The Man She Must Avoid

Chapter 4: The Man She Must Avoid

The music swelled softly in the grand hall, elegant and refined, masking the subtle tension coiling in her chest.

She stood near the edge of the ballroom, her fingers lightly wrapped around the glass in her hand.

Half-full.

Untouched since her last sip.

Something felt… off.

Her crimson eyes scanned the crowd carefully.

Nobles laughed, danced, and whispered behind jeweled fans. Everything looked normal—perfect, even.

But her instincts refused to settle.

“…Calm down,” she murmured to herself.

“You’re safe here.”

The Wolf King would never attend such an event.

He hated crowds.

Hated unnecessary gatherings.

Hated humans.

Especially noble ones.

That’s what the novel had said.

And yet—

Her grip tightened slightly.

“Then why do I feel like this…?”

As if something—or someone—was watching her.

—

“Lost in thought?”

A gentle voice broke through her unease.

She turned, forcing a polite smile.

“My apologies. I was just—”

Her words paused as she recognized the man before her.

A noble.

Familiar face.

Someone who, in the original story, had once tried to court the villainess.

“You seem different these days,” he said, studying her with curiosity.

“Quieter.”

She gave a soft, indifferent smile.

“People change.”

The same answer she always gave.

Safe.

Distant.

Unrevealing.

He chuckled lightly. “Or perhaps… you’ve finally given up on someone?”

Her eyes flickered.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh?” He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice. “The Wolf King.”

Her heart skipped.

Just hearing that title—

It felt like a shadow passing over her.

“I heard you used to admire him greatly.”

“Used to,” she corrected calmly.

“And now?”

She met his gaze, her expression steady.

“I have better things to do than chase after a man who doesn’t even see me.”

That much was true.

Painfully true.

But this time—

It didn’t hurt.

—

Across the hall—

Hidden in the shadows of a high balcony—

A pair of golden eyes watched.

Unblinking.

Silent.

—

Back below, the noble raised an eyebrow, amused.

“That’s quite a change.”

“Is it?”

“You were obsessed once.”

Her lips curved faintly, but her eyes remained cold.

“Then consider me cured.”

He laughed softly, clearly entertained.

“Well, that’s a shame. I quite enjoyed watching you chase the impossible.”

Her expression didn’t change.

But inside—

She felt nothing.

No embarrassment.

No anger.

Only relief.

“I no longer find amusement in self-destruction.”

She set her glass down on a nearby table.

“And if you’ll excuse me…”

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away.

—

Her steps were calm.

Measured.

But her thoughts were not.

“That was too close…”

Even speaking about him made her uneasy.

As if just saying his name could summon him.

Ridiculous.

And yet—

Her heart wouldn’t stop racing.

—

She moved toward a quieter part of the hall, away from the crowd.

The air felt slightly cooler there.

Easier to breathe.

For a moment—

The uneasiness faded.

“…See?” she whispered softly. “Nothing’s going to happen.”

Three years.

She had gone three years without seeing him.

There was no reason tonight would be any different.

—

Above—

The golden eyes narrowed slightly.

Locked onto her retreating figure.

A faint, almost inaudible growl echoed in the darkness.

Low.

Dangerous.

Possessive.

—

Back below—

She exhaled slowly, trying to relax.

Maybe she really had been overthinking everything.

Maybe fate wasn’t as unchangeable as she once believed.

Maybe—

A strange warmth spread through her body.

Her breath hitched.

“…What…?”

Her fingers twitched slightly.

The feeling was subtle at first.

Almost unnoticeable.

But then—

It grew.

Heat.

Slow.

Creeping.

Unnatural.

Her brows furrowed.

“No…”

Her gaze snapped toward the table she had just left.

The glass.

The drink.

Her heartbeat quickened.

“Don’t tell me…”

A wave of dizziness hit her.

Her vision blurred for a split second.

Her body felt… strange.

Light.

Weak.

Burning.

“That drink…”

Her lips parted slightly.

“I only had one sip…”

But it was enough.

—

Panic surged through her veins.

Not again.

Not like this.

Not the same way it happened in the story.

“No… I avoided it… I changed it…”

Her breathing became uneven.

“So why—?”

Her legs felt unsteady.

The room suddenly seemed too bright.

Too loud.

Too suffocating.

“I need to leave…”

Now.

Before it got worse.

Before—

Before she lost control.

—

Above—

The golden eyes gleamed.

Watching.

Waiting.

As if anticipating something inevitable.

—

She staggered slightly as she made her way toward the exit.

Her steps no longer steady.

Her thoughts no longer clear.

The warmth inside her body turned into fire.

Spreading.

Consuming.

Her fingers clenched tightly against her dress.

“…Someone… drugged me…”

The realization hit her like a blade.

But why?

Who would dare—

Unless—

Her eyes widened slightly.

A trap.

But for what?

For whom?

—

Her heart pounded louder.

Faster.

Stronger.

As if something deep within her was responding to something else—

Something nearby.

Something dangerous.

—

And far above—

In the darkness—

The Wolf King slowly stood.

His golden eyes glowing with a wild, untamed light.

Locked onto her.

As if he had finally found something—

Or someone—

He could never let go of.

—

Below—

She reached the doors.

Her vision spinning.

Her body trembling.

“I just need to get out…”

But fate—

Was already pulling her in the opposite direction.

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