"When your mind is in chaos, you need to sweat it out. Let’s go to the bath."

"Ah, no! I'm fine! I really don’t need it!"

"Stop being stubborn. You must have had no one to scrub your back while living alone."

"I’m really fine!!!"

As I stood up abruptly, Yuri turned pale with shock. This guy, despite his appearance, is surprisingly bashful. I thought he was someone who wouldn’t know embarrassment, coming here dressed so boldly.

Then again, there were always one or two friends who were embarrassed about going to the bathhouse when I was younger. It felt frustrating, but it wasn’t something that needed to be forcibly corrected.

"I won’t mention going in together again, but just get in the bath and then come out. You smell a bit like sweat."

"Eh!? Is that really true?"

Yuri sniffed her own sleeve. Of course, it was a lie. I just wanted to change her out of that outfit that looked like it could drive someone insane, and to lift her spirits a bit, so I decided to forcibly get her into the bath.

"Then… I’ll take you up on that…"

Splash.

As soon as Yuri dipped her feet into the hot water, she gasped in shock. It was hot. Not warm, but hot! How could I possibly immerse myself in this water?

'Charlotte and Yulia bathe in such hot water?'

Thinking about it gave her a bit of courage. With a determined gulp, she threw her body into the bath.

"Ahhhh..."

The water crashed against her body, enveloping her in a warm sensation. Although it should have been a painful feeling, as if her entire body were being seared by fire, Yuri felt inexplicably refreshed, her fatigue fading away. It felt like an extravagant luxury…

'This isn’t the time to be feeling this way…'

A sigh escaped Yuri's lips. Why am I so leisurely enjoying a bath in the Vermont mansion? I might have been startled into entering because of the sweat comment, but in the past, even if I were covered in mud, I would have stubbornly refused to go in.

How did it come to this? How did I end up here, undressed and defenseless in the mansion of Aslan Vermont, someone I so despised?

Thinking it through, the answer came easily.

'Because I was afraid…'

In the past, I had feared that Charlotte and Yulia would be harmed by Aslan Vermont. I was scared that his nature was far more brutal than I could imagine. That’s why I had been anxious, and I had come this far…

Now, however, I was afraid for the opposite reason.

What if Aslan Vermont is a better person than I think? What if Charlotte and Yulia don’t want to leave his side? I’m scared they might forget about me along with their difficult lives at the orphanage.

But above all else…

'I'm terrified of Charlotte and Yulia being deceived by that scum!'

I couldn’t let those two be handed over to that pervert who looks at children with lewd eyes! Just as I had dressed up to look feminine, he immediately revealed his true colors and tried to drag me into the bathroom! Do Charlotte and Yulia know what kind of man he is?

They probably don’t. If they did, they wouldn’t be so attached to him. Suddenly, the image of Charlotte and Yulia fighting over Aslan Vermont’s affection flashed through my mind. Ah, just thinking about that makes me annoyed…!

"Ugh!"

Feeling the heat rise, Yuri quickly scrambled out of the tub. Her head was starting to throb.

Every thought of Charlotte and Yulia made her heart ache to the point of madness. 'Aslan Vermont isn’t the good person you think he is. He’s nothing but a piece of garbage on the edge of humanity.' …I wanted to express that freely, but the problem was I didn’t think they would believe me.

If that’s the case, what can I do? If I can’t persuade Charlotte and Yulia, I have no choice but to intercept Aslan Vermont first.

That was the bold decision I had made when I dressed up so elaborately. I never expected Aslan Vermont would react so strongly. So that piece of trash has a taste for dresses… I’ll have to remember that…

'It’s too smooth sailing…'

I thought it would take a bit longer. Unlike Charlotte and Yulia, I figured I would struggle a bit since I lacked a feminine touch. But Aslan’s reaction was way too fast.

I had succeeded in catching Aslan's interest, but now what? I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I assumed it would take a considerable amount of time, so I hadn’t meticulously planned anything yet.

