cure chapter 4

***

“Ugh. Water, please.”

A cool glass met my outstretched hand as I wrestled with my hangover. I assumed it was water, but…

“Pfft! What is this?!”

“Your usual, my lady.”

“Who drinks alcohol first thing in the morning?”

Frowning at the alcoholic scent invading my senses before my sleep-addled cells could even wake up, I spotted the exotic-looking maid before me and ruffled my hair.

‘Right. This isn’t my house.’

The maid stared at me quizzically, and the events of last night began to resurface.

“Well, at least he got me home.”

He was the strange one. I frowned, remembering Enoch’s grey eyes, full of pity as he offered me the carriage. Well, I was grateful for his kindness in getting me home safely, but avoiding perverts was the best course of action.

“Ugh. Best not to get involved with him again.”

A shiver ran down my spine as I recalled Enoch, the wild stallion from the novel, and then the Enoch from last night, boldly stripping and asking to be touched. I rubbed my arms, then blinked.

“But…I think he said something as I left.”

The alcohol must have hit me again once I was in the carriage, because the memory was hazy. I pressed my temples, trying to remember, when a knock echoed through the room. Both I and the maid, who had finally given me actual water, widened our eyes at the unexpected morning visitor.

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know. We weren’t expecting any visitors. I’ll go see.”

The maid, tilting her head, reached for the doorknob. Just then, a seductive whisper echoed in my still-foggy mind.

[I’ll visit you tomorrow. When we meet again, please be sure to touch me then.]

…Oh dear.

One memory unlocked others. I remembered everything: Enoch’s face, his gaze fixed on my fingertips as if tempting me, right up until the carriage departed. I leaped in front of the door.

“No, don’t open it!”

“What’s wrong, my lady?”

I frantically waved my arms, urging her not to open the door, as the maid stared at me with wide eyes. Then, from beyond the door, a far-too-pleasant voice drifted in.

“Liana. I’ve arrived.”

“…….”

I clapped a hand over my mouth in shock. Enoch, as if waiting for my response, paused before continuing.

“You promised to touch me today. I even wore clothes that are easy to remove.”

Excuse me? Why are you saying such suggestive things so casually?! My ears, just beginning to function properly, were assaulted by his obscene words. To make matters worse, the maid in front of me gave me a knowing look. A look like she was looking at some shameless hussy.

“So you did do it….”

“No, no! It’s not like that! He’s just…strange!”

I blurted out in indignation, then immediately clamped my hand back over my mouth. But Enoch hadn’t missed my outburst.

“You’re in there. Then I’ll come in.”

Click.

Just like Enoch’s languid gaze, which always seemed to lower seductively whenever he spoke, the doorknob slowly turned. If the door opened, I’d be forced to comply with this…uniquely inclined tyrant’s demands. I wrung my hands in despair, and then, my frantic eyes landed on the wide-open window.

“My lady! It’s dangerous! Come down!”

I couldn’t let this happen. I hadn’t even had my first kiss, and now I was trapped in this bizarre novel, about to become a perverted tyrant’s plaything. With a determined expression, I scrambled onto the windowsill. The maid gasped and rushed towards me.

Fortunately, the room wasn’t that high up. The distance to the ground wasn’t too far.

“That man out there? The one at the door? He’s the Emperor.”

“Your Majesty?”

“If he comes in looking for me, tell him I’m not here. No, tell him I drank myself to death last night!”

“What? What are you talking about?”

As I argued with the maid, the doorknob finally turned all the way. Through the widening gap, I saw a familiar silhouette. Without hesitation, I jumped.

The soft earth met my feet. At that moment, Enoch’s characteristically languid voice drifted down from above.

“Where is the Viscountess?”

“Well, that is…”

Despite my antics, the maid was still loyal to her mistress. I crept away, listening to her stammering attempts to cover for me, when I heard the sound of Enoch walking towards the window.

“Liana? Are you there?”

***

“Wow…that was close.”

I’d just managed to dive into the bushes the moment Enoch leaned out the window. I let out a shaky breath. Figuring he’d eventually give up and leave, I adjusted my position, when the nearby bushes rustled. At first, I thought he’d found me and cowered lower, but then I glimpsed a small figure through the leaves and whispered,

“Little one. Go play somewhere else.”

If you stay here, Enoch will see you.

However, my hushed pleas seemed to be interpreted as an invitation to play. The child giggled and clapped their hands.

“Shh! Shh, little one!”

Panicked that we’d be discovered, I decided I had to either get the child to leave or move myself. I pushed through the bushes, ready to act, and froze, staring at the child’s face.

“Huh? Little one, who are you? Why…”

Why do you look exactly like…me…like Liana…?