TLVGAJ 58

~Chapter 58~

A few days later.

I tilted my head, staring at the scene in front of me.

“Harry…?”

In front of me stood Harry and Finn, side by side.

Harry wore a strangely calm smile, while Finn quietly held his brother’s hand, watching us carefully.

“This is the man who applied as a servant for the mansion. Before hiring him, I thought it best to ask for the young lady’s permission…”

The butler glanced at me as he explained.

I remembered him mentioning earlier that new servants would be recruited soon.

But really—Harry had applied as a servant for our mansion…?

Harry did say he had much experience working in noble households. In fact, in the original story, the first place Harry and Emily met had been in a noble family’s mansion.

So, it wasn’t strange that he might end up employed here.

But still…

It was something I had to take note of—that Harry had applied specifically to this mansion.

‘In the original story, Harry should have gone to the mansion where Emily was working.’

Yes. The story had changed. Clearly.

And just as I thought I might know why…

“Young lady. It was you who saved Finn, wasn’t it?”

“Ah…”

Harry bowed his head as he spoke first. I bit my lip in surprise.

How did he know I was the one who saved Finn? Unless the divine beast had told him…

‘Don’t tell me.’

[ …What? Is it a problem to let the world know about the saint’s kindness? ]

I glanced at the chick perched on my shoulder. It tilted its head innocently, as if asking what the problem was.

Ha…

“Well.”

I shrugged awkwardly.

“I just happened to remember a way to treat Finn. I’ve felt sorry for him all this time too.”

“Either way…”

Harry only smiled calmly in reply.

Thinking about it now, his face always seemed shadowed with worry for Finn.

But now—with his younger brother cured—Harry’s expression looked peaceful.

“I came here to repay the debt of saving Finn.”

“….”

“I wish to become a servant of this mansion and dedicate my loyalty to you until death. Please, accept us.”

Harry spoke with firm resolve. If I refused, it seemed he would cling until the very end.

I pressed my lips together, staring at him.

This was unexpected. I had only thought about saving Finn—I hadn’t imagined they would come to me like this.

Instead of answering, I glanced at Finn.

Still… I had no regrets.

If this was the price for saving Finn, I would gladly accept it.

Finn, standing quietly, holding Harry’s hand.

He looked like he wanted to run toward me, but the oppressive air of the ducal mansion seemed to keep him frozen in place.

I slowly opened my arms toward him, giving him permission.

“Finn. Come here.”

That was also the first time I stretched out my arms toward the fate of the novel itself.

The first time I deliberately twisted the fate of its characters.

“Young lady…”

Finn hesitated, glancing at Harry for permission.

When Harry nodded and released his hand, the boy immediately dashed forward.

With a thud, Finn threw himself into my arms, burying his face in my chest.

“Young lady! I missed you.”

“….”

“Thank you so much for saving me. Thanks to you, I’m not sick anymore.”

Finn lifted his face and smiled brightly at me, as if to show his strength.

It felt strange.

The warmth of his body, his innocent smile—it made my chest tighten.

That silly “original story”—I had nearly let such a lovely child die because of it.

Finn was also a living human being in this world.

My nose burned, and I barely managed to speak.

“…I’m sorry, Finn.”

“Huh? Why are you sorry, young lady?”

Finn tilted his head. I shook mine lightly.

“It’s just… something like that.”

“…Don’t cry. If you cry, I’ll be sad too.”

He raised his small hand and wiped the tears forming at my eyes.

I swallowed the tears back and hugged him tightly again.

Finn was alive.

Feeling his heartbeat against me, I knew it for certain.

Thud. The door closed.

After meeting them, I returned to my room.

“Phew.”

Yes—it was overwhelming when Harry appeared, declaring he wanted to be a servant.

I allowed it in the moment, but I wasn’t sure yet if it was the right choice.

But still…

‘It’s good that I can see Finn again.’

I had almost made a terrible mistake. Fabian’s advice had truly been worth listening to.

Honestly… the moment I felt Finn’s breath, the so-called original story stopped mattering.

‘Now that Finn’s alive… will the original start to twist even more?’

I tilted my head, then shook it.

Who could know how much things would change?

Sometimes, trying to protect the original only made it twist more. Maybe this time would be the opposite.

One thing was certain—because Finn survived, Emily no longer had a reason to comfort Harry.

That meant the chance for Harry and Emily to grow close was gone.

‘Still, I can always find a way to connect Emily with the male leads later.’

Since I had already erased Eric and Emily’s first meeting when I caught Derek, I’d have to come up with something else anyway.

Perhaps I’d have to find separate ways for Harry and Eric to meet Emily.

Hmm. I shook my head.

That could wait until later.

‘For now… I’m just glad Finn is alive.’

Smiling faintly, I gazed out the window for a long while.

“Young laaady!”

“Finn, did you sleep well? Good morning.”

Finn entered my room, holding the butler’s hand.

His curly brown hair shone brightly in the morning sun.

Since Harry had started working at the mansion, I had decided to spend time with Finn while his brother worked.

After all, he was probably as bored as me. Playing together would be good for both of us.

“Finn, what should we do today? The weather’s nice. How about going out to the garden?”

“Wow! I’d love that!”

Finn’s eyes sparkled as he replied.

I smiled warmly and took his hand, leading him outside.

The garden was perfectly kept, every plant carefully tended without a single weed.

Hand in hand, we walked through the grounds. The warm weather had brought out a bloom of many flowers.

Butterflies flew, bees buzzed, ladybugs rested on green leaves, and praying mantises fought each other.

Everything seemed to spark Finn’s curiosity as he widened his eyes at the lively garden.

Suddenly, he pointed at something.

“What’s this? I’ve never seen this flower before. It’s so pretty!”

“This is a tulip. Ordinary people rarely see it—it’s a flower for the wealthy.”

Here, tulips were so rare that only the richest nobles could afford them.

And this garden was filled with them, more than one could count—a clear sign of the Hartmann family’s wealth.

‘Still…’

Even as I explained, something felt odd.

There were small name tags stuck in the soil beside each plant. Yet Finn still asked me what it was.

Was it just because he’d never seen a tulip before?

I gave him a curious look without realizing.

“Um…”

Sensing my gaze, Finn lowered his head shyly.

“…Actually, I can’t read.”