CBOM 50

I thought he’d immediately say Eshi, but since he didn’t, I felt relieved.
When he said I was his favorite person in the world, it really hadn’t been an empty compliment.

“Honestly, Lady Livanu is the most important to me. There’s no reason to even rank anyone after that.”

The answer I wanted finally came.
Maybe Grace already knew that was exactly what I wanted to hear.

Then suddenly, I wondered—why did Grace like me this much?

From the first time we met, he’d constantly told me he liked me.
Sure, it must’ve been easier to be around me now that the bad smell was gone, but still… even back then, when things were much worse, he’d treated me kindly.

“Are you thinking something weird again?”

“Hmm?”

“Your face looks like it’s wandering off into some useless thought.”

“…I was just wondering why you like me so much. You’ve liked me since the start. There’s no real reason for it. Was it pity? Sympathy or something like that?”

Even if it was, I wouldn’t have minded.

“Is it still like that now?”

Livanu asked, almost certain, whether Grace still felt sympathy for him.

It wasn’t pity, and it wasn’t sympathy—but Livanu still seemed convinced that Grace had helped him out of compassion.
Given Livanu’s past circumstances, it wasn’t surprising he thought that way.

“You said before it was because of money…”

Grace muttered the excuse he’d made in the beginning, but Livanu’s firm expression made it clear he didn’t believe it anymore.

“I don’t believe that now. I know you spent more money than what that maid gave you. You said you didn’t get much since you were new, but I know what kind of place an information guild is. The kind of intel you get depends on how much you pay.”

That was true.

Grace had told Livanu he hadn’t paid much, but in reality, he’d spent quite a bit. Even after coming to this remote estate, he’d kept spending little by little.

Of course, Livanu couldn’t imagine how much in total.

“Someone like Ahin wouldn’t come all this way for free, right? The more I think about it, the less sense it makes. I don’t want to admit it, but she clearly knows a lot and she’s skilled. She wouldn’t just come for nothing.”

“She came because she knows me.”

It was true that he hadn’t paid her yet.
Ahin hadn’t demanded payment, and she seemed to have come purely out of curiosity about Grace.

And honestly, it even looked like she enjoyed teaching Livanu.

“You two knew each other before?”

“Not exactly, but she didn’t ask for money right away…”

“So she’s working for free?”

“Young master, why are you worrying about money? Do you think His Grace the Duke won’t send any? That’s not the case.”

It wasn’t the duke, but the butler had given Grace some money before they left.
It wasn’t much, but enough to live comfortably in this quiet countryside.

“Besides, I plan to milk Lord Reto for a lot—like Sophie does—so don’t worry. Ahin didn’t come here to make a fortune anyway. She’ll only take what’s reasonable.”

Then Livanu suddenly looked very serious, as if making a firm decision.

“…Grace. Whatever your reason for staying by my side, it doesn’t matter.”

“That’s not true—there is a reason.”

“…There is?”

Hearing that, Livanu swallowed hard and looked nervous.

“It’s nothing big. I just don’t like judging people by appearances. You never really know what kind of person someone is until you get to know them. You may have had severe skin disease and a bad smell, but you were a good person.”

“…I was a good person? But I pushed you away at first.”

“I know it wasn’t on purpose.”

“…How could you tell?”

“I’m a bit of an odd person myself. People wouldn’t know by looking at me, but still.”

Who else dies and comes back again and again?
Who else has a body that refuses to die easily?

Others might’ve found Livanu grotesque, but Grace thought they weren’t so different.
Neither of them were people the world would easily understand.

“What do you mean? Were you sick too?”

“…Yes. Very sick.”

“Where? Are you okay now?”

Seeing Livanu’s worried face made Grace smile faintly.

“I was sick… but I think I got better thanks to you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Livanu’s face looked both bitter and strangely hollow, so he couldn’t bring himself to ask more.
It didn’t seem like Grace had been physically ill—more like something had happened.

Grace didn’t seem to want to talk about it, so Livanu decided not to pry. He was sick… that’s all I need to know, he thought.
Maybe someday, Grace would tell him.

After a short silence, Livanu spoke again with quiet determination.

“I’ll make sure you live in comfort.”

“…!”

That had been Grace’s goal from the start, but hearing the promise come from Livanu himself was still shocking.

“Whatever happens, I’ll protect you. So you won’t get hurt.”

It pricked Grace’s conscience a bit—since Livanu’s feelings were pure and selfless—but he couldn’t help being happy.

Even if they were just words for now, half his plan was already working.

“Grace.”

“Yes?”

“You told me once you’d help me make the people who abandoned me regret it.”

“…I did.”

“But I don’t care about that anymore.”

“…Young master.”

“As long as you stay by my side, everything’s fine. No—I’m fine.”

“Thank you… for saying that.”

He wanted to ask what exactly do you mean by making me live in comfort, but that would sound too greedy, so he held it in and replied humbly instead.

“I mean it. Ahin says I have talent for swordsmanship.”

Of course he did.
His body overflowed with mana.

“So I’ll become a great knight. Once I get a title and earn a lot of money, I’ll give it all to you. And when I gain honor, I’ll tell everyone that Grace is more amazing and admirable than I am.”

“Young master, then all I have to do is look forward to that day?”

Grace’s eyes shimmered with mock emotion as he answered.
Once was enough for modesty—play it too hard and people start feeling pressured.

“Yes!”

Livanu thumped his chest with confidence.

Hearing a clear promise from someone with such a bright future gave Grace an odd sense of security.
And the fact that Livanu was even talking about the future meant he’d finally begun to hope he had one.

That was a good sign.

He was training in swordsmanship earlier, showing more determination than before—maybe that future would come sooner than expected.
If so, perhaps Grace could finally enjoy an easier, more comfortable life.

They spent a long time chatting at the café, talking softly about all sorts of things.
Though they’d been together for quite a while, this was their first real, deep conversation.
It felt meaningful.

Livanu had even promised to make Grace live comfortably—to ensure a future for both of them.

“Hehe.”

Even after returning from their stroll through the village, Grace was in an unusually good mood.

“You must’ve enjoyed spending time with the young master,” Eshi said, noticing Grace’s constant little smiles.

“Yeah, I think so.”

After washing up and changing into sleepwear, Grace looked completely at ease.

Normally, Eshi always worried because Grace looked downcast before bed, but tonight she looked peaceful.

“You really do seem calm tonight.”

“…Do I?”

The truth was, Grace could get by with very little sleep.
Even if he slept two or three hours, it was enough, and he didn’t particularly like sleeping longer.

Whenever he did, he always had bad dreams—and ended up more restless than before.

He’d often lie awake for hours, pretending to sleep just to match everyone else’s schedule.
Sleep was never comforting—it was just a reminder that his body was not like everyone else’s.

“Should I turn off the light?”

“Yeah. Good night, Eshi.”

“Good night, Grace.”

As Grace lay there, he realized Eshi was right—he did feel unusually at peace tonight.
Unlike all the reluctant nights before, sleep came easily now.

Maybe it was because Livanu had finally given him a clear promise about their future.

“…Hmm.”

Even with the power to turn back time, Grace had never been rich or influential.
Sure, knowing the future made life easier, but an immortal life wasn’t necessarily a happy one.

After living like a hamster on a wheel for so long, this time he’d decided—just once—to take it easy and rely on someone else.
And somehow, that decision had brought him real warmth.

Grace found it strange, but comforting, as he slowly closed his eyes.