Yunho ran back to the stone path he was on before and almost collapsed to the ground. He was gasping for air. He had never run like that in his life, and his lungs hurt like hell. But at the same time, It felt freeing. Yunho took a seat down on some grass near the path to catch his breath.
He heard footsteps approaching and immediately tried to make himself look occupied in case it was Irene. He had to have an alibi prepared, right? The footsteps grew closer and then stopped.
"Young master?' the voice said, their shadow casting over him.
Yunho looked up at the looming figure. It was just a young maid. She wasn't among the ones that were harassing Irene, but he didn't recognize her.
The maid looked at him with a shocked and somewhat frightened look. Yunho was confused on why until he realized how he looked right now.
His hair was messy from the wind, and his face was ruddy and breathless. He was sitting on the grass with his legs splayed put, so his pants were a bit dirty. For someone of noble birth, being in a state like this was very unexpected.
Yunho quickly got up and attempted to clean off the dirt on his pants though the damage was already done. He smoothed out his hair and awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. Though it was awkward, at least it wasn't Irene, right? Yunho wasn't ready to face her just yet. He internally cringed thinking about the sharp groan he heard earlier. The maid was still looking at him bewilderedly.
"Uh…Young Master Iris…I was told to come get you for lunch," the maid said slowly, her eyes looking at the wild looking boy in front of her.
Yunho paused. He wasn't quite used to "noble etiquette" and whatnot yet, but he knew he shouldn't go to lunch as messy as he currently was. Yunho awkwardly laughed.
"Can you tell them I'll be a little late?" Yunho quietly asked. The maid just stiffly nodded and hurried away after a quick bow. Yunho looked at her quick, disappearing figure and rubbed the back of his neck.
Did he look that crazy? It was just a little mess, but then again, he was supposed to be a "refined and spoiled young master whose physical activity consisted of training by highborn tutors". Yunho sighed. He, well Iris, was technically still recovering, so he wasn't going to any of his lessons or training.
Yunho then paused. He had already come to the conclusion that his original body was dead. With the state he was in, it was no shocker, and he had had to come to terms with his own mortality even while he was still alive. But Iris…was the original Iris dead? And why had this body given to him?
It was all the more reason Yunho had to live. He couldn't waste this second chance, and he had to figure out what was behind this…Maybe it was his destiny to change his, no, Iris's, no, his…well whoever's it counted as destiny.
There was the faraway sound of footsteps down the path. Yunho immediately thought of the sharp groan and the rock he threw. Now was not the time to be philosophizing life. He had to go.
***
Yunho was quietly being escorted to the dining hall. He had eventually found the butler, but the older man was shocked silent when he saw the state Yunho was in. The butler led him back to his room to change and clean himself up. Yunho couldn't help but feel a bit apologetic. He was most likely already late for lunch, and he had burdened the poor butler.
In the novel, the butler equally cared for Iris and Irene and would give Irene medicine and salves when she was sick or the Countess would beat her. The man didn't care about upholding the tyranny of the Lord and Lady, but he never left because he had to pay for himself and watch over Irene secretly.
"Sorry. I was just running outside and sat down to catch my breath," Yunho said softly.
The butler looked back at him and smiled, his gray mustache also curving up.
"It's nothing at all to apologize about. It makes an old servant like me happy to see the young master so spirited," The butler replied.
He had also noticed the change in Iris lately. The boy was considerably more spry lately and lost the air of arrogance that he'd been sporting as of late. The butler had been serving the House of Evastine since before the children were even born, and he thought that the current Iris really resembled the sweet young child he once knew. Of course, he still had the slight brattiness of a youth, but he lacked the wickedness of his mother and the greed and immoral nature of his father.
Yunho looked at the forgiving face of the butler and couldn't help but feel thankful. In the hospital, the only person he had to really talk to was the nurse, but here, there were so many people that actually cared…It had only been a few days, but the buds of attachment were already starting to sprout.
They reached the dining hall and pushed the doors opened. The Count and Lady Rosetta were already seated at the table. Yunho couldn't help but look to see if Irene was also present, but she wasn't. Maids were going back and forth placing dishes on the table, but some were whispering and taking furtive glances at Yunho.
