Chapter 38

In a room with no one around, Lilian suddenly got up and headed for the campus. It wasn’t often that Catherine wasn’t by her side. Whenever class ended, she’d mysteriously appear from who-knows-where to carry Lilian’s bag for her.

She had intended to take a stroll outside, but her mood still felt heavy. After all, Catherine was surely hers. No, wait. What the heck am I thinking? Lilian quickly scrubbed that thought from her mind.

Sometimes these random thoughts would pop up—Catherine belongs to her, and associating with commoners like Yulia just didn’t feel right. It was utterly bizarre. After all, Lilian herself was a commoner in what people called Earth, and Catherine belonged to no one. Human rights were granted by the heavens, so who had the audacity to snatch them away?

But… occasionally, the desire to act on those thoughts bubbled up. Like when she secretly watched Catherine change into her maid uniform or when she glanced at Yulia or listened to the Princess speak.

Since some time ago, the original Lilian’s thoughts and memories began flooding back to her. Even while trying to hold on to her identity, the instinctual thoughts that surged up sometimes felt uncontrollable.

Lilian couldn’t tell if this was a phenomenon caused by her occupying Lilian’s body or if there was another reason. Regardless of what happened, she was still herself, and Lilian was still Lilian. She was just trying to endure this tempest within her.

Whenever the original Lilian’s thoughts or memories surfaced, it was especially true when Catherine didn’t acknowledge her. Like during secret meetings with Yulia or when handing a lunchbox to the Princess as a return gift. Catherine seemed unaware, but Lilian knew exactly what Catherine had been up to this whole time.

“I should not have come to the Academy.”

Catherine’s world at the Mansion of Portus revolved solely around Lilian. Because of this, Lilian could claim Catherine completely as her own. Of course, at first, she was frightened by the character Catherine in the game, but now she understood that she wasn’t that kind of person.

Catherine moved perfectly as a tool. The reason Catherine wielded Lilian as the villain was likely that Lilian had been a perfect villain herself.

Wandering through the garden in a daze, it was a busy weekend afternoon, but most people were gathered in groups. This was a given in noble society, after all. Lilian was practically the only one alone in this vast garden. So, it caught her completely off guard when someone approached her.

“Oh my, it’s been a while, Lady Portus.”

“…Sylvia.”

“Oh my, calling me by my name? I thought you were planning to distance yourself from me!”

Sylvia Jane Bertus. A Countess of the Empire and the heir of the vast Bertus trading company, she was a woman who perfectly captured the Empire’s wealth. Starting her trading duties at the tender age of 11, she was the one who elevated the formerly average Bertus trading company to become the best in the Empire.

While she had exceptional skills in business, she wasn’t really accustomed to noble behavior. She could still do it if she had to, but her actions often seemed awkward, leading her siblings to handle most external activities.

This line was probably just her genuine way of expressing regret. Lilian thought as she looked at Sylvia. Then Sylvia let out a small ‘hmm.’

“…I just wanted to try speaking in a noble manner, you know.”

“No one said anything. Via. So, what about your other friends?”

“Via, Via… Haha, it feels like ages since I’ve heard that nickname. Well, it’s nice. Lilian. Where’s your little maid? Why are you wandering around alone? Oh, my friends have gone into tea time.”

She spouted a bunch of things I didn’t care to know about and added that she’d just made an excuse to get away from it—she looked at Lilian. Sylvia and Lilian had been close friends since childhood. It was merely the Marquis of Portus connecting the two young girls of similar age, but regardless, they had once shared an unbreakable bond.

Those nicknames like Via and Lilian were born from that time. Their interactions began to dwindle once Lilian turned 15. Right after she was completely disappointed in her family and parents, she shut herself off from everyone. At first, Sylvia would send her letters persistently, but after a few ignored replies, they stopped coming. So, seeing Sylvia acting so friendly felt a bit strange.

“…Why?”

“Excuse me?”

“I ignored Via.”

“It was a tough time for you, wasn’t it?”

With a bright smile, Sylvia gently patted Lilian’s shoulder. The gesture was filled with concern, and Lilian stared blankly at Sylvia. Her long, light green hair shone as she looked at Lilian with bright, fresh eyes.

Now that it came to this, Lilian wanted to be forgiven by Sylvia. Besides Catherine, the only person she could call a true friend. But having pushed that person away, Lilian had carefully tucked away her memories of Sylvia into a corner of her mind.

She’d never thought they wouldn’t meet at the Academy, but she had never imagined bumping into her like this. That’s why she ended up blurting out words that weren’t like her. Nevertheless, Sylvia accepted Lilian as she was. Lilian looked at her, struck by how she appeared just like the little girl from their childhood.

Rather than feelings of gratitude, Lilian was filled with the thought of whether the emotions she felt now were truly her own. She let out a sigh, shaking her head, trying to dispel those thoughts.

“Oh, I guess tea time is over. I had fun talking. Please, will you answer me if I speak to you next time?”

“Yeah, I will.”

Seeing Sylvia smile brightly at her answer, Lilian felt dazed. First, she had to head back to her room. As she muttered that to herself, she slowly moved her feet. People were whispering as they glanced at her unsteadily, but those whispers didn’t reach her ears.

“…Young Lady, is something wrong?”

“…Catherine.”

The noise in her head quickly fell silent. Familiar maid with long black hair, red eyes, and an expressionless face, gazing at her. Upon seeing Catherine standing stiffly in front of her, relief washed over Lilian. She thought, isn’t this a bit too dependent? Briefly, Lilian smiled.

“Are you done with your outing?”

“Yes, most items have been ordered.”

“Alright, I see.”

As Catherine quietly stared at Lilian, she took out a handkerchief and began to wipe the sweat from her forehead. Lilian realized that she had been sweating profusely and shut her eyes slightly. Each gentle touch of Catherine’s hand felt incredibly sensitive, as if she feared she’d never feel that touch again. However, Catherine would stay by her side until the end.

“Let’s head back for now.”

“Okay.”

As soon as they returned to the room, Catherine changed Lilian’s clothes and warmed some water. Lilian, submerged in the warm water Catherine prepared, gazed blankly at the ceiling. Why did I act that way a moment ago? Since that had never happened before, she couldn’t understand it. Just to be sure, she rummaged through her memories of the original Lilian, but found nothing similar at all.

Is it because I took over this body? Lilian thought briefly, but quickly shook her head. While the original Lilian’s emotions and memories were flooding in, they didn’t constitute her own self. Just now, it was purely Lilian slipping into a panic state.

Once she got out of the bath, Catherine was preparing a meal. Before long, she had whipped up a simple meal using the utensils she’d brought in. Catherine came bustling over, helping Lilian get dressed. Thankfully, she was allowed to put on her underwear by herself, and Lilian accepted Catherine’s help.

And just like any ordinary day, Lilian donned the clothes prepared by Catherine, enjoyed the meal she’d made, and lay down on the bed Catherine had arranged, chatting merrily with her until she drifted off to sleep.