Subliminal Wayfarer

During my past transmigrated lives, the only time I faced a proper ending was when I had transmigrated into an internet novel.

Even then, I was hit by a car just before the ending.

Actually, I don’t know.

I don’t know how to escape from these transmigrations.

All these transmigrations… weren’t they all according to God’s will?

This kind of transmigration was truly a first for me.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

“I want to go back.”

“Go back?”

Rosetta nodded.

“Of course, I know that everyone is here too.”

But they were the people she knew, yet they weren’t.

“Where do you plan to go?”

“Where I originally lived.”

“Your original home?”

“Yes. There are people waiting for me there.”

No, that’s not it.

Rosetta corrected her statement and continued.

“There, I have people I want to see.”

Cassion silently observed her and then slowly spoke.

“Are you from another world?”

“…How did you know?”

Surprised by his accurate guess, she asked, and he replied.

“There’s information in the empire’s legends about ‘those who infrequently come from other worlds’.”

“From other worlds.”

That’s exactly me.

It was somewhat comforting to know there were more cases like Rosetta and Alicia.

“Did all those people return to their world?”

“Those who wished to stay remained here, and those who wished to return, returned. Since you want to go back, you will.”

It’s a relief, she thought for a moment.

“…You’re letting me go quite easily.”

His explanation, plain and calm, seemed like he had no attachment to her at all, despite having just danced with her and admitting he had fallen in love at first sight.

Cassion, reading her gaze, lightly furrowed his eyebrows and smiled.

“You belong to no one but yourself. I have no interest in clipping the wings of a bird that wishes to fly. Still, I would be sad.”

“…You’re a good person.”

Murmuring, Rosetta looked up at the sky. The sky, tinged with purple, was filled with yellow and blue stars.

It was a truly beautiful sight, albeit very alien.

“Indeed. This isn’t real.”

Neither this sky nor Cassion in front of her.

If this was the Cassion she knew, he would have clung to her desperately.

He would have pleaded, and after letting her go, he would wither away alone.

Because that’s the kind of person he was.

As Rosetta stood, she thought of how it was good that she and ‘this Cassion’ weren’t in that kind of relationship.

Ding— Ding—

Somewhere, the sound of a bell tolling echoed.

“It’s already midnight.”

Cassion murmured quietly, and after a beat, he continued.

“Do you know what midnight means in this place?”

“What does it mean?”

Cassion closed his mouth.

After the eleventh bell passed and the twelfth bell rang.

“It’s time to wake from the dream.”

Cassion whispered softly, alone.

The place beside him was already empty.

Only a lone red shoe, left behind without its owner, lay dropped.

 

* * *

 

“Sister! Sister!”

“Mmhh. Alicia…?”

Feeling someone shaking her, she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was—

“Sister! You finally came back!”

It was Alicia, her face flushed with emotion.

“Wait, came back?”

I quickly got up and looked around. It was the familiar room she mentioned.

My room in the house where I originally lived.

The fairy tale book Alicia and I were reading before falling asleep last night was rolling on the floor.

“It’s a great relief. I was really worried we couldn’t return.”

Alicia briefly teared up. Though she didn’t show it, it seems she was secretly anxious and scared.

I reached out and hugged her.

“You did well, Alicia. I’m also really happy to be back.”

With those words, Alicia burst into tears.

I smiled and patted her back while glaring at the book on the floor.

“It feels somewhat like a relic.”

Later that day, I went to Logan and handed him the book.

Logan, who had also returned to reality, looked at the book I handed him and muttered.

“A relic? Not a cursed book?”

“I’m not sure, but I feel a faint aura of a relic.”

“Aren’t relics only in the Imperial Family and the three major houses?”

“There are other relics too. Just that their levels are different. Anyway, if it’s a relic, it should have still been treated as a significant object.”

Yes, that’s what I’m saying. This also has something to do with that damned god, right?

I glared at the book returned by Logan.

And then, I promptly chucked it into the fireplace burning beside him.

“Wow.”

Logan’s small exclamation followed.

I shrugged my shoulders and dusted off my palms with a sense of relief.

Anyway. I’m really quite tired of transmigrating into novels.

 

* * *

 

“That happened.”

Leaning against the window sill and dangling my legs, I told the story and Cassion chuckled lightly.

“You must have had a hard time.”

“It was really tough. Anyway, the gift is just like her.”

