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Chapter : 27
Istein’s lips parted slightly before he slowly expressed his gratitude.
“Thank you… for breaking my curse. You saved me, Miela.”
Truthfully, many more thoughts swirled in his head, but this was all he could say for now. Even so, his thanks felt pitifully small compared to what Miela had done for him.
“Thank you? I’m the one who feels sorry. If I had realized earlier that you were Istein Valroire, I could’ve lifted the curse sooner.”
Miela shook her head, looking embarrassed. As always, she was kind to a fault.
Istein felt a lump in his throat that was hard to put into words.
“You’re the one who shouldn’t be saying sorry. I’m the one who hid my identity. Yet, even after all that, you were still willing to help someone like me, a liar…”
He paused, his emotions catching in his throat. A part of him wanted to ask, Aren’t you even angry with me for deceiving you? But it felt shameless to say that aloud.
“You said there was a reason you had to hide who you were. A lie told out of necessity is a good lie—so it’s okay! I forgive you.”
“A good lie, huh…”
Istein couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly. Even now, she was trying to defend him. How could someone as selfish and deceitful as him deserve that?
“Anyway, Titi—ah, no, Istein… wait, that’s not right either. I guess I should call you ‘Young Lord’ now?”
Miela fumbled, unsure what to call him.
Seeing her confused expression, Istein hesitated, then answered,
“Just call me whatever you’re comfortable with. You can still call me Titi like before, or Istein if you want.”
“R-Really? Are you sure…?”
Miela’s face brightened at being allowed to call him “Titi” again. But perhaps she still felt awkward, as her speech hovered uncertainly between formal and informal.
“Yeah. But please don’t call me ‘Young Lord’ or use formal language.”
“Huh? Why not?”
At her puzzled question, Istein looked away, suddenly embarrassed. Explaining it felt far too awkward.
So he answered a bit curtly.
“Why? Because it feels weird. We’re not strangers, right?”
“But you’re a duke’s son now…”
Miela trailed off, hesitant to finish. Then, as if remembering something else, she added,
“And you’re older than me, so… that makes you my oppa, doesn’t it?”
“What? Oppa?”
He never expected to hear that from her. Technically it was true, but the word sent shivers down his spine—it felt way too weird and unnatural.
“Yeah. Istein oppa… um, is that right? Haha…”
Miela looked just as awkward saying it.
For a moment, Istein wondered if his curse had returned. That’s how much his head ached.
“No, stop. Wait. Who said I’m your oppa? I’m an only child, you know.”
Sure, Miela was cute—but that didn’t mean he saw her like a younger sister.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind: What if my mother hears Miela calling me oppa and decides to adopt her as her daughter?
‘No way! That’s absolutely not happening!’
He knew it was an unrealistic fear, but Istein still broke into a cold sweat. He definitely wanted to be closer to Miela—but surely there were better ways. Like… becoming engaged?
‘Wait a minute. Why didn’t I think of this before?’
His eyes sparkled with sudden realization. Engagements between noble children were a common tradition. This had nothing to do with selfish desires. It was simply the best excuse to keep Miela by his side.
“But what should I call you then? Wouldn’t it sound weird if I just kept calling you Titi?”
Miela still couldn’t decide on a proper title.
“It’s fine. Remember how you thought I was younger and I told you to just call me by name, not ‘oppa’ or anything? Right?”
“Oh, yeah, you did say that.”
Miela scratched her cheek, a bit embarrassed. Meanwhile, Istein subtly laid the groundwork for what he was about to propose.
“So let’s just be comfortable with each other. But… if our difference in status still bothers you… I actually have a good idea.”
“A good idea? What is it?”
Miela tilted her head curiously, having taken the bait. Istein replied with the innocent tone of a child playing house:
“You can get engaged to me. Then we’ll be equals. You could even live with me in the ducal estate.”
“…What? You and I… engaged? What are you talking about?”
Her eyes widened. Was this one of those cliché ‘changing the plot’ moments that you only hear about in possession novels?
But I’m not a transmigrator, or a reincarnator, or a regressor!
Well, she was technically the child of a transmigrator… but that probably didn’t count.
“I mean, be my partner! That’s what fiancés do—hold hands and go to parties together. Stuff like that.”
Istein explained it in a way suited to her age. But that wasn’t why Miela hesitated.
Istein was the male lead of this novel. And male leads were supposed to end up with the female lead!
If I get engaged to him now, I’m basically stealing the heroine’s place in the future!
Of course, the original heroine didn’t know anything yet—not that she’d become a saint, or that she’d meet Istein someday.
Someone might say, “But you’re the only one who knows the original story. Why not just follow your heart?”
But Miela had a rare sense of morality.
No matter what, stealing what belongs to someone else is wrong.
Sensing her hesitation, Istein asked,
“Do you… not want to be my partner? Can you tell me why?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to. I’m just a bit scared… I’m afraid people will talk badly about me for becoming your fiancée when I’m just… me.”
She answered hesitantly, haunted by memories of being ignored by the village kids.
What if the people in the duke’s estate dislike me too?
Her anxiety spiraled. Which brought her thoughts back to the original story.
The heroine would look much better next to Istein than I would…
“I told you not to put yourself down like that, Miela.”
Istein’s voice grew serious.
“You’re already amazing. Sure, you might not know everything if you suddenly became the Young Lord’s fiancée. But don’t worry. I’ll always be by your side to help you.”
He hesitated, then added,
“And if anyone talks badly about you—which probably won’t happen—but if they do, just tell me. I’ll scold them for you.”
“Really?”
Moved by his sincerity, Miela wavered—but still looked unsure. So Istein quickly tried to ease her worries.
“Of course. And you know, being engaged doesn’t mean we have to get married when we grow up.”
“…!”
Miela’s ears perked up. That part definitely caught her attention.
That’s right! I could just be engaged for now, and then give up the spot when the real heroine shows up!
The heroine might never get the chance to break his curse now, but surely they’d still recognize each other at first sight. Miela’s mental gears were turning at full speed.
“Really? You’ll marry someone else later, right?”
She asked again to be sure. The omitted subject was “you,” but Istein interpreted it as “me.” He nodded casually and promised,
“Of course. If you fall in love with someone else later, I’ll break off the engagement.”
Again, the subject was missing.
Istein meant you, but Miela understood it as me. Her heart finally at ease, she smiled and nodded.
“Okay, then I’ll be your fiancée!”
