Deviation from the Orbit
"Thank you to everyone who attended…."
Sometimes I think the world is all about connections. I met Ludrik, which led me to Baron Arle, and getting tangled up with the Baron eventually led me to the Rostiras…. Before the youngest Rostira entered, only Orca had spoken to me, but now, everyone was nodding along and expressing agreement with my words as if I were delivering some grand, world-changing speech.
'I’ve only just started my greeting, are they all crazy?'
If they’re nodding before I’ve even begun, aren't they just mocking me? If I put any more effort into this speech, I felt like I’d have to start a total war or grow a mustache—so I just read the script the Baron had written for me and stepped down from the podium quietly.
Clap, clap. People were applauding, but their eyes were fixed on the youngest young lord of the Rostira family. Even though there were still more items on the agenda before the main banquet began, the guests had already lost interest in anyone else.
"Ahem. Please, enjoy yourselves to your heart's content from here on out!"
The Baron, being the quick-witted man he was, skipped the rest of the order and immediately declared the start of the banquet. What a seasoned veteran.
'Should I go to the young lord of Rostira… or the orphanage director, where the competition might be less fierce?'
'What if he thinks it’s rude that I visited the orphanage director first while the young lord was right there?'
It’s strange. Maybe it’s because I’ve had Shasha in my head for so long, but I felt like I could actually hear people’s inner thoughts now.
"Younger sister."
"Yes, Baron."
"Are you planning on returning to your room?"
"That was the original plan."
Even if there were cultists of the Evil God mixed into the party, I would have just gone back to my room. Cultists are like bugs; they can't crawl out when there are too many people around. I would have done exactly that, if only the 'cultist' hadn't been stuck right next to a 'Rostira'.
"If it’s not too much trouble, please stay a little longer. It’s the first day, so it won’t drag on too long."
"Maybe it’s because I put so much effort into preparing for the party… I’m tired."
"Don't be like that. Don't you need more than just money for the orphanage? I’ll support you. If I can't do it directly, I’ll arrange it for you."
"Hmm. Shall I?"
I was going to stay anyway, but I played hard to get just for the sake of it. Night shifts are supposed to pay more, after all. Though, once a Rostira is in attendance, I suppose there’s nothing left to be wanting for.
"Yes, yes! Nobles should get used to these kinds of settings, after all."
The Baron, now in "I’ll give you my liver and gallbladder if it means you’ll just attend" mode for the sake of the perfect party, quickly guided me to a new seat.
'His intentions are transparent.'
The Rostira young lord was sitting in what should have been the Baron’s seat, the Baron was in the next best seat, and my new spot was right next to him. It was a seat of honor far too grand for someone without a title like me.
"Oh, my…."
As I sat down with a groan, it was as if that were the starting signal, and people began to crowd around me.
"I am Theo Padrik. Our family is also from the North."
"Nice to meet you. I am Tisha Luagwen."
"I am truly surprised. To think there was such an outstanding figure even in the South…."
"Yes…."
"Is the Luagwen family also from the North…?"
"…."
The only thing these nobles wanted to talk to me about was the youngest Grand Duke. Well, they probably expected some grand connection. Honestly, even from my perspective, I couldn't understand why the Rostiras were so obsessed with me after meeting just once.
'I have nothing to say, so how can I talk?'
As I answered vaguely, they seemed to realize I was an empty can with nothing to offer and looked disappointed. There was already a mountain of a line in front of the Grand Duke, and they were just waiting in line to say a word and get it over with. Since all my attention was on the Rostira side anyway, it was a relief for me.
"Is this a similar case to last time?"
[Who knows. It’s not an easy target if they approached it for a sacrifice.]
Isn't the target too high-level to have approached it wanting a sacrifice, like with Biern? Unless they wanted to live today and die tomorrow, I would never target something like that.
'Linel appeared just fine in the original work, too. Maybe it’s better to just leave it alone.'
If it’s the Grand Duchy, wouldn't they notice before things go wrong? My intervention might even result in things getting more twisted.
'The kid… the kid….'
I observed quietly and calculated my moves. Even in the midst of that, the kid who barely reached my chest was skillfully handling the nobles who approached him out of habit. Seeing him be that adept, I wondered if he had also possessed or regressed.
'He’s so mature….'
Watching him, our kids overlapped in my mind. They aren't that smart…. There are plenty of kids who can't even read yet. Chiara, Alice, Charlie… Suddenly, I remembered the time I rescued Charlie not long after I possessed this body.
"…The Grand Duchy would be flustered if a child went missing, right?"
[Don't talk about it too openly.]
"I know."
I stood up and brushed off my clothes neatly. *Ahem.* *Ahem.* I cleared my throat once, too. As I quietly approached the youngest Rostira young lord, the people who noticed me quietly stepped back to open a path. Breaking the order wasn't exactly good manners, but it seemed the fact that I was the only one in this banquet hall with a connection to the young lord played a part.
"Are you enjoying the party?"
"Thanks to you. I came to say a brief hello before I go to rest."
"Oh my, I wanted to talk to you separately as well, what a pity."
"Let’s do it next time."
I lifted the hem of my skirt slightly to bid farewell. As the Grand Duke responded by bowing his head slightly, I quietly leaned in toward his ear and whispered.
