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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: An Unwelcome Guest
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I studied Menelik’s expression.
*Why does he look the same as always?*
I thought he’d want to address the issue, now that I’d recovered some of my strength.
I didn’t have scales or a sealing spell like Kivrin, but I detested holy power.
And my sister said she’d seen a future concerning me.
Shouldn’t he be taking this at least a little seriously?
The fact that he was just letting it go was twice as suspicious.
Even after seeing the tense look on my face, Menelik asked casually.
“Are you well enough to walk around? I've prepared some people as a gift for you.”
“People?”
“I brought over all the hotel chefs who made that ice cream. They’re just waiting for you to come out.”
*Gasp.*
“Let’s… let’s go right now! I’m perfectly fine!”
Suspicious? What was I thinking? I was awful for doubting such a generous father-in-law!
I threw open the door and waited for Menelik to come out.
I hadn’t had any snacks this whole time, and my mouth was already watering.
Menelik chuckled and followed me out.
“What can I do if Winter likes it too? I have to treat you well.”
Eating ice cream for the first time in a while felt heavenly.
I came out with a load of snacks and peeked toward the annex where Kivrin was.
“Can I go see the Young Lord today?”
“Go on.”
He gave his unhurried permission.
I walked briskly toward the annex.
However, my hope of seeing Kivrin was soon dashed.
“*Gasp*… Why are there so many stairs?”
How on earth did I get up here before?
I was so out of breath that my head was spinning.
I felt like I must have climbed at least ten flights, so I checked the floor number.
…Why am I not even on the third floor yet?!
I sank onto the stairs in despair.
My stamina didn't have to be *this* pathetic…!
“I… I have no choice. I have to lighten the load.”
Fighting back tears, I took the snacks out of my pockets.
I also removed the lollipops I had tucked into my waist ribbon and the caramels I’d stuffed in my sleeves.
A small mountain of sweets formed on the corner of the stairs.
Anyone who saw this would think I was a snack thief.
No wonder Menelik and the maids kept smiling…
I muttered gloomily.
“Wait patiently. I promise I’ll come back for you.”
Still, I couldn’t give up after coming this far.
I would see Kivrin’s face no matter what!
I steeled my resolve and stood up.
And my eyes met Kivrin’s as he was coming down from above.
Kivrin was bundled up in a scarf and coat, even indoors.
“……”
Where’s a hole I can crawl into?
Swallowing my embarrassment, I forced a greeting.
“He-hello, Young Lord.”
“……”
“It’s a lovely day today, isn’t it!”
“……”
I was just thinking of running away.
Kivrin came down the stairs and gathered the snacks I had piled up.
“I-I’ll carry them for you.”
“……”
It was the same old Kivrin I knew, and I wanted to die of embarrassment.
In any case, we changed our destination from Kivrin’s temporary bedroom to my own.
*Ugh,* if I’d known Kivrin was moving back to the room next door starting today, I would have waited a little.
Now I’ve just cemented my image as a snack fiend.
Kivrin didn’t return the snacks, instead starting to portion them out into smaller amounts so I couldn’t devour them all at once.
I cried on the inside, but said what I needed to say.
“Do you remember when Viscount Rose and I visited? Your sealing spell broke for a moment then…”
“N-not all of it, but I remember. The p-part after Rose was leaving.”
I blinked.
Kivrin handed me one cookie from today’s portion.
“I m-must have startled you a lot, didn’t I…?”
“A little.”
“……”
“Actually, quite a lot…”
When I sheepishly changed my answer, Kivrin smiled faintly.
That gave me courage.
“But why don’t I have scales on my body if I’m the second snake?”
“I… I think it’s a relief.”
I couldn’t miss the unspoken words: *that you aren’t treated like me*.
“L-like me, your supernatural ability doesn’t manifest normally… and your stamina is terrible… but that’s better.”
You didn’t have to hit me where it hurts…
“That’s why it doesn’t feel real. I can’t think of any way to be helpful to the duchy either…”
I slumped over the table, and Kivrin gently patted my head.
As he did, I spoke.
“Oh, you said you loved someone very much in your past life, right?”
