Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey - Chapter 1568: Everyone has their own story… a king, a soldier, a farmer… even a nobody has a role in their own story

Chapter 1568: Everyone has their own story… a king, a soldier, a farmer… even a nobody has a role in their own story

Sitting inside the restaurant that belonged to the Rosavere Company, Lackey and Secretary quietly ate their lunch.

Only the faint clinking of cutlery echoed in the private room.

Though the secretary tried to focus on her meal, her mind refused to stay still.

She was confused by Lackey’s actions.

’He even booked a private room for us… Why would he do that?’ she wondered, her fingers tightening slightly around her spoon.

Her eyes wandered around the room again, slower this time.

It wasn’t overly spacious, but it was refined, carefully arranged to give comfort without excess. The dim lighting cast a gentle glow over the polished table, and the walls muted any noise from outside, creating an intimate silence.

This was her first time stepping onto the second floor, a place she had only ever heard about in passing.

After all, the only reason she ever ate in this restaurant was because of the employee offers. Since she worked at the Rosavere Company, meals on the first floor were discounted, sometimes even free, during special occasions.

That alone had always felt like a luxury.

But this floor was different.

The second floor, especially private rooms like this… No matter who you were, you had to pay the full price.

And the dishes here… they were absurdly expensive. Even she, the Secretary, could barely afford to eat here once a month. In truth, she had never even considered coming here, nor had she ever longed to.

So why would Mr. Lackey, someone on equal standing with Rosavere, treat her to something like this?

Why?

She lived in this world of business long enough to understand one thing clearly… nothing ever came for free.

Then, like a spark falling into dry leaves, a ridiculous thought entered her mind.

A man and a woman… alone in a private room?

’D-Don’t tell me…’ Her cheeks flushed instantly, heat rising to her ears as her eyes widened.

’Shit! What should I do? I even ate the food…!’ Her gaze dropped to her plate, already half empty, as panic tightened her chest.

’Is he going to ask me to repay this… in a d-different way?’

Her imagination spiraled out of control. She pictured Lackey demanding repayment, her being cornered, forced to obey, tears slipping down like some helpless damsel trapped in a cruel story.

But she quickly shook her head, trying to scatter those thoughts. She had seen this man before. He wasn’t like that.

’No, no… he isn’t like others… he wouldn’t…’

As she slowly lifted her head—

She met his gaze.

Even behind the rabbit mask, his eyes were fixed on her.

Watching…. Waiting?

!!

She flinched slightly, her heart skipping as she noticed his plate was already empty.

’H-He finished already?’ she thought, swallowing nervously.

There was something in the way he looked at her… not aggressive, not forceful, but still… expectant.

As if he was waiting for something from her.

Trying to break the tension, Secretary forced out a small laugh, “Haha… Y-You’ve already finished… it must have been really good, right?”

Lackey tilted his head a little, his voice calm but carrying a hint of confusion. “Is it not good for you?” he asked.

“If you don’t like it, I can order something else for you.”

He was about to call the waiter—

“I… I l-like it!” she quickly interrupted, her voice coming out faster than she intended. Her cheeks turned even redder as she lowered her gaze.

“It’s good… really…”

There was a brief pause before Lackey gave a small nod, a faint smile hidden beneath his mask.

’Damn it… Why am I feeling like this?’ she screamed inwardly.

She returned to her meal, trying to focus, but it was impossible. Every few seconds, her eyes drifted back to him without her realising it. It was as if her gaze had a will of its own, drawn toward him again and again.

Each time she caught herself, she quickly looked away, only for it to happen once more.

After finishing the remaining portion on her plate, Secretary let out a soft breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly—

Burp~

Her entire body froze.

In an instant, she covered her mouth, her face burning red with embarrassment. Her posture stiffened as if she had committed an unforgivable mistake, completely forgetting how to even look at him.

“S-Sorry…” she muttered, her voice small and flustered, unable to meet his eyes.

Lackey chuckled softly, “Why sorry?” he said, a faint grin hidden beneath his mask. “That just means you liked it… didn’t it?”

The Secretary gave a shy, fleeting smile, her lips barely curving before she quickly looked down. Taking a quiet breath, she reached for her purse, fingers fumbling slightly as she opened it and began searching through it, trying to steady herself.

