It was a coincidence.

Meeting Yurik alone while going down to the village for an errand.

Today, the market was more crowded than usual, making it difficult to walk. The maids often crossed paths with me, as I was small in stature.

‘When will they come?’

About ten minutes had passed since I got separated from the maids. I sat on the spacious plaza fountain, waiting for the maids who must have been anxiously searching for me.

“…Hello?”

“……”

It was there that I met Yurik. He had a book in his hand, as if he had just come from the library. It was a quite difficult formula book, not suited for his age.

‘But there’s no maid with him?’

He was also sitting blankly at the fountain, perhaps having gotten separated from his accompanying maid.

“Young master, where are you!”

Just then, I heard the voice of a woman desperately calling out to someone. From what I could gather, she seemed to be calling for Young Master Yurik.

“…Umm, I think that person over there is looking for you?”

As the maid’s figure gradually disappeared from my sight, I was the first to speak. Nonetheless, Yurik remained seated without moving a finger.

Was he still upset? It was awkward to make eye contact with him due to the previous incident.

“…You said your name was Lize, right?”

“That’s right.”

He opened his mouth, remembering my name.

“I received the handkerchief well. You didn’t have to give it to me though.”

“It seemed like a cherished item to you.”

“No!”

I flinched at his loud voice, startled. Judging by Yurik’s slightly gloomy face, something seemed to be bothering him.

“…That measly rabbit handkerchief. I don’t cherish it. Do you think I’m well-suited for such childish things?”

“What does that have to do with anything? Don’t tell me you’re bothered by what Swel said last time?”

“……”

“Ignore what he said. Even though he said that, he also likes cute things.”

Yurik remained quiet. As the atmosphere turned awkward again, I pondered hard about what to say next.

I stared intently at the book in his line of sight. That book could be considered a must-read for physics formulas. It was a book quite famous among nobles, and naturally, the Marsen family also had it.

“We have that book in our mansion too.”

I threw out those words to break the awkwardness, but Yurik showed no reaction.

“We have the entire series.”

“……”

“You must know how difficult it is since you’ve read it too, right? I gave up halfway through reading the series. And have you read the other book by the same author as that one? It was truly abstruse.”

No matter how much I chattered, Yurik didn’t open his mouth.

It was frustrating that we couldn’t connect over the book that seemed to be a common ground. So, I started recounting the plot of “Gilbert’s Heroic Tales,” a book currently popular among our age group.

“Wasn’t the part where Gilbert saves his mother at the end really cool?”

This should work. There couldn’t be a child who hasn’t read this book!

“…I haven’t read that book.”

“What? That famous book?”

“I’m hearing about it for the first time.”

I was more surprised by this than the fact that Yurik liked cute things.

“Do you, by any chance, dislike reading books?”

When I asked, Yurik was startled as if he had been caught in a lie.

“What?”

“No, just… Since you said you haven’t read ‘Gilbert’s Heroic Tales.'”

“Is that book really that famous?”

He really doesn’t like books. When I nodded, Yurik’s face turned pale, and he avoided my gaze.

He mumbled something like, ‘Then I should start reading it from now on.’

“You really don’t like books, huh?”

“…Actually, I prefer swordsmanship over books.”

Having been caught, Yurik revealed something I hadn’t even asked about.

“Really?”

I was a bit surprised by that fact. The Penton family operated a trading company and had almost no connection to swordsmanship.

According to the original story, Yurik would later become the successor of the family and inherit the trading company.

Not only that. He would be the one to actively promote the empire’s trade and cultural exchanges with the whole world more perfectly than anyone else in his role as the successor.

“Isn’t it cool to wield a sword?”

“It is cool.”

“What? Don’t tell me you think it doesn’t suit me?”

When Yurik asked, I quickly shook my head. It was truly unexpected. In the original story, Yurik did learn basic self-defense techniques and martial arts, but he rarely had to use them.

“N-No way. It suits you well.”

“Do you like books?”

“Yup. I’ve even read three books in a day before. Reading books helps with boredom, at least.”

As I spoke, Yurik held out the book he was holding.

“This book too?”

“I’ve already read it about twice.”

“……”

Yurik hesitated at my answer.

“…Then can you explain the content on page 36 to me? I’ve read it several times at the library, but I can’t seem to understand it.”

“Let me take a look.”

Yurik immediately flipped to page 36.

“Ah, this one.”

I moved closer to Yurik to explain it to him.

“Do you understand?”

“Yeah. It’s actually quite easy. It’s related to differentiation…”

Focusing on my words, Yurik asked me whenever he didn’t understand something. Despite claiming to dislike books, Yurik possessed quick comprehension and a natural intelligence. He easily grasped the content and even applied it.

“That’s right, that’s it.”

“Then how do you utilize this formula?”

“Ah, it’s not much different from before.”

Before I knew it, I was excitedly explaining even things Yurik hadn’t asked about. I realized I had gotten carried away when Yurik stared at me intently instead of the book.

“Ah, sorry. Did I go overboard?”

“No, I just thought you really love books.”

“Yeah. But my parents don’t let me read much. They say reading these kinds of books isn’t good for my emotional development from a young age. In reality, it’s probably because I, as the youngest, like books more than my siblings, so I’m a thorn in their side.”

“They don’t let you read books?”

