Volume 1 Chapter 4 One Choice Changes The Ending
"So... you 'picked up' the young lady of Braubelg, huh?"
"Please say I protected her. She's not a dog or a cat."
Randy, looking unimpressed, snorted in front of his father, Alan Victor, a man with a mustache who was also the Viscount ruling the Victor family. Even so, he couldn't complain about being told he "picked her up," so he averted his gaze from his father.
"It was unavoidable."
Randy pouted, and his father Alan sighed dramatically, slightly lowering his eyebrows.
"If Clarice hears about this, she'll probably jump for joy."
"I'm glad she was at Grandfather's place."
Clarice was Randy's younger sister. Normally, Randy would have his mother and siblings with him, but they were currently visiting their maternal grandparents. For Clarice, who often complained about wanting an older sister, Randy bringing home Elizabeth would be a welcome surprise.
"Besides, we're not even going to let her live here, right?"
Randy frowned, and Alan stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"First, let's meet that young lady."
Seeing Alan smile, Randy felt a bit guilty for causing trouble for his kind father. At the same time, he felt grateful. In that situation, he had no choice but to help...
"I think her bath should be done by now."
...Hiding his embarrassment, Randy glanced at the door leading outside the office.
"Actually, Miss Braubelg has something she wants to tell the lord and the young master..."
Keith, who had been waiting, glanced at the door.
"Huh? Really?"
Randy exclaimed in surprise, and Keith cleared his throat, "Um, yes." It seemed Elizabeth was already waiting outside the office.
Caught off guard by the unexpected visit, Alan quickly stood up and straightened his outer. Randy also turned to face the door. Even though she was a former marquis's daughter, he couldn't just sit there with his back turned when welcoming her.
Noticing the two standing up, Keith slowly opened the office door.
Randy held his breath as Elizabeth entered the office, guided by Rita. He knew she was called the "Ice Princess" because of her beauty. Still, seeing her glowing skin and unfamiliar nightdress after her bath was enough to make Randy fully recognize her as "Elizabeth."
"Nice to meet you. I am Elizabeth."
With a graceful curtsy, Randy returned the gesture elegantly alongside his father.
"Welcome, Miss Elizabeth. I am Alan Victor... about my foolish son──"
"I am aware of him."
Elizabeth smiled, and Alan smiled back.
"Please, come this way."
Alan pointed to the sofa in the reception area, but Elizabeth looked troubled. By not mentioning her family name, it seemed she no longer considered herself a noble lady. It was strange for a Viscount to invite someone who was essentially a commoner to sit on the sofa.
"I understand your situation to some extent. However, it's just us here right now."
Alan shrugged and smiled, saying, "We can't just stand and talk with a lady," as he invited her to sit down again. Elizabeth, looking resigned, sat on the sofa, while Randy and Alan took their seats across from her.
"Now, as I mentioned earlier, we understand your situation to 'some extent'."
"To some extent, you say?"
"Yes, to some extent."
Elizabeth tightened her expression at Alan's cheerful smile.
"Then, shall we start by hearing your story?"
She had come all this way to tell Alan and Randy, "I have something to share." Elizabeth looked anxiously at Randy, who was unsure why she was looking at him.
Randy, not knowing why he was being looked at, simply replied with a refreshing smile, "It's okay."
Feeling a bit reassured by Randy's words, Elizabeth let out a breath, relaxing her shoulders. At the same time, her platinum blonde hair began to turn black──an astonishing sight that left both Alan and Keith wide-eyed, unable to do anything but watch.
"Long time no see, kid."
With crimson eyes, Elizabeth(?) grinned, reminding Randy of the time he knocked her out in the forest.
"You are..."
Randy narrowed his eyes, and Elizabeth(?) laughed lightly.
"I am the ancient great magician, Lady Eleonora."
"I don't know you."
Randy snorted, and Eleonora frowned, saying, "What an ignorant man you are." It seemed that not only Randy but also Keith and Alan didn't know her name, as they remained silent, just staring at Eleonora.
"So, why is this great magician inside Miss Elizabeth?"
As soon as she was no longer a marquis's daughter, Randy slouched in his chair. Alan lightly poked him in the side for his unrefined behavior, but Randy didn't change his attitude.
