IBPOFCP 93

Chapter 93

“…Ah.”

My head spun. I didn’t know what kind of reaction I was supposed to show, so I kept my mouth shut. But the woman continued speaking as though she understood everything I was feeling.

“I know what you’re worried about, but don’t. In any case, the soul in the original body is you. If our souls can’t be merged, then I’ll simply abandon the life of Lemony Christina and enter Railia’s body instead. Of course, since I’m classified as a first-class criminal, it would be difficult to remain in the Southern Empire, so I’ll probably have to live in one of the Free States. Naturally, I trust you’ll provide me with the financial means to live.”

The woman winked playfully, and Deon’s brow twitched upward in displeasure.

“You’d live alone in the Free States?”

“Of course. I can’t live in the Southern Empire.”

“If you really can’t manage, you could always come to the neutral lands.”

“But aren’t those crawling with monsters?”

“…You still treat me like a child, don’t you? Did you forget that among those monsters, one of the most influential beastkin is me?”

“Mm. I guess I did forget.”

Their rapid back-and-forth ended with her clear, bell-like laughter ringing in the air.

They seemed like comrades who had spent a great deal of time together. But it was clearly the woman who was behaving that way unilaterally; Deon, on the other hand, looked openly displeased with her manner.

I didn’t know how to interpret this situation. Looking at her in her simple dress made me want to tear off the ridiculous gown I was wearing.

That person… is supposed to be the past me?

She was me, without a doubt. Yet between her and Deon, there was no room for me to fit in. Their past—one I could not remember—and the intimacy it brought left me staring down at the table with nowhere else to rest my eyes. The roasted chicken before me, which I hadn’t even noticed until now, had already grown cold. I glanced around, but it seemed that no one else had come here for the purpose of eating either; not a single fork had been lifted.

“For now, you two should rest. Aside from this business with black magic, there are things the two of us need to discuss privately.”

Ian, who had been quietly watching me, finally rose from his seat as though deciding that was enough. With natural ease, he adjusted my disheveled shawl and helped me to my feet. I instinctively glanced at Deon for his reaction, freezing in place.

“Stay in your room. I’ll come to you as soon as I finish the urgent matters.”

“You treat me like a child too, don’t you?”

Deon also rose, moving toward the woman who was about to leave through the door as if it were the only choice left to her.

“Lemony?” Ian’s voice pulled me back.

“Ah—yes.”

Coming to my senses, I accepted Ian’s escort and allowed the maids to lead me back to my room.

“So, we were originally one soul, weren’t we?”

It was then—

Unlike me, dragged along almost like a prisoner, she walked lightly, gracefully, in front of the maids.

“So they say,” I replied with an uncertain smile.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? You are me, and I am you. Right?”

She must have felt a sense of inner closeness, for she slowed her pace to match mine, leaning in with a tilted head.

“Lemony. Do you still cut steak by wedging your knife between the tines of your fork?”

Her violet eyes sparkled like stars, alight with curiosity, as if she had found something precious. I hesitated. When I’d lived as Kim Eun-ji, I had never even seen steak before.

“I think I just cut it normally.”

“So you’ve changed. Well, I suppose you’re an adult now, so those strange habits must have faded.”

But her curiosity didn’t end there.

“From your dress, it seems your tastes have changed too. I used to prefer simple outfits over fancy dresses. I didn’t wear corsets or farthingales until I was seventeen. You really have grown up, Lemony.”

“Grown up”… The words left a bitter taste as I gazed down at the extravagant dress I wore, something like the clothes used to dress up dolls. Only then did I understand Ian’s intent in putting me in this gown.

Deon didn’t love me. He loved the past version of me. The girl who wore plain clothes, not ornate dresses. The girl who had many expressions, not the one with a stiff, blank face.

“Well, I’ll come visit when I’m bored. Honestly, I’m scared because I heard war might break out soon. But Deon said he’ll manage to negotiate somehow. And if he can’t… then he’ll win without fail, so I shouldn’t worry.”

That confidence surely came from her deep trust in Deon.

After giving me a casual hug, she left. I entered my room and collapsed onto the bed.

“My lady, your dress—”

“I’ll undress myself. I’m tired.”

Longing for solitude, I forced the maid out despite her offer to help, and lay down. The fatigue, pressed down by tension until now, finally washed over me all at once.

They said this hellish place, like the Dreyce Prison and on the brink of war, was my real world. As the panorama of Kim Eun-ji’s life flashed before my mind, dizziness overcame me. Without even removing the dress, I closed my eyes. Everything felt bothersome.

“Lady Lemony.”

“Cedric?”

From that day on, companions who had arrived later than Deon began to enter the fortress one after another.

“My blood tastes awful, you damn mosquitoes!”

A towering orc over three meters tall roared at the nearby Ernst knights. Even the kind-faced centaur who followed gave me a polite nod before entering the meeting chamber.

“I heard you were suddenly abducted. I was shocked. Are you unharmed?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Among the group, Cedric came rushing forward, looking me over with concern before sighing heavily.

“The vampires are the ones who caused all this trouble, yet now they’re asking for negotiations? The world has gone mad. Even if negotiations succeed, dealing with the monsters who’ve turned into abominations will still fall to people like me—a saint.”

“It’s a relief you’re safe, my lady.”

While Cedric sighed, the elf with the gentle smile greeted me with his eyes as he entered the chamber. But then a gruff voice came from behind.

“…Been a while.”

“Huh?”

“I said, it’s been a while. Can’t you at least greet me back?”

I blinked in surprise. The dwarf, who knew best how out of character this was for him, glared at Cedric as though furious, then quickly fled.

What was that about? Normally his kind would shoulder past without so much as a glance, let alone greet me.

“…Did the dwarf just say hello to us? What on earth happened?”

When I asked, Cedric casually fiddled with the torn fabric at his chest.

“I bribed him with jewels.”

“…What?”

“Anyway, now that they owe me, you won’t have to deal with strange little confrontations every time you run into them.”

I didn’t quite understand, but his confident smile made it believable. I was curious about the tear in the middle of his tunic, but knowing Cedric, he could talk about it for over an hour. So I only nodded vaguely.

“I see.”

“My lady.”

It was then. From afar, a red-haired young man approached with a grim expression. Perhaps he had come straight here after being released from prison—the hands that showed beneath his knight’s uniform were still dirty. His dark eyes, heavy with conflicting emotions, looked down at me before suddenly lowering further.

When I glanced down, he was already on one knee before me, paying his respects.

“I am unworthy of being your knight, my lady. Forgive me for failing to protect you.”

“My lady!”

“My lady.”

Following his example, the other knights of the Southern Empire rushed forward, dropping to their knees one by one, begging for death to atone. I scratched the back of my neck, flustered, while Cedric’s jaw dropped at the sight of their haggard figures.

“Heavens… You mean you were imprisoned? This isn’t negotiation—it’s practically war!”

“Do you truly wish for war?” someone countered. Cedric pressed his lips shut.

“In any case, from now on we will personally guard your door in place of the Ernst knights. You need worry no longer.”

“Thank you.”

Their resolute gazes made me smile. At the very least, these were people I had known during my time as Lemony.

“What’s with all the noise?”

But then—

“…Kais? Kais! What… what happened to you?”

The woman’s face darkened at the sight of Kais. She ran over, forcing him up from where he knelt before me, then looked him over, battered and bruised, before pulling him into a sudden embrace.

“…Do you know me?” Kais asked, bewildered.

And at that moment, I realized—

Everyone who was connected to me now had also been connected to the Lemony of the past.