“Has anything like this happened before?”
The ‘before’ he was asking about was likely referring to her past life. Olivia shook her head.
“No. But I told you. Except for the main events, everything can change at any time.”
“So, this was not a main event.”
“Perhaps…? Surprisingly, it seems that the King of Norden had no involvement in the war? That’s strange. Even though you always started the war, the declaration was always made by the King of Norden.”
“The king was nothing more than a puppet.”
“That’s what I thought… Wait a minute, from the way you’re speaking, it doesn’t seem like you’re the puppet?”
At Olivia’s words, the corner of Cryer’s mouth twitched.
“The sight of a puppet manipulating a puppet isn’t very pleasant, is it? But it’s not me.”
“Then who?”
“Before that, did they change the floor or stair material for the meeting?”
Caught off guard by his nonsequitur, Olivia blinked a few times before shaking her head.
“Were they short on time?”
“That’s not likely. Even if they had to rip out all the walls and floors, a day or two would be enough. They just didn’t do it because there was no need.”
This place was a villa owned by the empire’s imperial family.
In a place where mountains could be moved at the emperor’s command, a renovation of the villa was a minor issue. If they were short on time, they could simply invest more manpower and resources.
And the empire was the only nation on the continent that could easily handle that amount of manpower and wealth.
“Why? Surely you’re not suggesting that the King of Norden, who was perfectly healthy and in good spirits, slipped on the smooth floor?”
Kneeling on one knee, closely inspecting the floor, Cryer was joined by Olivia who also diligently examined the floor.
But to her eyes, it was nothing more than an ordinary floor.
She didn’t particularly like the tiles that covered it, but overall, it was well balanced and there was no need to complain…
“No, the top of the stairs was purposely designed to prevent slipping. Even if someone did slip here, anyone with functioning limbs would have grabbed the railing.”
Following Cryer’s gaze, Olivia’s eyes landed on the railing. It was indeed in the right place where it should be.
“Which means…”
“It’s more likely that this was an assassination disguised as an accident.”
Olivia tilted her head in thought before asking,
“Was there a need to assassinate the King of Norden?”
Again, the response was a nonanswer.
“That’s what he did.”
“He?”
Grinding.
Startled by the sound of grinding teeth coming from right next to her, Olivia flinched like a tuna hit by a spear.
She couldn’t bring herself to look at Cryer, but she couldn’t not ask.
“That… person, no. Who is that guy?”
“A wizard.”
“A wizard? You mean that slave… no, the contract.”
“Yes. It’s what he did.”
Cryer traced the mark of a contract, a slave’s seal imprinted on his collarbone, unseen by anyone else.
‘…will…you are…his…soon the world…’
Fragments of past memories rose, bringing with them a chilling wind into the empty void.
And then, the next moment.
“What are you doing?”
Cryer looked down at a small, soft hand that was aimlessly stroking his own.
“Uh, I…”
Not finding the words to answer, Olivia continued to awkwardly stroke his hand.
As his eyes narrowed, Olivia hastily opened her mouth.
“I don’t know, my hand just moved on its own.”
Even after saying it, she looked incredulous. She wet her lips a few times, but said nothing more.
There was nothing to say.
Having never lied even once since meeting Cryer, she spoke only the truth this time as well.
Really, there had been no time to think or contemplate. Before she knew it, she found herself absentmindedly patting his hand like one would a baby’s back.
The response she gave didn’t make any sense, but Cryer didn’t question it. Nor did he knock her hand away, breaking or severing it.
He just stared.
A dove…she said.
A dove of peace. A woman trying to prevent war, no, trying to survive by preventing war.
“You’re not really a dove, are you?”
“I’m a person! A person!”
Why was this happening when she was a person…
Ever since he came back from death and found himself tied to a contract he never wanted, living a life like a puppet strung up and manipulated.
Cryer had come to dislike contact with people.
It wasn’t to the point of avoiding it with a shudder, but the lukewarm warmth of others often scratched his nerves.
Because of the slave’s seal that a mad magician, who breathed warmth back into his long cooled body as if resurrecting from death, had stamped.
But strangely enough.
It wasn’t that bad.
Neither uncomfortable nor did he have an urge to sever the hand.
“You’re a person?”
“I’m a person! Please believe me. When I say I want to become a dove, it’s a metaphorical meaning that I want to maintain world peace!”
Listening to the clamoring voice in front of him wasn’t that bad.
A faint but oddly twisted smile crept onto Cryer’s lips.
“A person.”
“I’ve told you several times, I’m a person. Where do you see me as a dove, I’ve reincarnated several times but I’ve never turned into an animal…”
He stared deeply into Olivia’s clear blue eyes, which were passionately asserting that she was certainly not a dove.
“Not…bad.”
Cryer’s faintly dispersed voice didn’t reach Olivia, but it was heard clearly in his own ears.
Yes. The warmth of Olivia, who was touching him, wasn’t bad at all.
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]At the time Olivia was heading towards the corpse of the Nordern king with Cryer.
The Nordern Royal Palace was in a bit of an early, no, excessively fast chaos.
“The King has passed away!”
“What on earth do you mean!”
“This is not the time, the heir, the Crown Prince!”
Among those who were all shouting, one man stood up.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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