Edited by Deborah
Instead of running away, I approached Kiverin.
“Master Kong, I’m Cheria.”
Kiverin, who was sitting down, suddenly stood up.
“Uh… weren’t you with someone else?”
“They, they went back. They’re… quite shy.”
So quickly? I didn’t hear any sound.
Suddenly, I noticed a mound of soil protruding under Kiverin‘s feet. There was a hole like a small animal had dug into it.
“It’s not a person, but an animal?”
Was it the molting he mentioned earlier?
Kiverin, visibly uneasy, avoided my gaze.
“Is it something strange…?”
It’s an animal, right?
I quickly opened my mouth.
“Not at all strange.”
I meant it.
I used to talk to myself a lot when I raised a dog in my past life.
The two big eyes that had grown looked at me.
“Do you have any thoughts about taking that animal to the mansion? It seems to follow Master Kong well.”
What kind of animal digs holes and molts?
I looked around.
Kiverin shook his head hesitantly.
“At the moment, even if it molts again while small… it will grow bigger.”
If it’s the duke’s estate, there might even be a dragon as big as a mountain present.
“Aren’t you worried about living well without Master Kong?”
“I-I’m sturdy, so it’s okay.”
If you say it like that.
On the other hand, Cheria, who is not so sturdy, sat down on the ground.
It’s so hard.
“Can I sit for a moment? My calves hurt.”
“I can… heal you!”
“Not healing, just lend me your shoulder.”
Even if scales grow on your face.
With a firm refusal, Kiverin sat down next to me.
Countless silver hairs gently touched my side as I leaned on Kiverin.
“Does the duke’s estate have a beautiful garden like this?”
“Y-yes! There’s a garden… and a forest. Uh, it’s really big.”
“…”.
Kiverin stretched out both arms to indicate the size.
“I… can’t go to the forest anymore….”
“Huh? Why not?”
“I can’t wander around. P-people find it scary.”
“….”
I was at a loss for words.
Kiverin knew his situation too well.
“B-but it’s okay. Because I’m not alone, it’s really okay…”
The sunlight sparkled through the leaves.
I glanced at Kiverin, adjusting my posture slightly.
In Kiverin‘s golden eyes, the dry scent of sunlight seemed to emanate.
“If it becomes okay later, tell me. Then I’ll take you to the forest. Or anywhere else you’d like.”
“Anywhere else…?”
“Yes, anywhere. Just let me know!”
Then Kiverin, as if gathering courage, asked.
“I’m curious about Lady Cheria’s family.”
“….”
Uh, that’s a bit…
I recalled the Mayall Viscount’s mansion, where trashy people gathered.
And I realized.
Cheria Mayall‘s biggest weakness was none other than her family!
Come to think of it, even if I solidified my position in the duke’s mansion, it was still a problem!
Avoiding a Happy Ending by avoiding the role of the villainess in “The Villainess Hates Money” wasn’t the solution.
If my birth parents, who had calculated my worth right after giving birth to a saintess, heard about me, they would undoubtedly contact me.
Now, they would probably spout nonsense like wanting to repay the favor of raising me or not wanting to sell me.
Of course, I had no intention of forgiving my birth parents even if they regretted their decision.
“Th-this won’t work….”
Kiverin, who misunderstood my silence, looked downhearted.
I quickly clarified.
“It’s not like that! I just don’t like my family! Our relationship is bad!”
“….”
Kiverin, whose family relationship was not harmonious for different reasons, looked puzzled.
Ugh. I confessed the truth.
“In reality, I was sold to the duke’s mansion. Since I’m not a Saintess like my sister and don’t have any money-making potential, my parents….”
Uh, how do I finish this sentence?
Should I also talk about how much I was sold for?
At that moment, Kiverin‘s head tilted slightly.
“…No.”
“What?”
“I just wanted to get to know you… It’s not that I’m curious. I…”
Kiverin furrowed his eyebrows.
It seemed like he felt frustrated with his slow speech.
I was planning to wait quietly, but suddenly there was a rustling sound from the grass.
“Miss! Lady Cheria! Are you here?”
Oh, it’s Mera’s voice.
“Mera! I’m here!”
Ugh, my legs are still numb.
I reached out my hand to Kiverin.
“Master Kong, can you help me up?”
However, Kiverin‘s hand passed by mine without stopping.
Without hesitation, Kiverin picked me up like Winter, lifting me up.
