"Greetings, Master Ian. It's a bit late but are you here to study in the library?"
"…."
"….'
It was just like the academy. Ian looked down at Livia silently.
And once again that familiar silence fell. An awkward and embarrassing silence.
'He definitely doesn't remember Livia. It's just so awkward'- Livia forced a smile, lips twitching awkwardly.
If it were the original 'Livia', she would have started babbling about something to keep the conversation going in this awkward situation, but Livia couldn't bring herself to do that.
"Ahem… Well then, I'll on my way. Have a pleasant time."
Feeling that it would be more of a nuisance to wait for a reply, she turns around immediately. Unwilling to stay in this uneasy place any longer.
She felt a faint twinge of pity for 'Livia,' who had wasted last few years playing the fool.
Yet, in another sense, Ian is also pitiable. Being greeted by a stranger pretending to be familiar must be unpleasant even for someone like him.
She knew that much.
But she still didn't know how she ought to act.
"My apology and have a pleasant time, Lady…."
Just then a gentle voice called out to Livia as she was close to entrance. It was Ian again. His voice- as emotionless as an automation. His words trailed off before he could finish his sentence, faltering into silence- most likely he couldn't recall her name.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips
"Maren, Livia Maren of Baron Maren family. I would be delighted if you remembered."
Her smile was sweet but there was a quiet sting beneath it. Ian's lips curved in response, but his expression was hollow, a mask that fooled no one.
'He probably thinks it isn't even worth remembering '
The thought of this same scene repeating endlessly in the future made her insides twist with quiet dread.
With a graceful curtsy, Livia quickly left the hall and got into her carriage,
Unwilling to look back at whatever might unfold behind her.
She was simply tired. Too tired to pretend any longer.
The carriage started moving forward with a sharp crack of the coachman's whip.
It wasn't until they turned onto the main street of the capital that Livia breathed a sigh relief. It was already almost evening. She pushed opened the carriage window. The evening damp breeze slipped inside, cooling inside and gently caressing against her cheeks.
The air smelled faintly of rain-soaked stone, clean and sharp, and for a moment, it washed away the heaviness in her chest. She leaned into the wind, letting the rhythm of the wheels and the gentle jolts of the carriage lull her body and feeling the gentle breeze.
'What should I do now?'
The question rose yet again, fragile yet persistent, and lingered in her heart like a thorn that could not be pulled free.
At this rate 'Livia Maren' would die before she could even finish her Academy. Well forget graduation, if she couldn't change anything she would be thrown into the Northlands and there she will also die, yet again. And she didn't want any of those.
'If I can't remove the curse, I will collect information about Madline. So she just doesn't kill me off suddenly. From what I've seen and remembered from Livia's memories- Madline was weirdly obsessed with Alexi. No- wrong… She's madly obsessed with Alexi. In that case maybe, I just have to try make sure so that the Og heroine and Alexi don't meet each other at all. If-if I just do that maybe I'll survive just fine.'
"Haaa…" She's letting her thoughts running wild again.
"Like anything will go according to the novel!...I wish I would find some hidden basement suddenly…"- she muttered quiely.
" Wait!! Hidden basement "