🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 10
Counseling, Day 1.
I changed into the appearance of a young servant and headed to the meeting place—the opera theater—with Wit.
“State your identity.”
An opera staff member looked at me suspiciously. I was wearing a brown hood and a silver mask.
I lowered my head slightly and whispered so only the staff member could hear.
“Lucian Berto.”
“What?”
“Lucian…”
“Enough. Get lost. People like you don’t belong in a place like this.”
So he wasn’t asking because he couldn’t hear me—he just had no intention of listening.
What now? I needed to get inside for the request.
“Ki-kik. Foolish human. How dare you to your master….”
“What did you say?”
Wit growled, baring his teeth at the staff member’s disdainful gaze.
Sigh. Nothing ever goes smoothly.
Just as I barely managed to calm Wit down and open my mouth again—
“So I am here as Count Berto’s—”
“Don’t be rude to my guest like that.”
Someone placed an arm on my shoulder and drew the staff member’s attention away.
Soon after, when I saw the owner of that calm voice, the staff member’s eyes widened.
“C-Count?!”
“And what do you think you’re doing to make me lose face?”
“I-I’m terribly sorry! I didn’t realize this person was your guest…!”
A guest?
I thought he told them in advance since I was supposed to come alone.
My eyes asked what was going on, and Lucian tilted his eyebrows as if he had just realized something.
“Oh dear. How careless of me. I must’ve forgotten to inform them.”
Unlike his apologetic expression, his voice was full of laughter.
It almost felt like he did it on purpose.
…Is this request really going to be okay?
“But still, your attitude as an employee is quite lacking, don’t you think?”
“P-Please forgive me….”
“While I wasn’t looking, has staff training become this poor? Or is there a spy trying to ruin my opera business? It’s hard to tell.”
“A-a spy?! That’s absurd!”
Lucian smiled brightly, speaking in a way that sounded like he was deciding what punishment to give.
The staff member turned pale.
I don’t have time for this.
I grabbed Lucian’s hand from my shoulder and pulled it away.
“Please guide me to my seat.”
…Huh?
Lucian stared at his hand for a moment.
But soon he clenched his fist again and smiled his usual gentle smile at the staff member.
“Take them to the third-floor balcony seat.”
“Y-Yes sir! This way!”
The staff member, now full of energy, bowed repeatedly and guided me inside.
“Wow… it’s huge.”
Is every opera house this big and fancy?
It was my first time in one, even in my previous life.
“This, this seat is the best view you can get. And please… speak well of Count Berto….”
“You may leave now.”
I waved the overly persistent staff member away and looked over the railing.
At the center of the second-floor front row—the most luxurious section—
A family was just arriving.
The former Marquis Berto couple, and beside them—
“Violet.”
The heroine.
The moment I saw Violet for the first time since possessing this body, I thought she had a soft, slightly drooping-eyed beauty.
She looked like someone who would be easy to approach.
That was my first impression.
But something felt strange.
According to the novel, anyone who saw Violet would be stunned by her beauty regardless of gender or age.
But… I wasn’t really feeling that.
If anything, I thought Ardrie was more beautiful.
“Ki-kik. Master, those humans are the Berto you mentioned?”
“Yeah.”
Soon after the former Marquis couple and Violet sat down,
Lucian entered with a relaxed stride and sat beside Violet.
“Seriously… at least take care of your younger sibling.”
He didn’t even glance at the child who came with him—Echo.
Echo stood awkwardly, watching the backs of the family.
That’s when—
“…?”
Lucian, who had been speaking affectionately to Violet, suddenly lifted his head toward my direction.
“W-what is he doing…!”
Then, as if delighted to see someone he knew, he waved his hand at me.
Has he lost his mind? Did he forget why we were here?
The Marquis family noticed his gesture and turned toward my direction.
I quickly grabbed Wit’s neck and pulled him back.
After some time, as the theater lights dimmed, I cautiously peeked out again.
