway, I can still feel his gaze. This hallway kind of looks like something you see in horror movies, it’s giving me an eerie feeling. I started to walk faster.

When I got to my room, I let out a heavy sigh.

“Goodness…” I’m not sure as to why my heart is pounding so fast.

Is it because I thought he’s a bad guy or because we had an encounter and converse?

I don’t know if I am just hallucinating but I think I saw Mr. Hendrick somewhere.

Well, whatever the reason is, I should just move on. I should sleep!

I end my day by sleeping with a fast pounding heartbeat.

“WHAT happened to your face my lady?”

I wasn’t able to sleep last night . I keep thinking about Mr.Hendrick, even though I didn’t want to admit it, I sure thought of him last night.

“Argh!” I shouted.

May look at me with disbelief.

“Are you in love my lady?”

I gasped.

I look at her with wide eyes, how does she…!

“I think I know who-“ I didn’t let her finish. I cover her mouth with my two hands. Her eyes remain the same.

“Shut up May!”

“mmhp.”

“You’re not going to tell anyone right!?” I need to make sure that she won’t open her mouth.

We had an eye to eye battle before I slowly uncovered her mouth.

“Don’t tell anyone…!”

She just stayed silently while waiting for my hands.

I hope she doesn’t open her mouth! When I removed my hands from her mouth, I stared at her. This girl stared back!

We stayed like that until she said something.

“Oh, it’s Mr.Hendrick!”

Oh Gosh!

MAY prepare our lunch, we’ll eat it here at the garden. It’s just the both of us because the tree man already departed, telling us that they have to arrive at the capital before night.

We are thankful to them because they helped us hunt cockroaches and rats before they go. They also help us to move the other furniture.

I am still embarrassed because of what May did a while ago, Mr Hendrick looked at us. Every time me and Mr Hendrick pass by each other I always see me looking at us with a straight face, I know she’s just showing a straight face but I can see in her eyes that she is teasing me and she wants to say something.

Should I just punch her one time? Or let her sleep outside since I am the lady of this house. I’m thinking of punishing her but I can’t do that, she’s the only one I have and she helps me every time I need her. She’s also like my sister and my mother sometimes. She doesn’t nag at me but I can see it in her eyes! She can’t fool me!

This is my first time eating outside after I came here and even before I came here. I never experienced eating outside because I didn't have any friends back then.

I also tried to avoid anything that will anger my parents because they don’t want to see me with someone else even though they are just my friends, they want me to just focus on my studies and to be on top of my class.

I don’t even experience going on a vacation with my classmates or going on a field trip with them, how ironic that I do my best for my parents to be proud of me but they still didn't see me as a person, they just see me as someone who will give them accomplishments and medals. Someone who will make their family name well known for having achievements.

Right now that I am experiencing this kind of thing, I’m really happy.

I just hope that these feelings will last forever but I know that it’s impossible. First of all, this is not my body and I am just someone who trespassed into this world. I Still don’t know where this body’s owner is.

Looking back I was just someone who would just sit at the corner of the room, scribble on my notes and read the comics that I bought. Back then I could spend my weekends just by reading a comic in my room because my adopted family we’ll go outside and eat outside but they'd never let me join them. I also have a sibling but we didn’t get along well.

I remembered that the day before I died on the earth I was reading a comic that has a tragic ending for the antagonist and a happy ending for the protagonist.

Suddenly, I had this feeling that I should remember something.

What is it?

I tilt my head to remember clearly what my mind wants me to remember, the first who comes to my mind is Mr Hendrick. What’s with him? How is he related to that memory of mine?

I definitely saw him somewhere, I have a good memory but because of this world it always makes me confused. I also forgot some things that I do or know before on Earth.

I looked at the flowers that May planted, they look beautiful and the sun helps them to shine more.

I tap my fingers through the table because I no that I am getting near to that memory, somehow I remember something…

I remembered the last comic that I have read that was entitled the villain should rest forever, I was shocked by the fact that there was Mr.Hendrick in that comic.

