Chapter 10: It's your turn to find me now, dear.

As if he expected my awed reaction, he gave me a smug grin.

"Your turn." He pulled his knee up and rested his elbow on it, holding up his chin as he looked at me. Why do I feel like I'm being looked down upon by a kid? His pose and status are kinda infuriating.

"...Rose," I mumbled and turned back to the view from the cliff. Should I leave? But I just got here. And isn't this the Marquess' property?

"How common." His disappointed reply came through, poking directly at a deep-sated complex of mine.

"Hah?" I snapped my head to him. Incredulous. Did he just criticize my real name?

"What about it? What's so great about being unique?"

"Roses are everywhere." He gestured around with arm, talking as if stating the obvious. "There's nothing new to see."

Of course, I thought with a glare. In this world, only the heroine is meant to be the most unique. I suddenly sighed, looking at him and feeling pity for a fellow side character. I spoke these words to both, myself and him.

"Roses are overused, but there's a reason why they're so popular. What's the point in striving to be different? We're all born unique anyway. Besides," I brought my knees to my chest and rested my chin on them. Was it because I was finally speaking to someone after so long? For some reason, I'm talking a lot.

"Instead of 'you're different, so I love you' I'd rather hear 'you're common, but I love you anyway.' Actually wait, still... just saying 'you're common' right to my face would just make me want to slap you. Ugh, is all this just wishful thinking? Am I just trying to comfort myself because I'm not the heroine? Actually, I think I'd like to be unique after all, but just to my special people, as the rest of the world doesn't really matter-"

"Lady, are you done yet?" the boy interrupted, an irritated tone in his voice. "It's been a while since I lost track of what you could have meant with all these words. So do you want to be unique or not?"

"Why are you asking me? Do you think it's that easy to answer that question?" I frowned, genuinely confused.

"Huh?! Isn't that what you've been going on about?"

"No, I've been saying...!" I snapped, feeling exasperated that my point wasn't getting across. "...That I don't really know! I just find it troublesome to always try so hard to be unique. What's wrong with roses and what's wrong with just being common? I'm just trying to live so stop judging me!"

"Who said I'm judging you...!" He questioned with disbelief.

"Not you. People in general. Agh, forget it, why am I speaking of my troubles to some kid anyway?" I grumbled to myself, realizing how I'm probably close to taking out my frustrations on a poor passing stranger. But for some reason, this banter had put me in a considerably better mood.

"I'll have you know, I'm not just some kid!" He lifted his chin and glared at me defiantly.

"Alright, you're a unique kid. Happy now?" Ah, there we go. I'm being rude and I feel guilty but I'm going ahead anyway.

"You know, you're a really rude woman. Like this, do you think anyone will love and want to marry you?" Wha-! Why am I guilty when my opponent isn't an angel, either!

"Who cares if anyone wants to marry me? I'm a 21st century woman. As long as I'm here for me, I'm fine. As if I need a person." Now I lifted my chin and stared back at him.

"Weren't you the one just talking about how nice it would be to have a person tell you they love you because you're so unique? And what, 21st centu-"

"I said, it would be nice if someone said that they love me even if I'm not unique!"

"Now why would someone love you if you're just the same as everyone else?" He shook his head dismissively, as if he'd heard something really stupid. Ack.

"...Ugh. I'm just complaining, alright? It's just bothersome. This is me trying not to care because no matter how hard I work in this world, I won't be unique anyway." I'll always be a part of everyone who's a background character in front of the heroine. That's just how books are, and now I am in one myself.

"What a terrible personality. You're selfish and lazy and now you even give up before trying."

...

"You know... little brat, you've really been flapping your lips as you like this whole time!" I snapped.

At this, he stared at me with wide eyes and his mouth fell open. Stone-handlers weren't usually talked to in this way. His reaction was quite cute if I say so myself and I almost burst into laughter. But then the kid said something surprising.

"I'm going to tell Risor what a rude lady you are." He grumbled with a pout and glare.

I blinked in shock. "How do you know Risor?"

He shrugged, a certain smugness returning to his face. "He's my friend."

Now that I think of it... this shaggy blonde head... haven't I seen him in the estate before?

I frowned, tilting my head. But his clothes were definitely different.

Interrupting my thoughts, the boy leaned forward towards me. "What do you say? You want to be his friend too, right? Should I help you?"

I blinked. He knows? "...How?"

Expecting my question, the boy gave a huge grin, that brought forward a foreboding feeling within me, and he extended his hands out, as if asking for payment.

"Money? I don't have money." I laughed. "I'm the abandoned daughter, my dear. I have nothing." Now that I think of it, he already knew who I was but still asked for my name? Now I feel a little embarrassed for giving him a 'fake' one. Is that why he expressed disappointment when I said 'Rose'? Because he wanted me to be more creative with my 'lie'?

