Welcome to the Rose Mansion - Chapter 86
The destination, Alan Otis’s study, could be reached by exiting the bedroom and walking straight down the left corridor. Although there was a corner to turn, there were no stairs to go up or down, making it relatively easy to navigate in the dark.
‘If I burst out and run immediately, I think I can make it. This time, I’m carrying a light.’
Above all, Richelle trusted Alan. Alan was the one who saved her, even injuring himself in the process. She believed in his actions and the desperate look in his eyes when he had hoped for someone’s help.
Young Master Otis wouldn’t ask for something impossible.
She tightened her grip on the doorknob. Once she had made up her mind, any further hesitation would be a waste of time.
On the day of her mother’s funeral, she had promised herself never to delay or avoid anything, no matter what it was.
‘Then…’
Now, run!
She flung the door open energetically. The light from the bedroom didn’t dispel the corridor’s darkness at all.
Countless eyes bloomed in the darkness, all fixated on Richelle. Even the faint murmurs stopped, leaving only a deathly silence.
But it didn’t matter. There was no time to hesitate. Richelle sprinted toward the left corridor.
“…!”
‘They’ realized a moment too late and started chasing her. Horrifying screams, unlike anything she had ever heard, seemed ready to grab her hair.
Richelle moved her legs faster than she ever had in her life. She turned the corner and ran madly towards the study.
‘The study… it shouldn’t be this far away!’
Her breath was coming in gasps. The light from the oil lamp was too small to illuminate the entire dark corridor. It was even starting to dim.
She clenched her teeth to avoid biting her tongue and increased her speed. Her leg muscles screamed in protest. Suddenly, something grabbed her shawl. Without hesitation, Richelle shrugged it off.
‘Please, please.’
Where is the study? When will it appear?
Cold, slender fingers, no, fingers, brushed against her thin blouse. The light was now as small as a fingernail.
At this rate, she would be caught soon…!
“Young Master!”
At that moment, light suddenly poured down over Richelle’s head. A door in front of her burst open.
“Ah…!”
Whether it was from relief or exhaustion, her legs gave out. She fell forward.
No, if she fell now, she’d be caught!
“Damn it.”
A hurried voice cursed and caught her. Warmth, so comforting she wanted to lean into it forever, seeped into her cold shoulders.
The door slammed shut behind her. Simultaneously, Richelle fell forward, but she wasn’t hurt.
Because someone else’s body had taken the impact for her.
“Ugh…”
A low groan came from above her head. Richelle stiffened. Beneath her ear, she could feel a strong heartbeat from a solid chest.
“…If you’re conscious, how about getting up?”
The owner of the heartbeat snapped irritably. Richelle sprang up as if scalded. Alan Otis, his face flushed, was breathing heavily with his arm covering his eyes beneath her.
Richelle was unusually flustered. It was hard not to be.
“I-I’m sorry!”
“It’s fine.”
Alan Otis stood up, rubbing his shoulder. His broad shoulders extended straight in a pleasing line.
Upon touching them, she realized they were even firmer than she had thought, almost fully developed into those of an adult man.
‘What am I thinking? I must be crazy!’
Her face felt hot. Richelle hurriedly tore her gaze away from Alan’s broad back and looked around.
Tall bookshelves surrounded the room and lined up like soldiers even in the center of the room. It was more like a small library than a study.
She had visited several times but was seeing the interior for the first time. So this was what it looked like.
“What an impressive study…”
“It’s a space reserved for the firstborns of the Otis family.”
Alan said, straightening his clothes.
“No entity can interfere here. So, at least in here, you can relax.”
Alan walked away with long strides. Then he looked back over his shoulder.
“What are you sitting there for? Come over here.”
“Huh? Oh, yes!”
Beyond the bookshelves was a spacious table and chairs, seemingly prepared for meetings. Alan pulled out the nearest chair and sat down. He gestured for Richelle to sit as well.
“Sit anywhere.”
“Yes…”
She awkwardly pulled out a chair one seat away from him. An awkward silence filled the air.
