Turning back to look at the door, I seriously pondered.
Why am I acting like this right now?
Of course, I still haven’t fully adapted to this appearance. I know how to use my body to some extent, and I can swing a sword well enough to defeat those less skilled than me.
But that doesn’t mean I’ve completely adjusted to the body that changed after living for a little over 22 years.
I’m not ashamed when I look at my body.
Objectively speaking, I know this appearance is beautiful. I also acknowledge that I now have a woman’s body.
It’s not just the external appearance that has changed—since I shattered ‘fate,’ even the fundamental aspects of my body apart from my soul have transformed.
If I wanted to, I could probably even bear a child.
So, honestly, there’s no reason for me to feel embarrassed when I look at Ayla.
After all, noblewomen often have their maids bathe them together in the same room.
Even I… talked about that in front of Ayla before.
“Wait, are you embarrassed right now?”
Did she read my thoughts immediately? Ayla asked.
I pressed my lips together firmly.
I had worked hard. Shouldn’t I possess skills superior to Ayla’s if I want to protect her?
Even if shattering fate turns someone into a different person, it could also make Ayla weaker.
I remember Ayla’s skills. So, I know that I’ve grown to be more exceptional than her.
But it doesn’t feel like that anymore.
Maybe it’s because of the body I used to have. Her words pricked my pride.
Yeah. Perhaps I haven’t changed much from my younger self. Maybe all I wanted was to be praised for growing well and improving my skills.
“No, Lady Ayla. I simply cannot commit such a grave disrespect to my master.”
“Didn’t you say you could help me change clothes?”
I was at a loss for words. What could I say? I was the one who said it, after all.
“Come closer for now.”
Hearing Ayla’s words, I hesitated before stepping back.
Could it be that I’m shy?
Me?
Even though I seem like this, I’ve been quite popular with women. I worked hard to be that way because Ayla had to fall for me.
I couldn’t just destroy fate and leave it at that. If Ayla, transformed into someone with no one around her, had no choice but to depend on me, shouldn’t I be the one responsible for her?
That’s why my goal was to be the perfect man. So Ayla would undoubtedly fall in love with me. So this time, when I asked her to run away with me, she wouldn’t be able to refuse.
But for some reason, hearing that exasperated sigh, my pride felt like it was cracking.
There was a faint rustling sound from behind me.
“All right, I’m done. You can turn around now.”
Only after hearing Ayla’s words did I finally turn around hesitantly.
Ayla still looked slightly provocative. Through the thin gown, the contours of her body were clearly visible. Though further refinement wasn’t possible, the evidence of her effort to at least maintain her condition was obvious, and Ayla’s body remained beautiful.
Am I embarrassed?
Reluctantly, I had no choice but to admit it internally.
I’ve never seen Ayla completely naked. The only time was back at the dojo when we accidentally saw each other by mistake.
Even then, of course, we covered the important parts.
It’s natural to feel embarrassed when seeing the bare skin of your first love. …Or maybe it’s just because I have no experience with women. The memories of the brothel days now felt like distant, faded recollections.
“So, what is it?”
Ayla asked.
“I heard you had something to report?”
Ironically, Ayla seemed to enjoy seeing me flustered. Well, that’s to be expected. If someone who had suddenly appeared and taken over her surroundings ended up flustered because of her, she’d likely find it satisfying, considering her personality.
“Yes, Lady Ayla.”
Fine.
This kind of emotional exchange is what I want. Even if I’m the one being teased, it doesn’t matter as long as I can stay by her side. At least as a ‘first encounter,’ this is a pretty decent start, isn’t it?
“It’s about the cause of the Count’s death.”
The faint smile tugging at Ayla’s lips froze.
“The Count was murdered, Lady Ayla.”
“…I see.”
Ayla replied, turning her head.
For a while, she let the moonlight streaming through the window illuminate her profile. Then, she let out a small scoff.
“It must be reliable information if it’s coming from you.”
She didn’t fully trust me.
But at least, there was a shift in her attitude.
