A green and red bruise, settled on Eliya’s wrist like mold.
What could that be?
Why does Eliya have such marks on her wrist?
On the body of the youngest daughter of the esteemed Bevel Family on the continent, why?
‘It’s not like someone hit her, right?’
Bruises don’t only come from blunt force.
After surgical operations, there are often bruises left around.
That’s an optimistic assumption.
There’s no medical reason for that area to have such a shape.
‘Who could have….’
My mind was in turmoil.
If it were Eliya, she wouldn’t have just sat there until she got a bruise.
The moment she tried to touch someone, her opponent would have been ashes.
Thus, there should be no bruise.
‘In other words, Eliya didn’t retaliate.’
Either her opponent was someone she couldn’t fight back against,
or she didn’t have the strength to fight back yet.
At a distance from Eliya,
the maid, Ria, with her jet-black eyes watched me intently.
‘Shouldn’t I be watching Eliya petting the Moon Deer….’
Ria.
With her red hair, she was Eliya’s personal maid.
She wasn’t a character I knew from the future timeline.
‘Who is she… she must be someone who has a crucial impact on Eliya?’
My thoughts were interrupted by Eliya’s words.
“I’m done.”
“Ah. Yes.”
I finally regained my senses and returned to reality.
“The rules you need to follow while staying here will be explained by a temporary maid separately.”
Ria approached and wiped her hands.
“You can stay until Tuesday or Wednesday. Depending on the situation, you might have to leave earlier or stay later. You can spend your remaining time freely, but if you need to go out, inform the designated maid.”
I wondered when she thought of these things; the words came out smoothly.
She seemed like a child while petting the Moon Deer, but now she went back to her original demeanor.
“You can see the Moon Deer at 7 PM every day, after dinner. But this may change depending on my schedule.”
This was a notification without seeking consent.
She was in a position to do so.
I nodded without saying much.
“Yes.”
“Oh, and about the prize….”
Eliya turned to me and tilted her head.
“Should I publicly commend you in front of everyone? If you want, let me know. I can accommodate that much.”
“…No, that’s alright.”
It wasn’t such a grand competition, and the prize was modest.
Compared to my financial situation, it was a fortune, but still.
And now, gathering people to commend me would look strange.
It would feel like showing off, which would be embarrassing.
“Well, then I’ll let Miguel know.”
Eliya, who had been expressionless, looked down at her palm.
Her red eyes stared blankly.
The sudden silence was momentarily disconcerting.
Then she looked at me and smiled sweetly.
“You always surpass my expectations.”
“…….”
“Can I expect it again?”
No.
Please don’t.
“…I will do my best.”
The words came out contrary to my heart.
People are inherently creatures that differ from what they show on the outside.
Eliya left with a gift-like smile.
It was a gift that didn’t bring me any joy.
With nothing to do, I waited while petting the Moon Deer.
“Ahem, cough!”
The stablekeeper coughed as he approached gradually.
He moved as if asking me to acknowledge him first.
It was uncomfortable, yet I couldn’t ignore him.
“Oh, you’re that Jude, the candidate knight, huh?”
As I looked at him, he spoke as if he had been waiting.
“Do you know me?”
“I know, of course. Haha.”
The demeanor he had in front of Eliya was gone.
He seemed like a friendly old man.
“You’re quite famous in this mansion these days. There wouldn’t be anyone who doesn’t know you.”
“…Me?”
“Yeah! Lady Eliya, who hadn’t shown any interest in knight training for years, went to the training camp herself? It’s all because of you.”
“…….”
“Even Miguel and Gawain, who are known for their mouths being tight, spread rumors about you. ‘What kind of guy is charming our lady?’”
What an awful thing to say.
Charming? What do you mean?
That’s not possible, and if I did, I’d end up dead—definitely.
“Well, the kid’s face is decent. But the lady, who completely ignores any political marriage, wouldn’t choose just based on looks….”
If someone heard that, it’d be a big deal.
By “big deal,” I mean at least torture, at most execution.
His words were almost an insult to the nobility.
“Anyway, everyone is excited thinking that a knight will finally make an appearance.”
“For the first time? Aren’t the guards the knights protecting the mansion?”
