I Became the Substitute for the Runaway Heroine - Chapter 13

Kill her?
Make her disappear without a trace?

Caesar Maes sat deep in thought, lost in the endless dilemma that plagued his mind.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Odette stepped into the bedroom.

The same angelic child who had once slept peacefully in that cabin had now grown into Odette Balen.

Heravrua’s prophecy echoed in his mind—”When your trials end, your destiny will come.”

‘The trials are finally over.’

Because destiny had arrived.

When Odette knelt before him, her body emitting traces of divine power,

Caesar felt as if he had won the world itself.

With Odette, he could finally execute the honorable revenge he had longed for.

With Odette, he could finally fulfill his promise to Heravrua.

‘So, Odette… whether you live or die, it must be with me. Because that’s what destiny is.’

“Aden, send a messenger pigeon to Hyke Middleton and mobilize the army. No matter what it takes, find Odette.”

“Th-the army? That will draw too much attention!”

“Do you think I care about the Emperor’s interference right now? Others will soon sense Odette’s divine power just like I did.”

Among the Holy Knights and priestesses, there were those sensitive enough to recognize that Odette’s power was extraordinary.

And once her awakening was complete, the divine prophecy would come.

A High Saintess had appeared.

“If the Emperor makes his move first, Odette will be killed. Are you willing to let Heravrua’s daughter die?”

“…I will deploy the army immediately!”

Aden rushed out of the hotel suite, sending orders through a messenger pigeon.

Caesar Maes ran a hand over the empty bed where Odette had once lain.

“…My wife runs away quite well. And she disappears without a trace just as easily. Like a little squirrel.”

A slow smile crept onto his lips.

“I’ll have to lock you away, Odette. So you never run again.”

‘What do I do now?’

Hiding behind a tree in the public park, Odette watched as Caesar’s knights searched the streets like hunting dogs.

‘If I go back to Caesar Maes, I’ll end up just like the original heroine.’

She would be broken. She would become his puppet. And then… she would get pregnant.

This novel’s theme was, after all, “Runaway Pregnant Heroine.”

And Odette refused to become the replacement heroine in a tragic, miserable fate.

“I have to escape now.”

If she hesitated, the blockade would tighten even further.

Pulling her hood lower, Odette moved quickly toward an unguarded path.

At the park entrance, she spotted knights entering.

She immediately changed direction.

By the time she finally slipped past the park, she heard Aden’s voice.

“Seal off the park and blockade Second Street to Twentieth Street.”

Odette barely made it to Twenty-first Street, wiping the cold sweat from her brow.

At this rate, she would be caught before the day was over.

Just as she reached an alley, a luxurious carriage rolled to a stop before her.

“Get in.”

A voice called out.

A white-haired noblewoman extended her hand toward Odette.

“…Excuse me?”

“You seem to be in need of help.”

“…Thank you, madam.”

Odette didn’t have the luxury of hesitation. She accepted the woman’s offer and climbed into the carriage.

Inside, her breath hitched.

The interior was breathtaking—lavish, opulent, decorated with gold embroidery, silk cushions, and polished marble flooring.

“You’re being pursued by someone powerful.”

The noblewoman smiled, her emerald-green eyes locking onto Odette’s own.

“I swear, I have committed no crime.”

“Perhaps you have. Or perhaps you haven’t.”

The noblewoman glanced out the window, watching the chaos unfold.

A woman dropped her basket in fear.
A child burst into tears.
A pickpocket overturned a fruit cart, causing people to stumble.

Odette watched the scene, realization settling in.

“You’re right. Because of me, innocent people are suffering.”

“Then tell me how I may help you.”

The noblewoman’s emerald eyes bore into her.

‘Why would a stranger help me?’

Odette felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude, but she still shook her head.

“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t drag you into this.”

Caesar Maes had lost his reason—he would spare no one.

“You’ve already helped me greatly. This area isn’t blocked off yet, so I’ll get off here.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

At her signal, the noblewoman rang the carriage bell, instructing the coachman to stop.

As Odette reached for the door, the noblewoman spoke again.

“If I were you… I would go to the person Caesar Maes hates the most.”

Odette froze.

“While the lion and the bear fight,” the noblewoman smiled,
“you will be safe.”

The noblewoman gazed at Odette with wisdom gleaming in her eyes.

“Thank you for the advice,” Odette said, bowing her head.

As she stepped down from the carriage, she turned once more to offer a deeper bow of gratitude.

The noblewoman studied her with concern, then extended a handkerchief.

“If you ever find yourself in urgent need, use my name. I can assist you at least once.”

The handkerchief was embroidered with two majestic stags, their antlers woven in golden thread.

‘Which noble house does this insignia belong to?’

Odette had never been educated in noble family emblems, so she couldn’t recognize it.

But considering the extent of power it would take to help her despite knowing who was hunting her, this noblewoman had to hold an exceptionally high status.

“Good luck, my dear,” the noblewoman said as her carriage began to pull away.

Odette watched the carriage disappear, her mind racing.

“While the lion and the bear fight, I will be safe?”

But that would mean walking into another predator’s den.

Her only advantage was that she could see glimpses of the future through dreams.

“What should I do?”

Caesar Maes’s search net was tightening around her, and she only had ten gold coins left.

“No… there’s one more thing.”

She was still wearing Caesar’s shirt, layered over her nightgown.

‘If I sleep in his shirt, I might be able to glimpse his thoughts.’

“Ugh. My head is killing me.”

Every night, Count Anderson suffered from relentless nightmares.

Just a few nights ago, his ancestors had stepped out of their portraits, swinging canes and swords at him.

The next night, he had watched as his entire estate burned to the ground, the flames devouring everything.

Even now, he could vividly recall running for his life in that terrifying dream.

The feeling of his throat burning from his own screams still lingered when he woke.

And then…

Every night, the maid he had sent as Amelia’s replacement appeared in his dreams.

She would tie him up and whip him mercilessly.

The pain was so real that he could feel his skin splitting open.

At this point, the fear of dreaming was keeping him from even trying to sleep.

‘All this over a little poison? Holding a grudge, are we?’

Her name was Odette, wasn’t it?

When he had sent her in Amelia’s place, he had ordered his spies and maids to poison Caesar the moment he arrived.

Ever since that failure, the maid had been haunting his dreams.

A vengeful spirit, most likely.

Should he call a sorcerer for an exorcism?

“Ack!”

His heart nearly stopped.

For a brief second, he swore he saw her reflection in the window.

‘It… it must have been my imagination.’

Count Anderson was too afraid to even check if a ghost was present.

Besides, what kind of spirit roamed around in broad daylight?

“It’s just… the lack of sleep. That’s all.”

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down as he made his way to his study.

But one thing still bothered him.

Why has Caesar Maes been so quiet?

“Dammit! Not knowing what’s happening is driving me insane!”

He had sent messenger pigeons to his spies countless times, but there was no response.

He wanted nothing more than to confront Caesar directly and see the situation for himself—

But…

“Who knows what that bastard would do to me?”

There had been no evidence left behind in the deaths of Caesar’s father and sister.

But that didn’t matter.

His crimes as Caesar’s godfather—the abuse, the exploitation, and forcing him into war as a child—were more than enough reason for vengeance.

‘He must have spent years sharpening his hatred for me.’

Had Amelia stayed put and given Caesar a child, things might have been different.

But she had betrayed him—pregnant with another man’s child, she had run away.

Now, drastic measures were necessary.

“I’ll switch the maid and my daughter  and then, I’ll kill her.”

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