"Your Grace..." I mumbled, startled. I can't believe that the 'friend' of her highness was none other than the duke.
So what now?
What should I do?
Miss Cat?
Can you stop the time once again?
But nothing happens. She didn't interfere, unlike last time.
So what should I do? Should I reveal my identity to him?
"I've been wondering it ever since time reverses. For an unknown reason, a part of my mind shows that a knight named Zeana was working under me."
Those words made me pause. Did Miss Cat manipulate this world so that the people in this world believe that I actually exist in this world? So I didn't just reincarnate in someone's body, but I crossed over dimensions?
"That is how I started investigating, and it proves that the Zeana from my memory really exists. However, I'm certain that you never existed before the time returned back," he added, and his last words struck me.
He remembered what happened before the time reversed. Is it because he's the main character? But why does it seem like Racia or Dria doesn't remember anything?
Just what makes this duke special?
Is it because the implanted fake memories were unstable that he can feel that something is off about it?
But in the first place, just how the hell did he know that time was reversed?
Does he have a special ability or something?
"Now, I want to know, what exactly are you? Does your existence bring danger to this world? I want you to prove that I shouldn't kill you." His voice was dead serious, and I was like, 'Why would I?'
I mean, I'm not a dangerous person, and if he really wants to eliminate the dangers in this world, then he should go and hunt those criminals or those mass murderers. I'm sure there'd be too many out there. So why focus on me?
"I'm not dangerous, and I won't cause any harm in this world," I defended myself.
Because, like duh, do I look like some criminal to him? Me, who could barely run a few meters and then I'll be overly exhausted?
He didn't reply but instead observed my expression. Awkwardly, I reached a seat and sat there. He also moved and sat on the chair in front of me. But his gaze was locked on me.
If I were in a romance novel, it would be like, 'He can't take off his gaze from her unparalleled beauty.' But since I'm in this freaking strange scenario, his gaze is like, 'He can't take off his gaze from her because if he does, she might explode and lead to the end of the world.'
Damn, that notion is not so nice at all. I looked like the villain who was jealous of the female lead and tried to poison her.
Anyway, should I tell him?
If I won't, he'll continue to pursue me and if he became impatient, he might torture me for the answers.
And that would be my doomsday.
So should I open my mouth and reveal everything? But if I do, it'll be Miss Cat who'll torture me instead. I'm sure she's going to nag me nonstop till my ears bleed.
Argh! Never mind! I don't care about what happens to me anymore.
Nagging is way more okay than torture. So,
"Yes, you're right that I'm not from this world, but..." I paused and pretended to be innocent. "I don't know how I ended up in this world. When I woke up, I suddenly became the princess's maid." I lied flawlessly. Lying might not be my turf, but making a believable story was an easy thing for me.
Well, I'm not actually lying. I end up in this world without prior knowledge of why, and I learn that I'm the princess' maid from that maid who knew that Dria was looking for me.
"Then how did you end up in this world? You know, there are no records about a person traveling through dimensions, and this is the first." His serious expression vanished, and it was replaced with excitement. "So I want to learn more about it. Can you participate in my research? I want to learn more about the other world." The air of coldness and superiority was gone, and all he had was insatiable curiosity about the other world.
His eyes were twinkling, and I am stunned. Just how fast did he change his expression?
But what surprises me more is his interest in the other world. Was he not satisfied by this world and he wants to know more about others?
"You aren't going to kill me, Your Grace?" That's all I could mutter after being dumbfounded by my discovery. I am expecting that he'd suddenly charge his sword and plunge it into my neck, but what's this?
Indeed, there's no end in this. Everything was surprising me. It's not just Dria or Racia that changed. There's also this duke.
But what if it was really their real character? And my novel forced them to act like that. That is why the world's destiny was clogged.
Wait! If it is, then I should just remove those dictated actions, lines and all? Will it cause a sudden turn in the storyline, and will the world's destiny return back to normal?
Then, should I supply him with more of my knowledge about my world? That way, we will reach the happy ending, and then I'm free?
Damn, good thing I chose to reveal the truth, though only a few with mixed lies. If not, I don't know what could happen.
But... "What do you mean by time being reversed?" Although I know exactly the reason, I'm curious how he knew about it.
He stayed silent and shrugged.
It made me unconsciously raise my eyebrows. What does he mean?
"I don't know how I know about it. I just woke up and realized the time goes back," he explained, rendering me silent.
Does he have a special ability or something? Or is it an ability that was passed down by his ancestors, and he didn't know about it?
However, that reason doesn't sound valid. Is there another reason for it?
Or is it some sort of main character perk? But Racia is also the main character, but she doesn't have perks like this? Or did she gain too, but in a different sense?
What if she gained one too? That's why her attitude changed completely. Same as Dria.
And that would be the most probable theory.
The main characters gained an ability after I entered this world...
That is something worth investigating. I guess I'll try investigating it after I resolve the princess' assassination case.
Now, let's focus first on that case and share a story with this duke in front of me.
But the most important thing is my discovery right now? It's worth it, worth taking the risk for.
"If it won't be rude, I want to ask why you seem so interested in the other world, Your Grace," I asked after a moment of silence and short analysis.
"It's from a book that I've read before. There was a scientist in this world who theorized that there are other living beings in the universe aside from us," he answered, and I'm more than shocked. That's surprisingly correct, and what's even more surprising is that he's interested in theories and such.
Though, it's really bad to judge someone by their outward appearance. Indeed, my first impression has no hope for improvement.
"Then, I can tell you everything from our world. In one condition..." my voice trailed off, but I'm just forcing myself not to reveal a smirk.
"What condition?"
"I'm going to use the system that you're using in managing this information guild." My smirk became evident. "Everything has a price."
His face didn't even flinch. "Go. Name your price." He seems more willing to pay as long as his curiosity is satisfied.
"10 gold per information?" I joked. 10 gold is not a cheap amount.
But instead of showing a dissatisfied expression, he just nodded. "Sure, should we draft a contract for it?"
I gulped. If I continue providing him information, then I'll be rich in no time. But that richness means nothing in the future, so I guess I'll just ignore those gold coins.
"That's just a joke, Your Grace." My tone became more respectful. What if he suddenly loses interest in the things that I know and kills me for extorting his money? And also for my rude tone.
"Then what exactly do you want? Name it." He sounds like he's willing to spend any sum just to learn more.
This type of people are the ones that I'm afraid of. They can do whatever they want with people because they possess unimaginable wealth that could buy you as a person.
So messing with them would do nothing good but increase my death flags. And that's something I have to avoid at most.
Without any second thought, I answered his questions. "Information. I want information about this world in exchange." Because in an unpredictable battle, the most important thing is information.
"It's information for information."