I thought Therid would say something, but he seemed surprised and couldn’t say a word. Looking at his astonished face, I felt embarrassed.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…Ah, it’s nothing.”
Despite saying that, he couldn’t close his gaping mouth in shock. I sighed deeply, looking at him with a stern face.
“I mean, it’s just, like, Adandito hugging me, and it’s not like something is going on.”
“…If you’re okay later, let’s talk.”
Therid briefly glanced behind me and added,
“Let’s talk alone, please.”
Saying that, he turned around and walked away without looking back. He seemed flustered to the point of being upset.
‘Well, after all, I’m always sticking around with grown-ups like them. It might seem strange to others.’
I pretended to act casually as well, but rationally, I knew this wasn’t an ordinary situation. Why did I say rationally? Because it felt natural for me to take care of the three male leads. It felt like something I had been doing for a very long time.
However, that was just my perspective, and others, including the male leads, might have different thoughts about it. So, at some point, I asked Adandito about it. Why was he acting this way towards me? Was it because he liked me?
In response, Adandito confidently nodded his head and said,
‘Of course. You are our savior, so naturally, we like you and want to be with you.’
It was as if he was asking why I even questioned something so obvious.
‘Others feel the same way too. We can’t live without you, our savior. If you were to leave us… We wouldn’t have a choice, but that’s how it is.’
Despite saying it’s inevitable, he looked straight into my eyes and spoke. I found myself involuntarily swallowing nervously at the expression that showed no intention of letting go.
Anyway, after hearing that, I simply thought,
‘Until the next savior appears, am I just a substitute?’
In the original work, the male leads found emotional and physical comfort by meeting their savior. Now, I wasn’t cursed by the demon king like in the original, so I wouldn’t go on a rampage as they did. However, I didn’t know if I was experiencing other discomforts that I wasn’t aware of.
‘So that’s why they cling to me like this.’
Anyway, I had never given much thought to being with the male leads. It felt perfectly natural to me. But seeing Therid’s reaction, I realized that we needed to establish a proper understanding. Talking it out might clear up any misunderstandings.
Lost in my thoughts, Hierian wriggled out of Adandito’s arms and jumped down. He was already halfway to the ground, so he landed smoothly. Then he grumbled to Adandito.
“Adandito, it’s because of you that my image got all messed up.”
“I have something to say.”
“What? You were the one who hugged me first, you know?”
Adandito didn’t respond. His tone was as if it was too bothersome to deal with. Hierian didn’t seem to care much either and turned to me.
“Siara, are you okay? If you’re worried, I can come with you.”
“No, it’s alright. We had something to discuss alone.”
“In that case, there’s nothing I can do.”
Hierian stepped back obediently but added,
“If Therid says something, tell him it’s all my fault. Say that I’m following you around because I like you too much.”
There was a hint of concern in his eyes as if he worried about me getting reprimanded. Hearing that, I chuckled.
“Don’t worry. I know you’re good people, so I won’t think that way.”
“Siara, I’m touched that you think of me that way.”
Hierian’s eyes sparkled. This time, Adandito spoke in a gentle tone.
“Siara, the young Count might not view us favorably. If necessary, please call me. I will come up with a suitable excuse to resolve the situation.”
“…There’s no need to resolve anything. You don’t have to worry so much.”
“It’s something we still don’t know about.”
With that, Adandito shrugged his shoulders. Not knowing how sensitive Therid might be about this issue, I simply nodded in agreement.
‘Well, we’ll find out once we talk about it.’
* * *
After finishing dinner, Therid and I met in the study.
The study where we used to study together from childhood looked the same as before, but it felt somehow different. The wallpaper and furniture had been replaced neatly but traces like the height marks we made on the walls were left behind, leaving memories scattered throughout the room.
I absentmindedly touched the mark that indicated Therid’s height.
‘When the curse is lifted, will my marks come back too?’
It was so surprising how one person’s traces could be erased so swiftly.
The power of the demon king was truly amazing, but it was also a relief to know that it wasn’t perfect. Thanks to that, my mother remembered me, and the memories of the male leads returned as well.
