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A refreshing iced Americano.
Where had I heard that before? Right—it was when Alexandra first came to see me not long after I possessed Tiana.
“Even if I freeze to death, iced Americano.”
The wording had been slightly different, but the meaning was the same: I want iced Americano. I’ll only drink iced Americano.
The only people in this world who even knew of iced Americano were modern transmigrators like me. And now, the transmigrator inhabiting the body of the Marquis Even’s daughter was saying the exact same thing as the one who had possessed Tiana before me.
Now I’m sure of it.
The one inside the Marquis Even’s daughter was none other than the transmigrator who had possessed Tiana just before me.
But how could something like this happen?
To possess two different people in succession… did that mean they hadn’t returned to the modern world after all?
If they had left Tiana’s body only to enter another, then perhaps there really was no way back.
And the reason they left Tiana’s body… was the fall from the horse. That’s right, there was that accident.
I had possessed Tiana right after that incident, so it was certain the previous transmigrator had been forced out because of it. Which meant… if a possessed body suffered a great shock, the soul of the transmigrator might be expelled the same way.
Since our souls had been transplanted from the modern world, they weren’t a perfect fit for these bodies. If the body experienced severe trauma, the soul might be forced out.
Then I’m not safe either.
I too was inhabiting another person’s body—Tiana’s. If body and soul weren’t compatible, then one big shock might send me flying out as well, just like the last transmigrator.
“Haa…”
A long sigh slipped out of me. Perhaps because of the shocking realization. It was fortunate I knew now, but still… the fact that the person who had possessed Tiana before me was currently inside the Marquis Even’s daughter was enough to rattle me.
“Are you all right?”
Drek must have heard my sigh. His face betrayed no concern, but his voice was a little lower than before. I stared into those unreadable, dark-blue eyes as I answered.
“…I’m fine.”
“You hardly look fine. Did something about the Lady of House Even’s words trouble you?”
“Well…”
It wasn’t an easy question to answer. He didn’t know the truth about the Marquis’s daughter, and I didn’t know enough about him yet. Was he someone I could trust—or the opposite?
He had been unceremoniously dismissed from his last position, so he couldn’t hold much fondness for House Even or its young lady. Still, I couldn’t be sure. Caution was best.
“I thought Your Highness the Archduchess Consort would have plenty of questions about the Marquis’s daughter, but perhaps not?”
“…!”
His voice rang louder this time, and a confident smile spread across his previously impassive face. He acted as though he knew everything I was thinking—an attitude that grated on me. What was with this man?
Suspicion prickled at me as I studied him: that confident curve of his lips, his unwavering voice, those eyes fixed on me without wavering.
Just what did he know to be so bold? Had he heard something from Rael?
He seems unusually close to Rael for just a personal chef.
The way he focused on me, as if desperate to tell me something, stood out. Rael wouldn’t keep just anyone close. Still… could I really trust him?
“His Majesty was right. I didn’t expect your wariness to be this strong.”
“I’m not the sort to trust easily. You may know me well, but I don’t know you, Drek. I can’t accept someone I barely know at face value.”
“True enough. Listening to someone you hardly know could be dangerous.”
“….”
Was he telling me to listen to him or not? He sounded like he was toying with me. I wanted to get up and walk away, but he didn’t give me the chance.
“However, you can accept me. Trusting me won’t bring you harm.”
“…And what makes you so sure?”
“Because if you do, Your Highness will gain far more than you lose. More than that—His Majesty himself has already vouched for me.”
“He and I are different people. No matter how much he trusts you, I’ll judge you in my own way.”
“I expected nothing less. That’s exactly why you’re trustworthy.”
“…What?”
Did he just call me trustworthy? I had thought I was the one evaluating him—but it turned out he was testing me as well, deciding whether I was worth sharing information with.
Not an easy man. Then again, Rael wouldn’t put his faith in someone ordinary.
He hadn’t even appeared in the original story. That Rael had brought him in as his personal chef meant he must have qualities beyond cooking—perhaps valuable information.
If he really knows something about the Marquis’s daughter—or rather, the transmigrator inside her—then he is necessary.
