Chapter 3

Early the next morning.

When Rin regained consciousness in Yana’s body once more, one thought immediately surfaced in her mind—like it had been waiting all along.

The Orb of Malice.

Right. How the hell did I forget about that insane orb?

Maybe she’d been too stunned by the fact that she’d come back to life to think straight. Still, that damned orb had definitely said something before she died.

[The contract is complete.]

That shady piece of junk… Who agreed to a contract? Why’s it deciding things on its own?!

Anyone who used the Orb of Malice to grant a wish became a monster. Rin had spent years chasing down those twisted creatures, bearing witness to the horror the orb’s power could create.

Maybe that’s why no matter what tempting offers it made, she had never once felt the slightest urge to give in.

If I had, Master would’ve hunted me down and killed me on the spot. No doubt about it.

Ugh. Just imagining her master’s cold, merciless stare sent chills crawling down her spine.

…Yeah, I definitely refused that offer back then.

And yet now, here she was—inhabiting the body of a girl she didn’t even know. What had happened to the real Yana’s soul?

“This is gross.”

Not just gross. Disgustingly gross.

Why did she have to wake up in the body of a young girl with her whole life ahead of her? If it had been the body of someone elderly, near death, she might’ve felt less guilty!

Knock knock.

A sound at the door.

And as if knocking meant nothing, the door burst open. In came Olga, of course. As rude as ever, she noisily set down breakfast and glanced over at Rin.

“The Second Young Master will be here soon. He heard you collapsed twice and wants to check on you himself.”

Second Young Master?

…Oh, right. She said this place was House Tusslena’s castle.

Tusslena.

Just thinking the name made her head throb like thorns pricking her brain. Saying it felt like her tongue was coated in sand.

It wasn’t that Rin had any particular grudge against House Tusslena. No, the problem was the association it had—Tusslena belonged to the so-called Four Great Houses of the Empire of La. Just thinking of two of those houses soured her mood.

House Tusslena, Apostles of the Divine.
House Nega, Lords of Golden Wealth.
House Ril, Keepers of Knowledge.
House Berger, Pillar of Honor.

Theon, that traitorous bastard, had come from House Berger. And Sabrina—from House Ril.

And now, thirty years later…

Where are they now? What are they doing?

Just imagining it left her feeling disgusted.

Rin forced herself to shake off the thoughts. There were more urgent matters than brooding over the two people who betrayed her.

She needed to find out more about the owner of this body—Yana Tusslena.

“You must be thrilled,” Olga muttered. “Meanwhile, I got scolded for turning the newspaper into a rag.”

Rin had only known Olga for two days, but one thing was already clear. That girl made her want to sew her lips shut.

“I had to scrub the kitchen floor alone last night as punishment. The other maids poured lye water everywhere just to mess with me…”

Letting Olga’s complaints slide right past her ears, Rin refocused.

Alright, this time I’m going to say it properly. Just tell her to shut that mouth already!

But what came out was—

“I’m sorry!”

…This cursed mouth.

Why can’t I curse her out? Why can’t I just tell her to be quiet? Why do I keep apologizing to this damn maid?!

Right on cue, her stomach twisted.

“Ugh.”

“Huh? No, please hold it in! Washing blankets is a nightmare—”

Shut up.

“I-I’m sorry…”

Uuugh.

“If you throw up again, you’ll have to wash the sheets yourself. I’m not doing it twice. Got that?”

Shut up, I said!

“S-Shut up!”

…Wait.

I actually said it properly this time?

And just like that, the nausea vanished.

It was so sudden, Rin froze. And at that exact moment, a theory took shape in her mind—clear, and disturbingly plausible.

No way…

Staring directly at Olga with wide eyes, Rin spoke.

Look away.

“I’m sorry.”

Ugh.

“You’re apologizing, even though you know what you did?”

Alright, again.

Look away.

“I’m… sor—”

Uuugh.

“That’s enough! This isn’t the first time. If you throw up on the bed again, I swear I’ll—”

One more time!

Look away!

“L-Look away!”

Ah. That came out perfectly.

“Huh?”

Olga’s dumbfounded face didn’t even register. Rin was too focused. Her theory was right.

This body… for whatever reason, keeps trying to apologize.

And if her second theory was also right, then…

“Ugh!”

…whenever she apologized, she always ended up throwing up.

“Young Lady!”

And right after that… her limbs would go limp, and down she’d go again.

Thud.

See? I was right. I really am smart…

“Young Lady, please! Get a hold of yourself! The Second Young Master is coming soon, remember? Hello?!”

