Chapter 49
I interfered too much with the novel—was that why God was sending me a red card, telling me to stop?
Or was this how it was always supposed to be?
Why do I feel this terrible?
“So I waited. Desperately. For the one who would speak to me from beyond that door. And then… the Savior came.”
Watching the female lead speak so casually about the future, that thought crossed my mind.
Had she, like in other novels, also returned through time?
So does she know about the person who will save her in the future—well, not truly save her, since she only used them, but still, know of their very existence?
I wondered if she might be acting, pretending in order to use me.
But her bright eyes didn’t seem to be lying.
She clearly looked genuinely happy, as though she truly heard the voice of God.
‘Am I just thinking this way because I’ve read too many novels?’
I felt suspicion, but there was no evidence. I steadied myself and met her gaze again.
Unable to hold back, I asked the female lead who was looking at me with sparkling eyes:
“You hear God’s voice?”
“Yes! And you really came. Just as God willed, the Savior…”
Her behavior—like a puppy that had finally found its owner—left me flustered.
“Uh… y-yeah…”
“Please take me with you and run away.”
She dropped a bombshell.
“Huh?”
“God said that if I stay in this country, I’ll die. That I’ll be killed by a vicious villainess. So He told me to take the Savior’s hand and leave. Please, save me.”
At the words “vicious villainess,” I almost bit my tongue.
‘That’s me…’
Does this so-called God even tell her useless details like that?
‘Were the times I lived through truly real, and is God now giving her answers so she can live a different life?’
Honestly, I was the only one who died in the previous life.
My father, shocked by her words, tried to stop her in a hurry.
“Wait…”
But as if only I existed in her world, she ignored him completely.
“I waited for you, Savior.”
Her plaintive voice tugged painfully at my heart.
Is this the female lead buff? I feel like I should follow her words, like I should take her side and do everything she asks.
“Savior.”
“Amanet. First—”
Perhaps sensing something strange, Father instead stepped in front of me.
“I’m not an idiot.”
“…What?”
“Huh?”
“And I love my dad more than anyone in the world.”
I clung to my father’s feet. He clearly hadn’t expected that, and his eyes wavered slightly.
“I have no intention of leaving my dad. And besides, why should I take you and leave this place?”
Ah… I guess I was wrong again. In a sudden surge of emotion, my voice came out harsher than I intended.
I had resolved to get along with the female lead and even saved her, but this made me no different from the past when I had tormented her.
But I couldn’t suppress my instincts.
“…But God said—”
“I can’t believe God. And I believe even less in assigning meaning to things that are just coincidences.”
“Ah…”
“And the person I love most—my dad—is right here. There’s no way I’d run away just because you said so.”
Tears welled in her eyes, as if they might fall at the slightest touch. Honestly, it felt like I had done something truly cruel.
Emotions I hadn’t felt in the past surged through me. Maybe because I’m still young, or maybe because my heart has opened toward her—but I felt them vividly. Along with a deep discomfort.
“And your savior isn’t me. It’s my dad.”
“….”
“If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have even been able to open that door. And it was also Dad who brought you here and pushed for your adoption so you’d never have to go back there again.”
Only then did her gaze slowly shift toward Father.
Father, who had been flustered the whole time, scratched his head awkwardly and smiled.
“R-right? I mean, I did suggest it…”
“Ah…”
In her eyes, I could clearly see the thought: This can’t be my savior.
“Anyway! You’re okay now, right?”
“Ah… yes.”
“Then I’m leaving.”
“Y-you’re leaving?”
“Yeah! I’ve said everything I needed to, and you said you’re fine.”
Her eyes trembled violently.
“W-wait. If you leave like this…”
“Why not?”
“It’s not that you can’t… It’s just… y-you’ll come back again, right?”
As if she realized she shouldn’t cling to me, she nodded slightly.
“Of course! You’re going to be family with me now! So I’ll come back. Don’t worry!”
“Ah! But family…?”
“Dad said he’d make us a family. Isn’t that nice?”
She nodded. Seeing her smile happily, I turned away abruptly before I could say anything else.
“Mm! Then I’ll come again.”
“Yes!”
I had worried she might think badly of me, but thankfully that didn’t seem to be the case. She was still looking at me with a happy expression.
‘This is burdensome.’
Overwhelmed by her unconditional affection, I quickly averted my gaze and stepped outside.
“I’ll come again.”
“…Yes.”
Even she, who had acted as though she would never respond to Father, answered him quietly this time.
“That’s a relief.”
Father followed me out and gently patted my head.
“Hm?”
“I thought she rejected people, but it seems that’s not the case.”
“Yeah! Let’s go back quickly!”
“Alright… though I hope that child will really be okay.”
“Yeah… she’ll be fine.”
Holding my ever-worried father’s hand, I hurried away.
This was only the beginning of my connection with the female lead. I would have to keep watching.
There was still so much to do: repair the relationship between the female lead and the twins, teach the abused children proper values… I’m busy, busy.
Lost in thought, I didn’t notice Father looking at me with a proud expression.
The next day.
It was a family gathering we hadn’t had in a long time, but the atmosphere was unusually heavy.
They had received news that Grandmother’s older brother had passed away.
Contrary to expectations, Grandmother seemed relatively fine.
She still looked uncomfortable whenever she saw Father and me, but she calmly informed the rest of the family that her brother had died.
“I couldn’t even see his face before sending him off.”
That was all she said about her brother’s death.
“Mother, you were ill. Please don’t be too grieved,” Behel said, patting her shoulder and frowning.
“Yes… that’s true. But no matter how sick I am, I must go. It’s my brother’s funeral. Even now, it’s already late.”
“Mother, I’ll go in your place.”
Unexpectedly, Uncle Behel volunteered.
“You will?”
“Even so, someone must attend the funeral.”
“That’s true.”
“You should go, Mother, but given the circumstances, it seems difficult. So it would be best for one of your children to go as your representative.”
Grandmother placed her hand over Behel’s.
“Yes. That would be best. My body simply won’t recover.”
“Normally Marquis Leocal should go, but since he is extremely busy with both public and private affairs, it would be better for me, who is less busy, to go.”
Feeling Behel’s glare toward Father, I glared back at him.
If he goes this time, he will surely bring that child back with him—and then everything will change again.
The day when all the protagonists of the novel gather was not far away.
Excitement and anxiety filled my chest at the same time.
“Brother. I’ll leave it to you.”
Normally, Father would have shown discomfort, but now he simply nodded calmly.
“Hah?”
“I will order preparations so that you can depart comfortably.”
“Have you really changed that much?”
Even in the face of Behel’s obvious displeasure, Father didn’t change his expression.
“Yes.”
“Hah…”
“Then what exactly did you want me to say here?”
“You should be the one saying you’ll go! You order preparations instead? You really think you’re something now!”
“I am something. I’m a marquis. Brother.”
Everyone present froze at Father’s words.
“I’d prefer you address me properly. From now on, I intend to properly fulfill my role as marquis.”
