A Delicate Beauty Holding a Villain’s Script - Chapter 39
Just entering the game, there were no hints other than their identities. The players dared not act rashly, and the atmosphere was stagnant.
The Butler seemed not to notice the varied expressions of the crowd, continuing to repeat his request: “Guests, please sit down and dine.”
“Guests, please sit down and dine.”
“Guests, please sit down and dine.”
“Please…”
Word by word, he repeated it incessantly, like a clockwork robot. Those pale lips slowly curled upward, grinning to reveal bright red gums. Something squirmed within his pitch-black pupils, gradually invading the whites of his eyes until they were almost filled, appearing exceptionally terrifying.
[Players, please follow the game rules and clear the dungeon earnestly.] The projection surfaced again, this time with the font bolded and darkened, a blatant warning.
“Stop hesitating! Find a seat and sit down quickly!” The players’ faces changed drastically, and they scrambled toward the dining table, sitting down in a panic.
Li Rangnian had aimed for the furthest spot from the start, where the food portion looked the smallest. The plate was decorated with a few pieces of boiled broccoli, some shrimp sprinkled with black pepper, a bowl of light vegetable soup, and a dish of soft-cooked chickpeas.
The plot did not introduce the specific details that happened in the dungeon, only mentioning them in passing. Li Rangnian wasn’t sure what he should do, but when it came to role-playing, the first rule was definitely not to go OOC (Out of Character).
After sitting down, he silently surveyed the table. Everyone had taken their seats, their faces filled with panic.
The Butler instantly returned to normal. His eyes rolled, scanning each person’s face and their corresponding plates, revealing a sinister smile: “It seems the guests have made their choices. Please enjoy your dinner slowly.”
Hearing this, the players looked at one another; no one dared to be the first to eat.
The sound of knives and forks clinking rang out. Li Rangnian looked up, meeting the man’s friendly gaze: “The taste is quite good. Are you sure you don’t want to try?”
Sitting opposite him was the Protagonist Bottom, Bai Jin. He was elegantly slicing a piece of steak that was dripping with juice, paired with fragrant red wine, looking as composed as if he were attending a high-society banquet.
Seeing Bai Jin move, the others felt relieved and picked up their utensils, beginning to work on the food on their plates.
“…” Li Rangnian curved his eyes at him, then lowered his head, spearing a piece of broccoli with his fork and chewing it slowly, making no sound throughout the process.
It is said that a beauty looks even more stunning under the lamp, and Bai Jin deeply agreed. The person opposite him had features shrouded in the dim, yellowish candlelight. When the beauty looked at him, his eyes rippled with a mysterious charm. Even his dining was refined—his red lips parted slightly, snow-white teeth biting gently, and one could faintly glimpse the tip of his crimson tongue flickering like a small flame…
If it were a finger that poked in, maliciously teasing that tongue and earnestly inspecting the oral cavity, would the beauty be unable to close his lips, sobbing and moaning as transparent saliva leaked from the corners of his mouth?
Realizing what he was thinking, Bai Jin visibly stiffened, and the force with which he cut the steak grew slightly stronger.
The food on the plate was pitifully small; Li Rangnian finished it in a few bites and began sipping the vegetable soup in small gulps. The rising steam blurred his face, and warmth spread bit by bit in his chest.
Because of this, he was insulated from the Butler’s secret, prying gaze, unknowingly savoring the hot soup.
Ten minutes later, as the players set down their utensils and wiped their mouths with napkins, the Butler’s hoarse voice rang out: “Honored guests, allow me to introduce myself. I am Brandy, and I have served Duke Badian for twenty years. Now that the Duke’s wedding is imminent, he is busy with affairs and rarely stays in the manor. I shall manage the manor and entertain you on his behalf. Now, I shall announce the rules of the manor—”
Manor Rules
- Guests must remember their identities at all times.
- Except for the Duke’s bedroom, the storage room, the fourth floor, and the attic, guests may freely enter any part of the manor.
- The manor has no fourth floor. If a guest accidentally finds that the number of stairs has increased, please notify the Butler immediately.
