NYM 6

Chapter: 6

After blurting out what was really on her mind, Sebtina felt a flicker of regret.
Was that too blunt? she wondered.

She worried whether she might have hurt Adele’s feelings.

But after neatly tying up Sebtina’s hair, Adele spoke in her usual bright, ringing voice.

“I respect your preferences too, miss! All right, we’re finished getting ready. Shall we go have breakfast now?”

It was a slightly cool response, but Adele brushed past Sebtina’s words without lingering on them.

Relieved, Sebtina let out a small chuckle.

I keep finding myself being considerate.

Just as Adele took care of her, Sebtina found herself wanting to be considerate in return—even though they stood in different positions.

It was true that Clazen had an impressive network of connections. He knew exactly when to lower himself and when to elevate himself according to the situation.

…I’m not July Rive anymore.

There was no need to be dragged around by him. Instead, she could make use of his connections to meet the very best teachers for Sebtina.

She didn’t want to lose to anyone in the social circles she would enter as Sebtina.

Especially—

Never to Yulia Rive.

And there was one more thing.

The reason Clazen made time out of his busy schedule to visit Sebtina was clearly to maintain his connection with Justian Xeros while also building familiarity with Sebtina. To Clazen, the Xeros family was undoubtedly a connection worth preserving.

He probably won’t let himself be embarrassed.

She wanted to see cracks form in that ever-smiling face.

Snapping back coldly at the gentle smile and kindness he always showed didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

Breakfast delighted Sebtina.

The table was overflowing with fresh vegetables and fruit brought straight up from the estate. Sliced peaches, watermelon, and mandarins stood proudly on the table regardless of the season.

With each bite, juice filled her mouth, making her salivate even as she continued eating.

The cream soup prepared with her condition in mind and the freshly baked bread were delicious as well. A spoonful of steaming soup. Then a bite of light, fluffy, slightly chewy bread dipped lightly into it.

It was the first time she realized that mealtime could be this enjoyable.

After finishing breakfast, Sebtina returned to her room and changed into a dress to receive visitors.

The dress, made of smooth fabric, was modest. Perhaps because it was clothing she had worn while bedridden, it was designed for ease of movement.

Though comfortable, it was clearly different from the fashionable dresses of the time with puffed sleeves and thick, voluminous hems.

Adele seemed aware of this as well, carefully smoothing out the wrinkled sleeves as she spoke.

“It looks like Lady Cordelia plans to take you shopping soon.”

“Shopping where?”

“Bryden’s shop. Apparently it’s all the rage among young ladies these days. Ah—Miss, would it be all right if I came along too? I’d love to look around. Of course, I know the household work would pile up, but…”

Adele was someone who always tried to stay within her place.

“If it works out, let’s go together.”

Sebtina wished she would break out of that frame once in a while.

“Really? No taking it back!”

She couldn’t do that herself, after all.

With a faint smile, Sebtina headed to the reception room.

Once she sat down, the doctor entered. The same questions as before, the same examinations of her condition. Then came the priest.

Finally, Dante.

As if he didn’t want anyone interrupting their conversation, he once again came last.

Sebtina looked at his face as he entered. Since she had expected him, she wasn’t as startled as the first time.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

He began with a polite greeting. Remembering his previous attitude, Sebtina found it almost amusing.

She adjusted the corners of her mouth and hardened her expression.

“Yes.”

“I’ll check your condition.”

Dante didn’t rush. Although examining her body seemed secondary and his main goal appeared to be understanding how she had awakened from unconsciousness, he proceeded methodically.

Sebtina didn’t bother to speak.

Just like last time, she extended her hand. After checking the flow of mana, Dante released it.

Her condition was unchanged.

Perfectly fine.

Nothing at all had changed.

“Then, about the conversation we couldn’t finish last time—”

“There’s nothing.”

Sebtina cut him off as he tried to continue.

“…Are you sure you’ve thought it through?”

Her response had been too quick. Dante frowned slightly as he asked.

Sebtina nodded.

She had thought about it more than anyone. She’d feared she might feel even the slightest urge to speak—but that never happened.

His doubt was reasonable, yet it still irritated her.

“Do you think I’m lying?”

“That was an inappropriate thing to say. I apologize. I didn’t mean it that way.”

Dante apologized readily.

She saw him bite his lip.

