The Knight Who Broke Off Our Engagement and Told Me to Never Show My Face Again Still Clings to Me Today, Even Though I Was Possessed and Turned Into a Villainess for Ten Years - 15 - Neil Bassell
“Here you go. I just got it, so it’s safe.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“You’re worried I’m not really me, right? Go ahead, ask me anything.”
“Y-yeah…”
The one who called himself Neil took two champagne glasses from a nearby waiter and handed one to me. I thanked him and took it. We lightly clinked our glasses together.
When I stared at his face, he joked, “You’re gonna burn a hole in me,” and laughed like it was funny.
…That’s right. Neil always used to smile like that. His bright smile encouraged me so many times.
“How did you know I was Sadie…?”
“I looked up what you looked like. Plus, when such a beautiful woman is standing all alone like a wallflower and no one talks to her, I figured something was definitely wrong. Like, maybe she’s Sadie Arclight.”
“I see.”
He narrowed his emerald-like eyes gently and said he was surprised that Sadie was even more beautiful than expected. I should be the one saying that.
Not just Gerald, but Neil too—he’s really handsome. Even the guy who stole Gerald’s body once said, “With a face like that, you’ll be playing around all you want,” so maybe they were picking good-looking kids on purpose.
“Hey, Sadie, it makes me sad when you act distant. Come on, ask me anything so I can prove I’m really me.”
He urged me like he couldn’t wait, so I quickly thought of something only the real Neil would know.
“Um, what was the song I always sang to you before bed?”
“‘Lullaby of the Moon and Stars.’”
“…What’s the only insect I ever hated?”
“The rainbow caterpillar. You always said you couldn’t handle that one.”
That’s right. Every three years, for just one week, those rainbow caterpillars show up—and I absolutely hate them. Only Neil and Eliza should know that. Which means…
“Y-you’re really Neil…!”
“Yup, it’s me. Long time no see, Sadie.”
No doubt about it—he’s really Neil. I was so happy we could meet again in our real bodies. I couldn’t help but hug him, and he hugged me tightly in return.
“I’m so glad… You made it back too.”
“Thanks to everything, yeah.”
Me, Gerald, and Neil—we all got back to our real bodies. I wanted to believe Eliza and Norman also returned and are living happily now.
“Oh, by the way, I’m the real one too. You can ask me anything if you want proof.”
“I already know that.”
“Huh?”
“Because that guy would never mistake you for someone else.”
“…?”
What did that mean? I didn’t really get it, but at least he trusted me.
“Honestly, just the fact you asked those questions proves you’re Sadie.”
“Ah, true. Hey, Neil, did you also return to your real body on that night a month ago, just like me and Gerald?”
“Yeah. I was at home that day.”
Then he said he told his family everything, figured things out, and started investigating, just like we did.
Thanks to help from a marquis, things went smoothly. But still, it was hard to get people outside of his family to believe him.
“The guy inside me was a quiet, calm person. Because of that, everyone now thinks Neil Bassell’s a shut-in.”
“Really?”
“Apparently the house was full of toys, and he lived pretty fancy. Annoying, but still better than what you went through, Sadie.”
He shrugged like he was troubled, but smiled again.
After getting back to his body, he suddenly received a letter from Gerald Findlay, someone Neil had never talked to before. Plus, the guy who was said to be a playboy was now only being linked to “Sadie” Arclight in rumors. So Neil guessed we had also returned to our real bodies.
We talked about how things had been since then.
“Do you have anything else you want to ask?”
He asked suddenly, so I decided to ask him the thing that had been on my mind the most.
“Hey Neil, what did that letter mean…?”
“It meant exactly what it said.”
Neil looked straight at me when he said that.
“You should be careful around Gerald.”
“Why…? Gerald is definitely the real one.”
“That’s exactly why.”
Because he’s real, I should be careful? I didn’t understand what Neil meant at all.
But Neil was always smart, and he was close to me. I don’t think he ever lied or said anything wrong.
“For now, I’ll leave it be since he really seems to be doing everything he can for you.”
“…?”
“And if I told you everything now, it would definitely show on your face or in your actions. So I won’t go into detail yet. Just don’t let your guard down too much around Gerald.”
What on earth does Neil know about Gerald?
Gerald’s the one who helped me all this time. I don’t want to doubt him. But I also don’t think Neil would say something like that for no reason.
I gave a small nod, and Neil smiled with a troubled look.
“If you say you love that guy, I won’t stop you.”
“I do like Gerald.”
“Not that kind of like.”
Then he said, “Well, I guess there’s nothing to worry about,” and took a sip from his champagne glass. He seemed to handle alcohol well—his glass was already empty.
“Anyway, let’s try to find Eliza and Norman too.”
“Yeah! I hope they’re both okay.”
“…Hey, do you remember how old Norman is?”
“He’s five years older than us.”
“Right. Glad I wasn’t remembering wrong.”
When Neil said that, his face turned serious.
“There are only three noble sons around our generation with the name Norman in this country. But they’re either one year older or younger than us.”
“What…?”
What does that mean?
Norman should definitely be five years older than us. That’s what we were always told. As I got confused, Neil went on.
“I think Norman was lying.”