How to Replace Dad
I forcibly turned my stiff gaze to look around. Then, I realized there were some familiar faces. The big guy over there resembled the squad leader, and the man with the swallow-tailed beard next to Baron Yopis resembled the famous doctor. They must be their blood relatives. I understood why such a great person like Baron Yopis brought them here.
'Stella must be sick. They must have come to find medicine. As the heroine of an otome game with tragic elements, her body is weak. She hasn't reached the point of death yet. At that time, she wouldn't be searching for herbs to find me for organ transplant.'
"This is quite an interesting coincidence. Or should I say a terrible fate."
I answered in a flat voice.
"Terrific coincidence suits it better."
"Your tone has become harsh. Is it the influence of the Irregular?"
When Irregular was mentioned, I flinched. 'He knows.' Of course he would.
Last time at the marketplace, the squad leader saved me by showing the reverse cross as the Irregular's mark. So, this man must know that I am connected to the Irregular, since he is the head of the Andres family information department.
'I can't let any more talk of Irregular come out.'
"Do we have any reason to continue our conversation?"
"Perhaps not."
"If there's no reason, shut your mouth and get out. It's disgusting."
I said coldly, and he hesitated. Then he looked at me with eyes full of interest. This was the first time I saw him speak like this. In his mind, the worst thing he could say to me was "terrible coincidence". I lived that way in Andres family, elegantly and gracefully, aiming to be a lady no one could belittle. Even on days when I was about to fall, I wore high heels and a dress that tightened my neck. Baron Yopis taught me all of that. So, he was Raphael Yopis. I never imagined in my dreams that I would say such disgusting words to someone who was so obedient.
He stared at me, then chuckled.
"Interesting."
And he yanked my wrist. In an instant, I was dragged to him.
"Your beautiful fingers have become rags, and your cheeks that had never been dirtied with a speck of dust are covered in dust, yet why does your gaze shine brighter than in the mansion."
"Release me."
"Still, the pride that hasn't been broken."
"I told you to let go."
"Open the carriage door. I have to take you to my jurisdiction."
What? What is this crazy guy saying. I braced my body to not be dragged by him.
"Raphael Yopis!"
But it was useless. I wandered the streets for two days without proper rest. I wasn't a body that could withstand an adult man's strength. In the end, I was loaded into Baron Yopis's carriage. The door closed behind me.
"What are you doing!"
I shouted, but Baron Yopis had a calm attitude. He lightly opened the window and commanded.
"Use any method to find the answer for the old man. He must not return to the duke without answers."
"Yes."
The big man and the man with swallow tail beard who came with him bowed their heads. The carriage immediately started moving. Baron Yopis crossed his legs and only smiled faintly.
"I didn't see you come back perfectly."
"I have many things to ask. Shall we start with the Irregular?"
"..."
I was not brought here for nothing. The Irregular, who has stepped foot in every major and minor event of the empire. But no one had useful information about them. I was the one who could find out about such Irregulars. The snake-like man wouldn't miss such prey. He looked at my stiff body, raised his eyebrows.
"How did you meet the Irregular."
"..."
"Did you become a member?"
"..."
"Where are they now?"
I stubbornly kept my mouth shut.
"Are you not getting more interesting but rather dull? You know me, don't you."
"I know. Anyway, when we arrive at the jurisdiction, I'll feed you truth serum, so it's better to answer willingly."
He laughed haha.
I glared at him and continued.
"If forced, it's better to say it myself to get something out."
"Indeed."
"I know the baron, but it seems the baron doesn't know me."
"No. I know the young lady. And she is very weak to praise, that's also true."
That's right. With just one "yes", I was overjoyed as if all efforts were rewarded. I looked out the window. The carriage had reached the edge of the forest. Baron Yopis looked at me.
"You must become a good girl. My cute young lady."
"Become a good girl. My cute young lady."
... Like when I was a good student. "There was a time when I was happy with such words."
"Yes. So..."
"Now it's not."
I suddenly opened the carriage door. The speed of the carriage with magic embedded was much faster than imagined. Sharp wind blew into the carriage.
"I hope we never meet again."
"..."
I jumped out. I saw the baron's expression harden coldly as he watched me at the last moment. That face was Raphael Yopis's true appearance. I knew it well.
