TCHB 05

Chapter 05

“What do you mean by that? Moving to the count’s territory? Then what about this place?”

“Mom said she’s bu— what was it? Umm, ah! Buying it! She bought the land next door to build a house! Both here and there are our homes, but once that one’s built, I’ll live there! You like that too, right, Shuri? Huh?”

“O-of course!”

Lotte’s eyes sparkled happily. Seeing her like that, I swallowed the words that’s not true.

In my second life, I was just an ordinary commoner. Even in my first life, when I was Alena Klamback, I wasn’t anywhere near as wealthy as a ducal family.

The way rich people thought was beyond imagination. It was like saying, No bread? Then let’s just buy the bakery.

“But I slept on the floor though?”

“Oh! When I woke up, I thought you fell off the bed while sleeping, so I called Mom! Shuri, you have really bad sleeping habits! Hehe.”

I couldn’t bring myself to tell the truth after seeing the dimples on her lovely cheeks.

Yeah… my child is happy! Let’s just say I have terrible sleeping habits!

“Oh my, you’re awake?”

“Ah, good morning.”

The duchess, who had just entered the room, covered her mouth and laughed softly. She looked even more cheerful than usual.

“I heard you promised to stay by Shuri’s side whenever it rains?”

But maybe that was just my imagination.

Why does it sound like she’s grinding her teeth while saying that? That’s just in my head, right? R-right?

The daughter-doting level of this household seemed worse than I thought.

In the end, all I could do was smile brightly with the innocent expression of a child who knew nothing. Surviving is really hard… sob.

“So I spoke with the count and bought the neighboring land. I asked a mage from the Magic Tower, and they said it will rain again within the month. So until the house is finished, Shuri, you’ll be staying here. If things move quickly… maybe about a year?”

What did I just hear? Huh? I must’ve heard wrong, right? Right?

I could endure our heroine’s sleeping habits for maybe a week out of love. But any longer, and my face would definitely twist from sleeping on the cold floor.

No! I have to stop this!

“D-did my mom and dad approve of this…?”

“Of course. Don’t worry. The count said he was happy you’d made a close friend and gladly agreed. And since we’re working on a joint project, they’ll be visiting once a week anyway.”

“Th-then… we’ll sleep in separate rooms, right? I’m really bad at sharing a room—!”

I slammed the brakes mid-sentence. In my panic over my parents’ approval, I bit my tongue.

“Pfft.”

Ow—! I’m the one in pain—who’s laughing?! My tongue!

Turning toward the sound, I peeked behind the duchess and saw Kiel with his usual cold expression, and Lucain biting his lip hard.

Lucain… you…

When I glared at him, he gave me a beautiful smile.

Damn it. If you smile like that, I can’t even get mad.

“Mother, please have breakfast.”

Kiel stepped in to wrap things up. The duchess took Lotte and me by each hand. Looking at our clasped hands, I was suddenly reminded that she truly was an adult.

Wait—did she skip breakfast just to wait for me? She could’ve just woken me up.

“I’m going to hold Shuri’s hand! Shuri, I’ll guide you!”

Our bold and spirited Lotte slipped free from the duchess’s hand and pulled me along. I was dragged after her, and naturally, my hand slipped from the duchess’s grasp.

“Huh? Mm.”

* * *

The duchess watched the two adorable children run ahead and recalled what had happened that morning.

“Mom!”

Clarier, the duchess, had been reading in her room when Lotte burst in and hugged her. She gazed lovingly at her daughter.

She instantly sensed that her precious child had something she wanted to ask for.

Though she was her daughter, Lotte could be quite clever. When she acted this cute, it always meant she wanted something.

“What is our Lotte asking for this time?”

Still, a child’s affection always lifted her mood. How could she not be happy when her lovely daughter acted so adorably?

Whenever Lotte was with the Klamback girl, her affection doubled. Maybe it was because she’d made a new friend, but it was a very good change.

“Gasp! How did you know? Yesterday, when I said I was scared of lightning, Shuri promised to stay with me whenever it rains! Can’t we move next to Shuri’s house? I really, really like Shuri, Mom!”

As Lotte beamed, the duke rose from his seat. It was obvious he was about to contact the count immediately.

Sometimes, he dotes on Lotte even more than Kiel does.

Watching him, Clarier giggled like a young girl.

“Alright. I’ll ask. But even if the count and countess refuse, you mustn’t throw a tantrum.”

