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ABZ 7
Knock, knock.
The next morning, Lilia called to me with a light knock on the door.
“Princess, are you awake? I brought it, what should I do with it?”
“...Leave it in front of the door.”
The sun is just starting to rise, she's such a diligent person.
“...Yes. I understand.”
I quietly listened to Lilia's footsteps fading away as she answered in a somewhat dejected voice, and carefully opened the door after confirming that her door was closed.
Red blood sloshed inside the glass bottle.
Zombies were very sensitive to blood. Although not as severe as other zombies, I also showed a definite reaction to the smell of freshly drawn blood.
At times like that, my heart would beat fast again, my physical abilities would be greatly enhanced, and above all, my instincts would become stronger, making me want to bite people.
Sniff, sniff.
I was worried that the smell of blood might leak out or be on the bottle, so I smelled the bottle here and there, but Lilia seemed to have wiped off all the blood on the outside of the bottle, and there was no particular smell coming from the bottle either. It was safe until it was broken.
Thump, thump, thump.
“Princess, His Highness is leaving now. I think I should tell him quickly.”
Just as I finished the safety inspection, Lilia, who had rushed over, burst open the door.
Lilia looked at me holding the bottle, then came into the room and grabbed my hand.
“His Highness has already gone outside. They will open the fortress gates soon. We have to hurry.”
The fishy smell of blood was strong from Lilia, as if the bleeding hadn't stopped yet. This is why I didn't want to face her!
“Lady Swedi should give it to him.”
I quickly shook off Lilia's hand and handed her the bottle.
“Tell him to use it before it hardens, because it won't work if it hardens.”
The path made for people to travel to the fortress was not very steep, but if you strayed a little from the path, there was a cliff made of rocks.
Zombies who fell under the all-stone cliff could not climb back up here unless they found another way. So, if we could use the blood to lure the zombies scattered on the mountain to that place, we could return to the fortress without much effort.
“What do you mean... Princess should give it to him.”
After handing over the bottle, I tried to get away from Lilia quickly, but Lilia followed me as if she couldn't.
“Don’t you think you should at least greet His Highness? You will definitely regret it.”
“...No.”
“I think sincerity always gets through. So don't worry and tell him.”
Lilia grabbed my shoulder. She was wearing gloves, but that couldn't stop the smell of blood. Lilia seemed like she would keep following me, so I quickly took the bottle from her and started running.
I didn't hear properly what Lilia said to me because I was suppressing my instincts with all my might. I ran quickly with only the thought of escaping from Lilia. Not knowing what Lilia Swedi was mistaken about.
“Penelope?”
“It will help to get rid of the zombies. You have to use it before it hardens.”
I quickly got out of the building and hurriedly handed the bottle to the Crown Prince.
He looked into the bottle I handed him and frowned. Then he quickly looked at me.
“It’s not my blood, it’s Lady Swedi’s blood.”
“...What?”
The Grand Duke, who was standing next to Idorian to open the fortress gates, looked at me with a frown on his face.
“Lady Swedi gave it.”
“Did you tell her to?”
The Grand Duke grabbed my arm roughly. He examined my face thoroughly, as if he was determined to catch a lie.
I told Lilia to give it to him because I thought this would happen... I only ended up provoking the male leads.
“I asked her.”
“Ha? Asked? You’re really crazy.”
It might be more accurate to say it was a deal or a threat rather than a request. But that was the best way.
The Grand Duke let out a hollow laugh as if he was dumbfounded, and Idorian sighed deeply and ran his hand through his hair, then took the Grand Duke's hand off me and said.
“Penelope Lloyd. Didn't you say you understood when I told you not to treat Lilia Swedi carelessly?”
When I nodded silently, Idorian gritted his teeth tightly as if he was really angry. His jaw muscles stood out. According to Penelope's memory, it was a habit he had when he was really angry.
“We’ll talk about this when we get back.”
Idorian, who was looking down at me with contempt, ended the conversation as if he had decided that there was no more time.
“Please don’t do anything useless, Penelope.”
With cold eyes that had no affection, he turned his back on me again.
Idorian quickly walked away and the fortress gates closed again.
“This is your last chance, Penelope.”
“......”
“Go to Lilia Swedi and apologize properly.”
And the Grand Duke, who seemed very annoyed, roughly dragged me into the fortress. And as soon as we entered, we faced Lilia, who was waiting for me in the hall.
“Swedi, are you okay?”
The Grand Duke stared at Lilia quietly, and carefully reached out his hand after confirming that she was wearing gloves.
‘I didn’t know he could make that kind of face.’
His face was distorted as if he was hurt. No, he didn't even make that face the day he hurt his arm.
Heresedon Dwayne seemed to be more hurt and distressed by Lilia's small wound than his own.
He was the Grand Duke who always had a cold face and was blunt. Of course, he wasn't just blunt to me, but he growled at me as if he had met his parents' enemy.
Anyway, his affection for Lilia was visible. Both the Grand Duke and the Crown Prince would try to save Lilia by any means if she was in danger. They would never pretend not to know her or leave her alone...
“Let me see your wound for a moment.”
Lilia seemed embarrassed and pulled her hand back, but the Grand Duke took off her glove and checked her bandaged hand. His large hand unwrapped the bandage from Lilia's white hand as if handling something very precious and delicate.
Lilia frowned, looking at me as if she had a lot to say to me. Of course, I was running away from Lilia's blood smell as much as possible.
Eventually, I was able to escape the strong smell of blood only after entering my room and closing the door tightly.
“Haa, I got scolded again.”
I told Lilia to keep it a secret because I thought this would happen...
Why did Lilia tell me to give it to him?
“Am I always getting scolded?”
I felt somehow wronged.
‘Please don’t do anything useless, Penelope.’
Anyway, it was for Idorian Fidentre. Of course, Lilia Swedi was the one who sacrificed in the process.
Still, it was for everyone.
‘It was an unavoidable situation. I can’t let everyone die to save you.’
Just like Idorian said to me, just like he did, it was for everyone.
If I can save everyone by seeing a little blood, isn't this also an unavoidable situation?
However, that unavoidable situation did not seem to apply to Lilia Swedi.
...Or was it a situation that only applied to me?
‘In the end, it was discrimination.’
I was reminded of Idorian's cold eyes that looked down at me with contempt a little while ago. Even if I could turn back time, he would make the same choice again. He would abandon me again.
I could tell by looking at his eyes.
“Sigh...”
I shook my head quickly, feeling like I was going to resent Lilia for the situation that had gone wrong, unlike the plan. However, it was a fleeting thought that would end quickly even if I didn't try.
Bang.
By the Grand Duke who opened the door and entered as he pleased.
“Penelope, didn’t I tell you to apologize to Lilia Swedi?”
“Your Grace!”
Lilia seemed embarrassed and grabbed the Grand Duke's arm, but he didn't move an inch as if he was determined to get an apology for Lilia.
“If you wanted to help the Crown Prince, you should have given your blood. Why, didn’t you want to be in pain? There’s a limit to how selfish a person can be.”
I hid in my room to avoid the smell of blood, but in the end, it was useless. My body reacted once again to the strong smell of blood.
I wanted to bite it because of the sweet smell. I wanted to bite Lilia.
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