I swallowed my saliva. The words flowing from Serrine’s lips caused my imagination to run wild.
Existing in a large mansion undisturbed, being the master of your very own province, lying comfortably and resting all your life!
What satisfactory circumstances.
“However.”
Her sweet voice twisted terribly.
A goofy smile remained on my face as I awoke from my daydreaming and thoughtlessly moved my face to match hers. Serrine’s blue eyes had turned cold.
Although we shared the same face, was it possible for me to make such an expression? She currently seemed like a completely different personality.
“What do you think will happen if you refuse my offer?”
She was smiling, but her thorny voice sent shivers through my spine.
“You, who came to know everything about me. Besides, your face isn’t any different from mine. What do you think my next action will be?”
Yes, this face and voice.
This seemed more in resemblance to Serrine Latni, the antagonist of the original work I knew well.
Her dignified, intimidating way of speaking caused my body to harden.
“You are a person no one will care to think of if you vanish anytime now. Even if you disappear tonight, no one will come in search of you.”
Serrine continued her speech in a tone that unconditionally differed from when she had spoken previously. She continued stating the facts with an expressionless face.
“No, even if I preserve any effort and simply leave you here, you would die.”
Bang!
The moment Serrine’s words finalized, an enormous explosion resounded. Startled, I raised my shoulders while reflexively clasping my head. Serrine remained settled.
“W-w, what…”
The scorching heat rapidly filled the carriage. I turned my eyes out the window to find the warehouse in which I stood amidst a few minutes ago to be on fire.
“Was it Count Memento? Now that you burned his warehouse, he will be on the lookout for you.”
This crazy-! I didn’t commit such an act!
“Not long after, you’ll be found dead lying between trash cans. Well, you’d be lucky if that was all.”
I longed to refute her unbearable remarks, but unfortunately, everything she linked was but facts. I was a slave. What Serrine bestowed upon me was not an option in which I could consider, but rather a hope to live.
I bit my trembling lips.
“Now then, what will your next decision be? You decide, Eishan. I’ll give you a choice.”
You’ll give me a choice?
Smiling so gruesomely while threatening to kill me if I didn’t agree to her offer, was that ever a choice?
Nobles never differ from each other. They do not consider the situation of those of the lower class and simply believe their circumstances are the only ones that matter. This woman was the same after all.
“Do you guarantee your words?”
Therefore, slaves like I, the weakest of the hierarchy, have no choice but to follow. My blood cooled.
“Of course.”
If I reconsidered the matter, it wasn’t so severe.
It would only be a few months.
She claimed it to be a year at the longest, and there would be very little chance for the detoxification treatment to truly succeed.
Above all, the most tempting segment of the whole deal was that Serrine would die soon, gifting me the ability to act in whichever way satisfied myself without any such thing as apprehension or distress holding me down.
The novel has yet to unravel, and everything would remain fine as long as I didn’t associate myself with the protagonists!
“Alright, I’ll act according to your wishes.”
Serrine smiled brightly.
“Instead, kindly keep your part of the agreement. Allow me possession of the money and residence the day I leave the mansion.”
“You made a wise choice, Eishan.”
Serrine nodded her head satisfactorily and opened the window of the carriage, beckoning to the man outside. Shortly after, the man settled beside the coachman, and the wagon leisurely advanced forth.
“Our destination will be the Tekkenen Empire henceforth.”
The burning warehouse gradually faded.
“A slave named Eishan was caught in the accident and passed away. There will be nothing to worry about. I covered the mess thoroughly.”
Serrine handed me a dress she prepared in advance.
“You will no longer be entitled a slave.”
I will no longer be entitled a slave… I nodded in correspondence to Serrine’s statement and unclothed myself to try on the garment she gifted me. Serrine soon figured she could be of use and assisted me in sliding the piece of cloth on.
“I will help you become the immaculate daughter of Count Latni.”
The dress loosely coiled around my body. This was mainly due to my feeble and thin figure. Nonetheless, this new appearance caused me to feel strange and foreign.
When I scrutinized the richly embroidered decoration, I felt like I was a princess, like I could fly away whenever I wished to.
“After we return to the Tekkenen Empire, you will receive a thorough education on aristocratic courtesy for three months.”
Serrine pulled a white handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped my grimy face.
Not long after did the color of the handkerchief transform from pure white to a soiled black. Serrine frowned at the sight and continued scrubbing my features.
She pressed against my face so brutally that my cheeks stung.
“If we invest three months in my education, that would mean…”
If Serrine didn’t have much time left, six months at the least, and we spend half that time educating myself⋯ What type of freedom is that.
“If you live in pleasure for the remaining three months, that would be enough.”
Serrine retorted naturally as if she had read my thoughts. She tossed away the handkerchief that was now a fine black and examined my attire.
“Your dimensions are rather small. Eishan, you must gain more weight.”
Serrine’s smile deepened as the carriage headed for the border of the Tekkenen Empire.
***
I glanced outside the window of the rattling carriage, my jaw loose and indifferent. This was my first experience coming here, but I acted familiar with the scenery and crowd.
