Chapter 5
“I—Rian? Are you really Rian?”
“That’s correct. Is there some problem?”
“…N-no. Then is there perhaps another knight with the same name—”
“There isn’t. Only me.”
Rian Bellon.
In the original story, he was the only son of a fallen baron family, but he was an exceptionally talented swordsman and entered the ducal knight order as one of its finest recruits.
Of course, right now he was disgusted by the corrupt ducal knight order and was hiding his true abilities.
And as far as I remembered—
He becomes a major supporter of Calion later on.
Rian would later help reveal that Calion was the Grand Duke’s grandson, leave the Button Ducal House, and join the Grand Duke’s family. He would become Calion’s right hand and die alongside him in the end.
To think I would meet him like this.
Because of our first encounter, I hadn’t thought much of him—but the moment I heard his name, my favorability skyrocketed. I must have looked ridiculous smiling so brightly alone, because Rian frowned slightly.
“Well then, I’ll be going. I can’t bring all three meals at once, so you should ration what you have.”
As if ready to leave, Rian turned—but then suddenly stopped and looked back.
“Ah—Sir Calion asked me to help you return to where you were once your condition improves.”
“……”
“If you feel better, let me know. I’ll help you leave. He also told me to provide anything you might need, so please focus on recovering first.”
His voice continued speaking, but somehow it felt distant.
My chest ached faintly.
Why is he so kind?
Even though his own situation wasn’t great, Calion’s kindness toward someone worse off than him made my chest feel warm—but at the same time, I felt sorry for him.
Such a kind child… yet he had never received any love in this household.
Thinking of Calion’s tragic past, the smile on my face slowly faded.
Lost in thought, I snapped back when I heard Rian moving again.
I stared blankly at him, then suddenly remembered I still had something to ask. I hurriedly ran in front of him.
It was my first time running properly with human legs, so my steps wobbled like a newborn calf, but I didn’t fall.
Rian looked down at me in confusion as I panted from running.
I took a deep breath and asked what I had been wondering.
“How long have I been here?”
“Just over a day.”
With that, Rian nodded slightly, as if his job was done, and left without hesitation.
Click.
The door closed, and silence returned.
I had more questions, but he was already gone.
A suffocating feeling returned.
But for now—
…Should I eat first?
I calmed myself and walked toward the delicious-smelling meal.
Even though my mind was that of someone in their mid-twenties in my previous life, this body—once a doll—looked about fourteen at most. It was only natural for a child to be hungry.
And I slept the entire day. Even an adult would be starving.
I tried to justify it and climbed back onto the bed.
My movements were still awkward after spending so long as a doll, but I managed.
I kept telling myself not to eat too quickly as I drank lemon water first.
Then I finally looked at the food properly.
There was quite a lot, but since they said lunch wouldn’t be brought, it was a reasonable amount.
Looks delicious. Do the servants here always eat like this?
I swallowed my saliva and began eating—violating my own resolution to take it slow.
“I’m full. Maybe because my body is young, this is enough.”
I patted my full stomach and thought.
Now that I was full, I could finally think about my situation.
“Am I going to stay human from now on?”
My whispered question vanished into the air.
Just as the unanswered situation made my chest tighten again—
THUD.
A loud sound came from right outside the door.
W-what?
Startled, I shrank back, then slowly stood up.
Rian said he wouldn’t come until evening…
My heart began pounding violently.
There was nowhere to hide properly in this room. If I was discovered, I would be in serious trouble.
I tiptoed carefully toward the door, holding my breath despite knowing the thick carpet would muffle my footsteps.
At the door, I pressed my ear against it.
Nothing.
After waiting for a while and confirming there was no sound, I cautiously turned the handle.
And when I opened the door—
“…Candy?”
A basket full of candy sat there, with a note on top.
“Sorry for the neck wound. I picked this up on the way.”
There was no need to guess who brought it.
The person who had pointed a sword at my neck in a panic—but also carried me here instead of leaving me behind.
……
Thinking about the basket of sweets, I felt a little guilty.
Even though he was the “final boss” in the original story, as a child he didn’t seem to show any of that yet.
Calion had even been startled when he saw the blood from my neck injury.
