The Great Escape

"Alison, we have prepared a corpse identical to you as requested. It will be delivered to your wedding with the Alpha in ten days."

After I paid the sorcerer and confirmed the details of the delivery once more, the tension that had gripped me for days finally eased a little.

Bidding the sorcerer farewell, I took a deep breath and returned to the lively banquet hall.

The moment I stepped inside, the once-boisterous room fell silent.

Eric Winslowe approached me, eyes filled with concern as he signed, "Alison, you were in the restroom for so long. Are you feeling unwell? I'll take you back to rest right now."

When I saw my reflection in his eyes, my heart clenched. But I forced myself to calm down as I signed back. "I'm fine. All of you can continue."

The lively atmosphere returned to the banquet hall.

Suddenly, one of Eric's friends spoke up. "Alpha, you and Alison are getting married soon. What are you planning to do with that maid of yours?"

At those words, my fingers dug into my palm, my face turning slightly pale.

Someone next to him nudged him. "Alison is right here. Watch what you say."

The man was indifferent. "So what? She can't hear, anyway. I'm just curious as to how Alpha plans to deal with his mistress."

All eyes in the room turned to Eric.

"She stays."

Eric carefully cut my lamb chop into bite-sized pieces before continuing, "She's just a pet that I have to alleviate the boredom. Alison is the only one I love. But watch your mouths, everyone. Don't blame me for getting nasty if any of you bring this up to Alison."

Eric's warning gaze swept across the crowd.

There was a brief silence before someone, unable to hold back their curiosity, asked, "Eric, since Alison can't hear and won't know about your affair, have you and that maid ever… in your home?"

He left the sentence unfinished, leaving plenty of room for imagination.

Eric chuckled. "Of course. It's… thrilling."

The banquet hall erupted into thunderous applause, with people giving him hoots of approval.

"You really know how to have fun, Eric! I'm envious!"

The raucous cheers reached my ears, and I subconsciously tightened my grip on my utensil.

No one knew that I had already regained my hearing.

Even fewer knew that I had already decided to leave.

I would not be marrying Eric.

On the day of the wedding, all that would be waiting for him was a fake corpse identical to me.