TCHB 27

Chapter 27

Wait—hold on!
Meeting Kiel wasn’t part of any scenario I’d imagined!

I was so flustered that I couldn’t say a word, just opening and closing my mouth like a fool.

No, you weren’t even this kind of character! What am I supposed to do now? Shamelessly pretend I don’t know him and run away? Why would I run away?! I didn’t do anything wrong! Aaaagh—then what am I supposed to do?!

My thoughts tangled into a mess in an instant, while Kiel continued to look at me with a gentle smile.

Am I still half-asleep and hallucinating? I could maybe believe this if it were Rote, but there’s no way he would smile so beautifully at me!

“It’s been a while, Shuri. I missed you.”

Standing with the sunlight behind him, he crouched down and smiled as if he truly had missed me. It was such a rare—no, completely unfamiliar—side of him that I found myself staring at his face in a daze.

“Didn’t you miss me, Shuri?”

“Huh? N-no, um…”

Who—who are you, really?! You imposter wearing Kiel’s skin! Reveal your true identity!

He lowered his eyebrows as he asked, looking just like a puppy. I couldn’t believe this was that Kiel, but judging by his face and voice alone, it really was him.

You know how to droop your eyebrows too? I’ve only ever seen you raise them! No—forget that! Why are you acting like this toward me?!

“Yes. I didn’t miss you. So I’d appreciate it if you didn’t act like you know me, Young Master Richard.”

Maybe because I felt wronged, my head was calmer than before. I had left impulsively, sure—but the reason I left was you.

You never came even once. I thought we’d grown close, but it felt like I was the only one who thought that. I was hurt by that—and now suddenly this?

For a brief moment, his eyes darkened. Seeing that wounded expression softened my heart against my will.

“…I did think of you. A little.”

In the end, I gave him the slightest opening. Honestly, using a pretty face like that was just unfair…

“I’m glad you thought of me, even a little.”

“I just meant back then! Not now, so let’s go already.”

His stiff expression relaxed, and he let out a soft chuckle. I yelped.

Did you take some kind of class on how to weaponize your face? Why are you so good at using it?!

While I was grumbling internally, he lightly tapped the back of my hand.

When I raised my head, Kiel curved his eyes elegantly as he looked at me. It was like honey was dripping from his gaze.

You really weren’t this kind of character…! I was utterly shocked.

“Where are you going? Can’t you come back with me?”

He gently grasped my hand, interlacing our fingers. It was so natural I couldn’t stop him—I just blinked blankly. Three seconds later, my head was filled with question marks.

Turn signal! Please! At least turn on your turn signal before cutting in!

He was probably acting without thinking much, but someone weak to his face like me felt dizzy. He barely used to smile—what happened over the last five years?

“No. She’s coming with me.”

Ventus suddenly appeared, grabbing my wrist—the one still interlaced with Kiel’s hand—and snapped fiercely. Just like that, I became a shrimp caught between two whales.

Does anyone know what’s wrong with these two…?

“Ventus, let go.”

I turned my head toward him. He must’ve used some strength when he grabbed me—my wrist throbbed.

That hurts, you idiot!

“Please release her hand as well, Young Master Richard.”

Without a word of protest, Kiel let go. Only then did Ventus release me too.

You’re not children—how childish. Though, if we’re being fair, what I’m doing with Kiel isn’t exactly mature either…

Uh, well. Let’s just say we’re all childish.

“Call me Kiel, Shuri.”

He lightly brushed my fingertips and tilted his head. Every time our gazes met, his eyes curved—he was acting like he’d made up his mind about something.

I wished I could stay unfazed, but my instincts responded faithfully.

I mean, what am I supposed to do when someone smiles at me with a face that’s completely my type?! If anyone wouldn’t fall for that, come out and prove it!

“Let’s go.”

Ventus looked thoroughly displeased. Come to think of it, those two really never got along.

I pulled myself together, took the hand Ventus offered, and stood up.

“Shuri… are you leaving again?”

Just as I was about to step away, Kiel carefully grabbed my thumb and the rest of my fingers all at once. I could’ve pulled free, but for some reason, I didn’t.

Leaving? I didn’t even know myself. I’d thought about it, sure—but I hadn’t decided on a destination.