And despite his difficult position, he brought me here and even sent sweets after hearing I woke up.
Well… he might just be a bit tsundere.
So it was just prejudice.
My chest felt warm.
I erased the last bit of caution I had and decided to enjoy it fully.
Candy from my favorite character!
“…How am I supposed to eat this?”
I should just keep it as a family heirloom.
Three days later
It had already been three days since I became human.
“…I used to wish it was too noisy to hear voices.”
During that time, I realized I could no longer hear objects speaking like I did as a doll.
Unlike the first time when Rian brought food, I had also gotten used to meals being left at the door.
“Looks good again today.”
I stayed confined to the room the whole time, but it wasn’t difficult.
As a doll, I had stayed in one place for over a month. Compared to that, two days was nothing.
The only difficult part was—
Worrying someone might hear movement and come in.
Since Rian’s visit, no one had entered the room. Even Rian now only left meals outside the door.
So I had become extremely sensitive. Even the faintest sound made me tense up so much I couldn’t sleep.
And there was only one reason for all this caution.
“…I don’t want Calion to get in trouble.”
He was already treated poorly enough. If my existence was discovered, it would definitely harm him.
So I stayed hidden carefully.
And after stabilizing my body, I decided I needed to leave soon.
Today was the day.
I left a note on the tray after breakfast:
“I think I can leave tomorrow.”
On the dinner tray, Rian’s reply simply said it was understood.
Everything progressed smoothly.
Today, I would leave.
As I straightened the bed and bedding, I looked out the window.
As expected, the estate was busy. There was even a lot of noise—likely some upcoming event.
With Rian’s help, I could escape easily, and maybe even blend into the crowd outside.
Feeling lucky, I looked at my untouched breakfast.
“If I ration this, I can last about four days. Maybe a week if I’m careful.”
Then I remembered the old pouch I had found while searching the room.
Turns out it was a spatial storage item.
It was a bit worn, but after cleaning and drying it, it worked fine. I felt slightly guilty taking something from an empty room, but decided to bring it anyway.
It might be my food pouch for now, but who knows what it will be used for later.
I happily looked at the pouch filled with half my meals for the day.
Then, just as I reached for the door—
“…I forgot to say thank you.”
I wanted to say it directly to Calion, but I never even got to see him, nor Rian properly.
After thinking for a moment, I walked to the desk.
I decided to write a letter.
Sitting on the chair, I kicked my dangling legs and began writing:
“Hello? I am…”
But I couldn’t finish.
FWOOM—
“…WHAT IS THIS?!”
I turned back into the ugly doll again.
Couldn’t they at least give a warning?!
Just as I was clutching my head in frustration—
Tap-tap-tap.
Footsteps.
These are different from the usual ones…
“Can I hide and they won’t find me?”
Not a servant.
I quickly shoved the spatial pouch under the bed and panicked.
Ever since that day with Rian—
No one had come near this room.
So why now?
The door suddenly swung open.
And standing there was a very unpleasant-looking young girl.
Fortunately, I reacted quickly and collapsed onto the floor like a doll before she entered.
Good thing I didn’t write my name in the letter.
At least I had delayed the escape plan—but now I was a doll again.
Still—
This is better than being discovered as a human.
The girl noticed me immediately.
“Hmm? What’s this doll?”
She picked me up.
“Ah—! Don’t hold me like that! It hurts!!”
But my protests meant nothing.
She spun me around roughly.
I feel like I’m going to throw up.
Not that dolls can throw up—but still.
Just then—
“Hah… hah…!”
A familiar voice, accompanied by hurried footsteps.
“…Sir Rian?”
“…Young lady?”
Rian had arrived.
And that “young lady”—
Wait… isn’t she Henry’s twin sister?
A bad feeling settled in my chest.
This girl had also tormented Calion in the original story.
Rian looked between the empty room and the girl, confused.
“What brings you here, Sir Rian?”
“Well, that is…”
Rian smoothly fabricated an excuse about playing hide-and-seek, covering the situation perfectly.
The girl smiled, but something about it felt ominous.
“Perfect.”
…Huh?
“I didn’t want to spend money anyway. I’ll use this one!”