- The manor closes on time every day; please return promptly before the doors close.
- When the Duke is absent, the Butler is responsible for all guest affairs.
- The Duke is not good at conversing; please do not ask him questions lightly.
- The Duke loves roses; please do not damage any roses in the manor…
After finishing these words one by one, the Butler slowly scanned the room. Facing the players’ confused and helpless expressions, he revealed a “kind” smile. “One last point: the wedding will take place as scheduled in seven days. Please wait patiently, guests.”
“System, did you record those rules?” Li Rangnian poked the little ball of light. 051 wiggled and replied proudly, [Of course, I’ve got them! The Host can read them at any time!]
The others weren’t so lucky. They were completely bewildered and remembered nothing, but seeing the Butler’s old, coarse face, they swallowed any questions they had.
“Now, guests, please follow me. I will take you to the rooms where you will stay.” The Butler picked up a small bell from a wooden stand behind him and rang it. As the crisp sound rang out, a group of maids in black-and-white frocks appeared like ghosts from the entrance, silently clearing the table.
The Butler had moved to the door at some point, his cloudy eyes staring at the players, the smile on his face unchanged: “Guests, come quickly, do not waste time.”
The players stood up one after another and followed. Li Rangnian also rose, passing by a maid.
A chilling aura dissipated against his cheek; the maid’s chest was still, with no rise or fall, and not even the sound of breathing was emitted.
In his peripheral vision, the maid’s hem reached the floor, covering her feet. She moved incredibly fast, as if… she was floating past.
Sensing his gaze, the maid turned her head. her greyish-white face looked like peeling wall paint, and her eye sockets were pitch black, as if filled with dust: “Miss Gleipnir, is there something wrong?”
Li Rangnian’s heart hammered, his mouth felt dry, and he didn’t even know what he was saying: “No, nothing…”
“Let’s walk together, Miss.” A man’s broad chest pressed lightly against his back, and a large palm possessively yet gently supported the beauty’s slender waist, blocking the unkind gaze and appropriately easing his tension.
The beauty turned his head slightly, his profile gilded with a soft light by the candles, the blue gemstone on his brow shining brilliantly. He looked very beautiful—especially his full lips, which shimmered with an alluring luster.
His eyes gazed at the man with intense focus, his tone grateful: “My honor, Sir.”
Bai Jin protected the beauty gentlemanly, following the line of players step by step with a smile as warm as a spring breeze, even though his back was nearly burning a hole from the chilling gaze behind him.
The stairs spiraled upward, the exquisite carpet flowing like water under the light. The guests’ boots stepped upon it without making any loud noise.
Fingers as white as jade touched the beautifully carved handrail like a dragonfly skimming water. The slightly heaving chest revealed a shallow, snow-white “valley.” The portraits on the walls remained silent, but every pair of eyes seemed fixed on that seductive spring scenery.
This dress was somewhat heavy. After a few flights of stairs, Li Rangnian began to pant softly. Fine sweat broke out on his forehead, and his body was like a tightly sealed bottle of fruit wine, if the cork were popped, one could smell that faint body fragrance.
The fluffy, wide skirt slowly brushed past the steps, inevitably catching some dust. The handsome man followed closely behind. Seeing this, he used both hands to hold up the hem trailing on the ground, as if cradling a soft cloud.
Finally, it’s lighter… Li Rangnian complained to the system in his heart. Women throughout history, whether Eastern or Western, always seem to suffer. Look at these clothes—they’re heavy as death, and the corset is tied so tight I’m going to lose my breath if I wear it much longer.
051 also felt distressed for the host: [Endure it a bit longer. Go change your clothes when it’s time to rest.]
The Butler’s voice drifted from a distance: “…This is Mr. Hugh Sketch’s room. Here is the key; please keep it safe.”
Lin Zhousheng deliberately fell back a few steps, standing in the hallway and leaning half his body over the railing to look at them: “Hey! Hurry up, the Butler is assigning rooms!”
