Chapter 5

Isn’t that right?

I let out a small laugh. As I tightened my grip on Saren’s frail wrist, her skin turned pale.

Luckily, I’m not that weak. I was worried because she was so skinny, but Saren, being a typical lady, had a body with no muscles to be found. I was secretly relieved.

I whispered quietly, but coldly.

“Don’t underestimate people. Even a dog bites when ignored, so how can you treat another person like this? Sister.”

“Why am I your sister!”

“That’s true. Then I guess I’ll just call you anything.”

“Hey!!”

Oh, finally, some real talk is coming out.

Though my ears stung a bit, my heart was delighted. As I roughly let go of her hand, Saren’s body fell backward from the rebound.

“Kyaaa! Miss!”

“Miss Saren! Are you okay?!”

“How dare you touch the lady’s body!”

“Aren’t I a lady too?”

Not that it matters.

The maids, who clung to Saren to support her from falling, shouted at me. I shrugged and turned my body toward the door.

‘Ah, what a waste of a book.’

I was disappointed because I wanted to read more. I hadn’t finished it yet.

In fact, since they were the protagonists of a work I liked enough to write fan fiction about, I could confidently say I knew a lot about them. But since this place had changed somehow, knowing them well was a thing of the past.

Above all, I wanted to know more about them.

Leaving my regrets behind, I returned to my room.

“How dare you! Grab my daughter’s wrist until it’s in such a state?!”

“Wow, her skin must be weak. No elasticity.”

“Throw this thing into the stable immediately!!”

And then, I was actually thrown into the stable by the enraged Duke, who found Saren crying and holding her bruised wrist.

……Damn it.

❖ ❖ ❖

Thud. Not like a tragic heroine, but I was really shoved into the haystack properly.

Ha, damn it. I bit my lip and shook my head to dust off the hay.

–If you act like today one more time, know that I’ll throw you into the stables.

“He really did it. A guy who’s unnecessarily good at following through…….”

I muttered, recalling what the Duke had said yesterday.

I thought it was just something said in anger, but I couldn’t tell if I should call it a good memory or petty.

“Sigh.”

As I got up, I felt the horse beyond the wooden partition looking at me.

It was a black horse with glossy black fur, befitting the Kolhart family, who regarded black and purple as noble. The other horses beyond it were also staring at me intently.

“Is it fascinating because it’s the first time a person has come in here?”

Prrrr-

“I’m amazed too.”

It was a complaint-like monologue, but unexpectedly, a whinny came in response.

I let out a rough laugh and approached the horse.

“It seems your situation is better than mine.”

I muttered as I lightly patted the head it extended toward me.

“It’s absurd for me too, finding myself in this situation overnight.”

Saren, who was supposed to be created to soothe the wounds of the five main characters, turned into a strange person with an anachronistic discriminatory attitude, and the Duke was a trash who raised his hand against people.

Even the original’s morally bankrupt protagonists suddenly became sworn siblings.

‘It’s fortunate they’re at least friendly.’

Ironically, their goodwill is my only lifeline.

I rely on that to act this way and to get out of here.

“Enough, enough.”

Prrrrr.

The horse extended its head as if asking to be petted more. I roughly pushed it away over the partition and squatted on the haystack.

Spending a night in the stable…

It wasn’t pitiful, but it was absurd. Even if I was a daughter, I was still a person, so being thrown into a stable was just ridiculous.

I roughly hugged my knees and laughed emptily.

“I’m experiencing all sorts of things.”

“Indeed.”

“Ahh?!”

I was startled by the suddenly interjecting voice.

In front of the blue light that had just disappeared, there sat a face that had become quite familiar by now.

“Ah, Isaac?”

“Hello, Shunen.”

His black eyes, which seemed to hold the universe, curved into a smile.

“You remembered my name.”

There was joy in Isaac’s voice as he tilted his head, resting his chin on his hand.

❖ ❖ ❖

“Father, throw that lowly thing out immediately!”

Saren said, seething. Her trembling eyes, filled with indignation, sparkled even more with tears.

If you didn’t know the situation, her appearance might indeed seem pitiful.

The Duke hugged Saren and comforted her.

“Just endure it a little longer. There’s a deal with Hadenberg tomorrow, so you only need to hold on until then.”

“But…….”

“Don’t worry. Who are you?”

The Duke wiped the tears from Saren’s cheeks. Every time he saw her black hair and purple eyes, which resembled his own, his heart swelled with pride.

The proof of Kolhart. The symbol of Kolhart.

His daughter, who inherited the noble black and purple colors, was undoubtedly lovable.

“You are the only daughter of Kolhart and one of the few talented individuals in the Empire.”

“…….”

“Once the deal is complete, you will be able to live with them as you wish.”

After Retilia’s return yesterday, a message came proposing to set the final negotiation date for two days later. It also mentioned officially taking the ‘daughter’ they had hinted at.

