IMTVD| Chapter 11

Episode 11

“Amy, have you found a place to settle down here yet?”

“Yes. I had a feeling I might end up here, so I made arrangements ahead of time.”

“I see.”

She hadn’t wanted to come, but just in case, she’d quietly secured a place through a middleman.

It had been nerve-wracking to do it in secret, but there hadn’t been any other way.

Grand Forest land was dirt cheap compared to the capital, so she’d managed to get a house without borrowing a single

favor from the Caspers.

A place bought entirely with her own effort—something that belonged only to her.

Pulling out a map, Emilia gauged the direction of the village and smiled. She was actually looking forward to this new

life.

She approached a stagecoach waiting in front of the station and showed the driver a slip of paper with the address.

“Miss, is this for Cardinal Village?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Alright then, hop in and we’ll get going.”

She climbed aboard—only for Leo to cut in.

“Perfect. I’m headed that way too. Mind if I ride along?”

“You’re going there?”

“Yeah. I’ve been staying in Cardinal Village. Since we’re headed the same way, we might as well share the ride.”

That’s… a little too convenient. Emilia eyed him warily.

But he just smiled, all innocence, as if to say, See? I’m harmless.

It was ridiculous—but since there was only the one coach, she let it slide.

If he really is a villager, I shouldn’t make a bad impression right off the bat.

This was where she’d be living from now on. If what he said was true, it’d be better for people to hear she’d arrived

with a local than to have rumors about her showing up alone.

Not like my face makes it easy to befriend people.

She caught sight of her reflection in the window.

She didn’t look like some born villainess, but her resting expression carried a cool edge even to her own eyes. And

after years of hardly smiling, her smiles came out stiff and awkward.

But here… she wanted to live differently.

A calm life, filled with small, quiet happiness.

Maybe here, it’s possible.

Outside, the scenery was nothing but trees and forest. If nothing else, she thought, there’d be peace here.

She fought the drowsiness creeping in, but now that she’d finally left the Casper estate behind, her eyes slid shut.

As soon as she dozed off, Leo smirked.

Does she have no sense of danger at all?

He could have woken her, but decided to just watch.

From the start, she’d been careless—wandering into Grand Forest alone with no weapon for self-defense.

And now, she was sleeping in front of a man she’d only just met.

She has no idea how risky this is, tsk.

Even the coachman wasn’t exactly trustworthy—he kept sneaking glances at them with a scowl on his face.

In this place, you couldn’t trust much of anything.

So Leo couldn’t help wondering if this woman’s head was full of flowers.

“She doesn’t look like someone who’s been sheltered her whole life… so why’s she like this?” he murmured quietly,

not loud enough to wake her.

He’d never get an answer, so he let his eyes study her instead.

If it were me, I wouldn’t have stayed with the Caspers either.

If she had, the person who sent him here would’ve eventually made a move.

Maybe if her husband, Edwin Casper, had truly protected her, staying would’ve been an option—but with the rumors

flying around the capital, that seemed unlikely.

So this path she’d chosen… it was probably the best one she could take.

“But… really didn’t think she wouldn’t recognize me.”

His train of thought ended when the coach suddenly stopped—surrounded by armed bandits.

He glanced at her, still sleeping peacefully, and let out a sigh before stepping outside.

“Sleep well ‘til I’m back, Sleeping Beauty.”

Drawing the sword at his hip, he shut the carriage door behind him.

“We’re here, Amy.”

“Ah.”

Stretching out the stiffness in her body, she stepped down and looked around.

When they’d set out, the sky had been bright blue. Now it was washed in sunset.

Is Cardinal Village really this far out? she wondered, until Leo answered like he’d read her mind.

“There was a little… incident on the way. Delayed us a bit.”

“You should’ve woken me up. I could’ve helped.”

Noticing the dirt smudged on his clothes, she meant it. Leo almost laughed out loud but just said he’d keep that in

mind next time.

“We’ve reached the village,” the coachman called.

Something about his voice sounded… off.

Had it always been like that? He sounded like a man with something weighing on him. She was about to ask, but the

coach rattled off before she could say a word.

“He didn’t even take payment…”

“He said just helping us was thanks enough.”

“But I didn’t help him.”

“Mm… then I guess you can repay me instead, since you saved the fare thanks to me.”

His tone was getting more and more sly. She ignored it and hefted her bag.

“You know where your house is?”

“I’ve never been inside, but I know where it is and what it looks like.”

If she admitted she didn’t, he might try to follow her all the way there—so she feigned confidence.

Leo chuckled to himself, then looked past her toward a group of people approaching.

“Villagers. Probably coming to check on the newcomer.”

She stiffened slightly at the sight.

Leo noticed, then greeted an older man with a knowing nod.

“Back earlier than expected?”

“Work finished quickly. Capital’s full of nothing but unpleasant folks, so I cut the trip short.”

“Ain’t that the truth. Capital people are the worst.”

As they chatted, Leo glanced over his shoulder. Amy was staring at the ground, looking uneasy.

Guess I’ll have to adjust the plan a little, he thought.

“This is Amy. She’s moving into the village.”

“Huh? Moving to a dump like this?”

“She must be some kind of criminal.”

Leo chuckled. “Now, why would I bring a criminal here? I’d send them to prison, not to you.”

“…Leo?”

She’d frozen and missed her chance to greet them. He leaned toward her and murmured—

“No need to be that tense. These are good people.”

She realized he was stepping in for her, and decided to try.

“Hello. I’m Amy. I hope we can all get along.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a pang of fear hit her.

No one in the Hermann family had ever welcomed her. The same went for high society—she’d been marked as

discarded and treated like an outcast.

In the Caspers, she’d been rejected for nothing more than her bloodline.

She’d never had anyone truly on her side.

No one.

Thinking of Edwin left a sour taste in her mouth.

If she was ignored here too, she didn’t know how she’d manage.

So she tried to be as polite as possible, hoping to make a good first impression.

Thanks to Leo, she’d found the courage—but the knot of unease in her chest stayed. She closed her eyes.

“Well I’ll be. Never thought we’d get a new resident.”

“Hey! Come see this! Someone’s moving into our village!”

“They’re moving in? Not just visiting?”

“Who’d come all the way out here just for fun?”

Her fears dissolved in the warmth of their voices. She opened her eyes.

Smiling faces surrounded her.

“Welcome. I’m the village chief. Amy, was it?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

He held out his hand.

“Let’s all live well together here.”

The words nearly brought her to tears.

It was the first time anyone had accepted her without a shred of prejudice.

For once, she didn’t have to prove she was useful to be welcomed.

And for the first time since waking up in Emilia’s body, she felt something she’d almost forgotten.

Peace.