His eyes widened in shock, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Recently, they allow me to read about five books a month, but anything more is strictly forbidden. If I read more, they’ll just take the books away in front of me again.”

“Why? The Marsen family is in the land business. Reading a lot of books would surely be helpful.”

“I know, right?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“…I have to read books forcibly. My grandfather is strict. He says that if I, as the eldest son, want to lead the family, I need to read a lot of books and be smart.”

“That’s completely different from my parents. Even though our family is wealthy, they don’t invest a single penny in me.”

“My grandfather invests everything in me. Even borrowing this book, it was only after my grandfather came to the mansion recently. He was appalled to see my room with not a single book and told me to go to the library right away.”

“I see.”

“While I’m at the library, my grandfather will probably have his staff buy all the books from the bookstores. They should arrive by tomorrow.”

I recalled Yurik’s grandfather who appeared in the original story. Even if he did appear, it was only in a few lines, so it was impossible to know his personality or appearance. But to think he was such a strict person.

Now I understood why Yurik hid his preferences and went around like that.

“Actually, I prefer your new side more than your smart and wise side.”

“…What?”

The Yurik Penton in the book was perfect. He solved all incidents and overcame all crises. He had no complexes or flaws.

I had no idea he had these concerns. Even his likes were different from the original story. Maybe that’s why Yurik, who felt distant as the protagonist of the book, started to feel a bit more relatable.

Honestly, he seemed like a different character.

“What’s wrong with liking cute things? I don’t dislike that side of you.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Ah, of course, since you don’t want others to find out about that side of you, I won’t tell anyone. I promise!”

I observed Yurik’s face, wondering if he was upset again. Contrary to my expectation, Yurik’s face was as red as a beet.

He looked flustered now, unlike before when he could meet my eyes without any problem.

“…Okay.”

“……”

“D-Don’t tell anyone.”

The atmosphere turned quiet again. I should probably go find Bitty now…

As I looked around, I spotted a familiar face in the distance.

“I think I should get going now.”

“Wait!”

“Hm?”

When I was about to take a step, Yurik called out to me.

“I’m sorry about what happened at the park. I went too far with my words.”

He apologized to me in a slightly trembling voice.

“I’ve been wanting to apologize.”

“……”

“I’m really sorry.”

I was taken aback by his sudden apology. Honestly, I thought we would naturally move past that incident.

‘He’s really different.’

I had never seen Yurik apologize to anyone in the original story. He had such a blunt personality that even if he apologized, he expressed it differently.

“Okay, since we both apologized, let’s forget about that incident now.”

“……”

“In exchange, let’s keep each other’s secrets. I can’t get caught reading books here in secret, and you… There are things you can’t let others find out, right? You understand?”

When I said that, Yurik’s face brightened.

“Of course.”

“Then, bye!”

Before leaving the plaza, I took one last look at Yurik sitting blankly at the fountain.

The last time I saw Yurik at the park, I was concerned about his expression, but not this time.

I couldn’t gauge what he was thinking at all back then, but now Yurik waved at me.

And then, as if embarrassed, he quickly put his hand down, which was a bit amusing, but it didn’t matter.

* * *

「Penton Family, Eldest Son.

The reason Yurik had been keeping an eye on the Marsen family was because of their youngest daughter.

Her name was Lize Marsen. The sixth child, with a different appearance from her siblings, it was clear at a glance that she was born from another woman’s womb.

Red hair and yellow eyes.

Judging by her face alone, she was quite pretty, to the extent that she stood out from the other children. Perhaps because of her beauty, even though the Marsen family tried to hide her, rumors about her had spread among the men of other families.

In contrast, she had no interest in men. She was also not talkative and rarely showed her expressionless face outside.

At first, Yurik might have felt sorry for such a Lize Marsen and extended his sympathy to her.

He always met her in unexpected places. On the hill’s reeds, in the park, at the village plaza, and so on. It was there that Yurik accidentally let slip a secret he couldn’t dare tell anyone else.

Unlike Yurik, who was frightened, she remained unchanged. Still expressionless.

Nonetheless, Yurik worried that she might spread rumors about his secret. And then one day, a short letter arrived, informing him that his worry was for naught. It was a letter from Lize Marsen.

Yurik wondered if he had said harsh words to her. Her apology made his heart heavy.

He also reflected on the words he had said to her. He had judged her only by appearances, just like the people he disliked.

‘…Hello?’

When he encountered her alone shortly after, Yurik realized something. She was a different person than he had thought, and she was a much more lively and interesting child than he had imagined.

Moreover, Lize Marsen possessed all the qualities Yurik wanted to have.

From that moment on, Yurik’s heart started to race a little whenever he saw Lize.」

* * *

The evening at the Marsen mansion was quiet.

Lying on her bed, Isabel looked at the empty space beside her. Sleep wouldn’t come. She cautiously got up and moved towards the window, holding a lamp that had not yet been extinguished.

She thought of the acquaintance she had met at the park last time.

The acquaintance she hadn’t seen for about ten years had aged considerably and become physically frail, contrary to her expectations. Although the acquaintance had avoided her question about being in good health, it was clear that there was some kind of illness.

‘Isabel. You haven’t forgotten either, have you?’

‘I’m married now.’

‘It doesn’t matter. You know it well.’

Isabel kept thinking about the words her acquaintance had spoken in a calm tone while staring through her.

‘So come back.’