'If I go to his jurisdiction, he'll force me to spill the Irregular's story in some terrible way.'
My body jumped from the carriage and rolled on the ground. Fortunately, the grass absorbed some of the impact, but it was only part of it. Blood flowed from my face, not knowing where I hit. But I didn't have time to feel pain.
'I have to run.'
I ran hurriedly. From behind, Baron Yopis's voice was heard.
"Stop! Capture the young lady!"
Hurry. Please...! I couldn't be captured like this. If captured, I couldn't say the Irregular's name. Someone might think it's funny, but for me, that place was warmer than any fairy tale world.
"Little teacher, thank you."
I was told to say thank you if I worked hard.
"Take care and come back."
I was told to come back. They gave me a room and said I could come again.
"Was it difficult to answer when asked?"
When asked, answers come back.
'I can't burden people like that...!'
The blood dripping fell and blocked my vision, but it didn't matter. I deliberately went to places where trees were dense. To prevent them from chasing with horses and carriages. Even if sharp thorns pricked my whole body, I didn't feel pain. I ran without knowing how far I ran, half-conscious, breathing at the tip of my throat.
Suddenly, a hand chased from behind.
'No, no...!'
The front was a cliff. A dangerous river with fast current and many rocks.
'But rather than being caught...'
"Young lady!"
A hand stuck to my back. I was startled, pushed off the hand and ran towards the cliff.
"Stop!"
"Release! I won't say!"
"Young lady!"
"I don't want to! The Irregular are good people! I will never say...!"
At that moment.
Whoosh, my wrist was pulled. Only after being hugged by someone did I take a breath.
"Calm down."
Now I can see in front. It wasn't Baron Yopis. It wasn't his subordinate.
"... Ah."
The one chasing me was... The people gathered in front of me were... And the man hugging me was...
"... Aslan."
... The Irregular. The deputy and Antonio, and the members were looking at me.
I slumped down. Deputy and Antonio ran to me as my body crumbled like paper.
"You didn't come back for too long, so we came looking. But since you were being chased, we came to help."
"We processed the ones chasing you."
Hearing that, my whole body trembled. No, seeing them, it was. I forced my stiff body to look at the leader.
"... I didn't say..."
"..."
"I won't say anything about the Irregular... ever..."
"..."
"So... don't abandon me..."
Tears welled up. Since being driven out of the family, the tear glands that I thought were gone poured out hot tears.
"..."
"..."
"..."
No one said anything. The memory ends with silence. I passed out.
* * *
Yustea was moved to the room in San Miguel castle. The doctor who had been waiting after contacting the castle examined her.
"Right arm and ribs are broken. The arm is torn, and head injury, looks like jumped from somewhere."
Then, the member who caught Baron Yopis raised hand.
"Carriage. The knight's horse, jumped from the carriage."
"Carriage?"
The expressions of Antonio and other members hardened. They could guess what happened.
"Release! I won't say!"
"I don't want to! The Irregular are good people! I will never say...!"
She must have been asked about Irregular. Afraid of being forced to spill, Yustea jumped from the carriage.
"Why so much... ."
It was when the members were surprised. The doctor opened mouth again.
"It's not all."
"What else is there."
Doctor answered Antonio's question.
"Multiple deep scars on the wrist."
"Scars? So, did they cut you? Those bastards did that too?"
"It doesn't seem so. Recent scars that healed repeatedly."
"Then, did it happen in the castle?"
Everyone was puzzled. At that time, Antonio's subordinate Charles lifted head.
"Wait, is it..."
"Any clue?"
Antonio asked, Charles quickly opened the drawer.
What was there...
"Name stone?"
It was clearly name stone in the bowl. And the empty part was blood.
Charles said with pale face, fumbling.
"When the young lady left the castle, she asked to mix half blood and half holy water, put it twice a day. I thought it was chicken or cow blood but..."
No.
This is... so this is...
'I was trying to break the name stone barrier with human blood.'
The blood was a lot. If wrong, it would be life-threatening.
Antonio let out a bitter laugh.
"While going up and down the tower like this, taking care of the young lady?"
"..."