Saren, upon hearing this news, was so delighted that she naturally agreed.

You said it was in two days, Father?

Yes. They said they’re interested in you, so you might end up with one of those four!

I will definitely make it happen, Father. Don’t worry.

Hadenberg was, strictly speaking, more of an ‘organization’ than a ‘family.’ Both in reality and perception.

But if she were to end up with one of them, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to take the Hadenberg name in another sense.

For them, who dreamed of grand plans, tomorrow’s final deal was very important.

They couldn’t afford to let a trivial whim like Shuneria’s disrupt the meeting.

“Just endure until tomorrow. After that, she won’t even be able to catch your eye.”

“What do you plan to do after I leave?”

“That’s for this father to handle. You just think about the new life that will unfold for you from tomorrow.”

With the Duke’s reassurance, a smile returned to Saren’s face.

“I won’t forget my roots even when I go there.”

“As expected of my daughter.”

“Hadenberg…….”

Saren murmured dreamily. The Duke hugged his daughter lovingly.

“Now you’ll be Saren Kolhart-Hadenberg.”

Saren smiled happily.

To ensure tomorrow’s meeting, Shuneria’s whims could easily be disregarded.

And the Duke was no different.

❖ ❖ ❖

“How did you get here?”

I asked, trying to calm my pounding heart.

Seeing my still-flustered expression, he chuckled.

“Didn’t you see yesterday? It’s my ability.”

“I know that, but how did you find me here?”

“I did look around a bit. I thought you’d be in your room.”

Isaac pointed toward the mansion.

“I’m surprised too. I didn’t think they’d actually throw me in here.”

“Right. Where would you like to be thrown?”

……I’m sure he’s smiling, but he’s probably thinking of places to throw the Duke.

As I stared at him for a moment, I suddenly lowered my gaze. There was hay on Isaac’s pants.

Crazy, why is Isaac sitting here? I exclaimed in shock.

“Wa-wait! Aren’t you going to get up?!”

“You’re sitting here.”

“No, what does that have to do with me? Get up, it’s dirty here!”

“It’s not dirty with you here.”

“I’m not a disinfectant, what are you talking about!”

I forcibly grabbed his hand and urged him to stand, but Isaac just smiled faintly.

‘Don’t just smile!’

Don’t waste that precious smile here.

In the original, one couldn’t see such a genuine smile no matter how hard they looked. It was frustrating. You can’t get mad at someone for smiling.

“I’m fine. If it’s really uncomfortable, should I take this off and lay it underneath?”

“No! Absolutely not!!”

My panic was brief, and my patience only lasted long enough to stop him from taking off his coat.

‘Yeah, how can I stop Isaac, of all people.’

After quickly giving up, I was about to release the hand I had grabbed inadvertently.

“Is it uncomfortable?”

“Yes?”

“Can I keep holding it, Shunen?”

Isaac’s fingers intertwined with mine smoothly. He raised our lightly clasped hands and asked.

‘……Again, again. Using that face like this.’

The gap with the original is serious, but his face is the truth.

I stared at his face for a moment, which instinctively drew admiration, and shrugged.

“Then sure.”

“Thank you.”

“Well…… Actually, I’m more grateful.”

I murmured softly, looking down at our clasped hands for a moment.

“Honestly, I was a bit at a loss. Spending the night here, I was worried about the cold. Consider this my gratitude for today.”

I felt Isaac’s gaze on my right cheek.

“For whatever reason, thank you for taking me out of here. Honestly, I’m just acting up, trusting you and that person I met yesterday.”

“…Shunen.”

“Thank you for coming to find me.”

The fact that I’m not from this world didn’t help solve this situation at all.

In that sense, Isaac and Retilia’s goodwill was like salvation.

There seemed to be a moment of silence.

“……We, I, should be more thankful.”

Isaac spoke quietly. The low voice, which I heard for the first time, made me look up at him.

“We five could never thank you enough, even if we did so until our deaths.”

“…….”

“That’s what you are, Shunen.”

His black eyes were looking at me unwaveringly. There was an indescribable emotion in his somewhat mysterious expression.

Swoosh-

With the wind, the haystack rustled. I lightly brushed my hair, which was blowing in the wind, and laughed softly. Well, then.

“Let’s call it even?”

“What’s that?”

“Let’s say we’re even. Each of us has something to be thankful to the other for. How about it?”

“……Alright.”

Isaac nodded. Alright. His poignant words scattered like a breath.

‘Even if they’re protagonists, they’re still human, so there are bound to be inexplicable things.’

Isaac would remain silent even if I asked more. Just as he did when I first asked how he knew me.

So I decided to let it go too.

I don’t know what makes him so grateful, but this world is full of inexplicable things anyway.

“By the way, when will you go back?”

“Until you can go back.”

“……I don’t even know when that will be.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Isaac stood up.