“Yay!”

Lotte showered her with kisses. Clarier returned them and hugged her tightly.

What will our Lotte grow up to be?

Having raised her, Clarier knew that Lotte wasn’t actually afraid of lightning. She must have taken after her father. Lightning itself didn’t scare her—yet she clung to people whenever it stormed.

She shook her head slightly and thought of Shurier, whom Lotte had firmly caught hold of.

Shuri really is adorable too.

The corners of Clarier’s lips curved deeply as she imagined Shurier calling out, “Duchess!” She was weak to cute things—and Lotte knew that well.

She had clearly taken advantage of it, but Clarier didn’t mind. It was far better for her daughter to be clever than to act foolishly.

Watching everything unfold exactly as planned, Lotte smiled.

I’m Shuri’s best friend!

Becoming Shuri’s best friend was Lotte’s grand dream. And so, without Shuri knowing, the duchess and Lotte wrapped everything up.

Shurier, having completely forgotten that the heroine possessed such scheming traits, slept soundly. All of this happened while she was lost in dreams.

* * *

“Brother! Are you going to class? I want to attend with you!”

As soon as I spotted Kiel, I ran over and grabbed his sleeve as usual. After a week here, I realized sticking around hadn’t been a bad decision.

A bad decision? Quite the opposite. I get to see Kiel every day!

“No.”

As always, the response was a cold rejection.

He rejects me every time. That’s just cruel.

As I sulked, I realized my way of thinking was becoming childish. But when you thought about it, it made sense.

The incident that started the original story hadn’t happened yet, and I wasn’t living like my first life either. There was no reason to think like an adult.

Eating, sleeping, lazing around every day—how could I not become like a child?

“I’m good at studying too! Let me join you.”

I smiled as brightly as possible.

Sparkle attack! Well? Still going to reject me?

“Yes. No.”

Rejected again.

Outwardly, I laughed and said, “Aww,” like I was joking, but inside I was fuming.

I even gave him sweets yesterday, you know!

“Really not okay? I’m really good at studying! Or you can quiz me, and I’ll answer!”

Clenching my fists, I put on a face that said I really can do it. He sighed and spoke in an ancient language rather than the imperial one.

“Idiot.”

“I’m not! That’s so mean! Is that really how you see me?”

I replied in the same ancient language, and his eyes widened. He clearly hadn’t expected that.

Ugh, what does he think I am? Sure, I never touch books, so I get why he’d think that—but still, that’s harsh.

“‘No one knows the boundary between death and life.’ Do you know who said that, Brother?”

I asked in the language of the Kingdom of Artenia.

Why that language? Simply because the person who said it was from Artenia.

“Blyzen Nothar. Born in the Kingdom of Artenia in the year 104.”

Oh—smart. I was secretly impressed when Kiel followed up with another question.

“The mythology of the Kingdom of Hebrium.”

Hebrium mythology? Ah!

“I know! My favorite part is the scene where the god of love appears.”

Watching Kiel use the language of Hebrium fluently amazed me. I’d mastered all of this in my first life by studying obsessively, but he was only ten. That kind of brain was terrifying.

I tried to recall Kiel’s character settings from the novel, but nothing came to mind. The story had flowed so smoothly when I wrote it that I hadn’t needed detailed settings.

Still, to think he was good at everything.

“So?”

I asked proudly, remembering Kiel was standing right in front of me. He looked utterly dumbfounded.

“Do you know what age this level of education is meant for? Fifteen. Kingdom mythology, ancient languages—most people receive early education from childhood and, at best, finish by fifteen. And you? You’re only eight. How are you talking like you know all of it?”

And you only study history.

Suspicion filled his expression.

Wait—fifteen? Is this Korea or something? Do you know Korea? I was horrified by this insane level of early education, then subtly averted my gaze under his piercing stare.

“I… I just happened to learn it, and I don’t really know that much! Hehe.”

As expected, he didn’t buy my act. If anything, pretending not to know made him more suspicious. Fortunately, when I kept my mouth shut, he soon gave up.

He quickened his steps, probably thinking class had been delayed because of me. Watching his back as he walked ahead, I debated whether I should follow.

“Come.”

As if sensing my hesitation, Kiel turned slightly and spoke. Surprised by his permission, I hurried over and grabbed his hand.

“Let’s go!”

As I laughed foolishly, he turned his head away. It looked cute.

My smile didn’t fade all the way to the classroom.