LNU 111

“Ah, back then…”

Andrew lowered his eyes and fell into deep thought for a moment. Then, he couldn’t come up with a clear answer and just kept humming.

“Back then, yes… back then, really…”

“…”

“Why did I… why did I do that…?”

“Brother.”

Andrew, lost in his own thoughts, didn’t even hear me calling him anymore, and then he grabbed his head with both hands and let out a painful groan. His distorted head seemed to fall towards the bed I was lying on.

“Ugh, ugh… Ah, my head… my head is so…!”

“Brother? Brother! Snap out of it! Brother!”

I hurriedly pulled the Bell Cord. Two or three servants rushed in in unison.

“My brother suddenly complained of a headache and collapsed, quickly call Mr. Nelson!”

While everyone was panicking over the fallen Little Count, someone stood close behind me.

“Young Master, are you alright?”

“…Sir Kyle.”

“It seems that Andrew will be staying here until he wakes up, so it would be better for you to rest somewhere else. Please follow me.”

“Why are you here?”

“What do you mean?”

We just stared at each other with wide eyes for a moment. I couldn’t understand why he, who had abandoned his duty as a bodyguard and was just following Allen around, was now trying to act like a real bodyguard, and from his point of view, he was just doing what a bodyguard was supposed to do, so he was confused by the sudden question of why he was here.

“No… Why are you, not going to Allen… No, never mind. Okay, will you guide me to a place to rest?”

Kyle seemed like he wanted to protest at my attitude, which was as if I didn’t expect anything, but he nodded and led the way. He guided me to the guest room for VIPs, which was located closest to the heir’s room, and he didn’t leave right away, but tried to open his mouth like a puppy that needed to pee, but I didn’t wait for him.

“I don’t know why you’re paying attention to me, but thank you for the favor. I want to be alone, so please leave? Oh, tell Nicole not to come wake me up until lunchtime tomorrow, because I want to sleep in.”

“…Yes. I will.”

His expression, which seemed apologetic, even looked miserable, but as always, it was none of my business.

After Kyle left and I was alone in the room, I constantly made hypotheses about Allen’s identity and reviewed them countless times.

There are two things that are certain. I don’t know how many times he’s come back, or whether he’s experienced the same timeline as me, but Allen in this Iteration has also experienced the past. Does he know the original story? That this is a world in a game? …I can’t judge properly yet.

But even that’s not a big problem. The problem is that unlike me, who doesn’t have any special abilities other than bumping into things, even with the help of the System, Allen can subtly manipulate people’s minds.

So far, it’s just a hunch, but judging from Andrew’s reaction just now, it’s certain. I don’t know what he did, but Allen definitely seduced Andrew and took my place as his exclusive servant. Until then, Andrew seemed to be subtly protecting Allen.

‘No, that child is not Noah. That child is just Allen now. Since you insisted on bringing another child, changing his age and name, and filling the empty space, the name Noah has come to refer to only one person.’

Andrew’s low voice, who willingly took my side in front of the Countess, came to my mind clearly. If Allen’s seduction had continued, he could never have done that.

When did it start? When did he… get out of Allen’s mind control?

Knock knock.

“Young Master.”

I was pacing aimlessly around the room, deep in thought, without even lying down on the bed. With a strong knock, the door burst open. Even before I gave permission to come in.

“…What is this rude behavior?”

Before I knew it, my voice had turned cold. If it had been anyone else, maybe, but the fact that it was Kyle Gray who had burst through the door left me with no choice.

“If you wish to punish me for my rudeness, I will gladly accept it. But, before that… there is something I wish to say.”

“Sir Kyle Gray.”

Kyle, who seemed to have steeled himself, showed no sign of wavering even at my harsh words, and suddenly knelt before me.

“Call it an excuse, even here. Point your finger and say there is no one so shameless in the world. Even so… I must speak.”

Having finished speaking, he knelt down, not enough it seemed, as he placed both palms on the floor and bowed his head deeply, as if he were the greatest sinner in the world. His smooth forehead touched the dirty floor with a thud.

“I don’t know why I did it either. Until you pointed out that I wasn’t with Allen, I didn’t even realize what I was doing.”

“Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Master. I dared not to stay by your side…. But please believe me, I resolved to remain in this family with the sole intention of protecting you. It was only with that thought that I returned to the capital.”

The knight, who had betrayed me so many times and whispered false words of love, seemed sincere even at times like this.

“I…, Master Noah…, I truly, sincerely, only….”

I had no intention of believing the betrayer’s grievances, but Kyle Gray’s repentance was perfectly timed.

Had there been a time when Kyle Gray’s eyes had also become dull, like Andrew’s before and Carlisle’s now? I hadn’t paid him much attention, so I didn’t particularly remember. But judging from the way things were going, it seemed he had also been played by Allen’s tricks.

First, Andrew Hamilton, then Kyle Gray. And finally… Carlisle Graham.

If the timing when Andrew Hamilton escaped from the bewitchment, which I hadn’t accurately captured, coincided with Kyle’s appearance, or rather, when Kyle began to fall helplessly for Allen… then Kyle acting like someone who had just woken up from a dream right after Carlisle Graham appeared wouldn’t be a mere coincidence.

Perhaps Allen Hamilton can only manipulate one person’s mind at a time.

If I use this in reverse, it means that while I am certain that Allen is manipulating someone’s mind, the other Love interests are actually safe.

“Okay, I understand for now.”

“Master…!”

“But it’s hard for me to trust your words right away. You understand what I mean, right?”

“Ugh….”

I slowly lowered my posture and gently stroked the back of his deeply bowed head, then forcefully grabbed his fine hair. With his hair still in my grasp, I jerked my hand back. Kyle obediently raised his head without any resistance.

“Since you said it… why don’t you prove it to me?”

Favorability: 77% (Pure Heart)

“That tearful heart of yours that wanted to protect me.”

The emotions and wounds accumulated within me were too great and deep to simply push all the faults he had committed in the previous Iterations onto Allen and just like him without a care. As this was the first time Allen’s strange behavior had been discovered, Allen in the past Iterations might not have had any abilities at all.

“Who knows? Maybe I’ll even let you lick my feet after I become the Crown Princess, moved by your heart.”

In any case, it was a good thing. What’s always frightening is the unknown shadow. If Allen can only control one person at a time… then I don’t need to be intimidated and hide.

“Why. Do you dislike it?”

“No…, no…. How could I dare to dislike anything you do, Master….”

Yes. He wouldn’t dislike it.

Favorability: 79% (Pure Heart)

Just imagining licking the feet of me, who had become the Crown Prince’s spouse, was enough to suddenly raise his favorability by 2 percent.

“I’m grateful that you say so. Then, I have a favor to ask. As soon as it dawns tomorrow, could you pretend to have something to tell Frederick and go to the Imperial Palace to see His Highness the Crown Prince?”

As long as he’s controlling Carlisle, Allen won’t be able to manipulate the Crown Prince as he pleases. Originally, I was going to use Carlisle as a force to check the Crown Prince, but it can’t be helped. Now that a safety pin has been secured, the Crown Prince was the most powerful card I could wield.

“Please. I’m counting on you.”

‘While watching me being easily taken advantage of until now, have you been having enough fun?’

‘…….’

‘I hope you did. Now it’s my turn.’

Now it was my turn to retaliate. I had no intention of just watching that arrogant mouth say it was his turn now, after only being taken advantage of to this extent.