[Just as expected!]

"Ah!? What!?"

Startled by the bizarre voice from behind her, Yuri jumped and covered her body.

Thud!

A brown mass fell from the window, landing face-first. What was that…? What was its name again…?

"Stinky?"

[Kyah! It's Earth-Earthy!!! Damn it! You called me the wrong name on purpose, didn’t you!!!]

"Oh, no! I’m sorry! I really couldn’t remember!"

[I came to bring you good news! You’ve hurt my feelings! I’m leaving!]

"…"

Squeaking. The creature wriggled its short arms toward the high window, then turned back with a sheepish look.

[Hmph. I’ve changed my mind. Since it’s a special occasion, I’ll tell you after all.]

"You’ll tell me? What about…?"

[You’ve been giving off an oddly terrible smell since the first time I saw you. I thought it was just my imagination, but now I’m sure of it. You carry a rather tragic fate.]

"Tragic fate? How do you mean?"

[Mostly physical pain. Someone with your fate cannot remain unscathed! You must be in unbearable agony right now!]

"Eh? But I’m healthy?"

[Kyah! No way! Don’t lie! This great spirit has made a special effort to foresee the fate of a mere human!]

Earth-Earthy lifted its short arms in frustration.

Yuri tilted her head in confusion. Physical pain…? I really don’t feel anything.

What on earth is it talking about?

"It’s not a lie…"

[If it’s not a lie, there’s only one possible explanation. I don’t know how, but you’ve clearly escaped from that harsh fate. No… There’s no way you could have escaped with that pitiful body on your own. Someone else must have diverted you from your destiny.]

"…?"

Earth-Earthy clapped its hands as if it understood. Yuri was completely bewildered by the absurd conversation.

Destiny? Divergence? What on earth does any of this mean?

"I have no idea what you’re talking about…"

[Kyah! Are you lying again? There must be something that rings true! At the time when misfortune should have struck, an inexplicably good fortune followed instead!]

"Ahhh…!"

It finally clicked for Yuri, and her eyes widened.

If there was something that stood out, it was overflowing.

When Charlotte and Yulia were taken by the slave trader. And when I heard they were dragged to the Vermont mansion. Scary possibilities had raced through my mind.

But the results that returned were completely unexpected. Contrary to those terrifying imaginings, they were doing really well.

Also, I was given the opportunity for special admission to the Imperial Magic Academy when I had nowhere else to go. Back then, I had just brushed it off as good luck, but now that I think about it, it feels like a bizarre coincidence.

'Someone else saved me from that tragic fate…?'

If what that brown creature said is true, I should have been in tremendous pain right now.

Someone saved me from my fate. I could easily guess who that was.

'The dark old man…'

The benefactor who brought me this far. That gentleman dressed all in black. I had known since the special admission to the academy that he wielded considerable power. But I never imagined he could twist fate…

What kind of person is he? A swordmaster? Or perhaps a grand sorcerer? Those were the strongest beings I knew of.

'That such a powerful person did it for me…'

Was it because I had been in the hot water for too long? Yuri felt her heart pounding, its rhythm growing stronger.

The dark old man saved me from a miserable future. For my sake alone, he defied destiny. Upon realizing that, I no longer felt mere vague admiration.

Instead, in one corner of my heart, a tender feeling I had never experienced before took root.

'The kind words I only read in letters… I really want to hear the dark old man's voice…'

Until just a moment ago, I thought it didn’t matter if I didn’t know the dark old man’s identity. But now, that’s no longer the case. I must find out who the dark old man is. I feel that only by seeing his face will I understand this fluttering emotion.

'This is the worst… I had to seduce Aslan Vermont right now…'

With a grinding noise, Yuri ground her teeth. She had resolved to seduce Aslan Vermont and become a countess before Charlotte or Yulia. But thinking of the dark old man made that resolve waver.

What on earth should I do…? Yuri felt as if she might burst into tears at any moment.