Episode 17: I Revealed My True Identity.
In the morning, I went to see Ati, and the moment I knocked and opened the door, Ati clung to my leg!
It’s our destined reunion! I wanted to see you too, Ati!!
I hugged her as much as I wanted, smelled her, and kissed her all over her face. I kissed her like crazy. I made so many “chuu chuu” sounds.
However, she still felt a little warm.
She seemed completely fine, but that’s probably just because her body got used to the heat. Her fever hasn’t completely gone down yet.
To be safe, we decided that she should rest again today.
After having a meal together in Ati’s room, the Head Nanny, Maggie, would take care of her for a while.
I decided to use that time to get some things done.
First of all…
I need to buy a new cross-dressing set…
My clothes got burned.
But… that would mean leaving Ati’s side for a while.
Even if Samuel, the tutor, didn’t tell me, I don’t want to leave Ati too much now that I don’t know who the enemy is.
Ugh. It’s still limiting to move alone. It would be easier if I had someone I could talk to about the cross-dressing, at least.
Someone to tell about the cross-dressing, huh?
The Marquis—No. Absolutely no way. Definitely NG. I don’t know how he’d react. And, somehow, personally, I don’t want to tell him. Nope.
Samuel, the tutor—No. I just gained his trust. If I said, “I was lying—☆” now, I don’t know what kind of abuse would come flying.
Maggie, the Head Nanny—Seems possible. She probably doesn’t intend to harm Ati at the moment, and even if she’s not on my side, she’s at least on Ati’s side.
…Hmm. Yeah, she’s on Ati’s side, but she’s not on my side…
I wonder if the cross-dressing would be used as a weakness against me.
I don’t think so, but I don’t have any certainty yet.
Ugh, this is troubling.
“This is really troubling.”
“What’s troubling you?”
Such an innocent voice came from the side.
Crap! I was relaxing in the Gazebo in the garden, so I wasn’t on guard! And, the presence… wait, what?
The one who called out to me was a small boy who popped his head out from the fence of the Gazebo.
Wait, this face is—
“Eric-sama? Why are you here?”
I stood up, knelt, and greeted him.
Even if he’s a child, the son of the Duke, and the heir, is of higher status than the Marchioness.
Eric Statis Andreu, the heir of the Andreu Dukedom, the next Duke Andreu. The main Capture Target in the Otome Game.
Ati’s fiancé, who later switches from Ati to the Otome Game’s protagonist and breaks off the engagement—though, not yet.
He’s one year older than Ati, so he’s four years old now.
But, why is he in the Karamanlis Estate’s courtyard??
“Eric-sama. Why are you here? Who did you come with? Where are the people who came with you?”
I asked Eric again.
He didn’t answer my words, and sat down on the bench I had been sitting on until now.
“Came to see Ati!”
“Ati?”
“Yeah! To visit Ati!”
Visit? Ah, a get-well visit.
“Because Ati cut her hair! Hair is a Woman’s Life, right!!”
Ah, “Hair is a Woman’s Life.” Well, it’s said that way in some cases.
In Ati’s case, her hair is not just a woman’s life, it’s the light of the world. It’s the sun. People can’t live without it!!
Well, Ati is super cute even with her current bob cut!!!
I see. A get-well visit. Since it happened at the Andreu Estate, it’s kind of an apology. Bringing Eric means the engagement is really going well.
That’s good.
If Ati doesn’t become a Villainess, she won’t be dumped.
…Well? I’m not really convinced about her marrying this Eric.
This Eric is the main Capture Target in the Otome Game. In other words, a typical prince character.
Blond hair, blue eyes, with a rugged face, fond of swords, and gentle. He’s a little impulsive, but that’s an expression of his sense of justice.
The Eric who switches from Ati treats the Otome Game protagonist smoothly.
He sees through the protagonist’s virtuous side and exposes the Villainess Ati’s misdeeds, I don’t know where he was watching from.
I remember that I didn’t really like him.
I liked a different character. I was sick of those prince-like guys.
Frankly, I thought this Eric was superficial with his sense of justice, shallow, and a little annoying.
That might be because of the game’s scriptwriter.