“Huh? Ah, right. They’re different from the knight guards. They protect the mansion but not the lady. They are sent by the family and, technically speaking, are loyal to the Bevels. They do follow whenever she goes out, though.”
That meant there wasn’t a single designated knight guard for Eliya.
No thoughts of becoming a knight had crossed my mind anyway, but at least I had satisfied my curiosity.
“Eek. What I just said is a secret, right?”
He seems to know his mouth tends to run wild.
“Uh, um, I will go get some hay for the deer!”
He hurriedly left.
Wondering what that was about, I turned around to find Miguel had arrived.
Beside him was a woman dressed in a maid uniform.
“This is a maid who will be serving you for a while.”
…Ah, wait.
I’m not comfortable with this.
A young man who lived in modern society suddenly being waited on by a young woman?
My Confucian-influenced sense of chastity protested fiercely.
“Uh, could you perhaps change her to a male?”
“…?”
Miguel frowned and shook his head.
“Even if you’re a guest of the lady, you’re overstepping your bounds. You were not brought in with the privilege to make such a request.”
“…….”
“Whatever fanciful ideas you might have at your age, that won’t be happening.”
Fanciful ideas, huh…
I still have a long way to go to adapt to this place’s common sense.
‘She looks only a few years older than me.’
Even while having this conversation, the bright blonde maid remained impassive.
After the exchange ended, she gently bowed her head.
“I’m Anna. I will take good care of you for a short time.”
“Ah, yes… I’m Judah… pleased to meet you.”
Miguel chuckled lightly.
He looked at me as if I were some insignificant child.
“All messages will go through Anna from now on. Likewise, if there’s anything you need to go out for, just tell Anna. And here.”
Miguel took out a heavy pouch from his pocket.
“The prize, 100 Florins.”
Cash.
Money I can spend freely.
Somehow, I felt relieved.
As soon as Miguel finished his business, he left.
Anna spoke politely.
“I will guide you to your room.”
Unlike me, Anna seemed quite at ease.
For her, this was her daily routine, her work.
Her conditioned kindness felt mechanical, owing to her position in the service industry.
I felt more comfortable thinking of her as a service worker.
“Wait a moment.”
Before leaving, I petted the Moon Deer one last time.
“I’ll come again tomorrow.”
Her large face, being rubbed, felt much like a puppy’s.
I noticed she was careful not to poke me with her horns.
Pretty cute, huh? Her fur was soft, too.
“Good girl.”
Fortunately, the Moon Deer didn’t follow me.
It seemed to accept that I had to stay here from now on.
Leaving the Moon Deer behind, I followed Anna.
*
There wasn’t just a large mansion here.
On the grounds, various auxiliary buildings were dotted around.
The room assigned to me was just like that.
A small brick house slightly away from the mansion where Eliya resides.
It wasn’t unnecessarily large, which is nice, and it was quite close to the stables.
“You can use this building. I will be in a small room on the first floor, so if you need anything, just come see me at any time.”
…I don’t like this. It’s uncomfortable.
“You’re free to roam the garden on the grounds. But you’ll need permission to enter the building.”
I wasn’t planning on entering any other buildings anyway.
Anna explained some more house rules.
They were all simple without being particularly complex.
Meals, sleep, going out—everything was free as long as I informed Anna.
After the explanation, I cautiously asked a question I was curious about.
“Are there any other family members of the lady here?”
I hurried to clarify my suspicion that I wasn’t about to intrude on any family privacy.
“Ah, I just thought I might bump into them while wandering around the grounds. I wouldn’t recognize them, so…”
Anna nodded as if I were a cautious little child.
“In this mansion, the only person bearing the Bevel name is the lady.”
It struck me that that little girl was living alone on this vast land without a single family member.
It seemed lonely to think like that.
But then again, Eliya wouldn’t feel such emotions—obviously.
That’s probably just me being young in this body.
‘But who caused the bruise on Eliya’s wrist?’
“However,”
Anna added,
“The Duchess visits sometimes.”
“I see.”
If it was the Duchess, then it must be Eliya’s biological mother.
I even knew her name.
Narcissi de Bevel.
In the original game timeline, she was already deceased.
Killed by Eliya.
As the stories of Eliya and the Bevel family are scarcely known, I have no idea why she was killed.
