My Past Life is Riddled With Many Sins - Chapter 9

“Ho.”

He let out a wry laugh, and then stared at Regina with an inscrutable expression. She didn’t know if it’s about her guilty conscience, like a thief whose legs went numb, but it felt like he was an audience member watching a play. Crossing his arms thinking ‘Let’s see how far this goes.’ Maybe it was due to her feelings?

Regina, nervously breaking into a cold sweat, running her hope circuit, felt her foot touch the ground. He had let go of the clothing he was holding.

As Regina, now free, was about to straighten up and leave immediately.

“Just a moment.”

“I apologize, but I have a tight schedule…”

“Whether I give you a horse or provide a carriage, I’ll make sure to take you to your desired location on time. So, follow me.”

He interrupted her. Did that mean the deception was successful, at least for now?

Although Regina had mixed feelings, she was relieved that he had stopped being so polite. Of course, it bothered her that he didn’t let her go just like that.

‘Should I just make a run for it?’

Regina was conflicted as she watched his back as he headed towards the inn.

Wouldn’t she be able to escape if she used all her strength?

As she gulped just as she was about to turn away from him, he abruptly stopped, as if he had eyes on the back of his head. Regina quietly followed him into the inn.

The innkeeper, upon hearing the door open, grumbled disapprovingly.

“You left without saying a word after eating. And now you’re back.”

Feeling embarrassed, Regina subtly avoided the innkeeper’s gaze.

The handsome man, sitting at the table with a somewhat arrogant posture, spoke.

“Name?”

“I’m Regina Heather. But why do you need my name…”

“Age.”

“I’m twenty, but why does my age…”

“Destination.”

Regina’s question was callously ignored by him. In a way, it was the expected attitude of a noble towards a commoner, but it felt unfamiliar. In her past life, Friedrich treated everyone, whether noble or lowly, with the same respect.

Whether it was because those ordained as priests were naturally like this, or because his innate character was noble, Friedrich was unaffected by worldly standards such as status. He was a man who would willingly bend his knee and listen attentively to a girl selling flowers on the street.

The man who used to be like that in her past life was now leaving her standing up and merely satisfying his curiosity.

‘…..Could this be my fault?’

Had Yekarna’s nasty behavior in her past life changed his character? If not, Regina couldn’t explain why this saint-like man went through such a drastic transformation.

“I asked about your destination.”

He tilted his head slightly. As she absentmindedly watched his beautiful black hair flowing as it followed the tilt, Regina snapped back to her senses.

She should act as ignorant as possible. But can she say that she was going to take the academy entrance exam?

“It’s Hylo. My parents asked me to go there and pick up something from someone they know.”

“Hylo.”

The man’s eyes narrowed. Regina hesitated for a moment, afraid that he might notice something then cautiously continued.

“Well, if you don’t have any other instructions, I’ll be on my way…”

“I happened to be heading in that direction. So things worked out well.”

What worked out well?

As a sense of foreboding enveloped Regina for a moment, his lips curved gracefully.

“I’ll specially accompany you.”

It was like a thunderbolt out of the blue. Faced with this unexpected calamity, Regina jumped up.

“No! That’s not possible. How could I, travel with you noble Sir!”

“I don’t mind.”

“No! Why would a distinguished person like you want to travel with a commoner like me!”

“Hmm, part of the noblesse oblige? Feeling uneasy about letting a child roam this dangerous world alone?”

It wasn’t a statement but a question. It meant that it was far from sincere. Moreover, calling her a child. Regina was a respectable adult, according to imperial law, one was considered an adult from the age of twenty.

“Thank you for your concern, but I’m an adult, so you don’t need to worry about me that much.”

“Normally, children deny that they’re children.”

Regina was taken aback. Even the one who was responding like that, looked around twenty-three or twenty-four at most. Surely, he couldn’t be more than the twenties. Why act like an adult with just a few years’ difference in age?

‘And why am I considered the younger one?’

Despite the back-and-forth with no logical order, she died much earlier than Friedrich.

Yekarna was in her thirties before she died. If he had enjoyed a natural span of life, he would have arrived in the afterlife many decades later. Yet, he was treating her as if she were much younger.

It was unfair that she, who died earlier, was being treated like a child. In her past life, they were the same age, so the strange age difference felt even more pronounced.

“Any other disqualifications?”

Regina, who had been grumbling inside, came to her senses at his question.

“No! I, that, that’s…”

“Alright, I’ll consider it as we’re traveling together.”

He announced with a smirk, deliberately making a smile that sent shivers down Regina’s spine.

‘Is he uncertain about me and keeping me close to watch over me? Is he planning to take revenge once he’s sure I’m Yekarna’s reincarnation?’

Getting involved like this and getting her true identity exposed would undoubtedly lead to her being kicked around by the man in front of her. However, as a commoner, she couldn’t openly oppose the decision of a noble.

What should she do? How could she escape this crisis?

The man’s gaze, watching Regina who was groaning in agony, momentarily showed a subtle light before returning to its usual state.

“Wait while I eat.”

“Where should I…?”

“Sit in a chair or stay as you are. However you like.”

After thinking for a moment, Regina sat quietly across from him. It seemed better to let her body be comfortable.

Before long, the food arrived, and he began to eat.

‘It’s just as before.’

The gestures of handling the utensils, the habit of tasting the food starting from the left on the plate, the way he held the glass. Even though his appearance had changed, those small details…

Unintentionally, Regina found herself observing him.