As if I was struck by lightning, my body wasn’t able to move.

I now remember where I saw Mr.Hendrick! He is in that comic!

“Oh my gosh…”

He is that male lead! The one that I love the most! Oh my gosh!

I gasped at the thought.

May appear holding the tray that contains our lunch.

“My lady?”

I shake my head. She prepared our table and sat down on the chair across from mine.

What should I do? I didn’t expect to be transmigrated to a world inside a comic!

I’m the antagonist! My gosh! Does this mean I’m Going to die in this world as well?

I can't accept that! Why would I be transmigrated to another world just to die? Where’s the justice in that?

My mind is somewhere else while we're having lunch, I feel like may want to ask me something but kept her mouth shut. That’s the one thing I like about her, everywhere she can clearly read the mood all the time.

After we had our lunch I went straight to my room and found a pen and paper that listed the things that I still remembered in that comic.

“Alright let’s get started.”

I first listed the names of the protagonist and antagonist. Fortunately I am one of the antagonists and Mr Hendrick is the male lead. Her female lead will be Jamaica flowers.

Jamaica is someone who sells flowers, her mother was a slave but thankfully someone helped her that's why she didn't meet the end like her mother.

She wasn’t orphaned at the age of six, then she was kept by her uncle but her uncle treated her badly and wanted to sell her off so she decided to run away from home, where she met a lady who sells flowers.

Thankfully that Lady it's so kind that she took care of Jamaica, she taught Jamaica how to read and how to write as well as how to count. She treated Jamaica as her own child but she fell ill and died due to a serious illness.

She sold flowers for almost two years until she met Mr.Hendrick. They fall in love with each other at first sight but then this antagonist can't accept that fact because she is deeply in love with Mr Hendrick.

She did all to make the two separate and hate each other. She even poisoned Jamaica and did violent things to her, everything and every one that Jamaica has suffered because of the antagonist. She tried everything but she didn't succeed, Mr. Hendrick found out her plans in the past, and the things that she did to Jamaica, he punished the antagonist until she couldn't bear it anymore. He made her live in the prison, no one wants to talk to her. They didn’t even feed her. Her family didn’t even visit her or help her during that time. She was always alone, that's why she didn’t last long. She took her own life.

That is how the antagonist meets her end. I don’t want that! I will do everything just to stay alive! Even living as invisible!

I spent the night listing everything from the time where they will meet and the time that things will start to happen. Right now I don’t have anyone in my BACK except maybe, I haven’t even met my family so for sure they will never help me with anything. I am not also close with the male lead so I’m not sure if he will not punish me in the future.

I have to plan wisely. Maybe I wouldn’t meet my end if I didn’t meet the female lead or the male lead, right? Maybe I would not be killed if I didn’t get in their way. Of course I wouldn’t try everything to make the male lead suffer because I don’t care about her!

I have to list all the places that I can build a house. I have to find a place that is quiet to make sure that I will never meet the female lead. I don’t care about them though! They can live happily ever after or whatever. I just want to live a happy life and a quiet one to relax and have a piece of mind. I can just sell my assets and find a place to live.

Oh my gosh!

What am I saying? I feel like I’ve been saying the same thing all this time! Okay I need to calm down but this is making me nervous! I can’t even remember the whole story so I’m not sure if I can avoid all the things that’ll make me meet the female lead!

I want to shout, why should I experience this kind of thing and why am I destined to die?! I just want to live!

BELLE’s P.O.V

AGAIN. I didn’t get any sleep.

“My lady…” May approached me while holding a vase in her hand.

I look at her with my tired eyes. “What?”

She sat across my chair and looked at me intently.

“Don’t tell me, you’re doing drugs?”

What!

“What are you talking about?”

She sighed.

“I just noticed this past few days that you’re always out of yourself, so I thought you’re actually doing-”

I cut her. “Of course not May!”

“Are you sure?” She asks again.

“Yes! I promise!” I even raised my left hand to strengthen my promise to her.

