Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance

“Did she do that…?” 

Lucian asked as Eileen soothed Cordelia in her arms, his eyes flicking back and forth between the wreckage of the creature and Cordelia.

 “So?” 

Cordelia spoke up, her voice cold. Eileen stared at Cordelia’s face, bewildered at the unfamiliar sight.

 “I just wanted to say thank you to you guys…” 

The boy swallowed hard. He wasn’t sure what had swept through the demon, but he knew that the two girls in front of him had saved his life.

 

Lucian lowered his head, still struggling to clear his throat, and spoke.

 “Thank you so much for saving me.” 

Eileen’s eyes widened as she gazed at the rounded crown of his head. She had seen Lucian’s crazed future self repeatedly, and the sight of the upright child was both strange and pleasing.

 “I’m glad you’re okay, too.” 

Lucian smiled and looked up as she said it, his gaze lingering on Eileen’s hand for a moment.

 

The small, warm hand that had clung to him in the darkness. The round, orange eyes he’d first seen when he’d pulled himself out of the water.

 

Lucian had a vague intuition that he would never forget that moment until he died.

 

Cordelia’s face contorted as she saw that the boy’s ears were slightly flushed.

 

Pulling Eileen back into her arms, Cordelia was about to open her mouth to say they should go.

 “Master! Master Lucian!” “Eileen! Cordelia!” 

She could hear them calling for her in the distance. By now, it was almost past the edge of dusk, and the blueness of the setting sun made the approaching torches more visible.

 

Then, through the grass, Gail and a group of knights approached.

 “Eileen! Cordelia!” “Lucian!” 

The man in front of them rushed forward and threw his arms around Lucian.

 

A huge man, well over six feet tall, with black hair. Cool gray eyes that looked intelligent and cold. The man who looked so much like Lucian must be the Duke.

 “Father!” 

It was hard to believe that the Duke was the same man who had been so cold and neglectful of Lucian’s body.

 

In his arms, Lucian sobbed in a way that was appropriate for his age, ten years old.

 “You finally look my age.” 

Eileen, feeling somehow relieved, relaxed and leaned against Gail. The Duke, who had been holding the child and surveying his surroundings, passed Lucian into the arms of another and strode toward Eileen and Cordelia.

 “You saved Lucian’s life. I am so grateful.” 

The large man dropped to one knee beside Eileen and Cordelia. His expression didn’t change much, but the slight flick of his ears indicated that he was indeed agitated.

 “Well, Cordelia did save him.” “It was Eileen who tried to save her the whole time.” “Then let me ask you a question. Which one of you was the one who used the elemental power?” “…….” 

Eileen sucked in a breath. She knew it was coming.

 “It’s me.” 

Cordelia stepped forward, droplets of water rising from the dampness on the floor. There was a small murmur of admiration from the few Knights who saw her.

 “If I have this ability, do I have to leave the facility now?” “No. Your ability is a rare one, even in the Empire. Just being able to see spirits is already an outrageous talent, but with this level of power, you’d be in great danger without someone’s protection.” “Then can you protect me, Duke?” 

Kneeling down, Cordelia had to look up at the Duke because he was so tall, but Eileen was impressed that she was not intimidated and made her thoughts clear.

 

‘My child is so fragile. When did she get so big?’

 

She didn’t realize that Cordelia only feigned weakness in front of her.

 “Of course.” 

The duke promised to keep Cordelia safe and supportive until she came of age. And, of course, his full support for the orphanage.

 

‘Okay, so I didn’t completely prevent the future, but that’s not bad.’

 

If Cordelia had won over the Duke’s heart and prevented Lucian’s corruption, had she avoided the ruinous route to some extent? Eileen was still rolling the dice in her mind.

 “Okay, I’ll trust you, but I don’t want to be the only one to go to the Duke.” “Then…” “Eileen will go with me, because she sees spirits too.” 

‘What?!’

 

Gail coughed briefly, and Eileen gulped.