Lost in various thoughts, Therid’s expression darkened as if he was deep in thought too. After hesitating for a while, he finally spoke.
“…What’s your relationship with those people?”
“Those people? Are you talking about Hierian and Adandito?”
“Yeah, Hierian. Why did he suddenly grow up when he used to be a child?”
“Hierian was under the demon king’s curse. It seems that the curse was recently lifted. Fortunately, right?”
Therid’s expression remained unimpressed as if he couldn’t empathize with that.
“That little brat. No wonder he was acting suspicious.”
“Suspicious? Hierian is a good kid.”
“A kid? He’s older than you. What are you talking about?”
Therid shouted out of frustration. His agitated voice continued, releasing the anger he had been holding in.
“Don’t you think you’re living too carelessly? Even with two grown men sticking to you, you’re acting like everything is fine. Do you think the same about those kids too?”
He referred to them as “two,” so it seemed he didn’t know about Dianel visiting occasionally during the night.
‘I guess it’s a relief.’
I sighed and waited for him to calm down before answering.
“Those two need me, that’s why. I can heal them the best.”
“Are you calling those healthy guys in need of healing?”
“Well, what do you think they usually do? Administrator and High Priest, are busy with their duties. They get mentally and physically tired easily.”
Even I found my excuse ridiculous. If they were really coming to see me because they were tired, it would be better to hire several excellent healers at their residences.
However, I couldn’t bring up the story about their attachment to the savior and how it was stronger in the original work. So, I avoided his gaze, and Therid let out a deep sigh. Then he murmured as if he was done with the world.
“You don’t understand men at all.”
“…It’s not like you understand them any better.”
“I understand them better than you do! Don’t you know? I’m a member of the Knights. I’ve been surrounded by men all the time!”
Saying that, he nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. He still seemed proud of being a member of the Knights.
‘I wonder how he would react if he knew that his beloved lord secretly visits my bedroom.’
I was curious about Therid’s reaction, but by listing it like this, I realized it was a situation with no answer. I was lost in my thoughts.
‘Yeah, maybe I haven’t been feeling any crisis, that’s why. It’s not like there’s any change in the situation if the three of them start fighting and the story deviates from the original.’
Besides, the three male leads were not little kids, and they were capable individuals who could live well even without me.
‘It would be nice if they’re around, but it doesn’t matter if they’re not, right?’
However, it wasn’t like I can’t see them forever. I could still exchange greetings with them a few times a month.
‘And if they need my healing ability, I can go and help.’
A massive teleportation gate was being constructed near Astita. Once it was completed, it would be much easier for me to travel to different regions, and I could go and help whenever needed.
Just as I finished organizing my thoughts, Therid’s incessant ranting suddenly went quiet.
“Fine, as long as you understood. Since the eligible seats have opened up, you should meet and interact with other men.”
“Huh?”
“All this time, you were nodding along to my words, but suddenly, you act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. Don’t talk back; I’ll set a date for you. Anyway, now that you’ve been adopted into Astita, you should fulfill your duty as a noble lady. Get rid of the Administrator and High Priest who are hovering around you.”
Therid left the study with a disgusted expression. I stood there in a daze for a while, and then, realizing the situation, I ran after Therid and shouted from behind him.
“Eligible seats? That’s ridiculous! There’s no way I have anyone to contact!”
And that was true. The scandal with Dianel was known to everyone. Those who knew about my time with Hierian and Adandito in Astita were also well aware.
In other words, there was hardly anyone in their right mind who would want to meet me.
‘They must be scared or just plain crazy.’
I gnawed on my lower lip. Then Therid shrugged his shoulders and replied.
“It’s Dalton. He was your debutante partner.”
“…Dalton?”
“Yeah, but considering the rumors, it seems like there’s no connection between him and His Highness Dianel, right?”
Therid exhaled deeply as if he was relieved and continued walking.
“It’s a relief that the Crown Prince is not part of that group. Just the thought of it… Ugh.”
As soon as I heard his words, I was certain.
Dalton was undoubtedly Dianel.