“Okay…” She agreed but her eyes’ telling me otherwise.

She got back to what she’s doing a while ago. She gets the flowers that she picked from her garden and puts them in the vase before going out of my room.

“Sigh…”

I spent the whole night thinking about what I should do but in the end, I couldn’t even think of any possible way to avoid my death.

First, the male lead and I are now acquaintances and it’s hard for me to avoid him because he’s not a stranger in this house anymore. It’ll be weird if I suddenly acted like that after I accepted them, especially him last night.

“Oh…”

I have another reason to stop thinking of avoiding him–May. If I avoid him, May will surely think about something and I’m sure I wouldn’t like it.

“Oh gosh… What should I do?”

Oh wait.

Come to think of it. Is it possible to just root for them?

“That’s right!” I’m so stupid!

Why did I think of this just now?

“I can just root for them and voila! I’m safe!”

All I have to do is not to meddle with them and let them have their happily ever after love story, right?

As if all of my problems were gone, I let out a contented sigh.

“That’s right. I will just do that since those two are not my business.”

I sit on the corner of my bed and open a book that May brought for me.

It’s title is My Unbending Deal With The Alpha by xxJabami. It’s really interesting since the story is quite similar to what happened to me, the protagonist was accidentally transported to a different world, what’s shocking is that she is actually a werewolf! A Royal werewolf to be exact!

I spent my afternoon leisurely, now all I have to do is to strengthen this body and of course think of a way to stop my parents’ assassination of me.

I’m sure right now they’re thinking of a way to kill me, especially my step mother. That evil step mother of mine!

Come to think of it. There is something called mana here where it is some kind of magic that can either grow and help your body or bring damage to your body when you do it incorrectly.

I searched for that book and read it again for the second time. The book looks old but its contents are actually good. You can see how detailed the information is here and there’s actually pictures attached.

“Okay, it says here that I need to gather this mana building stone…”

The page where I can improve my mana says that there’s a stone called mana building stone that was needed when I did my mana test.

It says that you can find it somewhere in the North. Wait…

“If I’m not wrong, I’m in the South right?”

What a lucky place…

I calculated my expenses in case I go to the North.

“I can’t afford it…” Ugh…

I lay down on my bed.

“How can I get those mana building stones if they’re too far and I’m broke?”

Is this a sign to stop looking for it?

Someone knocked on my door. Who’s that? May wouldn’t even bother knocking. I alert myself, I stand beside the door while holding the book.

“Who is it?”

A couple of seconds had passed but no one’s answering. My heart’s starting to beat fast.

“Who is it?” I repeat.

After a while, someone answered.

“My lady, this is May.”

What the…

I walked towards the door and opened it slowly, peeking if it’s really her. When I saw her unfazed face, I opened the door widely.

“What’s happening to you My Lady?” She asked.

“No, what’s happening to you? Why are you suddenly knocking?” I walked back to my bed and sat on it.

“Who knows…” She has a tray of food on her hand and is now arranging it on the table.

What does she mean by that?

“What do you mean?” I can’t quite understand what she’s talking about.

“Who knows… If you’re doing something while thinking of Mr.Henrick…”

“...” What? I looked at her with a questioning eye. I've been staring at her for a while before I realized what she meant.

“Oh my gosh May!” I was embarrassed by what she said.

“How dare you say that to me! I will never do that!” I exclaimed.

She just shrugged.

“Who knows, you’re in love with him anyways.”

“Oh please! That’s disgusting!”

Where did she know that kind of joke?! Isn’t she embarrassed by what she said?!

For God’s sake, May!

"You didn't deny that you're in love with him."

"..."

We looked at each other for a second then she smiled maliciously.

I just shrugged. I can't deny it though.

I, who can’t forget her disgusting thoughts, picked up the small pillow and threw it to her while laughing.

May just casually catch it in the air, like someone who's a master of martial arts.

Then, she invited me to dinner, so the food she brought is for our dinner.

Today's dinner is beef stew and bread.

