Chapter 5
“Who’s coming?”
“Count Aios!”
I’m already overwhelmed because of Duke Brillion, and now Veroni’s father is coming too.
Did Count Aios even appear in the original novel?
Maybe because I only skimmed it, I couldn’t remember.
I’d read so many novels after that one.
According to Jenny, Count Aios had been away for quite some time on a trading expedition.
Why does he have to come back today of all days?
My head already feels like it’s about to explode.
Still, what could I do?
I’d have to meet him eventually.
There was no avoiding it.
“This is no time to laze around!”
Jenny urged me as I continued sprawling across the bed.
“Y-Yeah… I should get up.”
Pretending to give in, I climbed out of bed and sat before the mirror.
The maids swarmed around me to help me get dressed.
As I stared at my reflection…
My eyes landed on the battery icon glowing green.
Is this because of… the forced kiss?
So the more intimate the physical contact, the more it charges?
But I can’t exactly go around kissing every man I meet.
Veroni had done something similar in the original story.
She ended up losing her head on the execution grounds.
I’d chosen to interact with men in order to survive…
But Veroni still died in the end.
No matter what, I would avoid that ending and find my way back home alive.
“My lady, we’re finished. The Count should be arriving any moment.”
“Alright. Let’s go downstairs.”
Whether it was the maids’ skill or simply because Veroni had always been beautiful…
They divided my wavy crimson hair in half and tied it with ribbons.
Combined with my flawless pale skin and lipstick that matched my scarlet hair…
I looked like a celebrity.
It’s my face, but wow…
Pushing those thoughts aside, I headed downstairs to greet the Count.
The servants were already bustling about.
What kind of person is Count Aios?
Cold?
Stern?
If he found out his noble daughter had been running around outside, he’d probably yell at me.
Just imagining it gave me a headache.
“The Count has arrived!”
With that booming announcement, the front gates opened.
Among the people entering with the knights, one man stood out immediately.
The Count with crimson hair.
He looks exactly like Veroni!
Despite his age, his vivid red hair and brilliant golden eyes made him instantly recognizable.
That had to be Count Aios.
His sharp eyes and tightly set mouth made me swallow nervously.
He looks scary…!
For a second, I genuinely worried he’d walk over and slap me.
The Count dismounted his horse and came straight toward me.
His gaze was so intense that I almost took a step backward.
“Veroni.”
He softly called my name.
Then—
“I’ve missed you so much, my precious daughter.”
Ignoring everyone’s stares, he pulled me into a tight embrace.
“H-Huh?”
An embarrassing sound escaped my mouth.
I’d never experienced parental affection in my previous life.
Not even a little.
“You’ve gotten so thin. I told you over and over to eat properly.”
“Ah… I’ve been eating… plenty…”
“Veroni, I told you before—you’d still be beautiful even if you gained weight. Don’t you trust your father?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“In the entire Epona Empire—no, on the whole continent—there isn’t anyone more beautiful than my Veroni.”
The Count never gave me a chance to speak.
This was actually his character setting?
He wasn’t just a doting father.
He was an extreme doting father.
Sure, Veroni was beautiful.
But this was excessive.
Isn’t this man a little crazy?
How am I supposed to go around charging my battery with a father like this watching over me?!
“Come inside. I brought you presents.”
Father smiled warmly.
The wrinkles around his eyes.
His gentle voice.
The affection in his gaze.
For some reason…
They made my nose sting.
In my previous life, my parents left me at an orphanage when I was very young.
They told me they’d come back once I was a little older.
Then they left.
Until I was nearly in middle school…
I believed those words completely.
“We’ll be back soon. Listen to the headmistress, alright?”
Then, after entering middle school…
I was mocked for being an orphan.
Only then did I realize the truth.
I’d been abandoned.
The parents in my memories were always angry.
Every single day, they fought violently.
Mine had been an unwanted pregnancy.
Their marriage had been unwanted too.
So all they ever did was fight.
I wondered how much they’d argued over me.
“You raise the child after the divorce.”
“No, you do.”
They probably spent ages trying to shove me onto each other.
Growing up with parents like that…
There was no way I could have received even a handful of love.
“Aren’t you curious about your presents? Usually you’d be so excited you’d insist on opening them before eating…”
Father looked strangely dejected.
Seeing the corners of his eyes droop made me feel guilty for some reason.
“I’m really curious, Dad. But you’ve traveled such a long way. You should eat first.”
“Veroni… To think you’d say something so thoughtful to your father.”
He looked genuinely touched.
Did Veroni normally never say things like this?
Judging by the tears welling in his eyes…
She probably hadn’t been very affectionate.
Since I’ve already become the affectionate daughter… maybe I should keep it up.
