LVSFN 76

Chapter 76

“You… didn’t like His Grace the Grand Duke?”

At the unexpected words, my jaw dropped.

No, get a grip. If I make that kind of face here, she’ll think something’s wrong.

I quickly smoothed out my expression and gave a slow nod.

Wait—does that reaction seem strange, too?

“I knew it,” Renata said with a gentle smile, as if she had known everything all along.

“Yes. That’s why it was so hard for me. I felt like people were pushing me into feelings I didn’t have. Now I really don’t know what I should do.”

Renata lowered her head, looking completely dejected.

“……”

I should say something. That’s supposed to be my role here, but my mouth just wouldn’t open.

“What would be the right thing for me to do?”

“Well, I mean…”

Forget it. Whatever.

“Miss, just do as you wish.”

“…What?”

“You said you never liked your fiancé. If you were bound to someone you didn’t even love, you wouldn’t have been happy anyway.”

“That’s true. Honestly, I like someone who’s talkative, who’s curious about everything I do, and who treats me warmly.”

So her ideal type is exactly the same here as it was back there.

“But I haven’t met anyone like that yet. If I had married His Grace the Grand Duke… I would have gained the position everyone envied, but I wouldn’t have been happy.”

“Have you told your friend that you didn’t love him?”

When I asked, Renata shook her head.

“No, I couldn’t. No one knows, actually.”

“Oh dear.”

“I deceived myself and pushed my friend into a corner. I don’t know if I can tell the truth now.”

Her golden eyelashes lifted and fell slowly as she closed and opened her eyes.

I kept silent, waiting for her to speak more of her heart.

“I couldn’t break the engagement just because I didn’t feel anything. So I tried to make it work. But the more time passed, the harder the Grand Duke became to approach.”

True enough. He wasn’t exactly an easy person to get close to.

He didn’t speak much, and when he did, his words always had weight—sometimes even barbs. His deep, heavy voice made it sound like he would never tolerate a lighthearted joke.

And that pale, smooth skin that seemed to exude cold air…

‘What the hell am I thinking right now.’

“To be honest, when His Grace said he had feelings for Ribe, I was so happy. But strangely enough… I cried, like some tragic heroine. People all around pitied me, felt sorry for me. And in front of them, I had to act the part.”

“……”

“Do you understand how I felt?”

“Of course.”

“I suppose… I even enjoyed those pitying gazes. And now, after all that, I can’t just go to Ribe and say we should be friends again.”

“……”

“I was in the wrong. If I had been honest from the start, Ribe wouldn’t have been ridiculed, and I would have felt free too.”

And then, she began to sniffle.

“I’m sorry.”

“N-no, don’t be.”

“But now that I’ve said it out loud, I feel a little relieved. My thoughts feel clearer.”

And then she smiled brightly—the same fresh smile she had always shown me.

Should I reveal myself right now? Rip off this wig, wipe my face clean, and tell her it’s me?

No. I worked too hard for this.

Stay focused. I didn’t come here to hear Renata’s hidden feelings.

If I act recklessly here, I might end up trapped in this world forever.

I want to go back—back to where Zerlach loves me.

I promised I would return.

Zerlach Cygnus. Yes, he’s waiting for me.

“My lady.”

“Yes?”

“I’m not usually one to deliver messages, but…”

“?”

“That person you mentioned—he was here.”

Why did I say that?

Maybe because I wanted to find a way out of here. Maybe because I wanted to do something—anything—for Renata, who would remain behind after I left.

“My friend came here?”

“Yes. Why are you so surprised? Plenty of young ladies come and go from here.”

Renata stared at me with wide eyes.

I knew Ecla’s disguise was flawless, but still, I subtly avoided her gaze and continued.

“When misunderstandings run deep, sometimes a short written note is better than spoken words.”

“A note?”

“Yes. If there’s something you want to say to your friend, leave it with me. I’ll deliver it.”

“Oh…”

Maybe it was because I had Clem’s bookshop and Zerlach’s letters on my mind. I thought it was a good idea, but Renata’s expression wasn’t as bright as I’d hoped.

“How should I even begin? Oh no… I’m not good at writing.”

She grew restless, fidgeting like I had asked her to write it on the spot.

“Just calmly write what you want to say. The voice of your heart.”

Look at me, acting like an expert just because I’ve written a few letters before.

“…All right. I’ll try writing one when I get home.”

“Good. And come back tomorrow at this time.”

“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

I wasn’t sure if I deserved her gratitude, but I simply nodded.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

After Renata left, I hurriedly wrapped up the long line of people waiting.

Then, transforming once more into Riberata, I rushed to Clem’s bookshop.

Had he seen my letter?

Would he believe everything I said?

Or would he think it was nonsense and ignore me completely?

Anxious thoughts plagued me as I wandered the shop.

Please let there be a letter.

I picked up The Tumultuous Life of Leoni from the shelf.

‘There it is.’

When I split the book in half, a neatly folded sheet of paper appeared.

I clutched the letter and stomped my feet in excitement.

I didn’t know what it said yet, but just the fact that we could communicate this way filled me with joy.

So much joy I almost cried.

Now it was just a matter of whether Zerlach believed me or not.

I carefully opened the letter and squinted at it.

I skimmed quickly—thankfully, I didn’t see words like “liar,” “fraud,” or “nonsense.”

Phew.

I steadied myself and began reading from the top.

Yes, I really was shocked and bewildered.

I nodded, remembering the confusion when I first realized I’d fallen into another world.

[*I believe everything you’ve said.

I believe that you live and breathe within this little book.

And I believe in all of your heart.*]

Ahh… even his words are as beautiful as he is.

So this is what it feels like to be believed in by someone.

Even inside a bookshop, I felt as though a sweet fragrance was drifting in, and though the floor was hard, it seemed soft beneath my feet.

But my bliss ended there.

‘What? Someone killed me—or imprisoned me?’

I froze at the words that followed.

‘If the me from The Tumultuous Life of Leoni ended up here, that means the me who was originally here was either killed or trapped somewhere.’

At that moment, I remembered what Ecla had said when I first arrived.

That I had been kidnapped.

So the one who was kidnapped… is either imprisoned somewhere or dead.

A shiver ran down my spine.

This confirmed it—someone had deliberately brought me here.

But who could it be?

At the end of his letter, Zerlach warned that I might be in danger, and that it would be better not to get involved. But I couldn’t agree.

I’m sorry, Your Grace, but I can’t stand being indebted to anyone.

I tucked the letter into my chest and slid the book back onto the shelf.

‘Who could possibly want to harm me?’

No matter how I thought about it, only Pailey came to mind.

I bowed politely to Clem, who was dozing at the entrance, and stepped outside.

And then—

“Oh.”

I froze like a toy with dead batteries.

Because standing right in front of the door, looking down at me with a dry expression, was—

“Your Grace the Grand Duke.”

To my shock, the person I faced was Zerlach.

More precisely, the Zerlach of this world—the one I was meeting for the first time.

For a moment, I almost ran straight into his arms.

After reading that letter full of yearning words, after missing him so badly, after carrying his letter against my chest—here he was.

Of course, I knew the man before me had nothing to do with the letter I had just read.

But I forced myself to stay calm.

Act normal. Just act normal.

“Hello. I heard you went to Hornhagen for business.”

My heart was pounding, but I forced out the words as calmly as I could.

But his expression wasn’t good.

No, to be more precise—he looked displeased.

“Why are you here, my lady?”

Wait. Something was off.

The way he was looking at me… it was different.