TTMLPTWW ~ Chapter 165

Inside the train returning to the Republic of Rutemia.

Cynthia gazed out the window at the pure white snowscape rushing past.

‘What is life?’

She tried to immerse herself in contemplation, hoping to have a moment of reflection, but the Count and Masera, sitting side by side in front of her, were inevitably fighting again.

“Just because you reserved a special compartment doesn’t mean you can use another one.”

“There’s nothing you can’t do if you solve it with money.”

Cynthia closed her eyes, trying to recapture her long-lost sensibility.

‘So, everything depends on how you feel about it….’

“Isn’t this place for two people in the first place?”

“Then shouldn’t our son-in-law go to my seat?”

Unable to endure the noise of the two men who were like cats and dogs, Cynthia finally jumped up.

“You two seem to have endless conversations, so enjoy your time together.”

She smiled brightly and disappeared toward the Count’s compartment.

The Count, staring at the spot she had left, glared at Masera with cold eyes.

“It’s your fault.”

Masera moved to the seat opposite the Count and retorted.

“You always blame others, Father-in-law.”

“Because you’re someone else.”

Meanwhile, Cynthia, finally having some time to herself, rested her chin on her hand and gazed out the window, lost in thought.

‘As expected of an angst-filled tragedy, it’s a ship full of failed loves….’

The Duke’s wife and the Organization boss, the knight and the Princess.

If her sister were here, it would be a bundle of heartbreaking stories, but Cynthia was the type who had to see the marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting side stories, the old age and grandchildren side stories, and even the resurrection side stories that brought back the dead from the main story to make them happy.

‘But I’ve never really experienced anything difficult.’

She had never been sad or mentally exhausted, and even the people around her, including Masera, had only acted a little spoiled towards her but ultimately behaved nicely.

Can the genre of life be changed depending on how you feel about it?

If she had been a timid and observant tragic heroine, would the outcome have been different?

But what good would it do to think about what-ifs?

“Anyway, it’s a rom-com. I’ve decided.”

Even the main characters of failed loves might be living happily in harmonious families in some parallel world if side story.

Cynthia was forgetting that she, the original character, was the protagonist of a disastrous love story of cataclysmic proportions, the originator of failed love.

“I’m so glad you’re back safe!”

“Princess, congratulations on being discharged from the hospital! I was late with the celebration because I went straight to the Empire.”

As soon as she arrived in Rutemia, the people at the official residence welcomed her with a ‘Safe Return Celebration’ cake, and the friends she had made sent all sorts of gifts.

Grand Princess Charlotte, who had become one of her closest friends, held her hand and shook it vigorously.

“Welcome. My best friend. You are lovely and wonderful person.”

The Grand Princess greeted her in Rutemian.

“Wow, your conversational skills have improved so quickly?”

“Thank you. I had to spend hard time for smooth communication. I want to make many friends to improve my language skills in the future.”

“Then let’s go to social events together from now on.”

“Perfect suggestion. Thank you.”

I’m so happy to have a friend to go to social events with.

“I will stay in the official residence for the time being. Let’s communicate.”

The Grand Princess handed her a walkie-talkie that could be used to communicate within the official residence.

Does she mean to chat in real-time while she stays at the official residence?

“How did she know I liked this kind of thing?”

To a poor chatterbox living in a world without the internet or communication devices, a walkie-talkie was like an oasis in the desert.

Now I need to make more friends and go on restaurant tours and chat at cafes together.

I smiled to myself, imagining my fun and happy socialite life in the future.

Later in the evening, she had a dinner with the people who had worked hard to rescue her.

However, since most of them were patients, there was no alcohol.

“Is this a gathering of patients?”

That was what Captain Carlton said when he saw the scene full of patients with bandages and casts.

“Are you aware that I prevented a major loss of life with my bomb disposal skills? And that I risked my life to save the Princess?”

Brigadier General Steve, who had been making tsundere-like excuses that he didn’t try to help at all, quickly changed his attitude.

Seeing Brigadier General Steve suddenly treating Masera with such respect, the Grand Princess began to call him ‘Shy Boy’ instead of ‘Despicable Boy’.

‘Is he afraid of being re-educated?’

He must have been scared after seeing the executives being dragged away one after another.

As I was thinking that, the Grand Princess came up to me and whispered in my ear.

“The Princess’s husband, is actually not just a one star.” (t/n: military rank hierarchy)

“Pardon?”

“Actually, he’s not a Brigadier General but a General. Belonging to Medea Special Operations Command. Maintaining disguised identity for long time to inspect Rutemian military.”

“What? Four stars?”

“In addition, strong candidate for next Marshal.”

“Soon five stars?”

Masera was the supreme commander in charge of all special forces?

