Chapter 33

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I SAW THE smirk tugging at Zacharias’s lips as he looked at me, his confidence dripping with arrogance. My expression shifted—fear slowly evaporating, replaced with something darker, more dangerous.

A sharp laugh escaped me. “Oh my god!” I wiped away a tear from the corner of my eye, caused more by amusement than fear. “You’re trying to abduct me? Really?” I stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder with mock familiarity, tapping it lightly. “How… quaint.”

I spared a glance at the system’s holographic announcement. If it hadn’t popped up, I would never have known about this little stunt. How convenient.

“Come with us willingly, and you won’t be harmed,” he said, his tone far too calm for the chaos about to unfold.

A louder, more genuine laugh bubbled out of me. “Oh, I might just cry if that were true, Sir Zacharias.” My voice dripped with sarcasm as I strolled toward my other dagger, which had been thrown earlier.

As I bent to pick it up, a chill ran down my spine—eyes were on me. Instinctively, I heightened my guard. I slipped the ring onto my finger, spinning my dagger effortlessly in my hand as I rose to my full height. Then, I turned sharply to face him, one hand resting on my hip, challenging.

“You really think you can handle me on your own?” I taunted, a wide grin spreading across my face, daring him. I watched as his jaw clenched, his lips tightening into a thin line. He shifted his stance, preparing for the inevitable clash.

“We’ll see, my lady,” he replied, his voice low, tension thick in the air.

Huh. He’s changed. What has that Emperor done to him? A love potion? The thought nearly made me gag in disgust. Pathetic.

Suddenly, a gust of wind brushed past my cheek, the warning of a swift strike. I sidestepped just in time, his blade narrowly missing me.

“Not bad,” he remarked, his sword poised in front of him, “for a woman who’s never had any proper noble education.”

I raised a brow, twirling my dagger before throwing it in his direction. “Oh, how delightful! A knight’s attack, dodged by a lady lacking in ‘education.’ Isn’t that just humiliating for the royal knight?” My dagger flew toward him, but he agilely leaped onto a nearby rock, avoiding it with ease.

A smirk tugged at my lips. I held out my hand.

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The ability [Evoke] has been activated.

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The dagger I had just thrown snapped back into my grasp, as if pulled by an invisible force. The ability was certainly convenient. His eyes widened for a split second. Perfect.

“How—” His words were cut off as another dagger flew toward him. He dodged again, faster this time, but I wasn’t done.

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The ability [Evoke] has been activated.

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My dagger returned to me again. I gripped it tighter, the sting of my previous injury reminding me that I wasn’t invincible. But pain only fueled my resolve.

“You’re too slow,” he taunted, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. The tip of his sword hovered just above my abdomen, his movements as sharp as his blade.

But he hesitated.

I saw it—the flicker of doubt in his eyes. My lips curled into a menacing smirk. “Ho, ho, ho… Not bad, Sir Zacharias.” With a swift motion, I spun my dagger, knocking his sword out of his hand and sending it flying once more. His eyes widened in shock as I stepped closer, the air between us thick with tension.

I leaned in, my voice dropping to a chilling whisper. “Aren’t you going to kill me?” I could feel his breath hitch as I moved closer. “Sebastian’s not here… you can do it now, if you want.”

He stumbled back, his face pale with shock. “H-How do you know him?”

I straightened, amusement dancing in my eyes. “He revealed himself to me.” My voice turned colder as I tilted my head, watching him squirm under my gaze. “But you, Charlie… You’re the one who’s naïve. Sebastian’s childhood friend, aren’t you?”

His face twisted in confusion and panic, and I relished every second of it. I pointed my dagger toward his throat, the cold steel glinting ominously in the low light. “I told you, I’m not the fool you all think I am anymore, Charlie.”

Without waiting for his reaction, I leaned in again, my voice a deadly whisper. “Now, act like you’ve captured me and take me to a ‘safe place.’”

In an instant, he lunged forward, his hand tightening around my throat with surprising force. He wrenched the dagger from my grip, pressing it against my neck. His breath was hot against my skin as he whispered, “I’ll get my answers from you, my lady… one way or another.”

“I’ve captured her. You can return to your post,” Zacharias announced, his voice steady and commanding. The metallic clinks echoed around us as the royal knights emerged from the shadows, their armor gleaming faintly under the dim light. I knew it.

