Chapter 6
The next morning.
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Anna holding a large travel bag.
“…No way.”
She was wearing an outing outfit instead of her maid uniform, and the usually expressionless face now had a bright, cheerful smile.
“I’ll see you in three days, miss.”
After a quick goodbye, Anna left with light steps.
She moved so fast that my hand, which I’d instinctively reached out to stop her, felt ridiculous.
I had been punished with confinement only a few hours ago.
Yet Anna’s preparations were flawless, as if she’d packed days in advance.
Yeah—almost like she’d expected this.
“She left like she’d been waiting for it.”
I muttered as I flopped back onto the bed.
In novels, “confinement” usually meant confinement in name only.
You lounged around in your room doing nothing, enjoyed lavish meals brought by maids in the morning, stared out the window while sipping tea in the afternoon, and napped when food coma hit.
That kind of stay-at-home noble life.
‘As if.’
Like I said before, those idealized scenarios didn’t apply to me.
The moment the confinement order was issued, my personal maid was sent on leave.
The kitchen staff was forbidden from approaching me.
No bathing assistance. No meals.
“Not feeding me is just cruel…”
Since I ate breakfast every day without fail, the hunger hit the moment I woke up.
Clutching my growling stomach, I dragged myself out of bed.
After roughly tidying myself, I went down to the first floor—where the mouthwatering smell of food filled the air.
I cautiously peeked into the dining hall and locked eyes with my father.
When I made a pitiful, starving expression, he looked helplessly toward my mother.
“Dear… surely we can at least let the children eat.”
Kallian, who had come down quietly, glanced at me and immediately joined in.
Both our gazes turned toward Father.
“They’ve reflected enough, haven’t they?”
At his question, Kallian and I nodded so hard it felt like our skulls might rattle.
“It’s not like the manor was destroyed like last time, and no one got hurt. Please forgive them, Mother.”
Even after Luente added that, Mother didn’t so much as flinch as she cut her steak and took a bite.
An awkward silence followed.
The sound that broke it was a sharp tap on the table.
Tap—!
“That’s enough. You fight because you have too much energy. Chef, don’t prepare meals for Kallian and Tian for the next three days.”
…That was it.
The verdict was final.
****
The chef secretly slipped us some snacks later, but it barely helped.
I considered sneaking out of the manor, but that would definitely turn three days of confinement into something much worse.
I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, when I heard a knock.
“Miss, the daughter of Count Arvid is here to see you.”
…Leila?
It was a situation I’d have to face sooner or later.
As much as I wanted to toss that idiot second brother into a river, I didn’t want to drag him into the original plot unnecessarily.
And Leila, smiling brightly without a hint of worry, would probably say just one thing.
‘She wants me to help her get together with Kallian.’
I wasn’t planning to reject her outright.
But now was not the right time.
If, after escaping her original fate, Leila still felt the same way about Kallian—
Then I would gladly help her.
“Let her in.”
The door opened, and Leila walked in with a bright smile.
“How have you been, Tian?”
Only three days had passed.
But for us, that counted as a long time apart, so I smiled softly and nodded.
“Sit here.”
I had run through countless simulations of what I’d say.
I knew I couldn’t talk around the issue with Leila—I had to be firm.
But seeing her smile like that, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
She really had a face that made people soft.
“So… did you think about it again?”
“I’m going to break off the engagement with His Highness.”
Leila looked at me with unwavering eyes, as if she’d already decided.
I’d already changed things so the story wouldn’t follow the original path, and I had no intention of standing by doing nothing in the future.
So Leila breaking off the engagement wasn’t a huge problem.
Prince Sier was just the final safety net, in case things unfolded like the original story.
If she insisted on ending it, there was nothing I could do.
“…Alright. If that’s what you want.”
In the end, the one who had the right to decide Leila’s fate was Leila herself.
I didn’t have the right to forcibly change her choices just because I wanted her to escape the original story.
If Kallian ended up feeling the same way, I’d look for another solution—
But I wouldn’t actively help bring that about.
“Leila. As for Brother Kallian—”
“You don’t need to worry about that, Tian. I don’t plan on doing anything with Brother Kallian.”
“…Cough
I choked instantly.
What was that supposed to mean?
She said she liked him, but she wasn’t planning to pursue anything?
I stared at her with wide eyes as she handed me a handkerchief and continued.
“It hasn’t been long since the engagement with His Highness became an issue. Rumors like that wouldn’t be good. I’d be fine, but Ellopez—no, Brother Kallian—would be harmed.”
Her calm, measured way of speaking made me flinch.
‘Why… why did she suddenly grow up like this?’
Ever since the day she poured wine on Charviel, something had felt off.
Like she’d become a different person.
‘This is strange…’
This wasn’t how Leila usually acted.
She’d never had the backbone to stand up to girls who bullied her.
Nor was she confident enough to explain her thoughts so clearly.
“Leila… did something happen?”
“…Huh? No.”
For just a moment, clear panic flickered across her face.
“W-want to go see a play?”
She was obviously changing the subject.
But I didn’t press.
Whatever it was, Leila always told me when the time was right.
****
Thanks to Leila, my confinement was temporarily lifted, and I was allowed to leave the manor.
After teasing Kallian once just to annoy him, I arrived at the grand theater in the plaza.
‘…Wow. So many people.’
As the largest theater in the Persent Empire, the Central Grand Theater was packed.
“I should’ve just waited and come with Leila.”
She’d disappeared, saying she needed to stop by the manor first, and I hadn’t even gotten a chance to say anything.
I hugged the wall, trying not to stand out.
“Lady Ellopez, this way.”
Thanks to the magic communication orb I’d used earlier, a manager was waiting for me.
I followed him to the prepared seats.
Seats kept open for nobles who arrived suddenly were always on the second floor.
Thanks to that, I could avoid the crowd.
‘…Why isn’t Leila coming?’
I waited calmly for the show to start, but even when it was time, Leila didn’t appear.
Just before the opening, the curtain behind me opened and someone entered.
“You’re late—ah…?”
I thought it was Leila.
But instead, an unexpected person stood there.
Even with all the lights off except the stage, his golden hair gleamed brightly.
“I greet His Highness, the Second Prince.”
“Ah, Lady Ellopez. Meeting you here—what a coincidence.”
…Then why are you walking in so naturally?
It was common etiquette that if someone arrived first, the next person would simply enjoy the next performance.
He knew that.
And yet, Prince Sier smiled slyly and walked inside.
“I truly wanted to see this play today. Would it be alright if I sat with you?”
“…I’m sorry, but this seat already has an owner.”
Before I could even finish refusing, the manager who’d shown me in hesitated as if he had something to say.
“Um, Lady Ellopez. The daughter of Count Arvid asked me to tell you that something urgent came up, and she won’t be able to attend.”
“…Then I suppose the seat has just become empty. Your Highness may sit. I’ll take my leave.”
As I bowed and turned to leave, he quickly grabbed my wrist.
“Why leave? Why not watch it?”
“…I didn’t come because I wanted to see the play.”
He looked oddly flustered at my reply.
Unable to shake off the prince’s hand, I stared at my wrist until he let go.
“It’s lonely to watch alone…”
What do you want me to do about that?
I swallowed the words that rose to my throat.
“Could you stay with me, Lady Ellopez?”
…What?
I wanted to refuse outright.
But I couldn’t.
The look in his eyes was strangely earnest.