“Right. But, Rosetta.”

“Hmm?”

“Did you like the version of me in that place?”

“…Well, I guess so?”

After all, that Cassion was also Cassion.

However, perhaps not the answer he was hoping for, Cassion’s face darkened for a moment.

“…I see.”

Why was he reacting like this now?

Guessing his thoughts, I suddenly covered my mouth with a theory.

“Don’t tell me, you’re jealous of yourself in the dream?”

“……”

Goodness. I hit the nail on the head.

Instead of answering, Cassion spun his chair around and looked back at his work.

His slightly sulky appearance was irresistibly cute.

Are there no other people in the world to be jealous of, so he’s jealous of himself in a dream?

What a lovely person he really was.

If there was a ranking for the most lovable people in the empire, Alicia would be first, and Cassion would definitely be second.

“Still, I rejected that Cassion’s feelings.”

“…You rejected him?”

“Yes. I told him I have another Cassion I love, so I must go back to him.”

Only then did Cassion’s stiff expression soften.

‘Really.’

I shrugged my shoulders and chuckled heartily.

Looking much better now, Cassion started to focus on his work again.

The mountain of documents spoke volumes about the intensity of his workload.

It’s been a few months since he abruptly ascended to the position of duke, but it seemed there was still a lot of work to be done.

‘It can’t be helped.’

There’s a saying, ‘He who sits on the throne must bear the weight of the crown.’

Though it wasn’t a throne, sitting in the duke’s seat meant he must bear the weight of the entire duchy’s well-being.

In fact, today’s meeting wasn’t scheduled. I had no chance to meet the busy him, so I just came to visit.

In the middle of the night, through the window.

“Should I just go if you’re busy?”

Tapping the window with my fingertips, I spoke, and Cassion’s gaze shifted back towards me.

“No. I just have this left to do.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Sorry for making you come here and wait.”

“It can’t be helped, right? Someone once said that ‘the one who’s thirsty should dig the well.’ It seems like I’m the one who likes you more now.”

At my nonchalant words, his expression turned solemn. Cassion shook his head seriously.

“That’s not true. I like you more. That’s why I’ve been working so hard on…”

“…Working so hard on what?”

He stopped mid-sentence, realizing what he had just implied.

And that only made me more curious.

“What’s that about? Are you keeping secrets from me now?”

Oh my. I’m hurt.

As I expressed my sadness with a heavy heart, Cassion sighed and whispered as if in pain.

“We made a promise before, remember?”

A promise? Which promise?

Ah, right.

“The promise that we’d get married once you’re more settled into your position?”

After he proposed, we decided to put off any preparations for the wedding for a while.

For Cassion to get more established first.

‘Could it be that he’s been working like crazy because of that promise?’

And as it turns out, that’s exactly it.

His cheeks turned red as he nodded.

“Goodness. You had such an adorable reason?”

“It seemed like you wanted me to settle down first, so I wanted to finish up urgent tasks as soon as possible. I wanted to get the household stable so I could… marry you.”

“So, that was the reason.”

Nodding at my own realization, I hopped off the windowsill. The soft carpet was compressed under my feet.

“This won’t do, Cassion.”

His alarmed response to my determined tone was,

“What? Surely not the wedding?”

“Not that. Besides that.”

“Then what—”

Before he could finish his question, I stepped closer and reached out my hand.

Gently caressing his slightly roughened cheek from working day and night, I whispered.

“It seems like you need to make some time for me right now.”

Moving my hand down slightly to stroke his nape.

“How about it? Do you have time?”

My clear enticement caused Cassion’s ears to redden as if they were burning.

But that was only for a moment.

“If it’s for you, I have all the time in the world.”

Oh my. Quite the progress.

Pleased with his advancement, I led him along. Cassion followed without any resistance.

Thud.

After tossing him onto the bed, our destination, I wedged my knees between his legs.

And asked again.

“Really? Even if it means we might waste the night away?”

He was silent for a moment.

Just quietly gazing at me, then he reached out his hand to gently wrap around my shoulder.

“That’s fine.”

Whoosh.

As he spoke, our positions flipped in an instant.

Cassion above me, and I below.

The moonlight from outside the window poured over his face, clearly revealing just how much desire was contained in those crimson eyes.

Mirroring my own.

I encircled his neck with my arms and pressed our lips together lightly.

It was the start of our long, long night ahead.

 

—Side Story I, End—