About Your Pride and My Prejudice

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“I…”

As I bit my lips with an awkward face, a maid in neat attire approached me with a stiff look on her face.

“Do you need anything?”

“N-no! That’s not it…….”

Before I became Melissa Collins, that is, before the decline of my family’s fortunes, there must have been servants in my house.

But at least not in my memory. So naturally, I’m not used to ordering someone. Even after everyone left, Mrs. Kerney and Julia were left behind, but these two are not just any maids.

The point is, I can’t get used to the maids here who run like crazy with every little gesture I make. These women, much more professional and expressionless than the people of Arch Hill, were just difficult for me.

“Well, I’d like to be alone for a while……. Can’t you?”

“Alright. I’ll be outside, so if you need anything, call me.”

With those words, all the maids went away. Now I’m the only one left in this gorgeous room.

“Phew… “

I thought I would finally be able to reflect on my situation since I was finally alone, but I couldn’t calm down. And I couldn’t wrap my head around this situation.

So… Something really weird happened yesterday. I opened my eyes in a dark, unpleasant dungeon, and before my eyes a man who had the same appearance as Troy……

“It’s Alan Leopold by all accounts…….”

…was looking down at me. It became clear that Alan was the one who instigated the kidnapping using a low-quality method that made me grit my teeth.

It was shocking to see that Sir Alan, the heir of the noble and exalted Leopold family, was acting like such a gangster. But what could be more shocking than the fact that he was really my stalker……. It’s something that makes you laugh.

Well, he even used a beggar who smelled like a gutter to follow me. He even hurt Toby……. He knew everything about Archie Hill’s mansion and was watching me, so there must be countless ways to put pressure on a weak woman like me. He possessed incomparable wealth and power.

So, I am engulfed in doubt again with renewed anger. What is the reason for bringing Melissa Collins here, and what is the purpose of this crazy show?

When I woke up and faced Alan, I couldn’t speak properly, let alone question him. Because everything is just unrealistic. All I could say was, “Troy,” in my dream, as my whole soul was preoccupied to gauge whether it was real or not. Ironically.

The fact that Alan Leopold and I were alone in that cold cell is already far from reality. But even though I’ve been watching him for nearly a decade, I’ve never seen that defenseless look…… It made the situation even more unrealistic.

I couldn’t process his words, even though they entered my ears.

‘You seem to know. Everything.’

I don’t know anything……. What the hell is going on?

Alan went out at the end of those words, and at the same time some of the maids came up and led me outside, who became frozen.

As I walked through the underground corridors, led by maids who had no words or expressions, I was surprised at the sheer size of the dungeon… And when I finally arrived above ground, I was shocked to find out that this place was not just a mansion, it was close to an old castle. I had to walk up the stairs in a hallway with no end in sight with sore legs.

Then the maids washed me, dressed me, and combed me…….

When I came to my senses, I found a fancy dining hall that I had never even dreamed of and a huge table was set only for me.

To my surprise, these ridiculous things happened so quickly. There was no room for admiration or lamentation. All I could think of was this:

What the hell is going on here? A royal experience in an old castle? Or is it a new way of bullying?

Naturally, my body, which had been stiff with tension for a long time, was not willing to welcome the feast of these splendid foods, and it was difficult to accept anything calmly.

So, it was impossible for a proper meal to be possible, but I couldn’t get up and leave these amazing plates full with beautiful food, so while I was fiddling with the innocent crystal glass for a long time, a maid came up and asked if the meal was over.

“…yes,”

It was only then that I was guided to “my room.”

Speaking of this room, it is a space with antique dark green walls and curtains, a large bed that can accommodate three people, and an elegant reading table.

It’s probably because of the nice interior that makes it feel so cozy even though it’s an incomparably large room compared to my room, which will be empty after losing the owner.

“Haa…”

I sat down on a fluffy bed and thought, I can’t forget what Alan did to me. Those were things that were absolutely unforgivable.

Even if he made me a first-class passenger on the Moonlight that I would never have been able to set foot on in my life, even if he decorates me in a doll-like figure and makes me sit in front of a rich dining table or in a beautiful room……

“That doesn’t mean it’s not a sin to bring me here…..”

This ridiculous luxury can never be a welcomed favor to me. I’ve never even dreamed of something like this. Everything just feels like a stupid illusion for me.