The two below looked up at him, their posture too intimate. The man’s eyes were practically glued to the beauty’s thin shoulders and back, and his hands holding the skirt made him look like a fierce dog that had caught a meat bone—his face full of spring breeze and triumph.
Tsk, this scene is an eyesore no matter how you look at it. The youth thought to himself, though the smile on his face appeared sunny and lively. He jogged a few steps to the beauty, his eyes bright: “Let me help you carry your skirt too?”
“Eh? But someone is already carrying… it.” Li Rangnian let out a confused sound, but the youth was already beside him, reaching out eagerly: “It’s fine. It’s the same if I support you.”
The beauty didn’t understand, but since someone was offering service, why not? So he rested his arm upon him.
The supple arm was well-proportioned, its delicate skin transmitting a warm touch. Lin Zhousheng supported this “flower branch” with extreme caution; even with the lightest pressure, his fingertips still made indentations. That delicate, snow-white flesh was as soft as melted ice cream, slippery like an eel and impossible to grasp firmly. Only by clutching it tightly, letting the snow-white overflow through his finger gaps, could he prevent it from sliding out of his palm.
Almost as soon as he touched the beauty’s arm, the youth couldn’t help but sigh in his heart. So soft, so smooth. Up close, he could even smell the elegant fragrance seeping out from within the skin. His mind began to wander, and he wished he could suck on it like jelly until he left bright red marks.
No, too reckless. If I do that, the beauty will be scared, tremble, and shrink back like a little rabbit with red eyes, right?
Lin Zhousheng used all his strength to suppress the urge to lean down and sniff. He cleared his throat, only to find his voice terrifyingly hoarse: “Is this pressure, okay? It’s not too heavy, is it?”
“Hmm? No.” Li Rangnian concentrated on walking, letting out a small cheer in his heart with every step upward. Hearing his words, his expression was confused as he answered seriously: “You’re doing very well.”
Damned thing, what kind of weird stuff is he saying!
As a man himself, how could Bai Jin not understand those “filthy” thoughts? His expression immediately cooled, his fingers tightened on the light skirt, and his voice sounded nonchalant: “If you don’t know how to do it, don’t take on the task. Sir, you’re blocking my way.”
“My apologies, perhaps it’s because we’re standing too close.” The youth apologized without much sincerity, tossing out that sentence without looking back, his entire mind focused on the body parts in contact.
The beauty, however, had no idea he was being taken advantage of. Bai Jin could only let it go, though he leaned forward slightly, getting even closer.
The Butler had finished assigning rooms to the others and was smiling, standing at the far end of the hallway, his gaze fixed on the three latecomers. His voice was strange: “Guests, please hurry. Night is falling.”
“Pardon us, perhaps I walked too slowly and wasted your precious time.” The hallway wasn’t wide; Bai Jin stepped back slightly and stood still, replying politely: “Where are our rooms?”
“Mr. De Ligt, your room is here.” The Butler reached out a large hand, the skin as withered as tree bark. The man took the key; once the Butler moved his hand, a platinum key lay in his palm.
“Mr. Evan.” The Butler gave another key, and finally turned toward the beauty. He bowed his head deeply and offered a key with both hands: “Miss Gleipnir, this is your room key.”
Li Rangnian took it gently, the cold temperature warming in his hand.
His room was at the end of the hallway, a mahogany door with a flower basket hanging from the handle, filled with vivid, succulent roses.
Opening the door, the room was dim. The door faced a louvered window encrusted with colorful glass, through which he could see the vast, dark birch forest outside.
Using the light from the window, Li Rangnian fumbled for the matchbox on the table and struck one. With a scritch, a small flame lit up, dancing and reflecting in his clear eyes.
Lighting all the candelabras in the room, the space instantly brightened. Classical and magnificent furniture was fully provided, with a large bed in the corner, its silk quilt soft and pure white bed curtains shrouding the surface.
There was also a partition in the room the bathroom.
A desk and a rattan chair were placed under the windowsill, a prime location suitable for viewing the scenery and writing.
