BFLRS 11

Chapter 11

He asked so nonchalantly, as if he were simply inquiring about my well-being. The finely folded crescent eyes and the gracefully curved line of his lips completely mismatched the current atmosphere. His light golden hair melting into the moonlight, and those eyes that shone with a transparent clarity, were so excessively bright and deep that they felt almost surreal.

‘What on earth is his deal?’

A face I had never seen before—neither in the game nor throughout my life as the young lady. Instinctively shrinking back my shoulders, the man smiled softly.

“You’re being far too guarded, considering our relationship.”

Before I could even panic at those incomprehensible words, the smile vanished from his face—right at that moment.

“What is this bastard?!”

Because the intruder violently twisted his body in an attempt to break free from him. However, as if he had anticipated that reaction, the man twisted the intruder’s arm without a single moment of hesitation and subdued him in one smooth motion.

“Argh!”

Simultaneously, the man wrapped his other arm around the intruder’s neck and choked him. As though the short gasp that burst out wasn’t even worth hearing, the man asked me in a low, muffled voice.

“Do you happen to know each other?”

His expression had hardened into an emotionless blank, yet there was still a playful undertone lingering in his tone.

“……No.”

I shook my head, as if under some kind of spell.

“Right? I knew it.”

Smiling again at that, the man tightened his grip around the intruder’s neck.

“Ghk!”

Clatter. Just as the intruder’s struggles grew more violent, the dagger he had been holding slipped from his hand and clattered onto the floor. Yet the man didn’t even spare it a glance. Instead, with his gaze firmly fixed on me, he continued speaking as if we were having an everyday conversation.

“Wouldn’t it be better to tighten security just a bit more? It seems there’s no shortage of people who want the young lady dead.”

His tone was detached, like someone passing along a rumor they had heard somewhere.

“They said other bastards take turns supplying private soldiers every night, but they’re putting up a lot less sincerity than I thought.”

With that, he began chuckling as if he were thoroughly amused.

‘……Were he and that transmigrator close?’

Even though he entered through the exact same window, strangely enough, this man felt completely different from the intruder. His relaxed demeanor, casual tone, and remarks hinting at inside knowledge. Above all, just watching him easily overpower someone threatening me made that abundantly clear.

“Ugh……!”

At that moment, the thrashing intruder’s body gave a violent jerk before instantly going completely limp. Only then did the man gradually loosen his grip. He then grabbed the fallen intruder by the back of the neck and laid him out flat on the floor like a piece of luggage. Thud. It was a rough touch, yet quiet enough to put someone to sleep—done with complete familiarity.

‘What on earth is his background that he can so easily subdue an assassin who looks clearly trained?’

Raising his upper body, he peered into my panicked face for a long moment.

“Still, this is the first time we’re facing each other like this.”

……First time?

Does that mean we’ve never crossed paths face-to-face, but we are acquainted?

‘Could he be one of the people who was being blackmailed by that transmigrator?’

However, guessing the man’s identity beyond that was nearly impossible. Not a single person with a similar vibe came to mind.

‘With a face like that, I’d definitely remember even if we just brushed past each other…… I’ve never seen him in the game, nor since I transmigrated!’

As if waiting for my answer, he tilted his head slightly to the left in silence. With my mind completely jumbled, I finally managed to part my lips.

“……Anyway, since it’s our first time, shouldn’t showing some manners come first?”

Even though my words trailed off vaguely, the man didn’t seem to mind. Instead, he let out a small laugh.

“Ah, right. Greetings. I should give a proper greeting, shouldn’t I?”

With an unhurried stride, he stepped right over the back of the fallen intruder and approached me. Then, he bent down at the waist to match my eye level.

“I’ve truly been looking forward to meeting you, Young Lady.” “…….” “Now, I’d like you to fulfill our promise.”

Promise?

Even as I slightly furrowed my brow and pulled my body back, the man still wore an amused look.

“Acting this way—”

Just as his words continued—

“Aack!!”

A sharp scream tore from my lips at the sensation brushing against my ankle. It was because the fallen intruder’s hand had reached out and grabbed my right ankle.

“You damn…… bastards…!”

Having lain facedown and quiet as death, I had completely forgotten about his existence. Without a shred of surprise at my scream, the man glanced down at the floor once, a smile still playing on his lips.

