episode_0010

After that, I wandered around trying to eavesdrop on other servants’ conversations, but I didn’t gain much.

At best, I figured out that most people thought I was pretending to have regained my sanity to drive Chris out and inherit the family head’s position.

And that most of them believed if I became the family head instead of Chris, they’d either be thrown out onto the cold streets or live a life far more miserable and disregarded than now.

“Fucking regression…”

In the end, as soon as I returned to my room, I couldn’t help but curse at this situation.

There was nothing else I could do. What the hell am I even supposed to do… huh? What the fuck can I do?

Me becoming the family head instead of Chris? I’ve never even considered it. Just looking at the amount of paperwork Chris handles in a day makes the mere thought of wanting that position insane.

Ah, but I’m already crazy, so maybe it doesn’t matter? Even in the original timeline’s second round, Eric never became the family head. Someone as sensitive and delicate as Eric surviving in the world of politics and ruthless scheming was impossible.

Once you step into politics, it’s survival of the fittest, heroines.

The bigger problem is how to restore my current reputation. Even if I just walked around saying, “Hey, I’m perfectly fine now!” no one would believe me.

Then again, even I wouldn’t believe it if someone who spent months force-feeding me spoiled tofu suddenly apologized and said they were sorry.

I briefly considered visiting my parents, but if I faced them now, it’d be game over for sure.

Despite their stoic exterior—honed from years of political battles, countless mind games, and backstabbing that forced them to conceal their emotions—they secretly shed tears every time I strayed off the right path.

They even frequently proposed policies for the commonfolk.

In the last round, I was a failure of a son till the very end, but this time, I want to live a decent life without worrying them. Though, if I do, they’ll probably try to install me as family head instead of Chris.

Which means I have to appear just insane enough not to be considered for the position, while also stable enough to avoid being labeled a lunatic.

“What the fuck?”

All I can do is curse. I lay there ruminating, but in the end, the conclusion was obvious.

I need to see Chris. It’s been nagging at me that she hasn’t stepped out of her room at all, but when it comes to untangling my current mess, no one’s more qualified than Chris.

If she publicly vouches for me as harmless, my situation could improve drastically. And then I’ll tearfully swear eternal loyalty to her for her mercy.

Cheesy, but effective.

The only concern is how she’d react if I suddenly declared I’d relinquish the family head position to her completely.

Given her guilt toward me, she’d never accept it. Though, if I phrase it carefully, maybe I can persuade her…

I turned my head slightly to check the clock on the bedside—it was already late at night.

For ordinary people, it’d be bedtime, but for Chris, this is the perfect time to meet. During the day or evening, she’d be buried under mountains of paperwork.

Hang in there, my little sister.

Once decided, I moved fast. As our ancestors said, “Strike while the iron is hot.”

Though most servants would already be asleep, the patrolling guards still roamed silently, so I had to slip past them like some stealth-game protagonist.

Clink—Clink—

Using the sound of the guards’ armor as cues, I weaved through the corridors as if playing an action game.

The only wild card was Anna, my assigned guard, but I disregarded her from the start. To her, Chris is far more important than me.

The fact that she still hadn’t appeared despite me sneaking around like this was proof enough.

Step—Step—

As I walked, I pondered how to approach Chris. “I came because I was worried about you?”

Hmm… too cringe. I’d find it uncomfortable, and Chris—being a girl—would hate it even more. Showing up unannounced in the dead of night would just make me seem like a creep.

“I came to help you with your work?” Good intentions, but Chris would find it suspicious. There’s no way I’d know what she’s handling, and she’d probably just feel burdened.

Then, a flawless excuse flashed in my mind.

“Huh?”

“I just felt like I had to come.”

The dumbest-sounding excuse, yet paradoxically, it might be the best one right now. Chris still believes I have no memories of regression.

And isn’t Chris already suffering from overwork? If I suddenly show up saying I had to see her…

It’ll work. Plus, I’ve already planted the “no memories” groundwork, so I can stop her if she impulsively tries to apologize.

With a decent excuse in mind, my steps lightened.

Time to tease her~

Ever since I realized Chris had been hovering around me lately, she started seeming kind of cute.

Like realizing a troublesome niece acted out only because she wanted to play with me.

Chris usually finishes her work well past midnight. And instead of heading straight to her room, she’d linger outside my door for minutes at a time.

I first noticed it about a week ago, but she’s probably been doing it much longer.

How do I feel about it?

Honestly? Good. So good I want to pat myself on the back for coming up with the genius “amnesia” cover.

Apologies or remorse mean nothing to me now—the only worthwhile thing she can do is ensure I live comfortably.

Huff… Huff…

Lost in thought about what to say to Chris, I eventually reached the office where she handled paperwork. My whole body trembled from exertion—note to self: start training earlier next time.

Just as I remembered, no guards stood outside the office. Partly by Chris’s own preference, but also because Anna was a far more reliable guard than any soldier.

No hesitation.

BANG!

I pushed the door open—

“GAH?!”

—and the next second, my arms were twisted behind my back as I was slammed facedown onto the floor.

“Bold of you to disturb the Young Mistress at thi— Hm? Young Master…?”

“Brother?”

“Ahh euhh (Hi Chris)…”

Half my face was smushed against the floor, so my words came out garbled.

“Eeuhh uhh ahh (Mind letting go first?)”

“Anna!”

“Ah, yes!”

Snapping to attention at Chris’s voice, Anna finally released me.

“Ptooey. Well-trained. Most assassins wouldn’t even get close to Chris.”

“……”

Anna ignored my praise, silently stepping back. Her glare made it clear she’d restrain me again the moment I took one wrong step toward Chris.

“Why are you here, Brother?”

“Uh… well… I just felt like I needed to come?”

“My, what could you mean by that?”

“I mean, uh…”

“If you don’t have a proper reason, I may have to reconsider my assessment of you, Young Master. If this is truly just a whim, I’ll have to escort you out immediatel—”

“Wait, Anna.”

Chris stopped her.

“Keep going.”

“Young Mistress, you can’t possibly believe that ridiculous excuse…?”

“Sorry, Anna. But trust me for now.”

“…Very well.”

Chastened, Anna sulkily retreated.

“Keep talking. Even if it sounds strange, don’t worry about it.”

“Uh… yeah.”

She’s going this far? Her guilt must run deeper than I thought.

If I pretend to have amnesia, she could just play along without any issue—I didn’t expect her to refrain from suppressing memories at all.

“So, uh, this is gonna sound really weird—anyone else would think I’m spouting nonsense again. I know it doesn’t make sense, but… I just had this overwhelming feeling that I had to talk to Christine.”

I deliberately made my expression dazed, as if even I didn’t understand why I was saying this.

People tend to be lenient toward mistakes born from ignorance. In companies, in society—few reprimand or interrogate someone for errors in things they were never taught.

So, time for the finishing blow.

“Besides… Chris and I are family, right? We should be able to talk whenever we want.”

Got her. Chris’s stern expression melted instantly.

Happy? Yes?

“Anna?”

“Yes! What should I do? Shall I step out?”

“No. Leave. I need to talk with Brother.”

“WHAT?!”

Anna looked like the sky had fallen. But, true to her assassin instincts, she quickly schooled her expression and protested.

“It’s dangerous, Young Mistress! Even if the Young Master has shown relative improvement—”

“Not relative. Brother has always been sane. From the start until now.”

“But—”

“Leave.”

“…Yes!”

Two syllables were all it took to make this era’s greatest assassin back down.