OPEN IT UP

BLOOD.

Gypsy instinctively recognized the reek of blood in the air.

She had been unfortunately acquainted with the smell of blood because of how frequently she was hurt and bleeding while under the late Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Woolsey's "guidance."

[Who killed whom?]

Her group had safely entered the lake house because it was practically empty. At least, until they reached the rooftop where the reek of blood was coming from.

She suddenly felt nervous.

[I hope Xavier Lagun is safe.]

Since she came to that world, she had already expected the story to change. Thus, she couldn't predict what would happen next. But she was hoping that she would at least meet the right people (or characters in the game) that could help Yvo with his goal.

"Noonim, stay behind me," Yvo whispered when he turned to her. The young master was walking in front of her, after all. "Whatever happens, stick to me like glue."

Gypsy nodded, then she carefully grabbed the hem of his jacket. "Like this?"

He gave her a half-smile. "Cute."

Hmm?

The two of them were distracted when Pierce Willard, the one walking in the very front, stopped in front of a plain wooden door (that looked very out of place from the elegant doors with engravings on that floor). Then he turned to them and raised his hand to stop them from moving forward.

Prince Cyrus, who was behind the knight, stopped in his tracks.

So, Gypsy and Yvo followed suit.

[We can smell the blood, but we hear nothing.]

She had a feeling that the room was protected by some sort of barrier.

[I don't remember the structure of the lake house from the game. After all, it was only shown briefly from the walkthroughs that I've seen.]

Her thoughts got interrupted when something hard hit the door.

Yvo was already standing in front of him protectively. But when it happened, she noticed that his stance became even more protective.

Aww.

She was touched.

[I feel like I can trust the young master now.]

After all, why would a person who was trying to protect her this much try to kill her?

[I feel like Yvo already trusts me enough not to kill me, even if he gets a little suspicious of me.]

Once again, her thoughts got interrupted.

This time, by the door opening.

"S-Save me!"

Their group instantly stepped aside when Ethan Woolsey– covered in blood from head to toe– ran out of the room crying.

"W-Wait for us, Y-Young M-Master E-Ethan!"

Ah?

She heard voices of women crying from inside the room.

Ethan Woolsey looked back. Then, upon seeing and recognizing their group, stopped in his tracks. The bastard looked at them as if he just found hope. It was as if he wasn't crying from terror just a few minutes ago.

"Yvo, my little dongsaeng!" Ethan, whose face suddenly lit up, said while approaching Yvo as if they were close. Just a few moments ago, the fool's face was as pale as a white paper. But now that he looked relieved, the color returned to his face. "It's me, your Ethan hyung!"

Yvo's face instantly scrunched up in disgust. "I don't have a hyung."

"Don't be like that, dongsaeng…"

Ethan was forced to stop when the blade of Pierce Willard's sword blocked his way.

After all, if the fool wanted to get near Yvo, he had to walk past Prince Cyrus. Of couse, the Crown Prince's knight wouldn't let Ethan– who was covered in blood– anywhere near the precious royal.

[I'm glad that Ethan is still alive, though.]

It wasn't that she cared about him.

[I simply want to orchestrate his death.]

"Aren't you the C-Crown Prince?" Ethan asked, then his eyes went wide after the realization hit him. "W-What is Y-Your R-Royal H-Highness doing h-here? H-How did you even find about this p-place?"

Prince Cyrus smiled and tilted his head to one side. "Young Master Ethan, is it alright for you to stop and talk with us?" he asked "innocently." "Weren't you just running for your dear life a few moments ago?"

The color that had just returned to his face had drained quickly as if he just remembered that he was being hunted down.

"Young Master Ethan, you look like a fish swimming away from the Fisherman."

Huh???

Gypsy turned to Prince Cyrus. She could only see the back of the Crown Prince's head, but she couldn't help but give him a suspicious look.

[Xavier Lagun was dubbed as the 'Fisherman' in the game. After all, he would often call his targets 'fish.' If I remember it correctly, Xavier Lagun gave Yvo the nickname 'sea dog'– much to the young master's chagrin.]

