Hopefully, at Your Mercy - Chapter 13

Chapter 7.2

As she tried to look behind her, Iskan’s hands gripped her shoulders, holding her firmly in place, preventing her from turning around.

Her body went stiff with tension as he stood behind her, holding her shoulders captive. She could feel his warmth approaching her ear as he leaned in, his face now dangerously close.

Close enough that she could feel his breath.

Then, he whispered softly in a low, secretive voice.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Del.”

“…”

A shiver ran down her spine.

Delinda gulped, holding her breath in fear.

Del… He had called her Del.

Wasn’t that the fake name she had carelessly thrown at him last night?

Of course, it made sense he recognized her. He had clearly seen her face yesterday.

Although she never expected to run into him again like this.

‘Father, where did you go? Please save me…’

Delinda stayed in the same position, still looking up at the painting as her mind raced.

She wasn’t sure how to respond. His grip on her shoulders was painfully strong.

“I hadn’t heard any rumors about ‘the’ Lady of House Schultz being a mage…”

There was a small hint of amusement in his quiet voice.

Delinda had a pretty good idea what he meant by “the” lady.

He must be referring to Delinda Schultz, the one known as the fool and the true owner of this body. He seemed rather intrigued that she wasn’t as foolish as the rumors suggested.

But this only made Delinda more uneasy. As unlikely as it was, she was scared he might realize that she wasn’t the real Delinda. That she had taken over this body.

And besides…

‘Did he just say he didn’t know I was a mage? He thinks I’m a mage? Based on what evidence?’

Finally, his hands released their hold on her, and the warmth of his presence faded as he stepped back.

Delinda took a steadying breath, keeping her gaze fixed on the painting as if nothing had happened.

“Your status has risen quite substantially from that of a maid in just one night.”

His voice was laced with amusement, and he sounded farther away now. Only then did Delinda turn to face him, and in that split second, she made up her mind.

She had a gut feeling that no matter what excuse she gave, he would still go digging into her background. Therefore, confronting him head-on was her only option.

“So, are you going to kill me now?”

“Is there a reason I should?”

“I witnessed your murder scene last night.”

Her response made Iskan chuckle lightly, as if he genuinely found her response amusing.

“Murder? …I’ve never killed anyone.”

Liar. I saw it with my own two eyes.

He slowly leaned down, staring deeply into Delinda’s eyes, and with a faint smile on his lips, he said,

“I merely disposed of trash.”

Watching Delinda’s face turn noticeably pale, he added, almost as a favor.

“Attempting to harm a member of the imperial family is treason. That warrants for immediate execution.”

“…”

“So no, I won’t kill you, Lady Delinda, because you’re the beloved daughter of Duke Schultz. Not some vermin plotting against my life.”

His smile instantly turned cold.

The expression he wore now was as cold and ruthless as a freshly sharpened blade. It was clear that if she were anything less than “Duke Schultz’s daughter,” he wouldn’t hesitate to kill her on the spot.

Delinda realized something then.

‘This guy… there’s no way he’s not even a little unhinged.’

The eyes are the window to the soul.

And his were strikingly clear, like an endless well. He looked composed on the surface, but underneath that cool exterior, a hidden madness simmered.

With a face as handsome as his, those eyes only made him more terrifying.

Moreover, this frightening man had been talking about killing people as if it were no more serious than squashing a bug.

That’s when Delinda fully grasped the reality of her situation.

This was a world of strict class hierarchy. A place where killing someone was as ordinary as breathing.

So, with all his power and influence, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if this prince decided to quietly dispose of her.

What’s more is, he seemed to suspect her of being some kind of spy…

Suddenly, Delinda felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck. It was the same feeling she felt when she’d looked down at him from her room earlier.

As though he were somehow physically tightening his grip around her throat.

Rubbing the back of her neck, Delinda took a step back, bumping into the hard edge of the frame behind her.

He didn’t come any closer. He merely watched her as she backed away.

His gaze slowly slid from her eyes to her cheeks, then from her cheeks to her neck.

Feeling the weight of his persistent stare, Delinda lowered her hand. At last, he spoke again, his voice cool and detached.

“When our eyes meet… you have this habit of blinking once, slowly.”