...That's kinda annoying.

I pursed my lips and pushed myself up. He watched with a tilted head as I proceeded to dust my clothes.

I'm desperate but I'm not a real villain as to use the power of a mana-stone and put Risor under a spell. Besides-

"Aren't you his friend? Why would you knowingly offer to do that to him?" I questioned the boy who no longer gave me the same cute aura as a few minutes ago.

He shrugged and then narrowed his eyes at me, a corner of his lip twisting up.

"Because it's interesting."

What...?

I clenched my jaw. What an insufferable child! He's acting like some arrogant male lead, but none of the characters in this book were like this.

"Why are you living like everything is a joke?"

"Then what about you?"

Huh? I was turning to leave but at this I looked at him curiously. He brought his fingers to his neck.

"You." He squeezed a few times with a grin that almost seemed to be mocking me. "Why do you want to die?"

I grit my teeth, my eyebrows furrowing. Then I looked back at the countless houses and buildings scattered ahead of me. Sometimes, if it got quiet enough, I could imagine the voices from the capital being carried through the air and reaching my ears. Sounds of bells, laughter, people talking and babies crying. I let out a sigh and turned my gaze back to him.

"As if I want to die."

The boy, Rezel, stared up at me. I thought this topic was too dark for a kid, but something about this one makes me feel like he's already seen a lot.

I sighed again, not knowing how to convey my meaning. My emotions and thoughts were in a frenzy in me.

"I don't want to die; I want to live. That's why it gets hard sometimes. I... wasn't trying to kill myself." Though what does it matter when I am going to end up dead anyway.

He watched me for a few more moments with his lips pursed, as if in thought and then he nodded.

"I see."

I frowned, tilting my head. What's with that quiet voice?

"Alright, then!" As if I'd imagined his timidity a second ago, he suddenly jumped to his feet with a grin and said something really rude.

"You really aren't all that interesting, so I don't think we'll be meeting again."

And before I could get a word in reply, he snapped his fingers and vanished into thin air.

I was left gaping by myself at the lilies left abandoned on the ground. I didn't pick them up.

My light mood disappeared as soon as I got back to the room. Perhaps it was because it was a place where all my dark thoughts had accumulated for the past few days.

Idly, as I laid on my bed, I tried once again to come up with a plan. All I need is money. If I had money, I could use it to run away and settle down somewhere.

But I have no money... I groaned and rubbed my face. Through between my fingers, my sight landed on the bunch of purple dresses hanging from my closet.

Getting up, I gravitated towards the beautiful clothes and slid my fingers across their fabrics.

A laugh fell from my lips and I thought to myself, Should I just pick an outfit for burial?

I blinked. Ah... what am I thinking? I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I'm not giving up so easily. I should first do something about this damned mood of mine.

I racked my brain for ways to be positive.

"Looking at the sky for twenty minutes a day can make you happier. I hope you'll look at the sky often."

Words from my favourite singer from my past life echoed in my mind and I nodded vigorously with teary eyes. As expected of my beloved...!

That's right, I'll listen well to you! I made my way to my window for the first time in a few days. I was trying not to spare a glance to that garden, although the plants had no fault.

Opening it, I placed my elbows on the windowpane and cradled my cheeks in my palms as I looked up at the sky.

"Was that a lie?"

What?

My eyes snapped to the ivy at the sound of their voice.

"You said that you were going to die and that you needed help," they continued.

"...It wasn't."

"You certainly aren't acting like it."

I raised my eyebrows at the sharp tone in their voice and then glared with irritation.

"What do you mean?" I snapped. "What do you know?"

The ivy continued calmly, ignoring my anger.

"If you were, you should be desperate. How can you leave him waiting there for you?"

"Who's-" My eyes widened. My head snapped towards the garden.

For the first time, I met Risor's golden eyes as he was already looking back up at me.

"Wh-what does this mean...?" My fingers gripping the windowpane tightly turned white and the vines laughed at me.

"It means you should be running towards him right now, child."

And I did.

My heart raced in my ribcage as my feet soared down the stairs towards the garden. The air blew past me, and my hair flew messily. Once out the door, the sunlight hit my eyes with a start, along with the sweet smell of nature. I turned towards where Risor was and bounded towards him.

For the first time, it wasn't the back of his dark head that was in my sight. His loose beige shirt with strings on his chest and his sleeves waved gently in the breeze. He was standing, facing my direction; waiting for me.

I stood in front of him, the sound of my heartbeat and the leaves ruffling mixed into the air. His golden eyes looking into mine narrowed gently. I opened my lips timidly.

"...Hi."