For some reason, the roles had reversed.

[ You cannot leave the guest room.]

The sun had long passed its zenith, and no sunlight came through the east-facing window. I sat in the corner of the bed, hugging my knees blankly.

Reid, though shocked and confused, didn’t run wild just to satisfy his own desires.

Instead, he cared for me with devoted attention, quietly staying by my side.

Then he said, 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

“I’ll come back tonight. Rest.”

“......”

He stood up after setting the table full of snacks.

While he kissed my hair, his fixed gaze on me was so deep I couldn’t misunderstand its meaning.

Yes, this is definitely a dark story with explicit adult themes.

“Alright, take care...”

I guessed he was giving me time alone. Accepting his thoughtfulness, I weakly said goodbye, which clearly lit a pleased expression in Reid’s eyes.

I was puzzled by this unexpected gift, then realized this was probably our first conversation since morning.

Hmm, I hadn’t planned to hold a silent protest or anything. Maybe my mentality is also patched by the genre.

“Ai.”

“......”

“Ayleth Rodeline.”

“......”

Suddenly, his deep voice echoed right next to my ear as he pulled me into his embrace.

“Don’t go anywhere.”

As if turning his head toward me, each movement of his lips brushed my ear in a tantalizing way.

“Tonight......”

“......”

When I flinched involuntarily, misinterpreting his words,

“I have something I want to show you.”

“......”

He released me, lightly kissed my lips, then stepped back. Afterward, jokingly and plainly added,

“Of course, there are things I want to do too.”

“......”

“Last night was rushed since it was the first time, but I won’t be like that today. I promise.”

“......huh?”

By the time I understood what he meant, Reid had long closed the door and disappeared outside.

“Hah.”

I realized my own state and felt a bit dumbfounded.

Even so, I was strangely glad that nothing happened between him and Muriel Filize.

‘Ah, seriously! Now’s not the time for this!’

To express my twisted current mood, I perched on the bed with a rather defiant and teasing posture.

My head tilted back toward where my god should be. Gazing at the vintage pattern on the ceiling, I shouted in spirit.

“Word Spirit! Word Spirit, are you there?!”

Please talk to me, god.

[‘The Word Spirit who builds the world hurriedly stops what it was doing and looks at you.’]

‘I heard everything from Reid. Is it really true that the imprisonment ending is the best?’

[‘The Word Spirit hesitates a moment then answers that it is true.’]

‘But the reward for the imprisonment route was genre fixation, right? Word Spirit, you don’t happen to like dark imprisonment stories, do you?’

[‘The Word Spirit says that’s impossible, that even if you see the imprisonment ending, it has arranged ways to get outside, and it feels unfair.’]

‘Is there a way? Give me a hint.’

[‘The Word Spirit answers it’s the basic way to leave the dungeon but says Reid’s cooperation is absolutely necessary.’]

[‘The Word Spirit worries Reid is more serious about the imprisonment story than imagined.’]

After that, the Word Spirit poured out gossip messages about Reid’s fragile mentality for a while, but I ignored them, lost in thought.

‘The basic way to leave the dungeon... yeah, this is inside a book, but also inside a dungeon. I get it.’

It was a good hint. I felt like I knew the answer without much thought.

‘I should talk properly when Reid comes.’

I waited for night.

✠

I think I nodded off halfway. During my nap, Reid must have quietly come and gone.

When I opened my eyes, the room had bathwater, fresh clothes, and dinner prepared.

Everything seemed enchanted — the steam from the tub and dishes didn’t fade even with time passing.

The bathwater smelled faintly of the mysterious platinum rose I had smelled yesterday. I soaked in it long enough for the fresh scent to reach my skin, then suddenly realized.

The centerpiece on the table set for dinner was a platinum rose. The rose, trapped under a glass dome, was more wilted than yesterday, with more petals fallen, yet its mournful beauty stood out.

The clothes to change into after drying off were a pale emerald indoor mini-dress.

