🌙 Dear Readers of Noor Novels 🌙
We are thrilled to share some exciting updates with you regarding our translated novels! 📚✨
As part of our continued growth, all the translated novels currently hosted on Moonlightnovel.com will soon be transferred to a brand-new platform — our very own website!
🚀 Going forward, all novel updates will be available exclusively on this new platform, ensuring you’re always up-to-date with the latest chapters and releases. 📖🔄
🌐 We’ve officially moved to our new home: https://novelishuniverse.com 🎉
Now, you can read our locked chapters for free — no purchases required. We want every reader to enjoy the full experience without barriers. Come explore our fresh layout, smoother reading features, and unlock access to everything — completely free of cost! 💖✨
But that’s not all! To make this transition even more exciting, we’ve also created a dedicated Discord server just for you. Connect with fellow readers, stay informed about novel progress, and chat directly with the team behind Noor Novels.
💬 Whether you’re a long-time fan or just discovering us, this community is where the magic happens. Come join the fun! 🤩
👉 Join the Noor Novels Discord Server 🌟 https://discord.gg/XrcyCYjAep
🌙 A Special Thank You to Moonlightnovel.com 🌙
Before we embark on this new chapter, we’d like to express our deepest gratitude to Moonlightnovel.com. It’s where our journey began, where we met you — our wonderful readers — and grew together as a community.
🙏 Thank you for being part of that beautiful beginning. We’ll always cherish the memories and support we found there. 🌟💖
We can’t wait to welcome you to our new website and server. Let’s keep the stories alive and continue reading magical tales together! 📚✨
Warm regards, Noor Novels 🌟
🌿・。.・°✧・°・。.・🌿 🌿・。.・°✧・°・。.・🌿 ✧ 𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝔂 ✧ 𝓝𝓸𝓸𝓻 𝓝𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵𝓼 ✧ 🌿・。.・°✧・°・。.・🌿 🌿 ・ 。 . ・°✧・°・。.・🌿
If our translations added a little magic to your day, you can support us with a warm coffee~ ♡
🌸🌸🌿・。.・°✧・°・。.・🌿🌸🌸 🌸🌸🌿・。.・°✧・°・。.・🌿🌸🌸 🌸🌸🌿・。.・°✧・°・。.・🌿🌸🌸
Chapter 33
“Five o’clock…”
“Five o’clock? Exactly five o’clock?”
“It’s already five minutes past.”
I threw my body, which I had briefly propped up, back down onto the snow.
“Five o’clock and five minutes…”
I had run so hard, with Karina’s help, and even brought the heating stone powder with me. Still, I failed in the end.
‘Am I going to die here?’
From the moment I faced the killer, I had kept death in mind. I had witnessed the end of others several times already.
‘No, that can’t be.’
That didn’t mean I was resigned to dying. To die like this would be a pointless death.
‘Are extras supposed to die like extras?’
I protested to someone intangible, but a voice colder than the snow pierced my lungs.
“Well then, you’ve broken the rules, so you must be punished.”
My body shuddered. Karen’s voice sounded eerily like Marilyn’s.
“First, get up.”
Karen pulled me to my feet. She was so strong I had no choice but to move as she led me.
“The one who will throw you out is not me, but the master. We must wait for his command.”
This was quite different from Marilyn, who was screaming about punishing me. Maybe Karen remembered Marilyn being thrown out because of that.
But she couldn’t hide the triumphant expression on her face. Or maybe she just didn’t feel the need to hide it.
‘Do they really enjoy seeing me die that much?’
“Your hair is a mess. Lying down like that… Let me fix it.”
Karen clicked her tongue and grabbed my hair roughly. My body swayed and my neck bent painfully. She had pretended to treat me like a lady before, but now she clearly didn’t care.
A hot feeling welled up inside me—different from the cold fear tightening my heart. I wanted to keep some dignity in front of those who rejoiced in my death. Only then could I steady my trembling body.
I glared at Karen while loosening the tangled hair she had tied and said sharply,
“Pack your things.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you get kicked out, you’ll have to return home.”
Suddenly Karen burst into loud laughter. It was so noisy I imagined her laughter flying around the Mage Tower like it had wings.
‘They must find it funny that I’m thinking about packing my things without seeing the obvious ahead.’
My fists clenched on their own, but violence was no solution. I couldn’t overpower her with strength either. So all I could do was continue calmly.
“There aren’t many things. Just some clothes and a few belongings in the room.”
“Yes, yes, of course. I’ll prepare everything: clothes, notebooks, books. Nothing will be left behind. You must take them.”
While Karen mocked me, I thought hard about how to survive.
‘Should I ask for consideration because of the bad weather? Or plead leniency since I’m only five minutes late?’
