I'm here in my room right now, trying to gather my strength. I still can't walk very well, so I've been stuck here, sulking and staring at the same four walls.
I'm so bored.
Maybe it's because of what I experienced in that dream. Ever since then, I've felt this strange urge to read something.
But there aren't any webcomics here. None have been created yet.
Wait...
What if I make one myself?
I mean... comics in book form. A webcomic of my own.
I can't help but laugh at the idea.
Looks like I might become rich someday.
Ah! I almost forgot. Everything Laura created in that webcomic...
All the discoveries she made... I'll take them for myself.
This is the first step to ruining you.
Still, no matter what plans pop into my head, I'm unbelievably bored.
"Martha."
"Yes, Milady?"
"Do we have any romance novels in the library?"
Martha looked at me as if I had just told a joke.
Did I say something strange?
"M-Milady? Y-You want to read a book?"
"Yes. Why do you look so shocked?"
I could hear the other maids whispering among themselves.
"Maybe hitting her head really changed her. She used to hate reading books, and now she suddenly wants to read."
"It feels like the world is about to end."
I shot them a sharp glare, and they immediately looked frightened.
Ah. Wait.
I shouldn't be so grumpy if I want them to see that I've changed.
"Lyra, Jen... please bring me all the books you think I might enjoy," I said, forcing a gentle smile.
I'm proud of myself.
I'm not as ill-tempered as I used to be.
They quickly ran out of the room, while Martha, still looking a bit stunned, prepared some cookies and tea for me.
...
"Hahahaha! Why didn't I read this sooner? Waaah... The writing style here is so different. But it's hilarious!"
I flipped through a few more pages of the book when someone spoke from outside the door.
"Milady... Young Master Montfort is here to see you."
"Huh? Who did you say?"
I frowned in confusion.
Who on earth is this fool interrupting my reading time?
It seemed Martha understood what I was thinking, because she leaned closer and whispered to me quietly...
"Milady... Lord Mathias is here."
"Ah! That jerk."
The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them.
Martha looked shocked, clearly unable to believe that I had just said something like that.
I simply smiled at her and told her to let Mathias come in.
Why did that fool even bother coming here? I know perfectly well that his attention is always fixed on his precious Laura.
A moment later, Mathias entered the room and looked at me with a face completely devoid of emotion, as if carved from cold stone.
Tsk.
If this had been before, I would have run into your arms.
Now, I can barely be bothered to acknowledge your existence.
Che.
I returned to my book and waited for him to speak first.
"Is this your new way of getting my attention?"
Huh? What did he just say?
I lifted my head and looked at him, my brows knitting together in confusion.
"I must have misheard you. Could you repeat that?"
I could see the irritation flash across his face as he walked forward and sat down right in front of me.
How rude. I never invited him to sit.
Martha quickly served him a cup of tea.
"How are you feeling now?"
he asked, though the annoyance in his voice was still obvious.
Unbelievably rude.
I rolled my eyes at him and went back to reading.
Then, without warning, he snatched the book right out of my hands.
"So now you're reading books? Or are you just trying to show off?"
My eyebrow shot up, and I crossed my arms.
"Why are you even here? Are you here to check if I'm still alive or not?""
If he was going to be rude, then I would be even ruder.
He looked genuinely surprised by my attitude, probably expecting me to stay quiet like before.
"Did I do something wrong? Why are you so hostile today?"
I could see the confusion swirling in his blue eyes.
I let out a long sigh and glared at him.
"You're disturbing my reading."
His frown deepened even more.
"If this is about Laura, you know she's my friend. And you and I are supposed to get marri—"
I cut him off before he could finish. Just looking at his face was already irritating enough.
I forced a tight smile.
"I don't care whether the two of you are together or not. If you don't have any real business here, you can leave. Your precious Laura might be looking for you."
"If you think you've gotten my attention because of the way you're acting today, then you're wrong."
What did he just say?!
I was about to respond when he suddenly stood up and marched out of the room.
My temper snapped like a twig.
"YOU JERK! DO YOU REALLY THINK I'M HAPPY TO SEE YOUR FACE?!"
Just you wait.
You'll regret this.
Ugh! He's so infuriating!
A few hours later, I found myself at the dining table, eating with Mother and Father.
"I heard Mathias came to visit you today, my child," Father said casually.
"Dad, I don't want to talk about that man. He completely ruined my appetite."
Mother and Father exchanged puzzled looks.
"Wait, dear... are you alright? Did he do something to you again?" Mother asked, her voice filled with concern.
"Yes. He annoyed me and interrupted my reading."
They forced a small laugh, but no words followed. They were probably wondering why I wasn't constantly talking about that fool anymore.
The nerve of him. So shameless. So irritating.
But... this is partly my fault too.
Why was I ever so crazy about that man?
It's painfully obvious he's nothing but a walking red flag.
sigh...
Now I've completely lost my appetite.
"By the way, dear, your older brother will be arriving tomorrow," Father said casually.
My head snapped up immediately.
My brother is coming?!
Suddenly, I remembered something from the webcomic.
In the story, my brother was the second male lead, and he gave Laura a bracelet.
That bracelet... was the key to her fortune.
The very thing that would make her rich.
I would take it from her!!!
A slow laugh escaped my lips, and I could see the mixture of confusion and concern spreading across Mother and Father's faces.
This is the first step in tearing apart your happiness.
Bwahahahahahaha!