Episode 2

Warm tears streamed down my cheeks. I didn't want to cry, but the man in front of me was telling me I should, on behalf of his silence.

I was still sitting in the mud, but my gaze was fixed on him. His face showed nothing but pure seriousness. He looked like... Mikael.

Not really. But he had my man's resemblance. The only difference was that he possessed a defined beauty.

I heard him sigh as he shifted to look at me. He eyed me blankly. He offered me his umbrella. He was holding it, and now he was drenched in the rain too.

I bowed my head. He's not my Mikael. I should remind myself of this. I can't lose my mind just because of my feelings.

I heard someone shout from behind us. A maid was calling out my name, obviously looking for me. I shook my head. The man noticed it. He lowered the umbrella over me, knowing I didn't want to show myself to others.

I smiled humorlessly. What was he doing? “You should get yourself under that thing,” I said, pointing to the umbrella he was holding. He didn't say anything. “You shouldn't care about me. Please, don't think I'm just a crazy woman crying over her lost love,” I added.

He remained staring at me seriously. He looked at me intensely as he said, “My chosen Muryō is not crazy. If you’re crying because you feel lost, then please consider my words. You did not lose them. They’re the ones who lost you,” he said coldly.

“The Crown Prince had just lost the greatest Crown Princess, he could ever have,”

I froze. It was a matter of the moment when I realized what he had just said. So, he thinks I'm grieving because of that? Because of the Crown Prince?

Well, I'm Malaya Eléftheros now. Everyone thinks I'm breaking down because of the Crown Prince, when in fact right now, I don't really care.

I've read this multiple times. This panel. I've read it countless times because it's the part I wanted. I'm not the woman who would simp for the main leads. Mikael knew that. He knew I had a crazy admiration for the villains. That's why Malaya's thoughts also had their own page.

So, right now, this man in front of me is not directly related to Malaya. I don't know who he is. But he told me I'm his chosen Muryō. It's familiar. But I didn't read it in this part.

Has the sequence of the story changed?

I wept my tears away. I looked at him seriously too. It was still raining. But somehow, I saw amusement flicker in his eyes. I asked him.

“Please let me know who you are. I’m... ” I paused. I stared at him resolutely. “ ...I’m Malaya Eléftheros. The daughter of Duke Eléftheros. I, on behalf of my father, hereby order you to reveal your identity to me,” I told him.

It's a bit informal. Especially since I was still sitting in the mud. He just looked at me like it was nothing. He looked like he expected my outburst.

I slowly stood up and brushed my hair with my own hands. He did the same. He was still holding the umbrella above my head. I was about to speak again but he beat me to it.

“I have marked you, my chosen Muryō. We will meet at another time. It's a shame but I do not yet have a name. So, please think of one for me... Master,” he whispered.

I remained staring at him. I was reminiscing about the greatest things I must remember about Malaya. And when he called me his Master, I just came to that point.

Everyone hates me here. No one likes me. They all think I'm the embodiment of destruction. But... Malaya had one loyal knight who stayed by her side until the end. Even after her death.

Is it him? Surely, I think he is.

“Madame Eléftheros!” The woman who had been searching for me shouted again. I turned to look in her direction and saw her running towards me with a white blanket.

I looked back to where the man had been standing, but he was gone. Now I was holding the... umbrella. I pursed my lips when I remembered... Mikael.

It was like this. Mikael handed me his umbrella so that he could meet me at another time. The guy told me that we would meet each other again. It exhausts me to think that they both have a resemblance to each other.

“Oh my, Madame! You're soaking wet in the rain!” the woman said worriedly. I nodded my head and wrapped the blanket around myself. I immediately felt the warmth that enveloped me.

She escorted me to my room. She left after I told her to get me some food.

While I was looking at myself in the mirror, I felt nothing but intense... hatred.

Watching my reflection as I trimmed my long ginger-colored hair, I felt nothing but satisfaction.

Now that I have the futile role in this story, I don't think running away would be easy. My role here is the root of all the negative deeds. Destruction, jealousy, envy, and... killing intent.

In all the things I will do, there is only one who remained by my side. It was Malaya's loyal knight who had fallen in love with her and was destined to die for his Madame.

But, I don't want that. I will run away after I successfully pull myself out from everyone. I don't want to involve other people.

That way, I could live alone and wait until I die. I will forget Mikael. And after my very dead end, I will see him in the place they called paradise in the afterlife.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock. I watched the gorgeous Malaya with her short hair and smiled. She looked innocent and pure. Like she wasn't the mastermind behind everything.

“Madame, here is— ” I heard the maid gasp. After that, she started to become hysterical.

“Madame Eléftheros! What did you do?! Oh my!” She approached me with trembling hands. She touched the trimmed hair as her lips shook with fear.

I turned away from her. I saw her glance at the discarded hair and I saw her repeatedly gulp.

Well, I know the reason.

Duke Eléftheros loves his daughter's hair because it is the only remnant of his deceased wife. He strictly told anyone, especially his daughter, to take care of the hair so much. He wanted it long to the extent that Malaya let it grow until it reached her knees.

But, because I am Malaya now, I will have my way. I will make them hate me so much that they will disown me and then, I will escape. That's it.

Matter of time, I heard heavy footsteps coming from outside. Soon, I heard the voice I had been waiting for.

Duke Eléftheros' voice thundered inside the room as he approached me with eyes drowning in wrath.

“Malaya! Have you really gone crazy? What did you do?!”

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