NMSP 09

Chapter 09

“Are you speaking sincerely, Amy?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Haa…”

The two of them still couldn’t hide their surprised expressions.

But it was clear they were not displeased.

“Of course, if Amy wants to inherit the family, there is nothing better than that.”

“But your father is worried that you might be pushing yourself too hard.”

Soon, they replied with voices mixed with happiness and slight concern.

“It’s fine. It’s not difficult at all. I’m not going to rush things. I’ll start slowly with what I can do.”

“Oh my… Amy…”

“As expected of our daughter. I always believed you would return to the right path.”

Seeing my parents so emotional, I continued speaking.

“And there is one more thing I want to tell you.”

What I was planning was not just taking over as heir.

It was to start a business under my own name.

“This novel was very popular, so the side stories were almost like a second part, quite long, right?”

Thanks to that, I knew some of the future events from the original side stories.

I decided to use those events to start a business.

Of course, I planned to start small using my allowance savings, so I didn’t need much extra help.

But I wanted to officially get my family’s approval rather than doing it secretly.

“I want to try starting a small business. Please allow me.”

I asked sincerely.

Then I saw my parents exchange glances.

Soon my father spoke with a kind smile.

“A business? That doesn’t sound bad at all.”

“!”

“If it’s something our daughter truly wants to do, we will always support you.”

Right after my father spoke, my mother also agreed.

“I agree as well, Amy. Do whatever you want. And if you ever need help while running the business, just tell us.”

For reference, my mother had been running a merchant company under the family name for years. It was so large that it could be called the best in the empire. But I wanted to build my own path rather than rely on her help. Still, I was grateful.

“M-Mother…”

I felt endless family love in their unconditional support. I almost cried from emotion.

But my tears disappeared immediately after my mother’s next words.

“As long as you don’t get engaged to the young lord again, anything is fine.”

Of course, she was joking, but the idea of getting engaged to Andrew again was horrifying.

I smiled and answered firmly.

“Don’t worry. That will never happen, even if I die and come back.”

Finally, their permission was granted.

Honestly, when I brought up the business, I was worried they might refuse. After all, I hadn’t been very trustworthy to them until now.

“I’m sorry for disappointing you until now.”

As I said that, tears started to form in my eyes without me noticing.

If I hadn’t recovered my past life memories, I could never have said those words.

“…!”

“Thank you for trusting me again, Father, Mother.”

I swore in my heart that I would never hurt the hearts of those who loved me again.

I would never do it again.

But Perelian probably didn’t know.

That behind his answer, there was a hidden meaning:

“Let’s start again as friends for now.”

‘Do you know, Amy?’

Perelian remembered the moment he first saw Amy at the shop earlier.

He honestly thought it was a dream. When he finally saw the face he had long missed, he almost couldn’t believe it.

“…Could it really be Lady Amy?”

He had gathered all his courage just to speak to her.

At that time, he only hoped his voice didn’t sound too shaky.

“I will give up these gloves for you, Lady Amy.”

Giving up the gloves was the best kindness he could offer her after meeting again after so long.

He wanted to hold her and talk to her about many things.

But he couldn’t. He thought Amy had cut off contact three years ago because she didn’t want to continue their relationship.

So when he saw her waiting in front of the shop, he was extremely happy.

“About a year ago, I got engaged to Young Lord Andrew.”

When he heard that, he froze for a moment.

He already knew she had been engaged to the young lord.

But he desperately hoped the next words would not be news of her marriage.

“Actually, I decided to break off the engagement.”

When he heard that, it felt like he had finally come out of deep water and could breathe again.

He almost smiled without realizing it and had to control his expression.

‘Of course. I’ve liked Amy for a long time.’

That was Perelian’s secret he had never told anyone.

From childhood, as childhood friends, she had always been strong and amazing in his eyes.

He had been a shy boy who only knew magic, and she was the first person he ever liked.

“You are my friend. My best friend!”

Whenever Amy said that, he felt happy. It felt like he was special to her.

But after realizing his feelings, those words began to hurt differently.

“Perelian, you are just a friend. Only a best friend. Nothing more than that is possible.”

From that moment, Perelian began to focus more on magic studies.

Because Amy only saw him as a childhood friend, but the only time she truly admired him was when he used magic.

‘If I become a great mage at the Magic Tower and return… will she look at me differently?’

With that hope, he left for the Magic Tower.

Even though he could only communicate with Amy through letters, it was fine.

But everything changed when Amy made her debut in society.

“Why aren’t you replying, Amy?”

The gap between their weekly letters kept growing.

He wanted to go see her, but the Magic Tower did not allow free travel.

“Andrew Erteisha… so it’s because of him that Amy is distant from me…”

When he heard about her engagement, he felt shock and self-hatred.

He kept wondering how he was worse than that spoiled young lord.

‘If I had stayed by your side instead of going to the Magic Tower…’

‘If I had confessed before your debut…’

He imagined many possibilities.

But in the end, he concluded:

‘Even if I confessed, it wouldn’t have worked. I’m not attractive enough.’

He was slower in growth than others and still looked like a young boy even at 17.

It was because of his magic power.

‘Mages say slower aging means stronger magic.’

But Perelian was no longer happy about it.

‘Is there a way to force my body to grow?’

In the end, he found a method through effort.

He grew much taller than his peers.

But nothing changed.

He even used dangerous magic to suppress his mana, causing side effects.

‘In the end, Amy chose Andrew, not me.’

When their contact completely stopped, he finally realized something deeply.

‘I wasn’t important to you.’

After that, he wrote letters he knew would never be answered, then broke his pen in frustration.

Fortunately, he was not the type to obsess over someone who didn’t return his feelings.

‘If you don’t need me, I have no choice but to let go.’

He tried to forget Amy and focused only on magic for three years.

Just when he was finally about to let go…

She appeared again in front of him.

And she had broken off her engagement with Andrew.