SCMBRN Chapter 8

“Aaagh!”

 

“Why are you screaming?!”

 

When I shrieked, it was actually Jayden who got startled and jumped back.

 

“You-you popped out of nowhere! You’re not a ghost, make some noise when you walk around.”

 

“Did I not make enough noise?”

 

“No, you didn’t. Just because you’re a knight doesn’t mean everyone else has your level of awareness.”

 

Honestly, even among knights, someone like George, who lacks skill, probably wouldn’t have noticed him either.

 

Jayden’s delicate brow furrowed. Is he angry? Come to think of it, I’m in no position to order Jayden around like this.

 

“Ha ha ha. Forget what I just said. Sometimes people move quietly, right? It’s my fault for not sensing your presence.”

 

“……”

 

He caught me in the laundry room in the middle of the night, holding his pajamas. Anyone would think it suspicious.

 

‘No wonder the fabric felt so soft. But seriously, he’s a noble, why are his pajamas so plain?’

 

They had no patterns or decorations, so I hadn’t realized they were Jayden’s. It’s not like I’d ever seen him in his sleepwear before.

 

Though I felt wronged, blaming him wouldn’t help. The situation was clearly not in my favor.

 

If Jayden got suspicious and searched my room… in the worst case, the Marchioness would break my legs and lock me up.

 

This isn’t a cool, progressive world where a daughter can sneak a man into her room and get away with it. Neither was my old world, for that matter.

 

I racked my brain for an excuse.

 

“Well, I couldn’t sleep, you know? So I came out for a little walk. And as I was passing by here, I got curious about what the laundry room looks like. It’s always providing us with clean clothes, but we take it for granted.”

 

I had no idea what I was saying. I just let the words spill out.

 

“Then I figured I’d check out the clothes too. And oh no! Would you believe it, I spotted one item that wasn’t quite clean. So I took a closer look and turns out, it’s your pajamas.”

 

It was a strange scene. Jayden listened to all my nonsense with a straight face.

 

His expression was hard to read, like he either saw through the nonsense and was judging me silently, or he was somehow just accepting it at face value.

 

“That’s… how it happened.”

 

“I see. They look clean to me.”

 

I dropped Jayden’s pajamas.

 

“Sorry! My hand slipped! But look closely. There’s dust on them, right?”

 

“Couldn’t that have gotten there just now?”

 

“No, it was already there.”

 

Was it just me, or was this getting worse by the second? I hoped it was just me.

 

Jayden looked at me in silence. Feeling guilty, I averted my eyes.

 

After what felt like an eternity, Jayden leaned against the back wall.

 

“Very well. I’ll take your word for it.”

 

“Really?!”

 

“Shouldn’t I?”

 

“Yeah! I was just surprised you actually agreed with me. I mean, no offense but… you don’t like me, right?”

 

Jayden’s expression stiffened. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that, but at least it got his attention off the pajamas.

 

“……”

 

Silence fell. His lack of reaction left me unsettled.

 

‘What’s up with him?’

 

From what I’d read and heard, Jayden had always coldly dismissed his older sister. And he wasn’t the type to sugarcoat things.

 

So if I asked him whether he disliked me, I expected either silence or a blunt yes.

 

But now, he looked almost sheepish, like I’d accused him of something.

 

Jayden finally spoke after a long pause.

 

“If your walk is over, you should return to your room. I’ll escort you back.”

 

“Huh? No, it’s fine.”

 

“It’s late. Better safe than sorry.”

 

“But it’s just the house. What’s the big deal?”

 

“Even with plenty of guards, a mansion this large has its blind spots.”

 

“What kind of crazy thief would dare sneak into our home? You worry too much.”

 

“……You don’t want to walk with me, do you.”

 

“No, that’s not it!”

 

Well, it kind of was. More precisely, I was scared because I didn’t understand why Jayden was acting this way.

 

But keeping our relationship from deteriorating further was crucial to my peaceful life here. I needed to smooth things over.

 

“I just… have some things I want to think about on my own. But thanks. I appreciate the concern.”

 

Jayden flinched slightly at my cheesy words.

 

“You know, you’ve been acting strange lately?”

 

“I’ve been reflecting.”

 

“A person can change this much in such a short time. Who knew.”

 

“I got a serious scolding, remember?”

 

“Ah, that time…”

 

That was the day before I transmigrated into this body. Cedric had found out that the one spreading nasty rumors about Ayla was Charlotte.

 

Furious, Cedric publicly exposed Charlotte’s deeds and issued a warning to the House of Lindsay. And who could blame him? The rumors accused Ayla, a commoner, of using her parents to latch onto the duke’s heir.

