By Zephyria 
The Sorcerer’s voice, filled with laughter, was particularly sweet and clung to my ear. I would be a fool if I didn’t realize it, even after seeing Lennox appear at such a good timing and covering my eyes. Lennox had also come to remember. How absurdly this world surrounding me had been repeating.
I raised my hand and pushed away the back of his hand covering my eyes. It was pushed away helplessly, even though I didn’t give it much strength.
“…What’s going on?”
“What’s going on? It’s exactly as you’re seeing it.”
Everyone has come to know. Me, Carlisle, Andrew, and Frederick, as well as the Crown Prince and your bodyguard.
The tone, continuing flutteringly as if chanting a spell, was cheerful. Was it because I had already expected and prepared myself to some extent due to the incident with Adrian? It wasn’t that shocking this time. I just thought, “As expected…”
“Oh, right. I forgot an important person. It seems that the cute servant boy that the Young Master cherishes so much has also had his past revived. I wonder why. I thought that only those who cherished Allen like their own life in the past, and now love you more than Allen, would regain their memories. Well… perhaps it’s a reward for risking their lives for you several times.”
The Sorcerer knew everything. According to him, he had been constantly monitoring me, as well as those closely related to me, so he was able to find out quickly.
“Anyway, he’s just like the Crown Prince. He seemed a little confused after finding his memories, but he immediately started confining you. That’s why I hate people of high status… Oh, of course, you’re an exception.”
“What about Carlisle?”
I cut off the unnecessary words and asked immediately. Lennox had been staying in the north with Carlisle ever since I had visited the Shadow castle.
Adrian’s trembling, who was trembling with anxiety and didn’t know what to do, and the two Hamilton brothers, who were pale and only watching my mood, came to mind in turn.
If they were like that, then Carlisle, who had the memories of the first life… there was no way he would accept the other memories of this Iteration smoothly. Of course, Carlisle didn’t seem to have done anything particularly wrong to me compared to the others, but if it was Carlisle that I knew, he certainly wouldn’t tolerate the fact that he had come to love someone other than me. A worried feeling welled up.
“Hmm. Normally, I would be very sad that you’re only looking for Carlisle even after seeing me after a long time, but I can’t possibly do that. You blocked a great misfortune that would have happened in my life with your whole body… But even so, I…”
The dark red eyes flickered restlessly. But the shaking was only for a moment. Lennox, who had removed all the agitation by closing and opening his eyes once, regained his usual appearance very neatly.
“He found his memories and was making a fuss, saying that he would run to the capital right away. Judging by his actions, it seemed like he was going to ask you to kill him right away, so I put him to sleep for now. I’ve been keeping him asleep for several days, so his head should have cooled down a bit by now.”
Even in the midst of a chaotic situation, I was gradually calmed by the Sorcerer’s appearance, who did not lose his center, or at least pretended not to.
I was about to fall helplessly again into the thoroughly ingrained despair and powerlessness. The fact that others had remembered the past was not a major obstacle to the goal I wanted to achieve from an objective point of view. In any case, the condition necessary to complete the bet with Allen to the end was to become the legitimate spouse of Adrian Pearson with the hearts of those who loved Allen, that is, the ‘Love interests’.
Judging by their actions, it didn’t seem like they would find their past memories and now come to me and say that their true love was Allen or something.
“…I see, that’s right.”
If I safely held the Royal Wedding and then gradually soothed Adrian’s anxiety, I could somehow resolve the unexpected confinement situation…
Hoo. I let out a long breath and tilted my head back. The soft head of the sofa stably supported the back of my neck.
“Is that all you have to say?”
“Huh…?”
“I mean, aren’t you angry? Shall I take revenge for you? After achieving the conditions to defeat God… I will trap all those who have insulted and ridiculed you in an eternal cycle of suffering. Even if it’s not a repeat of the perfect world created by God, I can cast a spell on each person and trap them in a terrible nightmare that repeats forever.”
It was still a voice filled with laughter, and it was still a beautiful eye tail that smiled thinly, but I felt a strange sense of incongruity. He was sincerely angry.
“It’s all in the past now…”
“…Young Master, but!”
“But what but? And if you’re going to argue, argue properly. Are you free from responsibility? Is your hand clean enough to take revenge for me?”
“…….”
If he took revenge for me, the target of that revenge would naturally include Lennox himself. Moreover, it would be located quite high on the revenge list.
The cynical tone that if he couldn’t monopolize Allen, he would have to play with a similar-looking substitute came back to me vividly.
“How about this time? Allen’s appearance is no longer similar to mine, but since you can’t monopolize me again, will you find another substitute?”
Lennox’s lower jaw was strained as if he was gritting his teeth. I chuckled. Anyway, both him and that guy were problematic because they were so afraid. A cowardly dog barks fiercely.
