"Saying you're crazy doesn't mean your mind has gone awry; it's an emphasis that you've surpassed the level of an ordinary genius. You have that much talent, more than just a genius."
At our current age, both she and I were 16 years old.
Compared to me, who received elite education from a young age, she was not only slow to learn magic but also exploded with frustration.
However, even under such unfavorable conditions, her talent would surpass everyone in Academia.
"So don't worry unnecessarily. Just believe and follow."
Emma is the most important character and heroine of this novel in which I transmigrated to, [I Transmigrated into a Side Character in an Academy Novel?!] After a pilgrim at a church discovered her talent when she happened to visit, she enrolled in Academia and displayed an outrageous genius capability.
But the problem was that she became a hindrance to my future.
Therefore, I resolved to make her my ally before she became an obstacle to me. The result was the current situation.
—I turned the most important character and heroine, Emma, into my
Was my action dirty? If you had money and status, you should use them properly. Wasn't it foolish not to?
Besides, I was a duke's son and an antagonist.
Moreover, it was still a delicate time when her talent hadn't even been fully revealed. Would I miss this opportunity?
"Any other questions?"
"…."
"No response again."
"Oh, uh, well… there is!"
In a hurry, she blurted out, unraveling something she had been trying to hide in her heart. Inside was a miscellaneous item that she held dear for reasons I couldn't understand.
"… how is my mother doing?"
"It seems you don't want your mother, who has been pressuring you all this time, to see herself being sold off for profit, right? Well, fine. If you want, in a very dirty and lethal way, I can take all her property…."
"That's not it!"
The girl cried out desperately. It was the first time I had heard such a strong voice. It piqued my interest.
"… okay? It's uncomfortable to interrupt me like that, but I'm more interested in hearing what you have to say, so I'll forgive you and ask."
So, what were you trying to say?
"My… mother…."
Her large pupils moistened with tears.
"My mother, besides me, has no other family… once I'm sold, she'll be left alone in a sad place with no one else… oh?!"
Tap, tap.
I knocked on her forehead several times, as if to knock some sense into her.
It was an action born out of not understanding what nonsense she was talking about.
Eyes filled with questioning looked at me.
"Oh, I just had to check something in the item I bought today. You don't need to worry about it."
"…??"
Her eyes were full of question marks as she clasped her hands around the area I hit.
Sorry, but I had the same question marks.
Strange. So strange.
When I checked, there didn't seem to be any problems. What nonsense… ah, could it be?
Having a slight hunch.
—Ha
I took a long sigh.
"Could it be that you're genuinely worried about your mother?"
"… yes."
"It's unbelievable."
Really unbelievable.
I roughly knew Emma's personality. She was the heroine with the most screen time among the heroines in the novel I read.
That meant a lot of her psychology was expressed.
But I didn't expect her to be such a naive fool.
Talking to her in person felt new.
"You were sold to me by your mother. Did you forget that?"
"… I know."
"Even knowing that, if you act like this, the term
"…."
She spoke cautiously, bowing her head very politely.
"… may this humble girl dare to ask for a favor from the esteemed son of a great Duke?"
"What if I say no?"
"… if that's the case, I won't show any further disrespect."
Oh, look at this.
"Speak up. I reluctantly forgive your disrespect."
"Thank you…. for your vast generosity, like the sea…."
"No need for such flowery language. Get to the point."
"… yes."
She raised her head. In her eyes, which were once filled with tears, a strong determination could now be seen.
"Please… allow me, even if only once a year, to visit my mother. If you do so, I will comply with any request."
Any request.
She said she would comply with any request. I needed to confirm once again.
"You're clearly saying… you'll comply with any request? There's no falsehood in your statement, right?"
Well, if worse came to worst, I could just kill her.
"There is no falsehood. If you grant my request, I will carry out any command."
"Is that so…?"
A smile involuntarily crept onto my lips. Things seemed to be getting easier.
"….!"
I approached her abruptly.
Our faces were close enough for me to feel her faint breath.
"…."
Then, I removed my thin gloves and grasped her chin, pulling it towards me. Even the warmth of her neck was transferred to my hand.
We were so close that it seemed our lips would touch.
Her skin was unbelievably fine for a peasant's daughter.
Her cheek felt warm.
Was she startled by my sudden action?
I reached her ear after passing her lips.
Then, I whispered softly.
"I won't accept your proposal."
—Clunk.
The carriage stopped.
The destination was the mansion where I lived.
The door of the carriage was opened by a servant who came to greet us, and as I stood up and turned around into the sunlight, I looked back at Emma, who was sitting hesitantly.
"Welcome. This will be your new home from now on."
Tell me, Emma.
My future self.
Did I kill you, or did I save you?