 

But Ayla’s parents had served the Heclide family loyally. The only reason she, a low-ranking noble, grew up alongside Cedric was because of their loyalty.

 

He was understandably enraged that his beloved and the daughter of loyal retainers was slandered. The readers were outraged too.

 

Comments flooded in, begging for the “orange-headed witch” to be killed, and I think I posted something like, “You were just lucky to become a noble, and yet you’re looking down on my Ayla, who’s noble by birth.”

 

‘And when Cedric crushed the Lindsay family and punished Charlotte, I drank that sweet revenge like soda.’

 

But…

 

It was a glorious moment in the novel. From inside Charlotte’s body, it was nothing short of a nightmare.

 

That was the turning point where everyone started hating and ostracizing her. Why did they have to stick me in here the day after that?

 

Was it punishment for making classist comments about commoners while living in a modern, equal society?

 

In any case, that incident led to Charlotte being properly reprimanded like never before. She was humiliated in high society.

 

The only silver lining is that since then, even if I act unusually docile, people aren’t as suspicious. They think, ‘Oh, she’s finally learning.’

 

Jayden seemed to think of that moment and gave a small nod of understanding.

 

“It was… unfortunate.”

 

“Unfortunate?”

 

“Father said some harsh things then. I don’t believe he meant it when he spoke of disowning you.”

 

“Oh… thanks.”

 

Seriously, what’s with this guy? He should be the one most eager to kick me out of the family.

 

Jayden seemed embarrassed by his own words. With an awkward look, he turned away.

 

“I’ll head off now. Please return safely.”

 

“Will you be alright without a lantern?”

 

“Yes. I came here without one, too. Good night.”

 

And he left. Do knights get enhanced night vision or something?

 

Once I figured he was far enough away, I grabbed a different pajama set from the laundry room, the same size, but not his.

 

‘That ghostly guy might still notice even if I wash and return it later!’

 

Ugh. What a mess in the middle of the night. I should’ve just let Eugen sleep in his day clothes. I was being too fussy.

 

“I’m back. Huh?”

 

Eugen was nowhere to be seen in my room.

 

“Here.”

 

Something popped out from under the bed, nearly making me scream.

 

I had to be careful. Just because it was late didn’t mean everyone in the mansion was asleep.

 

Still…

 

“Why are you under the bed?”

 

“You told me to hide.”

 

“I said hide if someone came.”

 

“But…”

 

Eugen looked quite pleased with himself as he said,

 

“I remembered. The sound of your footsteps.”

 

That made me laugh. A grown man curling up under a bed because I told him to hide, what a sight.

 

“Good job. But next time, don’t go under the bed. You’re covered in dust.”

 

As I brushed the dust off his brown hair, I quickly pulled my hand back.

 

‘Oops, was that too familiar?’

 

Even if he acts childish, he’s still an adult. And the king of mercenaries at that. Just because he behaved around Ayla doesn’t mean he’ll be like that with me.

 

Thankfully, Eugen didn’t look offended and just checked himself over.

 

“Can’t sleep in the bed?”

 

He looked a little downcast when he asked that. Or was I imagining things?

 

“No, it’s fine. Just shake off the dust and change clothes.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Of course.”

 

I handed him pajamas, and he casually stripped off his top. I quickly covered my eyes.

 

“Wha, why are you undressing all of a sudden?! You’re completely exposed!”

 

“It’s okay if you see.”

 

What a dangerous thing to say. He probably thinks I’m just a fellow mercenary squad member or something, but I’m not! Why do these men keep undressing in front of me?

 

Then temptation whispered.

 

‘…But he said it’s okay. Maybe just a peek?’

 

I hadn’t dared even try with Reynard because he scared me, but Eugen’s laid-back attitude made him feel less threatening. And I had been given permission.

 

Just a little. A tiny glance.

 

“All done.”

 

“…Good job. You sure change fast.”

 

“Why do you sound weird?”

 

“I just… dislike myself a bit right now.”

 

I lost my conscience.

 

“So fluffy.”

 

With everything settled, we lay side by side in bed. Eugen, enjoying the soft bedding, rubbed his face into it.

 

The sight was so heartwarming. Peaceful. Yesterday I was trembling in fear of the Crown Prince. This is more like it, now I can actually sleep.

 

“We need to get up before the maid comes in the morning. Got it?”

 

“Okay!”

 

Our conversation lacked any tension for two people sharing a bed, but it was oddly comforting.

 

When Eugen returned after turning off the light, the drowsiness I’d forgotten came rushing back. Finally, I could rest.

 

When I opened my eyes again, the night wasn’t over yet.

 

“……!”

 

All I could do was take a deep breath. Eugen, who had been lying a fair distance away when we fell asleep, was now right up against me.