Chapter 6

And so, I found myself explaining the situation to them.

I told them that I had been bought as an adopted daughter and was about to be forced into marriage as the letter stated, but I had fled because the reputation of the person I was to marry was too terrible.

Well, that's all I could say.

After all, I couldn't possibly talk about my memories from my previous life or the memories from the game.

Even if I said I had a premonition of a terrible fate, they might believe me, but the increased memories from my past life in my head refused to let me say anything that would make me seem crazy, so I kept my mouth shut.

So, I couldn't tell them the crucial part about not wanting to become a villain and die, but just by explaining that I had been bought as an adopted daughter and was about to be forced into marriage, they seemed to understand why I had fled.

There are many parent-child pairs in the world who lack affection, but hearing that they even used drugs to prevent me from escaping probably made it easier for them to understand.

"But what did you plan to do after running away from home alone?"

Saying this with a sigh was Alan, who was sitting on a bed opposite me.

He was one year older than me, fifteen years old.

No wonder I had seen him at the church school but didn't know him well.

Most of the classes at the school were separated by gender or age, and only a few theology classes were co-ed.

Since I didn't hear much gossip about the boys, I wouldn't have known who was there unless I was particularly interested in finding out.

"Well... I had some travel money, so I thought I might live somewhere in the corner of another territory, maybe as a seamstress..."

"You'd probably be kidnapped by human hunters on the street before that."

This was said quietly by the expressionless young man, Wentworth, who was Alan's guard.

Wentworth's words were absolutely correct, but I had other reasons to run away. Given that I had been taught how to use a dagger and poison to some extent as an adopted daughter, I thought it would be safer to escape.

...Keeping secrets is quite troublesome, as it makes it difficult to speak frankly. When I averted my eyes to avoid the question, Alan's servant, Regis, said:

"Even if you got married, it would have been no different from being kidnapped and sold."

Indeed, it would have been the same whether I was sold to a stranger or to a notorious father whose reputation I had heard about.

"Either way, it would have been a fall into a quagmire."

Thanks to Regis, Wentworth didn't pursue the matter further and remained silent.

Good, thank you, Regis.

Still, he is a strange person.

Even though he is a servant, he doesn't seem to be subservient to his master, Alan. He must have a complicated background that led him to serve the nobility.

I found it curious, but I decided not to pry. After all, our connection would end here. I even thought it would be better not to get involved.

Especially since I didn't immediately recognize Alan by name, but when I heard his family name, I almost screamed.

Alan Evrard, the son of the Margrave of Evrard.

I thought I recognized Regis as well, but it wasn't because I had seen him at the church school. It was because he was the protagonist of the game.

...His face was younger than in the game, which is why it took me a while to recognize him.

At the start of the game, he was 17 years old, so he would grow taller and his features would mature more.

Boys' faces tend to become more adult-like and rugged when they go from middle school to high school.

Moreover, the Alan in the game had a more shadowy expression, as if he was desperately focused on something and only looked straight ahead.

There was another reason why the name Alan didn't immediately ring a bell.

The name Alan wasn't that special. There were a couple of Alans among the brothers of the noble girls I occasionally spoke to at the church school.

So I had just thought, "Oh, this person is also named Alan. Maybe it was a popular name when they were born."

In any case, since he was a relative of the royal family and was supposed to fight, it felt uncomfortable to be with him, even though I hadn't become a villain yet.

After all, if things had gone as planned (?), he was supposed to kill me.

Even without the game's entanglements, I felt out of place, so I suggested parting ways again.

"Sorry for boarding without permission. I should be able to move again soon. You must have plans, so please leave me behind and go on your way."

Because I had fallen asleep, the sun was already high in the sky. It must be close to noon.

I suggested they go ahead to avoid disrupting their plans, but for some reason, they didn't accept.

"But they were planning to use sleeping drugs to take you from the school. Do you think your adoptive father will give up just because you ran away?"

Alan made a grim face at Regis's ominous words.

"There are few people who come and go from the church school. If they can't find a place a woman could reach on foot, they'll likely contact us, who set out that day. Besides, they must know the effects of the drugs they used. As long as the effects haven't worn off, if you're not lying on the road, they'll search every inn. You'll be found quickly if you stay here."

"Ugh..."

Alan was right.

If they had intended to take me while I was drugged, the Count of Patricielle would have sent someone to fetch me yesterday. They would have quickly realized I was missing, and searching nearby towns wouldn't take long.

Worse, if they had split up to search the town and follow Alan, they might already be close.

If I were at an inn, I would be caught quickly. But I still couldn't move.

I was in a bind.

As I pondered what to do, I heard a sigh.

"To be honest, I don't want to be involved in suspicious affairs either..."

Alan glanced at Regis.

"I think it's fine. Besides, you're kind. You wouldn't be able to ignore a lamb waiting to be hunted, unable to move, would you?"

It was a compliment, but Alan's face twisted at the words.

"You're calling me a softie. But you, who suggest this, are also quite a softie, I think."

"Is that so?"

Regis replied with a carefree expression.

"Because, Alan, you and your family, the Margraves of Evrard, will be the ones responsible for her."

"Hmph."

Alan seemed to want to say something but neither confirmed nor denied Regis's words, turning to me.

By then, I had already figured it out.

It seemed that Alan was willing to help me in some way.

Would he take me in a carriage to a distant town?

As I stared at Alan, he must have realized I was full of hope.

"Don't get too excited. It might not be a welcome offer for you."

"But I won't know unless I hear it!"

So please, tell me quickly. Hearing this, Regis muttered, "Despite being drugged, you're quite optimistic," in amazement.

I can't afford to be depressed. I need to run first and cry later!

As I answered in my heart, Alan sighed and said:

"...I might help you with your escape. If you wish, I can employ you at my house. Dumping you in a random town would likely lead to a miserable life. It's better to take you with us than to have a bad start to the day."

Employ me? That means I would be on the protagonist's side. If that's the case, the chances of becoming a villain would be lower, so I answered immediately.

"Of course, I'd be happy to! Please, I'd be grateful!"

"Listen to the whole story first."

My enthusiastic response was stopped by Alan.

"You're probably eager because there are no better options now, but if you work for us, you must keep your identity and family name hidden to avoid conflict with the Count of Patricielle. If there are no good positions available, you might have to do commoner's work. Even if you get tired of it, you won't be allowed to return to your adoptive family or leave the territory. We have our own circumstances, so if you work at the castle, you must not leak information. Breaking the rules means immediate imprisonment."

Do you still want to accept this offer?

After the warning, it sounded like a dream come true to me.

If my memories from my past life were true, staying in Alan's territory would significantly reduce the chances of becoming an antagonist.

Moreover, if they didn't let me leave the territory, someone might notice if I were about to be kidnapped and come to my rescue.

Most importantly,

Alan and his people had let me sleep on a bed and hadn't mistreated me despite my unauthorized boarding. The people of Evrard must be quite gentlemanly.

After all, he was the protagonist of the game, so he must be of good character.

Moreover, working at the house would likely pay better than doing seamstress work in town. This was a safe and well-paying job that I couldn't find elsewhere.

"No problem! Please let me work for the Evrard family! Oh, my family name would be a hindrance, so just call me Kiara! Should I change my name too? I'll do it if you want!"

Smiling broadly, I said this, and Alan, looking stunned, muttered, "You're serious..." while Wentworth, though expressionless, widened his eyes.

And Regis, once again, was holding his stomach and shaking his shoulders as if in pain.