Chapter 31
Why the hell hadn't I ever thought of it? The witch's son. Was it because I grew up an orphan, too busy scrambling to survive? Or had I just assumed we were in the same timeframe all on my own? Or maybe I never gave a shit in the first place.
I should've realized it the moment I saw Colton. No, even before that—when I met the crown prince and princess.
It was weird, right?
The very existence of a crown prince was off. From the start. The crown prince was a sub-male lead in the original story.
The original original story. It's a bit tricky to explain, but anyway—the protagonist who came from a sub-male lead background. If France Colton was the male lead connected to Rachel Fonde, then there was also a sub-male lead who loved that Rachel.
And that was—
The crown prince.
Not the current crown prince, Banheil Lehart.
Probably something like this. The one who would rule the capital as emperor right now.
...Lehart Seyden.
I recalled the guy who became emperor from a sub-male lead role. Yeah, that made sense. I should've known the second the crown prince was named Banheil.
I'm such a fucking idiot.
Am I a moron? My brain got smarter, but why didn't I think of it? Yeah, I'm a total moron. Right. I'm the idiot here.
This obvious shit.
Mirai Colton. I only realized it after seeing the evidence right in front of me.
...How many years have passed?
I should've been figuring out the timeline instead of grasping the worldbuilding...
But even if I checked, would I know?
That was another problem. Imperial Year whatever-the-fuck. Who the hell puts that in the first line of a novel these days? And no one's memorizing that shit anyway.
So I didn't know. That's my excuse, anyway.
But does that change anything?
Nope. Nothing changes. What I see now is reality.
"So you're the lady of the Colton Duke Manor."
"Yeah."
Mirai replied in a tone that sounded oddly disappointed somehow. Why disappointed? Didn't matter.
"Sorry, but how old are you?"
"Thirteen."
"Same age."
Thirteen. I recalled their ages. How old were Rachel and France? I didn't know the original story's canon.
Even if I did...
I can't tell how many years have passed.
At least thirteen years, minimum. No—based on Banheil's age, it's seventeen years. And that's the bare minimum. At least seventeen years have gone by.
...Fuck my life.
Doesn't this make all the half-assed knowledge I remembered useless? In reality, I hadn't seen any different common sense or magic anyway, so there wasn't much to recall.
"Why the formal speech?"
Priscel—no, Mirai asked, tilting her head in confusion.
Why formal?
"Well, I can't just drop the casual talk on a duke's daughter outta nowhere."
"You did."
"That was before I knew."
Now that I do, what the hell am I supposed to do? This goddamn medieval world is all about class ranks.
"You can."
"Feels like I'd get fucked over, so I'll pass."
"...Okay."
Her face fell a bit, looking kinda down. So...
This girl's the daughter from the protagonist's family.
France and Rachel's kid. The original protagonist's child, no less.
And the heroine's dead?
Rachel's gone.
Ah, shit.
I grimaced. Of all people, another reincarnate from the same South Korea. Her dying stings a bit.
At least.
I thought there might be someone I could actually talk to.
Didn't expect her to be dead.
Maybe I should've looked into the Colton Duke Manor more. Too late now. Guess it's unavoidable—didn't expect the timeline to be this off.
"Tch."
What now? As I pondered that,
"Why that..."
"Lady Mirai."
Mirai was about to say something to me when another voice cut in. Someone entered the garden. I looked over—a knight in plate armor.
"There you are."
A young guy, early twenties maybe. Handsome. Red hair, scarlet eyes.
...His aura's no joke.
He had a strong presence, not quite Mirai-level but intense. At a glance, on par with Iris.
"We've been looking... Wait, why the maid outfit again...?"
The "again" suggested she wore it often. Why? The hell why?
"It's cute."
Simple reason. Gave me a headache, though.
Wearing a maid outfit just 'cause it's cute?
What a ridiculous excuse.
This girl's character is one of a kind.
Airheaded and curious. Put nicely, she's from another dimension; bluntly, just weird. Straight-up weird kid.
"Haa..."
"And I have to wear this so Raikal can't find me."
"...Are you hiding from me, my lady?"
"Yeah."
Raikal looked hurt at her blunt words. Even I winced watching it.
"Hoo."
But he recovered quick, sighing as he turned to me.
"And this is...?"
"Friend."
"...A friend?"