“I’ll bring her to the Emperor myself,” he added, the weight of authority in his tone. But then, a familiar voice cut through the air.

“I’ll take care of that,” Athena stepped forward, a sly grin curling on her lips. “I have... matters to discuss with her.”

Her sudden appearance was unexpected, even for her. In the game—and in the book—Lady Athena was always loyal to Cecelia, rarely acting on her own. But here she was, eyes glinting with a mixture of mischief and malice. The system wasn’t wrong; the plot was changing, and I couldn’t help but wonder—was it because of me? No, it definitely was. Obviously.

“No, Lady Athena,” Zacharias interrupted. His grip tightened around me as he hoisted me over his shoulder like a sack of grain. “You have people to heal. Get back to your duties.” Without another word, he turned his back to her and began to walk away.

I twisted slightly to catch a glimpse of Athena, who was now fuming, her eyes burning with frustration. She stomped her foot in a childish display of rage.

“Serves you right,” I mouthed mockingly, winking at her before sticking my tongue out. Her eyes flared with anger as she let out a shrill scream, her face reddening.

I tore my eyes away from the scene behind me and locked onto the massive tree ahead—its roots tangled with death, its branches cradling the grotesque. A sickening fury boiled beneath my skin. This wasn’t how it’s supposed to be. I had to tear it down, root and branch. Before it devours everything.

Zacharias reached the door of a nearby structure and kicked it open, letting it creak ominously. The sight of the grotesque tree vanished as he slammed the door shut behind us, and finally, he dropped me to my feet. I straightened my clothes, brushing off the dirt, as he headed upstairs without a word. With no other choice, I followed.

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You have successfully completed the predicament. Rewards will be given shortly!

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I glanced at the system notification. It had been too easy.

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Updating character details…

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Character Profile

Eiliyah Arthemice Loughsin

Title: The Ruthless Villainess Current Life: 65% Reputation: 20% Power Level: Ascendant Abilities: Beast Tamer, Evoke

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My lifespan had increased. Interesting.

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The ability of an Alchemist has been granted.

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Alchemy is the art of transforming matter, blending natural elements and magic to create powerful potions, transmute materials, and craft unique tools. An alchemist can reshape the world by manipulating the essence of life and nature.

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My eyes widened. Alchemy? That was an incredibly rare ability. Evoke had been powerful enough, but this... this was something else entirely.

Before I could fully process it, Zacharias reached the top of the stairs and stopped abruptly. He turned, grabbed my hand without warning, and in the blink of an eye, we were somewhere else. One second, we were inside the tower, the next, we stepped out of a small cabinet.

I blinked in confusion, quickly scanning the room. A small, cozy cabin nestled deep within the forest. Wooden beams crisscrossed the ceiling, and simple decor adorned the walls. A fire crackled softly in the hearth, its warmth filling the space with a faint orange glow. The shadows danced lazily along the walls.

As I adjusted to the sudden shift, my eyes landed on Sebastian, who was slumped over a table, silently sleeping.

“Wait...” I started, my voice breaking the eerie silence.

“It’s our hideout,” Zacharias began to explain.

I cut him off, narrowing my eyes. “No, I get that. But how did we get here... using a door?” I pointed at the cabinet and then back at him, disbelief coloring my words.

He glanced at me like I was some sort of fool. “It’s one of my abilities,” he said simply, dismissing my confusion as he laid his sword on the table. “I’m a noble. And an assassin. So, naturally, I have certain... privileges.”

I almost burst into laughter. A noble? Him? How ridiculous.

“Are you feeling well, Sir Zacharias?” I retorted sarcastically, crossing my arms as I shot him a skeptical look.

He scoffed, peeling off his armor piece by piece, revealing blood-stained clothing underneath. His breathing grew heavier, clearly wounded. The sight of the dried blood clinging to his skin made my stomach churn, but I kept my expression neutral.

“I don’t owe you an explanation,” he said, settling into a nearby chair. “But you, my lady, owe me one.” He gestured to the seat beside him.

I rolled my eyes but complied, walking over but I halted midway. My gaze drifted to Sebastian, still deep in sleep, his hair now longer, covering most of his face. This wasn’t the time to worry about him, though.

“Before anything else...” I began, my eyes sweeping the room before settling on him. “Can you at least bandage that wound? It’s not exactly ideal to have your blood spilling everywhere like that,” I muttered, pointing to the deep gash in his stomach. His gaze followed my finger, landing on the wound.

