Chapter 3 A Meeting and a Ticking Clock
The servant's footsteps faded down the hall, leaving Rudy alone with his thoughts. He took a deep breath, He had to go out there. He had to face his new reality, even if his mind was still screaming that this was all a terrible trick.
Rudy reached out and pushed the heavy bedroom doors open. He stepped out into the main hallway of the Vance manor, and the sheer size of the place made him stop for a second. Guards dressed in dark iron armor stood every few yards, their faces hidden behind cold helmets.
Rudy forced his expression to stay completely blank and aloof. He remembered from the book that the original Rudeus was a cruel bully who loved to show his power. He couldn't let them see any weakness while he was still figuring out how to survive.
A young maid hurried past him, holding a tray of clean cups. The moment she saw Rudy, she froze. Her hands started to tremble, and she quickly looked down at the ground, backing away against the wall to give him as much room as possible.
"Good morning, Young Master Rudeus," she murmured, her voice shaking.
Rudy did not say a word. He just gave her a cold, brief nod and kept walking. It felt strange to act like a monster, but he needed to get to the courtyard first. He followed the long corridor, until he reached the doors leading out to the lower courtyard.
As he stepped out into the morning air, the sound of a loud voice reached his ears.
"You are always in the way, girl," a senior guard shouted, his hands resting on his belt. "Move your feet. The horses are coming through, and nobody has time to watch out for you."
Rudy walked closer, his eyes narrowing as he saw the girl standing near the stables. It was Bella.
She was petite, with striking silver hair that seemed to catch the morning light. Her pale face was completely still, but her dark eyes were wide and guarded. Even though the heavy guard was stepping right into her personal space, she did not back down. She stood her ground, her jaw set in a quiet, stubborn line.
"The path is wide enough for the horses and me, Captain Gerald," Bella said. Her voice was calm, but there was a hard, resentful edge to it.
"You are just an adopted burden to this family," Gerald sneered, leaning in closer. "Lord Alistair only keeps you here out of duty. Do not make me repeat myself."
Rudy felt a sudden tightness in his chest. In the novel, Bella was a deeply tragic character. Everyone in the Vance household treated her like an outcast, and the original Rudeus was always the first one to lead the abuse. Looking at her now, Rudy felt a strong urge to help her, but he had to be careful. If he acted too sweet or defensive out of nowhere, it would ruin his character profile before he could even earn any Ink from the system. He needed a different approach.
He stepped forward, making sure his boots made a loud, heavy sound on the dirt. "Is there a problem here, Gerald?"
The guard captain turned around instantly. The mean look on his face vanished, replaced by a deep, respectful bow. "Young Master Rudeus. This girl is blocking the courtyard while we prepare the carriages. I was just telling her to move along."
Bella looked up, her gaze locking onto Rudy. The moment her dark eyes met his, her entire body went perfectly rigid. Her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides, and a look of pure hatred flashed across her face.
Rudy looked at her, then turned his cold gaze back to the guard captain. He spoke in a sharp, commanding tone that left no room for argument.
"Your voice is too loud, Gerald," Rudy said, his eyes narrowing. "You are making a scene over nothing, and it is irritating my ears. Leave us."
Gerald blinked in confusion, clearly surprised that Rudy wasn't joining in to torment the girl. "But, Young Master, Lord Alistair said—"
"Did I ask what my father said?" Rudy interrupted, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper. "I told you to leave."
The captain's face flushed red with embarrassment. He bowed his head quickly, backing away toward the barracks. "Of course, Young Master. My apologies."
The courtyard became completely quiet. A light breeze blew between Rudy and Bella, kicking up a small swirl of dust. Bella did not relax at all. Instead, she took a slow step back, keeping her distance from him. Her right hand subtly dropped to the side of her dress, hiding near her waist.
Rudy noticed the small movement immediately. He knew from his knowledge of the book that she kept her forbidden magic hidden there, ready to use it to defend her life if he pushed her too far.
"What do you want from me, Rudeus?" Bella asked, her voice tight and full of suspicion. "If you're going to ruin my day, just get it over with. I am not in the mood for your games."
Rudy looked at her, feeling the heavy emotional tension in the air. He wanted to tell her that things were different now, but he couldn't break his cover yet.
"I have no games today, Bella," Rudy said smoothly. "My father wants us both. Follow me."
He turned and began walking toward the main gardens that led to the central palace, forcing her to follow him. They walked in a tense, heavy silence. As they moved, Rudy used the opportunity to study everything around him. He looked at the strange, glowing blue flowers planted along the pathways—the exact magical plants described in the novel's lore. He saw the black raven coat of arms carved into the walls.
Suddenly, Bella stopped walking. She stood in the middle of the garden path, glaring at his back.
"Stop it," she demanded, her dark eyes flashing with anger. "What is wrong with you today? You are being quiet. You are acting strange. Why did you send Gerald away?"
Rudy turned around slowly to face her. He looked at her beautiful, defensive face, knowing exactly what kind of horrible fate was waiting for her if the story stayed on track. He opened his mouth to reply, but before he could speak, a bright light flashed in his peripheral vision.
A translucent screen appeared right in front of his eyes, hovering over the clouds in the sky. It was a glowing countdown timer, and the numbers were ticking down second by second.
Bella stepped back, her hand subtly dropping to her waist where she keeps her forbidden magic hidden. "What do you want from me, Rudeus? If you're going to ruin my day, just get it over with."
Rudy didn't answer. He just stared at the translucent text hovering over the clouds: Time remaining until the World's End: 1,095 days. He looked back at Bella and thought, I have to rewrite this entire world, or we both burn.