 “What, what, what, what, I’m going to…?”  “Yes! Eileen you!”

Cordelia smiled brightly. It was a brilliantly beautiful smile that could drive away the night.

 

Behind her, the watery wolf stepped forward. Smiling, eyes narrowed in mischief, Cordelia said crisply.

 “Look. See?” 

Life doesn’t always go as planned.

 

A small tear formed in Eileen’s eye, a truth only the water wolf knew.

  

* * *

  “Be safe when you go. Listen to the adults. Remember to brush your teeth for three minutes, and did you get the kids’ letters?” “Sis, don’t go.” “I got everything. Tommy, don’t cry.” 

It was a chaotic goodbye. Barely separating the children from a sobbing Anne, Eileen climbed into the carriage in a daze. Cordelia returned to the stunned Eileen, frantically checking her luggage.

 “Eileen, don’t be so shocked. Come visit us often, or you can invite the teachers and children. I’m sure the Duke would approve of that!” “Uh huh…” 

Cordelia thought Eileen was shocked that she was leaving the orphanage for the first time in her life, but the truth was different.

 

‘Is it true, I’m being thrown into a cold, aristocratic society full of slayers, and the world’s theme is even bloodshed?’

 

The simple life plan of living an uneventful life was no longer possible after the sighting of the spirit.

 

‘The only spirit I’ve seen in the first place is Cordelia’s, and I’m barely in it.’

 “Eileen, if you’re sleepy, you can sleep on my leg.” 

Dazed, Eileen followed Cordelia’s lead and lay down on her leg.

 

At least the Duchess isn’t dead, Eileen thought, and then she was exhausted, wondering how she could make a decent living.

 

She doesn’t know now. She wants to see the Mother Superior.

 

Her head, overloaded with thoughts, was rapidly becoming drowsy. Feeling the carriage rocking regularly, Eileen drifted further and further into a trance.

 

Cordelia stroked Eileen’s hair lazily as she fell into a deep sleep. She smiled, a satisfied smile.

 “Finally, it’s just the two of us.” 

The sound was so soft that Eileen didn’t even hear it. Then Cordelia felt the carriage come to a stop and the door open.

 

She held up a hand to block the light that poured through the crack, lest Eileen wake up, and turned to face the people standing outside the door.

 “Welcome.” 

Duke Gaudium and Lucian stood at the entrance to the manor with their attendants.

  

* * *

  

There was a pleasant rocking motion. Not like the rocking of a carriage. It was more warm and cozy. But not fluffy, just a little firm, like being hugged by a person…

 

‘A person?’

 

Eileen jerked awake with a start.

 “Ughhhh!” “You’re awake.” “Did you sleep well?” “What the…!” 

She was being carried in the Duke’s arms, and Eileen spoke, her voice trembling.

 “Put me down… please…” 

Luckily, the Duke didn’t say anything and carefully lowered her to the ground.

 

‘I thought my heart was going to fall out of my chest. I thought the duke doesn’t have a heart!’

 

Slipping behind Cordelia, Eileen calmed her racing heart and carefully scanned the room. After a moment

of panic, Eileen’s jaw dropped at the rich scent of capital.

 “This is a nobleman’s mansion!” 

The walls were covered in antique carvings, ornate paintings that looked expensive, polished floors and deep green carpets.

 

It was a mansion where the word lavish was not an exaggeration. Eileen, who had lived the most humble of lives in both of her previous lives, momentarily forgot her worries and stared at the mansion mesmerized.

 

Lucian glanced at her with a twinkle in his eye, but she didn’t notice as she was too distracted by the splendor of the mansion.

 

Lucian’s shoulders sagged a little in disappointment, and Cordelia, who hadn’t missed the look, smirked.

 

It wasn’t until they were seated on a plush couch in a parlor that Eileen came to her senses.

 “Allow me to formally introduce myself once again. My name is Gladius Igaro Gaudium. I will be your guardian from now on.” 

