Chapter 5
“Hmm.”
There was no need to ask any more questions.
I’d already figured Pell out.
The type who enjoys being alone and doesn’t see the need for relationships.
Trying to explain a hundred reasons why getting along with people is good would be completely pointless for someone like that.
Better to ask something else.
“Then why did you want to be friends with me?”
Usually, when asked something like this, introverts either panic and desperately try to come up with an answer…
Or laugh awkwardly and brush it off.
Then I’d smoothly change the subject for them, or pretend to be a little hurt—even though I wasn’t—and cling to them a bit more.
Which type was Pell?
“…It’s simple curiosity. There’s something I wanted to ask.”
Oh.
The first type.
Other than not looking particularly flustered, his reaction was exactly what I’d expected.
But what was he curious about?
My favorite food?
My hobbies?
My dream vacation destination?
Had he been wanting to have conversations like this all along but just couldn’t work up the courage?
Well then.
Let’s hear him out.
What did my introverted friend want to know about me?
I listened eagerly.
“Do you truly remember nothing?”
His voice was low and steady.
A breeze drifted through the open window, brushing aside his bangs and revealing the eye that had been partially hidden.
So his eyes are gray.
Pretty.
Looking straight into them, I slowly opened my mouth.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“…Pardon?”
I meant exactly what I’d said.
Seriously, you introvert.
That’s just cruel.
After all that courage, that’s the question you ask?
Something everyone in the Count’s household already knows?
I’m offended.
After a full minute of hellish silence, I reconsidered.
Well… I guess that’s understandable.
Pell was simply a very cautious introvert.
Apparently he wasn’t the type to accept rumors at face value.
He had to verify things with his own eyes and ears.
Or maybe I’d caught him off guard, and he’d blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
So what’s there to be upset about?
I quickly accepted it and decided to answer kindly.
He’d probably had to gather a lot of courage just to ask.
I couldn’t be cold to him.
“Pell, you know what I used to be like, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then does it really make sense for me to act like this? Even if I hadn’t lost my memory, do you think someone could completely change overnight?”
Well…
Possession was a thing.
But I could barely believe it myself.
There was no way he would.
And there wasn’t exactly any way to explain it.
Besides…
I hated complicated explanations.
I sighed dramatically and patted my chest.
“I don’t remember anything, and everyone avoids me. Even my parents. Can you imagine how that feels? It’s… pretty overwhelming.”
Pell’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Um…”
Now.
Time to make myself look just a little more pitiful.
As though granting my request was the only possible answer.
Let’s go.
Uneven breathing.
Heavy sighs.
A trembling voice.
Combined with Reta’s naturally persuasive face…
Perfect.
“Haah… It’s been so hard. Losing my memories is really…”
I let the sentence trail off.
Pell looked at me with unwavering eyes before speaking with firm conviction.
“You will recover them.”
“Do you really think so?”
I looked up at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
He flinched.
Then instinctively took a step backward.
If only I had artificial tears…
Since I couldn’t force any tears out…
I sniffled instead.
“…Sniff.”
“Are you crying?”
If an introvert asks whether you’re crying…
The polite thing to do is answer.
“…No. Sniff…! Pell, can you do me a favor?”
“What is it?”
Got him.
Now I just had to reel him in.
Carefully, I laid out the bait.
“You have to answer sincerely.”
“Yes.”
“If you just brush me off, I’ll be really hurt.”
“Yes.”
I pretended to hesitate before finally getting to the point.
“Introduce me to your friends.”
There.
I dropped the bomb.
Pell frowned.
Ignoring that, I clasped my hands together and stepped closer.
He immediately leaned back.
“I don’t have anyone to talk to besides you. Doesn’t that sound awful? I’m so bored.”
“…”
“Just introduce us. I’ll take care of the rest, okay?”
“…”
He was thinking.
Pell was actually thinking!
Seeing him agonize over how to grant my wish made me want to reward him somehow.
I waited expectantly.
Then, after a long silence, his answer completely blindsided me.
“…I don’t have any friends.”
“…?”
Huh?