After some deliberation, I leaned toward staying. I needed to see my parents after not seeing them for five years, and for reasons I couldn’t quite explain, I wanted to see more of this changed Kiel.

I was curious about what had altered him. Not because I was petty enough to get revenge by acting the same way—nope. …Definitely not.

“It’s a secret. Young Master Richard should go back—your family must be worried.”

I turned my back on Kiel and walked away. Once I rounded the corner, I could no longer feel his presence. A quiet giggle slipped from between my lips.

That’s right! This is revenge for embarrassing me when we were kids!

Didn’t I just say it wasn’t revenge? That was then, this is now. And it feels too good to pass up—second only to teasing Ventus!

“Why are you smiling? Is seeing him again really making you that happy?”

“It’s complicated after seeing his face again. If I had to choose between liking it or disliking it… I guess I like it.”

It’s fun. Getting revenge! And seeing a face that grew up so well is good for the eyes.

I didn’t mean anything special by it, but—halt. Ventus suddenly stopped walking.

Why’d you stop all of a sudden—…are you angry?

“You… still… like him?”

He ground out each syllable through clenched teeth. I tilted my head slightly. He was a character from my novel—of course I liked him.

Right now he was annoying and hurtful, but in the end, he was still someone precious to me. That was that—and revenge was revenge.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but let’s go see the captain first, Ventus. We can talk later if you have something to say. We don’t have time.”

I grabbed his sleeve and tugged him along. He looked sulky, but matched his steps to mine.

But seriously—why is he sulking?

“Give me your hand.”

“Huh?”

“I said your hand.”

Ventus stared at me, lips pressed tightly together. I held out my hand. His earlobes were slightly red—I assumed it was from anger.

Blunt expression, irritated tone. Given the circumstances, anger was the only explanation.

Ventus snapped his fingers lightly, and the scenery shifted. If you’re going to teleport, at least warn me.

And do you really have to hold hands to do it? As I wondered, he let go.

“We’re here.”

“A warehouse? You locked him up here?”

“Yeah.”

At his neat, curt reply, I glanced sideways at him. His face clearly said I’m sulking.

Did I really say something wrong? No… I didn’t think so…

“Ventus. Did I hurt your feelings somehow?”

“……”

“Tell me. It’s bothering me.”

When I poked him insistently, Ventus opened and closed his mouth several times, like he was about to speak—but he wouldn’t reveal his thoughts.

What was the question he’d asked before he stopped again?

You… still… like him?

No way. Was he asking if I liked Kiel romantically? Even if I did, what would that matter? It’s not like he likes me that way.

Ah! Is this the mindset of a younger brother with an older sister?

If that’s the case, I could understand it. I opened my mouth to explain. If I was wrong, it’d be embarrassing—but better than not trying.

“Ventus. I don’t like Kiel romantically. Saying ‘just a friend’ is weird too… Ah! I mean I like him person to person. And even if I meet someone I like someday, I won’t forget you, so don’t worry.”

That must’ve been the right answer—the pouty lips that had stuck out slipped back in. As he opened the door, I heard him mutter, “Damn it.”

He was ruffling his neatly kept hair in frustration.

Uh… is he okay?

“You alright?”

“…Yeah. I’m fine.”

Ventus stepped ahead of me and opened the door. A musty stench wafted out. When I brushed the inner wall with my finger, dust clung to it immediately.

Ugh… gross!

“Oh, hi. You’re awake.”

I waved brightly at the captain, deliberately cheerful in contrast to this dark, fetid place. I’d assumed he’d be unconscious.

I gestured for Ventus to close the door. His mana flowed into me, leaving me in perfectly fine condition.

I conjured a small flame with magic to light up the warehouse, then cast a soundproofing spell so no noise could escape.

Interrogation prep: complete.

“How much did the emperor offer you?”

At my blunt question, the captain’s face drained of color. He started shouting, demanding to know what I was talking about.

Good thing I set up soundproofing.

Reassured, I stared at him with cold eyes. How did a man worse than an animal find the nerve to act so righteous?

“Do you really think I came here without evidence? You see, my head isn’t just decoration—unlike yours.”

I told Ventus where the safe was and had him retrieve the documents. Thank goodness I vaguely remembered what I’d written in the novel.