Deputy closed eyes tightly. She was struggling alone to die. Without showing any difficulty. And with one "thank you", she smiled as if she had the world. Even after jumping from carriage, the only thing she said was...
"So... don't abandon me..."
"Stupid..."
Antonio spat the words.
After that, no one could speak. Not even Aslan.
* * *
I blinked. The first thing I saw was the ceiling of my room.
'I'm alive...'
Good. It was something I were ready to die for, but if I died like this, it would be a bit regretful. Not anyone else, I didn't want to die because of Baron Yopis.
"How much time has passed...?"
Just as I was about to get up muttering that.
"Three days."
"..."
I almost jumped up startled. Quickly turned my head, saw a figure in the quiet room guarding the window. A handsome man whose outline was broken by sunlight, breath catching. It was Aslan, the leader of Irregular.
"Leader..."
"Don't move."
He said that, and approached me. He sat on the chair.
"Anything else you want to know."
"Then... what about Baron Yopis...?"
"When processing the escort, he had left."
"I see. Do you know what happened to the old man in the herb gathering shelter? Didn't they catch him?"
"The one who guided me was that person. We freed him from the nobles' hands."
"Glad. I could ask the old man for herbs instead of name stone... ugh."
I tried to sit up again, but groaned. The injury seemed more severe than thought.
Aslan frowned.
"Don't move."
"But..."
"The doctor said to take medicine. Preferably with thin soup."
"What? Uh... I can eat it though."
Aslan brought a tray. Two trays on the tray. Medicine bottle and soup tray. And a salad tray prepared, inside which...
'Name stone?'
Aslan took the name stone salad tray and placed the tray in front of me.
"Eat?"
"..."
"Don't eat. You'll feel the name stone is terribly bitter..."
"Better than truth serum mixed with vomit."
I widened my eyes.
'Did you hear from deputy?'
Aslan moved the fork. And quietly said looking at name stone.
"It reminds me of my teacher."
"..."
"The teacher who died to save me."
"..."
So that's it. Unlike rumors, it seemed he didn't harm the teacher. Rather, the teacher sacrificed everything to save him.
I touched the medicine bottle and said.
"I also had a teacher."
He looked at me.
"Same point of pain when recalling. My teacher is a terrible person, opposite to the leader's teacher, but..."
"..."
"So, I'm envious."
"The old man didn't have a proper teacher either."
Aslan put the name stone in his mouth. He made a disgusted face.
"Should wash and go around."
Hmm. Not only blood taste, but teacher smell too. I laughed.
In the room, only the clinking of dishes, but strangely, I didn't feel any discomfort. Because I knew he was eating the name stone that brought painful memories for me.
'See. Aslan is a good person.'
Since crying at the cliff, my tear glands keep breaking. I rubbed my red eye rims and sniffed.
"..."
Aslan startled, looked at me. Then, frowning long as if thinking, asked.
"Taste bad?"
"No."
The soup was plain without ingredients, but why did it taste best?
* * *
That afternoon, the tower. Aslan, Antonio, deputy received contact from the elite on the info gathering mission.
[... So the six participants in the starter selection including San Miguel are like this.]
Excluding the son of Marquis Oberon, the remaining five were all women. With young princes coming, probably aiming for the princess position.
Aslan, deputy, Antonio looked at the portraits the elite sent in advance, no words.
[Amazing families, but... crazy. Why no words?]
Deputy and Aslan didn't, but Antonio narrowed eyes, concentrating on the portraits. While staring silently at the portraits, Antonio said.
"Something different?"
[What nonsense.]
"Different from our young lady. These girls have clothes that are more..."
Skirts much fuller and sleeves fluttering...
[They must have made them at the empire's famous dress shop. That's the trend.]
"Before, there was a trend with dozens of ribbons."
[Empire trend changes every month.]
Then, this time, deputy frowned.
"So, our young lady has to wear last season's clothes for the test?"
[That would be. But why?]
"Teens find such things embarrassing, they say."
[Yes. What?]
These humans are crazy. Suddenly caring about clothes, and at the end mentioning our young lady.
The elite said with a weird expression.
[Those two seem to have mold in their brains, I'll explain to the leader. ...Leader?]
Why, Aslan also frowned, looking at the girls' portraits.