"Do you recognize me?"
He seemed calm at first glance, but his tone was subtly anxious.
I stared blankly at him for a moment before slowly answering.
"...Leagrin Pedlan."
My throat was scratchy, so I swallowed hard and continued.
"You're the head butler."
"Haa..."
Only then did he let out a deep sigh, as if relieved.
"I'm glad you're awake."
I looked at Leagrin with puzzled eyes.
'Why is Leagrin here?'
'He should be busy with the mess from the exam.'
Besides...
I turned my head and looked at the tray he had almost thrown down.
There was a damp towel and a glass of water on it.
It was clear to anyone that he was there to take care of me.
But that didn't make sense.
There was no reason for Leagrin to be nursing me.
And was it just my imagination?
'He seems thinner, somehow.'
I noticed now that his glasses were slightly crooked.
The buttons on his vest were also misaligned, and his face seemed thinner than usual.
His disheveled appearance was just like...
'Like when I saw him in the forest.'
I thought it was unlike Leagrin then, and it's the same now.
'Well, it makes sense.'
It wasn't just anything, but a high-level monster appeared and wreaked havoc. He must be busy day and night cleaning up the mess.
Luckily, there were no casualties.
I was the only one who got hurt. It would be a stroke of luck for Rodbel.
So...
'Why is Leagrin here?'
The question went back to square one.
I opened my mouth to ask him directly.
"Um, Head Butler."
"Yes. Please wait a moment. I will call the attending physician immediately."
However, Leagrin didn't seem to be willing to listen to me.
He stood up abruptly, and I quickly grabbed the hem of Leagrin's clothes, as if he was about to run out.
It was something I would never normally do, but I had no choice because I felt like I wouldn't be able to stop him otherwise.
"...!"
He looked back at me with a surprised expression.
I quickly let go of his hand and said,
"I'm sorry for grabbing you without permission."
"..."
"But I was afraid that if I didn't grab you, you would leave me behind, so I couldn't help it."
Leagrin's eyes wavered at my words.
Then he sighed and sat down next to me again.
"No, it's my fault for being so flustered."
Then he took off his glasses and pressed his eyes.
I saw his green eyes, which were filled with fatigue.
The moment my eyes met his heavy, sunken eyes, I unknowingly shuddered.
For a moment, the swamp-colored eyes of Ogreman came to mind.
Even though they were completely different colors.
'...It seems like I'm traumatized.'
Even seeing similar colors makes me flinch.
'Trauma.'
A meaningless laugh escaped me.
'Stop being so weak, me.'
I was abandoned by my family and even experienced death, and now I'm traumatized by being chased by a monster.
But...
'...I was scared.'
I had to admit it.
I was scared.
It was a different kind of death than when I fell into the abyss.
'If it weren't for the Crown Prince, I would have really died.'
Naturally, my thoughts flowed to the Crown Prince - Bedel Denav Arpedel.
No, was the man I experienced really the Crown Prince?
That's because...
'He seemed like a completely different person.'
The Crown Prince in my memory was a more fragile and lifeless man.
Like...
'He was like a doll.'
I always saw him from a distance, but I could still tell.
That man was like a doll.
Even when he was smiling, he didn't seem to be smiling sincerely, and his eyes were somehow empty.
But the boy who saved me from Ogreman was definitely the Crown Prince I remembered in appearance, but everything else seemed different.
His gestures, his tone, and even his eyes.
'What on earth happened to the Crown Prince?'
I definitely returned to the past.
The Crown Prince in this period often visited the Duke's mansion to interact with Rodbel.
So I remember exactly what the Crown Prince looked like at this time.
'It's okay if Rodbel has changed.'
Because I changed Rodbel.
But the Crown Prince is someone outside of Rodbel's territory.
He should be the same as in the past.
'It's strange.'
What on earth happened to the Crown Prince?
If it were the old me, I wouldn't care whether the Crown Prince changed or not.
But.
'I need to see him again.'
Something about him bothered me.
It's like I've missed something important.
'I feel like I'll know if I see him again.'
But how can I see the Crown Prince again?
He is a guest of honor, protected by many layers of guards.
'Unless he comes to see me.'
But would the Crown Prince want to see me again?
I'm nothing to him.
'Should I ask Miracle for help?'
She's not my official fiancée, but we promised to get engaged, so it might be easier to meet him.
But would Miracle want to help me?
'...Yeah, that's not a good idea.'
I quickly shook my head.
I don't know the details, but when I fell into the abyss, Miracle definitely had hostility towards me.
Very clear hostility.
I can't make a request recklessly without knowing when that feeling started.
Then...
"Milady?"
I suddenly snapped back to reality at the sound of a voice.
'That's right.'
I was with Leagrin.
And we were having a conversation.
Let's think about the Crown Prince later.
I refocused on Leagrin.
"How long have I been asleep?"
First, I needed to check how much time had passed since the qualification exam.
Judging by Leagrin's appearance, it seems like quite a bit of time has passed...
Leagrin stared at me silently for a moment in response to my question, then let out a deep sigh and answered.
"Two days and a half have passed."
Two days and a half.
I expected it, but...
'It's been longer than I thought.'
I nodded.
I asked another question.
"Then... by any chance, where is Marin?"
It's not that important, but I wanted to know where my maid Marin had gone and why Leagrin was here by my side looking like this.
But.
'Huh?'
Leagrin's expression suddenly froze coldly.
'What's wrong?'
Various emotions crossed Leagrin's frozen face.
Anger, and...
'Is he embarrassed?'
Why? I only asked about Marin's whereabouts.
Something doesn't feel right.
Something must have happened while I was unconscious.
"Please tell me, Head Butler."
"Milady, I'm sorry, but that's..."
"Marin is my maid."
I pushed on without giving Leagrin a chance to stop me.
Because if I didn't, Leagrin wouldn't tell me anything.
I firmly grabbed the hem of his sleeve and asked with a determined expression.
"Where is Marin right now?"
"..."
Leagrin stared at me intently, then let out a long sigh and opened his lips.
"The high-level monster Ogreman who attacked Milady."
The moment he said that, a deep anger settled in Leagrin's green eyes.
He said in a chilling voice.
"She is currently imprisoned in the dungeon for endangering Milady by using a scent to lure that monster."
...What?
What did Marin do?
For a moment, I didn't understand what Leagrin was saying.
But the shocking news didn't end there.
"And currently."
Leagrin paused for a moment, his expression becoming strange.
He looked at me with eyes filled with various complex emotions and said.
"The head of the family is personally interrogating that maid."
"..."
I couldn't immediately grasp what was going on with just a few words.
But one thing was certain.
Marin can't come back now.
"Hngh..."
A dark and damp underground space.
"Please stop..."
Her hoarse voice scratched her throat with every syllable.
Her tears had dried up long ago.
Even so, Marin had no choice but to beg.
"Kill..."
To the ruthless white-haired demon in front of her.
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