‘Is it possible that bruise….’
Why did I have to see that?
It was making me overly concerned.
‘It’s not certain, so I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.’
The infamous arsonist and murderer.
Eliya.
No matter how evil a villain she might be, I couldn’t just overlook the fact that that little girl’s wrist was deeply hurt.
What a ridiculous concern.
Just because I can’t ignore it doesn’t mean anything will change.
If Eliya couldn’t even fight back, what could I possibly do?
I’m not a special person.
I’m not someone monumental enough to save anyone or redeem anyone.
What I faced was on a different level than exposing Kale after splitting his testicles in front of others.
‘…Ugh. What a disgusting aftertaste.’
But I know myself.
I’ll probably continue to keep an eye on Eliya and not be able to disregard her.
‘While observing, I also need to quietly plot my escape plan to save my own life.’
First, I asked Anna for lunch.
While she was cooking, I checked out the house where I’d be staying for the next few days.
The second-floor bedroom and bathroom.
The first-floor living room and kitchen.
Though it had no signs of use, it wasn’t abandoned; it was clean.
Maybe it’s cleaned periodically.
Lunch was a sandwich.
It was infinitely better than the hard bread I used to eat at the training camp.
The bread was moist and soft, and the savory taste of bacon and cheese blended perfectly with the crisp vegetables.
‘Is this the life of nobility…?’
I was reminded again of the differences in status.
But still, I felt a little disappointed.
It was tasty, but lacking in nutrients.
‘It would have been better with a higher protein ratio—there’s no way Eliya would think of even the candidate meals…’
So, I had several sandwiches out of disappointment.
Anna seemed impressed by how much I was eating.
There was nothing surprising about it; I had eaten even more in my previous life.
‘Is it right to call it a previous life…? Why am I even here?’
Ending the meal with unanswered questions, I went out.
There was somewhere I wanted to go.
I pretended to Anna that I was going to cut my hair.
My hair was uncomfortable, having grown messy since I hadn’t managed it.
The problem was… Anna accompanied me.
“Aren’t you supposed to stay at the mansion?”
In the carriage.
I questioned her, who sat opposite me.
“It’s my job to serve the guests, even outside. I’ve finished reporting.”
Wow, that was fast.
The carriage departed with Anna and me aboard.
Our destination was the busiest shopping street.
During the ride, she sat with her back straight and didn’t move a muscle.
She didn’t seem uncomfortable at all.
I was the one uncomfortable.
‘She’s like a machine…’
I thought I should say something, but there was nothing to talk about.
Just being quiet seemed better.
‘By the way, I need to shake her off before we get there.’
I quickly came up with a plan to distract Anna.
*
I got off at the entrance to the shopping district.
The carriage couldn’t go beyond this point.
Now was my chance to act separately from Anna.
I cautiously asked the flustered Anna who had followed me off.
“Is there a gift you think a noble lady might like?”
“…A gift?”
“Yes. It’s nothing serious; I thought I might buy something as a thank-you for taking me in this time with the prize I received…”
Anna raised one eyebrow as if she couldn’t comprehend.
I could understand her reaction.
Who would give a gift to whom?
100 Florins were a good amount for me,
but for Eliya, it was something she wouldn’t even pick up from the street.
Besides, as someone of a lowly status, there was no way Eliya would appreciate a gift from me, a commoner.
I could never cater to her tastes.
I knew all this.
But somehow, I couldn’t think of a better way.
“Actually, I lied about cutting my hair. I’m sorry. Since the lady took me in, I feel I should repay her in some way…”
I tried to act like a clumsy child, but I had no idea if it worked.
“Surely… you don’t have feelings for the lady, do you…?”
Bad news.
She was seriously misunderstanding the situation.
“At this age, I don’t plan on dying any time soon.”
My tone came out surprisingly firm.
My previous playacting as a child was futile now.
Even though Anna still seemed skeptical, she explained.
“If we had to pick the most common gift, it would definitely be flowers. Judging by the lady’s age, perhaps Freesia or Anemone would suit her…”
“Could you buy some for me?”
“Yes?”
To her repeated question, I handed her a 10 Florin bill.
“Gifts should be bought by the giver themselves to hold any meaning…”
“If I pick them, I might end up summoning a devil with flowers or performing some kind of black magic.”
