Extra's Perfect Ending

Chapter 138: Night snack

That night, Theia couldn’t sleep properly. Her mind was plagued by the faces of all the servants, mocking her openly. Her brows knit together as her thoughts spiraled, and her heart ached every time she crossed paths with a servant. She couldn’t begin to imagine the kinds of things they whispered behind her back.

They used to bow for her, but now they only looked at her like she was a walking bag of money. She wished she had the power to control them the way her father once could.

Boom!

A crack of thunder echoed outside, pulling her from her restless sleep. The rain drummed steadily against the window. Half relieved, she realized she didn’t have to suffer through another dream about her helplessness. Her heart gradually slowed, and she hugged her knees, seeking comfort.

The sound of rain hitting the window was a welcome distraction from her thoughts. If only it rained every day, she mused. At least then she wouldn’t have to listen to the constant, tormenting noise in her head. In the reflection on the windowpane, she imagined her sister. Her lips curled upward just a little. I wish I were more like Onia, she thought—brave, unafraid to fight for what was hers.

Her father always said that Onia was the brave one, and Theia was the smart one. She used to believe him. But now, it felt like she couldn’t live up to his expectations.

She sighed.

Grrr...

The rumbling of her stomach interrupted the silence. Groaning, Theia rolled out of bed and lit the candle on her nightstand. Once the flame burned bright enough to illuminate the room, she picked it up. Years ago, she thought, I would’ve called for a maid to bring me a snack. Now, she had to sneak into the kitchen of her own home.

She tiptoed across the wooden floor, opening her door as quietly as possible. Poking her head out, she glanced around, hoping none of the servants were nearby. If they saw her, they wouldn’t let her eat.

A thief in her own home. The thought made her even more sad.

Step by silent step, she made her way toward the kitchen, hoping to find something to eat. Luckily, at this late hour, the halls were empty, and no one stopped her.

After ten minutes, she finally reached the kitchen, where the food was stored. She stared at the salted meat hanging from the walls in contempt. They had this much, but they weren’t willing to give her anything. She clenched her fists. If I ever have power, I’ll never let them get away with this.

Her mouth watered at the thought of tasting the meat she hadn’t had in so long, but the reality was she didn’t know how to cook. She sighed and settled for a loaf of bread, shoving it into her mouth, satisfying her midnight craving.

Wiping her hands clean with a nearby towel, Theia quietly made her way back to her room, hoping for better sleep.

As she walked through the hallways, something caught her eye. Amid the falling rain, someone was walking in front of the mansion.

Theia squinted, trying to make out who it was. The figure wore a hood, shielding them from the rain. Her first instinct was to alert the servants about an intruder, but just as she was about to move, the hooded figure turned and looked directly at her.

She ducked behind the window, her heart racing, and quickly extinguished her candle. She held her breath, hoping the figure hadn’t noticed her. After a few tense moments, she peeked out again and saw the figure walking away.

I need to warn the others, she thought, but she stopped halfway to the door. What if I tell the servants? They’ll just laugh it off. Worse, they might even be happy if the thief stabs me.

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Her shoulders slumped as she thought about the servants, but her spirits lifted slightly when she remembered Kuron. She could always count on him to defend the household. With that thought, she made her way to the knight’s quarters.

She knocked lightly on Kuron’s door, hoping only he would hear. But there was no response. Anxiety crept in, reminding her of a story her father used to tell her as a child—a tale of a black ghost that lurked in the mansion at night, devouring those who stayed up too late.

She hadn’t believed it back then, but now, the story haunted her thoughts. Her fear pushed her to act, and she rudely shoved the door open, hoping to find shelter in Kuron’s room.

"Sorry!" she yelped as she stepped inside, half-expecting Kuron to attack her for barging in.

But there was nothing. The room was empty.

A chill ran down her spine as her eyes swept across the space.

Where is Kuron?

His absence unnerved her. The room was ordinary—nothing out of place—but something felt off, like the walls and floor were watching her. It was irrational, but she couldn’t shake the feeling.

Boom!

Another crack of thunder echoed just outside the window. Theia bolted from the room, sprinting through the hallway, fear driving her feet. She didn’t even know how she made it back to her bedroom.

"Praise the Sun," she muttered.

"Praise the Sun, Praise the Sun," she repeated, again and again.

She wasn’t particularly devout, but in that moment, she needed all the help she could get to ward off any lurking spirits. Exhausted, she eventually fell asleep, murmuring prayers to the Sun.

The next morning, the light of dawn greeted her, and Kuron arrived as usual to bring her breakfast.

"Miss, are you awake? I brought your meal."

Theia smiled, the warmth of the morning reassuring her that life was as normal as it had been—maybe last night had just been a bad dream. She couldn’t be happier to wake up to Kuron bringing her food.

"Thank God it was just a dream," she said, sighing with relief.

"You had another nightmare?" Kuron asked curiously.

"Yeah, I dreamt a thief broke into the mansion."

As soon as Theia mentioned it, Kuron’s expression shifted, if only for a split second. His eyes held something strange, but just as quickly, his face returned to normal.

"Miss, you should rest your mind a bit," he said with his usual calmness.

But Theia had seen it—that brief flicker of something in his gaze. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her mind unable to let it go.