"Where did you get the beef?"

"Mr.Hendrick gave it to us."

oh…

She smirks at me again.

Oh please!

I just rolled my eyes.

While eating, I remembered something.

“May, do you have some extra cash there?”

She was chewing her meat when she answered.

“None My Lady.”

“Oh…” I’m doomed. Is this the second sign?

“Why?” she asks.

“Uhm, well. You know that I’m physically weak right?”

She nodded.

“I read in a book that by improving my mana, it can help me strengthen my body.”

“So you want to…?”

“According to the book, I need a mana stone and I can find it in the North only.”

She arched her eyebrows and acted like she’s thinking of something.

“I think I know someone who can help you with that.”

My face was lightened by what she said.

“Really?”

She nodded again.

“Who is it? Tell me!”

She looked at me, slowly, a smile was showing on her lips.

“What?”

What is she thinking that made her smile?

“It is…” She said, incidentally stopping midway.

I waited patiently.

“It is… Mr.Hendrick.”

Wait.

“Tell me you’re joking.”

She shook her head. “I’m not.”

I was dumbfounded.

“Don’t you have-”

“I don’t.” She said, cutting me off.

I slap myself, can someone remind me to change her?

I was thinking hard while we’re eating. I hate this situation I’m in right now, it’s making me use my head a lot.

Why do I feel like one problem comes after another, like can’t I just rest even just for a day?

Really, what is my purpose for coming here in this world? To gather the problems and solve them till I die?

I was thinking the whole night. Should I consider Mr.Henrick or not? I was thinking of avoiding things that are related to him but I don’t know anyone here that can help me except him!

Another decision that puts me awake all night!

“ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?”

May asks me while tying my hair up.

“I need to do this.”

She sighs.

“You can just tell me what to do and I’ll gladly accept it.”

I looked at her.

“Really?”

“Of course not.” I knew it.

I rolled my eyes.

“Whatever.”

She helped me wear my coat and get my pouch.

“Take care my lady.”

May cannot accompany me because she needs to go to her grandmother’s house to give her the herbs that she produced.

That grandma isn’t May’s relative, but according to her, that grandma helped May when her mother died.

I think May mentioned that she’s out of herself that time and that grandma helped her to move forward. That’s so kind of that grandma.

That’s why even though I need May right now, I cannot risk that grandma’s life, she needs to get her medicine and that is why I decided to go alone.

I walked towards the old gate of the mansion. Thankfully, my father didn’t want to save much money on me, that's why he only bought a small mansion.

Yup, this is considered a small mansion because I saw a bigger mansion that other nobles have. Even my parents’ mansion is way bigger than what they bought me.

When I finally got out of the mansion, I thought to myself.

“This is it… There’s no turning back.”

I exhale twice. The only thing that I bought with me is a couple of extra change that May gave me and a few gold from the house that I can use in case of emergency.

“Okay, let’s go!”

I walked for about thirty minutes before I finally got to the nearest small village. According to May, people that live in this village are all good so I don’t have to worry if I don’t know anyone here.

I was catching my breath so I stopped for a while. This is what I hate, I barely walk and here I am, catching my breath.

When I finally calmed myself, I entered the village. There’s no guard on the outside, it looks like this isn’t a village where nobles will reside.

I looked around and saw people wearing almost the same clothes. Is it some kind of fashion trend here? But their clothes don't look that great though.

While looking around the place, I noticed that each of the houses almost looks the same also, that’s weird. Is it some kind of tradition?

Since I plan to stay here for a couple of days, I looked for an inn that’ll be my shelter for a while. Luckily, May knows about this village and she gave me some tips and direction that will help me while I’m staying here.

“Hello lady, how can we help you?” A young man at the reception area said.

“I need a room for three days.”

He looked at his ledger and gave me a room.

“The only available room is room 65 on the third floor, is it okay to you?”

I nodded. It’s better to stay under a roof than on the outside.

While he’s guiding me to the room, I saw someone at the end of the room on the third floor.

