Chapter 11: CH 10

I turned my head reflexively. Shuel tilted his head as his eyes met Rieta’s.

Shuel had stayed at the orphanage on the Broschte estate until he reached the age of nine. Before he was sent to the orphanage where Rieta was located. 

Therefore, it was precisely when Rieta was seven years old that she knew of Shuel’s identity.

But…Shuel was currently seven years old, and Rieta was two years younger than Shuel.

‘It was Rieta before her regression, but why are you here?’

The original story begins with Rieta dying at the age of 14 and returning to the past.

In her first life, Rieta dies from an unexpected accident while being abused at the orphanage, and returns back to the age of six.

After her return, Rieta tried to escape the orphanage to avoid her death as in her previous life. In the process, she was adopted by Marquis Schrider and the love of their family healed the wounds of her past.

In the midst of it, Rieta almost forgot about her difficult past. One day, she suddenly remembered Shuel and met him again at the age of 10.

The important thing was that, according to the original story, Rieta shouldn’t be here right now.

The reason Rieta left the orphanage was because she had returned back in time.

Something about her had changed. Something I didn’t know about.

The early arrival of the Duke and Duchess conveniently where Shuel was located, as well as Rieta who should be in the orphanage right now…both were now present in the Duchy of Sebrirua.

What has changed…..

As I stared at Rieta with my mind filled with questions, the child clasped her hand and shrunk back uncomfortably.

It wasn’t just from being wary of me.

Rieta was insecure with her dark green hair and grey eyes.

She thought anyone who looked at her would find it hideous.

‘It’s not weird.’

While I hesitated, not knowing what to say, Kendrick smiled and stepped in.

“This is Arwen. She will live with us in this house from today but Arwen’s room hasn’t been decorated yet. Can you share your room with her for a few days?”

Rieta’s lips twitched at Kendrick’s soft words. Signs that she was uncomfortable with me was apparent.

I understood her reasoning.

Rieta had lived a difficult life. She experienced a cruel journey to believe in the good will of others.

I knew that, but it still broke my heart.

“……Yes.”

After a brief hesitation, Rieta finally managed to utter a word. Her throat sounds scratchy, as if she hadn’t spoken for a long time.

“Oh, and this is Shuel. He’s the son I’ve told you about before.”

Kendrick said and nudged Shuel forward, who was standing behind me. Seeing Shuel’s face, Rieta’s eyes widened.

Rieta’s face, which had been stiff all this time, loosened up slightly.

The child’s eyes crinkled very lightly. It seemed to be filled with joy and elation.

“Hi.”

A small word and shy in nature, but a clear voice was heard.

I realised something then about her.

Rieta’s reaction was little different from the pleasure of simply seeing someone of her own age. Since Rieta was wary of me as well as of Kendrick’s words.

“He’s the son I’ve told you about before.”

If it were according to the original story, she wouldn’t have known Shuel yet. But that child does recognize him.

What if Rieta’s regression was much earlier than I knew and Rieta, who did not go to Marquis Schrider as it was originally written, came to the Duchy of Sebrirua and informed the Duke and Duchess of Shuel’s whereabouts?

Rieta and Shuel met in a different place, rather than the orphanage at the Broschte estate. Since they were close, there was a possibility that they might have talked about it in the past.

Shuel, whose eyes widened as if he didn’t understand a single word, abruptly replied back ‘Ah, hello’.

Seeing what would be the start of a romance, I smiled lightly.

The original story had indeed changed, but it was already altered the moment I left the Broschte Estate with Shuel.

I still don’t know why Rieta’s regression was much earlier than it was written, but I didn’t ponder too much time over it.

As a result, the Duke and Duchess did not die, and Shuel and Rieta were able to escape the abuse much earlier.

Shuel will soon fall in love with Rieta, and they will have a happy ending full of warmth and the security that comes with it.

I have read a little bit of Rieta’s life. It was good to see the child smiling so easily after so much pain.

While I stared at Rieta, the three members of the Duchy of Sebrirua left the room.

They advised us to get acquainted with each other since we will be sharing a room for a short while, and said in a friendly tone, to come down later for dinner.

Rieta, who was left alone with me in the room, was visibly anxious.

She looked nervous. As if I would take out a knife at any time and hold it against her throat at any moment.

I silently looked at that child and opened my mouth.

“Rieta.”

At my greeting, Rieta’s shoulders flinched.

Even her chapped lips were sealed tightly. She resembled a hedgehog with several thorns.

Rather than using words of comfort to the child, I chose to speak bluntly. I was more comfortable using a method I was familiar with rather than trying to soothe her clumsily.

“I won’t be here for too long.”

Kendrick said that I would be staying here starting today, but I knew better than anyone that I wouldn’t stay around for long.

Rieta blinked her eyes at my dry words. The child’s distinct round eyes were lovely.

Rieta was truly a lovely child. She deserves to be loved and cared for.

do not repost our translations. only read at droppedinks.wordpress.com

I always wanted to say those words as I read the novel, but sadly, it was clear that she would not believe them.

“This is your place. Rest assured, I won’t steal it.”

I couldn’t take away the heroine’s seat. I didn’t have the intention nor do I have the ability to do so.

