Chapter 176 - From 0 To 100

(This chapter is back to Seri's perspective)

Millie grabbed me from behind as she held the knife to my throat. I gulped as I looked down at the knife that was already touching my throat. I could see my own frightened eyes in the reflection. Her laughter echoed off of the stone walls.

"Did you really think I would let you go?" Her voice no longer had any trace of gentleness as it had always held. Instead, it seemed crazed and unstable. My brain still hadn't been able to process the current situation. These are the things I know so far:

1. I have a knife held to my throat.

2. Millie has a dungeon.

3. Millie is the one holding a knife to my throat.

Since when has Millie been so aggressive?! Even if I didn't have a knife to my throat, I still wouldn't be able to get out of her grip. She held my arm in a way where I couldn't move it without feeling a sharp pain. I'm sure that she could easily break my arm if she wanted to.

Maybe I should have taken martial arts lessons in my other world...

William and Dante stood across from us with serious expressions. William held up his hands, "Millie... Just take it easy."

"Shut up you fat f*ck." Millie spat back vehemently.

My mouth dropped more. Did my sweet angel Millie just swear?! Could it be that I have corrupted Millie?!

William was irritated by this, but he was also too frightened to try and anger her. He spoke calmly, "What are you doing Millie? Don't you realize you are threatening Seri right now? Are you trying to hurt her?"

I felt Millie hesitate. I can't help but admire how well William acts in a hostage situation. Atta boy William! Keep it up! I'm sure you can talk her down in no time!

"Don't make me laugh." She held the blade closer to my throat. I felt a sharp pain where the blade touched. My neck began to feel a bit moist from the pressure. I tried not to breathe in fear that my jugular would be slashed.

Nevermind. I take it back. William isn't helping the situation at all!

Her crazed smile flashed in the darkness, "You should stop worrying about Seri and worry more about yourselves. Do you really think I will just let you two go?! HAH! I've been waiting for an opportunity like this for forever!"

William frowned slightly. Next to him, Dante was seething with anger. He went to grab his sword and Millie cut in, "Uhuh! Don't even dare. As soon as you pull that sword out, I will cut her throat."

Dante froze. Even with his skill, he couldn't get Millie in time before she cut my throat. William recognized this as well. He spoke calmly, "Okay Millie. We will do whatever you want. Just don't act irrational."

Her laughter echoed off the walls, "Irrational?! Who is acting irrational!?"

Oh god. I'm dead. Millie's gone off the deep end.

She tilted her head and motioned to a prison cell, "You two go in that cell and lock yourselves in. I will deal with you later."

They slowly walked over never once looking away from Millie and I. William spoke, "Millie. Think this through. You're not going to get away with hurting any of us. If you stop now, we can pretend nothing ever happened."

They locked the door and she giggled, "I'm not too concerned."

William's face was serious, "I'm the Prince, Millie. This is really serious."

Millie spoke scornfully, "I know you are the Prince William. How could I forget that?"

Dante spoke in a cold voice, "Why are you doing this."

Millie smiled, "For far too long you all were so close to Seri. I needed to pull you all apart from her. So I tricked Seri into getting angry with Mary. I thought that she would hate both Dante and Mary for dating behind her back, but I had no idea she and Artie would actually confront them about it. I also had criminals kidnap Mary to torture her and kill her, but Seri stopped that as well."

She continued, "I tricked Seri into ruining Lucius's reputation. I wanted you all to fear and despise her. However, not only did she solve the matter, but she made his original situation better! I was also the one who pushed the bookcase on Mary. I thought that everyone would blame Seri. I thought Dante would even get angry with her. However, no one even cared! No matter how many terrible rumors I started, no one cared! Why wouldn't anyone cast her away?!"

William spoke in an even tone, "That's because Seri is special."

Millie glared at him, "How dare you act so mighty. Do you think you weren't included in my plans? I convinced Penelope to speak with you at the party and turn your attention to Seri and Simon." She broke into laughter, "You acted magnificently. Much better than my expectation. I didn't know you would get so upset that you would actually cause a scene and make Seri cry!"

William looked surprised and hurt, "You were the one who tricked me into getting angry with Seri?!"

Millie chuckled, "It was me. I was behind everything."

They all looked at me waiting for my reaction. I was staring off into space with a bored expression. I looked back at them when I noticed them staring. "Huh? Oh! Gasp! It was you Millie?!"

William looked at me in disbelief, "Why aren't you surprised?!"

I smiled innocently, "Whaaat? No. I am surprised. I'm like super surprised."

Millie frowned behind me, "You knew everything..." Millie knew I had discovered her at the party, but she didn't know I had known much more.

I shrugged, "Well... To be fair, I didn't know you were behind the kidnapping of Mary..."

