CH 17

“We still don’t know yet, do we?”

“No, I know. Everyone said it was nonsense… but when you were born, I definitely felt the movement of mana in you.”

Hugo lowered his white eyelashes and whispered as if chanting a spell.

“You’re the only one in the world that’s my kind.”

It seemed like he was talking to his own reflection in the mirror rather than his sister.

“Because of you, I am no longer alone.”

‘No, you are alone.’

A rough feeling of guilt ran through my heart.

***

The terrace on the first floor with a view of the garden.

The setting sun left a long shadow behind the shoes.

I was just waiting for Nike to come back and say, ‘The Duchy’s carnival committee interview is ready.’

‘Isn’t Alan not interested in the Carnival Committee? Why is he taking so long to change clothes?’

Besides, I heard the guests had already arrived at the duke’s castle. It was not a bad time for myself to be alone, but…

‘There is no progress at all in finding the original protagonist.’

I groaned and my head fell on the table.

With that alone, the maid waiting at the entrance of the terrace was surprised so I had to wave my hand to signify that I’m okay.

‘Where the hell are you, main character?’

Don’t keep making me anxious. 

I went back and forth between heaven and hell just now because I thought Hugo was torturing me.

I didn’t have anything to seduce him yet, but I’d think about it after finding him.

‘He’s gonna be strong, isn’t he?’

You’re not weak because you’re a main character who is still growing up, right? You have to be stronger than anyone else in at least four years.

Shiny silver hair. Deep purple eyes. A boy with dark and lonely eyes that seemed impossible for such a young age.

Right. Just like that kid standing at the entrance to the garden over there…

“…Huh?”

A boy who seemed to have drawn a picture of the main character’s appearance in <No Dreams or Hopes> was looking up at the castle in a sparsely populated garden.

I rubbed my eyes, but the boy did not disappear.

“Huh?”

The scenery was distorted. 

Drip, drip.

Raindrops that fell without notice soaked the shades.

“Oh, my God, I’ll tell the servant to lower the awning a little more.”

The maid went into the terrace to deliver the words.

It was not yet known which one of the larks it would be, but at least it was not Verney.

She was not wearing glasses.

‘No! Wake up!’

I barely caught hold of the fluttering spirit string.

I glanced over the terrace railing.

If he was really the main character, I couldn’t just stay idly like this and let him go.

I had to find out.

Where he lives, why he’s here, and… why he’s wearing a restraint device.

I hid behind the garden tree and looked at the boy.

The boy was staring blankly at the duke’s castle as if he didn’t even know it was raining.

His wrists were wrapped in handcuffs, wrapped around his fists in a circle, and his ankles were filled with foot cuffs of heavy chains.

His body, exposed through the ragged clothes he wore, looked very firm for a 12-year-old.

‘I guess he just looks like him. The main character’s father is a count.’

The boy was a complete slave.

No matter how he’s an illegitimate child, that’s too much. 

Even Michael was wearing a big ring…

As I was about to turn around, someone screamed while running.

“Hey! Benimus!”

Still, how can people who look alike even have the same name?

Buugh! A boy who appeared from the other side led a group and kicked Benny mercilessly.

Benny collapsed somehow despite the strong bones.

A group of children, fifteen or so, a little older than me, surrounded him. It was complete gang bullying!!

“Why is it so hard to find a button that you dropped on the way here? What if you make eye contact with the princess who came back to the castle yesterday, huh? Will you take responsibility if that person turns into black monster?!”

He’s definitely on the verge of collapse. Benimus, the protagonist of 〈No Dreams or Hopes〉, was right there!!

“Hey, can I hit this? The carnival meeting is going to be quick too, so if I break it….” 

“I don’t care. He’s a slave who will be fed to beasts at the barn when the time comes anyway.” 

They had no fear. 

These idiots, he’s the main character!!

“This piece of garbage, you can’t even qualify as a gladiator candidate to be sponsored by the uke. At best you’ll become a stable boy who feeds the beasts.”

A young master who was a jerk laughed in a vulgar manner and kicked the child in the stomach once more.

Benny didn’t groan even though the sound was quite loud.

“The loyal dogs I have worked so hard to raise are already on standby. Whoever he chooses, the duke will be very pleased. After today, my future will be clear!”

The young master said confidently.

