IBTDRI 11🎃

Episode 11

Edel’s misunderstanding remained unresolved.

At the worst possible moment, long-standing restraints had bound him once again.

“There was so much I wanted to tell her.”

Why he sought out Edel and Titania, why swallowing the orb had left him wracked with pain.
The fate he had not yet spoken of.
And then…

“Ugh…”

Zar’s knees buckled under the heat consuming his body.

The body of a human child was too easily swayed by curses.

If his expectations weren’t wrong, Edel too was feeling the same torment right now.

“There were things I needed to confirm… should I wait until next time…?”

But once someone’s guard was raised, it wasn’t easy to lower it again.
Even if he erased everyone else’s memories, Edel’s memories—tied directly to him—couldn’t be touched.

All he could do was appear before her as often as possible, forcing her to face him again and again.

“That will be what’s best for Edel… And for me, it’s a necessity.”

Knock, knock.

“Master, master.”

The hoarse voice of his coughing steward called just as the pain finally receded.

“They’re summoning you from the other side. We can’t resist any longer. You must answer the call.”

“….”

“Master.”

“Tell them I’m coming.”

How vexing, to receive such news at this timing. A sigh slipped from Zar’s lips.

Still, if he wanted to return to Edel, he had to buy himself time on “that side.”

He didn’t know how long they’d keep him this time, but if he played along long enough, they’d tire of him and cast him aside again.

Straightening his disheveled clothes, his eyes gleamed sharply in the mirror.

“Whenever it happens… putting the leash on myself never feels pleasant.”

“Waaaah!”

“Uwaaaah!”

As the carriage emerged from the long forest road, Tani and I both let out cries of delight.

The wide-open view outside was breathtakingly beautiful.

“Unnie, it’s so pwetty!”

“That’s right, isn’t it?”

Tani giggled, her hair now a plain brown.

Father had allowed us to dye it before coming to the countryside.

Of course, that alone wouldn’t be enough to conceal us. But compared to our unusual natural hair color, it stood out far less.

“This is the Tranber region, where the training grounds are. We should arrive within two or three hours.”

“That’s right.”

Biti explained, and Jack—riding alongside on horseback—replied without the slightest sign of fatigue.

“For safety, please keep your heads inside the carriage.”

“Mm-hm.”

Tani and I obediently sat back in our seats.

Jack, once a deputy commander of the knights, was strict throughout the journey. All for the sake of protecting us.

He’d stubbornly insisted on retirement, but when told there was no one trustworthy to guard the sisters’ trip to the countryside, he’d reluctantly agreed to accompany us.

With vigilant eyes scanning the surroundings, he spoke in a low voice.

“Remember: we moved to Tranber because of a sick family member. You are not nobles. Don’t forget.”

“Got it, Jack.”

“Got ith, Jwack…!”

Tani mimicked my reply.

My heart thumped as I turned back toward the scenery.

“This is my first time in a town I’ve never even read about in books…!”

The carriage dropped us at a cozy wooden house, nestled far from the village, without neighbors.

“Wow… it’s tiny.”

“Even among commoners’ homes, this is small.”

“At least there won’t be nosy neighbors.”

Biti and Jack both lowered their voices cautiously as they scanned the area.

Inside, the dark house smelled of long neglect.

Because we were hiding our identities, we hadn’t been able to send servants ahead to clean.

“Strange… it’s about the same size as my past life’s home. But after five years in a grand castle, it feels foreign.”

“We’ll need new hinges, and a proper cleaning. I’ll handle it.”

“In the meantime, young ladies, why don’t I take you around the village while Jack tidies the house?”

But I quickly stopped Biti as she tried to take Tani out.

“Wait! I have an idea!”

“Yes, young lady?”

Going out like this wouldn’t help us blend in. Lowering our voices wasn’t enough—anyone could overhear us.

“If we’re going to live undercover, we should do it properly from day one.”

I wanted Tani to grow up as a lively, ordinary child. And I had to ensure no noble ever discovered my curse and ruined her future.

So I made a bold declaration to Jack and Biti.

“From now on, you two should be our mother and father.”

“What? Absolutely not!”

“Never, young lady.”

Both blurted their refusals at once.

Even Tani, startled, tilted her head.

“B-but… Jack an’ Biti aren’t my mama an’ papa…?”

Ignoring their horrified faces, I knelt to meet her eyes.

“They’re not our real parents, but in the countryside it’s safer if we call them that. They’ll take care of us like parents, right?”

“U-um… okay.”

Tani nodded, but Biti immediately interjected, blocking us.

“No! Don’t convince Tani like that. We cannot covet your parents’ titles.”

“Yes. The viscount would be heartbroken. And think of the reports I must send.”

I sighed.

“So stubborn.”

“Look, I know you’re loyal. But hear me out.”

I explained calmly: using titles like uncle, aunt, or brother would only draw more attention.

To blend into a rural village quickly, the simplest cover was to appear as a normal family.

“If you have a better idea, I’ll listen. But otherwise, help me think this through.”

Jack, after a long pause, finally spoke.

“…If we pretend to be parents, we’ll have to speak to you informally. Will that be acceptable?”

“Of course!”

“And what about you, Tani?”

“Mm? Ith’s fine!”

Jack nodded.

“Understood. Then outside the house, call me Father. And I’ll call you only Edel and Tani. No full names.”

“Jack…!”

Biti looked betrayed, but he was unmoved.

“You should do the same, Biti. Call me casually.”

“How could you be swayed so easily?”

“Because Edel had the best suggestion. A knight obeys his superior’s judgment.”

Biti faltered.

Meanwhile, guilt stirred in me.

“I didn’t mean to order you, Jack. If you dislike it, you don’t have to—”

But he smiled, resting a hand on my head.

“Not once have I acted against my own will. I truly wish for your health.”

“Jack…”

His sincerity moved me.

At last, Biti sighed in resignation.

“Fine. Then outside, call me Mother. But only beyond the front door.”

“Yay! Biti, Jack—thank you!”

I hugged them both, with Tani watching wide-eyed.

“Unnie, are we done now?”

“Yes! Now we can relax, eat, and sleep.”

“Then… um, let’s pway house in the yard!”

“Shall we?”

But night was already falling.

Still, I held her hand and led her out, asking softly:

“But Tani, are you scared to live here without our parents? We’ll be in the countryside for a long time.”

I wanted to prepare her.

But her answer surprised me.

“Not scared. My fwiend said the countryside isn’t scary.”

“Friend…?”

Tani had a friend? No, that couldn’t be.

“Y-yeah. I do.”

Even as I stared, she turned her eyes away, fidgeting.

“She’s… hiding something?”

“Tani, won’t you introduce me to this friend?”

“Nooo. It’s a secwet from Unnie.”

A secret? From me?

Then something clicked.

“Could it be… an imaginary friend?”

At her age, it made sense.
I hadn’t had one, too busy surviving.

But Cindy had, once upon a time…