William asked, "But Millie, why would you do all of that? Why would you go so far to isolate Seri?"

The room got quiet. I waited to hear the answer I knew all along. Millie was in love with William. That's why she treated me this way. She wanted to get rid of the competition. Unfortunately, that included me.

Millie answered in a manic voice, "Because I LOVE Seri!"

I nodded in understanding, "Right. You love-" I froze instantly as her words sunk in. I shrieked, "Wait?! WHAT!? No! You love William!"

The three of them all looked at me simultaneously with a stupefied expression. William's voice cracked, "WHAT?!"

Millie showed her disgust, "Why would I love William?! That's repulsive!"

I blinked in confusion, "Wait... But haven't you been doing all that because you like William and wanted him all to yourself?!"

William shouted feeling aggrieved, "What gave you that idea?!"

"Well... Because she would always try to make you jealous by cuddling me..."

William was speechless. Dante's cold voice answered for him, "She was marking her territory."

My face twitched. Did they think she was some kind of dog?!

Millie sighed, "Seri... You really are extremely dense..."

Dense?! Okay, it's not my fault I didn't see THIS coming! Who the hell wants a person so bad that they are willing to kidnap, kill, and go to all these extremes just to get them? Can you really blame me for not seeing this outcome?!

I closed my eyes trying to think, "So wait... The reason why you pushed the bookcase and got Penelope to scream at me wasn't because you hated me, but because you loved me?"

Her voice was tender in my ear, "Of course! I would never hate you Seri... I love you way too much!"

"But why would you kidnap me?!"

If it was true that she loved me, then I can understand why she would try to get rid of Dante and William. But why am I also being dragged into this?! Nothing about this situation makes sense!

Millie giggled, "That's because I have to kill you."

My head was swimming, "Kill me?!"

Millie spoke in an innocent voice, "Yes. That's the only way you can belong to me."

This b*tch is crazy!!!

Kill me? How can she say she loves me, but she also has to kill me? And what the hell does she even mean about belonging to her?! Is this normal?!?

My face twitched, "Millie... That makes no sense."

She held me tighter. I held my breath as I felt the sharp blade dig in a little deeper. She giggled, "It makes perfect sense! It is the ultimate form of love to die at your true love's hands. Oh, but don't worry. You won't have to worry about what happens to your body. I have figured out how to prevent it from decaying!"

...That's the least of my worries.

She continued, "Just imagine it. Your porcelain body in my arms... Forever asleep... Forever peaceful... For all of eternity... Doesn't that just seem heavenly?"

No. That sounds f*cking crazy.

Sh*t! What can I do?! It's obvious Millie went off the deep end. In this situation, I feel like I'm going to die no matter what. William and Dante are locked in a cell and there's no way they could help me now. It's not like I can fight Millie either... She has a f*cking knife to my throat!

Sh*t! Think! Come on Seri! Think!

My eyes lit up. My lip trembled and my eyes grew teary. I sniffed, "Millie... That sounds wonderful."

William, "WHAT?!"

Dante, "...What."

"What?" Millie blinked confused by what I just said. She furrowed her brow, "Are you making fun of me?"

I spoke quickly, "No! Just now what you said... It's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard!"

Millie's grip on the knife weakened slightly. She looked around confused by this situation, "It.. It is?"

I continued, "It is! I had no idea you loved me so much... I think.. Well, I think if someone loved you so much that they were willing to kill you to be with you in death, then it would definitely be true love..."

William shouted, "SERI!? What are you talking about?! Don't you realize how serious the situation is?!"

I ignored him, "Millie... I would very much like to die by your hands."

"You would?!" All three shouted in unison.

Millie pulled the knife away slightly. Her face twisted, "I feel... I feel confused..."

I spoke, "What's there to be confused about? I'm saying that I accept your love."

Her voice softened, "You... You do?" She dropped the blade from my throat slightly.

I nodded, "I do. And I want you to know... I love you too."

She smiled with tears forming in her eyes, "Oh Seri! I just knew you did! I knew it!"

I gently grabbed her wrist holding the blade and turned to face her. I gave her a warm smile, "Can I just have a hug before you kill me?"

She nodded with an extremely happy expression, "Of course! Of course!"

I hugged her tightly and felt her hug me back. I could feel the knife now pointed away from me.

She sobbed gently in my ear, "Oh Seri! I love you so much! I really do!"

I smiled as I felt her loosen up, "I love you too Millie... But..."

Her eyes opened, "But?"

I whispered, "But I don't intend to die anytime soon."

I punched her stomach with all my strength. She gasped as the wind was knocked out of her. I felt her body go limp as I caught her in my arms. I gently placed the unconscious Millie on the ground.