“Why?” he asked with a smirk, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Are you worried?”

I crossed my arms, unimpressed by his arrogance. “You look pale,” I replied flatly, ignoring his teasing. “I can’t have a conversation with someone who’s on the verge of death. And if the Emperor finds me next to your cold, lifeless body, he’ll probably find some twisted ritual to perform on me.” I let my words hang in the air, hoping they'd strike a chord.

He chuckled, though his breathing grew more labored with each second. “You’ve certainly gathered a lot of information... Haven’t you?” His voice was low, but there was a trace of admiration in it. “The bandages are in the cabinet.”

Without wasting a moment, I hurried to the cabinet and pulled out a small, weathered box. “Found it,” I called, walking back and sitting beside him. Without asking for permission, I grabbed the hem of his blood-soaked shirt and tore it apart. He wasn’t going to be wearing it again, anyway.

His well-toned torso was suddenly exposed, and for a brief moment, my eyes lingered. Focus, Arthemice, I mentally scolded myself, pushing away the distraction. I opened the box, retrieving the bandages and other supplies.

“Huh, looks like the monster and I both did a decent job of carving you up,” I remarked dryly as I examined the two deep wounds on his abdomen, the blood still oozing from them.

He let out a dry laugh, but it quickly turned into a wince of pain. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I replied, my tone sharp as I began to clean the wounds, working quickly but carefully. His muscles tensed under my touch, but he stayed silent, enduring the pain with gritted teeth.

I glanced at his face, beads of sweat forming on his brow. His breathing was shallow, and I could see the effort it took for him to stay conscious. “Hold still,” I muttered, applying pressure to stop the bleeding.

As I wrapped the bandages around his torso, I couldn’t help but think how absurd it was. Here I was, helping a man who could easily betray me at any moment, and yet... there was something oddly intimate about the situation.

When I finished, I sat back, wiping my hands. “That should hold for now. Try not to die just yet,” I said, standing up and giving him a brief glance.

He scoffed at my remark, though his eyes softened for a second before he masked it with his usual smirk.

“What a lovely view you’ve got there,” a low voice drawled. I tilted my head, spotting Sebastian, now awake from his slumber. He approached deliberately, attempting to mask the twitch in his eyes. From the corner of my vision, I saw Zacharias swallow hard, his throat bobbing in clear anxiety.

“Y-Your Highness,” Zacharias stammered.

What? My eyes narrowed as I glanced between the two of them. Your Highness? I didn’t recall Sebastian ever being a prince in the game or the book. He was just a lowly regressor, dumped by his lover.

As if reading my thoughts, Sebastian smirked. “I may not be a prince of noble blood, but I am their prince—among assassins,” he said, casually tapping my fingers.

My mind raced, trying to make sense of this new development, but before I could speak, Sebastian turned to Zacharias, his eyes cold and calculating. “So, what’s your business here, Charlie? Why did you bring a girl to our hidden cabin?”

Zacharias flinched under his gaze, sweat gathering at his temples. “I wanted to ask her something,” he muttered, the fear in his voice undeniable. “I was supposed to abduct her, but she... she knows about the Emperor’s plans—”

He didn’t get to finish. Sebastian's sudden, manic laughter cut him off. He threw his head back, pressing a hand to his forehead as he laughed like a madman. Zacharias and I exchanged wary glances, both trying to figure out what was going on in this man’s deranged mind.

Abruptly, he stopped laughing, his face snapping back to cold composure as he stepped toward me. I instinctively moved back, but there was nowhere to go. He sniffed my hair, his eyes locking onto mine before turning his predatory smile to Zacharias.

“This woman,” he hissed, his voice dripping with malice, “has the ability to know the future, Charlie.” In an instant, his hand shot out, gripping my throat with ruthless force. I gasped, my hands flying up to pry his fingers away, but his hold was iron.

“However,” he continued, tightening his grip as my feet left the ground, “this isn’t the same lady we know. She’s an intruder.”

I clawed at his hand, my nails digging into his skin, but it was no use. His strength far outmatched mine. My lungs burned, my vision beginning to blur as the pressure on my throat intensified. I couldn’t breathe.

“Thank you for bringing her here, Charlie,” Sebastian whispered, his lips brushing against my ear as I felt his breath hot beneath my chin. “Now, I can kill her without any hesitation.”

My vision darkened, the edges fading as I struggled in vain.

fin.