The Sleeping Devil

Just as one difficulty passed, another arose. This time it was Didier.

Didier Beriard, the ten-year-old heir to the Beriard Marquisate. He was a true Beriard, inheriting the Beriard curse... or so they say. The little devil was supposed to come in the afternoon. When it was cheerfully announced during breakfast, I nearly choked on my potato.

"Hello...?"

"Thank you for the invitation, sister."

I didn't invite him, but lacking the education of nobility, I didn't know what to do. Prompted by Mary, I took my seat, and in no time, tea was prepared for the two of us. Didier's lavender-colored hair stood out vibrantly in this room with a lack of colors.

"This is the first time we're talking like this. I've been looking forward to it."

"So have I..."

"Hehe, you're not really thinking that."

Didier's happy smile makes him truly resemble a devil. I quietly lift the teacup, letting it cool slightly to avoid burning myself, and bring it to my lips. As the scent of tea wafts through my nose, I feel my tense body relax.

"Who are you, really?"

"Wha-!?"

Please don't start with such direct questions. Let's observe each other a bit more and shorten the distance between our hearts before that.

Of course, I couldn't say that, so I chose to deflect the question with a question.

"What do you mean?"

"Just as I said. You were raised in a shack with other slave children, right? Didn't you understand that you were different from the other children?"

"The other children didn't speak much. There wasn't really any conversation."

This is not a lie. Whether it was due to my circumstances or something else, the children never talked to each other. The other children just sat there listlessly, and it was rare for them to even respond to the caretakers' questions.

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"So, why can you speak? How did you learn the language?"

"W-Well, I listened to the people who took care of me when they spoke..."

"Even so, you speak like a noble."

Ah, um, I see... I thought I could make them understand by saying, "The Beriard family is a lineage of geniuses," but even geniuses need to learn. The Beriard clan indeed starts their education earlier than others, and that's what makes them understand and excel. Even though I claim to have memories from my past life, the language is different. So, the reason I understand must be due to having some knowledge or memories of this world. But that alone doesn't explain everything. I myself am puzzled by many things. So, I try to come up with excuses to make him believe in the genius narrative.

"I still have a long way to go. I had some conversations with father during the carriage ride, and I have learned some words since coming here."

"I see. So, how much do you know about the Beriard family?"

"Hardly anything. I know almost nothing."

What should I do to make Didier lose interest? What answer would be the right one?

"The Beriard family, you see, possesses extraordinary talents due to their unique obsession, and in return, they lack the emotions and guilt that humans should have. Even without attachments, they are generally superior to others in most aspects. They are geniuses, you could say. But it's not a blessing; it's a curse."

Matching my dream's understanding with reality, I am convinced that it's a characteristic of this family rather than a curse, considering the combination of my past life's knowledge and the current world.

"You, too, must have inherited that curse. That's why you are smarter than others, and your mind and body grow at a faster rate. But it's strange. Why are you so human-like?"

My heart beats uncomfortably.

...Human-like?

I had thought that Didier was suspicious because a three-year-old, who hadn't received proper education, was responding so well. And I thought I could cover it up with the curse narrative.

So, if we go with the genius narrative, then I should have been a demon as well. Indeed, Sheriel, whom I saw in my dream, had a chillingly cold heart. Wasn't it because she lived as a tool?

"I don't really understand what you mean by 'human-like.'"

At that moment, Didier smiled and held...

"What are you doing?!"

To my disbelief, Didier actually threw a steaming teacup at me. What a terrible brat.

Still, I didn't change my expression, calmly wiping the spilled tea off the floor.

"Mary, you might get burned..."

"That's it. We don't worry about others. Unless she is a significant person to you, someone you consider as family, then it would be different. But it's not like you can trust someone that deeply after only a few days, right?"

You damn devil, I cursed inwardly. I wanted to shout, "You have no idea what the definition of a devil is," but I held back and maintained a serious expression.

"Mary is important to me. She has been kind to me ever since I came here."

"Is that all? You really have changed. But is that truly the reason?"

Didier ruffled his lavender hair and smiled innocently, like a child on Christmas day. I desperately thought about what he wanted to know and how I could satisfy him. In the meantime, Didier's cheeks were flushed with excitement, and his curiosity seemed to grow even more.

"What do you think, Didier? About me..."

"Well, honestly, I have no idea. Are you a genius surpassing me, possessing innate shapeshifting abilities that don't require environment or education? Or is this curse itself something more complex than what I've learned? Or perhaps it's a gift..."

I'm probably not cursed.

...Or am I really not?

In my dream, I was certainly merciless, indifferent, and devoid of guilt. Thinking about it, it seems in line with the Beriard lineage, but my obsession was directed towards a certain person---my past life.

Besides, I didn't possess extraordinary talent. While I may have been exceptional compared to ordinary people, I shouldn't have possessed the special talent that the Beriard family possesses.

Wait, what's happening to me?

I couldn't help but tilt my head in confusion.

"It's strange, isn't it?"

"Ahahahaha! You're truly amusing. You understood our conversation just now and found yourself perplexed, right?"

As Didier continued to laugh, he seemed like an ordinary child who just wanted to solve the puzzle known as Sheriel.

"Didier, are you interested in me?"

"Well, right now, maybe. Honestly, I'm more interested in the fluctuations of human emotions, but lately, no one wants to play with me."

"Do you want to make me cry or suffer?"

"I don't really know anymore. At first, I intended to, but right now, that's not my priority."

Hmm, what should I do?

In my dream, Sheriel didn't show any interest in him before her death. However, the fact that he recognized me as a certain type of person indicates that something must have happened between us.

I can't determine if it's the right choice to be of interest to Didier or to remain indifferent. I'm uncertain.

I'm curious about my own nature, and strangely enough, I feel like Didier's curiosity might help me understand myself. However, I still have concerns. So, I'll keep it on hold and say, "I'll tell you my secret when we become closer."

"You see, there's a secret after all! But becoming closer? I think we're already getting along well, though?"

Didier's adorable mannerism, as he tilted his head in complete confusion, almost made me think he was an angel. Well, at least his face.

"Didier, can you tell me your secrets? Can I feel safe with you? Building a good relationship isn't just about appearances. It's about trusting each other, caring for each other, cherishing each other, and being able to spend time together without causing harm and enjoying it."

"You're suddenly showing your true colors. Well, hmm... I'm having a good time, but trust and care, huh? I might be a little lacking in understanding the extent of causing harm. Zaris, what do you think of me?"

Despite being suddenly asked a question, Zaris, who stood a little apart, immediately answered. He is Sergio's chief aide and seems to have been assigned as my guardian to ensure that Didier doesn't destroy me.

Zaris, without changing his expression at all, said bluntly, "You still have a long way to go."

"That's harsh, don't be so straightforward. But maybe it's just right. Honestly, I did think that learning about empathy and shapeshifting through lectures alone had its limitations. I'll learn while playing with you. Isn't that fine?"

"Is it fine?" No, it's not fine! I'm not your guinea pig!

While inwardly screaming, I realized that it was indeed necessary for Didier to learn the boundaries of causing harm as soon as possible. It's something that even an ordinary child learns through interacting with others, regardless of their lineage.

With that in mind, I took the hand of this little demon.

"Well then, please take care of me...?"

"From now on, let's take care of each other, She-ri-el."