“So, I was the maid, and you were my master?”
After listening to Redian’s story all night, it was already morning.
“Tell me more. What happened after that? Did we end up dating or something?”
But I didn’t feel tired at all.
Redian, who had been with me in moments I couldn’t remember, and me, who had finally recognized him. I wondered what we looked like back then.
“Don’t you remember? You fell for me at first sight and chased after me. You were so persistent.”
“…What?”
But Redian’s next words almost made me laugh out loud.
“I chased after you? No way.”
Sure, his memories were probably clearer than mine. After all, it was Redian who had entered the Sea of Ananke years ago, not me. But this is a matter of pride! I couldn’t just let it go.
“But it was you who chased me like crazy. You even said you couldn’t live without me.”
Redian smiled as if enjoying my reaction.
“It’s frustrating that I can’t show you now.”
Enough was enough!
“Look, I may not have as clear a memory as you, but I know one thing for sure.” I pushed Redian away as I sat up on the bed. “All this time, everyone has chased after me first. I’ve never been the one to fall first and chase someone!”
Wasn’t that the truth? I had been dropped into a new world as if a reset button had been pressed every year! I was even too busy figuring out how to escape this endless cycle of possession. There was no time for me to run after a man!
“When I was Rose, Duke Sevian chased me. When I was Justina, it was Count Sol. And, huh?” I could count countless men from the past, enough to fill my fingers several times over.
“…Seems like you remember quite a few men.” Redian, who had been staring intently at my fingers, commented.
Ah, right. I got carried away and crossed the line.
“Hoaaam! Anyway, I slept well today! I pretended to stretch, raising my arms into the air. “The weather’s nice today, isn’t it?” Then, I quickly walked away from the bed.
That was close. I almost ended up in a tiring situation. Because Redian was definitely someone who would just let it slide, even if it was something that happened ten or even a hundred years ago.
Wait, that painting… At that moment, my eyes landed on the frame hanging by the window. The painting of a woman staring out at the sea — a painting of me.
“Rere, by the way…”
At some point, that painting had become a natural part of the room. I hadn’t paid much attention to it before.
“Who painted this?” Suddenly curious, I asked Redian. “When did you get this painting?”
I only knew that Redian cherished it. But I didn’t know who had painted it or how it ended up here.
“Hmm, I’m not sure.” Redian, who had come closer to me, replied.
“You don’t know? Then why do you think the woman in the painting is me?”
I suppose he had some instinctive feeling, but still. Just as my soul was scattered across different worlds, my appearance changed with each one. I hadn’t even realized the woman in the painting was me until Redian pointed it out.
“I was just drawn to it at first sight.”
Redian answered as he gently embraced me from behind. His touch was strong yet soft as if he couldn’t stand even a moment of distance.
“So, of course, it had to be you, Master.”
He called me, using a title I hadn’t heard in a long time.
“Someone once told me…”
The morning sunlight streamed in through the slightly parted curtains.
“Love always leaves traces. Even if memories fade, those traces remain…”
Redian and I are looking at the same things, loving each other and sharing a life.
“…Without realizing it, we end up following those traces, feeling drawn without knowing why.”
Who would have thought that we’d spend the same nights and mornings together? When I first met him trapped as Norma, I could never have imagined these days.
“Ah, so I’m your trace?”
“Of course. I fall for you all over again every day, as if for the first time.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his smooth answer.
For some reason, I felt so happy at this moment. I didn’t know what the future held for us, but one thing was certain: Wherever I ended up, I would smile because of him. And I would fall in love with him again.
“Master!”
But the sweet, peaceful moment was short-lived.
“Francis?”
I heard a familiar voice from the garden beyond the window. When I pulled back the curtains and looked down, there was Francis.
“What are you doing here?”
It had been a while since I’d seen him. We were all so busy that it wasn’t easy to meet up. I was glad to see him, but I couldn’t help wondering why he had suddenly shown up.
“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten?”
Another voice came from across the garden path.
“Inein?”
Not just Francis, but Inein too? The warm morning breeze brought not one but two welcome guests.
“Why are both of you here? And did you finish what you were supposed to do?”
In short, it was a perfect opportunity. I was planning to take his chance to give them a good scolding.
“It’s been five years since you gathered us Norma under your command.”
But Inein’s words made my heart sink.
Ah… that’s right! I completely forgot because I was talking with Redian all night.
I have been feeling overwhelmed since yesterday. With all the paperwork and Redian constantly keeping me occupied, I hadn’t even had time to receive my usual briefings.
“Who are you calling master?” Redian muttered quietly from behind me.
“Rere, did you deliberately distract me?” I had a sudden suspicion.
Both Redian and I had been equally busy, but for the past few days, he’d been more distracting than usual.
“Those guys aren’t even Norma of Nia anymore, are they?”
Redian still didn’t like — no, still hated — that I cared for the Normas. So he must have planned this from the start, ensuring I’d forget about today’s schedule. He had tried many things to get in the way before, but this was a new tactic.
“Tell them to leave since you’re not ready yet.” Redian, who had rested his head on my shoulder, glanced down at Inein and Francis and spoke. “Or should I do it?”
I didn’t need to see his face to know he was probably wearing a smirk.
But they’re just as stubborn as Redian!
I had no choice but to cover Redian’s mouth. If I admitted I had forgotten today’s event…
“No, I didn’t forget! I’m just a little out of it because I overslept today.”
How much trouble would I be in? I could already feel the cold sweat forming on my back. At least Inein and Francis were more obedient, so that was a relief.
“This place never looks good, no matter when I come here.”
And then I heard the voice of the last one.
“As expected, this garden must reflect the taste of that… unnecessarily handsome fox hanging around you, Master. It’s really awful.”
The last to arrive was Vallentin.
“Vallentin, you have no idea how much I regret something,” Redian responded to Vallentin. “I should have just shot you in the head during training.”
“What?”
It sounded like they were growling at each other.
“Want to try now?”
“What are you gonna do about it?”
“You two, can’t you be quiet!” I shouted at them, caught in the middle.
If they were going to fight, why bother gathering in the first place? And yet, they never failed to show up so diligently.
“You’re already fighting as soon as you meet!”
Sigh, I guess this marked five years of the same old routine.
“You haven’t seen each other for a while, and now you dare to fight in front of your master?”
The never-ending battles with the Norma.
“And get to the garden, all of you.”
And these delightful, chaotic days.
The End.
Hello, Alyalia is here~
It’s almost two years since I translated IBTMOTD, and finally, this novel has ended. Thank you so much for reading and supporting this novel. I apologize for making many mistakes while translating this. Once again, I’m really grateful that you read this novel until the end. May the chapters yet unwritten hold a page where our stories converge in the novel of tomorrow~ (≧∇≦)/
If you enjoy the story, please leave a review in the Novelupdates. Thank you~
