Chapter : 10
Today, my body felt especially off. It’s always been pretty useless, but today, it was especially uncooperative.
Even though it’s my own body, moving around felt like trying to run a buggy computer. The frustration felt like I had swallowed a hundred sweet potatoes.
Please let me possess a healthy body for once.
“Arellin!”
Amid all this, a commotion broke out in the mansion.
I tried to ignore it and just close my eyes to sleep, but unfortunately, it happened close to my room, and it was too noisy.
What’s going on now?
I came outside to check.
‘I should’ve just stayed in my room.’
Something annoying showed up.
“Arellin, are you okay? It’s been so long!”
Why is he here?
That was my only thought as I saw Crown Prince Pession appear like he owned the place.
“Are you feeling alright? I heard you were sick! Should you even be out here like this? Last time, they said you collapsed just from running. Then, isn’t it hard for you to stand for so long like this?”
He fired off a barrage of questions, and when I didn’t respond, he waved his hand in front of my face.
“Huh?”
…Dizzy.
I want a refund on this body.
“Are you in pain?!”
“What brings Your Highness here?”
“Huh?”
Pession’s eyes darted around. He’s clearly trying to think of an excuse.
“Ah! I came to visit you while you’re sick.”
“Ah, I see.”
Yeah, that doesn’t make any sense.
Arellin and Pession weren’t close. Naturally, we drifted apart since I couldn’t participate in the ‘vigorous and active games’ he liked.
So why show up out of the blue for a sick visit? What’s changed?
“I see. You came to check on me.”
“Yeah!”
His beaming smile practically said, You should be happy that I’m here, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
He’s cute, but…
I wasn’t in the mood to enjoy his cuteness.
‘He looks like someone who grew up showered in love, without a single shadow in his life.’
I knew this type of person well.
Born into a good family, with good parents, a good personality, good talent, surrounded by good people—never needing to develop rough edges, kind and easygoing by default.
The kind that’s always welcomed and loved, and who naturally expects others to love and welcome them too.
‘Well, most musicians come from money.’
Maybe that’s why. I don’t resent Pession, but I didn’t really want to get close to him either.
Because I could already see the end of that kind of relationship.
“You came all this way, and I disrupted your mood with this mess. I apologize in your stead.”
“Huh?”
“The disturbance in the house is entirely my responsibility as its mistress.”
Just then, Griem, who had quietly stood behind the prince, looked at me with a strange expression. What’s his problem?
“Eh?! No! That’s not true!”
“Is that so?”
“Arellin didn’t do anything wrong!”
“I see.”
If you’re going to say that, thanks.
I offered my own polite words.
“Thank you for getting angry on my behalf.”
“Ah! Y-you saw that?”
Why is he blushing? Is he feeling unwell?
“Yes, I saw it.”
Honestly, I had been wondering why he got angry in the first place.
Maybe he didn’t like that someone of noble birth like me was being insulted like a fool?
As if that matters.
I was used to being insulted behind my back even in my past life—it was almost part of my daily routine.
There were times when people hurled insults to my face, too. At this point, it seemed like a waste of energy to be hurt or emotional about it.
But if I say that out loud, it’ll only cause trouble.
They’ll pity me, feel sorry for me, or look at me like I’m strange. Then, in a shocked voice, they’ll tell me to get therapy or something. So I chose my words carefully.
“Thank you.”
That was all I could say.
But even that simple thank-you made the prince’s face light up.
“Hehe.”
His eyes sparkled as he looked at me, as if asking, Did I do well?
What the… Is he asking for a compliment?
“It was nothing!”
“I see.”
“Ahem. I’m not even sure why I got involved. I just couldn’t stand by and do nothing…”
He kept glancing over at me—clearly he had done it all for my sake… but I couldn’t understand his intentions.
The kindness of a stranger feels foreign.
And uncomfortable.
Especially when faced with such inexplicable kindness, I didn’t know how to react.
“Thank you.”
He didn’t do all this just to be thanked, did he?
“…Yeah!”
Even seeing his face instantly brighten up again, I couldn’t understand the Crown Prince Pession. I tilted my head and gave up trying.
