Chapter 69
I couldn’t help it—I burst out laughing reflexively.
What did he just say? No way, I must’ve misheard that, right? Jayus said it properly, so it’s my ears that went wrong, right?
But… his expression was way too serious for me to just laugh it off.
If—just if—I didn’t mishear him, then Jayus had just repeated exactly the same line I’d read a few days ago from the male lead in that romance novel!
“W-wait a second!”
Before I could even collect my thoughts, I clamped my hands over Jayus’s mouth. Shaking my head, I pressured him silently not to say another word.
Jayus looked at me like he couldn’t understand what was going on, but he gave a small nod anyway. I lowered my hands and tried to organize my spinning thoughts.
That “star” line—whatever it was—did not suit Jayus. It wasn’t something he would ever say, and I had never, ever imagined hearing that kind of thing from him.
He looked like he genuinely had no idea what the problem was.
“You… where did you hear that line? Who told you to say something like that?”
Because clearly, he hadn’t come up with it on his own.
Sure, Jayus had said cheesy things before—but only when he was trying to flirt, and those lines were always improvised. But this…
“It’s like he’d been preparing that line all along just for this exact moment!”
It wasn’t that saying it was a problem—it just… felt different somehow. A different flavor entirely from how he usually talked.
And the level of cringe went way beyond what my heart could handle, so I didn’t even want to hear it.
Now I was curious—who had done this to him? Who had corrupted this innocent soul?
“…I saw it before. In your room.”
“Huh? Saw what?”
“…”
“What did you see?”
“…A novel.”
As soon as that word came out, everything suddenly clicked.
So Jayus had been in my room, stumbled across the romance novel I was reading, and copied the male lead’s line from there, huh?
So basically… the one who corrupted him was… me?
I pressed my hand to my forehead in dismay.
“…Ha, so this one’s my fault.”
“I thought you’d like it.”
“I did like it…”
I just hadn’t realized how different it would feel hearing it out loud in real life instead of reading it in a book!
He must’ve thought that since I enjoyed that novel, I’d like hearing it too. It wasn’t that I hated it—but I might start hating it now.
But wait… had he been waiting for the right chance to say that line this whole time?
Anyway, after some awkward clarifications, we managed to laugh it off as a silly misunderstanding.
Even if his romantic lines weren’t smooth, even if this wasn’t some fairytale snow-globe setting—it was fine.
As long as I’m happy right now, that’s what matters.
I leaned against the railing and gazed out over the still-glimmering estate. The light hadn’t faded completely yet. A chilly breeze brushed past, but it wasn’t unpleasant.
Maybe it was the time of day, but my thoughts were getting sentimental.
It had already been two months since I’d started this new life—and I was heading into my third.
A short time, but so much has happened. And there’s still a lot left to resolve.
Once I dealt with those things, I’d be even busier. There would be more sacrifices, too.
But that was fine. I wasn’t planning to take it easy anyway.
I just wanted to finish everything quickly and live happily, with the people I love, without any more worries.
I rested my chin on my arm and turned my head to the side. My eyes met Jayus’s—he’d been watching me.
I knew I had to be the one to say what he wasn’t saying, the thing he’d been holding back out of consideration for me.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
Sensing my serious tone, Jayus answered more earnestly than ever.
“Can I… give you my answer later?”
“…”
“I just… have a lot I need to do right now.”
To him, that might’ve sounded cruel—like I was saying you’re not my first priority.
I felt genuinely sorry, thinking it might sound like an excuse to someone who knew nothing about my situation.
But right now, my top priority was Roel. Specifically, finding out whether Roel knew about my secret—or if, like me, he’d been reborn with his memories.
One day, I’d have to tell Jayus everything. And my father too.
That thought scared me. I couldn’t imagine how they’d react.
Especially Hale… he’s my father, after all. Even if he gets angry, I’d understand.
Maybe I wasn’t even supposed to be Hale’s daughter in the first place. If Roel blamed me for preventing the real Senika from being born, then…
…No. I couldn’t say anything for sure yet. Just because I remembered my past life didn’t mean I wasn’t truly Hale’s daughter.