If he can use such dirty tricks to take me to this magnificent castle, then all this hospitality would be a device for a more terrible and twisted ending.

“…He’s gone completely insane.”

Even with that thought, I had been stroking the tabletop with a smooth texture for a long time. The dark colored walnut wood was as beautiful as it was enchanting.  I’ve always wanted to have a reading table like this one day.

No, what am I thinking right now….

I managed to hold back my desire to bang my head on the desk and clenched my fists. The hard nails penetrated my delicate skin.

“I’ve been strung along for long enough”

I don’t think I can ever understand Alan Leopold. But I have to find out everything I can about him. I have to investigate and observe every possible way so that I can find a way out of here.

I can’t die like this. Especially in this crazy way. I’m the only one who can protect myself here.

Closing my eyes as if I were determined, I shook the bell on the table.

“Did you call me?”

The maid appeared as if she had been waiting. It was an expressionless expression and voice.

“I’d like to ask you something. Is this the Principality of Lunoa?”

“Yes,”

“Oh… “

I thought I might not get an answer. Unexpectedly, when I got a gentle answer, I somehow gained courage.

“Alan Leopold……. Do you know why your master brought me here?”

“We don’t know about that,”

The maid immediately replied. It was absurd to see her acting like a person whose emotions had been castrated.

However, we are the same women, and we are clearly classified as the weak in this society. It’s a kind of bond, and it’s never shallow. So I’m sure I’ll be able to get even a little sympathy from her. There is no way that an emotional appeal won’t work.

With such eagerness, I moved my lips.

“I drank the water his men gave me and fell into a deep sleep. And when I opened my eyes, I found myself in a cold cellar……. No matter how much you obey his orders, are you okay with this situation? Even he and I have nothing to do with each other.…!”

“…….”

Am I underestimating the people of the Leopold family? To them, Alan may not be a simple master. Even after hearing about his terrible misdeeds, I couldn’t see the slightest agitation…….

I decided to change my strategy.

“Well, where is he now? I need to talk to him.”

“Not here,”

“….he’s not here?”

Where did he go after leaving me, who was brought here without telling anything.…?

“We don’t even know when he will come.”

“Then…..So what’s your role?  What did he instruct?”

“It’s our job to help you relax here.  So if you need anything, please call me.”

“…….”

We were obviously having a conversation, but we couldn’t communicate at all.  I felt like I wanted to rip my hair out in frustration.

“Can I get out of here?”

“It is also our role to prevent that.  As a reminder, there are guards at every exit of the mansion.”

Are you crazy?

“Some……I think there is some misunderstanding. He has no reason to do this to me. Talk to Sir Alan…….”

I continued with a feeling of despair.

“Well, will you tell me when he gets back? Please call him here. I’ll be waiting, so please…….”

“I’m sorry, but there’s no one in this house who can tell him to come.”

“Huh…”

What the hell is going on here? Why are you doing this to me? The rising frustration and anger seemed to strangle me.

“You’re making fun of me now……? You told me to tell you if I needed anything…….”

“Yes, if you want to wash yourself or need a refreshment,”

“Now what you’re saying now……!”

A thought flashed through my mind as I was about to cry at the maid’s calm reply.

I don’t know if these days are really ignorant or hiding Alan’s intentions, but at least having them as my attendants, or even watchers, doesn’t mean that the terrible thing he’s trying to do isn’t going to happen any time soon.

If that’s the case,

“What if I jump out of the window?”

I said it while pointing at the white curtain that covered one wall. It’s not hard to guess that there’s a big window behind it.

But the maid was not in the least disturbed.

But the maid was not agitated at all.

“It’s no use because there are iron bars on it.”

“Ha,”

So, are you saying that this mansion is a huge cage?

“Well… what if I bite my tongue?”

“What? What are you talking about….”

“It’s your job to make me feel comfortable. If I die, then you will be disobeying your master’s orders.”

“…….”

Great. This is it.

“Tell your master I’ll have to see him when he gets back or I’ll die here.”

“T-that’s ridiculous.”

“It doesn’t make sense. I could die right now because I don’t even want to live.”

This creepy sentence is, of course, a lie. I didn’t leave the kingdom to die. So I will definitely get out of here alive,

“Understood?”

Then I’ll use my pen to expose your true ugly face, Alan.

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