Yunho ignored the whispers and sat down at the dining table. He sat closer to the Lord and Lady since the female lead wasn't here, and it'd seem more rude if he didn't. Yunho gave a small bow of the head.
"Greetings, mother and father," He said, keeping a respectful tone.
"Good afternoon, Iris," Lady Rosetta responded with a smile, though she looked like she wanted to say something else.
"Where is that impudent girl?" She called out to a nearby servant, who was arranging the silverware on the table. He looked up and stuttered as he spoke.
"Miss Irene decided not to come down. She wasn't feeling the best," the servant said.
Lady Rosetta tsked, "What a disgrace…"
The woman looked back at Iris and made the same concerned expression as before. The Count also looked at him and cleared his throat.
"Son, are you feeling alright lately…? Not just physically, but mentally?" Count Damien asked seriously.
Yunho's mind went blank. There might as well have been a loading icon on his forehead. Suddenly, the whispers made sense. That young maid from before must've spread what she saw. But still, this fast? Did no one in this house have anything better to do? They probably thought he was missing a few screws upstairs now. Yunho was about to open his mouth to speak when the Countess spoke.
"The physician already told us your memory was spotty, but have you been feeling well besides that? It's okay if you need more time to recover."
Her face had the concern of the mother, and Yunho would've felt touched if he didn't know how much of a monster she was. Yunho did want to have a family and be adored like other children got to be, but he didn't want it to be at the expense of someone else. But still, Yunho saw a golden opportunity here.
"Truthfully, I have been feeling a bit foggy-headed and admittedly odd at times. I think I need some more time to recover," Yunho said, lightly coughing to play up the act, "but I think it'd be best if I were to stay somewhere else for a bit."
The Countess' eyebrows immediately furrowed.
"What do you mean by this?"
Yunho decided to backtrack a bit.
"I love it here with all my heart, but I've been feeling so stuffy here. Also, the weather is quite hot here, and it makes my brain feel muggy."
The Countess' lips pressed together, but she nodded in understanding. The Count, then, cut in.
"But you're still not recovered. And how long do you want to go? Where will you even stay?"
Yunho continued to press. "I don't have to go immediately, but it would also be good for experience," Yunho paused. He was going to drop the bomb now. "And there is the property in the North."
The Count immediately opened his mouth to refuse, but Yunho knew he had to follow up immediately. He couldn't let Plan B fail as well.
"The North isn't as dangerous as people say. I won't go until the physician says I can, and I'll take my training sword with me."
The Count still looked conflicted.
"I don't even have to go for long. Just a year or so…If I ever want to succeed you, I should see more of the world. And the change in scenery could be good for my…mental health," Yunho said and coughed again, making sure his face was pitiful. He knew this body was quite pretty from the reflection and Iris's description in the book. No one can resist a pretty face, right?
The Count's face relaxed, and he sighed. The Countess also wasn't happy, but she didn't have any rebuttal. It was a sign of relenting.
"If you really want to, you are an adult now…but only when the physician says it's okay" The Count said.
Yunho smiled. Plan B = a success!
"Thank you! You won't regret this!"
***
Yunho was back up in the bedroom and already started to arrange the things he wanted to pack. He hadn't been checked by the physician, but he could feel his body was in good condition.
The sky outside had already turned into the star-dotted deep blue of twilight. It was surreal. He could still remember curling up in that hospital bed, reading "The Mistreated High Priestess Is Now a Princess" under the covers with the lamp in the room as his only light. He could remember his weak body and the loneliness he felt every time the nurse wasn't there. How empty the room would be at hours at a time. He could even vaguely remember death. It was just as empty a feeling as everything else he had experienced.
Yunho looked at the sky through the arch windows, pushing the curtains to the sideIt looked just like the sky from his previous life, but things were different now. He was going to live and do everything he couldn't do in his last life and figure out the mystery of his transmigration.
Yunho dropped the curtain back down and sighed. He sighed. It wasn't the time to get ahead of himself.
Yunho crawled into the large bed and laid down. He didn't know what this both familiar but unknown world had in store for him or what forces brought him here, but what he did know was that he was going to try his hardest to live.
No matter what.
***
End of Chapter 7