A Secret Between Us
"And that's not all," Serena said. "You used to absolutely detest apple stew, didn't you?"
"...Maybe it's because I just woke up, but my memory is a bit hazy."
"If you really had amnesia, shouldn't your first words have been 'Where am I?'" Serena pressed, her eyes narrowing. "Stop trying to change the subject. Tell me the truth."
No matter how high my Charm stat was, lying now would be dangerous.
My Charm was undoubtedly powerful, but it had clear limitations.
It made people feel an absolute affinity toward me. As long as they had even the slightest, most trivial reason to listen to me, they would trust my words and accept my proposals.
But it wouldn't work on someone who had absolutely no intention of talking in the first place.
Just as it would be useless against a barrage of arrows, traps, or magical artillery fired by enemies who didn't even know who I was.
If she had absolutely no reason to listen to me, no amount of Charm would allow me to persuade her.
"Wait. Just give me a moment," I said.
"Explain yourself," she demanded.
I took a deep breath and analyzed the situation.
Can I fight this maid and win?
It seemed highly unlikely. Fatigue weighed heavily on every fiber of my body.
My physical strength was pathetic, while the maid was armed with a knife. Unless she miraculously tripped and dropped her weapon on her own, subduing her was out of the question.
Even if I did manage to overpower her, there was no viable path forward. Killing her to silence her wasn't something a decent human being would do. And even if I did, I would have to explain why I murdered my own maid.
Logically, stabbing a maid to death for no apparent reason would be far more damning evidence of demonic possession than simply acting a bit out of character.
I couldn't avoid her suspicion, nor could I escape.
But...
This maid was still giving me a chance.
If she had truly wanted me dead, she wouldn't have come alone; she would have brought guards. She wanted to control the situation.
Even if I wasn't the real Edrin, she seemed willing to cover it up depending on the circumstances—
This is it.
Taking another deep breath, I looked straight into her eyes.
"Yes. I am not Edrin."
"I... I knew it!" she gasped.
First, I had to admit it. She already had too many reasons to believe I wasn't him.
Denying her suspicions right now would be pointless. I had to validate them and find a way to turn the tables from within that truth.
"What... what is your intention? Why did you take over the young master's body?"
"I'm sorry. I don't really know either."
Sincerity has a way of getting through.
Under normal circumstances, it might have sounded like a cheap excuse. Suspicion, hatred, and anxiety would usually overpower any plea of sincerity.
But I trusted my stats. I believed my overwhelming Charm would convey my truth to her.
"What?"
"I don't know why I ended up in this body, or why I woke up in this bed."
"What is... what is your last memory?"
"I don't think I died. I can't say for sure, but..."
"T-that doesn't prove you aren't an evil spirit!"
"Then I'll undergo an exorcism," I offered. "A holy spell, a banishment ritual—whatever you want. I don't believe I'm an evil spirit, but... if those spells force me out of this body, then so be it."
Serena had gathered undeniable proof that I wasn't acting like the real Edrin. She knew I was putting on an act.
However, she had no proof that I had maliciously stolen his body, or that I was a malevolent entity. Furthermore, I had just suggested something an actual evil spirit would never agree to.
Doubt began to flicker in her eyes. This was my chance to push further.
"I'm sorry for trying to deceive you. I just thought it would be dangerous if anyone found out I wasn't Edrin."
"Then... what happened to the young master?"
I let out a heavy sigh.
"I can't be certain, but... I don't feel his presence at all. I suspect he might have passed away."
Transmigration was a concept that didn't exist in the game. Edrin was merely a custom character I had created.
What had happened to him, or what kind of life he had lived, was information I simply didn't possess.
"Sigh..."
The maid stood in silent conflict before finally letting out a long sigh and lowering her dagger.
"What do you plan to do now?"
"Well, for now, I suppose I have to live as Edrin."
Her shoulders trembled as she weighed her options over and over.
"Fine," she said at last.
"Pardon?"
"Just in case you really are an evil spirit, I'm going to call a priest to cast a holy spell on you. We can use the excuse that your body hasn't fully recovered yet, so no one will suspect anything."
It worked. She was on my side.
"If what you say is true... let's keep this a secret between us. A secret only you and I share."
"Thank you."
Dropping the dagger to the floor, the maid took a step closer to me. Her lips, trembling from her inner turmoil, looked beautiful despite the gravity of the situation.
"I'll teach you," she whispered. "I'll explain everything, step by step, so you can act exactly like the young master."