Olga’s urgent voice quickly faded into the distance as Rin’s mind blurred into darkness.

Day two of being in this body.
Second time passing out.

While unconscious, Rin had a dream.

No—correction.

It wasn’t her dream. It was Yana’s dream, from this body’s mind. In it, Yana was even smaller, frailer than now, left utterly alone in the vast halls of House Tusslena’s estate.

Adults passing by would glance at her and whisper behind their hands.

“She’s the illegitimate child of the deceased firstborn, isn’t she?”

“That’s right. The disgrace of the holy House Tusslena.”

“She still dresses up properly, huh? I guess she’s treated like a lady even though her parents are dead.”

“Only in name. Her mother was of low birth — no one acknowledges her. The second and third sons, who were close to the deceased firstborn, took her in out of pity.”

“Raising a half-blood niece? How generous of them.”

“Such touching brotherly love.”

“Ugh. What’s the point of all that love? They feed her, clothe her, educate her just like the others, but she still falls short of the family’s standards. Disgracefully so.”

More people passed by.

Noble ladies, officials, knights, priests, merchants… yet not a single one looked at Yana with warmth.
Not one.

Gasp.

Rin jolted upright in bed, her shoulders trembling as though scorched by fire.

Her breath came in shallow bursts as she took in her surroundings. Yana’s bedroom. Bright morning sunlight streamed through the window.

Those weren’t just dreams…

They were memories — fragments of the life Yana had endured. This poor girl had suffered cruelty from strangers she didn’t even know.

An illegitimate child of a deceased heir.
Taken in by her uncles.
A child considered unworthy of holy House Tusslena’s name.

Seriously? And who exactly is calling her unworthy?

The memories were disturbing — but also useful.

Yana was an illegitimate child of House Tusslena.

Though the second and third sons took her in, judging from her fragile body and shattered spirit, it hadn’t been a kind upbringing.

So… Yana ate those poisonous wolfthorn berries herself?

Because she no longer wanted to live?
But eating a few berries wouldn’t have been enough to kill her.

Just then—

Click.

“Young Lady!”

The door burst open and Olga rushed in, panting, grabbing Rin to yank her upright.

What is she doing now?

“Hurry! Sit up! The Second Wife is on her way. Quickly now!”

With a frightened face, Olga began straightening Rin’s tangled hair, then rummaged through a drawer and smeared something pink on her cheeks — blush.

“What are you doing?” Rin asked.

“Stay still! If you look pale, I’ll be blamed! You’ve already caused me enough trouble — just listen to me for once!”

Trouble? Rin wanted to snap back at Olga’s insolence.

Why the hell do you talk like that?

But once again, her mouth had other ideas.

“M-Mi…”

…Right, I almost forgot. I’ve got this damn “Sorry Syndrome.”

Say “sorry” and she’d pass out.
A disease — “Apology Syndrome,” she called it. Rin clamped both hands over her mouth.

“What’s wrong now? We’re out of time! Lower your hands!”

Olga forcibly pulled her hands away, and Rin suddenly grasped something painfully clear.

Yana’s body wasn’t normal.

Otherwise, why would it try to turn every harsh word into an apology? Worse — why did it detest the word “sorry” so much that it sent her into convulsions?

To the point of vomiting? That’s not dislike. That’s pure hatred.

But why?

Why was Yana’s body desperate to apologize for everything?

I need to get rid of Olga. If she stays by my side, I won’t last long.

But with this cursed mouth, could Rin even report Olga’s attitude to a superior?

…No, there’s always another way.

If words failed, actions would suffice.

Rin snatched the blush from Olga’s hand — and threw it to the floor.

Clatter!

Olga’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at the shattered blush on the ground. Rage twisted her face.

“Young Lady! Have you lost your mind?!”

Ignoring her, Rin dashed to the table and downed water straight from the tea pot.

Better to puke this up than bile from an empty stomach.

Right then, the door creaked open.

“Yana?”

A well-dressed woman entered the room — refined, composed, noble at a glance. Blonde hair pinned high, an air of importance.
The Second Wife, presumably, her face lined with concern as she approached.

“Yana, are you alright? I heard you collapsed twice. How do you feel? Are you dizzy?”

Her calm, kind voice echoed gently in Rin’s ears. Without hesitation, Rin turned to Olga — and loudly apologized.

“Olga, I’m so sorry for not listening… I’m so, so sorry for making you angry, and not understanding sooner!”

Uuugh! Like clockwork, she retched.

The water she drank splashed across the floor.

“Oh heavens, Yana!”

The Second Wife rushed forward, horrified, to support her.

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