“If you feel like you’ve done something wrong… huh? If you feel like you’ve committed a sin against me…”
“…….”
“Don’t beat around the bush like this and just say you’re sorry.”
“…….”
“Just that would be enough, but why is everyone so foolishly doing useless things?”
“…Is that all?”
Just, just with such a word… you’re forgiving everything? Lennox’s face was already pale. I nodded.
“Yeah. That’s enough.”
If I only looked at this life, there was no way I could forgive them with such things. But, to me… aren’t the memories of the very first life complete? The fact that they were used as tools in Allen’s pranks was also my responsibility in a way. It would be a lie if I said I had never resented them, but I couldn’t even accurately grasp what kind of emotions I had, but that’s how I felt right now.
“Ha… How recklessly naive…!”
If you only looked at what he was saying, it might seem like a compliment, but the voice that said those words was mixed with bursting anger.
Lennox, who had taken a step away from me for a moment, closed his eyes and took a deep breath, hoo, hoo, came close to me again. Then, he suddenly put his hand on my shoulder.
“Okay, I understand. Then let’s go.”
“Go, where…? If I disappear without saying anything, Adrian will worry…”
“Is this the time to worry about that human, you!”
“…….”
“……I’m not angry. I’m sorry if I surprised you.”
With that greeting as the last, the view was dyed black. A dizzying sense of floating enveloped me and Lennox.
“Here is…”
The night when the moon was covered by clouds was dark, but it was enough to distinguish the surroundings. It was the Shadow castle. And everyone except Frederick and Nicole was gathered there. Remembering this long life that has been repeated countless times…, everyone.
Lennox, who was still holding my shoulder, stroked my back a few times as if he was comforting a child going to school for the first time, and then pushed me forward slightly.
In the ancient castle in the north, long since closed off, there was nothing but the endlessly dark Mirror lake, as if to swallow everything. Gathered before the lake, they watched me approach, each reacting in their own way: some were filled with regret, some moved their lips as if to speak, and some silently shed tears. But one thing was certain: none of them dared to stand in my way.
“What the hell is going on?”
Stumbling towards the only chair prepared in the center, I suddenly stopped and asked Lennox. Sensing a hint of unease in my voice, he cautiously approached, wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and calmly began to guide me forward.
“What do you mean, what’s going on? Your most useful tool has gathered only those who adore you among those who have regained their memories, in order to clearly sort out the situation. The past is what it is. Whether you forgive the foolish sinners or leave without looking back… the important thing is to properly sort out what to do in the future.”
I hadn’t even thought of this, but he had taken the initiative to prepare like this. I was grateful. But why, of all places, here…?
Reading my questioning gaze, he replied nonchalantly. The avatar of God is in a mysterious slumber, but that doesn’t mean God is gone, so we came to the place where God’s power has the least influence, to reduce even the slightest risk.
“Well, we’re here. Please, sit down, my precious patron.”
Even Adrian, who would become Emperor in four days, and Carlisle, who would become the next Grand Duke of the North, were standing, but I was the only one sitting, which made me feel awkward. But there was no way to resist the hand that pushed my shoulder and made me sit down.
“I’ve roughly explained Allen’s identity and the plan you had in mind this time. So, there’s nothing to feel uncomfortable about.”
“Ah……”
At Lennox’s words, Adrian lowered his head. He was already anxious that I didn’t seem to love him, and now he knew the truth in this way……. I felt a pang of guilt and bit my lip. At that moment, Lennox’s index finger tapped my lower lip.
“You mustn’t have mercy on sinners when you don’t intend to take revenge, Young-won.”
“Ah, sorry…,”
“Don’t say you’re sorry. You are the one who should receive apologies, not the one who should apologize.”
Then what should I say, in what way…….
As I was in a quandary, Andrew, who had been silently gazing at me, strode forward and stood before me. Then he immediately knelt down and looked up at me.
“Allen was actually God, and you need to marry the Crown Prince to win against him……. Honestly, it’s not a very convincing story, Noah.”
“Brother Andrew.”
“Just tell me one thing.”
“……”
“Regardless of any bets or anything. What kind of life do you truly want to live? I thought you loved the Crown Prince, so I decided to support you living a life confined in the Imperial Palace. But…….”
Having lived confined in the mansion until now, is living a lifetime confined for someone you don’t love truly the future you desire? At this moment, this man, who is here as an Alpha who loves me, will inevitably become my kind older brother. Like the first life, where I didn’t know the hardships of life, just carefree and happy under the gentle sunlight, Adrian’s young betrothed and the treasure of Count Hamilton’s family.
“Tell me. Whatever it is, I will make it happen somehow.”