‘That voice sounds familiar.’

I stopped while trying to rescue Benny.

“I no longer have to live next to the ant cave. Goodbye, you stinky ants!”

“It’s the fire ant, fire ant!”

I remembered! Children throwing stones at my head in the ant cave.

Among them, the leader of the bad boys who wore the best clothes! The guy who gave me the nickname ‘fire ant’!!

‘Why must I meet you in a place like this?’

I hurriedly hid myself and tucked my hair into my rain-soaked hat.

There was no such thing as a coincidence.

The guy who was the most rude to the main character in the original story was also the same one who gave me the nickname ‘fire ant’.

Was his name… Hans?

“Klaus, don’t you think we should get back?”

…Well, at least I guessed the last letter right. 

“My dress got wet looking for that slave. I can’t show the princess something like this.”

“Can you meet the princess?”

“Klaus!”

“Tsk, okay. Even if I didn’t put this bastard on sale yesterday at a bargain price, I don’t care if he runs away or not. But no matter how garbage he is, if you don’t send the item out on time, it’s going to be a problem.” 

Then Hans… no, the girl who was looking at Klaus tilted her head.

“Are you going to sell him? Why?”

“The viscount’s daughter told him to smile, but he didn’t. He ruined the mood. Do you know how much I can sell this child for?” 

“How much is it?”

“One Flora coin! Would it be even worth using for pig food?”

Wasn’t it too cheap for a life? It seemed that insults were more important than money.

Even if I wanted to come out right away, my opponent was Klaus.

No matter how much he recognized me with my red hair down, not my face, I couldn’t make a wonderful appearance and shout, ‘As a princess, I order you to stop right now!’

My anger broke out. 

‘I have to call someone. Please… you must be safe until then.’

If I abandon my ego a little bit, run to Alan and say, ‘Wuaaa! dad! Someone in the garden just hit the kid! Scold him!’ but I couldn do it.

In a hurry, I turned around and hurried my steps.

Buggh.

Ha ha… What was that sound? It was the sound of me falling into the mud.

It seemed that there was a setting for me to fall over in an important situation.

Immediately, a group that was with Klaus gathered around me.

Even when muddy water got into my nose, I couldn’t lift my face.

“What else is this? Maid?”

Yes, please think of me as that.

“Klaus, wait a minute.”

“Why?”

“Did you forget? The princess has red hair, and that dress, it’s southern silk, even though it looks like that.”

The girl next to Klaus was pretty quick-witted.

“It could be. But what kind of princess is lying all alone in the muddy water without a maid?” 

Would he not know even if I gave him the answer? Apparently, Klaus’ senses went to the girl, he was so dim-witted. 

‘He doesn’t seem to recognize me for now. It’ll look even more suspicious if I keep holding back, then…’

“Oh my gosh! It’s a dress given to me by the princess, what should I do with this?”

I limped to my feet and produced a hoarse voice from my neck.

I didn’t even shake the mud off my face on purpose.

Then Klaus looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Oh, she gave you some clothes? Are you acquainted with the princess?”

“Oh my God, what do you mean acquainted? I just serve the princess. My hair is equally red, and the clothes that the princess throws away fit very well.”

I mimicked the tone of the servant with a crushed face.

I never dreamed that hearing vulgar speech that gave me goosebumps would be of any help.

“By the way… what were you just doing? This is the garden that the princess especially cherishes.”

I turned to Benny.

The boy was lying face down, his purple eyes were staring at me.

I’m sorry that my first impression was this sloppy, main character.

“Oh, that must hurt. If the princess sees it she will be disappointed. She’s the one who cries even because a sparrow with a broken leg is so pitiful.”

“Tha, that.”

Klaus also looked perplexed. Indeed, even if the maid runs to the compassionate princess and says, ‘They’re going to kill the boy.’ his image would fall.

I avoided my gaze as much as possible and groaned.

“Isn’t it better to go back soon? It’s raining, but… huh?!”

Along with the sound of mud splashing, Klaus grabbed my cheek with both hands.

He wiped the mud off my face and made eye contact, not caring whether his sleeves were dirty or not.

“You…”

What? No! Don’t notice me! Why are my eyes popping out all of a sudden right now! 

He was so slow-witted earlier, why was he being like this now?!

To be continued…