"Why, you ask? It's your fault!"
With wide-open eyes, Eleonora explained that the black mist from that time was her soul. A soul sealed long ago had burst forth when the shrine, part of the barrier, was broken and possessed Elizabeth.
"A soul stained with despair and fear... a vast amount of magical power worthy of my soul's vessel... if you hadn't knocked me out back then──."
Eleonora glared at Randy, her eyes filled with clear resentment. Apparently, she was supposed to absorb Elizabeth's soul and become one with her. However, because Randy knocked her out, 2 souls ended up coexisting in one body.
"Then, just leave. Don't act so high and mighty when you're borrowing someone else's body."
"Is that really an acceptable attitude?"
Randy snorted, and Eleonora grinned.
"Do you know that little girl shares my vision and is watching you?"
"Why didn't you say that sooner?"
With a ridiculous honorific and a strained smile, Randy made Eleonora laugh heartily.
"There's no need to hide it now, is there?"
"Noble society has its complexities, you know."
Still grimacing, Randy caught Eleonora's interest, and she nodded, wiping her eyes.
"I'll make you my servant number 2."
"I refuse."
"Why not?"
"For any reason."
Randy turned his face away, and Eleonora puffed up her cheeks, whispering, "I'll make him nod." At the same time, her hair changed from black to platinum silver... and her eyes transformed into a transparent blue.
"Sir Randolph..."
"What is it?"
Randy returned a refreshing smile, causing Elizabeth to freeze. She seemed to recall Randy's completely different attitude from just moments ago, and gradually her shoulders began to tremble, until finally...
"Hehe."
...a laugh escaped her lips. Startled by her own laughter, Elizabeth blushed and lowered her head in embarrassment.
"I apologize."
"No, no. Don't worry about it."
As Randy's polite voice rang out again, Elizabeth's shoulders shook once more.
"I'm sorry, I just... it was such a quick change."
Elizabeth tried to compose herself, but she couldn't meet Randy's cheerful gaze, as it seemed to hit her funny bone. With Alan and Keith's looks saying, "It's your fault," Randy wrinkled his nose.
"So? What does Miss Elizabeth want from me?"
His tone was somewhat polite, but Randy's attitude felt a bit dismissive. Nevertheless, Elizabeth bowed her head respectfully.
"Please, could you hire us at this mansion?"
With Elizabeth's serious gaze, Randy straightened up.
"May I ask why?"
"I'm looking for her true body. But, embarrassingly, I lack the means──."
"Why do you need her body?"
"Because she is the same as me... she was abandoned by the world──."
As Elizabeth stumbled over her words, Randy let out a small click of his tongue. Since he had protected Elizabeth, he had no choice but to keep her. Even if he didn't let her live in his home, he thought he could at least help her decide on some direction.
But what now? Elizabeth was searching for the body of a magic user. If he abandoned her here, she would undoubtedly wander off somewhere alone.
(A ship I've boarded...)
With a grand sigh, Randy noticed Elizabeth trembling her shoulders in disappointment. She probably misunderstood that he was angry, but instead of denying it, there was a clearer way to handle it, so Randy turned to his father, Alan.
"Old man, you mentioned wanting a civil servant."
"At least in a situation like this, call me 'Father'... huh?"
Alan furrowed his brows, but it seemed he realized the meaning of Randy's words as he compared Elizabeth and Randy.
"No way?"
"Yes, exactly. Miss Elizabeth is an exceptionally talented girl, ranking at the top of her class. Plus, she has been helping manage her family's Brauberg territory... right?"
When prompted, Elizabeth nodded softly, "Yes."
"I see. That's wonderful."
With a shining smile, Alan seemed to grasp the situation, and Elizabeth looked between Randy and Alan, asking, "Is that alright?"
"Of course, it's a win-win. You find a job, and we get a talented civil servant."
Randy shrugged and continued.
"Oh, just so you know, we're extremely poor. A half-hearted reform won't fix the territory."
With a sly grin, Randy received Elizabeth's first confident smile in return.
"Leave it to me. I'll do my best."
The destinies of the exiled Marquis's daughter, the eldest son of a poor Viscount family, and an ancient great magician. It was the moment when the destinies of these three people went completely off the rails.
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