Then, he brushed off the dirt on my skirt.
What, what just happened?
I felt a surge of strength just now?!
Even though I experienced it myself, I was still surprised.
Meanwhile, Mera and another maid appeared.
“Miss! Master Kong is with you too! We heard that you went deep into the garden alone, so we got worried and followed you. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“….”
“Miss Cheria?”
“Uh, I’m fine.”
I nodded belatedly.
Mera said in a sullen tone, “Did I make it tough for you? Just because you eat a lot doesn’t mean you’ll recover quickly… I’m sorry. There won’t be such incidents again. Will you forgive me?”
An angel asking for forgiveness from a suspected arsonist!
My dazed mind suddenly snapped back.
“Mera didn’t do anything wrong to me! I don’t mind her worrying about me at all. I’m really grateful.”
Worried that words might not be enough, I playfully ran to Mera and hugged her tightly.
…Is my height really this small?
The moment I stuck to Mera like a cicada, I realized that my stature fell far below the average ten-year-old.
“Oh my… I’m grateful too, miss.”
Touched by Mera’s angelic gesture, she comforted me.
“Let’s go back to the mansion. There’s something I want to show you, miss.”
“Yes!”
I grabbed Mera’s offered hand and, with my other hand, reached into the air and held Kiverin‘s hand.
Mera’s words about me going deep into the garden were true.
It was fortunate that I sat down for a moment.
I almost collapsed on the way back.
Mera took me to a room in the mansion.
“This is the room you’ll be using, miss. We just finished decorating it.”
I widened my eyes in surprise at the unexpected gift.
Since I was going to leave as a villainess soon, did I really need my own room?
I initially thought it would be fine to just stay in Kiverin‘s bedroom.
…But, upon entering and inspecting the room, I couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.
“Wow….”
It was a room exuding a warm and cozy atmosphere.
Sunlight poured in from the window like a shower of gemstones.
The bed was just the right size for me, covered with a plush lilac-colored blanket as a decorative touch.
I marveled at the charming tea table and desk.
Though I initially considered staying in Kiverin‘s bedroom, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the room’s interior.
However, as I admired the room, I suddenly questioned whether I really needed it.
Since I would soon leave as the villainess, did I truly require my own room?
But as I inspected the room, admiration escaped from my lips.
“Woow….”
The room exuded a warm and cozy feeling.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, resembling scattered jewels.
The bed was just the right size for me, adorned with a soft lilac-colored comforter.
I gazed at the charming tea table and desk in wonder.
Suddenly, I lifted my head to inspect the ceiling, and it was as immaculate as freshly fallen snow.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes! It’s not an attic, and there are no cleaning tools or cobwebs!”
“Oh my… Why would the Mayall Viscount have such a lovely young lady…”
Mera muttered in amazement.
Even though Winter, the real owner of the Mayall Viscount, might not have had any intention of revealing my unfortunate past to Mera, I found myself unable to avoid the topic.
“Th-the Mayall Viscount’s residence was also comfortable to live in!”
I hurriedly tried to salvage the situation, but it was futile.
Mera, with tears in her eyes, embraced me.
“In the Mayall Viscount’s residence, only good things will happen, miss. I will do my best to protect you with all my strength.”
“I’ve just been a burden…”
“It’s all okay now. You don’t have to say it; I understand. You endured so admirably, our miss.”
Mera spoke with a gentle voice as if understanding the difficulty I had faced without me having to express it.
Eventually, I gave up on explaining and quietly nestled into Mera’s embrace.
For the first time in the current possession, I received affection that I had never experienced before.
As soon as I realized this fact, a single tear rolled down my cheek.
“Uh… Oh my…”
I quickly wiped away the tears.
But my hands were trembling.
Strange. Isn’t my harmony with Cherria too high?
At this rate, it seems more like I haven’t possessed Cherria but just recalled the memories from my past life as Cherria.
No, no, that doesn’t make sense.
I rubbed my eyes more vigorously.
And then, I buried my head in Mera’s embrace.
After dinner and receiving an examination from Yelena, the day came to an end.
In a rare moment of solitude, I lay under the blanket, rolling my head.
Cherria’s past seemed to overlap with my own, and her thoughts felt like my own. At the moment, I couldn’t figure out the reason behind this phenomenon.
So, I moved on to the next issue.
What could the gift from Menelik be?
And even though I’m not in a situation to receive favors, should I not offer some gratitude?
