"........," 

Wandering what he meant by such a question, my eyes narrowed at his words.

I scoffed, a playful jab to lighten the tension.

"What do you mean? You just met me a few days ago?" 

I spoke confidently, my voice unwavering despite his attempt to rattle me.

Callisto's amusement deepened, a genuine chuckle escaping his lips.

Tilting his head, he studied me with a newfound curiosity. 

"I'm certainly sure I never saw your face before." 

The playful glint in his eyes held a hint of something else, a flicker of recognition I couldn't quite place.

He circled me slowly, like a predator sizing up its prey. 

"Was it your plan, you two? First, the rabid dog of Eckharts declaring her undying love, and now you're trying to convince me we've met?" 

His voice dripped with mockery, but the amusement never quite left his gaze.

"I never forget someone if they were that important,"

He continued, raising an eyebrow as he drew closer. 

His gaze lingered on my face a beat too long, a hint of something unreadable flickering within his crimson eyes. 

"Or perhaps you're simply going to say you grew fond of me just as her to save yourself?"

He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear as he smirked. 

"Unless..." 

He lowered his voice to a whisper. 

"You actually do?"

The audacity of the prince! 

I couldn't help but snort, the absurdity of the situation momentarily breaking the tension.

He was a bit shorter than me, a fact I couldn't resist pointing out with a snort.

The change in my expression didn't go unnoticed. 

Callisto's hand shot out, wrapping around my throat with surprising speed. 

His grip tightened, cutting off my air supply.

"What's funny? I want to laugh too, you see,"

He growled, his amusement replaced by a dangerous edge. 

"Or do you want me to make sure your master never sees you again, little puppy?"

Despite the pain radiating from my constricted throat, I refused to yield.

'Kinky bastard,'

Meeting his gaze defiantly, I managed a weak, "I don't know what you're talking about."

The strangled sound that escaped my lips only fueled his amusement. 

He tightened his grip further, his voice a low rasp. 

"Liar."

Panic clawed at the edges of my vision, but my mind raced for a solution. 

I couldn't give Callisto the satisfaction of seeing my fear. 

A desperate plan formed in my head.

"If you hurt me,"

I rasped, my voice barely audible,

"you'll never find out!"

Callisto faltered for a moment, his brow furrowing in confusion. 

The pressure on my throat lessened, and I gasped for air, my lungs burning with each desperate breath.

He studied me with narrowed eyes, as if considering my words.

"You're right,"

He finally conceded, his voice devoid of its earlier amusement.

"I don't know you."

His gaze flickered towards where Penelope had disappeared, a cold glint replacing the fleeting curiosity. 

He stepped back, a chilling smile playing on his lips.

"But that's what makes it all the more interesting,"

Callisto purred, turning to leave the maze without another word. 

The floating percentage above his head flickered, dropping slightly to [Interest 46%].

'Two percent for stopping him from killing Penelope, or because he 'doesn't know me'?' 

The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

Relief washed over me, so intense it almost felt like weakness.

I leaned against a nearby pillar, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

But the rest was short-lived. 

His parting words echoed in my mind:

'interesting.' 

What did he mean by that?

And what did he plan to do?

Ignoring the throbbing pain in my throat, I scanned the maze for any sign of Penelope, but there was nothing.

'Should I just return to the ballroom and pretend nothing happened?'

A knot of worry tightened in my stomach. 

I couldn't leave her to face Callisto alone. 

With a sigh, I retrieved the discarded mask, brushing off any dirt that clung to its surface.

'He really didn't recognize me? Was it really that effective?' 

I couldn't help but question the effectiveness of it.

Putting the mask back on, I straightened my clothing and strode back towards the ballroom.

As I entered, a hush fell over the gathered crowd, all eyes turning towards me.

Ignoring their scrutiny, I scanned the room for Roxana, finally spotting her amidst a group of nobles. 

"Do excuse me,"

The crowd parted before me like the Red Sea, their whispers growing louder as I approached Roxana.

I cleared my throat, the sound rougher than usual.

"We're leaving,"

I whispered urgently,

Roxana raised an eyebrow.

Perhaps, I wasn't known for leaving social gatherings early, especially not ones this grand. 

Just, perhaps.

But before she could pry, I pressed on,

"It's an emergency. I'll explain later."

The carriage ride back to the Duchy was a blur.

I barely registered the passing scenery, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and anxieties. 

Roxana, bless her silent understanding, didn't attempt conversation.

As soon as the carriage came to a halt, I practically leaped out, thanking the driver with a mumbled word. 

Inside, the servants rushed to greet me, their eyes widening at my disheveled appearance.

Well, I did jumo down a balcony.

"There's no time,"

I said, waving them off. 

"Prepare a room for me to change."

Once I was back in my usual attire, the weight of the evening settled on my shoulders. 

The lingering pain in my throat served as a constant reminder of my close call.

But a more profound ache settled in my chest as I thought of Penelope.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I strode towards my study, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows on the walls. 

Reaching my desk, I pulled out a quill and parchment.

"What am I doing?"

The question echoed in my mind.

"What am I trying to achieve?" 

Was it just a desire to protect Penelope, this girl I barely knew personally? 

Or something deeper?

Pushing those unsettling thoughts aside, I focused on the task at hand.

Penelope needed to know she wasn't alone. 

With a determined hand, I penned a letter:

Dear Penelope,

I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to reach out and express my concern for your safety. The incident tonight has left me uneasy, and I can't help but worry.

My mind drifted back to the way Callisto had looked at her, the amusement in his gaze. 

A shiver ran down my spine.

I hope to meet you soon and assure you of my protection. Please, let me know if there's anything I can do.

Sincerely,
(Y/N)

Folding the letter carefully, I sealed it with my ducal signet. 

Sending it first thing in the morning felt a little bit weird, but it was a start.

As I placed the letter on my desk, my mind began to wonder.

The resemblance between Penelope and my sister was uncanny – the dimples, the feathery hair, even the tiny mole on the side of their necks.

Was it just coincidence? 

Did it play a role in my growing protectiveness towards Penelope? 

The answer remained frustratingly unclear.

Sleep wouldn't come easily tonight.

My mind was a battlefield of anxieties and unanswered questions. 

Finally, with a sigh, I decided to deal with them all tomorrow.

Just as I was about to drift off, a notification flashed in my vision.

> Main Quest: A loyal dog.

[First: Guard the villainess until the very end.] You will proceed with the quest (compensation: ????????, all protagonists' favorability +20%, fame +500.)

[Accept / Reject]

> Since this is a main quest, it will be accepted automatically in 5 seconds.

5

4

3

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips.

So, protecting Penelope was now my official quest? 

There was no rejecting it, of course.

With a resigned sigh, I pressed [Accept].

"That's my goal anyway,"

I whispered, closing your eyes. 

"To see her happy ending.  Then, maybe, I can finally go home."

"........," 

╔. ■ .═══════╗

╚═══════. ■ .╝

"........,"  

Now, the weight of the quest settled firmly on my shoulders.

No longer just a personal concern, protecting Penelope became my official duty.

A determined glint flickered in my eyes as I murmured,

"Now, I'll be the villainess' faithful guard dog... To the very end."

Despite the promise on my lips, sleep claimed me at last.
.
.
.
╰┈➤ ❝ [Ɒσи'τ fσяɢєτ τσ vστє αиɒ cσммєиτ!]

₊❏❜ ⋮ ⌒(A/N): Thank you so much for reading this chapter! ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )

.......

Hmm. Is this good enough? TvT

Happy reading! >ᴗ<

ִֶָ๋𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