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Chapter 6……………………………………………
Inside the box was a round, shimmering object.
It was about the size where you could support it with both hands, and it still felt fairly heavy—like the crystal orb often seen placed in front of fortune-tellers in movies.
However, unlike a crystal ball, it wasn’t a perfect sphere, nor was it transparent.
Egg-shaped, slightly pointed at the top like a chicken egg, it gleamed in a turquoise hue. Its surface was hard and smooth with a glossy finish, like a gemstone.
‘This doesn’t seem ordinary…’
If it were just a mineral, it would feel cold and hard, not gently warm like this. Thinking that, I stared at the turquoise object.
“What is this?”
Since it was sent by the Duke and Russell, it couldn’t be something ordinary… Or was it just an expensive decorative item? Was there some hidden meaning?
I narrowed my eyes and examined it. I couldn’t recall anything like it from the novel.
“Lady. I have a message from Young Lord Russell.”
Again? No—if there was a message, why not deliver it all at once instead of in pieces?
“He asked me to tell you this after you inspected the gift.”
As if reading my thoughts, Marie immediately responded. When I looked at her silently, she continued.
“He said you can simply keep it as an ornament… or hatch it.”
“Hatch it?”
So it’s an egg? Aside from the faint warmth it gives off, it doesn’t really feel like an egg—it feels more like a large jewel…
…Damn, now I’m curious.
Since it didn’t appear in the original novel, I could just leave it as decoration like Russell said.
No, I could probably get a good amount of money just by selling it. Even if it’s just a jewel, it looks expensive—but if it’s an egg? Then it definitely isn’t ordinary, which would raise its value even more.
‘No, what am I supposed to do when they just drop something like this without even telling me what kind of egg it is?’
Should I hatch it, or sell it?
What I needed right now was money to leave the mansion and live independently… but I also had to consider my safety.
I held the turquoise egg in my hands for a long while, then finally sighed and stood up.
“Marie. I’m going to see Lord Russell.”
…It wasn’t something I particularly wanted to do, but I needed to know what this thing was before deciding what to do with it.
‘It feels like I’m being led by Russell’s intentions…’
What else could I do? Right now, I was at a disadvantage. Honestly, it would be easier if things just followed the original story instead.
With a sigh, I opened the door.
…and immediately made eye contact with Russell, who was standing right outside.
Startled, I instinctively stepped back. Russell also seemed not to expect the door to open and took several steps back.
“Ah, well…”
He stammered, his eyes darting around nervously. When he noticed me staring, he quickly spoke.
“I-I just realized I never told you what kind of egg it was, so I came to explain…”
His words trailed off as he cautiously observed my expression. It was a side of him I never expected to see.
‘In the novel, he was so sharp and tsundere-like.’
And yet here he was, acting like this in front of Erina. Good grief, what was I supposed to say—“oh my god”?
But I had already been surprised too many times today. At this point, I could only accept it calmly.
“This is going to be a long conversation, isn’t it…? What do you want to do, Erina?”
I could tell exactly what Russell’s hesitant behavior meant.
For a moment, I even thought he looked kind of cute—but I quickly steadied myself. No. This is Russell. A character who was a tsundere to the heroine, but otherwise basically a walking disaster to everyone else.
“Is it that important that it requires a long explanation?”
“At least when it comes to that egg, yes. But I’m not forcing you. I don’t intend to.”
Watching him fumble awkwardly, I let out a sigh in my mind.
…Either way, I was already planning to ask him what it was. The order was just reversed. There was no need to hesitate.
“…Come in, brother.”
I stepped aside. Russell entered quickly, as if he had been waiting for that.
“Please make this quick, brother.”
I looked at him with all the discomfort I felt clearly showing in my eyes. Russell flinched.
“…I’ll get straight to the point.”
He nodded quickly, his shoulders looking slightly slumped. Was that just my imagination?
“Erina. That was an egg your father obtained for your mother.”
That was unexpected. The Duke Marbas had obtained it for the Duchess?
“Then why is it—”
“…He never managed to give it to her. She passed away before that happened.”
I see. So that’s why there was no mention of it in the novel.
I nodded calmly. I could roughly understand why it wasn’t included in the story.
‘Maybe in the original story, he just kept it for himself.’
Or perhaps he sold it. Knowing the Duke and Russell’s personalities, that was entirely plausible.
“I was there when Father obtained it, so I know what it is.”
Russell took a breath, then looked at the turquoise egg.
“It’s a Lindwurm egg.”
“…A Lindwurm?”
“A dragon covered in fur instead of scales. It’s not a true dragon, but unlike other creatures, its species still carries part of dragon-kind’s power. Its strongest ability is healing.”
An involuntary exclamation escaped me.
Ah. So that’s why the Duke tried to obtain it for the Duchess. A healing dragon could have cured her illness.
“…He gave this to me?”
“It was Father’s wish. What you do with it is up to you.”
Russell continued.
“You can leave it as it is. Dragons can survive inside their eggs for over a thousand years. And if you don’t want it, you can hand it over to mages.”
He added that even in its egg state, it would have immense research value.
I shook my head.
Are you kidding me? Hand over a gift from my father to someone else?
“…It’s a gift from Father. How could I do that?”
“Father said not to worry about things like that.”
Russell replied firmly, almost decisively.
“So do whatever you want with it. It’s yours now.”
Having said that, he stood up as if his business was done. Then, hesitating awkwardly, he lowered his gaze and murmured.
“And… Erina. If you need anything or lack anything, just tell me anytime. I’ll do anything you ask.”
Then, as if afraid I might stop him, he quickly left the room almost as if fleeing.
I stared blankly at his back and muttered without thinking.
“…You should at least tell me how to hatch it.”
That guy… was he doing this on purpose? Was he planning to use this as an excuse to see me again?
I let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. But it was already too late—the sofa in front of me was empty.
“Lindwurm…”
A healing dragon. I don’t remember there being such a dragon in the novel.
“…Wait, I’m just a reader, aren’t I?”
Not the author who knows all the settings. Ugh, I suddenly feel like swearing.
After possessing this world, new details that weren’t in the novel keep appearing—how is that fair?
‘No, honestly, the worst part is the character inconsistency.’
The fact that someone I thought was kind turned out to be basically a walking disaster was even more shocking than this.
It felt like the entire common sense of this world had been flipped upside down.
‘Is this… actually not a bad direction?’
At least they weren’t directly harming me. No, I couldn’t even be sure of that yet. There’s always that disgusting thing called the butterfly effect.
“Damn author.”
The curse slipped out before I could stop it. I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
And Russell, you idiot—if you’re going to leave, at least tell me how to hatch it!
“No, wait… it was the Duke who gave this, right?”
That damn Duke. What was he thinking, giving Erina an egg originally meant for his wife?
“He never even cared about Erina before.”
He only cared about his beloved wife, and after her death, he kept his distance. So why now?
Why? Even in the original story, the Duchess’s death happened normally. It shouldn’t have triggered anything like this.
“Don’t tell me… did all three of them regress at the same time?”
They die after Erina is assassinated, regress, feel remorse, and suddenly become kind?
…It’s a plausible hypothesis. Which makes it even worse.
Those people didn’t even show much emotion when Erina died in the original timeline, and now they’re full of regret?
“That’s not very believable.”
Even as a reader, I know when something breaks narrative logic.
But then again, new things keep appearing that weren’t in the story.
Like this Lindwurm egg.
I looked at the shimmering turquoise egg in silence.
“…Should I test it?”
What exactly are they thinking. Whether they really did regress and are now full of regret.
And if that’s true… what am I supposed to do about it?
