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 - 5 - New Days
It has been three days since I returned to my own body.
Spoiled by my parents and living a life without a single inconvenience—so luxurious it felt like heaven. I was truly happy, but…
“…Hmm.”
Even though I wasn’t sleepy, I lay down on the bed and rolled around for a while. Then I slowly sat up and tilted my head.
I never thought doing nothing—having no work—could feel this unsettling. Just earlier, I had started cleaning my room’s windows without thinking and was quickly stopped by a maid in a panic.
Even at night, when I told myself, “I’ll sleep in until noon!” I still woke up wide-eyed at sunrise. Long-standing habits really are scary.
Even though I wanted to try eating all kinds of delicious food, I hadn’t eaten until full for such a long time that now I could only eat a little. It made me want to cry.
And more than anything, after having no free time for ten years, I didn’t know how to relax properly. Even though I had longed so much to take it easy and have freedom.
I thought about contacting Gerald, but he was probably spending quiet time with his family right now, so I decided not to.
“Hey, Hara, can you ask Father to get me a tutor right away?”
“Understood.”
My parents told me I didn’t have to do anything and should just rest, but I had reached my limit. What do normal noble girls even do to pass the time?
Also, even though I’m a 17-year-old noble girl now, I can barely read or write. I want to learn basic knowledge and manners again. I had forgotten all the etiquette expected of a noble and wanted to start over from the beginning.
Then, after thinking for about an hour about something I could do for my parents, I decided to use the sewing and embroidery skills I had, sadly, become very good at, and make something to give them.
“Hey hey, Hara, do you think it’s okay if I go outside?”
“Outside, miss?”
“Yeah. Just for a little bit—I want to visit the town.”
I wanted to go to a shop to choose thread and fabric myself, and more than anything, I wanted to see the outside world. Still, I was a little nervous. If strangers dumped things on me again, I couldn’t take it.
After all, it was in the capital city that my body was stolen from me.
But if I stayed like this, I’d become a shut-in forever. So I gathered my courage and asked to get ready to go out.
◇◇◇
“Wow…!”
When I got out of the carriage, I was so excited to see the capital’s streets and so many people for the first time since I was a child.
The place I had been until now had nothing but fields as far as the eye could see.
Since I didn’t know left from right, Hara came along with me. And since my parents were worried, they had assigned three guards. One stayed close, and the other two watched from a distance.
Even though I was only buying thread and fabric and taking a short walk in town, it felt like such a big deal that I started to feel bad.
“…Hey, Hara, aren’t people looking at me a lot?”
I stopped walking and asked Hara quietly.
I could feel the eyes of passing people so strongly that it scared me. Even commoners were staring. Was I really that infamous in a bad way?
“It’s because you’re so beautiful, miss.”
“Yes, definitely because of that.”
Hara said so, and so did Tim, the guard. By the way, I still wasn’t used to this face—sometimes I’d catch my reflection in a mirror and get startled.
When I opened the closet in my room, it was full of flashy red dresses. I must have loved flashy clothes, and the heavy makeup made sense now.
In the end, I borrowed a simple dress from my mother, who was about the same height. The maids happily did my makeup and styled my hair nicely. The girls who had been openly scared of me seemed relieved after seeing my change.
Anyway, I was glad the stares weren’t for bad reasons. I linked arms with Hara and started walking again.
“Hehe, this is so fun. Thank you, both of you.”
Holding a drink sold at a food stall—popular among the capital’s youth, filled with chopped fruit—I walked through the streets. Just that alone made me so happy.
But for some reason, both of them had sad, pained expressions on their faces as they looked at me.
“Miss, there are lots of fun things ahead for you.”
“I’ll find more fun things and hobbies you’ll enjoy, I promise…!”
“Really? Thank you!”
I decided I wanted to give a gift to everyone who came with me today. So I bought a little extra thread and fabric.
After finishing shopping, I found a café and decided to have a quick tea before heading home.
Apparently, it was a popular place and was very crowded. The tables were close together, and I could spot a few nobles, but nothing happened even when we made eye contact.
Hara said it was probably because I looked so different now that people couldn’t tell I was Sadie Arclight from a distance.
On Hara’s recommendation, I ordered a strawberry cake and tea, and I waited, excited.
“Waaah!”
Suddenly, a girl at the next table burst into loud tears.
The man sitting across from her—probably her older brother—was flustered. Curious, I ended up speaking to them.
“What’s wrong?”
“M-Mimmy-chan’s hand came off…”
Her stuffed bunny’s arm had fallen off while she was holding it.
“It’s okay. I’ll fix it for you.”
“Huh?”
The man looked at me in surprise and blurted out a confused sound. I guess it was a bit sudden, coming from a stranger.
“Um, I’m really good at sewing.”
I had just bought new sewing tools, and they were with me. When I took out a needle and thread, the girl nervously handed me her plushie. It was old but clean—you could tell she had taken great care of it.
I quickly threaded the needle and started stitching the arm back onto the body.
“There. All done.”
Even I thought I did a great job. The stitches weren’t visible, and Mimmy-chan’s arm was firmly reattached.
“Here you go. She’s all better now. Mimmy-chan says it didn’t hurt.”
“Wow…! Amazing! Like magic! Thank you!”
“Hehe, you’re welcome.”
Calling it magic—it was such a cute, childlike thing to say. …Speaking of magic, I feel like I used to be able to use magic. Since I got this body, I haven’t been able to, but maybe I still can?
As I thought about that, I looked over and saw the brother staring at me like his soul had left his body.
“Um, sorry. I acted without asking.”
“…N-no…”
His voice cracked for some reason. Was he okay?
“My big brother is a vice-captain of the knight order!”
“Wow, that’s amazing! Knights are so cool!”
“Right?!”
The girl said this happily, and I smiled. She must be proud of her brother. I didn’t have one, but back in that place, there was a man I thought of like an older brother, so I understood.
“And my brother is super strong too. Right, big brother?”
“Y-yeah…”
If I remember right, the knights of this country fought dangerous monsters every day to keep us safe. My mother used to say we should always be grateful for that.
“I see. Thank you for everything you do. Please stay safe and take care of yourself.”
I wanted to say something more thoughtful, but I didn’t know many hard words. I’ll have to study harder from now on.
After hearing my words, the man mumbled, “Am I dreaming…?” and held his head in both hands.