That’s what he does when he’s anxious…

Was failing to extract any information from her really enough to unsettle him this much?

How close had July and she even been, really?

Recalling the final farewell—so clean and sharp it was almost cruel—Sebtina clenched her fist.

“After I returned last week, I looked into July Rive a bit more. I was curious.”

That was true.

Using the excuse that July was someone in a similar position, Sebtina had gathered information about her current self.

Seeing July through a third party’s perspective was strange.

But the novelty didn’t last long. Sebtina realized just how insignificant July had been.

July’s loneliness, her pain—those emotions that couldn’t be put into words existed solely for herself. Useless things she couldn’t tell or convey to anyone.

Objectively speaking, there was barely half a page of information about July at all.

“There was really nothing there. She was an orphan to begin with. And because of her illness, she rarely left the mansion, right? She’d been bedridden for over a year.”

These were facts known to the public.

And in the end, because July never manifested the Water Crest, she could not be officially declared an Elemental Successor. Even meetings with other elemental successors happened secretly, precisely because she was only a candidate.

One-on-one meetings.

Perhaps their belief that July had opened her heart to them had been nothing more than a misunderstanding.

“I think it’s a miracle that I woke up. And I believe miracles don’t happen easily.”

In just one week, she’d felt so much.

And she began to wonder if this wasn’t a new opportunity granted by the gods.

A chance to live as Sebtina, loved by an ordinary family.

A chance to sever the tenacious ties with the three people she’d clung to out of desperation because she’d had nothing.

Short or long—it was time enough.

Sebtina felt it deeply.

She didn’t want to go back.

She never wanted to wake up from this dream, from this reality.

She didn’t want to be July Rive.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

Dante pushed up his glasses. Behind the reflected light, his sharp eyes were visible.

This was the Dante July had known.

“That you’re doing far too much… for someone who isn’t worth it.”

She deliberately avoided calling him by name.

Her throat tightened briefly as she spoke.

She couldn’t tell whether she was speaking to Dante—or to herself.

Dante’s expression twisted.

It was different from his usual frown.

Irritation mixed with a subtle, unreadable emotion. His slightly lowered gaze seemed to avoid hers.

His wandering eyes eventually settled on Sebtina.

He spoke firmly.

“That’s enough. You’ve only just woken up—how much could you possibly know to speak so confidently?”

To Sebtina, it was an absurd statement.

How much do I know?

More than anyone.

Even the thoughts of July Rive that you never knew—every last one of them.

“Even if I don’t know everything, some things are obvious.”

“Don’t speak like that when you don’t understand the circumstances. If you talked like this outside, you’d get slapped.”

Dante folded his arms and spoke calmly. Though his tone sounded concerned, it was easy to tell his words carried no such meaning.

“I won’t be coming to you about this matter anymore, nor will I ask questions. So please stop involving yourself in my affairs.”

His denial was… refreshing.

It made her wonder just how much Dante thought he knew about July.

Did he even know why July had tried to take her own life?

In any case, asking him not to interfere was exactly what she wanted.

“Yes. I won’t interfere either. I’d rather not be asked questions like this again.”

“…Understood.”

There was a moment of silence, but Dante replied.

They wouldn’t be entangled over this matter again. And it seemed she’d left him with a properly unpleasant impression.

I didn’t want to act friendly anymore—I just said what I wanted to say…

“Then we’re done with everything we needed to do today.”

She didn’t want to remain in the same room. As Sebtina stood, Dante gathered his bag.

After staring at his stiffened face for a moment, Sebtina walked him to the door.

“…Next week will be the final examination.”

“Then I’ll see you then. If I have anything else to say, I’ll say it then.”

“No. If it’s not something I asked about, there’s no need. I’ll take my leave. Thank you for your time, Lady Sebtina.”

Right until the end, he only said what he wanted—just like the Dante of the past.

She wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved that he hadn’t changed, or angry at his rudeness.

He’d warned her she’d get slapped for speaking like that outside, yet his own way of speaking was even harsher.

What was more ridiculous was how naturally Sebtina accepted his tone.

She’d already become immune to it.

It’s frightening how easy it is to get used to something.

She let out a quiet laugh.

At the end of the hallway, Dante’s retreating figure grew smaller.

The way he quickly put distance between them made it seem like he wanted to get as far away from her as possible.