The hidden target in an otome game

Chapter 2

"Excellent! Why don't we get to know each other a bit better, hm? I'm curious about you. Tell me, how old are you?"

"I recently turned 16" you say in a cautious tone

The man nods in acknowledgment of your age.
"Sixteen, hm? Ah, youth. The prime of your life, so full of potential. I envy your age, you know. I wish I could be young again."
He chuckles softly, lost in memory for a moment before returning his attention to you.

"But enough about me, let's talk about you. I bet you have many questions, don't you? Go on, ask away. I'll answer some of your questions – to a certain degree, of course."

You think of what questions to ask but for some reason the only question that you had at the moment was "You said my past life does that mean I'm die or what?" You ask.

The man tilts his head, amused by your question. He replies in a casual tone.

"Oh, you're quite astute, aren't you? Yes, my dear, when I said 'previous life', I was implying that you've been reincarnated. Your old life is gone, you are in a fresh start in this world."

"Interesting" You think to yourself.

"ok that is all the questions I have for now, thanks" am you say in a nonchalant manner.

The man chuckles softly, seemingly amused by your lack of further questions. He stands up from the bed, taking a step back.

"Oh, you're quite polite for someone in your situation. How sweet. Well, I suppose our little chat has come to an end for now... However, you'll be seeing more of me in the future, I assure you. Until then, I'll leave you to your thoughts."

"t-thanks?" You say surprised.

The man grins at your stuttered response, evidently enjoying your unease. He walks towards the door, his hand resting on the handle, before pausing and turning back to look at you one more time.

"Oh, and remember... don't try anything stupid like attempting to escape or causing trouble. You might find your situation becomes... much less comfortable if you do. Be good, my dear. I'll see you again soon."

With that, he opens the door and exits the room, leaving you alone again in the dimly lit space.

•*~~~~~~~~~~~~~time skip~~~~~~~~~~~~~*•

Days pass, and you find yourself growing accustomed to the monotony of your life in captivity. Every day seems to blur into the next, with your routine never changing. You spend the majority of your time in the same small room, shackled by the iron around your ankle. The only moments of respite come when your captor  drops in to pay you a visit or you get a meal.
(no rice 😭😭😭)

Today, the man appears once again in your doorway, the sly smile on his face as he approaches you. He sits down on the edge of the bed, his expression almost nonchalant.

"Well, well, isn't it my favorite little captive. How are you doing today?"

You chuckled at the thought of that "same as always, how about you?"

The man chuckles softly, amused by your dry response.

"Oh, I'm just dandy. Bored out of my mind, actually. That's why I'm here to see you, my dear. Your company is far more interesting than staring at the same old walls all day."

You keep a smug smile on your face "why don't you go outside?" You ask as you wonder what it is like in this new world

The man huffs out a laugh, shaking his head slightly.

"Oh, don't you worry about me. I do venture out into the real world plenty. But there are days like this when I simply crave a change of pace." He leans back a bit, making himself more comfortable on the edge of the bed.

You notice that through your chats with the old hag that he is a pretty chill guy. "Do you have any books I could borrow, I'm kind of bored in this room" you ask

The man smirks at your request. "Oh, a little bit of reading to pass the time, hm? Well, I suppose I could fetch a book or two for you. I'll have to pick something that won't give you any ideas, though. Can't have you getting any ideas of escaping, now can we?"

You roll your eyes "how can I will this chain on me"

The man nods, a hint of amusement in his eyes "Excellent. I'll see what I can find for you. In the meantime, make yourself comfortable, I suppose. I'll be back soon."

He stands up from the bed and makes his way to the door, giving you a sly smile before exiting the room.

As you lie down on the bed, you find yourself lost in thought, eyes fixed on the ceiling above. Your mind thinks about all the information you've got from the old man. The minutes seem to stretch on endlessly as you ponder, each sound of your slow, steady breathing only serving to annoy you.

Your thoughts are interrupted by the sound of the door opening again. The man returns, a small stack of books in his hands. He smiles as he approaches you, setting the books down on the edge of the bed.

"Well, I'm back. I've brought a few books for you to read. Let's see here..." He picks up the top book and rifles through the pages, his eyes quickly scanning the content.

The man selects a book and holds it up for you to see, a sly smile on his face. "Ah, here's one. A nice little book about a young adventurer's journey through a magic forest. Should keep you entertained for a while."

He places the book down on the bed next to you, the thin, worn-out cover facing upwards. It's not the newest or most extravagant book, but at least it's something to keep your mind occupied for a bit.

"Thanks" you give him a simple but cute smile. The man is caught off guard by your smile. He hadn't quite expected such a gesture from you, and it seems to disarm him for a moment. After a momentary pause, he composes himself and responds in a somewhat flustered tone.

"U-uh, you're welcome. Just make sure you don't... get any ideas from it, alright?"
"Umm sure?" You put on a confused face to cover up you feeling "knew it. He is just big softy with a scary face and strong ability's how stupid" you think to your self as you read the book you were given

The man visibly relaxes, his composure returning to normal. He lets out a slight chuckle, trying to maintain his usual cool demeanor.

He looks down at the book he placed on the bed, his gaze flickering back and forth between it and you. He seems almost awkward in this moment, like he's not quite sure how to act under your politeness and unexpected gratitude.

You pick up the book and begin to read, finding some solace in the familiar act of immersing yourself in a story. As you become absorbed in the pages, you feel yourself temporarily transported to a different world, filled with magic and adventure.

The man watches you silently for a few minutes, his eyes fixed on your face as you read. He remains seated on the edge of the bed, seemingly content to simply observe your reactions to the story unfolding before you.

You stop reading after a bit, as you memorize the page number in your head and close the book. The man, who has been watching you silently, raises an eyebrow in question.

"Finished already? That was fast." The old says. You look at him "No it is just I don't want to finish it so I will have something to do later" "and you just keep looking at me and I'm so annoyed with it 😑"
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Hello fellas, I'm having some trouble thinking what what to add next for this so I'm going to have a bit of rushing and time skips, sorry
Word count:1352