“…But really, has it been two weeks?”
“Yes.”
“That’s amazing. Over there, it was only half a day.”
I covered my mouth in amazement. Ian, seated next to me, quietly stroked my hair and let out a small laugh.
After an emotional reunion, I confessed everything to him while wrapped in his arms.
I told him about visiting the other world while my eyes were closed, how, despite not remembering much, everything felt strangely unfamiliar, and how I even met and spoke with the real Eloise.
“When I told her I loved you, her face twisted as if she’d heard something she shouldn’t have. She asked me if I was being serious.”
“She said that?”
“Yes. She even asked if I was sick or if you had threatened me.”
At this, Ian’s expression grew peculiar.
If Eloise from that other world had seen it, she would’ve been just as bewildered. I couldn’t help but stifle my laughter.
“…Why are you laughing?”
“Because it’s cute. You’re so adorable, Ian. Why doesn’t anyone realize how cute you are? Not even her.”
“…Well, that’s because the past Eloise Alpheus and I had absolutely no personal feelings for each other.”
That’s not true. You seemed to have plenty of feelings for each other.
To be precise, those feelings seemed more like grudges.
Enjoying the soft, habitual way Ian stroked my hair, I refrained from saying this aloud and instead leaned against his shoulder with a smile.
“Anyway, I had no idea that ‘tying the knot’ would literally be the way to end the spell. When she told me how, I wasn’t just surprised—I was utterly floored.”
I held up my wrist as I spoke.
Amazingly, the thread bracelet that Eloise had tied on me was still there.
Ian’s gaze followed mine to the bracelet.
“In the end, I suppose meeting her was inevitable, one way or another.”
“You seem lighter now.”
“Yes, honestly, it’s been weighing on me. Even though switching bodies wasn’t my choice, I still changed so many things without her permission.”
“…”
“But, as it turns out, she had been thinking along the same lines.”
Recalling the conversation I had with her in my room, I couldn’t help but smile softly.
Ian, who had been staring at the bracelet, shifted his gaze to me and tilted his head.
“That expression… It makes me jealous.”
“…What?”
“Don’t smile like that while thinking of someone else.”
“Ian…?”
Is he serious?
Was he now jealous of Eloise, someone who wasn’t even here?
Rendered speechless, I stared at him in disbelief before bursting into laughter.
Well, he did wait two weeks for me. This much could be forgiven.
Enjoying his gentle, habitual stroking of my hair, I let my head rest lightly on his shoulder.
“…I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
“The moment I thought of your face, tears started falling.”
Looking back now, it felt surreal.
I hadn’t felt any joy at returning to my own world after nearly a year.
The moment I regained my memories upon seeing Eloise, nothing else mattered.
All I could think about was wanting to see Ian.
And even now, it was the same.
Knowing Ian was by my side left no room for regret or longing.
“I think I vaguely remember the last time I saw your face—on that forest path, running toward me….”
As I trailed off, I widened my eyes and looked at him.
“Wait, how did you find me? And are the others okay? Vivi and the rest….”
Oh no, Vivi!
The realization hit me like a brick, draining the color from my face.
My mind had been so filled with thoughts of reuniting with Ian that I had forgotten everything else.
Seeing my reaction, Ian looked at me quietly before pulling me into his arms and gently patting my back, as if to reassure me.
“Calm down. Everyone is safe.”
“…Oh.”
Finally, I exhaled a soft sigh of relief.
“It seems they managed to escape around the same time you did, moving to report the situation.”
“That’s such a relief….”
I had suspected as much when they separated me from the group, but it seemed they really had intended to kill me.
Knowing the Duke of Roger’s personality, he wouldn’t have left the other hostages unguarded. Once I was gone, he probably figured their escape wouldn’t matter.
“You waking up is the greatest relief of all.”
“Well, yes, but… Wait, how did you find me?”
I blinked up at him, realizing only now how strange it was.
How had he tracked me down to that forest so far from the capital?
If Ian hadn’t found me when he did, I might have been recaptured by the kidnappers and faced a terrible fate.
The rough grip on my hair still lingered vividly in my mind.
Unconsciously, I trembled slightly, and Ian pulled me closer, holding me tighter as he replied,
“How could I not know where you are?”
“…I don’t know when you started saying such romantic things, but that’s not what I’m asking.”
I pouted slightly as I muttered, and Ian let out a soft chuckle.
“The ring from Kyle—you were wearing it, weren’t you?”
“…Ah?”
The next moment, a dumbfounded exclamation escaped me.
Now that he mentioned it, ever since learning about the Duke of Roger’s true nature, I had been habitually wearing the ring Kyle had given me. Its original purpose, if I remembered correctly, was to summon him from anywhere.
“Kyle’s ring served as a beacon. Hayden Roger had hired several mages to create interference, so it took some time to pinpoint your location.”
“Ah, so that’s how….”
I nodded as understanding dawned.
Ian, who had been quietly observing me, spoke after a brief silence.
“I’m sorry. I should have found you sooner.”
His face, which I happened to catch just then, seemed uncharacteristically somber.
I cupped his cheeks with both hands and put on a determined expression.
“Don’t say that. The reason I’m here right now is all thanks to you.”
“…Eloise.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. You have no reason to apologize. Understand?”
I spoke each word firmly, as if scolding him. Ian stared at me for a moment, then a faint smile appeared on his lips as he gave a small nod.
The warmth of his touch and the sight of his face, so vivid and endearing, made a smile unconsciously spread across my own lips.
“……”
“……”
After a brief silence, without either of us needing to say a word, we leaned toward each other, our lips about to meet—
“Move aside! I’m going in right now!”
“B-But, Your Highness…!”
Bang!
“Grand Duchess!”
…Of course, things had been going too smoothly.
❖ ❖ ❖
Although no official announcement had been made about my awakening, the maids outside the door seemed to have figured it out from the sound of Ian and me talking inside.
The moment Princess Louisa burst dramatically into the room, Vivi, who had been fidgeting nervously outside, met my eyes and immediately started crying like an overfilled dumpling.
However, before I even had a chance to greet her, my senses were overwhelmed by the princess, who dashed to my bedside and began wailing loudly.
“Waaaah, waaaaaah!”
“…Please stop crying, Your Highness.”
“How can I stop crying in a situation like this?”
The princess, who had buried her face in the bedsheets, suddenly shot up and demanded sharply,
“…Still.”
“What do you mean, ‘still’? Do you know how scared I was?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Who said I wanted an apology from the Grand Duchess!”
Seeing the princess begin to hiccup tearfully again, I clamped my mouth shut and rolled my eyes helplessly.
By this point, Ian had stepped down from the bed and was standing opposite her, running a weary hand down his face.
…Ian looks kind of annoyed.
“Your Highness, the crown prince’s coronation is imminent. Should you really be here causing a scene?”
He is annoyed.
The princess, glaring sharply at Ian, raised her head and snapped,
“Be quiet, Brother! Do you think my coronation is what matters right now?”
“It does.”
“Arghhh!”
With tears welling up again, the princess stomped her foot and shot him a glare.
“I don’t care! I won’t feel better until I see that scum Hayden Roger pay for what he’s done!”
Her booming voice reminded me of something I had momentarily forgotten.
“…Oh, that’s right.”
I turned my head toward Ian.
“What about the Duke of Roger?”
At my questioning gaze, the princess froze, quickly clapping a hand over her mouth.
Ian pressed his hand to his forehead in exasperation.
“…Your timing is impeccable as always, Your Highness.”
• • •
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