CHAPTER 53: WHEN THE GAME ADDS A VARIABLE

[Evelina’s POV—Vinter Mansion—The Next Morning]

Sleep didn’t come.

Not even close.

The mansion remained silent in the way only powerful places ever were—not peaceful, not calm, but alert. Like a predator pretending to rest with one eye open, daring the world to try something stupid.

Morning light crept through the tall windows anyway, thin and pale, slicing across the black velvet curtains.

I stretched my arms slowly, joints cracking faintly.

"...Now," I muttered, rubbing my eyes, "let’s begin the next thing I desperately wanted to do."

I sat up.

Cut off all ties with the Hartgraves. Completely. Cleanly. Irreversibly.

No more pretending. No more obligations to people who only remembered I existed when it was convenient—or scandalous. With the Cursed Bond Route activated, there were no death flags tied to characters anymore.

Which meant one thing.

I was finally free to walk away. And to do that properly, I needed a weapon stronger than knives or poison.

A lawyer.

A very, very good one.

I reached for the remaining pouch of gold—ten thousand coins, cold and reassuring in my hands. Enough to hire someone ruthless, precise, and allergic to sentimental nonsense.

Perfect.

Just as I tied the pouch securely—knock.Knock.

"Miss..."

Rowan’s voice. Calm. Neutral. Ever-present.

"Come in, Rowan," I said.

The door opened soundlessly. Rowan stepped inside, already dressed, posture straight, eyes sharp. His gaze flicked briefly to the gold pouch in my hands.

Then he paused.

"...Miss," he said slowly, "are you perhaps preparing to run away with those gold coins?"

I froze.

Turned.

Stared at him.

Rowan held my gaze for a solid three seconds before adding, flatly—"I was just kidding."

I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

"...For the god’s sake, don’t joke with a straight face," I said. "It’s more terrifying than you try to be funny."

"I apologize, Miss."

He didn’t look sorry.

I sighed, rolling my shoulders. "I’m cutting ties with the Hartgraves."

That wiped the faint humor from his eyes.

"I don’t need a family that wasn’t there when I needed them," I continued evenly. "Theo Vinter gave me twenty thousand gold coins. I’m using part of it to hire a lawyer. A real one."

I tightened my grip on the pouch.

"And I guess," I added calmly, "this will help me survive here."

Rowan frowned—just slightly.

"...Survive here?" he repeated.

I stared at him flatly.

"Don’t question," I said. "Don’t get confused. Just nod."

He straightened instantly.

"Yes, Miss."

Satisfied, I nodded back. "Good."

I grabbed my coat and slid it on, movements efficient and decisive. No hesitation. No second thoughts.

Rowan stepped aside smoothly as I passed him.

"Alright," I said, heading for the door, eyes sharp, spine straight. "Let’s go."

As we stepped into the hallway of the Vinter mansion—gold, shadow, and power stretching endlessly around us—I felt it.

Not fear.

Not regret.

Relief.

The Hartgrave Chapter was ending. And for the first time since I’d entered this cursed world... I wasn’t running for my life.

I was choosing it.

I stepped down the grand staircase toward the living area—BANG!!!!!!

The sound ripped through the mansion like thunder trapped indoors.

I flinched hard. Rowan moved instantly—one step in front of me, body angled, hand already reaching for the weapon hidden beneath his coat.

My eyes snapped downward. A body lay sprawled across the marble floor.

A man.

One of the Vinter bodyguards, or rather—what used to be one. A single bullet hole sat perfectly centered on his forehead. Clean. Precise. No hesitation. No warning.

Smoke curled lazily through the air.

I followed it.

Theo Vinter stood a few steps away, gun still raised, finger loose on the trigger. Smoke drifted from the barrel like a satisfied sigh.

"Get rid of him," Theo said coldly.

Not loud.

Not angry.

Just...final.

A man stepped forward immediately, grabbed the corpse, and dragged it away without so much as a blink—like cleaning up spilled wine.

Theo didn’t even look at him.

"Check the other servants," Theo continued, voice dropping into something sharp and lethal."Find every spy."

His eyes hardened.

"And kill them."

"Yes, sir."

They scattered at once—shadows peeling away into corridors, efficiency bordering on terrifying.

I stood frozen.

Wow. This man’s presence wasn’t just dangerous. It was absolute.

Then—like a switch flipping—Theo’s gaze lifted.

Found me.

And his expression changed. The same mouth that issued death sentences curved into a bright, easy smile. As if he hadn’t just executed someone in his living room.

"Oh," he said lightly, tucking the gun down at his side, "babe. You’re awake?"

"...Yeah," I answered.

Still shocked. Still staring at the empty space where a body had been seconds ago. Theo walked toward me casually, stepping over the faint smear of blood without a second thought. He stopped a step away and stretched out his hand toward me—inviting, familiar.

"Come," he said warmly. "Let’s have breakfast together. I’ll introduce you to my niece."

My instincts screamed.

