“Tsundere Young Lord… why don’t you reflect on the ending of the sentence you just spat out?”
Hailga reacted with sheer disbelief.
But the person who had truly lost all sense of absurdity was me.
I wasn’t acting like a ‘cat’; I was merely imitating the speech pattern of the ‘human’ Karbaldr. And that was…
“Is it not simply a common interrogative ending? To describe it as meowing like a cat is an act of damaging and distorting the original meaning of the language.”
“Just because you use fancy words doesn’t mean you’re right…”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I said it because I’m genuinely curious if the Young Lord actually believes that.”
No matter how I thought about it, my words sounded like a flimsy excuse.
However, poking further into the vague things she said wouldn’t benefit me; it would likely only lead to trouble.
So, instead of nitpicking her words, I decided to answer the question she had presented as an alternative.
“It is not merely what I think; it is an undeniable fact. How many people end their questions with ‘nya’? Do all those people imitate the cries of a cat, then?”
To frame someone using language correctly as a ‘cat cosplayer.’
This was undoubtedly Reysir’s influence.
To think he would instill not only the ‘Karbaldr is a tsundere’ theory but also the ‘Karbaldr is a cat’ theory into Hailga.
Once I reached that conclusion, my gaze instinctively shifted toward the culprit.
Of course, it wasn’t a gentle look. I glared at him, putting strength into my eyes.
Despite that, the protagonist of another novel asked this question with a nonchalant expression.
“Karbaldr. I’m asking just in case, but do your family members also end their questions with ‘nya’?”
“They do…?”
Since it was true, I had no choice but to affirm it, even though I felt a bit reluctant.
If I denied it falsely and the truth was discovered later…
I would end up hearing something like, ‘So you also thought your speech sounded like a cat’s meow, didn’t you?’
But then—.
“Ah…, the whole family…”
How was I supposed to interpret this reaction from Hailga?
I couldn’t tell what on earth she was feeling sorry about.
On the other hand, her childhood friend’s intentions were so transparent that they were problematic in a different way.
“Karbaldr. Won’t you invite us to your house sometime?”
“………”
“I’m not saying this for any impure reason, so please don’t misunderstand. I just want to see you conversing with your family.”
To satisfy his own amusement, he wanted to see the possession body’s family members all gathered together, ending their sentences with ‘nya.’
If that wasn’t an impure purpose, I didn’t know what was.
“…Stop talking about me and finish the conversation you were having with Hailga.”
I glared at the protagonist of another novel.
Feeling overwhelmed by the other person’s eyes filled with expectation, I snapped my head away and abruptly ended the conversation.
‘I ended up letting Reysir into my room, but inviting him to the Duke’s Castle is absolutely out of the question!’
Hard’s indifference toward his youngest son.
And Valtraus’s hostility, blaming his younger brother for their mother’s death.
I could hide that much if I invited Reysir when those two were away from the castle.
However, a family portrait of House Austri — painted while the Duchess was still alive, and thus missing Karbaldr’s face — was hanging brazenly in the Stair Hall of the Duke’s Castle. I couldn’t just remove it at will.
‘Even I, a complete stranger, feel uncomfortable every time I see it, so how must the real Karbaldr have felt…!’
It was only natural that the owner of this body had become so crooked.
The moment I reached that conclusion…
“Karbaldr… I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can avoid talking about you. It’s my turn to answer the question of what I’ll do if you aren’t actually a tsundere cat.”
The bitter sentiment vanished in an instant because of the nonsense spewed by another person’s protagonist.
“The thing you should be sorry for is that comment. Adding ‘cat’ right after… ‘tsun’…!”
“I just briefly summarized what Hailga said. So, wouldn’t it be more logical to ask Hailga for an apology instead of me?”
That was a shameless remark.
He couldn’t be unaware that it was his fault his childhood friend had made such a comment in the first place.
“Anyway, Helly, to answer your question, I can understand completely. If Karbaldr says those things with his own mouth, it means he not only trusts me that much, but it’s also a confession that he wants to treat me without any lies from now on, right? There’s absolutely no reason not to welcome that!”
Reysir looked away from me and gave a belated answer to Hailga.
I had certainly felt annoyed by this protagonist of another novel, but his words were enough to melt that feeling away.
If, by some very, very slim chance…
The moment came when I had no choice but to reveal that I was a possessor.
Even if he realized that all the versions of me he had liked and felt close to were an illusion.
‘Reysir would forgive all my deceptions and joyfully accept the real me, simply because of the fact that I had opened my heart completely to him.’
As that thought occurred to me, a wave of emotion spread in ripples, reaching the depths of my heart.
I was busy managing my expression in case it showed on my face.
“And I saw it before. The way Karbaldr spoke softly to Yor and smiled warmly at him.”