There are two people there, they look like they are arguing.

“I told you to give me the information beforehand!” The guy on the right side shouted.

“I know! I’m sorry!” The other guy said. They’re wearing a black coat that’s why I can’t see them properly.

They’re really arguing.

I was about to ignore them when I heard something

“Then, does Hendrick know about what you did?” the guy on the right side asks.

I automatically turn my head to them. Did I hear it right?

Is that the Hendrick I know?

My thoughts were cut off when the receptionist guy talked to me.

“Here’s your room lady Belle.”

I thanked him and decided to ignore the guys before.

I went inside the room and locked the door.

“At last!” I can now rest!

I placed my belongings beside the single bed and laid my body into it. This is so nice!

I wanted to rest just for a little bit but because this body is weak, I can now feel the fatigue because of the walk that I did earlier.

I organized my plans.

"First, I need to see that man and ask for his help."

In the comic, there's a man who will learn about a herb's true purpose. That herb will help many people that could've died from a not that severe illness.

That man will become an official doctor of the palace and will eventually become an important person to the empire.

I, in order to gain everyone's approval, will help that man to discover it a little earlier. I need to do everything to gain support because there's nothing sure in this world.

I am destined to die here and even though I am not the original villain in the comic, I'm not sure if I wouldn't meet the same end as the original villain.

I am thinking of what approach I should take when I don't realize that I'm falling asleep.

“HELP!”

Cough!

I was woken up because I had a hard time breathing. I opened but I cannot see my surroundings clearly because of the smoke that's filling the room.

"Wha-" I couldn't open my mouth because of the smoke coming in.

What is happening!?

I immediately stood up and looked around.

There's smoke everywhere! It feels like something's burning somewhere!

I run towards the door, everything's in chaos.

Everyone's holding their luggage, running towards the stairs.

"There's fire!" Someone shouted.

People keep on running everywhere, everyone’s in panic. They keep on pointing into the corner of the hallway, I tried to look at what it is. There, a man is standing near this place and it’s body is full of fire.

What’s that?! Is he burning alive?!

I was busy thinking what it is when someone bumped into me that caused me to fall into the ground.

"Ouch!" I shouted but no one seemed to hear me.

People keep on running and shouting.

I tried to get up but someone kept on bumping into me. I tried to stand up again but I kept on falling, the smoke's filling my eyes and nose.

I was already catching my breath. I need to get out of here!

BELLE’s P.O.V

“What are you doing?!”

The world seems to stop for a minute, even the people that’s running to escape stopped.

I was just looking at Hendrick the whole time.

Hendrick ran towards the door while holding me.

Everyone seems surprised, I don’t know which part of the events they’re surprised about, it’s either because I almost died or it’s because of Hendrick, or because no one tried to save me?

He kept running while I’m still in his arms.

Did he just save me?

I looked around, each corner of the place was in chaos.

We were about to reach the door when a big piece of wood fell from the roof.

“Watch out!”

Hendrick immediately changed direction and ran towards the window instead.

It’s so fast, the body seems accustomed to such situations.

But why is he here? What is he doing here?

It continued to run, regardless of the falling pieces of wood from the roof of the area.

Now I just also noticed that the whole place shovel is made of wood, just added accessories to the place to make it look nice.

Looks like I was fooled.

"Hold on tight!" he says.

My grip on him tightened as we got out. What I expected to be noisy and chaotic outside was different.

The outside of the building is quiet, people walk casually and there is no trace of chaos. What does that mean?

I looked back at the building where we had come from and I was surprised at what I saw. The appearance of the building when I entered is still the same right now.

What does that mean? Is it some kind of magic?

I looked at Hendrick, looking for an answer but it would only be directed at his pace which was now a bit slow.

Am I just imagining everything?

Hendrick later puts me to a bench near the fountain. It was opposite the building where I was staying.

"Stay here."

Then it ran back to the building.

I would have liked to ask here but it turned out right away.

