KFBRV Ch 33
- Jan 21
- 4 min read
She stared into the darkness, her eyes raw and swollen.
It hadn't been a dream. The experience had been too visceral, too real—as if she had been forced to live through her own death a second time.
A wave of nausea washed over her. She wrapped her arms around her trembling frame, trying to ward off the phantom chill of the stairs. She could still feel the coldness of the blood leaking from her skull and the hollow, gut-wrenching realization of her own worthlessness.
The trauma of her previous life as Suwan felt as though it had happened only moments ago.
A translucent screen flickered into existence before her.
[Calculation Complete!]
[Content: 24-Hour Mental Debuff (Accumulated)]
The grandfather clock in the hall struck midnight. Exactly twenty-four hours had passed.
So this is the price of the necklace.
Her gaze was fixed on the glowing status window.
She felt a deep sense of dread. She needed the necklace to monitor the male leads' Loathing scores, but the thought of enduring another mental collapse was almost too much to bear. Even after changing into dry clothes, she couldn't stop shivering.
Sleep was out of the question. She sat at her desk, the flickering candles and the crackling fireplace doing little to ease her mind. The memory of dying was a heavy shroud.
If I don't stop the Fenrir Containment Incident, I will die by Karl’s axe again.
The event would take place in four days. The desperation of her situation finally felt real—heavy and suffocating.
She crossed her arms, her mind racing. On the final day of the Founding Festival, a "Calamity" would appear in the Fenrir containment zone. These Calamities were localized voids—shimmering black holes that manifested in mid-air and devoured everything in their path.
In this world, those swallowed by a Calamity met a gruesome end. Their life force was drained until they became mummified husks, only to be spat back out in broken, jagged pieces.
Karl’s family had died that way. Seeing their mangled remains had driven him to madness, and his fury had naturally found a target in Odette.
It was my father who orchestrated it all.
She wanted to make the Count pay for every ounce of pain he had caused. That revenge included the moment she had been hunted like an animal and executed by Karl.
To turn Karl into a weapon for her revenge, simply stopping the incident wasn't enough. She needed his absolute loyalty. Fortunately, he didn't hate her yet.
According to the game's lore, he had remained indifferent toward her during his three years in the containment zone. Being a former prince, he understood that their imprisonment was a political move by the Emperor, not the whim of a noble girl.
This time, I won't be his enemy.
On the final day of the festival, I will become his savior.
I will make sure his blood-red eyes and his obsession are directed at my father, not me.
Mrs. Becker let out a long, weary sigh as she sipped her tea. It was her first moment of peace in days.
[Becker] "Why must everything go wrong while the Count is at the palace?"
The past few days had been a nightmare. Slaves had escaped, a merchant ship had sunk, and a nearby building had collapsed. The financial losses were staggering, and the house was in an uproar. To make matters worse, the Countess was under house arrest, and nine servants had quit in a single day due to the overwhelming workload.
She was busier than anyone. Ferdinand had unexpectedly put her in charge of the estate's finances. In the chaos, she had even forgotten her plan to plant stolen jewelry in Lize’s wardrobe.
[Becker] "I still need to pay Odette back for her insolence."
She knew the best way to handle Odette was to complain to the Count, but he had cut off all contact, warning her that he would kill anyone who interrupted his negotiations at the palace. She had to take matters into her own hands, but she was too exhausted.
[Becker] "I’ll deal with her once she recovers from that lung disease. I have no desire to catch whatever she has."
Just then, Rolf, the butler, entered the room. His expression was sour, as if he found speaking to her beneath his dignity.
[Rolf] "Mrs. Becker, we are low on wine and meat. I need the budget to restock the cellar."
He had served the Albrecht family for generations. He clearly resented that a mere lady-in-waiting was now managing the coin.
[Becker] "Very well. I will give you the silver you need."
She maintained a polite mask, but internally, she fumed.
He acts as if I’ve stolen his job. Doesn't he realize I’m the Count's partner? I’m practically the mistress of this house.
Rolf wasn't her only problem. The housekeeper and the head maid also treated her with cold suspicion. Paula, in particular, was constantly watching her, as if warning her not to overstep.
[Malea] "Mrs. Becker? I’ve ironed the morning paper. Would you like it with some sweets?"
It was Malea. She was the only maid who had shown Mrs. Becker the respect she felt she deserved.
[Becker] "Thank you, Malea."
The girl was clever. She even handed over the paper, already folded to the "Capital News" section.
Sher sipped her tea while reading a small article about a woman found dead on the road in Red Glovočnik.
[Malea] "The Lady’s coughing is getting worse. It’s dangerous to even go near her floor. Please, even if you have business on the second floor, stay far away from her room."
[Becker] "I will, Malea."
[Malea] "You’re already working yourself to the bone. It would be a tragedy if you fell ill. The only reason this mansion is still standing is because of your hard work. Please, have a cookie."
She felt a surge of warmth. Malea was the only one who truly understood her burden.
When I officially become the mistress of the house, I’ll make sure to look after this girl.
She had no idea that Malea was acting under Odette’s direct orders to keep her distracted and flattered.
The final day of the Founding Festival dawned. It was the day that would decide the fate of Odette’s revenge.
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