A large wardrobe stood on one side of the bed, emitting a scent of roses. Li Rangnian felt suffocated by his clothes; opening the wardrobe, his heart sank.
God, why are they all women’s clothes?
051 flew around him: [Because the Host’s current identity is an aristocratic lady~ You must wear dresses!] Heh heh, I won’t admit that I actually like seeing the Host in women’s clothes.
“…” Li Rangnian was speechless. He blinked and flipped through the clothes hanging inside one by one, finally picking out a long dress that wasn’t too gaudy.
The outfit he was currently wearing was difficult to remove. Even after the belt was taken off, it still tightly bound his body. His fingers clumsily unbuttoned the front, revealing his exquisite collarbone and deeper scenery. There were pink drawstrings crisscrossing and tightening on his back; he couldn’t apply force and couldn’t reach them. After struggling for a long time, he only managed to work up a dripping, fragrant sweat.
“Huff, huff…” Li Rangnian gave up the struggle and decided to seek outside help. Protecting his chest with his arms, he took small steps out the door and finally knocked on the Protagonist Bottom’s door based on his memory.
Knock, knock, knock—
“Who is it?” The other’s voice came from behind the door. In the next second, footsteps approached, and the door opened with a creak. Light poured over the beauty at the door, instantly swallowing everything the man was about to say.
The chest that couldn’t be covered, the snowy, secret scenery revealed through the gaps of his shielding arms… His sweat-dampened long hair stuck to his neck, showing a disheveled beauty, and his faint body fragrance was fully released, enticing one’s soul.
Perhaps he was shy; the tips of the beauty’s ears were flushed, and a faint blush also appeared on his cheeks. The headpiece hadn’t been removed, the gemstone on his brow was brilliant, and the black veil blurred his enchanting face.
“Sir, can you help me untie this?” Li Rangnian turned sideways to show him his back, looking sincere. “It’s tied too tight and too high; I can’t reach it myself.”
The man’s Adam’s apple rolled, and a strong predatory nature—which even he didn’t realize—appeared in his eyes: “…Come in.”
He made way, and Li Rangnian entered quite obediently, as natural as a cat seeking food. He even sat on the only chair, looking up at him expectantly: “Sorry to trouble you, Sir.”
“Just call me Bai Jin.” Bai Jin closed the door and approached unhurriedly. “Turn around.”
The beauty obediently faced away from him, allowing the man’s gaze to roam freely over his spine. Soon, his waist was pinched by someone, causing the beauty’s body to shiver and go slightly soft.
The other hand unhurriedly untied the drawstrings, as if unwrapping a gift box to peel the sweet “little cake” completely out. The coarse texture of the gloves occasionally brushed past his spine; the beauty beneath his hands trembled even more, and a layer of fine sweat broke out. One could imagine how sensitive the other’s body was.
As the clothing fell to his waist, the smooth, beautiful flesh was fully revealed. The flickering candlelight gilded it with a cream-like luster. The entire sweet “little cake,” decorated with vibrant “strawberry tips,” looked delicious.
The room temperature was slightly low; Li Rangnian shivered, and small goosebumps appeared on his skin.
Bai Jin looked down at his gloves; the pads were already dampened by sweat, showing darker shadows. Up close, he could even smell the misty body fragrance—a scent of roses.
“Cold?” he asked, taking off his jacket and draping it over the beauty’s smooth shoulders, shrouding the stunning beauty.
The other’s jacket still carried a warm temperature. After putting it on, it was noticeably warmer, and Li Rangnian accepted the man’s kindness with a clear conscience: “Thank you, Bai Jin. I should head back.”
“I’ll see you out.” The man escorted him to the door, silently watching him open the door and close it, only coming to his senses when the beauty had completely vanished from his sight. He realized he had forgotten to take back his jacket.
He rubbed his damp fingertips and thought, forget it, I’ll get it tomorrow.
Li Rangnian returned to his room, changed into the noticeably lighter and simpler dress, and removed the rose-black veil from his head. After a simple wash, he happily pounced onto the soft, comfortable bed.