Suddenly my knee softened. It seemed like I was just there to realize what had happened, I was about to die!

Even sitting I could feel the weakness of my knees. It just seemed to cross my mind that I was about to die a while ago. I never thought I would experience something like this today, why do I always seem to almost die in this world?

Is it because I tried to change my destiny?

But I just don't want to die! I just want to live, so why does it have to happen to me?

My hand clung to my heart, it’s beating fast and I could not calm down.

Again, I looked back at the building I had just left, it still looked the same. What happened to the people who took the lead in going out? To people scrambling just to escape the chaos inside?

It looks so peaceful, you don’t know that there is a commotion going on inside, even noise from those shouting inside is not heard. Isn't there a fire inside ?!

I looked around me, people were just passing the building.

I tried to calm myself down, my body was weak so I shouldn't send in like this, maybe I'll just get worse.

I'm really grateful to Hendrick and he came, otherwise I might have been double killed. It never crossed my mind that I would die for the second time in this place because from the moment I realized that I was destined to die, I forced myself to run away and avoid that death.

That's why I'm working on a way not to die, then this death is the one that tries to approach me ?!

Oh please, give me justice!

“Am I that bad in my past life?" Wait, whose past life am I talking about again?

To me from Earth or to Belle's body? I'm confused.

Hendrick came to my mind, I don't know if I will wait for him to come back here or I will leave, because he didn't tell me to wait here or leave.

He left suddenly.

But I wonder why I have to wait for him, maybe not anymore. Another thing is that he might not come back here because he is busy fighting or whatever.

I thought for a few more minutes before I decided to just leave, I still have something to do and I don't need his help with that. Maybe I’ll just thank him next time when we meet again.

Even though I was still a little weak, I had to find a new place to stay. I took what I was carrying by my side-

Wait.

I turned to my side, the pouch containing my money and some I had brought was no longer there.

Oh my

I left it inside! Goodness gracious!

I get back to sitting. I let out a sigh, it looked like I really had to wait for Henrdick, even though there was no guarantee that he would return.

I'm really unlucky. What a thing to start my day.

“ARE YOU ALRIGHT?”

Hendrick later returned.

He handed me the bottle he was carrying. I looked at its contents, it was water.

I nodded here before glancing at his whole being.

As I often see him he is wearing his black cloak, because his cloak was opened a little, I can see the inside of it. On his right side, there are small pouches hanging and to his left side, there is a thing that looks like a small knife.

I look down at his shoes, they are wearing what is typically worn by men in this area, I look back at his face, there is a scar on his cheek but instead of being ugly it seems to have added even more to his appeal.

It took what was on his side, when it was taken out I realized it was a bottle, like the one he gave me but bigger, it gnawed the flesh.

I stared at his adams apple, man look at those, he can be a commercial model… yummy…

I opened the bottle and drank from it while still looking at his face but I almost spit my drink when our eyes met.

*cough

“What’s wrong?” His eyebrows met.

I shook my head.

I can't tell him what I'm thinking!

I turned my gaze to my hand. Embarrassing!

Later someone else came dressed like him. Do they have a uniform?

They talked. I wanted to ask what was going on inside and why no noise was heard from there, or why it didn’t seem true that I had seen earlier that there were people coming out but I was embarrassed.

They were inches away from me so I couldn't hear them. I had to wait a few more minutes before Hendrick returned.

When he returned, he brought a loaf of bread and handed it to me.

"Thank you."

Only now do I remember that I haven't had breakfast yet, at the same time I took my first bite and my stomach started to growl.

Hendrick and his companions suddenly turned to me, embarrassed, I just smiled at them and continued eating the bread.

A few moments away Hendrick left again and said that I will wait for him wherever I am now, bored Man I am still waiting because i don't know anyone here in this place and i also don't have money that i could have used to find a new to forever or I could have used it to find a new place to stay or to find a horse to go home to rent a chariot to go home.

Not long after, Hendrick came again, this time with his two friends, Bora and Josh.

"Hello my lady!" said Josh before bowing to pay his respects.