Under normal circumstances, this was absurd. A noble heir miraculously wakes up, and his personal maid simply accepts the imposter who took over his body?
But my Charm stat had done its job. Serena believed me, and now I had a way to gather the information I desperately needed through her.
"Let's make this work together!"
She extended her hand to me.
Even though I had regained consciousness, my room didn't immediately become crowded with visitors.
Serena's assistance was invaluable. She minimized outside contact by making excuses, claiming my memory was still unstable or that visitors would hinder my recovery.
Only when someone she couldn't turn away arrived would she crack the door open. I would pretend my throat was too sore to speak, keeping my words to a minimum and dismissing them with a look. I let them confirm I was alive, but blocked any further interaction.
It was all to buy time. Time for an ordinary citizen of South Korea to be reborn as Edrin of the Silverline family, and to learn the information required to pull it off.
Unfortunately, I wasn't proving to be a very good student.
"We're running out of time! You have to work harder to fix this!" Serena urged.
"I know, I know. I'm doing my best—"
"There you go again with the polite speech! Since when does a noble speak formally to a maid?"
"My apologies. Serena."
"No smiling! No apologizing! If you don't want people finding out you aren't the young master, you need to keep your head in the game!"
We were in this together now. Serena was doing everything in her power to train me so my true identity wouldn't be exposed.
"Wait, I can't even smile?" I asked.
"Your... your smile is too dangerous! If you go around grinning like that, you'll charm every girl in the territory! You must keep your mouth shut and look solemn at all times!"
"Whew..."
Stiffening my facial muscles, I steeled myself and looked back at Serena.
"T-that's good. Now, try saying, 'What have you been doing all this time, Serena!' in an arrogant tone."
"What have you been doing all this time, Serena!"
It felt a bit awkward, but it was the stiffest, most commanding tone I had managed so far.
"Mmm... good. It still feels a bit off, but I don't think people will catch on immediately."
"But did Edrin really act like this all the time?"
"Don't even get me started. He was much worse," Serena said. "When he was in a good mood, he'd just snap at you. When he was in a bad mood, he'd raise his fists."
"Ah."
The Edrin Serena described was an even bigger piece of trash than I had imagined.
He was basically a textbook noble scoundrel.
No wonder Serena had noticed the difference immediately. Edrin had been a thug who mistreated his servants and showed no respect to fellow nobles.
I guess it makes sense.
In this era, he was a man who couldn't secure his succession despite his bloodline. Playing the game, I hadn't realized it, but now that this was reality, I could see how rough and desperate his struggle to protect his birthright must have been.
"Still, no matter how I look at it... you're different," Serena murmured. "Did your face change?"
"Should I cover it?"
I picked up a nearby handkerchief and draped it over my face.
"Hmm... no. There's still something there."
"Is it my expression?"
I pressed my fingers against my cheeks and made a ridiculous face.
"Wh-what is that! Stop it! It's scary!"
"It's not that scary..."
"Y-you don't have to look so dejected. I mean, it's scary, but not in a 'screaming-in-terror' kind of way. It's more like... an overwhelming pressure..."
Serena fell into thought for a moment, trying to put her feelings into words.
"There's an aura around you, young master. Even when you make a funny face, it doesn't look silly. It makes me think, 'Why is someone so grand making a face like that?' and that creates a sense of intimidation."
"Ah."
The Charm stat wasn't just for seducing the opposite sex.
It was charisma. While it could be used for seduction, it was ultimately a stat that projected an individual's presence and authority.
"I can't help that," I said.
"Are you sure you weren't someone incredible in your past life? Like an emperor, or a legendary archmage who could reshape the land?"
"No. I was just an ordinary person."
"Well... you really shouldn't go around smiling at just anyone! It's dangerous. You must only smile for the people who absolutely need to see it!"
"Alright, alright. I'll keep that in mind."
Serena's cheeks flushed red as she glared at me with a pout.
"For now, I'll tell the others that your memory hasn't fully returned."
"Thank you."
I had no wet nurse, nor did I have any close family members.
"Since I'm your personal maid, most people will believe me. However, there is still someone we must be wary of. Someone who knows you well."
"Irena Silverline."
My younger sister, and the woman almost guaranteed to become the next head of the family.
She possessed formidable martial prowess, political acumen, and intelligence. She also had her own share of charm, commanding a significant following.
If anyone could see through my deception, it would be her.