I got out of bed and changed my clothes to meet everyone downstairs at the castle, around the banquet full of food.
I left my room, walking slowly with my hands in the pockets of my black suit pants.
I reached where everyone was gathered. I knocked on the door, then entered. Inside were Nevin, Elithia, Lynette, and Andrew.
They were all seated, except for Lynette and Andrew, who remained standing since they were servants.
"Sit here, Lord Klo," said Lynette.
I walked over to the seat. Lynette pulled the chair back, and once I sat down, she pushed it in.
"Finally, the sleeping prince arrives," Elithia said sarcastically.
"Why that nickname?"
"You're joking, right? Didn't Nevin tell you how long you were out?"
"…No?"
"I forgot."
Nevin started chuckling softly.
"Three days, Yuthnir," Nevin said.
Three… days? What about Elithia's training and her test? That should've happened already.
I looked over at Elithia, who was eating.
"Elithia… what about your test?"
"Umm, they told me I might be allowed to retake it because of the incidents that happened."
Thank God.
"That's a relief."
"But they also told me to stay away from troublemakers."
"After everything you did, you're saying that to me?"
"But you're not like that. You worried about me and protected me. So, I vow to protect you, Lord Klo Yuthnir, just like you did for me."
"No," I said firmly.
"What?" said Elithia, and everyone around the table went silent—except for Nevin.
"I want you to stay my childhood friend, not become part of some official relationship."
Elithia lowered her head, clenching her hands tightly around her fork and knife.
Ahem… ahem.
Andrew cleared his throat with a cough.
"Lord Klo Yuthnir, a message has arrived for you from a noble in the neighboring city, inviting you to a party."
A party? I'm not going.
"Read the letter, Andrew."
Andrew opened the folded letter from the envelope.
"Greetings, esteemed Lord Klo Yuthnir. As the Duke of the city of Yozar, I would like to invite you to a party I've prepared especially for you. And as a courtesy, you may bring along any friends you may have—or any surviving relatives. Thank you."
That smug bastard just mocked me.
"Can we go to the party?" asked Nevin.
"We can't. He didn't even mention the date."
I just want to avoid the whole party thing altogether. Standing in front of hundreds of people is terrifying.
My legs started shaking just from the thought.
But damn Andrew crushed my excuse with a cold, confirming blow.
"The party is in two days, sir."
Why did you say that?
My legs shook even more. Nevin noticed.
"Oh my, does our dear Lord Yuthnir have a problem with social gatherings?"
"Shut up."
Nevin laughed lightly.
"Do you all want to go?"
"Yes!" everyone said in unison.
"Even you, Lynette?!"
"Yes, my lord."
I sighed, then looked at the trio staring at me with pleading eyes.
"Fine, fine. You'll come with me."
"Thank you, Yuthnir, you're truly a man."
What was I in your eyes before?
"Thanks, Klo."
Yeah yeah.
"Thank you, Lord Klo."
Ugh...
...
Two days passed, and that meant the party was today.
We left in the morning after Andrew prepared a carriage for the four of us.
Elithia, Nevin, and Lynette wore their dresses, while I stayed in my black suit and red pendant. It felt stupid to change just for a few hours.
The carriage moved. Each of them sat doing her own thing.
Nevin was asleep, Elithia played with her hair, and Lynette stared out the small window.
As for me, I stayed lost in memories of my past world—how all those years passed without me realizing it, until now.
I looked at the girls and thought:
I hope I don't run out of chances to rewrite things and die. I've found people who might fill the void inside me, thanks to them.
After all, I'm just an empty person who depends on others and pretends to be a hero.
***
"We've arrived, Lord Klo."
I opened my eyes slowly to see the knight driving the horses waking me up.
Wait… was I asleep?
"I'm coming."
I looked at the others. They were all still asleep.
I woke them up gently, as usual.
"Wake up, you little brats!"
They all jumped up with their eyes wide open.
Everyone stepped down from the carriage and walked to the Duke's mansion gate.
I kept staring at the giant door, anxiety eating away at me.
"Come on, it'll be fine," said Nevin as she grabbed my hand.
Then she opened the door, dragging me inside despite my resistance.
"Even if you resist, Yuthnir, you can't stop me—I have demon blood."
What a showoff.
Everyone turned to look at me. I waved awkwardly.
"H–h–hi everyone!"
I entered with Nevin dragging me until we reached a group of guests dancing to music from some strange mana-powered device.
The place looked just like any regular party hall.
A banquet in the back, full of sweets and drinks. Chairs for the guests. Everything looked normal.
In the center of the hall, Nevin started forcing me to dance—worst part was, in front of all those people.
Damn you.
"W–what are you doing, Nevin!?"
"Don't worry, Yuthnir. I know what your problem is."
Nevin tried to calm my nerves by embarrassing me, but nothing changed… until something different happened.
She grabbed my hand again and pulled me onto a huge place so we'd be seen by all the guests.
Once we were up there, she looked at me and said:
"Not everything you think is true. Sometimes we're just wrong. Nobody's thinking about you or mocking how you look."
She stepped closer, tapping my forehead with her finger.
"Because this thing inside here is what makes everything feel so hard," she whispered close to my tense face.
After hearing her words, my eyes widened. I looked at the guests—
She was right… I don't care about others, so why would they care about me?
I looked at Nevin, overwhelmed with joy.
"Thank you, Nevin. You fixed a problem that's been with me for years."
"Don't thank me. My job is to prepare you to work with me. It would be a waste for someone with your mind to be this weak."
"You're right."
And then…
A man appeared, dressed in clothes that screamed status, his eyes locked on me in the middle of the crowd.