I almost forgot that I am a noble here in this place.

"Hi mister Josh, how are you?"

“I’m good, my lady! You look good today! ”

I smiled at what it said. He's good at flattery.

"Anyway, why are you here?" I ask him.

"We're on a mission." Josh couldn't answer because Henrick spoke instead.

"Oh…" Come to think of it, are they the ones I saw last night?

"Where are you going?"

I looked up at Hendrick, is he talking to me?

Why is he calling me like that when he’s so kind when we first met at our house that night?

I have a name though.

"I'm looking for someone." I answered.

"Alone?"

“Well, yeah…” I was hesitant to tell the truth because the tone of the question was different.

“My lady, why are you going out alone? What if something happens to you? ” Josh asked worriedly.

I thought about that too, but I had nothing else to look forward to, and another thing, if I didn't do it I would feel like I was accepting my fate as well.

I just shrugged instead.

As I looked at Josh I seemed to hear someone sigh.

“Do you want us to accompany you, my lady?”

My gaze landed on Bora, this is the first time he talked since we first met a while ago. I scanned his face and he looked serious.

“If that’s alright?” I don’t have anything on me right now so I badly need their help.

“I’ll just take you home.” Hendrick interrupted.

“No!” I immediately said.

He can’t! I can’t go home empty handed!

Hendrick moved his eyebrows, as if he had something to say.

“I mean… I can’t go home yet, I don’t want to come back again because I have a weak body.” I lied.

I need to lie because this is a matter of life and death! This is my first step to my goal and I can’t keep this waiting. Especially now that I don’t have a single penny left, who knows when I can ask May for another penny I can use.

Hendrick looked unamused. He must be doubting every single word I said.

“Oh, you’re right my lady.” Thankfully, Josh took the bait.

“I know, right?” I looked at Hendrick. Please help me!

After a moment, he let out a heavy sigh.

“Only in one condition.” He looked straight into my eyes.

I felt a little awkward but of course I need to do anything. Knowing Hendrick, he will do everything to send me home.

I waited for his next words.

“Only if one of us will accompany you when you go out.”

Oh.

I couldn’t answer for a moment but well, I think there’s nothing wrong with them accompanying me when I go to that place.

“Sure.” I told him.

Hendrick looked suspicious for a moment but when he started to pack his things, I knew he accepted my lies.

Hendrick and his friends let me tag along with them, while walking, I told them what happened to my money and they all looked shocked.

“First, you almost died and now you’re telling us that you don’t have anything other than yourself?” Josh freaks out.

Hendrick scoffs. What’s wrong with him?

“Well, yeah.” I shrugged. I can’t do anything about it now.

“Unbelievable.” Josh said.

“YOU WILL STAY HERE WHILE YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO DO IN THIS PLACE.” Hendrick said as soon as we get to the place they’re staying.

“Yes, thank you.” I looked around, this place looks like a barracks.

Everyone greeted Hendrick and the other two as soon as they entered the door. They must be someone important here.

Hendrick lent me a chair beside him and gave me food. It looks like a stew.

“Thank you.” I thanked him again.

He just nodded and asked the man serving a meal for him. Josh sat beside him while Bora went straight to his room.

“Enjoy your food my lady- oops, Belle!” Josh shouted.

While we’re walking, I told them that they can just call me Belle when we’re outside because it’s a little uncomfortable with me. In the first place, I’m not the lady that they served and whenever they call me that I feel like there’s a wall between us.

“Just eat.” Hendrick said. What’s with his attitude, really?

We were eating when someone sat beside me.

“Hello beautiful.”

I looked at him and saw a teenage looking man with brown hair. His face is pretty but isn’t my type. My Hendrick is way prettier than him. Oh forget it.

“Uhm, hi?”

He smiled widely.

“Do you mind if-”

“Yes, I mind.”

The man couldn’t finish what he was about to say when Hendrick butted in.

We automatically turned our heads towards his direction and gave him a questioning look.