I turned to look at Masera, who was talking to the officers, with a surprised expression.

No wonder, Masera was the one who stood up to them, but the people in positions of authority were the ones being arrested.

From a penniless child soldier to the highest power…

‘I shouldn’t mess with him in the future.’

He’s not an easy person. Don’t upset him.

As I was making up my mind, I saw Captain Declan handing Anita a plate full of strawberries.

Perhaps because he felt so sorry, he volunteered to be her guardian, even going to the hospital with her and getting fruit for her in the early morning.

“Sometimes they even mistake him for the baby’s father.”

Anita, stroking her now-large belly, explained with an embarrassed expression.

“Of course, we’re not really like that. He just really likes babies.”

“I see.”

I replied in an unconvincing tone, glancing sideways at Captain Declan, who couldn’t take his eyes off Anita, ready to jump up at any moment.

Meanwhile, Major Rodriguez had a face that was full of sad stories, unlike his usual sunny self.

“What’s wrong?”

When I asked him out of concern, he shook his head with a faint smile.

“It’s nothing much, just a small worry.”

“What is it?”

“There’s a bad guy I should forget, but he left me a will before he died.”

“Ah… that’s a huge worry.”

The bad man Major Rodriguez had a crush on died? Are you walking the path of angst too?

I tried to maintain a calm expression, but I couldn’t hide my trembling eyes.

Meanwhile, he said with a melancholic face.

“That man was also an Esatain like me. He couldn’t bring himself to love anyone and lived a solitary life alone. It seems he only realized that someone was in his heart right before he died.”

“You were the only one? If it’s something you want to forget completely, it means that person was that precious… It must be heartbreaking, but please hang in there.”

“It’s not my story, it’s someone I know’s story.”

That’s usually their own story. I nodded to acknowledge it for now.

The Major sighed and confided in me.

“If that man left a heartfelt will to someone as he passed away, I can’t easily decide whether it would be better for that someone to hear the contents or to never know them.”

It was a very difficult problem that a third party couldn’t easily judge and speak about.

“It would be good if the sincerity in the will could be received as comfort that would help the other person live on, but it could also be the opposite, so think carefully….”

‘What was that?’

In the middle of speaking, I felt a sense of déjà vu and a shiver ran from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

“Are you still not feeling well?”

Major Rodriguez asked, seeing my rapidly worsening complexion.

“No, it’s nothing.”

I rubbed my arms, which were covered in goosebumps, and shuddered.

It felt like I had directly experienced the event where a belated sincerity had taken someone’s life.

After finishing all my tasks and taking a warm bath, I lay down on the bed in a happy mood.

The cat Masera, who bites easily, kept a slight distance but didn’t say he would use a separate room.

“You can’t bite. I’m thinking of responding physically now.”

“Yes.”

When I showed him my finger, ready to deliver a terrifying flick to the forehead, he obediently lay down next to me and pulled the blanket up to cover his mouth.

At that moment, the walkie-talkie on the bedside table crackled.

-Going to bed, good night.

It was the Grand Princess’s goodnight greeting.

“Good night to you too, Grand Princess.”

At my kind voice, Masera, who had only his eyes peeking out, gave me a jealous look.

It seemed like he had become jealous of everything in the world.

“Have a good dream, see you tomorrow.”

I put my hand under the blanket, groped for his hand, and said.

“If you grope like that, you might get bitten again.”

At his sighing voice, I quickly pulled my hand away.

“Yes, General of the Special Forces.”

Masera gave me an awkward look.

“I’m sorry for deceiving you. It was because of a classified operation.”

“I deceived you too. Let’s call it even.”

I smiled, gently stroking the hair that covered his forehead.

“It’s amazing that you overcame those difficult times and became a General.”

At my compliment, I could see the ears of the General cat Masera turning red.

I was very tired from the long trip and the dinner, so I closed my eyes and quickly fell asleep.

“Umm….”

After sleeping soundly for a while, I felt a rough breath and weight on my cheek and slowly opened my eyes.

And I was startled to find Masera looking down at me from right above.

“Eek!”

At my short scream, he slowly blinked his eyes, staring at me with dull eyes that seemed to have lost their soul.

“Why, what’s wrong? I thought you were having a nightmare.”

I asked worriedly, caressing his cheek, and he closed his eyes and slowly lowered his head, burying his face in my chest.

“… It’s nothing. I had a bad dream.”

“What kind of dream?”

He took a long sigh, as if he were a person who had barely escaped from reality and was relieved.

“It was a nightmare.”

“They say you should tell someone the contents of a bad dream. Tell me.”

“I’ll tell you next time.”

Masera never told me the contents of the dream he had.

But seeing his expression mixed with despair and sadness, I could guess that it was a painful dream.