I Have No Intention Of Training The Male Leads - Chapter 18 Part 2

Alberic turned away from Eve and spoke slowly. 

“I can’t understand why His Highness would go so far for you, no matter how much I think about it.”

“Edward?”

“…You must know he’s plotting something.”

Alberic turned around. His calm, deep-set eyes stared straight at Eve. Eve focused on what he held in his hands.

“This is a citizen ID for the Burgund Free State. This is a train ticket departing the day after tomorrow, and this is a ship ticket leaving for Felansi in ten days. It doesn’t matter where you go, but if you’re heading west, find the Nightingale Bookstore in Baysher territory. The owner, Henzel Pacer, will help you leave the country.”

“How long have you been preparing this?”

“…Since we came to the estate, I’ve known I needed to send you away.” 

“You want me to run away now? This suddenly?”

Of course, she had considered escaping if things went south, but the unexpected help left Eve dumbfounded. She even wondered if she had mumbled about her escape plans in her sleep. 

After a moment of hesitation, tracing the tips of his own fingers, Alberic finally spoke.

“I was the one who secretly delivered your aunt’s necklace to His Highness. I didn’t know why he wanted it at the time, but he must have known about you from the beginning.”

“…Ah.”

The evidence that claimed Elver was Lady Rosalyn’s biological son was a locket necklace containing her childhood portrait, a possession of Rosalyn’s when she was alive. Eve suddenly realized that all the male leads had been involved in ‘Eve’s Downfall’ that she had seen in the game.

“He may be a close confidant, but he doesn’t share everything with me. I can only guess his intentions by observing how things unfold.”

“Intentions?”

“…It’s different from what he told me initially. I started to think you might be caught up in something bigger than I thought. If it’s just a matter of your social standing, I can protect you within my power. But…”

Alberic stopped. He met Eve’s gaze instead of rashly voicing his speculation. In a hushed voice, he whispered:

“Go. Go as far away as possible. It’s best to go beyond Burgund. Crossing the sea wouldn’t be a bad idea either.”

“Why are you going this far?”

Eve couldn’t help but ask. He acted as if he genuinely wished for her survival.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought myself. It’s an act of betrayal against someone I swore loyalty to. I know it’s not a rational choice.”

Alberic’s blue eyes wavered. Eve patiently waited for him to continue. 

“But you, I… you…”

He stammered, unable to spit out the words stuck in his throat. Instead of confessing his surging emotions, he swallowed them down. He felt as if his tongue was burning, and slowly wetted his dry lips.

“…Don’t make me say something shameless. Even if you don’t laugh at me, I know I’m not worthy.”

Silence fell between them.

Amid this heart-wrenching confession scene, Eve struggled to suppress her awkwardness. He was looking at her with such heartfelt eyes, practically saying he wanted her to be safe because he liked her, and only someone incredibly clueless would question why he was acting this way. 

‘No, it would’ve been better if he’d been good from the start. Why does he have to act like a cliché second male lead, fighting tooth and nail, then suddenly regretting it with a heartfelt confession, making things so awkward…!’

As Eve desperately tried to hide her awkwardness beneath a somber expression, a knock sounded from beyond the closed door. Eve quickly shoved the items Alberic had given her into her subspace pouch, which she always carried on her waist.

“…Come in.”

Alberic quickly composed himself and permitted the attendant to enter in his usual indifferent tone. The door opened, and the butler of the country house bowed respectfully to the two before handing Alberic a letter.

“Your parents sent it.”

Knowing it must be a serious matter if the staff came to his private space after sunset, Alberic accepted the letter, dismissed the butler, then picked up a letter opener from his desk and sliced through the wax seal.

As he quickly scanned the letter, his expression hardened. Finishing it, he bit his lip, his face etched with anxiety.

“What is it?”

“The Count and Countess are coming. With ?Lady Rosalyn’s son?.”

“What?”

“It seems that man somehow found out about the villa where they were staying and went there first. They seem to be under the impression that he’s just a guest accompanying someone they invited.”

“Wow…. He’s got some brains.”

“He apparently showed them Lady Rosalyn’s necklace, pretending not to know anything and claiming it was a keepsake from his mother.”

“?That? necklace?”

“…After talking to them, the man apparently became furious, claiming you were dishonoring his mother’s name and threatening legal action. My parents managed to calm him down, saying they’d meet and talk it over, but they’re unsure of what to do and are returning to the mansion with him.”

Eve felt it was finally happening. She never intended to cling onto this family anyway. Of course, Elver was a fraud, but she wasn’t entirely innocent either. Since they weren’t even blood-related, she believed stepping aside at the right time was the right thing to do. She felt no regret.

“It’s best to prepare quickly. Since they mentioned leaving around the time they sent the letter, it will probably take half a month to arrive.”

“That’s longer than I expected.”

“Considering the number of attendants they took to the villa, it’s not that long. Traveling by carriage with that many people takes time.”

Alberic, having elegantly rephrased the term ‘old nobles’ squandering of money,’ urged Eve to leave the mansion quickly.

“I won’t contact you first. Don’t tell me where you’re going.”

“Are you sure?”

“…He won’t kill me. After all, I’m still useful to him.”

Despite secretly arranging her escape, Alberic spoke as if he was certain he would be caught for helping her. Eve silently observed his expression.

There was no need to linger and waste time. Just before dawn broke, as the world was swallowed by pitch-black shadows, Eve slipped out of the Vermell mansion.

There were no farewells. Eve left without a word. Thanks to the subspace pouch she had acquired from Octavia, she packed very lightly.

Having already made up her mind, Eve moved without hesitation. 

?

Stepping off the train, Eve stretched, her body stiff from the journey, just like the other laborers around her.

The ivory, slightly dull shirt, the dark brown trousers, the loose vest made of the same fabric as the trousers, and the short, dark brown hair that barely covered her neck made Eve look like an ordinary young laborer from the east side of the river.

Adjusting the light gray newsboy cap pulled low over her darkened hair, Eve felt the weight of the dagger tucked inside her shirt and moved slowly.

After a long overnight journey crammed into the third-class standing section of the train with other laborers, Eve arrived in Londinium. She quickly disappeared into the throng of workers pouring out of the central station.

Spotting young boys selling newspapers with their newsboy caps tilted to the side, she bought one, humming a tune under her breath, and swiftly crossed the bridge. Taking a carriage dressed like this would only draw unwanted attention. Eve walked at a brisk pace toward the east side of the river.

It was the time of day when everyone in East Plumen was in a hurry. No one paid any mind to Eve as she walked briskly, clutching a newspaper under her arm, her worn-out trousers barely reaching her ankles.

After a long walk, she arrived at Octavia’s magic tool shop, tucked away in the most inconspicuous block of the artisan district. 

Octavia, who seemed to have been cleaning the shop that morning, looked up from dusting the shelves with a long feather duster, her eyes widening at the sight of the creaking door.

“Oh my, what brings you here without any notice?”

Closing the door behind her, Eve ignored Octavia’s question, her thoughts far from the present situation.

“I thought it was strange. I kept telling myself it was just a game, because you were there, because this place was here. But honestly.”

“What?”

It was a small voice. Octavia frowned slightly as if she hadn’t heard properly, tilting her head in confusion. Eve strode towards her and grabbed her by the collar.

‘If this isn’t a game, if those lines weren’t just game commands…’

“What are you? Who are you?”