“So… the amount for the dishes—” she began.

“Don’t worry,” Lackey interrupted gently. “I’ll pay for it.”

She paused.

Her fingers stopped moving.

The Secretary blinked and slowly lifted her gaze from the inside of her purse, which held nothing but a few scattered coins that clinked faintly against each other.

Relief washed over her first… but it didn’t stay alone. Confusion followed right after, heavier, settling deep inside her chest.

“Then…?” she asked quietly.

Lackey leaned back slightly, “I just wanted to treat you,” he said. “Is that wrong?”

The Secretary exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around the edge of her purse before she closed it.

“Mr. Lackey…” she began, “You, of all people, should know… nothing comes for free.”

Her gaze didn’t leave him as she continued, a faint frown forming.

“Do you want me to keep an eye on Madam?”

It was the only explanation her mind could construct.

The only one that made sense in a world where every action had a price.

But Lackey simply shook his head.

“Then…?”

“I told you already,” he said, “I wanted to treat you. You looked… a little down. I thought I could cheer you up. That’s all.”

Her breath caught.

’Cheer me up…?’

The words echoed strangely in her mind, as if they didn’t belong there. Confusion wrapped around her thoughts, tightening with every second. Why would someone like him… someone even Rosavere respected… go this far for someone like her?

Her hand slowly clenched into a fist.

She knew her place.

She knew exactly what she was worth.

She knew what she was capable of… and what she was not.

She had never once dared to even stand on the same level as someone like Lackey.

And yet…

He wanted to cheer her up?

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice firm, almost defensive, as she looked away.

“I.. I’m perfectly fine.”

But inside—

’No, I’m not.’

“So tell me,” she continued, her tone sharpening as she looked back at him, “what are you really after? Is it the company’s secrets? Or… the business partners Madam manipulated?”

Her words came without hesitation, but her heart trembled behind them, ’Please don’t say it… please…’

Lackey gave a small shrug, completely unbothered. “I honestly don’t care about any of that,” he replied. “I’m just treating you—”

“LIES!!!”

The word shattered the room.

It burst out of her before she could stop it, filled with everything she had been holding back for days.

Even she froze right after, her own voice echoing in her ears.

’W-Why did I—’

Under the mask, Lackey’s lips curled slightly. “Lies?” he asked, his tone still calm. “Why would I lie to you?”

Her hands trembled as they clenched tighter, her nails pressing into her skin.

“That’s what I’m asking!” she shouted, her voice breaking at the edges. “Why would you lie to me? To someone like me? Just say what you want already… damn it!”

Her eyes shook, her vision blurring.

Why was she getting worked up over it?

She didn’t understand why she was shouting. A part of her screamed that she was being ungrateful, that she should stop, that she should apologise—

But her voice refused to listen.

“There’s no fire without fuel!” she continued, her words spilling out uncontrollably. “I know you want something, so just say it! Why are you being so nice to me? Why?”

Her breath hitched, her chest tightening painfully.

“I haven’t done anything for you… not once… s-so why do you keep helping me?”

Tears slid down her cheeks before she could stop them, her voice trembling as she looked straight at him, hurt and confusion tangled together.

“I-Is it my worthless body you’re after?” she asked, her voice trembling as one of her hands slowly moved to unbutton her top shirt, even as her heart screamed, ’P-Please stop… please leave… I-I am… I…’

After all, for a man like Lackey, someone who had been this kind to her… it had to be that, right?

Conquering a pathetic, useless woman.

“I-If that’s what you want… j-just get it over with,” she said, her voice cracking as her expression broke apart, as if something inside her had already given up on living.

Lackey stared into her empty eyes, something stirring within him, emotions threatening to rise and fracture his usual indifference.

Honestly, he had no reason to care about her feelings or what she was going through.

That was never his role.

He wasn’t someone who would stop for every woman in pain, nor did he carry the burden of saving those drowning in their own struggles.

And yet…

He had been watching her the entire day. The way she moved, the way she worked, the subtle tremble in her hands, the forced composure in her posture… she was pushing herself too hard, throwing herself into motion as if standing still would force her to face something she couldn’t bear.

