This Maniac Is Fond Of Me

Chp 6: His Birthday Night

The moonlight shone dimly at midnight, and I was captivated by it as I looked up through the large window beside the quiet, empty hallway.

The party ended over an hour ago, but it's still early to me since I usually sleep late in the real world.

The information Rio just told me by the water fountain is still hammering in my head, along with the incident involving Gilbert and the gunshot...

I sighed deeply as I started to walk down the hallway toward the kitchen.

**I'm hungry...**

Thankfully, I stored some homemade chocolate cake in the kitchen (I hid it, of course, since it's kind of illegal to bring food from outside without the permission of the head chefs or the royal members).

Apparently, it was 'me' who made this chocolate cake back in the place where I first woke up in this game—that was my 'home,' or so Rio said.

I held a candle in a cup as I made my way to the kitchen since it's night, and everyone is supposed to be asleep by now.

When I reached the kitchen, I tiptoed in, checking my surroundings to make sure the coast was clear. Once it was, I opened a mini door at the edge of the shelves where the utensils were stored.

"Voilà! My cake!" I whispered as I held out a mini box with the chocolate cake, jumping up and down excitedly.

I was silently enjoying the cake on the counter when I heard footsteps from the hallway.

**WHAT THE—**

I immediately jumped off my seat and hid under the table with my cake.

**DANG IT!**

**Why am I so—**

I narrowed my eyes, biting my lips nervously as the footsteps grew louder and louder with each step, until they suddenly went silent.

"Dearie me! Good to see you again," a voice said, leaning down beside me, laughing with that same unreadable smile plastered on his face.

Clavis.

**OUGHHHWAA THANK GOODNESS.**

"You scared me! I thought it was someone else for a second," I groaned deeply as I stood up from under the table.

"Haha! Who did you think I was? The guy in all black, just now?" Clavis laughed casually, being the gentleman he is, lending me a hand to help me stand after I cramped my leg while squatting under the table.

**In all black... Did he mean Gilbert?**

**Didn't he leave the party already?**

"Black?" I questioned him, even though I already knew who he was talking about.

"Oh, never mind. I was just joking about that." He shrugged it off, ignoring my question, and proceeded to sit on a chair opposite me at the counter.

"Why are you here at this late hour, Your Highness? Aren't you supposed to be asleep?" I asked as I placed the cake plate on the table.

"I should be the one asking you that first, lady." He leaned on the table, resting his face on one of his arms, still locking his gaze on me with that smile—almost a smirk, to be exact.

"You answer me first, then I'll answer you."

"Pfft, okay then." Clavis nodded, then closed his eyes as he leaned back against the chair again. "Today is a very special day for me, so I thought I'd take a short break from work by wandering around the castle." He sighed softly, looking up at the ceiling with a forced smile.