People Aren't Meant to Be Fixed! (4 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 6

[It truly has been a long time, Immortal One.]

The god appeared in the form of a tiny fairy.

‘That rascal!’

No, correction—what stood before me now was the Messenger of God.

‘Ah!’

Fearing the children might see the Messenger of God, I swiftly moved.

[All this while…]

The Messenger of God, who had been about to say something, was startled when I subtly shoved Beris aside and snatched him away.

“Crown Princess?”

“Oh, it’s nothing! Just doing some calisthenics—exercise!”

They’d been peacefully asleep until I suddenly leapt up; naturally, it must have looked odd. I hastily made excuses, deliberately flailing my arms and legs about.

“Oh, I see!”

The innocent children believed even such transparent lies. Carlisle showed no sign of suspicion either.

“Then you’re not sleepy anymore, right?”

Ronowe asked with a refreshingly bright smile.

“Y-yes, of course. I’m fully awake now.”

I laughed awkwardly.

“Then Crown Princess, come play with us too!”

How do these kids still have so much energy left? I said as I felt the Messenger of God squirming in my grasp.

“No! You go ahead and play first.”

Worried he might slip away, I tightened my grip firmly around him.

“Hmph…”

“Alrighty!”

Though Ronowe and Beris looked disappointed, they didn’t pester me further.

“Please rest comfortably.”

The children soon became one with Carlisle, who had declared himself their caretaker, darting around wildly together.

“Phew…”

Thank goodness at least one of them is sensible. Glancing around carefully, I loosened my grip slightly.

[Don’t worry. Those children won’t be able to see me.]

The Messenger of God circled me once in flight and settled down on my left.

[Why has the Messenger of God come here? Has God decided to forgive me at last?] [Not a chance—not until you’ve found the answer.]

Not wanting to look like I was talking to thin air, I used spirit speech. I chose this method specifically to avoid being labeled a madwoman.

[Then why come at all? You haven’t visited in centuries.] […]

If not for that, then why fly all this way? Annoyed, I scowled and pressed him—and the Messenger of God, after clamping his mouth shut for a moment, suddenly said something entirely irrelevant.

[It seems this life has granted you amusing friends, quite unlike your past ones.]

Instead of giving me the answer I sought, the Messenger of God observed Ronowe, Beris, and Carlisle.

“Oh dear, young masters! You mustn’t lie around tumbling on the floor like this.”

Even the grown-up maid couldn’t see the Messenger of God. Apparently, due to his ability, no one nearby noticed our ongoing conversation.

‘These rascals…’

I clicked my tongue inwardly as I watched the exhausted children panting heavily.

“Ronowe, Beris.”

At that moment, Carlisle closed his book and approached the children.

“Have you forgotten what the marquess told you about not lying on the floor?”

That lad really is a nanny. I chuckled, then felt the Messenger of God’s gaze upon me.

[They’re not your friends.]

Embarrassed, I quickly denied it—but the Messenger of God, staring straight at me, replied,

[Still, how about seeking their help to find the answer?]

The Messenger of God, his tone slightly gentler now, took a sip of tea.

[Are you teasing me?]

Memories of having placed hope in children before—and being bitterly disappointed—flashed back, sharpening my nerves.

[I was a fool to expect anything from kids. All they ever did was prattle nonsense.] [Really? But this is the first time you’ve lived like this. Isn’t it worth hoping for this time?] [Hope for what…]

A bitter scoff escaped me.

[It’s not like I haven’t heard that line a dozen times before.]

The golden-haired noble lady, the woodcutter, the merchant… past lives flickered through my mind like a lantern show.

Each time, the Messenger of God appeared and offered the same hollow comfort: “Perhaps this time you’ll find the answer.”

‘But every single time, I failed.’

The thought, steeped in bitterness, crept in unbidden.

[Has God abandoned me?]

Once a cherished favorite, now condemned to endless reincarnations with only the cruel demand to “find the answer”—it could only mean I’d fallen out of divine favor.

[You’ll know once you’ve found the answer.]

Yet the Messenger of God merely repeated the same words, then, apparently hungry, picked up a biscuit and began to eat.

‘How infuriating.’

Does this fellow even intend to hold a proper conversation? I glared fiercely at him, nearly ready to toss him aside.

[But You’ve kept watching me all along! Then why not come Yourself?]

Eventually, frustration broke through, and I blurted out my grievance with a pained expression.

[Is there even an answer? Living like this so long, I often forget why I’m even alive! I don’t even know if I can find it anymore!] [Then you’ll simply have to live your whole life that way.]

Was this fellow serious? His casual tone ignited my fury anew.

[Are you speaking seriously right now?]

I fixed him with a look that clearly said, “If you don’t speak plainly, I won’t let you off easy.”

[At least give me a clue.]

Part of me wanted to strike him, but I swallowed my rage and managed to speak calmly.

