TOSWB 04

Chapter : 04

I thought the original story was already over, but—episode 4.

Anyway, I had snuck out while avoiding the attendants’ eyes, so if I stayed away too long, a commotion would break out. I should head back soon.

I shook Russell, who was sleeping soundly as if this were his own home’s fountain, to wake him up.

“Russell, wake up. Let’s go back. I think I was mistaken.”

“…….”

With nothing gained, I was about to take Russell back to the banquet hall where the victory celebration was underway. But Russell grabbed my arm as I tried to stand.

“Wait. I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“What?”

At Russell’s words, I turned my head in confusion. Russell, in his spirit form, spoke while keeping his gaze fixed outside the window.

“A guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

Puzzled, I crept right up to the window, stood on tiptoe, and looked outside.

Someone was approaching this way. It was a strikingly beautiful silver-haired boy.

Even from afar, the boy seemed to glow on his own. As he drew closer, his golden eyes became clearly visible.

As far as I knew, there was only one boy in this novel who could be this beautiful.

Rare silver hair, sharp golden eyes—the mark of royalty—and a dazzling appearance. I blanked out for a moment at the sight of Leopold in his boyhood. It really was Leopold as he’d been when I first met him.

“…Leo?”

I muttered unconsciously in a very small voice when I spotted Leopold. I reflexively covered my mouth.

But at that moment, Leopold lifted his head—and our eyes met exactly, me hanging by the window.

“!”

Swish.

The instant our eyes met, I quickly ducked down beneath the window frame.

It was a look I’d seen to the point of exhaustion in my previous life. From a certain point on, Leopold always looked at me like that—staring as if something annoyed him, as if he didn’t like me.

Just how much did I displease him… If he had complaints, he could’ve said them out loud. It was petty behavior unbefitting the title of “Sword Saint.”

At first I’d been timid and intimidated, but since he stared at me like that every day, I eventually started pushing back.

Seeing me hide beneath the window, Russell, still in spirit form, asked in confusion,

“Why are you hiding? Weren’t you looking for that guy?”

“…….”

He had a point.

Anyway, the moment our eyes met, Leopold’s gaze clearly wasn’t that of someone seeing a stranger for the first time.

I could tell at a glance. Leopold had the same memories I did—and he was the culprit behind all of this.

“!”

Knock knock knock knock.

Suddenly, there was a steady knocking at the storeroom door. At first it was even, but it soon grew urgent, until it sounded like the door might be smashed in.

In time with the sound, my heart began pounding like that of a guilty person. This wasn’t a horror movie, was it?

But knowing Leopold’s original temperament, I also knew that the fact he hadn’t already broken the door down meant he was exercising considerable restraint.

“…Phew.”

…And anyway, I was the one who had business with him.

I took a deep breath, steeled myself, and opened the door.

Click.

The moment I did, I met Leopold’s golden eyes, his face looking oddly impatient.

I looked up at the stunningly beautiful boy before me—silver hair and golden eyes, a rare combination. Since he was still only thirteen, his gorgeous features felt more androgynous than in my memories, though he didn’t look like a girl.

“Found you.”

When our eyes met, Leopold said it almost to himself. There was a strange thrill in his voice, unlike his usual impassiveness.

“Found you,” he says. That was my line. I was the one who’d been searching for Leopold—yet somehow it felt like I’d been the one discovered.

As soon as I opened the door, Leopold grabbed both my wrists, as if I might run away at any moment.

Huh?

I froze in confusion for a second, then naturally pulled my hands free and replied as if nothing had happened.

“Leo, long time no see.”

“…….”

There was no reply. Leopold just stared at my face.

Was he fascinated by seeing my old dark-past self again? Well, he probably only remembered me after I lost weight…

“…Have you been well? You’ve grown a lot—no, wait. You’ve gotten a lot smaller?”

“…….”

Out of habit, I’d almost said “You’ve grown a lot,” but hurriedly corrected myself. What a contradictory thing to say.

But Leopold seemed unconcerned by my slip and coolly ignored it. Then, in a low voice that sounded somewhat displeased, he spoke.

“…You.”

“Hm?”

“You didn’t avoid me, did you?”

Narrowing his sharp eyes, Leopold stared at me suspiciously. I flinched inwardly, but feigned composure.

“Of course not. I was just a little startled.”

“…….”

Still no answer. Was he doubting me? As I looked into Leopold’s gradually cooling golden eyes, I quickly added,

“I was actually waiting for you to come.”

“…Really?”

At my words, Leopold’s suspicious expression softened slightly. He looked like he didn’t dislike hearing that.

It was a very subtle change, but having known him so long, I could tell.

“…It has been a while.”

Only then did Leopold greet me.

“Huh? I guess it has.”

Was it really that important to him whether I’d avoided him or not? Since when were we even that close?

I thought that, but didn’t say it out loud.

“…….”

After the brief greeting, a moment of silence passed. Come to think of it, thanks to Russell working me so hard, I hadn’t sorted out what I should ask Leopold when I met him.

As I was wondering what to say, Leopold swept his gaze around with a strange look and spoke.

“—By the way.”

“?”

“Were you with someone?”

“…No?”

At Leopold’s question, I vigorously shook my head side to side.

Russell was in spirit form and invisible to Leopold. And yet, to sense him like that…

If Leopold realized we weren’t alone, he might not talk properly. I put on an expression of total ignorance.

Leopold eyed me suspiciously, but when I kept up my clueless look, he didn’t press further.

“So.”

“Hm?”

“…You said you were waiting for me?”

Leopold lifted his golden eyes and looked at me intently. He almost seemed to be expecting something.

Maybe because it’d been so long since we met… He felt unusually talkative for Leopold. Almost excited.

If I said this was “talkative,” no one would believe me. But there was a time when I thought Leopold was so taciturn he couldn’t speak—or maybe he could only deliver biting remarks.

As I pondered what to say, I recalled the Leopold I’d seen just before regressing.

I was certain the apparition of Leopold I’d seen at the end wasn’t unrelated to this situation.

While I hesitated, Leopold waited for me without saying a word.

“…Could it be—”

I looked up quietly into Leopold’s brilliant golden eyes and asked,

“Was it you… who called me here?”

“Yes.”

The answer came lightly from Leopold’s lips, making all my worry feel pointless. He sounded as if he’d expected the question.

I was the one taken aback. …I hadn’t expected him to admit it so coolly.

“Why?”

I asked, genuinely curious. Why me, of all people?

Leopold didn’t say anything for a moment.

I waited patiently for his next words, thinking that if he was hesitating like this, there must be some enormous reason.

“…This isn’t the place to talk.”

“What?”

“Let’s arrange another meeting.”

Then, as if his business was finished, Leopold tried to turn his back on me. No—I hadn’t asked anything that difficult to answer.

Seriously, this guy always did everything his own way!

I grabbed Leopold’s arm as he tried to leave without hesitation. I felt him flinch slightly in surprise.

“Wait. You called me all the way here—you should at least explain.”

I was slightly angry at his blatant attempt to dodge the question.

I’d waited ten days just to meet Crown Prince Leopold, even sneaking into secret passages like this. I had no idea when I’d get another chance to see him.

We weren’t even close enough to arrange another meeting just for this conversation.

“Is there really no way to go back? Do I have to keep living here?”

At my words, Leopold’s gaze wavered slightly—but it quickly returned to its usual impassive look.

It happened so fast that I thought I might’ve imagined it.

When I pressed him, Leopold stared straight at me with a hardened expression before speaking.

“…Do you have some lingering attachment?”