Please Kill Me - Chapter 18
‘That’s all I know. I’m not sure why she wants to die.’
Ultimately, Yekaterina’s circumstances were not of great importance to Leonid.
What mattered now was that she claimed to be Yekaterina ‘Offenbach’.
Rostislav and Offenbach were already on bad terms; the idea of Offenbach’s eldest daughter infiltrating the Rostislav manor was significant.
Vasily swallowed hard.
“If she really is Yekaterina Offenbach, wouldn’t that be a cause for dispute? An intrusion into the manor of a family we’re not on good terms with.”
“Yes. That’s why we need to keep her. She’ll give us a reason to act.”
That’s why Leonid needed to keep Yekaterina alive.
Noble conflicts don’t just end with families clashing.
Minor disputes can escalate into factional fights, and public opinion often determines the outcome.
Without a valid reason, no family would dare start a conflict. Offenbach might be an exception.
Unfortunately, Rostislav was ‘one of those’ families. In these tumultuous times with the imperial succession, Offenbach knew how to provoke without leaving grounds for action.
If a good reason like Yekaterina hadn’t walked into their hands, they would have continued in this manner.
‘It’s a bit concerning.’
Nonetheless, the important thing was that Leonid needed to act swiftly.
“It looks like I won’t be able to go to my estate for a while.”
Saying this, Leonid rubbed his temple and handed a letter to Vasily.
“Send this to His Highness, the First Prince. And treat Yekaterina Offenbach politely. She is Rostislav’s guest until she is sent away.”
“Understood.”
After receiving a less than enthusiastic reply, Leonid raised his hand, signaling Vasily.
“And one more thing. Ask someone to bring a bandage.”
Vasily’s eyes, which had just calmed, sharpened again.
“Are you injured? Did that woman-“
“No, I’m not injured.”
Leonid flipped his perfectly fine right hand, lightly clenched and unclenched his fist, and said.
“I need to pretend to be injured.”
* * *
So currently.
‘I wonder if I can fool her.’
Leonid sat calmly, hiding his considerable anxiety.
For some reason, Yekaterina seemed lost in thought for quite some time without saying a word.
The problem was that her expression was too impassive, so much so that even the experienced Leonid couldn’t read her thoughts.
‘It would be easier to argue with those fox-like nobles.’
Dealing with a woman who was inexpressive made his body twist.
Perhaps it would have been more straightforward to actually break a finger or two.
‘Such a flimsy disguise, who would fall for that?’
Leonid inwardly scoffed at his own shallowness.
“So, killing me right away is going to be difficult.”
That was until Yekaterina spoke those words.
Leonid was surprised when Yekaterina continued her questions, seemingly believing his feigned injury.
She’s buying this?
While he momentarily lost his words, Yekaterina calmly blinked her tranquil eyes and followed up.
“How long until you heal?”
“…A month?”
“Then try to recover within that time.”
With those words, Yekaterina turned away.
If Leonid couldn’t kill her right away, she had no more business staying there. There’s no reason to linger where she had no purpose.
‘I guess I have to return to Offenbach.’
She’d likely be confined in the black room again, but it couldn’t be helped.
Time spent there would swiftly pass a month, albeit a dreadful one.
Yekaterina reined in her thoughts and approached the window. She leaned on the sill.
“Wait.”
And was stopped.
A larger hand covered hers that rested on the windowsill.
Yekaterina looked at the hand and then slowly raised her gaze to its owner.
“What is it?”
“Are you going back? To Offenbach?”
“I suppose. There’s nowhere else to go.”
“Why? If you left to die, why does your family matter now?”
He wasn’t entirely wrong. Yekaterina had lost interest in Offenbach’s affairs. Instead of explaining her past, she briefly stated her current situation.
“But I have nowhere else. A visit to the black room will buy me a month there.”
“What’s this black room?”
“It’s a kind of torture device. Once inside, all senses are cut off…”
“Enough. I don’t need to hear more.”
Leonid frowned and took a step back.
A room that cuts off all senses, the more he heard, the more appalling it was.
Offenbach was out of their minds to use such a thing for torture, but Yekaterina’s nonchalance about entering and exiting such a place seemed equally insane.
The problem was, these maddening details irked him more than they should.
‘Annoyingly bothersome…’
Finally, Leonid sighed and spoke.
“If you have nowhere to go, why not stay here?”
“Why should I do that?”
He had expected a refusal, but still, her ‘why’ caught him off guard.