I laid flat on the bed without waiting for Rieta’s response. I was already tired from the long carriage ride and the bed looked so soft.

While I laid down with my eyes closed, I heard a small sign of movement approaching me.

It was obviously Rieta.

She glanced at me and tilted her head, then poked the tip of my hair with her finger.

How is she not the main character? She does the same thing as Shuel.

You are reading story He Likes Me a Lot More Than I Thought! at novel35.com

Silver hair was not common, so it might have been surprising. She was so vigilant that I somehow felt strange.

When I slowly lifted my eyes open, Rieta was startled and she hurriedly backed away. I tried to reach out to say it was okay, but the child was already wary of me again.

Approaching me when I was asleep and running away the moment I opened my eyes, she behaved exactly like Shuel.

However, Rietta’s wariness of me was beyond comparison with Shuel.

It was natural, since it hadn’t been that long since I had met her.

The vigilance of young children was far beyond imagination, and I was also quite blunt. The dry words I said to Rieta before laying down were the only considerate thing I could provide.

I had a cold demeanour, so there was no chance that Rieta would open her heart to me.

Maybe there wouldn’t even be time for her to warm up to me? I would have left this mansion before then.

I thought with a bitter smile.

Then…what is the heroine doing at the table now?

“….It’s marmalade.”

She recommended the jam to me, pretending to act indifferent.

Rieta shattered my expectations that it would take her a while to warm up to me, and she crept up next to me like a kitten.

The fear in her youthful eyes completely disappeared and only bold words came out of her previously closed mouth. She was trying to get closer to me for reasons I couldn’t figure out.

I liked Rieta who had loosened her guard to me, but at the same time I was conflicted.

Honey. It’s only been a week….

But later I began to understand. In the original story, Rieta, who lived in an orphanage, was not much different from Shuel.

It was her first time having a friend of the same gender, so she was probably excited. 

Yeah. I’m guessing that’s why.

“Rwen doesn’t like sausages, you idiot.”

“Hey! Rwen doesn’t like marmalade that much either.”

How do I even begin to explain why the female and male lead were fighting with each other, while using me as the excuse….?

In the original story, Rieta and Shuel were very close.

Rieta loved and cherished Shuel, to the extent that her first request to the Marquis was to find Shuel.

It was the same case for Shuel.

Although he was wary of everyone else, he behaved like a gentle sheep to Rieta. Even if he was hated by Rieta’s family, he stuck close by to Rieta.

The situation happening before my eyes, took that fact and buried it deep underground, unable to find any credibility.

Guys. You liked each other….right?

Rieta was definitely fond of Shuel at first, and Shuel’s reaction wasn’t much different from Rieta’s either.

But I couldn’t figure out for the life of me how this happened.

Shuel shouted with a bright red face from anger.

“You! You haven’t been with Rwen longer than I have! So don’t be rude! Rwen says marmalade is di, dis-disbusting!”

“It’s not disbusting, it’s disgusting.”

“Have you tried that with Rwen? I’m going to sleep with her tonight. Rwen says that, compared to marmalade, she likes sausages more. A lot more.”

“What does sharing the same room have to do with my eating habits….”

The children began to fight, arguing with strange logic, as if they could not hear my small murmur.

I was trying my best to smile, but my mind turned blank from the chirping voices.

Seriously, I’ve never seen this kind of fight in any family….

“Hey, I like both.”

Why are you two growling at each other like this? It’s not a big deal.

I tried to speak up to stop the fight, but it backfired. The two children focused their eyesight on me simultaneously.

[pr/n: run Rwen run! hahahaha]

Neither of them seemed relieved.

“Rwen, do you like marmalade better or do you like that tasteless jam that Rieta recommended? No, right?”

“Rwen. Do you like sausages more? Don’t tell me it’s because of that idiot who gave it to you?”

Both of their faces were flushed red from provoking each other. After that, Shuel was the first one to shout loudly.

“Hey!”

“What.”

Rieta asked coldly.

Shuel’s angry face was evident and while Rieta pretended to be calm, her shoulders were shaking restlessly.

“D-Don’t fight. Both are delicious.”

When I said I liked both of them, it was instantly rejected. If I had said I only liked one of them, then one side would sulk, so I struggled to do anything.

And at that moment, my eyes met Marius, who was gracefully cutting the steak.

“…….”

“…….”

Marius, who was watching the whole situation unfold, blinked. Then, she turned back her gaze to the meat she was slicing, cutting it neatly and placing it into her mouth.

The hope for rescue that swelled up at that moment diminished. 

Right. I placed too much hope on the Duchess….

I turned to look for Kendrick, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Oh, right. He went to make desserts.

The children were still bickering. Seeing that there weren’t any signs of it cooling down, I sighed.

Just as I was about to say something, Marius’ long arms crossed the table.

The only remaining sausage that Shuel had given me and the marmalade that Rieta had passed over to me suddenly appeared in front of Marius.

While everyone’s eyes were wide open, Marius calmly spread the marmalade on the sausage.

Marius, who coated the entire sausage with marmalade, chewed on that monstrosity without changing her expression once.

“Don’t fight over food.”

The dining room became silent at the sound of the cold voice.

[pr/n: GET ‘EM MAMA.]

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