The scene of the Marisen central street we descended to was truly enchanting.
It wasn’t as grand as the bustling capital, but the unique atmosphere made it feel like I was on a trip abroad, naturally lifting my spirits.
“Ian, how about this?”
“Do you like it? Let’s buy it.”
“No, I didn’t mean for you to buy it.”
“It suits you.”
Ian was unusually assertive, almost as if he was determined to continue the date we didn’t finish last time.
He was sincerely escorting me and playing along with every little thing I did.
Should I say he’s learned well?
Watching him as his gaze remained fixed on me, I felt a mixture of unease and excitement, and I subtly turned my head away.
My mind was torn between trying not to be swayed by him and feeling stirred by the situation.
Even in the midst of all this, we admired the works of street artists together and bought a few souvenirs for Vivi.
Before I knew it, we had reached the end of the street.
“It doesn’t feel like we’ve walked that far, but this is the end.”
“It’s not as large as the capital.”
Feeling a bit disappointed, I glanced back at the path we had walked and shrugged.
“Oh well, we should probably…”
“My lady, be careful.”
Before I could finish my sentence, Ian lightly pulled me aside.
Just as he did, someone bumped into my leg with a thud and fell over.
“Ouch.”
It was a boy, about seven years old, wearing shorts.
“Oww…”
The boy sat down hard and looked like he was about to cry.
I quickly slipped out of Ian’s arms and extended my hand.
“Oh dear, you should watch where you’re going. Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.”
The boy, grabbing my hand, stood up and brushed off his bottom, answering confidently.
“I’m not really hurt.”
“Where are your parents? It’s dangerous to be walking around alone.”
“I always get around just fine on my own. I’m a big kid now.”
His head barely reached my waist, but the way he spoke so clearly was so cute that I couldn’t help but smile.
Then, as he lifted his head, he blinked rapidly. At that moment, his pink eyes shimmered in a strange way, almost like cold, hard marbles.
“Huh? Wait. You’re a foreigner.”
The boy tilted his head.
“Miss, why are you here?”
“…Huh?”
“Your home isn’t here. Why aren’t you going back?”
“What?”
“This isn’t yours…”
He muttered, pointing directly at my body, and I froze in place.
The boy, however, just blinked innocently without any sign of alarm.
“Is it not time for you to go back yet?”
To others, it might have sounded like he was simply saying I wasn’t a local of Marisen, but that’s not how it sounded to me. Foreigner.
There was no word that could describe me more accurately than that.
“…Hey, what do you mean by…”
“Jason! What are you doing here again? I told you to wait where I could see you!”
Before I could finish my sentence, a woman, who seemed to be the boy’s mother, came rushing out from the opposite alley.
With a panicked expression, she quickly scooped him into her arms and bowed repeatedly.
“I’m so sorry. My son tends to act a bit strange sometimes…”
“No! It’s not strange! It’s true!”
“Hush! Say you’re sorry!”
The woman pretended to smack the boy and gave me an apologetic look once again.
“You seem like a tourist. I’m really sorry for the trouble. Come here, you!”
“Ow! Mom, that hurts!”
Before I could even say anything, the two of them disappeared back down the street. I was left standing there, arm half-raised in confusion, staring after them.
What… did that mean?
Go back?
As I stood there, lost in the tangled web of thoughts, Ian came up beside me and gently wrapped his arm around my shoulder.
“My lady?”
I snapped back to reality and looked up at him.
He was frowning slightly, his face filled with concern.
“Are you alright?”
“Oh, yes. I’m fine.”
I mechanically lifted the corners of my mouth into a smile, but I felt an odd tremble.
I tried to shake off the sticky uneasiness that clung to me from the tips of my toes and took his hand.
“…It’s nothing. Let’s go back.”
❖ ❖ ❖
A few days had passed since we returned from Marisen. Right after meeting that strange commoner boy, I shut myself in the office and immersed myself in going through Eloise’s notebook.
What could he have meant?
When he said this wasn’t mine. It might have been just a child’s nonsense, but for some reason, it stuck in my mind like a weight in my chest. Especially that last remark.
“Is it not time for you to go back yet?”
I unconsciously furrowed my brow as I recalled it.
Countless possibilities swirled in my mind, rising and falling over and over.
If I didn’t actually die and possessing this body is somehow connected to the original Eloise…
Could it be possible for me to be sent back without warning, just as I was brought into this world without any?
But despite my suspicions, there were no noteworthy clues in Eloise’s notebook.
Time passed quickly, as if ignoring my unsettled feelings.
Another few days went by, and the day to head to Biblos Academy arrived without any significant progress.
I had to set aside the troubling thoughts for now, as there were countless tasks in front of me.
“My lady, this is my first time traveling abroad. I’m so excited!”
It was early afternoon when Vivi arrived at the entrance to the Nomos Empire’s capital, bouncing on her feet.
“You seem more excited than me, Vivi.”
“Ah! Did it show? I’m sorry. It’s just that it’s my first time using the imperial portal and my first time in a foreign country…”
“That’s not a complaint. I meant you’re cute.”
If it had been a personal trip, we would have used a ship or a personal portal, but since this trip to Nomos was an official state visit, we were using the imperial portal. Not only that, but a full royal delegation had been prepared, making the procession quite grand.
As I was soothing the excited Vivi, someone gently pulled me aside. It was Ian, dressed in his pristine white uniform.
“Ian, or rather, Your Grace…?”
I asked in confusion, mindful of the stares from the royal delegation around us.
He looked down at me with his usual calm expression.
“There are many eyes on us.”
Ah, right. Since we’re surrounded by people from the imperial capital, we need to act like a proper couple.
As I obediently went along with him, I sensed a disapproving gaze from somewhere. It was Kyle, looking at Ian with a disgusted expression, not me.
“As always, such a poor excuse…”
Muttering in dismay, he cleared his throat and stepped in front of us.
“Today’s schedule is quite packed, so you’ll need to move efficiently. First, there’s a meeting with the dean of Biblos Academy at two o’clock, followed by a meeting with the Academy’s swordsmanship professors regarding Your Grace’s special lecture. As for the Grand Duchess, since you’ve been invited as the representative of the delegation, the Academy has arranged for a guide to show you around the school. However, it’s not urgent, so the schedule can be adjusted if needed.”
The thick stack of documents in his hand fluttered as he spoke.
“Also, the Minister of Culture of the Nomos Empire has expressed a desire to invite both of you to a dinner, but given that it’s your first day here, I’ve informed them that you’ll be dining privately today. We can reschedule the banquet for after the 100th-anniversary celebration.”
I was left speechless at Kyle’s barrage of information.
Wow, we really are busy…
Meanwhile, Ian listened to Kyle’s report with a completely indifferent expression, as if this sort of schedule was nothing out of the ordinary for him.
“…You now have about two hours of free time. You can either have a meal nearby and head straight to Biblos Academy, or rest at your accommodations for a bit. What would you like to do?”
No sooner had Kyle finished speaking than Ian looked at me.
“…You want me to decide?”
“I’m fine with either option. Let’s go with whatever suits you best.”
When had he become so considerate, casually leaving the decision up to me? It felt so natural.
“Then, let’s stop by the accommodations and unpack first. I also have some documents to prepare for Marquis Merry’s recommendation.”
If I was going to bring it up with the dean, it would be good to stop by the accommodation for a quick prep.
“Let’s do that.”
Ian responded immediately, placing his arm lightly around my waist and pulling me close before turning to Kyle.
“Lead the way.”
“…Yes, Your Grace.”
For some reason, Kyle’s face seemed a bit more scrunched up than before.
♧♧♧
Support my translation for more and faster updates 🐳