I felt…
Happy.
That unconditional love directed entirely at me.
The kind of affection only family could give.
It was unfamiliar.
Yet warm.
…Is this the first time in a long while that I’ve been happy?
Ever since entering this novel…
I’d been too busy charging my battery to think about anything else.
“Come on inside, Dad.”
As I spoke, I gently linked my arm through his.
The fierce expression that had frightened me softened instantly.
“Yes… let’s go inside, my daughter.”
That was how we shared our first meal together.
The time I spent with Father was wonderful.
The way he smiled kindly despite his stern appearance.
The way he kept conversations going so there would never be awkward silence.
A family that’s unquestionably on my side.
I never knew it could feel this reassuring to have someone who’d stand by me no matter what happened.
“While I was in the Aheltan Empire, I missed you so much I could hardly bear it.”
Father never stopped expressing his affection.
“Thank you for staying healthy while I was away. You have no idea how grateful I am.”
For the first time in a very long time…
I laughed with genuine happiness.
* * *
With my battery fully charged, I felt fantastic.
And it isn’t draining very quickly, either.
This was the first time I’d ever reached one hundred percent.
The power of a forced kiss…
Of course…
That didn’t mean I wanted to repeat something like that.
How am I supposed to face the duke now?
Holding hands or hugging only restored about ten percent.
Judging from what I’d experienced…
It seemed a kiss was necessary to charge this much.
Ugh…
Or perhaps the amount depended on the person?
Maybe the more handsome someone was…
The more battery they restored?
Lost in that ridiculous fantasy, I quickly shook my head.
“Sigh…”
Thinking about all sorts of things, I enjoyed a leisurely walk.
“My lady, please don’t go into the alley. It’s dangerous.”
Max, who was accompanying me as my escort, stopped me.
The capital’s security was excellent thanks to the city guards.
Still, the deeper alleys couldn’t be guaranteed safe.
“Okay. I won’t go in.”
I turned to leave.
Then something caught my eye.
Huh…? That’s…
A cat.
The very same cat I’d met in the forest!
Its snowy white fur stood out clearly against the dark alley.
The cat lay collapsed on the ground, breathing weakly.
“My lady, you mustn’t go in.”
“But there’s a cat lying there.”
“My duty is to protect you.”
He’s so strict.
If I just stepped inside for a moment, I could check on it.
“Max… I’m hungry.”
“…Pardon?”
“A new dessert shop opened just ahead, right? Could you buy me some bread?”
“My lady.”
Max’s expression hardened.
He’d seen right through my plan.
“I’m so hungry I feel like I might die.”
“…”
“If you hurry back, nothing will happen.”
“Haa…”
Max sighed quietly.
“I’ll go. Don’t go inside.”
After warning me repeatedly, he hurried off.
Even as he left, he looked back several times in concern.
There are city guards everywhere.
He’s worrying too much.
Only after Max disappeared completely did I slip into the alley.
The cat was even letting out tiny whimpering cries.
“Oh no…”
Blood stained its white fur.
Looking closer, I saw its right front paw was injured.
“Are you alright? What should I do?”
I’d better take it home.
It’s not like there are animal hospitals here.
I’d have to care for it myself.
I gently picked up the tiny cat.
Its breathing was uneven.
The more I listened, the more worried I became.
Do we even have medicine for cats?
What about food?
What should I feed it?
While thinking about all that, I turned to leave the alley.
Someone blocked my path.
“A noble lady’s got some guts coming into a place like this alone.”
One glance told me he was the leader of a gang of thugs.
His clothes were shabby.
His posture was arrogant.
His tone was just as obnoxious.
The stereotypical street punk.
I needed to get home quickly and treat the cat.
Why did these idiots have to show up now?
I glanced toward the alley entrance.
Max still hadn’t returned.
“Or maybe you’re just stupid enough to think I came here alone.”
“Hah! We already saw your knight leave.”
So they’d been watching from before I entered.
I’ll have to escape.
As the thugs closed in…
I waited for an opening.
“Move, you bastard!”
Then—
I kicked one of them squarely between the legs.
“Gaaah!”
He collapsed with a strangled scream.
I immediately bolted.
“Hey! Get back here!”
The men charged after me.
Back in my previous life, I’d done all kinds of sports.
Landing a quick strike and running away was nothing difficult.
The only thing I worried about…
Was whether the cat in my arms could endure all this jostling.
The moment that thought crossed my mind…
My body suddenly pitched forward.
“Huh? W-Wait—?”
If I fell…
What would happen to the cat?
What about the men chasing me?
Would they catch me?
Just as the hard ground rushed toward my face—
“Are you alright?”
My falling body stopped.
The man who caught me smelled faintly of fresh soap.