‘Is this his taste?’

Since Reid chose it himself, it was worth noting.

I waited for him a while, but as he didn’t come until sunset, I reluctantly ate dinner alone. I had to eat well to prepare for the night to come.

“It’s delicious.”

It would have tasted better if we ate together. I wonder if he’s eating properly.

Anyway, the mansion’s mistress left the meals, clothes, and even the bathwater all prepared by the guest — that was impressive.

Just as I was finishing with pudding, a knock sounded and the door opened.

“Hello, Ai.”

“Ah, you’re back?”

Reid loosely draped an unknown coat over his shoulders. Seeing him with his silver hair and sea-colored eyes dressed casually in Reid’s style felt different.

While I inspected him, he scrutinized me too. It seemed less about my clothes and more about checking my somewhat recovered mental state.

Seeing Reid standing blankly, even though it was his room, I thought I should offer him a chair. I moved to the bed and offered him the only stool.

“Here, sit.”

“Thanks.”

“......”

“......”

Before the awkwardness settled, I decided to keep talking.

“Where did you go?”

“Around the mansion.”

“Did you eat?”

“No appetite.”

Did that mean he had other desires? No, now was not the time.

“Reid, come here. Let’s talk.”

At my words, Reid dragged the stool close to the bed and took a seat. Our toes nearly touched.

I looked him in the eyes and spoke firmly.

“I feel trapped, Reid. We can’t live here forever.”

“I know.”

“You do?”

“The guest room’s small. If we stay trapped here, we might go crazy... Don’t worry. From tomorrow, you’ll be able to freely move throughout the mansion.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

“Then?”

“Are you going to keep pretending not to know?”

I leaned in so he couldn’t avoid my eyes. Though I wanted to scold him harshly, I spoke gently like a reprimand.

“Reid, we have to go out together and see lots of good things and eat lots of good food. Think about it. Fishing by the sea watching the horizon, mountain air baths with barbecue, how nice would that be? Oh, speaking of mountains, what about that promise to show me the horizon from the top of Mt. Altio? I was really looking forward to it. Are you going to disappoint me?”

“......”

He fell silent, apparently without a response. That was my chance. I pushed harder.

“Reid, we have to visit my mom and dad and grandpa too, okay?”

He couldn’t miss the meaning of introducing family. I thought he’d like it, but

“Well. I feel like they all hate me.”

“No, that can’t be...”

“I’ve had groundless hatred more than once. I guess I like this mansion that isolates me from the world, Ai.”

It backfired. Reid, who seemed about to be convinced, hardened his heart again and showed a steel wall.

No good. I had to show a strong attitude too.

“If you keep like this, I’ll find a way by myself and drag you out forcibly.”

“A way?”

Reid’s eyes sparkled as he repeated my words. His interest was strangely a bit like madness, but he raised his chin confidently without shrinking.

“Yeah, there’s a way out even with the imprisonment ending.”

“What is it?”

“I’m not telling.”

“That’s unfair.”

“Hey, don’t make that hurt look, okay? I might disturb you, but it’s too rude to ask shamelessly.”

“That’s true.”

He admitted easily, which made him even more annoying.

Anyway, I guessed the way out of the dungeon was very simple.

‘Call out the dungeon master and defeat him.’

My gaze slipped from Reid’s face naturally to the desk.

The platinum rose slowly wilting inside the glass dome was named “The Heart of the Mansion.” I thought that was quite an intuitive hint.

“Ai.”

His quiet call effectively interrupted my thoughts and grabbed my focus.

Thinking the conversation was over, he stood up from the stool and held out his hand in front of me. It looked like an offer to escort. Seeing me blankly standing there, he reminded me.

“I told you I have something to show you. Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“First, the library.”

Since it was the schedule he mentioned earlier during the day, I didn’t object and took his fingertip.

[ The lockdown is lifted. You may freely roam the mansion.]

At this point, I’m confused. Who is the protagonist of this imprisonment story — me or him?