'Watch your surroundings.'
Whether he understood my out-of-context words or not, the Grand Duke paused for a moment and then gave a smile that held no meaning. Just as I was about to slip out, the Grand Duke grabbed my hand again.
"Would you have some time tonight?"
"…Yes."
At the Grand Duke’s casual remark, everyone around us covered their mouths in shock.
Clatter—
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was surprised… no, no, it’s nothing."
Diana Orca, startled by the Grand Duke’s final words, ended up dropping her glass. But no one even glanced at her. Everyone thought the sound had come from their own hearts.
***
The banquet, and the space for secret meetings: the garden. Surprisingly, the garden wasn't just for flower viewing or kids playing tag; at parties, it had a purpose for "hee-hee" and "ooh-ooh" and "oh-god" encounters. That’s right. It was a secret place where men and women gathered to chat. Usually, nobles who had a drink or two would walk hand-in-hand with their lovers, ready to fire off lines like, "The moon is so beautiful tonight," but there was no one in the garden tonight. Because someone had already claimed it.
However, instead of traces, they left their gazes there.
"Isn't there more than a ten-year age gap between the Grand Duke and Luagwen?"
"What’s ten years… there are plenty of people here who have taken second wives with age gaps of over twenty years."
"But there’s a huge difference in status between him and the Grand Duke, is that even possible…?"
"What is this, a newbie? Sit here. I’ll tell you the insane story of the Rostira family…."
They had their reputations to maintain, so they didn't make a fuss about the secret meeting between a man and a woman. But the fact that their eyes drifted toward the window every now and then was… just checking the weather, you know.
Whatever chaos was happening inside, the garden was silent. Only after walking in step and confirming that there was no one around did Seoha speak first.
"I… I want to talk to you two."
"Everyone, step back far away."
"Understood."
The Rostira attendants retreated until they were out of sight. At that distance, they wouldn't be able to hear a word, no matter what was said. A conversation that required neither formality nor etiquette. This time, Rostira asked first.
"What is the reason you told me to watch my surroundings?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like."
"At the very least, there shouldn't be anyone here right now with more guards than me."
"Because those guards are the danger."
At first, I had intended to just say it simply and be done with it. But seeing as he had gone out of his way to call me here, it seemed the Grand Duke was taking my words seriously. However, that didn't necessarily mean he believed me.
"I apologize, but everyone guarding my side has been with me since I was young."
"Being with you since you were young doesn't mean much if it was only ten years ago, Young Lord."
What does it matter if they were there when you were crying in your diapers?
"You speak like someone who has lived for decades, Director."
"…Evil Gods are not bound by time."
Even someone who has kept their faith for decades can collapse overnight and serve an Evil God. Everyone has moments of desperation where they think it wouldn't matter if they died. Evil Gods cleverly dig into those gaps.
"You know a lot about Evil Gods…."
The fact that he didn't get angry when I suddenly suspected his close aides showed that the Grand Duke’s character was decent. But what could I do? I was right. If it came down to it, I could have told him to bet everything and get proof from the church.
"But I cannot believe such words without evidence. Let’s just say those words were a mistake made while intoxicated."
That’s a pathetic excuse for someone who hasn't touched a drop of alcohol, and for a kid to make. Since I’d already started, I decided to tell him a little more. I didn't have a hobby of watching people regret not listening to me later.
"Because I can see it with my own eyes."
Seoha pointed to her eyes as if to stab them. To an ordinary person, it would look like a bluff, but for a noble on the level of a Rostira, he knew the meaning.
"…Are you from the church?"
"Let’s just say it’s a similar place."
"Damn it… no wonder that woman sent me…."
…Huh. The Grand Duke’s tone had subtly changed. If before, he had subtly shown discomfort about me suspecting his aides, this was as if….
"How much can you see?"
"To be specific… four out of the six attendants serving you, Grand Duke. Shall I even tell you their physical descriptions?"
"…Priests? Seeing as they don't have a single callus, they don't look like paladins."
This was like.
"What do you want?"
Wasn't he like someone who had been caught doing something they shouldn't have been caught doing?
"Are you just leaving them be even though you know?"
"Because they are useful."
The Grand Duke’s eyes were sharp. Dignity was not limited by age and was not bound by bloodlines. It was as if a small Grand Duke was standing right there.
'This is definitely different from the original work….'
I wasn't afraid of that appearance. But I was flustered. Linel in the original work was never a personality like this. He was just a child who was clumsy but kind and craved a lot of affection. But the Linel in front of me now was being led by some strong desire.
Where did it start? Something was veering off the orbit of the original work.
***
Clatter—
"I didn't do it this time!"
"Lady Orca. Calm yourself."
Fortunately, no one paid attention to the broken glass this time either. Because a major incident, one that made such things irrelevant, was unfolding right before their eyes. People forgot their dignity and stuck to the windows. They had clearly seen the two of them arrive at the garden. They couldn't connect the dots on why this situation was happening. Everyone just covered their mouths.
As if to summarize the situation, someone shouted loudly.
"The young lady… slapped the youngest Grand Duke’s cheek…!"
And people realized it. Perhaps they were witnessing a major incident that would shake the social world!