“It certainly isn’t the most appropriate timing for a serious conversation.”

Then, he smoothly shifted his posture. Immediately following came a gruesome cracking sound that completely mismatched his gentle movement. CRACK.

“Gwaaaah!”

For the first time since entering this room, the intruder let out a roaring scream. With a blank expression, the man was ruthlessly stomping down on the intruder’s forearm. There was no hesitation in the movement—not a trace of any emotion at all.

“We’re in the middle of exchanging greetings, and you keep interrupting.”

Crack. Crunch. At the gruesome sounds repeating a couple more times, I held my breath in sheer horror.

‘This guy doesn’t seem normal either……?’

Tucking a stray lock of hair behind his ear, the man jerked his head up. His lustrous hair swished, barely brushing against his shoulders. Once again, those blue eyes turned toward me.

“Are you hurt?”

My ankle had merely been grabbed. I dazedly shook my head.

‘Isn’t this situation still dangerous right now? He’s crazy too, right?’

My already complicated mind felt like it was about to burst.

“Pity, but we’ll have to part ways for today.”

My eyes widened at the man’s words. In response, he widened his eyes in an exaggerated imitation of me and jerked his chin toward the door. Only then did I notice the noisy commotion echoing from far down the hallway.

“I’ll come visit when the sun is up.”

Sighing lightly, the man turned his back on me and walked toward the open window. He didn’t forget to step right over the back of the groaning intruder sprawled on the floor one last time. Having appeared so abruptly, he vanished just as suddenly without ever looking back.

Bam!

“Master!”

Simultaneously, the door flew open as a panicked butler and servants rushed into the room en masse. The candlestick clutched in my hand, the stray dagger lying on the floor, the intruder groaning in defeat, and me standing there with an absurd expression. Their gazes swept across the scene one by one.

“An intruder!” “Master, a-are you alright?!” “Immediately reinforce the estate’s security and drag this fellow down to the basement!”

The bedroom instantly plunged into chaos. Amidst that commotion, I kept my eyes locked on the still-open window. Just in case the shadow of that strange man—whose name and identity I still knew nothing about—might appear again from beyond the curtains fluttering in the night wind.

I hardly slept a wink that night. That was only natural.

‘Would anyone be able to sleep right after finding out they’ve become a female lead ruined by someone else, only to almost die right after?’

What was surprising was the butler’s composure in organizing the situation even amidst that absolute mess.

—I apologize, Master. I was caught up handling a report that a dangerous object suspected to be a bomb was found in the garden, which caused you distress. From now on, I will concentrate the personnel assigned to garden stakeouts directly toward your bedroom balcony.

I had thought he was just a spineless pushover, but he seemed somewhat competent in his own way. Moreover, finding out there was a separate reason why the garden had been left in such a neglected state was equally shocking.

‘More importantly, who on earth sent yesterday’s intruder?’

Could it be one of the nobles who had been blackmailed?

‘That strange man mentioned that they take turns supplying private soldiers every night. What on earth is that supposed to mean?’

Presumably, that was due to blackmail as well. Doubtless, the nobles whose weaknesses had been seized were keeping watch over my safety while keeping each other in check. Because if I were to be kidnapped by someone and spill their dirty secrets, it might trigger a fallout of a completely different dimension compared to simply paying tribute to maintain secrecy.

‘*No, but wouldn’t all of this have been avoided if he just hadn’t blackmailed them in the first place?!’

My head felt like it was going to split open as unanswerable questions piled up.

‘And what about that strange man?’

Our relationship, facing each other for the first time, the promised item, coming to visit when it’s bright out. I didn’t even have a clue where to look for clues regarding the things he left behind.

‘Please, just transmigrate me into a pebble right now……’

I spent the entire morning pulling the blanket over my head and staring blankly at the ceiling. I knew I had to do something, but I wasn’t in my right mind. It was due to a tedious detective drama incomparable to any previous transmigration. Was it around lunchtime? Deciding that I really needed to do something now, I sat up and rang the bell to summon a servant.

“Come in.”

However, the moment I turned my head at the sound of the door opening shortly after, I couldn’t hide my absolute shock.

“Young Lady, I’ve gone and gotten myself caught.”

Because the man who had vanished beyond the window last night was being dragged in, securely bound in ropes.