I felt my warm tears flooding down my cheeks. I don't want to cry, but the man in front of me seems to be telling me I should—on behalf of his silence.
I was still sitting in the mud, but my gaze was fixed on him. His face showed nothing but pure seriousness. He looked like... Mikael.
Not exactly. But he had my man's resemblance. The only difference was his striking beauty.
I heard him sigh as he looked down at me. His eyes were blank. He handed me his umbrella. He'd been holding it for me, and now he was also soaked from the rain.
I bowed my head. He's not my Mikael. I should remind myself of that. I can't lose my composure just because of how I feel.
I heard someone shouting behind us. A maid was calling my name, obviously looking for me. I shook my head. The man noticed. He lowered the umbrella further over me, as if he knew I didn't want to be seen by others.
I smiled without humor. What was he doing? "You should get under this," I said, pointing to the umbrella in his hand. He didn't say anything. "You shouldn't care about me. Please, just think of me as a crazy woman crying over lost love," I added.
He continued to stare at me seriously. His eyes locked onto mine as he spoke. "My chosen Muryō is not crazy. If you're crying because you feel lost, then please consider my words: You did not lose them. They're the ones who lost you." His voice was cold.
"The Crown Prince has just lost the greatest Crown Princess he could ever have."
I froze. In that moment, I realized what he'd just said. So he thinks I'm grieving because of the Crown Prince?
Well, I'm Malaya Eléftheros now. Everyone assumes I'm breaking down over him, but right now, I don't really care.
I've read this part multiple times. I replayed this scene in my mind because it was my favorite. I'm not the type to simp for main characters. Mikael knew that. He knew I had a wild admiration for villains. That's why Malaya's thoughts even had their own page.
So right now, this man in front of me isn't directly related to Malaya. I don't know who he is. But he called me his "chosen Muryō." It sounds familiar. But I didn't read about this part.
Has the story's sequence changed?
I wiped my tears away. I looked back at him seriously. It was still raining, but I thought I saw a flicker of amusement in his eyes. I asked him,
"Please tell me who you are. I'm... " I paused, staring at him resolutely. " ...I'm Malaya Eléftheros, daughter of Duke Eléftheros. On behalf of my father, I order you to reveal your identity to me."
It was a bit informal, especially since I was still sitting in the mud. He just looked at me like it was nothing—as if he'd expected my outburst.
I slowly stood up and brushed my hair with my hands. He did the same. He still held the umbrella over my head. I was about to speak again, but he beat me to it.
"I have marked you, my chosen Muryō. We will meet again. It's a shame, but I do not yet have a name. So please... think of one for me, Master." He whispered.
I kept staring at him. I tried to recall everything I knew about Malaya. When he called me "Master," it clicked.
Everyone hates me here. No one likes me. They all think I'm the embodiment of destruction. But... Malaya had one loyal knight who stayed by her side until the end. Even after her death.
Is this him? I think he is.
"Madame Eléftheros!" the woman searching for me shouted again. I turned to see her running toward me with a white blanket.
I looked back at where the man had been, but he was gone. Now I held the umbrella. I pursed my lips, remembering... Mikael.
It was just like this. Mikael had handed me his umbrella so we could meet again. This guy had said we'd see each other later. It exhausted me to think they looked so alike.
"Oh no, Madame! You're soaked through!" the maid said worriedly. I nodded and wrapped the blanket around myself, immediately feeling its warmth.
She led me to my room and left after I told her to get me some food.
Now, as I looked at myself in the mirror, the only thing I felt was intense... hatred.
Watching my reflection as I trimmed my long ginger-colored hair, I felt nothing but satisfaction.
Now that I have this futile role in the story, I don't think running away will be easy. My role is the root of all evil: destruction, jealousy, envy, and... killing intent.
Through all of that, only one person stayed by Malaya's side. Her loyal knight, who fell in love with her and was willing to die for his Madame.
But I don't want that. I'll run away once I've successfully distanced myself from everyone. I don't want to drag others down.
That way, I can live alone and wait for death. I'll forget Mikael. And after I die, I'll see him in the paradise they call the afterlife.
I snapped back to reality at the sound of a knock. I looked at the beautiful Malaya in the mirror—now with short hair—and smiled. She looked innocent and pure, like she wasn't the mastermind behind everything.
"Madame, here's— " I heard the maid gasp. Then she started to panic.
"Madame Eléftheros! What did you do?! Oh no!" She approached me with trembling hands, touching my trimmed hair. Her lips shook with fear.
I pulled away. I saw her glance at the discarded hair on the floor and take a shaky breath.
Well, I know why.
Duke Eléftheros loved his daughter's hair—it was the only reminder of his late wife. He strictly ordered everyone, especially Malaya, to take great care of it. He wanted it long enough to reach her knees, and Malaya had let it grow that way.
But now that I'm Malaya, I'm in charge. I'll make them hate me so much that they'll disown me. Then I'll escape. That's the plan.
Soon enough, I heard heavy footsteps outside. Moments later, I heard the voice I'd been waiting for.
Duke Eléftheros' voice thundered in the room as he approached me, his eyes filled with rage.
"Malaya! Have you truly gone mad? What have you done?!"