LVSFN 56

Chapter 56

Morning came again.

I slowly got up to greet the morning of a world turned upside down.

“I need to head to Mr. Clem’s bookstore right after breakfast.”

All my nerves were focused on that place.

Of course, going to the bookstore wouldn’t magically help me figure out how to return to my original world. But right now, there was nothing else I could do.

“Young Lady, are you feeling any better?”

Ecla carefully asked while brushing out my tangled hair.

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

“When the doctor arrives, I’ll make sure they prescribe something proper. We don’t want our lady to suffer too much.”

Doctor?

I kind of had a busy day ahead…

“Uh, no, it’s fine. I’m really okay.”

“Okay? But you can’t even remember what happened.”

“Well, that’s because…”

“The master and madam are so worried about you.”

“Wait—did you tell my parents that I don’t remember anything?”

“Of course! The doctor said we need to observe your behavior closely and report anything unusual right away. If we don’t treat it in time, it could become something serious.”

“No, no—it’s not that I’m sick or anything!”

I turned my head abruptly, but Ecla gently turned me back and said in a solemn tone:

“Still, you need a proper check-up and medicine.”

“When is the doctor coming?”

“Hmm, they said sometime after lunch. Around 2 o’clock.”

What? After lunch?

Ugh, that means I have to wait a while.

“Will the check-up be quick?”

“Nope.”

No?!

“He’s the kind of doctor who insists on absolute rest. You’ll need to lie down for at least three hours.”

“What? Three hours?”

“And after that, you have your overdue piano lessons, painting, embroidery, and reading class.”

“……”

My mind was already out in the field, but my body couldn’t follow.

I let out a long sigh and stared into the mirror.

Even though my thoughts were chaotic, my hair, which had been a mess earlier, was gradually smoothing out.

“I just want to go back as soon as possible. They must be so shocked that I suddenly disappeared.”

As I thought that, a strange idea suddenly struck me.

“Wait a minute. If I crossed over from ‘The Tumultuous Life of Leoni’ into ‘The Tumultuous Life of Renata,’ then where’s the original Liberata from this world?”

It was odd and didn’t make sense.

Could there really be another me somewhere in this world?

Or… did I just end up possessing the Liberata who was already here?

If that’s the case… what happened to me in “The Tumultuous Life of Leoni”?

“Young Lady, you’re all ready. Please go downstairs for your meal.”

The reflection in the mirror was pale and dazed.

Yeah, I don’t know how this all happened—but I have to find a way back.

I will find a way.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

After the meal, just as Mother was marveling at the exquisite aroma of a gifted tea blend, there was a commotion at the entrance.

A butler’s cheerful voice rang through the house.

“A guest?”

As Father turned his head, a very tall man entered the parlor.

“Just in time for tea, I see.”

Elegant, fine ash-brown hair. Deep blue eyes, both lonely and soft at once—

It was Adrian Watford.

A surge of joy bubbled up in me, and I shot up from my seat.

“Sir Watford!”

As I called out to him instinctively, Adrian’s eyes widened slightly, and then he responded with a familiar line.

“My goodness… could it be? You’re Liberata Bernadette?”

Wait, I’ve seen this scene before.

I looked up at him with wide, bewildered eyes. Adrian, too, seemed to be studying me with a similar expression.

“Heavens, Adrian!”

In the next moment, Father rushed to embrace Adrian, overjoyed.

Seriously—this scene, I know I’ve seen it before.

“How have you been?”

“Ah, of course, of course! My word, Adrian! You’ve grown into such a fine young man. I’m overwhelmed. If only Oliver were here too…”

Father fondly patted Adrian’s arm a couple of times.

So Adrian’s appearance timing had changed.

That must be because the story I’m in now is different from where I came from.

“How long has it been?”

“Indeed. It’s been forever since I last visited this mansion, and yet Liberata recognized me right away—how surprising.”

He looked genuinely touched.

Well, of course. The last time he saw her, she was five years old. No wonder he’s surprised. But I’ve already met him in another dimension, haven’t I?

Adrian’s surprise was natural.

The first time I met Adrian in the other dimension, Jerlac was there.

That day, I was so busy being wary of Jerlac, I couldn’t even tell if I was drinking tea with my mouth or my nose.

Now, I even missed that awkwardness.

The cool but calm gaze, the quiet voice that drew attention—everything about him.

“Oh my, Liberata—are you crying?”

Father’s surprised voice startled me.

“What? No, no! Crying? Not at all!”

Tears had been about to fall, but they vanished at the sound of Father’s voice.

“Yes… it really has been a long time since I’ve seen you two together.”

As Father spoke warmly, Mother suddenly chimed in beside him.

“That’s true. But our Liberata is soon to become a duchess.”

“Dear…”

Father frowned, but Mother didn’t seem to care. Father continued, clearly displeased.

“Don’t go saying that kind of thing everywhere.”

“I’m not wrong, am I?”

“Oh, come on now…”

“If His Grace returns to Mütten, we need to push for the engagement right away. There are too many rumors floating around… I’m afraid Liberata will be left hanging. If all the talk amounts to nothing and the Grand Duke backs out, her value will only drop.”

“Dear, please! Let’s talk about this later!”

“There’s no ‘later’ when it comes to our daughter!”

“You always do this—calling everything important and then rushing it, only to ruin everything!”

“What did you just say? That I always do this?”

What is even happening right now…

I stood frozen in place like a wooden plank, just rolling my eyes around.

Then I met eyes with Adrian.

He silently mouthed, Let’s go, and pointed toward the door with his index finger.

Yes, if I stood here any longer, I’d be the shrimp caught in a whale fight. Time to make my escape.

Both Mother and Father were already too worked up to calm down any time soon.

Click.

As the door shut behind us, Adrian let out a breath through his mouth.

“Sorry about that.”

After all, he’d been practically chased out because of my parents’ argument. I offered an awkward apology, but Adrian just smiled kindly.

“What do you have to be sorry for?”

“Still…”

“Since we’re out, how about a walk?”

Honestly, I’d been feeling a bit stifled myself.

I nodded, and we began walking slowly through the garden.

“Liberata, can I ask you something?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“The last time we saw each other was… about twenty years ago? You were five, I think?”

“Yes.”

“Then how did you recognize me right away?”

First he complains that I didn’t recognize him, and now he’s surprised that I did.

Should I pay him back exactly as he teased me before? Or double it?

Either way, there’s no such thing as “letting it go” in my book.

“I’ve always had a sharp memory.”

I replied lightly, as if it were nothing.

“Really?”

“Yes. You even dried rose petals and made them into bookmarks for me, remember?”

I deliberately lowered my voice, and Adrian’s eyes twitched.

“You’re seriously saying… you remember that?”

Of course not. I heard about it. That’s how I know.

Wow, I didn’t know I had such a taste for mischief. But he teased me so much before—this much revenge is perfectly fine, right?

“Sir Watford, you’ve always thought of me as a curious, sensitive little girl, haven’t you?”

“Hahaha, you’re right. My word—you’re reading my mind now?”

Ah, I should’ve stopped while I was ahead.

But I don’t do “moderation.”

I decided to throw one more line out there, just to see what would happen.

“Want me to guess what’s in your pocket?”

“My pocket?”

He looked down at me with genuine amusement.

Before we knew it, we’d stopped walking and stood in the center of the garden.

“Let’s see… there’s a sweet smell coming from your pocket.”

“……”

“You brought candy, didn’t you?”

This time, Adrian’s eyes definitely doubled in size.