The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

145 – 145. Death and the Villainess (1)

Again.

Another nightmare.

The villainess stepped into the space stained with red and let out a heavy sigh.

When she first set foot in the world of nightmares, she trembled with fear, but now it was different. After repeating the nightmare for several days, she was starting to become numb to it.

“What do you want to say to me today?”

As she took a step forward, the pooled blood covered her calves. Elizabeta, kicking aside the densely lined skulls, finally faced the master of the nightmare.

– You’re impatient. You’ve just opened your eyes.

Luxurious golden hair cascading down to her hips.

Blood-red eyes that seemed to have solidified like coagulated blood.

Skin as pale as ice and a pitch-black evening dress reminiscent of mourning attire.

Elizabeta frowned at the nightmare’s manifestation, which mimicked her own appearance. The resemblance was so uncanny that it sent waves of disgust through her.

– It seems you had a delightful day today. I, on the other hand, had the worst day imaginable.

The calamity, taking on the form of the villainess, reached out its hand.

At that moment, a black butterfly fluttering around landed softly in its delicate grasp.

“Why do you always take on the same appearance as me? It’s unsettling.”

– That’s simply my preference. The death king who granted me divinity was an ugly man. Therefore, this time, I wanted to transform into a transcendent beauty.

“A transcendent beauty… That’s not entirely wrong. All the ugly women in the world envy my beauty.”

– I concede, beautiful maiden.

There was no trace of hostility.

It flowed smoothly, as if meeting a kindred spirit.

Elizabeta sensed that the being before her was a sinister deity of disaster, one that denied life itself. Yet, despite this, she displayed a boldness in continuing the conversation with the calamity god.

– You must have realized by now. I am the deity of disaster that denies the world of the singular god.

“Right. Since you’ve invited me to this insane space… it’s only natural that you’re not in your right mind either.”

– The reason I intentionally invited you to this realm of death is simple. I wish for you to temporarily relinquish control of your body.

“…How ridiculous. Do you really think I would hand it over willingly?”

Had it already seen through her true feelings?

The entity, mimicking the princess, revealed its purpose in a calm voice.

Control of the body.

Elizabeta knew all too well what that entailed.

It must be a scheme to seize her body, just like when the fool who created the Loinons possessed her without permission. Having experienced it before, Elizabeta swallowed hard and remained wary of the being before her.

‘If it’s a deity of disaster, a symbol of evil, it would naturally seize my body unilaterally. But I won’t let some unidentified spirit take it from me…!’

She clenched her fists tightly.

And with a sharp gaze, she glared at the ominous divinity.

– Do not worry, beautiful maiden. Right now, I am merely a powerless afterimage. I have neither the strength to take your body nor the means to corrupt your pure soul.

“…….”

– Moreover, if I were to activate my divinity in the realm of the mind, I would be discovered by tyranny and famine. For now, I am in contact with you thanks to the war… but regrettably, I am in a crippled state and cannot exert any influence.

“Are you talking about Ethan, my sister, and the First Saint…?”

Ah.

Has she finally realized?

As Elizabeta let out a heavy sigh, the deity of death chuckled softly.

– I shall grant you the honor of accepting me. It wouldn’t be a bad story for you, would it? You could be with the man you love, the sister you respect… and even the rival you see as a thorn in your side, all of whom are vessels containing the innocent disaster! If you accept my merciful proposal, you can be with them.

“…….”

Was she destined to play the pitiful role, waiting anxiously for results every time?

If she accepted the deity, she could fight alongside them.

Didn’t she want to protect the man she loved?

Surely, she wished to be a source of strength for her respected sister.

Elizabeta always felt powerless, merely receiving protection from her sister and Edanant. And she harbored feelings of inferiority for being unable to help her sister and Edanant in any way.

The deity of death was well aware of this.

The ominous disaster that denied life extended its hands toward Elizabeta, whispering sweetly. If it continued to provoke her feelings of powerlessness and inferiority, she would undoubtedly relinquish control of her body willingly.

“Where are you selling your poison!”

-…What?

The expectation veered off into the abyss.

Death’s shadow wore a bewildered expression at Elizabetta’s sharp words.

