Episode 67. Radicalization (2)

Daniel Bohan’s inflexibility was a drawback, but his steadfastness and unwavering nature were strengths. He never compromised with injustice and remained calm even in unfavorable situations, a trait Percy highly valued in him as a commander. However, the Daniel he met yesterday showed none of these qualities. Instead, he seemed disoriented, as if under the influence of drugs.

Percy believed Beth was the cause.

‘She is certainly a strange woman.’

The fact that Sienna could sense something unnatural about her, while Daniel, the person involved, could not, was the evidence.

‘It doesn’t seem like she has a good relationship with Sienna either.’

Remembering Beth’s abrupt declaration that he was being deceived by Sienna, Percy twisted his lips. Despite all the annoyances, it was Sienna who occupied his mind the most. Percy rubbed his face with his hands.

‘At first, I thought she was just collapsing due to weakness. I believed she would recover soon with good food and rest.’

Indeed, Sienna’s complexion had visibly improved while staying at the Stewart Duchy. But she collapsed again, and at that moment, Percy realized how significant Sienna had become to him.

It felt as if the world was collapsing.

‘You are a fool, Percy Stewart.’

Percy buried his face in his palms.

‘How can you be so helplessly swayed by someone else?’

As he sighed shallowly, a familiar voice called his name like a bird’s chirp.

“Percy?”

The voice was so soft that he might have missed it if he hadn’t been paying attention. But Percy immediately lifted his head as if struck by lightning. On the bed, the woman with the red hair was tilting her head as if nothing had happened.

“Sienna.”

Seeing her looking unbothered, Percy felt both relieved and exasperated. He closed his eyes tightly and muttered in a sigh.

“You have no idea how many times my heart has skipped a beat because of you……”

Sienna’s small finger touched Percy’s face. Tentatively tracing his features as if to confirm who he was, she then spread her arms.

“I feel dizzy.”

Hold me.

She omitted that last part, fearing the system might act up, but Percy understood immediately and leaned in close. Sienna hugged him tightly like grabbing a lifeline, her hands around his neck trembling.

‘Cold.’

Her fingertips were as cold as ice. Percy wordlessly wrapped his arms around her waist. Sienna murmured in a small voice.

“I had a bad dream. A scary, terrible dream.”

Rubbing her face against his shoulder, she whimpered like a child.

Can you be sure? That you’re moving by your own will right now? What if even the thought of wanting to hug and kiss was implanted by someone else…?”

“Sienna.”

As she spoke, her anxiety seemed to spread. Percy, wanting to cut off her negative thoughts, called her name. Sienna flinched and looked up, meeting his gaze.

‘Why wouldn’t I have had such thoughts?’

He had doubted endlessly until this moment. He wondered if his future was predetermined and if he couldn’t change anything by his will.

It was Sienna who shattered those thoughts.

“You taught me that even predetermined roles could change.”

“But…”

“I have no doubt.”

Percy’s eyes softened. He pulled Sienna closer into his embrace.

She naturally sat on his thigh like a child being lifted. In a voice deep and sinking like into a mire, Percy whispered.

“You are, as you are, in front of me.”

A deep ripple formed in Sienna’s eyes. Her expression was unclear whether she wanted to cry or delve deeper into the issue.

Instead of consoling her, Percy covered her lips with his own. He, too, wanted to feel her breath and find assurance.

– Thump. Thump.

The sound of their hearts beating strongly seemed to echo through their thin, lightly touching skin.

Percy changed the angle of their kiss several times, his lips trailing to her earlobe and neck. His slightly exposed teeth gently nibbled her skin.

“Percy……”

Sienna’s voice, filled with emotion, reached out to Percy when:

“Your Grace, it’s urgent!”

Their moment of tenderness couldn’t continue. The usually calm butler burst into the room without knocking, his face pale. Even Percy, who frowned irritably, couldn’t be angry at the next words.

“His Majesty has passed away!”

It was the news of the Emperor’s death.