“What are you doing?”
While I was remembering the past, Eric tilted his head and looked up at my face.
Ah, right. Eric doesn’t know me.
“I am the wife of the master of this mansion, Marquis Karamanlis. This house is my home.”
“Wife?”
“Yes. Ati’s mother.”
“Mama?”
Why the question mark, you brat? Is it because we don’t look alike? It’s because we don’t look alike, isn’t it? We don’t look alike! Because I didn’t give birth to her!! So what?!
“Even though you’re a man?”
…I can’t ignore that.
“What did you say?”
I somehow managed to keep a smile on my face. But, I might have had a vein popping.
While still kneeling, I met Eric’s eyes and asked back as cheerfully as possible.
“Eric-sama. That’s not true. I’m a woman. No matter how you look at me—”
“You’re Sergios, aren’t you?!”
Huh?!
What did he just say?!
“Um, my name is Selene—”
“You’re Sergios! The other day, you bumped into me(↑) and Ati(↓)!”
Crap. He remembered my face!
“Right?! You’re Serg—”
I quickly covered Eric’s mouth, who was shouting loudly.
It would be terrible if someone heard!!
“Eric-sama. I am Selene. I am not Sergios.”
I told Eric, carefully enunciating each word.
However, Eric tried to shake his head violently. And, he was mumbling something with his mouth covered.
“Eric-sama, please don’t shout.”
“○×△□××△○○!!”
“Eric-sama…”
“△△○□×!!”
“Eric-sa—”
“○×ー!! △×□□□!!”
“…”
…In this case, I have no choice. I have to use my special technique to silence children.
“Eric-sama, please listen carefully.”
I deliberately looked around, and then lowered my tone and spoke to Eric.
“Indeed. My name is seemingly Sergios. However, that must not be revealed to others.”
When I said that as seriously as possible, Eric’s eyes widened and he stared at me.
“Sergios is pretending to be someone else and staying by Ati-sama’s side in order to defeat a powerful evil. My false name is ‘Selene.’ I am infiltrating as Ati’s mother.
Well done for seeing through my true identity, Eric-sama.”
When I said that, suddenly, Eric’s eyes sparkled.
Yeah, you like that kind of thing, don’t you?
I slowly removed my hand from Eric’s mouth.
Eric looked at me with an envious gaze, his mouth drooping.
“Ati-sama is the key to saving the world. If something happens to Ati-sama, this world will be destroyed.
However, someone is plotting to destroy the world and trying to get rid of Ati-sama.
I am a knight of the organization to stop that—um, the Dragon Knights, Sergios.”
It was a setting I just came up with, but Eric’s eyes were sparkling and he was nodding.
“Okay? It would be bad if my true identity was revealed to other people. If that happens, I will be erased. If that happens, I won’t be able to protect Ati-sama. If I can’t protect her—”
I deliberately paused here.
“—the world will be destroyed.”
At that serious voice, Eric swallowed hard.
“Normally, please call me ‘Selene.’ Never, ever call me by a man’s name.”
When I told him that, Eric nodded slowly.
Alright, here’s the final push.
“Eric-sama, this.”
I handed Eric one of the throwing knives in a sheath that I usually carry.
“This is proof of the Dragon Knights.
Eric-sama, who saw through my true identity, has the qualifications to join the Knights. No, you are already a member of the Dragon Knights.
You now have a duty to protect Ati-sama as well. Okay?
Eric-sama, you too, will protect Ati-sama with me.
—As a member of the Dragon Knights.”
When I told him that powerfully, Eric’s cheeks turned bright red, and he was so excited that steam seemed to be rising from his head, and he nodded.
Alright. Brainwashing complete.
He’s pretty unreliable, but I got one ally I wanted.
…Well, you could also say that I have one more child to protect.
“Well then, I’ll excuse myself now.”
I stood up and bowed respectfully to Eric.
And then, as slowly as possible, I left the scene.
Well, even if my name comes out of Eric’s mouth now, the Dragon Knights’ name will come out with it, and the adults around won’t take it seriously.
Even though it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, well done, me!
Satisfied with my performance, I leisurely returned to the mansion.