“Trust me. If something like this happens again, I’ll—!”
“No, if it happens again, please don’t.”
“Uh, huh?”
He had been puffing out his chest proudly, but froze and looked dumbfounded.
Did I just unintentionally get serious?
“Thank you for stepping in for me today, but your position could become difficult if you keep doing this. Next time, please let me handle it myself.”
“Uh… okay…”
Pession looked unsure.
“Was I overstepping?”
Yes.
“No.”
But I couldn’t say that out loud. For some reason, Griem behind him was murmuring in admiration, but that was a side issue.
That guy was strange, too.
Time to send them away.
I could feel the caretakers fidgeting behind me. My stamina was also running out.
“Normally, I’d at least offer you some juice, but the house is in disarray, and I’m not feeling well. I think I need to see you off now.”
“Oh? Yeah, of course.”
“Again, I’m sorry you had to witness something unpleasant, and thank you for today.”
“Oh? Oh, yeah. Sure!”
“Well then.”
“Bye!”
Goodbye. It was annoying seeing you. Let’s not meet again.
* * *
The prince and Griem left the mansion after the visit. Griem looked back on what had just happened.
What the heck was that?
That was a seven-year-old’s way of speaking?
He recalled Arellin’s behavior.
Her fatigued, disinterested attitude, the way she calmly pushed back against the prince—something even Griem himself would hesitate to do.
And that consistently indifferent expression.
Now I get it, seeing it in person.
He now understood why the Crown Prince had become obsessed with Arellin.
There was something undeniably different about her. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what, but meeting her in person made it clear.
She was not like other ordinary children.
Still… poor guy.
Thinking back to what just happened, Griem found himself pitying the prince.
He had been rejected—blatantly.
Now that he’s been rejected once, maybe His Highness will finally back off a bit? Griem thought hopefully.
That’s when—
“Griem.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“I think Arellin likes me.”
“…What.”
What kind of nonsense was this?
Griem stared in disbelief as Pession’s eyes sparkled.
“She even gave me advice like that! Don’t you think it’s because she cares about me?”
Griem desperately wanted to correct his delusion.
* * *
Round two had begun.
What is this, a boss raid that never ends?
After seeing the prince off, the next challengers appeared.
The caretakers.
The butlers and maids in charge of raising me.
“I’m trash. Non-burnable trash…”
“Humans do burn. It’s just bones that are tricky.”
“Even bones can burn.”
What the heck is wrong with these people?
Maybe this was better than dealing with the prince, since at least we were in my room.
Has my room always felt this small?
It was rare to see the entire caretaker team gathered like this.
They all looked at me with expressions full of guilt, and I felt out of place.
Why do they look so sorry?
“Did you talk bad about me?”
The people who had been bowing their heads like criminals flinched and trembled.
“No!”
“Of course not!”
“Us?!”
Sigh.
“Then why do you all look so guilty?”
I knew they hadn’t badmouthed me.
Whether it was petty revenge or simply all they could manage, the only thing I could do against people with bad intentions was avoid and hide.
Even they had hovered nearby, hoping to get scraps of favor from me.
“Then why are you acting like criminals?”
I genuinely didn’t get it.
Why are they doing this?
“Well… because we couldn’t protect you.”
“We failed to earn your trust.”
Yuni, the maid in charge of checking my health and medicine, spoke tearfully.
“It’s our duty and joy to protect, care for, and raise you well.”
… I don’t get it. They’re not even family.
Why?
Is this just part of the job?
“Why is it a joy?”
“Because we like you, of course!”
“You like me?”
That felt like something I shouldn’t have heard.
“Why?”
Why… do you like me?
Isn’t this just your job? Weren’t you taking care of me because that’s your job? There weren’t supposed to be any personal feelings involved, right? Did I misunderstand?
As we stared at each other, both sides shocked, my vision suddenly blurred.
“Huh? Miss?”
Yuni’s panicked face appeared. Why does she look so worried?
“I feel dizzy…”
Maybe I pushed myself too much today.
And then—
Thud.
