* * *

Looking back now, Jerome had always been more prone to smiling than his cold demeanor would suggest.

It wasn’t so much that he naturally had a lot of smiles to offer, but rather, his smiles seemed like tools, cleverly designed to break down others’ psychological barriers.

After all, no one, regardless of culture or era, could resist the allure of a beautiful smile.

Throwing out random, unrelated comments or forcing a faint smile despite the dead look in his eyes—these were all tactics meant to unsettle others and regain control.

From my own experiences, I’d come to recognize these as his strategies.

So, I expected him to respond to Carlisle with his usual, calculated smile.

‘Why isn’t he smiling?’

But this time, Jerome didn’t smile, nor did he throw out an unrelated comment.

With his hand propping up his chin on the bookshelf, he merely covered his mouth and gazed at me in silence.

The way he hid his mouth somehow made his usual chilling gaze even more intense.

Just as I was about to stand, he grabbed my wrist.

Carlisle, looking at me as if to say, ‘Why are you doing this to me?’ finally spoke.

“Do you know how Jerome got those he counseled to take their own lives?”

At that moment, Jerome’s gaze, which had been fixed on me, shifted to Carlisle.

His sudden question made my eyes widen.

When Jerome had been confined to the Waverly Asylum, the priests who worked there told me that every priest or saint who went in to counsel him ended up taking their own lives.

When I once asked him how he’d done it, Jerome replied that he showed them their deepest fears.

Glancing at his impassive face, I stammered, continuing my thought.

“He… showed them their worst nightmares…”

“Correct. But with the last saint who took her own life, there were no traces of mind control.”

The unexpected turn of events made me narrow my eyes.

If it wasn’t mind control, why would a previously stable saint suddenly take her own life?

Seeing my puzzled expression, Carlisle explained calmly.

“He whispered words of love to her. And when she finally abandoned her fiancé and came to him, he sent her away with cold, harsh words. Her suicide note was filled with sorrow, saying that Jerome had betrayed her.”

“……”

“He didn’t use mind control to make her die. He purposefully made her fall in love with him, only to drive her to ruin. Jerome lives solely for that kind of thrill.”

Slowly, I lifted my gaze from the floor.

Jerome, who was now meeting my eyes, wore a faint smile.

Making someone fall for his smiling face, only to destroy them in the end—it was a method I’d heard before.

It was exactly what he had done to Jeanne in the original story. Carlisle, his voice low, asked:

“Who’s next, Jerome?”

The words were directed at Jerome, but it felt like a warning to me.

That all those expressions of affection from Jerome could be nothing but acts meant to ruin me.

That I shouldn’t get close to him.

I stared blankly at Carlisle’s hand, which held mine, and spoke.

“… But is it okay for us to be talking like this in the library?”

Both Jerome and Carlisle turned to look at me, their faces surprised.

They hadn’t expected me to bring that up in such a serious moment.

‘Yes, I know it’s not the time or place to say this. But the librarian has been glaring daggers at us for a while now.’

An uneasy thought crept in.

If this continued, I might end up being banned from the library, the only solace in my grueling life here.

Hastily, I got up, dusting off the uniform jacket.

“Carlisle might be right. Jerome’s definitely a shady and strange guy. He might’ve approached me with some suspicious intentions too.”

Whether due to his innate perceptiveness or some ability from Mephisto, Jerome had an uncanny knack for knowing what I wanted to hear.

He was the first to tell me it was okay, that I didn’t need to run but could simply walk.

It was because of this that I’d briefly deluded myself.

I’d wondered if I was special to Jerome, if perhaps I had changed him in some way.

Jerome, listening to my words, muttered as if hurt.

“That’s harsh.”

“Shut up. Who told you to act suspiciously? If you didn’t want people doubting you, you should’ve lived properly. And why whisper words of love to a woman who already had a fiancé?”

At my fierce scolding, Jerome tilted his head slightly.

“So I shouldn’t have done that?”

“….”

“Why?”

Suddenly, I had a feeling.

No matter how much I tried to teach Jerome morals, it would be wasted effort.

If this were modern-day Korea, he would’ve been sent off to Cheonghakdong for some discipline, but sadly, we were in a fantasy setting. (Tl: Cheonghakdong= Rural place where monk lives.)

With a sigh, I recalled something Jerome had once told me: that there should be no secrets between spouses.

Clenching my fist, I threw his own words back at him.

“You said it yourself. There should be no secrets between spouses.”

“……”

“To be honest, I’m disappointed in you.”

Jerome, who had remained unaffected by any words until now, flinched slightly.

In truth, the statement was meant just as much for Carlisle.

It was my indirect way of saying, ‘I already have someone I’ve chosen as my fiancé, so don’t even think about proposing a political marriage.’

And sure enough, as soon as I mentioned the word ‘spouse,’ Carlisle’s expression hardened.

Even if he entertained the thought of a political marriage, he probably realized there was nothing to gain from me.

In the original story, Carlisle only managed to seize the throne thanks to Luke’s help, but Jeanne’s efforts also played a part.

Jeanne had helped Carlisle by sharing valuable information.

