Translator: Nox

20 - How to Escape the Reverse Harem Cliché

Episode 20

But he doesn't even greet the Countess. Come to think of it, the Countess seemed too preoccupied with loading luggage onto the carriage to even notice her son leaving.

“Laila. Hurry and get in. We need to leave now to arrive quickly.”

“Yes, Mother.”

In the original novel, she appeared as a mother devotedly nursing Aiden, who was bedridden. Did this change because of me, too?

In the early stages of my possession, she seemed more concerned with Aiden than with me, but at some point, emotional interaction between Aiden and the Count and Countess disappeared. It was rather the adopted and possessed me who became closer to the Countess.

Well. After Aiden's personality became like that, he caused so many minor accidents, so… I guess things could change a bit.

She adjusted the slightly askew bonnet on my head and then boarded the carriage first. After instructing Lena to carefully put the bag containing the medicine into her own bag, I was about to follow and get into the carriage, but—

“Laila!”

It was Orion Restro who called my name, pushing through the crowd gathered on the street, all waiting for their respective carriages.

Before he could even catch his breath, he whispered so softly that only I could hear, warning me.

“Unregistered Guides are illegal. If you get caught later, you could be in serious trouble, Laila.”

“I’m prepared.”

“……Please be careful. There are many unregistered Espers too. If they sense your Guiding and come after you, avoid them at all costs. Understand? You shouldn't confront Espers directly. It's too dangerous.”

“I know, Orion. You don't have to worry so much.”

“How can I not worry……”

He lowered the corners of his eyes as if even that was a point of complaint. I lightly touched his gloved hand and then let go.

“See? You can’t feel my Guiding. I won’t get caught, so don’t worry, Orion.”

“Then promise me. If anyone ever finds out, you’ll contact me immediately.”

“…….”

“I can resolve it. No, I will resolve it. So if a dangerous moment comes, contact me right away. Okay?”

Orion looked anxious, like someone sending a child to the water's edge. I understood his concern. It was especially worrying that I was a Guide, not an Esper.

I nodded as if to say I understood and waved goodbye to Orion.

“Go on, Orion. Let’s talk later.”

“Yeah. And… the letter… please reply. We promised, remember?”

Why are they both so fixated on letters? I nodded and turned to board the carriage first.

Then, I turned my head and spoke to Orion, who was still watching only my retreating back.

“I actually wrote a letter and entrusted it to Aiden. You’ll receive it when you meet Aiden at the Academy.”

“Huh?”

“……It wasn’t that long. It’s a bit short… but be satisfied with that. I’m going now, bye.”

With that, I quickly got into the carriage. For some reason, the tips of my ears felt hot. Honestly, is it really that embarrassing over just one letter?

Still, Orion’s dumbfounded expression was quite a sight, so it didn't seem like I gained nothing from the encounter.

\ \ *

Among the many servants assigned to me, I chose Lena as my closest confidante, not because she was perceptive, nor because she approached me familiarly.

Lena had a discreet and calm personality. For a servant in such a noble family, having a discreet yet steady personality meant she wouldn't stand out anywhere.

Thanks to her presence, which was like being there and not being there, Lena blended in easily everywhere, which directly translated to her being able to gather information from various places.

Naturally, having lived in an information-driven society, I knew better than anyone that information warfare was crucial.

The reason I drew Lena, who had been inconspicuous, to my side as soon as I possessed this body was all for that purpose. I could provide Lena with everything she needed, and Lena could go anywhere for me, who was confined to the mansion and unable to move.

“Young Lady. I have found a suitable candidate.”

It was the day before my admission to the Academy, half a year after returning from the capital.

The National Academy was a boarding school, so I wanted to handle as many affairs as possible before enrolling, and Lena timed it perfectly.

The suitable candidate I’m referring to is someone who will act under my alias.

As I was still a minor and in a girl’s body, there were too many restrictions for me to move freely. Moreover, this was a place where Espers and Guides who transcended class boundaries ran rampant.

Therefore, I had been gathering funds and looking for another person’s name to use for accumulating wealth until I could escape this place.

“Thierry Pauline. He is the last head of the Pauline family in the south and the original owner of the merchant guild you recently purchased. The Pauline family has been suffering from immense financial difficulties since the lineage of Espers and Guides died out, and they had to transfer their territories to other families, leading to a rather meager life where their title was practically meaningless.”

“Yes. Keep reporting.”

“It seems they tried to continue with their last remaining merchant guild, but that also became difficult, so they sold it to us. They were unable to repay all their debts and fell ill, and are currently bedridden.”

“What about the Baroness? Did he not remarry?”

“The Baroness died about ten years ago. Instead, it seems he had a concubine. For some reason, even after his wife’s death, he did not remarry the concubine and lived with her.”

It was highly likely due to a lack of money. Many people remarry their concubines immediately after divorce or death, but the fact that they lived together without doing so must be because they lacked money.

Although a concubine is not included in the household, the taxes that must be paid increase significantly once they become a spouse.

Given that they sold even the merchant guild they held onto for dear life, their situation must have been quite dire.

“The payment for selling the name was agreed to be given to the concubine, and she plans to leave the Empire for one of the Allied Nations as soon as the Baron dies.”

“I understand. Good work, Lena. Make sure the money is handled properly to avoid any issues.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

“Thank you, Lena. Let’s leave here as soon as I return from the Academy.”

“Yes.”

What Lena wanted was to leave this tiresome Count’s territory.

After her father, whom she had tormented and held mixed feelings for since childhood, died in an accidental fall, she seemed to have lost all attachment to this place.

One day, I asked her what she wanted to win her favor, and her answer was incredibly concise.

“Please take me with you when you leave, Young Lady.”

Although the reasons were different, our hearts were the same, so there was no reason not to grant Lena’s wish. Seeing me nod, Lena seemed to have smiled brightly then.

“Lena. While I am at the Academy, you will be in charge of finances and the operation of the merchant guild. You will use Baron Pauline’s name. If I absolutely need you, I will write a letter in a red envelope and send it to the Academy, and you will check it and contact me immediately.”

“Understood, Young Lady.”

“Where the tiger is absent, the fox reigns.”

“Pardon?”

“It means you are to be the king of the mansion while I’m away.”

I gave you so much for that very reason. Lena nodded with her lips sealed at my added words.

“Don’t forget to send even the smallest clue regarding the pills by letter.”

“Yes.”

I had not forgotten to investigate the Countess and the white pills either.