Raikal's eyes widened at Mirai's word. I was just as shocked.
"Friend? Since when were we friends?"
"Since earlier."
"...Lady Mirai, you're more sociable than I thought?"
Not a compliment, you lunatic. Raikal's face stiffened at the sudden friendship declaration.
"...A friend, huh. First time meeting you. May I have your name?"
"Ah... Sure. Ruin."
"Ruin? Never heard of a Ruin family..."
"Nah, just my name. No family name."
I considered using Mom's last name but felt weird since I hadn't officially gotten anything yet.
"No family name—does that mean you're a commoner?"
"Yes. But I have the duke's permission to be here."
"Permission...?"
I rushed to add it, figuring being a commoner might be an issue. Dropping the duke's name did the trick—Raikal's expression shifted.
"Ah, so you're the guest the duke brought?"
"Yes, that's me."
Good, he'd gotten the report.
"I see. Sorry for not recognizing you."
"No need to apologize."
"However, this area is restricted even in the Colton estate—only those with permission. Sorry, but could you leave?"
"Perfect timing—I was just going. Right away."
Like an escape hatch. Not bad.
"Then I'll head out. Come on, Elia."
"Pardon? Oh, yes!"
I grabbed Elia and bolted from the garden.
"Ah..."
Mirai started to react, but I was gone before she could.
Get outta here first.
Looked like getting tangled up would be a hassle. So I dipped. Fast.
"...Ah."
The black-haired boy. Ruin, he'd called himself. Right after he and the brown-haired maid left.
Mirai, standing alone, watched his back with regret.
"...Too bad."
Something felt off. Like she didn't want to let him go.
Her blank eyes followed him. His footsteps lacked any grace. His gaze held only ferocity and annoyance. The way he looked at her was pure curiosity.
But.
Why?
Why was Mirai chasing that boy? She couldn't understand it herself. Met a peer? It'd been a while, but nothing surprising. Kids approached her all the time. None had caught her eye before.
"Lady Mirai."
The red-haired youth, Raikal, called to her. She finally turned.
"Hiding here again?"
"...Yeah."
Finding Mirai when she vanished was easy. Every time, she was here.
But.
"With that boy."
"Yeah."
That was the surprising part for Raikal.
Rachel's garden. Wife of the former head, France. Only a few from the Colton family could enter Rachel's garden: Duke Colton Clay, France Colton, Mirai Colton. The three direct lines, plus Mirai's guard Raikal.
No one else.
The garden's magic ensured it. Yet that boy had strolled right in.
Someone permitted him.
Raikal had no authority to grant it. So one of the direct lines did.
Was it Mirai?
"Did you permit him?"
"No, yeah."
"Pardon?"
Her answer was weird. What did that mean?
"Not at first. But later, yes."
"..."
Then who at first? Raikal puzzled over it.
"Curious."
Before he could ask, Mirai spoke, startling him again.
"About the boy?"
"Yeah."
"...Really?"
Mirai taking interest in someone? Calling him a friend, even? Unheard of.
After Rachel's death and France's disappearance—especially after that incident—Mirai's emotions had all but vanished.
Interested in another person?
What makes that boy special?
Guest brought by the duke—that's all he knew. Even seeing him, nothing stood out. Just a lazy, annoyed-looking black-haired kid. The hair was unusual, but otherwise ordinary.
What is it?
What did the lady see to take such interest?
It bugged him, but.
"Lady Mirai."
"Yeah."
"First... you need to return to the knights. Word from headquarters."
"..."
Raikal prioritized the important part.
"Got it."
Mirai's eyes dimmed for a second, but she switched expressions quick. Back home after half a year, and leaving after just days. But she didn't complain.
Destiny was set. She had to follow the path.
Mirai brushed her shoulder lightly. It stung oddly. The crest there felt hot.
Weird.
Sensation hit the moment she saw that boy. Why? Uncomfortable, but not bad. Drew her in.
Again.
Could she see him again? She hoped. First hope in forever.
Mirai dreamed strangely of reuniting with that one boy.
She probably didn't know.
What she chased wasn't the boy.
It was the stick at his waist.
And the reunion she dreamed of.
"Ah, fuck, we're screwed."
Would come sooner than she thought.
That too.
"...Ruin."
Under the gaze of the Five Great Towers' masters.
The moment he smashed an imperial knight.