To win Carlisle’s love, the original Jeanne had freely divulged family secrets and vulnerabilities.

‘In the end, her family branded her a traitor, and Carlisle regarded her as a naive fool.’

Of course, Jerome was dangerous, but I knew that Carlisle, too, was a serious threat.

Looking calmly into Carlisle’s meaningful gaze, I spoke without flinching.

“But this is a matter between Jerome and me, Carlisle. It’s not something you have a say in.”

The moment I finally decided on my response, Carlisle grabbed my shoulder.

“Don’t be foolish. You’re being deceived by him.”

“Even if I am, it doesn’t matter.”

I twisted my shoulder free from his grip.

I, too, had deceived people for my own gain.

Given how many people I’d fooled, it would be a bit ridiculous to get upset now, thinking Jerome had deceived me.

After taking a steadying breath, I addressed Carlisle calmly.

“I’ve already chosen to stay by Jerome’s side. Even if he betrays me, that’s a price I’m willing to accept. I’ll take full responsibility for my choice.”

Regardless of Jerome’s sinister intentions, he was a necessary card for me.

If I didn’t love him, he would be the ultimate ally.

But if I did fall for him, he’d become my downfall—the ultimate wild card.

In that case, there was no room for doubt.

Hearing Carlisle’s words had actually clarified my thoughts amidst my wavering feelings for Jerome.

‘As long as I don’t fall in love, it’ll be fine… What a devilish trait.’

Instinctively, I glanced toward Jerome.

Our eyes met, and he tapped his lips lightly, as if telling me to relax and smile.

A surge of irritation made me snap.

“And just a warning, don’t drag me into your lovers’ quarrels. It’s unpleasant.”

After finishing, I turned to leave.

Just before I walked away, it seemed like Jerome was saying something to Carlisle, but I couldn’t make out the words.

Though I had acted indifferent toward Carlisle, I couldn’t deny that his words weighed heavily on me.

Amid my already confusing emotions toward Jerome, the seeds of doubt had taken deep root.

‘Then again, Jerome was always like this.’

For some reason, I felt a hollow laugh bubbling up.

My mouth tasted bitterer than usual.

‘Maybe the one who’s changed… is me.’

When I stepped outside and looked up, the sky was blanketed with red clouds as the sun set.

I was walking down the forest path leading back to the guild house when I heard footsteps behind me.

I stopped mid-stride, and the footsteps also halted.

Irritated, I couldn’t just ignore it anymore. Eventually, I whipped around to look behind me.

“You’ve been avoiding me lately.”

Before I could even say anything, Jerome took the lead.

Because of the thickening darkness, I could barely make out his face.

As I stood silently, Jerome slowly approached me.

“After all the trouble I went through to find you, only to see you in another man’s arms.”

“…”

“What’s next? Are you going to show up holding some random kid’s hand?”

Despite his soft tone, there was an underlying menace in his voice.

His shadow stretched out ominously as he emerged from the darkness.

A sudden sense of unease made me step back, and I finally spoke.

“What exactly am I to you?”

“Don’t give me that obvious line. Try harder.”

“Fine. How does it feel to live like a tramp?”

Even with my blatant provocation, Jerome didn’t seem the least bit offended.

He had closed the distance between us, a faint smile playing on his lips.

His hand slid over my wrist, rubbing it gently, and I froze.

“Everyone has their tangled knots deep down. I’ve always either untangled them slowly, tightened them so they couldn’t be undone, or cut them away gently to avoid pain.”

“…”

“There was never any love in that; it was closer to sympathy. I only comforted the girl Carlisle mentioned because she seemed down. I didn’t even know she was engaged.”

From his tone, it didn’t seem like he was lying.

Or maybe I just wanted to believe that.

The words, easy enough to dismiss, sent my mind reeling.

It struck me that Jerome might have found something similarly dark within me.

‘Jerome just treated me like he treats everyone else, but I was the one misreading it.’

The thought of my own misguided assumptions sent a wave of shame flooding to my ears.

Jerome, noticing me biting down on my lower lip, wrapped an arm around my waist.

Our steps tangled, nearly bringing our lips together.

I raised a hand in surrender, my voice weak.

“Stop… don’t.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? This is something you do with someone you actually like.”

“You went all out with the kisses, and now you’re talking nonsense…”

Worried someone might hear, I quickly covered Jerome’s mouth.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he pulled my hand away from his lips.

Memories of that night I’d sealed away resurfaced, as though that caution label had come unstuck.

Jerome chuckled at my uncertain reaction.

“I told you to walk slowly, but you’re practically backing away.”

In an instant, Jerome’s expression hardened.

His large hand twisted into my hair, pulling my head back.

I glared at him, my neck craned as he spoke in a languid tone.

“Treating someone like trash is one thing, but you’re attracted to me, aren’t you? If you’re going to deny it, at least learn to hide it well. You’re practically dripping with it, yet you pretend otherwise.”

“That’s not true.”

“Is that so?”

Jerome pulled me closer by my hair, bringing our faces so close that our lips could touch any moment.

His next words made my shoulders jolt.

“You’ll be sucking off a man you’re not even attracted to soon enough.”

* * *