None of those ideas were promising. Excuses that might work on ordinary people wouldn’t move Aeon’s heart. To think otherwise would be overestimating his nature.
“He says you’re his person.”
Suddenly I remembered Aeon calling me “his person” and showing affection: decorating my room, buying clothes…
‘What a nasty joke.’
Relying on the kindness of someone so untrustworthy was pointless.
Following Karen, we arrived at the dining hall. I wondered why a dining hall at this hour, but Aeon was waiting there.
Leaning on one side of his face, sitting cockily, he straightened as I entered. He crossed one leg and sank deep into the chair. Even though I was standing, I felt like he was looking down on me.
“You’re late. That’s unfortunate.”
“I’m sorry for breaking the rules. But kicking me out won’t be a wise choice for the master either.”
I preempted Aeon’s death sentence. He narrowed his eyes, looking curious about what I’d say next.
“I’m meeting Lady LeMont and her friends next week. They’re influential in the social circle.”
It was a lie to warn Aeon.
“If I suddenly disappear, people will be suspicious. Rumors will spread in society.”
“Is that so?”
“People will naturally pay more attention to the Mage Tower since they know I’m here.”
Aeon nonchalantly swept his hair back. Clearly, this didn’t intimidate him.
“Oh my, the already famous Mage Tower will gain even more fame? That would be troublesome if the master gets too busy.”
Karen, standing behind Aeon, interrupted. I began to wonder if there was some grudge between her and me. I suspected her following me was of her own will, not Aeon’s orders.
“I’m very curious how this will turn out.”
Her green eyes gleamed like someone waiting for a festival, which oddly gave me a flicker of will to live.
I finally played my strongest card. A powerful bomb that could hurt even me.
“There are some disturbing rumors among the nobles lately. It wouldn’t be good for the Mage Tower to get attention in such a situation.”
“Disturbing rumors?”
Karen spoke again, and Aeon finally looked at her. His cold gaze silenced her instantly.
“I wonder what rumors and the Mage Tower have to do with each other… Speak.”
Aeon swirled an empty glass, looking as if he wanted to hear my excuses since I was trying so hard.
“They say brown-haired, green-eyed women are disappearing.”
“How interesting. A ghost story popular among noble ladies?”
“It’s not a story, it’s the truth.”
“If it’s true, is the military police investigating?”
“It’s not the military police but the royal family who seem interested.”
I carefully hid Karina’s name but mentioned a target that would scare everyone.
“Interesting.”
Aeon’s reply was short. I couldn’t tell if he believed me or thought it an excuse. While watching him, an unbelievable statement slipped out.
“Then it will be hard to punish Lady Selinia for breaking the rules.”
“Huh?”
It was a sound halfway between a question and an exclamation. I wanted this, but hadn’t expected to gain Aeon’s forgiveness so easily.
“I said I wouldn’t punish Lady Selinia.”
I hesitated but answered a moment later.
“Thank you very much…”
“Instead—”
Before I could finish, Aeon spoke.
“Let someone else be punished in her place.”
What was this? I heard something I couldn’t imagine one after another.
“What do you mean…?”
“I never intended to punish Lady Selinia from the start. Anyway, I found what you said quite interesting.”
So I had been scared for nothing and babbling useless nonsense to Aeon? The rumors about missing persons must have put him on alert, which could make my future escape more difficult.
“Didn’t I warn you? I said if it’s past five, I’d follow the rules and kick you out.”
“That’s true.”
“Wasn’t that a warning? If past five, you’d be thrown out as per rules.”
“I only asked you to keep your promise for dinner.”
Aeon looked around as if asking why he was in the dining hall. It was a clever wordplay, proven by the smirk on his face.
“Back to the point. We must decide who will be punished instead of Lady Selinia.”
“Wait. You mean you’ll kick someone else out instead of me?”
“I told you already, yes.”
It was a simple statement but not something I could accept lightly. While I stood dumbfounded, he turned to Karen and ordered,
“Gather everyone in the mansion’s hall.”
His order was quickly conveyed and the maids moved swiftly.
Murmurs rose from the researchers’ side. Even they could not avoid the assembly order.
After a short time, everyone in the Mage Tower gathered in the hall. The maids lined up silently while the researchers paired up, questioning the situation.
Seeing more than fifty brown-haired, green-eyed women, I was overwhelmed by unease. Standing at the front with Aeon, looking down at them, felt extremely uncomfortable.
“Now, choose.”
Aeon spoke like a merchant showing off his goods.
“Choose what?”
“You know. Choose who will be punished instead of you.”
To have to choose who would die in my place in front of everyone was a cruel command that would implant guilt in me and hatred in them.