Supple arms poked out from the wide ruffled sleeves. Beneath the pale pink skirt, a pair of jade-white legs crossed and swayed, offering glimpses of an even more alluring scene.
The day’s travel fatigue soon arrived as drowsiness. Li Rangnian slowly closed his eyes and fell into a dreamland before long.
The room was peaceful. The unextinguished candles were still burning, and the flames occasionally popped with a crackle. The shadows of the candelabras were projected onto the wall, expanding and shrinking with the flickering flames. The dark shadows bared their claws and gradually condensed into a human shape.
It merged into the floor where the light didn’t reach, moving quickly and heading straight for the person lying on the bed, manifesting sharp claws and teeth to tear the person apart—
“…!”
The blue gemstone on the beauty’s brow flickered eerily. The shadow, caught off guard by the blue light, let out a silent roar, its body slowly dissipating as if scorched by a fierce fire.
From start to finish, the shadow’s death made no sound. The gemstone flickered and then fell into silence.
Nighttime, Miss Aletta’s room.
A shriveled middle-aged man violently tore off the dress he was wearing, walked into the bathroom naked, and cursed while brushing his teeth: “Damned game! You motherless piece of junk! This is truly a nightmare; I almost froze to death!”
He had ridden in a carriage for over ten hours, and the carriage was dilapidated, with cold wind blowing in incessantly. His lower body was so frozen he almost lost sensation.
What was even more irritating was that he had drawn a female role; his urge to curse was even more pressing.
Because of this, he failed to notice his own reflection in the mirror—his eye sockets were completely black and emitting mist.
After washing up, the man subconsciously blew out the candle and lay on the bed, closing his eyes to rest.
Suddenly, the blanket covering his chest was lightly tugged by a force, being dragged down slowly, on the verge of falling to the floor. The man was so tired he just turned over and pressed down on the blanket, noticing nothing wrong.
It wasn’t until a pair of pitch-black hands grabbed his ankles and yanked him hard—causing him to fall flat on the floor, dizzy that he realized what was happening. He opened his mouth to scream: “Help… Mmph!”
Black sharp claws grabbed his scalp and slammed it against the wall. More hands appeared, each grabbing the man’s limbs and pulling them violently in different directions.
He only then seemed to react and let out a scream. In the next moment, a thick black shadow burrowed into his mouth and blocked it. His eyeballs rolled incessantly from the intense pain, blood seeping into the whites of his eyes. His limbs finally could no longer handle the load and let out a snap.
“Wooooo!!!”
Fresh blood splattered onto the wall. His limp limbs were scattered across the room, his fingers still having residual nerve endings that trembled and curled.
The shadow inside the man’s body desperately expanded outward; any opening became an exit. Splat! Two bloodshot eyeballs bulged out and were instantly punctured by the shadow, and a string of white nerves rolled onto the floor, blood dripping all the way.
Following this, more “splat-splat” sounds rang out. The shadow punctured the torso like maggots; the flesh was soon riddled with countless holes, and the unspent blood seeped out slowly.
The man was dead to the core, yet the shadow did not intend to let him go. It turned into vines that clung to the torso and dragged it away bit by bit, a long trail of blood soon appearing on the floor.
A heavy scent of blood filled the entire room. And at this time, the night had only just grown thick.
Almost at the same time the man died, the game began to broadcast: 【Player Zhang Shunqian is dead. Clearance failed. Remaining players: 9】
At the same time, black shadows appeared in the other players’ rooms. However, they only silently burrowed into some of the sleeping players’ bodies and did not perform the same actions as in the previous room.
Of course, there were also players whom the shadows did not approach. These were veteran players who had played the game many times and used accumulated game coins to exchange for life-saving items, thereby escaping the shadow’s night raid.
This included Bai Jin.
He was half-kneeling on the bed, his bright long blade performing a beautiful flourish in his hand, severing the attacking shadow.
The news of a player’s death had finished broadcasting. He sheathed his sword and stood up, wanting to go and comfort the beauty.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