That feeling… those eyes…

It reminded him of Delphine.

Delphine, who buried herself in work just to avoid facing reality.

For a fleeting moment, this woman resembled her.

Maybe that was why he had stopped?

Maybe that was why he wanted to listen?

Or perhaps… she reminded him of someone else. Someone who kept moving forward, no matter how heavy the world became. Someone who endured everything, clinging to the faint hope that, someday, a sliver of light would reach them at the end.

Her fingers moved, unbuttoning her shirt. Fabric parted, revealing the soft pink bra beneath, modestly covering her chest as she looked at him with shattered eyes.

“I-Is this… what you wanted?” she whispered, her voice hollow.

“All this time…?”

Shoos~

In an instant, Lackey was beside her.

The Secretary flinched, her body instinctively trying to pull away, but before she could move further, his hands gently but firmly pulled her shirt back together. Without hesitation, he began fastening the buttons one by one, his movements steady, precise, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

When he finished, the room fell silent again.

She stared at him, blankly at first—

Then a hollow, trembling laugh escaped her lips.

“Haha… ha… ha…” Her voice wavered, “So… my b-body isn’t even worth looking at? Haha… haha…”

Tears streamed down her face, unstoppable, as if something deep inside had finally cracked open.

Lackey looked at her quietly.

Then his hand lifted.

His fingers brushed against her cheek, gently wiping away the tears that continued to fall without pause.

He leaned slightly closer, his voice low and steady as he spoke.

“Tell me your story.”

The Secretary let out another broken laugh, shaking her head weakly.

“M-My story…? Hah… my story…” Her voice trembled, slipping between bitter amusement and pain.

“A nobody’s story? As if a useless bitch like me even has one…”

Before she could continue—

Lackey pulled her into an embrace.

Even he didn’t fully understand why.

But he knew one thing clearly… if he let her keep speaking like that, she would shatter completely, breaking into pieces that could never be put back together.

??!!

Her body stiffened instantly.

Her eyes widened as warmth wrapped around her. Not just around her body… but something deeper, something she had long forgotten how to feel.

For a moment, she struggled, her hands pushing weakly against him, trying to break free—

But his hold was steady.

And her strength… was not.

Lackey softly muttered,

“Everyone has their own story… a king, a soldier, a farmer… even a nobody has a role in their own story.

So please… don’t say such hurtful things about yourself.”

Even though the Secretary couldn’t see his face, for a fleeting second, she felt something strange… as if she had seen herself reflected within him. Not the broken version she despised, but something quieter… something that still remained.

[+4000 AP]

[+4000 AP]

[+4000 AP]

[+4000 AP]

Her lips trembled. Her eyes shook violently, tears blurring everything in front of her before they spilled over uncontrollably. Then—

She broke.

“Aaww… I… I lost… I lost everyone…” her voice collapsed into sobs, her body trembling in his arms. “My father… my mother… my family… aawwweeee…”

Lackey flinched slightly at her words, ’I see…’

The war.

It had taken everything from her.

His eyes lowered as his jaw tightened for a brief moment, teeth pressing against his lip before he let out a slow breath. His hand moved gently, fingers combing through her soft hair in a quiet, soothing rhythm as she cried, pouring out everything she had been holding back for the past two days.

She had buried herself in work to forget… to move forward… to pretend it didn’t exist.

But the more she tried to outrun it… the heavier it became.

The private room, once silent, now echoed with the raw sound of grief.

Each sob cracked through the still air… until, little by little, everything she held inside began to empty out.

And when there was nothing left to hold back—

Her voice came out fragile, broken, barely above a whisper.

“Could… could you hear my story…?”

Lackey looked down at her.

She was still hiding her face against his chest, refusing to meet his eyes, yet the tips of her ears had turned a deep red, betraying a quiet vulnerability beneath everything else.

A small, unseen smile touched his lips beneath the mask as he gave a gentle nod.

“I would love to,” he said softly. “But… please tell me your name.”

Right.

She had never told him.

For a moment, she hesitated before finally speaking, her voice gentle, almost fragile—

“My name is… Penelope.”

“…”

For a brief second, the world around him seemed to fall into stillness. His pupils widened, something sharp and unexpected flashing through his gaze.

“And this… is my story…”