If she had to go with the flow of life anyway, she might as well enjoy the time passing.
“So, Luna, what is it that you want to do?”
Ayla’s posture slackened slightly. She leaned to the side before throwing herself carelessly onto the long sofa.
Ah, yes. Scenes like this often appear in children’s fairy tales. Wicked stepmothers are always portrayed with a peculiar decadence.
Although the era of church domination ended over a century ago, this land still hadn’t fully shed its sexual conservatism. Especially among the nobility. Even in a time when keeping a mistress was an open secret.
As Ayla shifted her legs, her gown slipped slightly, inadequately covering beneath. While it still managed to obscure her modesty, the sight was a little too suggestive to look at directly.
“Whatever Lady Ayla wishes.”
I bowed my head respectfully and answered.
“Hmm.”
Ayla lay down entirely on the sofa as if it were a bed. It was a little small for her whole body to fit, so she used one armrest as a backrest and the other as a footrest.
This was the first time I had seen Ayla so unguarded since coming to this mansion.
“If it were you, you’d surely say I should seek revenge.”
“Not that I believe you’d say it out of genuine anger.”
Ayla turned her head slightly toward me.
“You’d think doing so would prevent others from underestimating me, wouldn’t you?”
“That’s correct, Lady Ayla.”
I clasped my hands in front of me and answered politely.
“To show that you fully control this place, you must uncover the mastermind and make an example of them.”
“But you’re the one actually controlling this place.”
Ayla waved her hand dismissively.
“Well, fine. Let’s do that. It’d be troublesome not to anyway.”
“Understood.”
I replied courteously and straightened my posture. Still, with time, my previously muddled thoughts began to clear.
There was a brief silence.
Ayla didn’t tell me to leave. Considering her behavior over the past week, this was about the time she’d usually ask for some time alone.
Instead, she lay there quietly for a while, then raised her hand and gestured.
Following her motion, I approached Ayla.
Her eyes looked up at me.
Her clear blue eyes resembled a pristine lake, gazing at me intently.
“You’re truly strange,” Ayla said, staring directly at me.
“It’s still hard to understand you. Not that I’ve met many people easy to understand in my life.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Judging by your actions alone, it wouldn’t be surprising if you were hostile toward me. You look like someone who came here to seize this place, and you’ve filled this mansion with so many people as if it was all prearranged.”
“You want something. Something… something that money can’t buy, something not easily attainable. You have the scent of someone longing for such a thing.”
My heart pounded.
Did Ayla figure out what I was thinking?
I’m not sure why that would be a bad thing. Wouldn’t it be a good thing if Ayla noticed my feelings and decided to cooperate?
In truth, I had no intention of directly conveying my thoughts to Ayla.
I tell myself it’s because I dislike the complications of explaining everything. But is that really my true reason?
Honestly—
“But at the very least, you don’t seem like someone who would harm me until you get what you want. You strike me as the kind of person who would cut down anyone for the sake of their goal.”
“Lady Ayla, as you’ve seen today, I am not someone who can fight and defeat you.”
“That’s certainly true.”
Suddenly, Ayla’s hand moved.
She grabbed my arm firmly and pulled me sharply toward her.
Her eyes were now so close that part of our faces could accidentally touch.
“Well, fine. Since things have come to this, let’s just enjoy it.”
Ah, I’ve seen this look before.
It was the look Ayla had when she truly felt free. The same look she had when she stood opposite me, swinging her sword.
“I’ll watch to see what it is you want and whether you can achieve it. And while I’m at it, I’ll join in and have fun with you.”
What I want.
Whether I can achieve it.
Finding out what I want would probably take a lifetime.
Achieving it, too, would likely take a lifetime.
And that would mean I could stay by Ayla’s side.
“Thank you for your gracious words, Lady Ayla.”
I said this, lowering my eyes slightly.
“There’s one thing I can say for certain.”
Ayla whispered to me.
“For some reason, it seems that your greatest weakness is me, isn’t it? Am I wrong?”
You are absolutely correct, Lady Ayla.