Was it a coincidence that Prince Cyrus mentioned the word 'Fisherman' as if he was referring to a specific person?

[My heart says it's not a coincidence, but my mind can't explain it.]

However, why did she have a feeling that there was a reason why Prince Cyrus insisted that they "visit" the secret lake house tonight at all costs? It was as if he knew what exactly was going on in that place.

[Come to think of it, Xavier Lagun's tragic back story happened two years prior to the main story of the game since the real story started after Yvo became the Grand Duke. That "two years prior" is this timeline's present.]

But how in the world would the Crown Prince know about the details of the game?

[Unless he's like me… wait, what?]

She gasped when her mind came up with a conclusion that gave her goosebumps–

"Noonim?"

Her train of thoughts got cut off when Yvo turned around to check on her as soon as he heard her gasp.

She was startled a bit.

[I mean, I didn't gasp that loud so how did he hear it? Is he paying that much attention to me?]

"What's wrong?" Yvo asked worriedly. "Are you okay?"

She was about to answer when, all of a sudden, a weapon that seemed to be a spear came out of the open room and stabbed Ethan in the chest area. The bastard groaned while falling to his knees and grabbing the spear impaled in his body.

"I gave you time to run for your life, so why are you still here?"

The deep, angry voice that came from the room gave her shivers.

[He sounds so angry…]

A few moments later, a man stepped out of the dark room.

Tall.

Tanned.

Handsome.

The gray-haired man with ocean blue eyes and pointed ears that came out of the room was naked and barefooted. The only piece of clothing he had was a pair of trousers barely clinging to his (slim) waist. His exposed (strong-looking) arms, (broad) chest, and (washboard) stomach were covered with bluish scales.

A merfolk.

To be precise, a merman.

[Xavier Lagun. What a strong presence you have.]

'Corrupted Beauty.'

Those were the two words that entered her mind while looking at Xavier Lagun. He looked beautiful, but he also looked so enraged that he couldn't see anyone else but Ethan– his target.

"S-Spare me…" Ethan begged while looking up at Xavier Lagun with shaking pupils. "Please…"

Xavier Lagun sneered as he mercilessly pulled the spear out of Ethan's chest– causing the latter's blood to gush out as he screamed in agony. "I do not have mercy to spare for a bastard like you."

"Stop!" Gypsy yelled when she saw Xavier Lagun raise the spear as if he was about to stab Ethan to death. "Don't kill him!"

Yvo, Prince Cyrus, and Pierce Willard all turned to her with a confused look on their faces.

But the gaze that pierced through her was the glare that Xavier Lagun sent her way.

Her knees almost buckled from fear, but she stood her ground. She knew that Yvo wouldn't let Xavier Lagun hurt her, so she bravely met the merman's death glare.

[Here goes nothing.]

"Don't kill him easily," Gypsy said weakly, then she gulped hard before she spoke louder and with more confidence. "You need to open up Ethan Woolsey's stomach first before you kill him if you want to find what you're looking for."

Xavier Lagun growled at her. "You know what I'm looking for, female?"

Yvo growled back at Xavier Lagun. "Don't you dare talk that way to my noonim, you half-fish half-human bastard."

Prince Cyrus stifled his laughter while Pierce Willard shook his head.

Aigoo.

[Young master, what are you? A ten-year-old child? I guess his vocabulary when it comes to insults is limited since he rarely talks to his enemies.]

The Yvo she knew from the game would just kill his enemy right away.

"I know what you're looking for," Gypsy said before the fight between Yvo and Xavier Lagun escalated. Then she quickly changed the subject by pointing a finger at Ethan. "H-He ate them," she said in a shaking voice because what she was about to say was truly horrifying. "He ate your sister's… eggs."

The heartbreaking cry that Xavier Lagun let out at that moment made Gypsy and her group's ears bleed literally.

***

NOTE: Hi! Please consider ADDING 'Butter Up the Crown Wolf' to your LIBRARY. Thank you! <3