When I waved the papers stamped with both his seal and the emperor’s seal, his already pale face turned ghostly white.

“What’s wrong? Why don’t you shout confidently like before? Go on—say you did nothing wrong.”

I mocked him with a frigid expression. The captain’s mouth worked soundlessly. At the sight, I let out a deflated snort.

Then, without him noticing, I snapped my fingers behind my back and cast a recording spell. As expected, he didn’t realize.

“So, who did you make the deal with? If you confess, I might let you live.”

I had every intention of sparing him anyway. Giving someone like you a clean death would be far too merciful.

When I smiled brightly, he seemed to relax.

“Th-the emp—khk!”

He started to speak, then suddenly vomited blood. I squeezed my eyes shut. I’d expected blood to splatter on me if I made him talk—but not a single sticky drop touched me.

“Use magic, idiot. And this captain was under a spell. I knew something felt off.”

“…Dark magic?”

“Yeah.”

What? That wasn’t in the book at all!

The ship hits the rocks. The emperor promises to guarantee his life and even places a spell on him, so foolishly, the captain waits—thinking the emperor’s people will come.

But they never do. And the spell guaranteeing his life is only temporary—it ends one day after the contract. Naturally, the captain dies.

That was his ending in the original story.

But now you’re telling me it’s dark magic—and on top of that, an instant death spell triggered by revealing secrets? I said magic, not dark magic! I’d never even seen or used dark magic! And instant death magic—why is that here?! That wasn’t in the novel I wrote!

My head started throbbing as the situation grew more complicated.

“So… what do we do with him?”

“Leave him. Someone will investigate later. If we do anything more now, it’ll just look suspicious.”

“That’s true. Then let’s at least burn the rope.”

I approached the body and untied the rope. Then I used magic to erase the marks it left and burned it. Of course, I also erased all traces of mana to make backtracking completely impossible.

Then we teleported back to the place where I’d met Kiel earlier.

Seeing corpses didn’t bother me anymore. Back when I was Alena, I’d practically lived on the battlefield.

During my first war, I’d grieved for fallen comrades and felt sick killing enemies—but even though I should never have adapted, everything eventually became familiar.

“Ventus, I think this is bigger than we expected. I’ve got a bad feeling.”

I’m the one who wrote the novel. I’m the author—and yet things I didn’t even know about are appearing? That wasn’t a good sign.

Originally, the duke and duchess were supposed to die today. But they didn’t.

That twisted the story—and no one knew what kind of butterfly effect that change would cause.

Thinking it’d all be fine if I just saved them was arrogant of me.

“Ventus. I didn’t answer Kiel properly earlier, but I’m planning to stay here. Things are more tangled than I thought, so I’ll be here for a while. What about you?”

“I’ll stay. You’re my contractor—where else would I be if not by your side?”

Ventus let out a sigh. I felt both sorry and grateful, always receiving his help.

“Thank you.”

When I said it sincerely, he widened his eyes, then smiled like that was enough, ruffling my hair.

Hey! Messing up hair should be limited to your own!

“What happened to the deputy captain who was forcibly put on leave and brought here?”

“I left her in the captain’s cabin.”

“‘Left her’ sounds awful. Say you escorted her back.”

Ventus nodded in agreement.

When we returned to the empire and spent time shopping, I’d warned the deputy captain—who’d been forced onto leave in advance—and had her board the ship secretly, without the captain knowing.

According to the investigation results I’d requested from Melissa, she was the type who pitied children from the slums and couldn’t tolerate injustice.

I didn’t mention the emperor at all. I simply pressed on that part of her personality. If she was resting, what would happen if something happened to the captain—or if he suddenly fell ill? Who would steer the ship?

If an accident happened, could she bear the responsibility? Wouldn’t she regret it forever?

Honestly, she didn’t need to shoulder any responsibility—she was forced on leave, after all. But it was the only way. I felt guilty.

“Oh, and you definitely erased their memories of us, right?”

“Yeah. They’ll only remember that someone talked to them.”

“Good. Then shall we go too?”

With everything settled, we planned to return to the count’s estate. Rote would be there, so stopping by wouldn’t be bad—but we had time.