Time passed in the blink of an eye. It had been a month since Ethan trapped Charlotte's sister in the mirror. Charlotte had been acting obediently. She had also learned how to behave like a maid—though still lacking in some areas.
Ethan sat on the bed, his gaze fixed on empty space. In truth, he was staring at his status screen. Ever since the day it appeared before his eyes, he hadn't received any quests, nor had anything changed on the screen—except for the addition of a mana contract.
He stood from the bed, straightened his shirt, and walked out of Charlotte's house. He needed to return home. There were things he had to settle.
Charlotte followed closely behind. She carried a small mirror in her pocket. The mirror held the figure of a little girl inside. Her face was pale, her eyes filled with fear. Still, she remained trapped, only able to move around the room that had been reflected when she was first sealed inside.
Charlotte had added several defensive spells to the mirror to prevent it from breaking. Her hatred for Ethan had reached new heights, but her sister was the only thing stopping her from acting against him.
By the time Ethan stepped out of the compound, a cab was waiting. Charlotte had ordered it. Ethan got in first and told the driver to head to the Hargrave estate.
The ride was quick. Within an hour, they arrived. Ethan stepped out of the cab and looked toward the manor in the distance. The wall was high, and guards patrolled the grounds.
With his hands behind his back, Ethan walked toward the house. Charlotte trailed behind him, her expression cold and eyes filled with murderous intent. When the guards saw Ethan, they pretended not to notice him. Some coughed awkwardly, while others simply looked past him to Charlotte.
A few guards even whistled, openly ogling her.
Ethan frowned. He could guess what was going on. The former Ethan wasn't someone respected in the Hargrave family.
This feels like a typical protagonist trope, Ethan thought as he nodded to himself.
Still, he didn't mind the guards' reactions. At least they didn't stop him from entering. That meant they respected the Hargrave name, if nothing else.
He walked straight into the house and picked a room to stay in. Charlotte stood at the door, head lowered, waiting for his orders. Ethan gave her a once-over and shook his head.
"Leave me alone."
Charlotte bowed and silently exited into the shadows.
Ethan lay on the bed and glanced around. The more he looked, the more he felt like he was in a girl's room. He frowned.
He couldn't remember if the Hargrave family had any daughters... Just as he pondered this, the door burst open.
Standing in the doorway was a girl about his age. She had brown hair tied in a ponytail and wore a black, tight-fitting gown. Her expression was cold, but when her eyes met Ethan's, it twisted with rage.
"YOU BASTARD!"
She tore off one of her high heels and hurled it straight at Ethan's head. Caught unprepared, Ethan couldn't even dodge. He saw it coming, but his weak body couldn't react in time. The heel smacked against his forehead.
"I TOLD YOU I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!" she screamed. "GET OUT!"
Ethan sat frozen, dazed on the bed. His expression remained calm, but his heart pounded wildly as he processed a hundred thoughts at once.
What's she doing here? The future war empress? She's supposed to be in the palace, suffering under her brothers...
Then one day she survives their assassination attempt, buries her mother, goes insane, slaughters everyone in the palace, and becomes queen. Leads the country to ruin, destroys several kingdoms...
She never forgets a grudge. She even dragged her brother to the underworld just to kill him again and stop his reincarnation...
Why is everything different from what I know? First, I woke up and met Charlotte. Now I come home and the war empress is here? From the looks of it, she lives in this room. In the Hargrave home?
...Impossible.
And judging from how she treats me, her relationship with the old Ethan was terrible. Actually, it's worse than terrible… Am I doomed from the start?
Despite his inner turmoil, Ethan kept his face composed. But in his eyes, a glimmer of shock and caution flickered.
"W-War Empress, wait! I made a mistake. I was tired—I forgot this was your room," Ethan stammered, quickly standing up and offering a polite gesture with his hands wrapped into a fist.
"What?! War Empress?!" she shrieked, her face flushed with fury. "You bastard! Are you mocking me for not participating in the throne war?!"
Suddenly, a sword appeared in her hand.
Ethan panicked. Shit… That's the name she hates the most. Of all things… even my mouth is against me.
He knew he wouldn't make it out if he stayed. She'd lost all reason, and if she killed him now, no one would care. Not even the Hargrave family.
Without thinking twice, Ethan dashed toward the window. The door was suicide—she was guarding it like an immovable fortress. Not even a rat could escape that way alive.
She hadn't expected him to go for the window. Before she could move, Ethan had already jumped.
She grit her teeth and bolted after him. She had to catch him. If Ethan died, she'd be married off to the prince of a neighboring country.
He was only her fiancé in name—an excuse to avoid marriage. She didn't think he'd try to off himself the moment he saw her. His reaction caught her so off guard that her anger evaporated.
As she leaped after him, her expression turned confused. Ethan's body wasn't falling.
Midair, she turned her head—and saw it.
Ethan had latched onto the window frame of the room below hers. He climbed through and slipped inside.
The princess began to shake. Violently.
Her rage boiled. Her hair turned red. Steam rose off her skin. Her eyes burned.
She twisted midair and landed on her feet. As her feet touched the ground, flames exploded outward, burning everything around her—flowers, grass—reduced to ash.
"ETHAN!!!!"