Thankfully, nothing seemed to have happened, and they were now focused on the stage as the curtain rose.
“…Ha.”
Is this request really going to be fine?
“I, the holy knight Calix, swear to devote my entire being to the Goddess.”
The play began.
But my attention stayed on Echo.
He needed to speak to the former Marquis couple. Only then would Wit be able to check the choice window above their heads.
As if sensing my desperation, Echo finally gathered courage and walked up to the Marquis’s wife.
She turned her head.
“Master, the Marchioness….”
I quickly wrote down Wit’s words on paper.
At least she’s not completely ignoring him.
The Marchioness was listening, even if faintly.
Echo seemed happy just from that.
But—
“…Ah.”
“Too short, master.”
However, that small smile did not last.
“Heretical evil! How dare you challenge the Goddess!”
At the climax of the opera, Violet suddenly stood up and stole everyone’s attention.
The former Marquis couple smiled warmly at her as if she were adorable.
Echo tried to join the conversation, but every time he did, Violet’s dramatic behavior pulled all attention away.
“What is that… pure evil?”
“What did you say, master?”
I clicked my tongue while watching Echo sitting alone in the darkened theater.
At some point during the fifth counseling session, Echo began calling me “teacher.”
“Were you able to find the lost family heirloom?”
“Yes…! Just like you said… it was really under the training grounds….”
“Did your parents seem happy?”
“Yes…! They hugged me and praised me…!”
One of Wit’s suggestions was to retrieve the lost heirloom of the Marquis family.
I immediately recalled the novel.
The scene where Violet had found the heirloom and gained the Marquis couple’s trust.
I told Echo where Violet had found it.
And as a result, Echo’s favorability with the Marquis couple rose significantly.
“Violet unni said she was glad I became closer to my parents… It’s all thanks to you, teacher….”
Echo bowed deeply.
I quickly supported his forehead before he fell forward.
“No. It’s because you worked hard.”
“My toy master is quite modest. Anyone can see Echo just took credit for what was already prepared.”
“……”
Someone please shut that thing’s mouth.
“Then, teacher….”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
“Is this the last counseling session?”
Echo’s eyebrows drooped.
After looking at him for a moment, I answered in a businesslike tone.
“Since the purpose of counseling has been achieved, yes.”
“Ah….”
Looking disappointed, he slowly stood up and took something from his pocket.
“Lucian told me to give you this… as thanks….”
It was a hair tie.
“I picked one that matches your hair….”
A pink ribbon hair tie, like cotton candy.
“…Thank you.”
I gently rubbed the ribbon I received. It had a nice texture.
“I’ll… use it well.”
It wasn’t like I had been paid, but I felt strange.
As I absentmindedly touched the ribbon—
“So, since Echo’s request is over, is it my turn now?”
“……”
“Hm? You’re not going to kick me out, are you? I’ve been waiting quite a while.”
I clenched the ribbon and lifted my head.
Even though I couldn’t see his face under the mask, I could feel his gaze.
“I’ve said this many times. This is not a toy shop.”
Now get lost, you bastard.
Before I knew it, it was the final counseling day.
I secretly observed the Berto family walking through the royal public garden.
The former Marquis couple stood in the center, with Violet and Echo on either side.
A peaceful, harmonious family scene.
…Except Violet’s expression seemed to get worse by the day.
Unlike the opera, Echo was now the one leading the conversation. The Marquis couple laughed warmly and responded to him.
I leaned back on the bench.
Well, I guess my job is done.
Just as I relaxed—
“Hmm?”
Echo, who had been chatting quietly, suddenly stopped.
His gaze was fixed on something in the garden.
A child wearing a beautiful dress.
Echo stared at her for a long time, hesitating.
Then he finally clenched his small hands.
“Mom… Dad…”
“Yes, Echo?”
“I… want a dress too…!”
…Ah!
I jolted forward.
I bit my lip and watched Echo’s expression.
It was bad.
Because, as expected, the Marquis couple’s expressions turned cold.
