WTARS 54

Chapter 54…

When I opened my mouth absentmindedly, a glass straw, bent at the perfect angle for drinking, was quickly placed between my lips.

“Good, just sip it all in like that,”

Lysiane said, patting my back.

It felt really strange…

“What is this… what’s going on…?”

Still, I did as I was told and sipped. A pleasantly cool drink flowed into my mouth.

It was a beverage made with lemon, herbs, and honey.

“Delicious…!”

I opened my eyes wide, swallowed, and sucked on the straw again.

After doing this a few times, as I focused on drinking, a teasing voice floated from above.

“Is it good?”

“…!”

Embarrassed, I quickly pulled the straw out and tried to compose myself.

“Hm, it’s fine.”

“Drink more.”

“…I’ll take it slowly.”

I realized I was still sitting on Lysiane’s lap. …Wasn’t this position way too embarrassing…?

Fumbling, I tried to slip down from his lap.

But Lysiane held me firmly around the waist and wouldn’t let go.

He even said something absurd.

“Why? You said it feels like being with your mom. Think of this as your mother’s embrace.”

“He must be crazy…”

As I opened my mouth in shock, another straw was pressed in. Feeling utterly flustered, I continued to drink.

The cup was empty in no time. Only after finishing the drink did I finally escape Lysiane’s embrace.

“Go away, I’m going to sleep.”

“You shouldn’t sleep right after eating.”

“That’s my choice…!”

I pushed the mischievous, sly Lysiane away without mercy and lay down on the bed, pulling the blanket over me.

My face felt warm, like a freshly baked potato.

I must have dozed off for a moment.

When I opened my eyes, I saw the dim ceiling. All the lights in the room were off, and the window was covered with curtains.

Rubbing my eyes, I sat up and looked around the room. For once, Lysiane wasn’t there.

“He must have gone out for a bit.”

Well, he probably needs his free time too.

He had been sticking to me like glue all this time…

“…I should drink some water first.”

I let out a deep sigh and poured a cup of water from the kettle, drinking it.

As I set the cup down, I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was 4:34 PM.

“The guild meeting is in the afternoon, wasn’t it…?”

It was a dungeon strategy team meeting, so it didn’t concern me much.

“I wonder if Lysiane is attending that meeting too.”

He was strong in combat and knowledgeable, so he could definitely help with dungeon strategy.

I slumped onto the sofa, staring blankly at the wall.

“What should I do…?”

Should I make more potions?

How is my farm… is Ninabel doing okay?

I need to return there sometime this week…

Then it happened.

A sudden quest triggered!

<‘Synchronization of Muriel’s Memory’>

Download and synchronize the new memory!

Reward: 1,000 coins

“…….”

Again…

‘Well, it’s about time it came out.’

It’s probably another painful memory…

There’s no option to skip the synchronization, right?

ヾ( ·`⌓´·)ﾉﾞ

‘Ah, fine. I get it.’

I muttered to myself as I leaned comfortably against the sofa back.

‘Good, stable posture.’

After taking several deep breaths and bracing myself, I accepted the quest.

“Phew….”

Quest Accepted!

‘Synchronization of Muriel’s Memory’

Downloading partial memories from the backup server.

Progress: 14%

37%

56%

71%

94%

…

Download complete!

Synchronizing core memories. Please prepare for shock.

“…Core memories?”

I had never seen this before.

But there was no time to think.

A familiar shock hit my mind, and I fainted.

“Isn’t that woman famous? Don’t you know her?”

I hunched my shoulders at the whispers around me.

“They say she’s the cherished daughter of Duke Terni. She was frail, so they never let her attend debutante balls and kept her hidden…”

That wasn’t entirely true. Only the part about her being weak was correct.

“She’s started appearing at social parties recently. I wonder what got into Duke Terni.”

“Perhaps he’s trying to find a good match for her. She’s of marriageable age, after all.”

“That could be it.”

“But there are rumors about her…”

I didn’t want to hear more. Not wanting to be the subject of malicious gossip, I hurriedly left the party.

The air outside was quite chilly. Perhaps because it was mid-September, deep into autumn. By evening, the temperature often dropped sharply.

“Cold…”

I shivered, having come out without a shawl, but I had no desire to return to the party.

No one would bring me a shawl. Lady Maids Anne and Marie of the Terni family clung to Juliet at all times.

Those two would pretend to serve me in public but thoroughly ignored me when unnecessary.

Juliet was the second daughter of Duke Terni.

She was a year younger than me and had never liked me since childhood.

Her specialty was pinning everything she did on me.

Even though everyone in the duke’s household knew this, they turned a blind eye. I was always punished in her place.

The recent bad rumors about me circulating in society were all spread by Juliet.

She twisted her misdeeds as if I had done them.

In the rumors, I was an unparalleled villainess, and Juliet was a pitiful saint, trying to stop her sister and getting slapped in the process.

In reality, I was the one being slapped.

Juliet harassed me simply because she disliked me.

She hated me so much she couldn’t bear it otherwise.

That was all.

Human malice, at its core, was simple and petty.

‘Disgusting….’

Although there are good people in the world, only bad people seemed to come my way.

Even those who showed interest in me would drift away after hearing bad rumors.

Is there anyone in the world who could see me without prejudice?

Feeling down, I curled up on a garden bench.

Gathering my dress around me, I huddled like a caterpillar.

At least this kept me somewhat warm.

‘Maybe I should just freeze to death here…’

Even without the courage to end my life, I entertained such childish thoughts.

Though I might have a life worse than death, I still had some attachment to living.

I felt foolish.

“……”

I buried my face in my knees and closed my eyes.

Only the occasional sound of insects broke the silence.

Suddenly, footsteps mixed into the quiet.

“…!”

Startled, I quickly lifted my head.

Immediately, I locked eyes with someone, whose blue gaze shone even in the dark.

A tall man with black hair.

His piercing blue eyes looked like a deep winter lake.

I had seen people boast about blue eyes before, but I had never seen such vivid color.

As I stared, he gave a faint smile and spoke.

“You look cold.”

“…I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

His voice was very pleasant. I didn’t know who he was, but I could tell he must be popular with women.

He paused for a moment, then suddenly took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.

The gesture was careful and polite, giving no impression of hidden motives.

He stepped back a couple of paces and quietly watched me.

The coat he had draped over me radiated warmth.

Strangely, my heart fluttered. At the same time, a suspicious thought arose.

He must not know who I am, so that’s why he’s being kind…

Still, I thanked him sincerely.

“Thank you….”

“It’s nothing. It’s only proper.”

His composed manner showed pure kindness, with no hint of judgment or ulterior motives.

I became even more curious about who he was.

Apparently, he felt the same way, as his eyes glimmered with curiosity.

“May I ask why you are here alone?”