I wouldn’t know what flowers to choose.
There’s no way I could just buy one.
It would be best to let Anna pick, who knows better than I do.
I knew she would blend them perfectly at the flower shop.
So really, this was just an excuse.
“I have something else in mind, so I’ll be off. Let’s meet back here later!”
“Wait…!”
I bolted leaving a bewildered Anna behind.
I dashed into the busy streets, trying to evade her.
‘Am I going to be in trouble…?’
A childish worry sprung up.
But it was okay.
Getting in trouble for the sake of today’s business was worth it.
Once I was confident Anna wouldn’t chase me, I strode towards my destination.
The road felt strange yet familiar.
It was the shopping street of the Bevel Principality, which I had visited a few times in the game.
But since it was in the past, it looked quite different from the scenery I knew.
However, the basic layout remained the same.
The route heading to my destination was identical.
The central square of the street, a wide space around a large fountain, was the most frequented area.
‘From the fountain, you can see the snowy mountains far off to the north.’
That direction held my destination.
An inn bustling with patrons, even in early afternoon.
It was a cafe just two doors down from there.
As I opened the door, a little bell jingled.
Elegant decor emanating a sophisticated taste welcomed me.
The patrons seated were all gentlemen and ladies worthy of the title.
I was so grateful I had bathed and changed clothes at Eliya’s mansion.
Had I worn my original attire, I would’ve been chased off as a beggar.
The clerk at the counter looked at me, puzzled.
“Did you come alone?”
The implication was that a child couldn’t walk in here without an attendant.
“Yes.”
I nodded, producing a gold coin, a 1 Florin.
As I slid the coin across the counter, I whispered discreetly.
“I came to ask about your lips and ears.”
“……”
The clerk blinked rapidly, furrowing her brow.
It was apparent she was having trouble believing her eyes.
However, she could not refuse this signal.
“What sort of situation is this…? For now, this way, please.”
She led me to the back, beyond the counter, into a storage room.
She cleared a pile of boxes and traced her fingers along one of the walls.
Then, the wall rotated and stood straight up.
A large gap opened up on both sides.
“The innermost room is vacant, so you can go there.”
“Thank you.”
I handed her one more gold coin as I went through the narrow opening created by the rotating wall.
The clerk continued to look at me with disbelief until the last moment.
‘Finally, I’m here.’
They could provide me with an escape if I just happen to avoid elimination.
Even post-elimination or escape, they would be the most useful support to assure my survival here.
Being everywhere yet nowhere at the same time.
Divided by geography, the Helios Empire and the Bevel Principality
Although smaller, it was a relatively free third party.
This was the den of the Information Guild.
*
A dim corridor.
Only the soft flame of candles provided light.
There were people standing at intervals along the spacious hallway.
Like statues, they made not a sound.
In truth, they weren’t even people.
The path split several times, but I continued straight ahead.
Since I was supposed to reach the farthest room.
‘Each room allowed clients to transaction with a guild member, right?’
Recalling that, I arrived at the innermost room.
I knocked twice.
“Come in.”
A soft yet sticky female voice.
‘…Why does that voice sound familiar?’
Feeling puzzled, I opened the door.
Under the light, I saw the back of a woman at a desk.
Her hair was as white as snow.
A puff of smoke rose from her, along with a sweet peach scent wafting into my nostrils.
It must’ve been tobacco, but it didn’t smell like it.
Only after sensing her white hair and sweet smoke did I recognize who she was.
‘Why is she here…’
She turned around.
Her long white eyelashes were as white as her hair.
In between them were purple eyes that resembled precious jewels.
Holding a pipe, she looked at me and smiled sweetly.
“Well, even a child counts as a customer, but how on earth did you find your way here?”
Yurideke.
The master of the Information Guild.
I was startled but didn’t let it show.
Only a few knew she was the head.
‘No, it’s actually a good stroke of luck.’
I knew a lot about this world; not only about the future but about the survival of the Information Guild itself.
Though I didn’t know anything about the Bevel family, I had a wealth of knowledge about this world.
‘Especially the information I brought today will likely be of paramount importance to Yurideke.’
I didn’t need to feel small.
I confidently sat in front of her.
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