IBTMOTD Chapter 195

Hmm, come to think of it, I guess I owe Duke Richard a favor.

 

I finally began to reflect on what had happened in the meeting room. In the end, Richard must have seen everything. To be precise, the moment when I subtly gave Dave the correct answer while pretending to place down the teacup.

 

Why did he pretend not to notice?

 

I suddenly felt puzzled. He could have easily called me out on it if he wanted to. But why did Richard remain silent until the end? Moreover, he even sided with Dave against Viscount Rawls…

 

“What I’m saying is, I hope you spend each day without regrets, Milord.”

 

Anyway, that wasn’t the most pressing issue right now.

 

“You’re the most significant trace your late parents left behind in this world.”

 

Shaking off my thoughts about Richard, I spoke to Dave.

 

“And someday, when you meet your parents again in another world, don’t you want to show them how proud you’ve become?”

 

“…”

 

Dave didn’t respond to my words. But as I looked into the boy’s eyes, I became sure of one thing. That from today on, the future of Dave and the Everet family would begin to change.

 

“So does that mean you and I too?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Just as I was about to coax Dave to get up, he asked a sudden question.

 

“If what you said is true, will we meet again in another world too?”

 

“You mean me and Milord?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Um… I guess it’s possible?”

 

To be honest, even I didn’t know for sure. How many times would I have to repeat this possession? Could I really meet Dave again in another world?

 

“Then, will you help me again, just like you did today?”

 

Ah, so that’s what he was curious about.

 

“Yes, of course.” I nodded, trying to suppress a smile.

 

Dave, glancing around as he asked, looked quite adorable.

 

“But what if you don’t remember me at all? What would you do then?”

 

I barely remembered Dave from the original story, who had gone down a dark path.

 

“How does this ‘trace on the soul’ you talked about even work?”

 

“Well… maybe we could create some kind of ‘signal’ so I can recognize you?”

 

“A signal?”

 

Of course, I already knew. Even if we did that, I probably wouldn’t be able to recognize him. Besides, nothing was certain. I didn’t know how many more worlds there would be or if I would ever meet Dave in one of them again.

 

“Um, how about a name?”

 

“A name…?”

 

“In your next life, how about being called ‘Vallentin’? I think it would suit Milord well.”

 

After a brief moment of consideration, I suggested the name. Naming him felt like making a promise across the world.

 

“Well, it sounds a bit old-fashioned, but fine. In my next life, my name will be Vallentin.”

 

I saw it—Dave, who had been grumbling, gave a slight smile.

 

“Alright, then it’s a promise!”

 

“You promised too! If you meet someone named Vallentin in another world, you have to remember and help me.”

 

Vallentin, Vallentin…

 

“Got it?”

 

“Yes, alright. Vallentin.”

 

I nodded, repeating the name over and over. But I would probably forget even this, just like everything else.

 

“I’ll definitely recognize you and help you, just like I did today.”

 

Still, I hoped another trace would be etched somewhere, like in my body and soul, in my world.

 

* * *

What kind of situation is this now?

 

Up until then, I thought everything was going well. After all, I had gotten rid of Viscount Rawls and even managed to get close to the prickly Dave! But…

 

“Sepiana, you’re here. You should go and greet him.”

 

A few days later in the morning, the butler pointed to a man standing in the distance.

 

“Why is he here…?”

 

“He’s agreed to be guardian of the young master and the Everet family from today, so you should consider him your new master and be polite.”

 

I had to blink several times to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.

 

Is that really Duke Richard? …Wait, what? Why on earth did he become my master? What kind of ridiculous nonsense is this about guardianship?

 

“But butler, wasn’t the guardianship rejected at the last meeting?” I quickly asked the butler.

 

“Ah, the emperor himself gave the order?”

 

“What? The emperor?”

 

“Yes. Apparently, the Duke personally told His Majesty that he wanted to become guardian of the Everet family.”

 

The emperor? That meant there was nothing I could do about it now. Moreover, it all happened in just one day!

 

“This is great news for us. With Duke Richard as our guardian, neither Viscount Rawls nor any other families can threaten us.”

 

But the butler, oblivious to my turmoil, spoke with satisfaction.

 

“It seems the duke was impressed with the young master and our Everet family that day/ I’ve heard he doesn’t usually get involved in such matters.”

 

I barely had time to sigh in disbelief.

 

“So what happens to us now?”

 

It was clear that my plans had gone awry since the duke had taken control of the Everet family. I had intended to prevent anyone from meddling with Dave, be it Viscount Rawls or anyone else! But Richard wouldn’t just leave the Everet family alone. A major purge was inevitable.

 

“Well, probably half of us will survive, and the other half will disappear. The duke said he would get rid of anyone he found useless.”

 

See? I knew it. My prediction was spot on!

 

So that’s why he pretended not to notice anything in the meeting room. I had sensed something was off, and now everything made sense. Since I had basically helped Dave cheat right in front of Richard, I’d probably be the first to get fired. If that happened, I’d lose my connection to Dave and wouldn’t even be able to prevent his downfall, let alone change the original story. And right now, I have neither money nor anything else.

 

Ugh, what’s that guy’s problem?

 

As my mind was in a whirlwind,

 

“Sepiana?”

 

“Oh my, Your Grace!” The butler suddenly bowed in greeting toward someone.

 

“There you are.”

 

Before I knew it, Richard was standing right in front of me.

 

“You’ve already heard from the butler, right?”

 

“…Yes?”

 

The man, Duke Richard, was speaking directly to me, a mere maid.

 

“From now on, the Everet family will be under the protection of the Richard family. You could also call it guardianship.”

 

For a moment, I wondered how he even knew my name. But my sharp intuition quickly told me the truth. I’m going to get fired, aren’t I?

 

I felt like crying as the situation unfolded before me. How much did he want me gone that he came to fire me personally?

 

“And you will be the young master’s personal tutor starting today.”

 

But then…

 

“Huh? I’m going to be the young master’s tutor?”

 

I couldn’t believe my ears. This was like… ‘A maid suddenly becomes a tutor overnight?’ or something like that.

 

“Y-Your Grace. Sepiana only joined us recently. Plus, she was hired as a maid, so she’s hardly qualified to be the young master’s tutor…” The butler spoke, voicing my own thoughts.

 

Yes, exactly! Of course, I had once been a renowned tutor on the continent, but that was different from here!

 

“Well.” Richard, with a strange smile, opened his mouth. “She seems perfectly capable to me. Hasn’t she already been a great help to the Everet family?”

 

“W-What do you mean by that?”

 

The butler looked confused while my eyes met Richard’s.

 

Wait a minute. This feels like…

 

His gaze on me felt strangely peculiar. I was starting to understand the meaning behind it.

 

Is he upset with me for something?

 

Well, I’ve lived through so many lives that I couldn’t remember everything. However, did I do something wrong to him in a past life?

 

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