Episode 59

No matter what I do.

The pure white eyelids slowly descended and then rose again. The image reflected in his verdant eyes remained the same.

Solemn blue eyes, a mouth devoid of a smile, and straight firm hands.

'No matter what I do...'

Ute leisurely rolled the words he had just heard in his mouth.

From a hundred to ten, and from ten to one.

If it had been dismissed as a jest or an exaggerated promise, she would not have commented in the first place. Sonnet Posa was prudent even in such moments.

'She never speaks nonsense.'

When dealing with superiors, she would lie with that impeccable face to navigate a crisis...

But in other circumstances, Sonnet never indulged in empty platitudes.

Despite signing a dubious and unrealistic contract, she was pragmatic.

Thus, Sonnet’s words were genuine.

Ute could trust them implicitly.

'I don't need the world's forgiveness.'

In fact, the foreigner thought, it was the world that owed him an apology.

If there was someone who needed to seek forgiveness...

'Don't apologize.'

But she always said that.

As if she couldn’t fathom it at all. Like someone meticulously correcting a misplaced stitch in knitting.

Sonnet Posa always asserted it wasn’t something he should feel remorseful about.

It wasn’t a consoling attempt to get through a tough moment.

Sonnet sincerely believed it, and in that candid absolution, Ute...

'I did nothing wrong.'

But sometimes I feel sorry for you.

'I wasn’t originally the kind of person who apologized so frequently.'

The foreigner's 'original self' had become so remote and indistinct that he could no longer easily grasp it.

The soul that had traversed from another world habitually contemplated its 'original' self before ceasing.

A rich scent of expensive liquor wafted from his breath.

The thick fabric of his sleeve lightly brushed against and then fell from his forearm.

The woman who naturally took a seat beside the foreigner emptied her glass without much expression, as usual.

Following her lead, Ute emptied his glass neatly.

The liquor wasn’t particularly bitter. It wasn’t especially sweet, nor did it feel potent.

He didn’t feel any intoxication at all. Yet... for some reason, he felt shaky.

'You, you made me like this! You deceived me!'

'You’re a disgrace to the family. Disgusting. Aren’t you ashamed in front of your parents?'

'No matter what others say, I tried to trust you. But this... this is too much.'

'I have nothing more to say to you.'

He gripped the glass tighter.

Memories, like mold that hadn’t been scraped off in time, invaded Ute's mind without warning.

Like a habit that had become second nature without any effort...

But,

'Do you trust me, Miss Sonnet?'

'Yes.'

It was different from the helpless times when his insides were being torn apart.

Ute recognized the unwavering voice that brooked no misunderstandings.

His sole friend always called him with that kind of tone and looked at him with the same warmth.

In that everyday trust, Ute sometimes felt a tickling sensation in his throat, like he was about to sneeze.

'Because we're friends...'

Ute recalled the moment he held that hand full of calluses.

Even with squinted eyes, he recalled how Sonnet had seriously examined the contract Ute had handed over.

'If it weren't for Sonnet, I wouldn't be where I am now.'

My intelligent, diligent, and gentle friend.

'What if I just tell you everything?'

Why Ute Velvet was so intent on ending other people's romances.

'Where I came from...'

While others might frown and say it was an excessive jest, Sonnet Posa...

'Hmm, I guess she'd just say she understood.'

She might look at me with eyes saying, 'He's speaking nonsense again. Let’s just get it over with.'

And then, she’d eventually nod and say, 'I see.'

'Sonnet doesn’t deny me.'

Though it was closer to a wish than a certainty, Ute didn't retract his thoughts.

Considering her surprisingly clear mindset, if he asked whether she was tired of being used in other people’s romances, she might agree enthusiastically.

'Used... If you look at it that way, I guess I also used her as well.'

Ute glanced sideways at her while fiddling with his glass.

He had a real purpose. It wasn't just about the peace of the kingdom, but something very personal.

'I must...'

As soon as their eyes met, Sonnet quickly turned her gaze back to the liquor bottle.

The overflowing glass swiftly emptied into her throat.

When Ute chuckled softly, Sonnet merely furrowed her eyes slightly and tapped the empty glass.

Tap, tap.

The sound of clear glass.

Their subtly wandering gazes very slowly met.

---

Even after drinking all the remaining liquor, I didn't feel anything at all.

I had no choice but to look at Ute with a clear mind.

'Another strange expression.'

No jewel I had ever handled was as beautiful as Ute's eyes.

Ute stared at me for a long time, with eyes that even the Emperor would envy.

"...Thanks."

"Thanks?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

He seemed intent on not explaining what he was thankful for.

I also chose to enjoy his trust-filled gaze instead of inquiring further.

Clink.

Ute set down the empty glass and leaned over towards me.

"I'm always thankful that you're here."

"..."

"Because you’re my friend..."

The hair touching my shoulder tickled. His flushed cheek was completely pressed against mine.

'I want to die.'

'I want to cry.'

'I want to laugh.'

'I want to shout.'

Conflicting emotions rampaged violently within my chest.

I unconsciously clenched my interlocked hands tightly, as if in prayer.

"Are you, are you drunk?"

"I'm perfectly fine. I could even recite pi."

Half-mixed laughter resounded right next to me. Each time he laughed, my shoulder shook along with him.

"I already have a rough idea of the next romance I’ll intervene in."

"Huh? Uh, you mentioned it before."

"This time it’s a possession story. Did I mention that too?"

"No. A possession story means someone enters someone else's body?"

"Yes. The main character accidentally enters the body of a notorious villain, changes their reputation, and even wins love. It's a popular plot."

"Then... Lapis's older sister?"

"Strictly speaking, the female lead is not the sister but the person who will enter her body."

"I see."

"What do you think?"

I had never looked down on Ute, who was a head taller than me before.

It probably wouldn’t happen again.

If Ute hadn’t crammed his large frame to lean on me.

Just a slight eye movement was enough to discern his milky eyelids and long eyelashes that created a shade.

"What, what do you mean?"

"Having another soul enter, when the original owner is still there."

"As long as they both agree, it’s fine, isn’t it?"

"What if they don't?"

My clasped hands were set apart as he snatched one of them.

His soft fingers gently savored my nails, the back of my hand, and my palm.

"What if there was no agreement... One person wakes up in an unknown body and the original soul is missing?"

"Ah, that’s a big problem."

It felt like I was in big trouble myself.

It was a relief that Ute's gaze was on my hand, not on me.

Otherwise, I would have received a medical discharge on my birthday.

"A big problem?"

"Yes. It would be a disaster for someone to suddenly find themselves in another's body. For the original owner as well."

"..."

"Both the original owner and the possessed person would have had people they were close to. Like family or friends."

"...Yes, right."

"Thinking of them, it's only natural to want to go back, isn’t it?"

"Yes, that's right."

The weight pressing lightly on my shoulder fell off. The warmth that had been covering the back of my hand left as well.

"But why? Is that the plot of the next story you'll intervene in?"

"No. It’s something that gets revealed much later, but both wanted it."

"Then why—"

"Happy twenty-fifth birthday, Sonnet."

With that final congratulation, which I had heard several times today, the drinking session ended.

As I watched Ute heading back to his bedroom, I suddenly became curious.

'What happens to the possessed protagonist in the end?'

---

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