Chapter 16
The damp dirt path squished under my feet, the scent of grass filled my nose, and the sound of the wind brushed past my ears. Smiling with my eyes closed, I arrived at the bushes—and there was the culprit who had been making my ears ring.
“You little rascal.”
It was a white puppy. If I pressed both of my palms together, it would probably be about the same size. Though it couldn’t have been more than a few months old, the little thing roamed around the estate fearlessly.
Sometimes it got lost and whimpered, and whenever that happened, I would hear it and come to pick it up. Just like now.
“Hey, you brat. Why do you keep wandering around without any fear, huh?”
I poked its fluffy bottom. The puppy slowly lifted its head from where it had buried it between its front paws. Its gentle black eyes made me want to smile.
Oh my, how cute.
“Let’s go back. Your mom must be waiting. You can’t cause trouble.”
Maybe it recognized me, because its tail wagged nonstop. That was why—because I let my guard down for just a second. This nimble little thing suddenly took off running as if something displeased it. Startled, I chased after it.
“Hey! You—huff, huff—hey!”
For such a tiny body, it was ridiculously fast. And my stamina was as light as paper! Stumbling and gasping, my vision began to spin.
At this rate, I was going to die first.
My lungs felt like they were tearing apart, so I dropped to the ground, panting heavily. Then a fluffy paw entered my view. It must have felt a little guilty for running off like that.
I trembled at the cuteness of its slightly stuck-out tongue, then crouched in front of the puppy, who was sitting there solemnly. I lightly tapped its black nose.
“Woof!”
Apparently it didn’t like that, because the little thing barked in protest. Watching its panting grin, I unconsciously activated my Tilet.
It was so natural that I didn’t even realize it had manifested. The more you use Tilet, the more proficient you become—and I had barely ever used mine. Because…
“Woof!”
“Woof!”
There was only one dog, so why were there two barking sounds?
The answer was simple. One of them was me.
I felt depressed for a moment. How could my barking sound be so perfect?
Still, since no one was around, I decided to enjoy my Tilet for the first time in a while. For a Tilet holder, using it was the most natural instinct in the world. It even felt liberating.
“Woof, woof, woof! (Hey, you need to go back to your mom!)”
“Woof, arf, woof woof! (Why do you always interfere, noona!)”
That tone reminded me of someone, and my blood pressure instantly rose. With a smiling face, I decided to properly scold this tiny creature. I planted myself firmly on the ground and placed my hands on my hips.
“Woof woof, woof woof, woof! Woof! (You idiot. What if you end up leaving the estate?)”
Yes, I should have stopped there.
If only I had a Tilet that let me see ten seconds into the future.
I didn’t know someone was approaching me. Of course, even if I hadn’t been focused on the puppy, I wouldn’t have sensed him.
“Woof, woof woof! (None of your business! It’s my dog life!)”
“Woof woof, woof! (Hey, isn’t it too early for a rebellious phase?)”
“Woof woof! (Buzz off!)”
“Woof! Woof woof! (Did you just tell me to buzz off?)”
“Yip, yip, arf, woof woof! (This yard is my territory!)”
That was when I heard a rustling sound.
I snapped my mouth shut, my eyes wide, barely breathing. Sensing my tension, the puppy also shut its mouth tight.
We rolled our eyes.
And then we saw it.
“……”
“……”
Parting the bushes and leaning his head out to look down at us were purple eyes. Even in the night, that striking face was unmistakable.
“…Noona.”
Why him? Why him of all people?
Why Vasilisa?!
“…Did you see?”
Please say no. I prayed desperately.
But my hope was betrayed.
“Yes.”
“All of it?”
“Yes. I saw everything.”
The merciless firmness of his answer made it feel as though hot tears were welling up. I slowly lifted my body away from the puppy. Vasilisa’s stunned expression was clearly visible.
‘Ah… no….’
The boy glanced at the puppy, then at me, as if organizing the situation in his head. I lowered my head deeply. My noble dignity and composure were over.
“So noona’s Tilet is…”
“……”
Little by little, Vasilisa’s beautiful lips twisted. Like someone barely suppressing a sudden burst of laughter.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
‘My… my image.’
And as if he had been waiting, Vasilisa burst out laughing.