Still, human hearts are strange things. We worry about things that haven’t even happened.
And if the thing I feared most turned out to be true…
No, don’t think like that.
Eve had told me once—my words and actions come from my thoughts. So I should try to think positively, whenever possible.
And now was exactly the time to do that.
I reached out and took Jayus’s hand, which was resting on the railing.
“When it’s all over—then.”
“…”
“I’ll give you my answer then.”
“…”
“I know it’s shameless… but please, just wait a little longer.”
I tried to smile like usual, but all I managed was an awkward one. I couldn’t help it—my answer wasn’t exactly something to be proud of.
But one thing I was sure of—
The faint, bittersweet smile on Jayus’s face said it all: that no matter what I was hiding, he would accept all of me.
After a short silence, he nodded.
“I will.”
He understood too well what a cruel thing I was doing, and that made me all the more grateful.
For understanding me. For waiting for me.
I couldn’t bring myself to hug him. I was afraid it would feel like I was giving him false hope.
Just then, a white light began to rise from beneath us, climbing up along Jayus’s body until it completely enveloped him.
…What’s this?
I couldn’t touch him—I was scared that if I did, something terrible might happen to him because of me.
While I hesitated, the white light shattered like stardust. Through the falling glow, Jayus’s figure came into view—and he looked… different.
He was taller now. Broader. The boyish roundness on his face was gone, replaced with sharper, more defined lines.
So this is…
If I wasn’t mistaken, this was the sign of complete maturity.
Jayus had become a full-grown adult before my eyes.
I was stunned. And clearly, so was he—his expression was one of pure confusion.
Maybe something I’d said had triggered a huge emotional shift in him?
We just stood there, awkwardly blinking at each other.
“Pfft!”
And then I broke into laughter—because honestly, the whole situation was just too funny. Jayus soon followed, smiling faintly.
Only moments ago, that smile had still belonged to a boy—but now, it didn’t look boyish at all.
“Senika.”
“Y-yeah?”
His voice startled me—it was deeper, richer, heavier. His voice had dropped completely with his transformation.
I realized anew just how many things changed when one became an adult.
I hoped that when it was my turn, I’d look as good as he did now.
“Can I ask you a favor?”
“What is it? I’ll at least hear it out.”
I braced myself, wondering if he’d ask to take back his promise to wait.
But apparently, as long as I didn’t say no, he was fine continuing.
“It’s about the photo in your room.”
“Photo?”
For a moment I tried to recall what he meant, then remembered the one of me and my father in the garden when I was much younger.
“Oh—that one? What about it?”
“I want it.”
“…Huh?”
“When I miss you up north… I want to look at it.”
My face flamed again. For what—like the fourth time today?
Jayus reached out and brushed my wind-tossed hair back from my face.
“You can’t come with me to the north right now.”
“R-right.”
“And it’s too far to visit whenever I want.”
“…That’s true.”
He wasn’t wrong about a single thing, which made it hard to find any excuse to refuse him.
Even though his request flustered me, it wasn’t a difficult one.
But strangely, the more I thought about it, the sadder I felt.
Distance wasn’t the only problem—once Jayus returned north, he’d officially succeed as head of his family.
That meant he’d gain not only power but restrictions. He wouldn’t be free to move around as he pleased.
And I’ll be the same, eventually.
Maybe he even thought my “I’ve got things to do” was about inheriting my own duties as well.
“You can take it. I’d reprint a new one for you, but there’s not enough time.”
“It’s okay. I’d rather have the one from your room.”
“If someone overheard that, they’d get the wrong idea.”
“What wrong idea?”
“That you’re a pervert.”
“If you say so, then I am.”
And like that, we spent the rest of the night chatting idly beneath the night sky.
When the chill finally sank into our bones, we went back to our own rooms.
Lying on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, I thought—
Even if the conversation was meaningless, when it’s with the right person, not a single second feels wasted.