"Oh—no," I said quickly. "I actually have to go out—"

His hand froze midair.

The smile didn’t vanish.

But the warmth did.

Theo leaned closer, voice lowering—slow, deliberate, and edged with something dark enough to make the air thicken.

"Babe..." he murmured, eyes narrowing just slightly, "...are you trying to run away with the gold I gave you?"

My pulse spiked.

"You’d better say no."

Not a threat.

A warning

.

. . .

. . .

Should I finally accept it? That Theo Vinter is the deleted male lead? Because...Theo Vinter wasn’t just dangerous. He was dangerous enough to frighten a creator.

Dangerous enough to break balance. Dangerous enough to overwrite affection systems. Dangerous enough to be deleted.

Before I could respond—

"STEP AWAY."

Rowan’s voice cut through the tension like a blade drawn from a sheath.

He moved between us completely now, back straight, shoulders squared, eyes locked onto Theo with lethal calm.

"My Miss," Rowan said coldly, "does not like being touched by blood-filled hands."

Silence.

The kind that makes walls listen.

Theo blinked once.

Then he laughed softly—low, amused, and deeply irritated.

"I see," he said, eyes sliding over Rowan with open contempt. "I guess your bodyguard has a death wish, babe."

Rowan didn’t flinch.

His gaze sharpened.

"If that wish protects her," he replied evenly, "then I welcome it."

The air crackled.

Theo’s smile sharpened into something feral. Rowan’s presence darkened—quiet, controlled, inevitable.

Devil.

Grim Reaper.

And me?

I stood between them, heart pounding, breath tight, suddenly very aware of my role.

I wasn’t a spectator. I was the prize. The axis. The woman standing between two men who could burn the world—or drown it—without remorse.

And for the first time since choosing the Cursed Bond Route, one terrifying truth became crystal clear:

Whichever one of them was the deleted male lead... I had already awakened him and made him more dangerous.

And now?

There would be no walking away unscathed.

Only choosing which monster would claim me first.

And then—

"Uncle—!"

The word cut straight through the tension like a bell ringing in a battlefield.

All three of us turned. A small figure came running down the hall—bare feet slapping softly against the marble floor. She wore an oversized nightgown, black hair bouncing wildly, golden eyes glowing far too brightly for a child who had just woken up.

She didn’t hesitate.

She launched herself straight at Theo. "Uncle! I missed you!"

Theo caught her effortlessly—gun forgotten, danger forgotten—as if his body knew exactly what to do. He lifted her up and hugged her close, one arm secure around her small back.

"I was gone for two nights," he said, voice suddenly... warm. Human. Almost gentle. "And you missed me that much, little monster?"

"Yes!" she giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You promised you’d come back before the Dinner!"

Theo chuckled—actually chuckled—and pressed his forehead lightly to hers.

I stood there.

Frozen.

Processing. This was the same man who had just executed someone without blinking. And now he was letting a child cling to him like he was... safe.

Am I hallucinating? Did the system install a patch overnight?

Then—The little girl’s golden eyes slid toward me. And she—She smirked.

Not a shy smile.

Not curiosity.

A knowing, mischievous smirk.

Am I the only one who saw her smirk?

"Oh?" she said sweetly, tilting her head. "Who is this beautiful aunty?"

.........

Aunty.

I felt something inside me snap—not violently. Pettily.

"...Aunty?" I repeated flatly.

Theo raised a brow, clearly enjoying this far too much. I slowly turned my head toward Rowan.

"Do I," I asked calmly, dangerously, "look like an aunty, Rowan?"

Rowan blinked once.

Just once. Then, without hesitation, he answered, voice perfectly serious—

"No, Miss. You are beautiful."

...

Gosh. What is today?

Why is my bodyguard complimenting me?Why is a mafia prince hugging a child like a doting guardian?Why did a little girl smirk at me like she knows something I don’t?

I rubbed my temple.

This was too much.

Theo glanced between Rowan and me, amused. "Careful," he drawled. "You’re spoiling her ego."

The girl gasped dramatically from Theo’s arms. "Uncle! You didn’t deny she’s beautiful!"

Theo looked at me—slow, deliberate. "I didn’t need to."

...Great. Fantastic. Wonderful.

The little girl giggled again, then leaned closer to Theo’s ear and whispered something I definitely wasn’t meant to hear.

Theo paused.

Then smirked.

He looked back at me, eyes glinting with wicked amusement.

"She likes you," he said. "That’s rare."

"I haven’t even spoken to her," I replied.

"She already decided," the girl said cheerfully. "You’re interesting."

That smirk again.

I stared at her.

She stared back.

What kind of updated system route is this...?

A child variable. An emotional wildcard. A weakness—or a trigger. I had a very bad feeling.

And as Theo adjusted the girl in his arms and Rowan stood silently at my side, I realized—The game hadn’t just changed routes.

It had introduced a new piece on the board.

And I had no idea whether this little girl was a blessing...Or the most dangerous complication yet.