“What the—pfft! Ahahaha! Noona, the reason you never used your Tilet—puhaha, ahahahaha!”
No one knew about my Tilet. Except for Mother, Father, and Sasha, most people assumed I didn’t have one. Vasilisa, being a top-tier Tilet holder, must have known I had one—but he probably hadn’t figured out what it was.
With a gloomy face, I hugged the puppy.
‘Damn it.’
My Tilet was communicating with animals. How nice did that sound? Living animal therapy, being able to talk with pets—what a fantasy.
But my reality?
‘Ugh. Life is so bitter.’
I could talk with animals—but it wasn’t some beautiful automatic translation. I had to speak their language.
I still clearly remembered the first day my Tilet manifested. I had gone to the stables with Mother, saying I wanted to learn horseback riding. While admiring her magnificent white horse, I suddenly burst into loud crying.
The bewilderment that spread across Mother and Father’s faces that day…
‘Neighhh! Neighhh!’
I could converse with animals—but that meant I made the sounds of the animal. If it was a horse, I neighed. If it was a sheep, I bleated. If it was a dog…
‘Would it kill fate to give me a cool Tilet like a real protagonist?’
Today, this extra sheds hot tears again. Cursed destiny.
I snapped viciously at the damn male lead who looked ready to keep howling with laughter.
“You jerk. Stop laughing. Am I that funny? If there are Tillets like yours, then there are Tillets like mine too!”
“Ahahaha!”
“I’m telling Mother….”
“Ha, ahahahaha!”
“Hey!”
I stayed sulking until I shoved the puppy’s bottom right onto Vasilisa’s head as he nearly collapsed from laughing.
Right now, I was in a very good mood.
Sasha occasionally held my hand and guided me as if she were enjoying herself too, and knights dressed inconspicuously wandered nearby.
The sky was clear, the chatter of people pleasant. The street food I popped into my mouth brought back strong nostalgia from my past life. The chewy grilled heart skewers bursting with juice between my molars were just—
“What. Is this all?”
But my happiness was kicked aside like a stone on the road by a sulky boy’s voice.
I looked at him coldly.
“What’s your problem?”
“You prepared so grandly.”
“Yes, I did. It’s not a day I get to come out often.”
“But we’re just walking around the estate?”
This lamb still doesn’t understand.
I wagged a finger.
“Excuse me. Were you expecting some grand adventure? Think about my stamina. Just coming out here is a big deal.”
I spoke snidely. I didn’t care if Vasilisa’s face turned expressionless and frightening. I used to tremble because he was a character from the original story, yet now I had grown bold. It couldn’t be helped. I was extremely angry!
‘Hmph.’
More precisely, I was sulking at him. How could he be so cruel? Even when I seriously told him to stop laughing, he rolled on the ground laughing for a full ten minutes, nearly sweeping up all the fallen leaves like a broom. That jerk.
‘What’s wrong with my Tilet… well, okay, maybe there is, but still!’
I knew Vasilisa’s future dark history too. Just wait.
I smiled wickedly and formed a grand ambition.
When the original protagonists enter society, I will make my debut at the same time. And I will watch and mock Vasilisa as he completely falls apart after falling in love with Teshya at first sight.
I will definitely get my revenge!
I’m on Adrian’s side!
“Miss, are you still angry at that child? What happened?”
As I walked faster, some distance grew between us. Sasha hurried up and whispered in my ear. I tried to act indifferent, but eventually nodded quietly.
“He saw my Tilet. And he laughed like crazy.”
Sasha’s expression instantly turned cold.
“Shall I take measures so he cannot spread it around?”
Oh, reliable Sasha.
I smiled brightly and shook my head.
“It’s fine.”
It was painful that of all people, he had discovered it. But I knew Vasilisa’s personality well. He wouldn’t tell anyone—not even as a trivial joke.
Thinking that, my bundled-up anger loosened a little.
‘Still… it was strange. Seeing Vasilisa laugh like that.’
Maybe I should try talking to him a bit now?
I glanced back.
The moment our eyes met, Vasilisa’s lips parted as if startled. At the same time, something bumped into me from behind.
“Ah!”
I must have collided with someone walking past while I was distracted.
I staggered—and the other person fell onto the street with a thud.
