The silence that followed Alice's request for "recollection" was heavy, thick with the scent of expensive beeswax and Ren's unspoken judgment. He didn't leave immediately. Instead, he moved with the predatory grace of a man who was used to standing in corners and noticing exactly which way the wind blew.
"If you are feeling disoriented, My Lady, perhaps we should cancel the fitting for the winter gala?" Ren asked, his voice a smooth, flat surface. He was watching her hands—Alice's hands—which were currently twisting the hem of the silk sheets in a way the poised Estelle Marillia never would.
"The gala?" Alice squeaked. She remembered writing this scene. It was supposed to be Estelle's grand entrance, the moment she debuted the dress that would make her look like a literal shard of ice. "No. No, let's not. I just... I need to get out of this bed."
Ren assisted her with a formality that felt like a cold shower. He didn't touch her more than necessary, but his proximity was suffocating. When Alice finally stood before the full-length floor mirror, she gasped.
The woman staring back was a masterpiece of cold aesthetics:
The Hair: A cascading river of moonlight, so white it almost looked blue in the morning light.
The Eyes: A piercing, crystalline blue that felt like they could see through Alice's own soul.
The Expression: Even in her shock, the face defaulted to a mask of aristocratic boredom.
I made this, Alice thought, a chill running down her spine. I built this cage, and now I'm locked inside it.
Ren stood behind her reflection, his grey eyes fixed on her through the glass. "You are staring at yourself as if you've forgotten your own face, My Lady. Shall I call for the Royal Physician? Your talk of 'angry fans' and 'trains' suggests a lingering fever of the mind."
"It was a metaphor, Ren," Alice snapped, trying to channel Estelle's legendary frost. "A 'train' of thought. And 'fans'... well, I felt as though I were being fanned by the wings of death himself. It was quite poetic, really."
"Poetry. Since when have you had time for such sentimental trifles? You once told me that poets are simply people too lazy to climb the social ladder."
Alice bit her tongue. She had definitely written that line. "People change, Ren. Dying—or nearly dying—has a way of shifting one's perspective."
"You had only been asleep, for two days, and yet you speak of it as if you died- you were not close to death by any means" Ren stares worridly at his mistress
"Maybe I should call the Royal Physician"
Alice's eyes widen as he stares at the door
No- it'll be fine! I guess i'm still worked up over the dream I had
"Dream….?" It suddenly dawns on him "Oh… oh, I guess, that makes sense" Ren smiles as, if in his mind, it being a dream that had bothered me, explained my strange actions and words.
I need you to do me a favor Ren…
"What is it Lady, Estelle?"
I stand up and go to Estelle's desk, and quickly retrieve all her notes and foolish plans of desiring to kill the countess
Burn all of my diaries, right now
"What…?" Ren stares at me with a dumbfounded expression
Burn every single one, and make sure there's no trace.
"Yes… milady" Ren quickly grabs the notes and diaries i handed fo him and leaves the room
I have to figure out a way to fix this, as soon as possible, because if i don't then it'll really be my head getting chopped off, in Estelle's place.
Even with a headstart of 11 years, If i wait, the plot is just going to continue to deviate…
So, In that case, I need to protect the main characters from their own tragedies. And… prevent the further destruction of the marillia family, from total ruin.
I don't know why this is happening, but before the dungeon break occurs in this world, I need to get stronger.
WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF WRITING A DUNGEON INTO A VILLANESS MANGA- i'm so stupid!
I used to joke all the time with my novelist friends, what i'd do if I ended up getting isekai'd or reincarnated,
But… I- I didn't know that would actually happen, much less, into my own!
Alice hears the door open up, indicating Ren is back
"I finished what you tasked me with, my lady"
Ren looks exasperated for a second but quickly regains his composure, seeing i've calmed down somewhat
"I cancelled your plans for the ball, as well, my lady, since you said you didn't want to go"
Great. Now, Ren, I need to tell you something and what i say cannot leave this room.
I cast a sound barrier spell, ensuring only him and i can know what i'm saying.
"Yes my lady?"
Ren doesn't question it and takes me seriously
My father cannot know about anything of what i ask of you, where you go with me, or even where i go, alone. You have to swear to me, you will silence anyone who tries to tell him the truth
"Yes" Ren gives a chilling smile as if he had been waiting for an order like this
I know that Ren, will see this as another attempt of me trying to kill the countess, and take the crown prince as my own,
but there's more than those extra characters i added in who were also bound to die by the dungeon break-
I know it sounds cruel, being the fact that i'm the one who wrote it, but I'm an author!
I don't believe any sane person would write a story if they knew they'd be sucked into it.
I sigh heavily noticing Ren's stare and know he's waiting on me to tell him what to do