“No matter how crazy I might be, I won’t surrender my body to some wandering spirit! I understand your dark intentions to claim the beautiful form known as the Empire’s finest, but I have no intention of handing it over willingly! Do you have any idea how hard I’ve worked to cultivate this body? There’s only one person in this world to whom I would ever allow my body! Do you understand?!”

-…….

The emotions that shattered the feelings of helplessness and inferiority were rooted in a self-love that dug deep into the heart.

Extreme narcissism.

A princess complex born from an inherently self-centered nature and a blessed environment of royalty.

This girl is not normal.

It was only natural for Death’s shadow to evaluate Elizabetta in such a way.

* * *

A softly ringing voice was heard.

And a hand that shook her body was felt.

Edanant.

It was undoubtedly his voice and grip.

“Ugh, yes… Edan?”

“Are you alright? It seems you had a nightmare.”

A cool breeze tickled her forehead.

Countless branches obscured the sky like a roof.

Elizabetta finally realized that she had been enjoying a nap beneath the thickly spread tree. Beside the villainess, the Louisnons, including Rue, were still sleeping soundly, their nostrils flaring gently.

“It’s late autumn now. What will you do if you catch a cold?”

“Today was so warm in the sunlight. That’s why I enjoyed a nap with the Louisnons.”

“If Her Highness Ludmila finds out, she will surely scold you.”

“Ugh, I don’t want that.”

Edanant chuckled softly as he picked a yellow leaf that had settled on Elizabetta’s forehead. In response, Elizabetta leaned against Edanant.

They were alone together.

Thus, she approached boldly.

Even though the Louisnons were sleeping right next to them, she treated them as mere background.

“Edan, tell me. If I… if I were to become someone else, what would you do?”

“That’s quite an unexpected question.”

“There was that time I was forcibly possessed by a shabby goddess. I suddenly found myself worrying about what would happen if I got enchanted like back then.”

“Hmm.”

It was a question that was hard to answer right away.

I swallowed my silence for a moment, lost in thought.

But eventually, I lifted the villainess in my arms, responding with action instead of words.

“I will save you no matter how many times it takes. Protecting a beautiful princess is a hero’s duty, isn’t it?”

“Of course…! I’ve said something unnecessary! Edanant has always saved me!”

Elizabeta’s face flushed in an instant at Edanant’s straightforward response, as if she hadn’t expected such a direct confession.

Having proven my loyalty, it was only right to offer a reward.

In his embrace, Elizabeta leaned forward and gave Edanant a quick peck.

The kiss was brief.

It was merely a fleeting touch of lips, like a bird pecking.

As Edanant gazed quietly, Elizabeta couldn’t contain her embarrassment and turned her head away. She took a deep breath, anxious that the sound of her racing heart might be discovered.

“It’s time to wake the Louisnons.”

“That won’t be easy. The Louisnons who have just fallen asleep won’t even notice if someone carries them away.”

“I have my own method.”

“Hmm?”

As the particles of misfortune scattered, a musket appeared.

At the same time, the musket aimed at the air erupted in flames, releasing a sharp gunshot.

Bang—!

As the gunshot rang out, the Louisnons, who had been sound asleep, jolted awake.

“It’s, it’s a fire!”

“Buhuh?! It’s lightning! Lightning has struck!”

Seeing the Louisnons spring up in a panic, Elizabeta looked at Edanant with a gaze full of exasperation. She let out a heavy sigh at the thoughtless violence.

Yet, Edanant appeared unfazed.

“It’s almost dinner time. Let’s head back, beautiful princess.”

“First, I need to calm the Louisnons! I really can’t take this!”

Like a flock startled by thunder, the Louisnons were busy running around in a frenzy. Elizabeta, along with Rue, soothed the Louisnons and lined them up in an orderly fashion.

Edanant, watching the scene that looked like something out of a kindergarten, couldn’t help but chuckle and turned his head away.

‘What have I done to Elizabeta?’

“Well. I don’t know.”

As I reached out my hand, particles of ash were stirred up.

At that moment, the particles of ash trembled violently, and the voice of the God of Calamity echoed.

“You’ve summoned death, haven’t you? Did you think I wouldn’t know until the end?”

– Sharp as ever.

With a voice as piercing as an interrogation, it shot back at me.

In the certainty of Edanant’s words, the ash of war readily acknowledged its role as the dark puppet master.