[I’ve asked clever humans, and none of them had any idea.] [Seems you still don’t understand—those methods are useless.]

The Messenger of God sighed, hammering the point home.

[Even if you receive help, the answer must be realized by yourself alone—that’s the only way to end this eternal cycle.]

His words left me dumbfounded.

All my past suffering—badgering scholars, tormenting friends, starting wars, living at rock bottom—had been for naught. It was like getting struck squarely by a hammer.

[Then why say that only now?! I thought it was enough just to figure it out!]

My hands clenched with frustration, crushing the snack I’d been holding.

[Anyway, it’s not as if anyone else could possibly find the answer for you…] [What’s that supposed to mean?]

Muttering to yourself again? The Messenger of God, seeing my confusion, quietly grabbed another biscuit.

[Nothing at all.]

After crunching through his snack, the Messenger of God, now satisfied, prepared to leave.

[Then, Immortal One, I truly hope you find the answer in this life.]

In the end, having done nothing useful upon appearing, the Messenger of God vanished—taking with him the entire plate of untouched pastries.

“Hey…!”

I should’ve ripped those wings right off. Unable to contain my fury any longer, I blurted it out aloud.

“Yes?”

Instantly, all three children popped up like meerkats, turned around, and stared at me.

“Ah… no, it’s just that the snacks were so delicious…”

I felt embarrassed looking at the completely empty plate.

“Crown Princess must have been very hungry.”

“Please eat more, Crown Princess.”

The kind-hearted children took my words at face value, and I gave an awkward laugh.

“Y-yes… that’s right…”

I ordered the waiting maid to bring more snacks and leaned back against the sofa armrest.

‘Life…’

Maybe I should just dig a mouse hole and disappear.

Lost in tangled thoughts, I stared blankly at the ceiling.

“Crown Princess.”

Then Carlisle approached.

“Hm?”

“If it’s not too presumptuous… may I sit beside you?”

I nodded. I was curious what he wanted to say.

“You seem troubled. Your expression hasn’t been good for a while.”

Naturally, I took the handkerchief he offered and wiped the crumbs from my hands.

“If you tell me what’s troubling you, I’d be glad to help you think it through.”

Unlike the playful siblings, this promising young loyalist showed a different path altogether.

‘Truly, it’d be a waste to let such talent fall into the hands of someone else.’

I stared at Carlisle until he grew flustered and began glancing around nervously.

“Ah… um…”

Such a gentle soul. The blush on his face made me chuckle again.

“I-I’m sorry! I overstepped…”

“It’s alright.”

The anger from my conversation with the Messenger of God had completely vanished.

“I was just looking at you because I admired how you worried about me.”

I patted Carlisle lightly on the shoulder to convey my thanks, then turned my head.

“By the way, why do you always go around with those stone-headed…?”

I nearly called them “blockheads.”

“Ah, I mean—why do you spend time with the Fleur children?”

It was a meaningless, offhand question with no real intent.

‘It’s not important anyway—thought I’d ask later when the time came, but might as well probe now.’

I watched the oddly behaving Fleur siblings while waiting for Carlisle to gather his words.

‘Huh?’

No way.

‘He’s picking something up off the floor and eating it?’

I barely suppressed a groan at Beris’s sudden antics.

“Ah… well… that is…”

Carlisle, however, remained tight-lipped—as if he had his reasons.

‘So there really is something behind it.’

Since it wasn’t my place to pry deeply into his affairs, I decided to wrap things up myself.

“The Fleur family must raise their children well.”

“Ah, yes… that’s right.”

I decided that was enough.

“Brother~ let’s go play!”

“Crown Princess, come quickly!”

These rascals won’t even let me rest! I looked at the Fleur siblings and said firmly,

“I want to rest—go play among yourselves.”

I couldn’t just leave the room, yet I had absolutely no energy left to actually play with them.

“Why?”

“You have worries I wouldn’t understand.”

I paused before replying.

“Worries?!”

Goodness!

“Crown Princess has worries?!”

“Wow~ Crown Princess has worries~.”

The children’s eyes lit up as they charged toward me, forcing me to twist and dodge backward.

“We’ll solve Crown Princess’s worries for her!”

Hold on a second! Their bold declaration left me dumbfounded—were they aspiring detectives now?

“It’s not that kind of problem…”

This was spiraling out of control. I thought I could still intervene and stop it.

“Whenever Mother and Father have something they can’t solve, they go to the study!”

“Then let’s go to the study!”

Why are they making decisions on their own?! I pressed my fingers to my throbbing temples.

‘They’re absolutely thrilled.’

I watched the siblings sing joyfully about the study, giddy with excitement.

“Ronowe, Beris. Don’t run.”

As dizziness washed over me from the Fleur siblings’ commotion, I clutched my forehead—just as Carlisle stepped forward.

‘It’s over.’

I realized there was no turning back now.

“Depart!”

Helplessly, I was dragged along by Ronowe’s firm grip.