* * *
The drawing style looked like that of a child’s, making it hard to decipher, but it clearly depicted me lying in bed with a large ghost.
Beneath the bed, there was Jerry, trembling with fear.
It seemed Jerry had also witnessed what happened last night.
My heart dropped, but I forced myself to respond calmly.
“Don’t worry. Jerome will be fine soon. I’m going to chase out the evil ghost that’s in his body for sure.”
Jerry’s large eyes shimmered, as if asking, “Really?” Jerry had probably been watching over Jerome since he was young.
I couldn’t even begin to imagine how much pain he must’ve felt, seeing Jerome drink poison to suppress Mephisto.
“Yes, really. It was nice meeting you. I’ll treasure your gift.”
After finishing my words, I hugged Jerry tightly.
It hit me again, just how small Jerry was—so small that even when I held him close, there was still room to spare.
It was both amazing and admirable that someone so small could love someone.
I put Jerry down and asked curiously, “But why is the ghost doll shaped exactly like you? Does it have a special meaning?”
Instead of answering, Jerry wagged his tail.
As I twirled the miniature Jerry in my hand, the door creaked open, and Jerome stood there with a faint smile.
“Let’s go, Jeanne. I’ve brought the coachman.”
✽ ✽ ✽
As soon as we stepped out of the cabin with Jerome, a large carriage came into view.
From the size, it seemed to be one operated by a merchant guild.
I glanced around the carriage and asked in a puzzled voice, “But how did you get a coachman all the way out here in this deep forest?”
“Oh, he happened to pass by, so I brainwashed him.”
I stared blankly at Jerome, who spoke about an extraordinary situation in the most ordinary tone.
Jerome blinked as if wondering if there was a problem.
I hurried over to the coachman and checked his condition.
“He’s drooling!”
The coachman Jerome had “kidnapped” had his eyes rolled back and was drooling, yet he still held the reins in a strange, eerie manner.
Jerome, attempting to reassure me, said nonchalantly, “It’s nothing serious.
There won’t be any big problems.”
“…Couldn’t you have just asked him politely?”
“Oh, right. I could’ve just asked. I didn’t think of that.”
Jerome nodded as if he had made a great realization.
It seemed that after being detached from the world for so long, Jerome was incapable of normal reasoning.
But since he had brought the coachman, I barely managed to hold back my frustration.
“And Jeanne, we won’t be able to meet for a while.”
My steps halted at Jerome’s words. I turned to check his expression.
He didn’t seem to be lying. I hesitated before asking as calmly as possible.
“Why?”
“Turn around.”
Without explanation, Jerome told me to turn around.
I awkwardly obeyed.
From behind, Jerome grabbed a handful of my hair.
His technique was certainly faster and more skillful than mine, but the more unsettling thing was that he was getting better at it.
As he hummed, Jerome said, “I hope there will be more moments like this where you ask, ‘Why?’ just like a moment ago.”
“…Why?”
I unconsciously asked again, then froze.
Behind me, I heard a laugh, light as the wind.
For some reason, Jerome’s earlier comment about not seeing each other for a while kept nagging at me.
“Jerome, just to be clear, you’re not planning on killing anyone, right?”
At my sudden remark, Jerome’s hand paused in the middle of fixing my hair.
After a moment of silence, he asked with a slight chuckle, “Why would you think that?”
“You’re still resentful of Carlisle, aren’t you?”
As we exited the cabin, I noticed something strange.
The wall that had a drawing on it when we came in was now charred black.
From the burnt wall, I could feel a malevolent energy so strong it was frightening.
“Listen. Don’t kill Carlisle. You must not kill him.”
Jerome didn’t answer, so I repeated my plea.
In the empire, the crime of killing a member of the royal family was the gravest of sins.
In the original story, Jeanne was executed for conspiring to kill Luke, a close confidant of the royal family.
If conspiring to kill a close confidant carried such a severe penalty, there was no doubt that even Jerome wouldn’t escape a harsh punishment if he killed Carlisle.
“Why?”
“Huh?”
“Why shouldn’t I kill Carlisle?”
Jerome’s face turned cold in an instant, and my mind went blank.
Only a handful of people in the empire knew that Carlisle was a prince.
Because of that, I couldn’t answer Jerome with, “Well, duh, because Carlisle is the first prince.”
‘Damn, I slipped up.’
It would be suspicious for someone like Jeanne, the daughter of a duke, to know that.
I needed to come up with some kind of answer to Jerome’s question, but nothing came to mind.
“You’re taking too long to answer.”
“….”
“Well? Hurry up and tell me. I won’t get mad.”
I felt Jerome’s grip on my hair tighten.
When I couldn’t answer, he suddenly yanked my head back, causing me to gasp in pain.
I met Jerome’s gaze as I groaned, my fists clenched, my lower lip bitten.
‘You won’t get mad? Yeah right, your eyes are already blazing.’
In the original story, Jerome was so possessive of Jeanne that he even committed a crime.
When Jerome realized he couldn’t have Jeanne, he decided he wanted to be Jeanne’s worst nightmare instead.
He wanted to leave a mark on his life, even if it meant becoming his tormentor.
‘But that’s not love. That’s closer to obsession.’
I couldn’t understand why Jerome was so intent on monopolizing Jeanne.
In a voice drained of energy, I responded.
“Why? Because it’s common sense that you shouldn’t kill people. Are you stupid?”
“So that’s your answer.”
Jerome let out a small laugh. He turned me around by the shoulders and lowered his head.
The sunlight behind him cast a shadow over his face.
Startled by the sudden shift in atmosphere, I shivered.
Jerome looked down at me, speaking in a soft tone.
“Make sure you come up with a better excuse next time.”
“….”
“If you give me the same answer again, neither of us will find it fun.”
Jerome finished tying the ribbon on my robe neatly.
I stood still, receiving his affectionate touch, then suddenly raised my hand.
Smack!
The sound was sharp, and Jerome’s face turned to the side.
I cradled my stinging hand with the other.
It was the first time I had ever slapped someone.
But one thing was clear.
If I let Jerome control me now, I would lose my hold over this relationship forever.
As I shook my aching wrist, I spoke up.
“You’re underestimating the Duke of Efilia. In case you’ve forgotten, we’re not in a superior-subordinate relationship. We’re partners. So don’t you dare grab my hair like that again.”
It might’ve hurt me more than him, but I felt better than ever.
I glared at Jerome, and with a sly smile, I threw his words right back at him.
“Neither of us will find it fun.”
Jerome’s eyes gleamed dangerously.
In the tense atmosphere, the horse waiting nearby neighed loudly.
Jerome grabbed my wrist in one swift motion, his expression hard. Startled, I blinked quickly.
“What are you doing?”
Jerome didn’t respond. He pressed on my wrist, moving it around, and then nodded.
“Lightly clench your fist and move it up and down.”
Jerome’s voice had dropped in tone, and I found myself obeying without thinking, flexing my wrist.
Jerome, who had been sighing in relief, calmly continued speaking.
“Jeanne, I understand you’re upset, but…”
“…”
“Next time, instead of slapping me yourself, have a servant do it. What if you sprain your wrist? That would be a disaster.”
It was absurd. What kind of servant could possibly slap Jerome?
Yet, he seemed entirely serious.
* * *
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