No way…
Sure, I’d just witnessed him proudly acting like a voluntary loner.
But I’d assumed he simply disliked those particular servants.
Did he seriously not have a single friend?
Granted, I’d known introverts with zero friends before.
No prejudice here.
If anything, great!
That meant I could become his very first friend.
But with a face like that?
Even if he never tried, people should’ve been lining up to befriend him.
Unless…
Books were literally his only friends.
Unable to believe it, I finally managed to ask,
“Not even one?”
“No.”
“Then… not even someone you see regularly? Once a month, maybe?”
“No.”
We’re doomed.
That meant my “friend of a friend of a friend” strategy was dead.
There’d be no one to say,
“I know her personally—she’s not like the rumors.”
My plan to repair my terrible reputation had officially gone up in smoke.
“…I’m sorry.”
Pell lowered his head apologetically.
What was he talking about?
Wait…
I frowned.
“Are you apologizing because you don’t have any friends?”
“…Yes.”
Oh, Pell…
You sweet, earnest guy…
I gently patted his shoulder.
“You don’t need to apologize. That’s nothing to feel guilty about. Lift your head, Pell.”
Slowly, he looked up.
For some reason, today he seemed even gloomier than usual.
…Sigh.
Maybe that’s just what happens when you’re an extreme introvert.
“It’s okay. Things will work out.”
At least I’d made one friend.
I’d probably only made him feel worse by being so negative.
His life already seemed lonely enough.
Since it came to this, I’ll just thoroughly search Reta’s study for useful information later.
Still, I couldn’t stay indoors forever.
If I did, people would say I’d died of loneliness less than a month after possessing this body.
As troublesome as it sounded, if I was going to live in this world, I couldn’t remain completely ignorant.
I need to learn what people here like and dislike.
Favorite foods.
Hobbies.
Current trends.
Even the latest rumors.
I had to master every topic imaginable.
That’s how you’d carry conversations with introverts who never knew how to start one themselves.
I’ll uncover every single thing that interests the introverts in this world—from A to Z.
Good.
I’ve got a lot to do.
I poked my pitiful friend in the side.
For some reason, he reminded me of a dejected giant puppy.
“Pell! Cheer up! Right now, you’re my only friend too. So let’s just become best friends, okay?”
At the unfamiliar expression, Pell frowned slightly.
“Best… what does that mean?”
“It means your closest friend. What do you think?”
He fell into deep thought.
Personally, I wasn’t expecting much.
Becoming an introvert’s best friend after only a few days?
That would be like the sun rising in the west.
I was only teasing him, hoping we’d become a little closer.
“I…”
At last, he slowly spoke.
“…I’d like that.”
For a moment, I was speechless.
This couldn’t be happening.
An introvert agreeing to become best friends after only a few days?
Just how much did he want to be friends with me?
No… wait.
Calm down.
Let’s analyze this rationally.
Maybe he just answered without thinking.
Or maybe he found me troublesome and wanted to end the conversation.
Or perhaps he felt pressured.
But then…
He met my eyes.
And smiled.
A small, genuine smile.
He never smiles.
If he’s smiling… then he really means it.
All right.
From today onward…
The sun officially rises in the west.
By the way…
Shouldn’t we celebrate something this wonderful?
Today was such a happy, satisfying, beautiful day!
Suppressing the overwhelming urge to pick Pell up and run around the mansion with him, I asked,
“Pell. Want to have a party tomorrow?”
“…A party?”
I grinned.
“Of course! To celebrate becoming best friends!”
“If you wish to hold a party, you should ask the Countess, not me.”
So serious.
Still…
He had a point.
Fine.
I’d go ask Lady Remeny immediately.
Just wait, Best Friend Number One.
Now that I’d been reincarnated as the only daughter of a ridiculously wealthy villainous noble family…
I’d throw you the greatest party imaginable.
…
Except…
The very next morning—
Lady Remeny looked at me as though I’d lost my mind.
“You want to host a banquet… in your current condition?”
“Yes!”
I answered confidently.
Her reply was immediate.
“No.”
“…What?”
And just like that…
It ended in complete failure.