Suddenly, the protagonist of another novel brought up a past incident I had forgotten.
“So, if Karbaldr’s tsundere side is an act, then this must be his real personality, right? It would be a huge shame if I couldn’t see Karbaldr acting coy and saying ‘nya’ anymore. But I think seeing Karbaldr being kind and smiling at me would be pretty good too. Would it be even better if he showed both sides depending on the situation?”
Ignoring Reysir’s chatter, I quickly scanned the surrounding reactions.
In chapter 43 — specifically, when the disengagement contract was being written — Vigdis had witnessed me smiling at Yor.
So she might be able to let Reysir’s comment slide easily.
But Hailga and Liolikin would surely be shocked…
‘…They aren’t?’
Faced with an unexpected reaction, a question popped out of my mouth.
“Why is everyone reacting like they’ve heard something old and obvious…?”
“Because it is old and obvious…?”
“Is there anyone here who doesn’t know how much Master Karbaldr likes Master Yor?”
“Besides, isn’t it common for those who avoid people to become gentle when dealing with animals?”
Vigdis, Liolikin, and Hailga answered as they pleased to the monologue I had accidentally let slip.
It wasn’t that they were trying to act like it was nothing because they were worried I’d be embarrassed; it seemed the contents of Reysir’s revelation truly didn’t surprise them even a tiny bit.
I didn’t know whether to consider this a relief or not.
“Anyway, Rei. I’ve heard your opinion well. But I think I should just maintain my current state after all.”
“Why?”
“In the case of the Tsundere Young Lord, if you strip away the aspects that are evaluated negatively, his positive side is revealed, right? But in my case, it’s the opposite. I’ve been acting mature and dignified until now, but the real me is…”
Hailga trailed off and bit her lip hard.
To anyone watching, her lowered gaze looked frightened.
Looking at her whole face, I could feel her regret.
She maintained wide human relationships but kept a proper distance from everyone.
I thought she didn’t have anyone she truly considered a friend among the connections she made at the Academy.
Looking at her now, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
‘Is it possible that every time she acts fake in front of her friends, she’s actually feeling guilty…?’
As someone in a similar situation, I wondered if I should offer some words of comfort.
But I decided to just stay quiet and watch.
Now was the time for the protagonist of this world to play his part.
“What’s wrong with your real self? You’re bright and energetic, and I like that.”
“Rei. You used to say embarrassing things quite often, but I think it’s gotten worse since you started hanging out with the Tsundere Young Lord. How can you say things like that as if it’s natural without a single change in your expression?”
“Why shouldn’t I? I’m just saying that I like what I like.”
As the word ‘like’ was repeated by the original protagonist, the heroine candidate looked embarrassed, hesitated, and then quietly averted her gaze.
He would have teased me mercilessly if I had reacted like that.
Instead of doing so, Reysir continued the counseling with a serious attitude.
“Helly, I know you’ve been acting like a perfectly ideal person in front of others. But even so, there are things that cannot be hidden. You’ve seen Karbaldr by your side, so you know, right? Even though he acts coy and arrogant as if he doesn’t care, his kindness leaks out and his consideration is visible.”
It seemed he hadn’t teased Hailga because he was planning to tease me instead.
Hailga had done it earlier, and now him.
I didn’t know why they kept using me as an example and trying to embarrass me.
“The kids you truly consider friends and hang out with often probably already have a hunch. That while you pretend to be calm and quiet, you’re actually cheerful and easygoing.”
“If that were true, wouldn’t they have said something by now? To stop being so fake.”
“No. They’re definitely waiting. For you to tell them yourself, honestly.”
Reysir quietly closed his mouth after those words.
He was likely planning to wait until Hailga, who was deep in thought, reached a conclusion.
In the meantime, the staff arrived and brought the drinks and desserts we had ordered when we entered the shop.
Hailga had ordered her drink in a very specific way: a Java Chip Frappuccino with no syrup, chocolate drizzle only on the walls of the cup, oat milk, 1.5 scoops of java chocolate chips blended and 0.5 scoops left whole, half the whipped cream, and a ristretto shot. She inhaled it through the straw without even mixing it.
Only then did she speak with a determined expression, as if she had finally figured out how she should act.
“For now, I’ll try talking to the kids I consider my friends first. After that, instead of quitting the acting all at once, I think it’s better to let it go bit by bit. I’d feel so wronged if I heard people saying I became arrogant just because I was in the same class as the First Imperial Princess.”
“Good thinking.”
“…Will it really be okay?”
“Yes, it will.”
Reysir affirmed it once more, but Hailga still seemed unable to fully shake her anxiety.
Since it was the original protagonist saying it, she could believe him.
Since I couldn’t explain that, the best I could do was watch quietly, even if it was frustrating.