The Duke went on to explain in detail the benefits Eileen and Cordelia would receive at Gaudium Dukedom. But Eileen couldn’t make the words seem real.

 

‘It’s too different from the future.’

 

In the original, the Duke was more like a well-honed sword than a human being.

 

A sword that would tear through a man’s flesh with the slightest touch. Having lost the wife he loved more than anything through the mistakes of his young son, he had become a beast with extremely sensitive nerves. He killed what he saw, and forgot mercy.

 

The only thing he could not kill was his son, Lucian, the living proof of his beloved’s life.

 

“Father…”

 

“Live quietly, unnoticed. I do not wish to see you.”

 

That’s what the Duke had said to Lucian, whose eyes opened like a lie when the Duchess died. He hadn’t killed Lucian, but he had made him suffer more than death with a sentence of complete disregard.

 

The Duke’s life was like walking on thin ice among the murderous rich. It was only natural that Cordelia should be devastated.

‘Is this what the future holds with Lucian alive and the Duchess not dead?’

 “Here, sign this.” 

At the Duke’s words, a butler with a handsome mustache held out a fountain pen. The rich scent of the ink sobered Eileen, and she read the contract carefully.

 

‘No matter how distracted I am, I always read contracts carefully, but this one…’

 

The contract was surprisingly unconventional for Eileen and Cordelia.

 

Full support until the age of maturity and generous sponsorship of the orphanage. After they reached

the age of maturity, he would not interfere with their future and would even give them the castle of Gaudium if they so desired.

 

It was not common for a venerable duke to give away his castle. Even Eileen, who had always been a commoner, knew that.

 “Why would you do this? You don’t know us and I don’t have any power.” 

Eileen studied the duke’s expression. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking when he defaulted to expressionlessness. The Duke stared at her for a moment without answering. Just as he was about to speak, the door to the parlor burst open.

 “You two are the benefactors of this Duke of Gaudium!” 

The woman who entered winked mischievously. The woman’s green eyes sparkled with light as she wore her navy blue hair down to her waist.

 “Theresia, are you finished with your appointment?” “Mother!” 

Someone who, by rights, shouldn’t be in this world right now. It was Theresia, the Duke’s wife and Lucian’s mother.

 “Hello, little ladies.” 

What a cheerful person.

 

Eileen thought to herself. She had the brightest smile. She had a pale, sickly complexion, but the energy she exuded was so gentle that it was almost life-giving.

 

‘I saved her life.’

 

Eileen vowed to change the future, but with the fragmented future of the original story, she wasn’t sure if she was actually changing the end of this story.

 

In this situation, Theresia’s survival seemed to be the most realistic

“change”

Eileen could feel.

 

Eileen felt a tickle in her chest and couldn’t make eye contact with her.

 

Cordelia clumsily scooped her up into her arms as Eileen bowed her head. Theresia slowly approached them, showing the wary Cordelia that she had nothing in her hands.

 

She bent down on her knees in front of them, eye level with them.

 “Do you mind if I hold your hands?” 

Eileen slowly lifted her head to face Theresia. Her eyes were still shining, clear and unmistakably malicious.

 

Blushing, Eileen nodded and extended her hand. Cordelia, who had been watching, quickly added her h

and to hers. Theresia squeezed their hands, one in each, and smiled.

 

She smiled fondly as she rested her forehead against their small, fuzzy hands and spoke in a small but clear voice.

 “Thank you so much.” 

Cordelia looked at her, uncomfortable with the warmth. But neither of them brushed her hand away, just letting it soak in the warmth.

 

It’s like taming a wild cat.

 

The Duke, who had been dry-heaving at the heartwarming sight that touched even the staff, unconsciously looked back at Lucian.

 “Inhale… Exhale…” “Why are you crying…?” “Hmph, I’m glad… glad… heh.” 

Well, that was it.

 

The smirking duke turned his head again, leaning back on the couch as if to savor Theresia’s smile to his heart’s content. The low-saturated interior was a blast of spring in the otherwise dry duke’s house.

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