As the wagon passed the entrance to the mansion, a fresh spring breeze brushed my hair. It took approximately five more minutes to arrive by the front door due to the enormity of the land.
“Serrine!”
As soon as the carriage reached a stop, I heard an unfamiliar voice calling for Serrine; no, they were calling for me.
‘Let’s stay calm.’
I rehearsed for this moment countless times over the last three months. I was no longer Eishan. I am now…
“Open the door.”
Serrine.
As I gracefully departed the wagon under a servant’s escort, a strange man approached me in tears.
There was no need to question the identity of the people standing before me.
‘They are most likely my family.’
Serrine educated me not only of the proper manners that must be acquired but also of her family.
However, she did not reveal anything that might hint at her personality, friends, or acquaintances until the very end. She said she wished for me to enjoy these three months. If I knew who she was as a person and the category of people she associated herself with, I would eventually grow tired of the whole idea.
She said she would pass away soon anyhow, so I could enjoy myself to my hearts’ content. I shouldn’t hold any preconceptions towards any person.
“Oh, Serrine!”
That was all the real Serrine had informed me. When I returned to the mansion, I would claim to have fallen into an accident, causing a few of my memories to have faded in consequence.
‘But I don’t have time to speak.’
I shifted my face to find the maids paying their respects in line beside the front door of the mansion.
His well-fashioned pomade hairstyle bestowed elegance upon him, with a few gray hairs mixed within. The man stood wiping his tears with a handkerchief.
The sharp countenance, reminiscent of Serrine’s, caused me to recognize this man at once.
This person was Count Latni, the father and rightful guardian of Serrine Latni.
“Where have you been for these past three months?”
My memories were of a slave’s, so it was only natural I didn’t create a positive image of the nobility. The same was true with these past months I spent alongside Serrine. I could see her efforts in remaining as friendly as plausible, but some walls couldn’t be broken.
However, family was a different matter. Although they weren’t my family…
“Baby!”
My heart skipped a beat as I witnessed ‘my’ family rushing towards me, calling me baby.
Baby… What do you mean baby? How ridiculous. There exists no such thing as a baby here.
As a ridiculous expression fueled my face, an elegant woman followed behind the man, dashing to me like a heroine from a tragic novel while shedding thick tears.
“Oh lord, Look at this dry, damaged face. What hardships did you go through? Why are you so fragile all of a sudden?”
The woman reached her hand to stroke my rough cheeks, a shocked expression overwhelming her face.
“Oh my god!! Look at how parched her skin came to be! A child who valued skincare routine more than life!”
I blinked in response to the incessant words that continuously flowed like a waterfall.
Family.
The family I didn’t have in this lifetime was calling me ‘baby’, caressing my cheeks, and embracing me.
A family I’d live with for a short while. I struggled to hold back my tears when a small, young blonde girl scurried in an adorable motion.
“Sister Serrine!”
The girl that was in my arms only a second later also shed tears.
“Diletsha missed sister so much!”
Seeing all the family members shedding tears reminded me of the original work. The fact that the Latnis’ were terrible daughter fools. I struggled to open my mouth at the unforeseen situation.
“I’m back, Father. Mother, Diletsha.”
Silence flowed throughout the hall.
“It’s been a while, everyone.”
It was a very appropriate greeting that presented noble courtesy.
But, something is strange.
Obviously, I greeted everyone in a friendly manner, but their expressions changed abruptly. It was as if they were struck by lightning.
I hope I didn’t get caught…
“H-honey! Serrine!”
“Father! Sister’s being weird! She just said hi to me!”
“Call for a physician this instant! Search for the most renowned doctor in this Empire now!”
Oh, I guess Serrine wouldn’t have greeted them on this occasion. Damn it.
***
I was forced to lie in bed as soon as I entered due to my family’s constant fuss.
Moments later, the door opened and a gentleman dressed in a white gown hurried into my chamber.
“I’m fine. It was a rather minor accident, so I’m all better now. Only a few memories were lost.”
“Hurry on and examine my daughter!”
Count Latni ignored my words and asked for the doctor to quit hesitating. His expression was fierce as a tiger’s.
Sweat poured down the physician’s forehead like rainfall. He wiped the steam from his face using his sleeve.
“Hm.”
“H-how is it? Is it crucial? The child said hello!”
“Hmm.”
Count Latni remained restless as the doctor diagnosed my condition. He even ripped his handkerchief with bare hands.
Despite his urge, the doctor nonchalantly examined my pulse as he tilted his head.
“Hm.”
“Don’t just say ‘hmm’! Talk! Speak words!”
Eventually, Count Latni burst into agitation. The doctor remained calm.
“Count Latni. If you could keep quiet, I’d be able to make a swift diagnosis.”
“Aahh. Alright, alright. I’ll be quiet, so hurry up and make your statement!”
And again.
“Hm.”
“Now, do you know the cause?”
It was exactly as described in the novel. He was such a terrible fool.
After a long pause, the doctor trembled as his lips unfolded.
***