* * *

From the moment I opened my eyes, it was one shock after another. From a nightmare to being seemingly addicted to Percy’s sweetness, and now news of a death.

‘The Emperor suddenly dying? What kind of twist is this? He seemed indestructible.’

I sat on the bed, blinking blankly.

‘This game is really realistic.’

The Emperor’s death. I couldn’t understand why this event was happening just as Beth and Daniel Bohan’s love was blossoming. Was this event introduced to make the world more solid, I wondered, then I had a terrible thought.

‘Could Julius be a hidden character?’

You know, those games where the crown prince or the emperor is a secondary male lead.

‘Julius and Beth……’

The thought made my skin crawl. I shook my head vigorously, not wanting to entertain the idea. The butler bowed his head to Percy.

“And Your Grace, there is an urgent message for you to enter the palace immediately. You must hurry.”

“Yes.”

Whether the cause of death was an accident or murder, it was only natural for Percy, the commander of the palace guards, to enter the palace. Percy bent down and kissed my forehead.

“I’ll be back.”

I should have felt my heart race at his affectionate touch, but instead, I felt an unsettling anxiety. I grabbed Percy’s sleeve as he tried to pull away.

“I want to go with you. It’s something that happened in the palace.”

Percy’s red eyes looked back at me. In his trembling gaze, I sensed a similar kind of unease to what I was feeling.

We locked eyes for a moment. The butler, looking troubled, interrupted our conversation.

“The person summoned was Duke Stewart only.”

There was a definite refusal in his tone regarding my entry into the palace.

‘But isn’t it essential for the story that I go too? Seriously, they don’t want me to go?’

I looked up at the air, wishing the system would prompt the story to proceed, but no alert appeared.

Now that I think about it, there hadn’t been any interference from the system since I woke up.

‘Saying I want to go with him should have triggered a system response.’

As I tilted my head in confusion, Percy gently patted my head as if comforting a child.

“You can come with me for the official funeral. You just regained consciousness.”

“But still……”

I hesitated before speaking to Percy.

“Be careful. I’ll be worried if you get hurt.”

As expected, my sincere words came out smoothly. Percy, seemingly a bit surprised by my heartfelt words, soon smiled warmly.

“Rest, Sienna. I’ll tell you everything when I return.”

I bid Percy farewell. As soon as he left, maids swarmed in as if they had been waiting.

“Are you hungry? Let’s prepare some food.”

“Please wait a moment while we fetch some water for washing.”

Ignoring their chatter, I sorted through my doubts.

‘The Emperor died, but why is the system down?’

The system had gone down a few times before, mostly when I was unconscious or in situations the system couldn’t follow.

‘Does that mean the Emperor’s death was an unforeseen event for the system too?’

Though it seemed unlikely, I preferred this unexpected situation over the idea that Julius was a hidden character.

‘Anyway, with the Emperor dead, Julius will become the crown prince. That’s better for me.’

At least Julius wouldn’t imprison or torment me like the Emperor did.

While I pondered, the water for washing arrived, and the maids began cleaning me without question. I entrusted my body to their familiar touches, and they tearfully spoke.

“We’re so glad you woke up, ma’am.”

“We were really worried when you were unconscious.”

Despite the system being down, I habitually responded with sharp remarks.

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“Oh, you’re doing it again.”

“It’s true.”

I knew it was true. The maids at the Stewart residence were exceedingly kind to me.

As I hesitated, a Monte Cristo sandwich and milk were placed in front of me. I hadn’t realized I was hungry, but my stomach growled at the sight of food.

Just as I was about to take a big bite, the maids chattered.

“It’s the first time we’ve seen His Grace raise his voice like that.”

“Please make sure to reassure him later.”

Hearing this, it seemed Percy was very worried about me. But instead, I had expressed my anxiety to him.

I quickly stuffed the sandwich into my mouth. While chewing, I extended my hand.

“Can you bring me some paper and a pen?”

I needed to organize my thoughts before I forgot them.