The One Who Sees Within -3-
A chill began to fill the ballroom. The gazes of the sniveling girl and that moronic greenhorn punk staring at us were ruining the dance that had been brimming with laughter moments before.
I ignored Ruin and kept stroking the girl's head.
[Favorability window cannot be used in this space.]
• Find Yuria.
• You can only make one choice.
• Completing the choice will enable the Favorability window.
The Favorability window had gone dead the moment I entered the ballroom. There was no guarantee the Yuria in front of me was the real deal.
I'd half-expected the window to crap out, so I'd prepared that dress as insurance. But scanning the ballroom, I couldn't spot a single person wearing the pristine white gown I'd bought her.
In the novel, Yuria had shown up in a shabby old dress—not the one Ruin bought her, but a secondhand rag that earned her endless scorn at the ball. Just like now, Ruin hadn't recognized her. It wasn't until the end, when he went looking for her and found her crying on the balcony, that he realized her face had changed. Pretty touching scene, really.
The illustration of him grabbing her wrist, apologizing for not recognizing her—it was charming as hell. But now? Total clusterfuck.
This was the gap between reality and the novel, right here, right now. In the book, there'd been no direct clash between Ruin and the transformed Yuria. He'd just ignored her, no conversation at all. It was like the voiceless little mermaid peeking at the prince from behind a rock—a heartbreakingly tender moment.
Hmm. Things are royally fucked up now.
I smiled down at the crying girl before me.
"Don't cry."
"S-Sniff... I'm not."
"Liar. You're bawling your eyes out."
"Nooo... I'm not..."
"Hmm. I ought to scold you for not wearing the dress I bought, but seeing you like this... I can't bring myself to."
A quest with the possessor's perks sealed off. I'd figured it'd be a tough one—blow your one shot, and it's game over. Like hunting for Kim Cheol-su in Alaska. But this? Way too damn easy.
Staring at this pitiful girl weeping her heart out, unable to pray or anything, I couldn't help but chuckle. Who wouldn't know? That this was Yuria.
Couldn't deny the hints made it simple, but even without them, I'd have spotted her easy. No one else I knew had that habit of bottling shit up, hiding in corners to fret and sulk alone.
In the novel. At the academy. I'd memorized Yuria's every quirk. As her friend. As the novel's one-and-only possessor.
Or maybe it's just that I couldn't not know.
I grinned at Yuria, who was shaking her head no.
"No... I'm not who you think I am."
See? If this isn't Yuria, who the hell is? The frantic head-shaking when flustered, hiding her face when sad—it was all textbook Yuria.
"Is that so?"
With a soft thud, I knelt before her, matching her eye level. Peering calmly into her face, I lifted the corners of my mouth in a gentle smile and took her hand. Her small, trembling fingers were delicate and cold, her wrist so fragile it might snap.
Slowly, I pried her hand away from her face.
"Don't..."
She resisted, shaking her head fiercely again, refusing to show herself.
"What are you hiding?"
"I'm not hiding... I'm not who you think. I'm ugly. Horrible-looking. You saw wrong."
"Really? I've got a good eye for pretty faces, and you don't look it to me."
"No. Nooo."
"Then your heart must be the pretty part."
"Please stop... Please..."
Her voice trailed off in a whisper, trembling with fierce denial yet laced with what felt like desperate pleading. Heart-wrenching.
I applied a bit more gentle pressure, lowering her wrist. Seeing her hand plastered with bandages, I gave a wry smile.
"That must hurt."
"..."
"Instead of asking me to heal you, maybe take better care of yourself."
"...I."
"Enough."
I smiled at her face. "I get it. So stop crying. It breaks my heart."
Her puffy eyes. Snot-smeared, shiny cheeks. Couldn't stop the laughter bubbling up.
"Finally, I see your face."
"..."
"Why hide? What's lacking?"
"I'm ugly..."
"You're not."
"Liar."
She sniffled loudly, shaking her head side to side. Biting her lower lip, her shoulders quivered uncontrollably.
"Whoever called you ugly, tell me."
"...No one."
"Liar."
"Really."
I could guess, but... I gave her a kind smile and scanned the ballroom. First, the girl by Mikhail. Then the one hovering near Ruin. And finally, the brown-haired one chatting up the crown prince.
Our eyes met, and their faces drained of color. Familiar faces. Ones I'd warned before: don't cross the line again, or shit hits the fan.
"I get the picture."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Just talking to myself."
I wiped the tears from her eyes and ruffled her hair roughly. Pink locks spilled through my fingers, leaving a faint lavender scent.
Could sniff out the shampoo from a mile away.
Novel's got too many idiots. Especially that greenhorn glaring at me like I stole his lunch.
Yuria slowly pulled away from my touch, rubbed her sniffling eyes, and bolted.
"Sorry. You're mistaken. I'm not who you think..."
"I understand."
"Believe me."
"I trust my eyes."
"..."
Realizing words wouldn't work, she fled toward the balcony like a scared rabbit. Confusing, right? Half wondering if I'd really figured it out, half hating to show her broken self. Should've been more tactful. Maybe approached quietly when she was alone. But I was pissed.
I waved lightly at her glancing back, smiling. "No more tears."
Reading her pouting lips, she cried harder, dashing off. The lingering shampoo scent wafted as I dusted my knees and stood.
Time to start. Before chasing Yuria, needed an outlet for this rage. Couldn't let the bastards who nearly blackened the heroine get off scot-free.
I'm a reader too. Touchy about the plot. And these assholes disrupting my cushy NEET life? Deserve a parting gift.
Start with the one who hurt her most. Justice.
I smiled at Ruin, hand in his pocket.
"You did a number."
He sighed deeply. "What a shitshow."
A sharp tsk echoed through the hushed ballroom.
"Ugly bitches bitching together."
He clearly hated this. Still clueless about Yuria.
He stepped close, glaring up coldly. "Why the fuck are you here?"
I smirked, letting him vent. How far would he go? Let's hear it.
"What, cleaning up after that fucked-up Olivia? What brings slum trash like you to the academy?"
"Not missing it, but here I am."
"Talking back again. Fucking hell. Piss off. Don't wanna hear your bullshit."
I called softly to Ruin heading for the balcony. "All done?"
"What?"
He arched a brow, questioning like I'd lost it. I explained politely.
"I asked if you're done talking."
"Waste of time chatting with you."
"Haha. Fair enough. My turn then."
I flashed a cruel smile. "Ruin."
Ways to torment Ruin: beat him to death. Crush his inferiority with talent. Or words.
Best bet? Shatter his foundation.
"What the hell do you even do?"
Ruin. You're out as sub-male lead.