“I only remember a little of my p-past life, but that person…”
“Wait a minute!”
My eyes widened in panic as I cut Kivrin off.
“Aren’t you speaking a little too fondly of her?”
Kivrin tilted his head.
“B-because it was you, Lady Cheria…”
I said I’d believe him since he seemed so wronged, but I’m still not so sure!
And even if it was true, wouldn’t that be the past life of the Cheria before I was transmigrated, not mine?
I wrinkled my nose.
Although, I’ve already become so perfectly synchronized that it feels unnatural to separate Cheria and myself into two different people.
Come to think of it, this is strange too, isn’t it?
Why is it that now, when I think I simply possessed Cheria’s body, it feels like my own identity is being insulted?
It feels like my sense of self is being violated…!
It’s gotten to the point where I think, *I’m the real Cheria, who is this other Cheria*…!
Suddenly, Kivrin ruffled my hair a little.
“Wh-what was that for?”
“It seemed like you were th-thinking unnecessary thoughts.”
I pouted.
“What if that person wasn’t me?”
“Then I wouldn’t care…?”
Kivrin answered without a shred of hesitation.
“Ahem, is that so?”
My mood improved in an instant.
My expression softened.
“Right, well, a past life is a past life, isn’t it? Let’s just focus on this life.”
Once I reached a reasonable conclusion, the feeling of my identity being threatened vanished.
It’s not like I can meet the pre-transmigration Cheria and ask if we’re actually the same person… hmmm…
* * *
I was on my way to the banquet hall to have a rare dinner with Kivrin.
I spotted Menelik, his face looking extremely foul.
He was waiting for Winter, who had gone outside the castle with his adjutant.
“Winter is late. She said she’d be back 50 minutes ago, now 51.”
A margin of error of under an hour might be common, but not for Winter.
She knew Menelik’s obsessive nature well, so she always contacted him in advance if she was going to be even slightly delayed.
Menelik waited another nine minutes before standing up.
He gave me a simple instruction.
“Stay by Kivrin’s side.”
His worry started to infect me, and I grew concerned for Winter too.
Instead of going to the banquet hall, Kivrin and I crouched down by the castle entrance.
We planned to wait until Winter returned safely, but soon Kivrin muttered.
“…S-so this was the plan.”
Huh?
Kivrin took my hand.
Before long, a carriage appeared, looking unnaturally shabby as if it had been deliberately covered in dust.
The carriage stopped, and someone I knew stepped out.
“The majesty of Crescent Moon Castle is as impressive as ever.”
“……”
“It is a pleasure to see you again, Your Grace.”
The Pope, Nocturne, greeted me coolly.
Could he be the one who held Winter up?
So he lured Menelik out of Crescent Moon Castle and then barged in?
That meant his business was with either me or Kivrin.
Kivrin didn’t let go of my hand, protecting me from the influence of the holy power.
As we just stared blankly, Nocturne continued.
“Don’t worry, I have no desire to enter the castle. We can speak perfectly well right here.”
He was speaking magnanimously, for an uninvited guest!
“Actually, the Saintess has been acting strangely ever since your visit. According to the maids, it seems she used the gift of foresight granted by God, but she refuses to share the results with her own kind. Might you know the reason, Your Grace?”
Nocturne got straight to the point.
He seemed to be in a hurry, likely because he didn’t know when Menelik would return.
Even in **, Nocturne had coveted my sister’s prophetic abilities the most, so his bloodshot eyes came as no surprise.
“I don’t know anything.”
“That is a lie.”
“……”
Right, I forgot lies don’t work on this man.
I shut my mouth.
Before Nocturne could press further, Kivrin stepped in front of me.
“Y-you can do as you please with me… but not her.”
Nocturne’s gaze shifted to Kivrin.
It was incredibly unpleasant.
My heart began to pound.
In the novel, Nocturne had relentlessly tormented Kivrin.
That was why Kivrin hadn’t aimed for rebellion like other villains in novels; he had sought to bring down the Temple.
Which meant this man would continue to torment Kivrin in the future.
And by extension, Winter and Menelik.
And me.
…But why should I have to put up with that?
