Lying and staying out with a ‘man’. I’ve never done that before, so this is how it felt.

It’s like the time I stole my mom’s necklace, ran away from home, sold it, and played with my friends as much as I wanted. I didn’t know how immature I was.

I took a deep breath. As it has been a long time since I returned, my mental age and my physical age were now the same. Maybe that’s why I’m nervous right now. I have to act naturally.

I walked briskly with the maid who came with me. All right, you’re doing great. I look so natural right now.

“Lady, you are walking with your left foot and left hand together. Did something happen?”

What? I am not! I turned to the maid. I held the maid’s hand and opened my mouth.

“Haaaaaaaa.”

“Oh, miss?”

I asked, “What about my mom? What about my dad? Aren’t they going to be angry?”

“Why are they supposed to be angry?” The maid tilted her head in wonder. “Hmm.”

“Didn’t I play with Miss Flora and Gerald yesterday?”

Of course, she sighed at first, but she seemed to think it couldn’t be helped with the situation.

“Well, yes.”

My alibi was perfect. Flora’s intervention made my night out go too well.

“Miss…” The maid squinted and gave me a suspicious look.

“Why, why!” I felt a sudden feeling. A shrill voice popped out as I cleared my throat.

The maid rubbed her chin. “Hmm.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I snapped.

“Haha. There is no way that my lady lied and stayed out with Gerald alone. Right? I shouldn’t have thought of other things. I’m sorry, milady.”

An arrow pierced my conscience at what she thought was the truth.

“No, there’s no need to be sorry…….” A crawling voice answered.

An ambush emerged, and I, who was already struggling, saw a familiar build. He was the person I labeled as an ‘older brother’ and ‘enemy’ at the same time.

“Lulu, are you coming in now? Hey, but didn’t you go with Gerald alone yesterday?”

“Well, yes. I took a short walk and Flora joined us.”

“Really?”

My heart beat fast. Alexid looked at me from top to bottom as if he was judging my whole existence as a person. It was really bad luck to meet him here.

I just have to play well at times like this. I had to get up to the stairs where Alexid stood. Alexid was startled by my sudden action.

“Hey! You left me alone! Gerald caught me!”

“What? Gerald said he wanted to talk to you, so I let him go. As long as you had fun, that’s it!”

“Didn’t you run away so that you could play all you want?” Alexid turned his head.

“Hmm! There’s no such thing as that!”

“You certainly are acting up! Do you know how hard it was to be alone? I met Gerald in the carriage and got scolded!”

“I was busy.”

“You’re lying!” I tapped Alexid inexorably on his ribs.

Alexid forgot to look at me suspiciously and dodged my attacks.

“Oh, this pig!”

“I’m not a pig!”

Mom and dad must have heard the uproar caused by Alexid and me fighting as soon as we met. Mom came to us with a deep sigh.

“Everyone knows that Lulu is back. Can’t you be a little quiet?”

“Mom! What about dad?”

“He is all right now. He’ll be back soon.”

“Mom.”

“We have a meeting. I know that you have a reading party this afternoon.”

“It’s been pushed back for a week.”

“Both of you stay still. Alexid, shouldn’t you hurry up and go?”

My mom nagged me and Alexid. Fortunately, no one seemed suspicious of me staying out yesterday.

Oh, thank God. That’s a relief. It’s not that easy to act like it was nothing either.

* * *

Gerald opened a book he took sight of. It was a thick book with a black hardcover. The book had that strange familiar scent of paper and ink.

It was a newly published book containing Gerald’s wishes. Gerald examined the book slowly. The author was unknown. Of course, there was a separate person who compiled the stories posted there.

There were quite a few oddities among scholars. Among them, I met with people who were deeply inquisitive about these myths and made things up separately. It was only possible with Roland’s help.

[Is this the book?]

“Yes, it’s a book that will bring you back to the past, as you wish.”