I could glean some details from Lucius, Alexandra, and Angelica, but not enough. Rumors from society were unreliable, and relying solely on Rael didn’t sit well with me.
This was my problem. My information to obtain. I’d accept help where I could, but I wouldn’t leave everything in others’ hands.
Even if Rael had sent him, even if he came of his own accord, it was still my choice whether to trust this man and accept his information. His smug face made me want to knock him down a peg anyway.
“You said I was trustworthy? Do you have grounds for that?”
“Of course. His Majesty has provided more than enough proof. His trust in you runs very deep.”
“That’s nice to hear. But is that all?”
“Pardon?”
“His Majesty’s trust in me—is that your entire basis? I don’t hear your opinion in there. Surely you’re not saying, ‘His Majesty trusts her, so I suppose she must be trustworthy too’? That would be rather disappointing.”
“…!”
He hadn’t expected that. His crumbling expression was almost satisfying. He thought he could hold the upper hand? Not a chance. For all I knew, he might even discover my true identity. There was no way I’d give him the advantage so easily.
If he was approaching me like this, it meant he wanted something. Even if we traded information for favors, I’d make sure it was on equal terms.
I relaxed back against the chair, releasing the tight grip I’d had on my skirt. Closing my eyes for a moment against the breeze, I leaned comfortably into the backrest. I swept my hair aside with one hand and looked at him, his lips pressed tight.
“You feel wronged because you were dismissed over nothing more than serving tea and strawberry cake to the Marquis’s daughter—I understand that. But how exactly is that information useful to me?”
“That is… according to His Majesty—”
“Not His Majesty’s words. Even his words aren’t absolute truth. Blindly believing everything he says isn’t loyalty, it’s thoughtlessness. Shouldn’t your own judgment come first?”
“…Yes. But surely, Your Highness also views the Marquis’s daughter as a thorn in your side. You must want her gone. To do that, you’ll need my information—”
“Well, she is annoying. But I’ve never thought of removing her. Why assume I do? Did His Majesty tell you that? He’d never say such a thing.”
“…!”
I was right. The Rael I knew wouldn’t have told Drek everything about me. At most, he’d warned me to be cautious regarding the Marquis’s daughter. He certainly hadn’t instructed me to “remove” her.
So this was all Drek’s own projection. He’d taken Rael’s trust and built his own assumptions about who I was and what I wanted.
“…I see. It seems I’ve made a grave mistake. Ha… you are sharper and more perceptive than I expected.”
“Thank you.”
If anything, he was the sharp one. He seemed to understand me perfectly. He admitted his mistake, relaxed his stiff expression, and rose to bow deeply.
“My apologies for presuming to judge you. And for trying to negotiate solely on my own terms.”
“….”
His figure, bent in deep apology, etched itself into my eyes. For someone so proud, he surrendered quickly. Too quickly. I was suspicious, but his demeanor and voice rang sincere.
“Raise your head.”
I wanted to see his face before deciding. Slowly, he straightened, and when his features came into view, I could judge positively.
“Good. It seems you’ve finally learned the basics of fair dealing.”
He was smiling, but differently than before. Gone was the smug confidence. In its place was a gentler smile. Most telling of all was his gaze: the pride once blazing in his blue eyes had softened.
“Yes, thanks to you, Your Highness.”
“All right. Since we’re ready for an equal conversation, sit back down.”
“As you wish.”
He nodded and sat. This time his posture was neither overly stiff nor too relaxed. He had even uncrossed his legs. I smiled.
“At least you know how to show some courtesy.”
“Ha… please forget my earlier behavior. I’m not that thoughtless.”
“I’ll forgive it, since you were only testing me. So—what is it you want to trade with me?”
“Well…”
To my surprise, he hesitated, his eyes darting as if weighing something. Finally, he fixed me with a steady gaze and spoke.
“If I told you Your Highness’s life was in danger… would you believe me?”
“…What did you just say?”
“The Marquis’s daughter is targeting you.”
“…!”
His low voice struck my ears like the crack of a gun.
