VFAI 12

Chapter 12

The Man Who Knows My Past Life
2022.08.11.

It was when Karlotte Perdier was five years old.

Karlotte had one older brother and one older sister.

Among them, his sister—Elodie Perdier, two years older than him—was a somewhat unusual presence within the household.

Not special. Rather, strange.

Even though she was his sister, Karlotte could count on one hand the number of times he had seen Elodie’s face until the year he turned five.

That was because Karlotte, Yancy, and the Perdier duke and duchess stayed in the main estate, while Elodie lived in the detached building.

When he was younger, they didn’t even have monthly family meals together, so there was even less reason to see her.

Karlotte had always been curious about his sister.

But the people of the Perdier family were indifferent to one another and deeply individualistic, so no one ever talked to him about Elodie.

Karlotte wanted a friend.

But his family never fulfilled that wish.

Only parents who merely existed, an older brother who felt politely distant despite his kindness, and servants who treated him with rigid formality.

Sometimes, when Karlotte attended gatherings with other noble children, he realized his home life was not normal.

One child whispered first:

“My mom and dad kiss all the time.”

“Oh! Mine too!”

Everyone began bragging about it, while Karlotte simply sat there, listening.

He had never seen his parents even sit close together.

Even during tea time, they usually sat across from each other.

One child asked Karlotte, who had been unusually quiet:

“Karl, what about your mom and dad?”

“My mom and dad… don’t do that.”

“Don’t? They don’t kiss? Don’t even hold hands?”

“No. They don’t hold hands.”

As a direct heir of one of the Four Great Houses, Karlotte was an impressive figure to the children in the group. Their parents constantly told them to be on good terms with him.

But children who secretly envied him immediately seized on something to mock him.

“Why are Karl’s parents like that?”

“That’s weird!”

“Hahaha!”

The children who had never dared say anything to him before suddenly ganged up and laughed at him.

Karlotte felt furious.

But he didn’t even understand why he felt angry.

One day, while wandering the mansion alone for fun, Karlotte overheard the servants talking.

“Honestly, it’s disgusting. She looks like her mother, pretty enough, but she never even cries.”

“Do you think that bastard child really believes she’s part of the Perdier family?”

“She can’t even manifest her power. What kind of Perdier is she?”

Karlotte narrowed his eyes.

‘My sister… isn’t a Perdier?’

The conversation continued.

“It wasn’t like the master and mistress were close to begin with, but ever since that illegitimate child arrived, haven’t they grown even more distant?”

“Maybe… that might be true.”

“That bastard child is the problem. She’s a stain on the Perdier name.”

Illegitimate child.

It was the first time Karlotte had heard the term.

‘So Mom and Dad are fighting because of my sister…?’

He had never even called her “sister” before.

What he had ignored until now suddenly became audible in every corner of the mansion.

Karlotte finally understood why Elodie lived in the detached building.

They said she was a child born outside the marriage of another woman, which was why she lived separately.

They also said his parents’ relationship worsened after she arrived.

Whether it was true or not didn’t matter. The young Karlotte believed the rumors completely.

Except for lessons and training, no one in the mansion paid attention to what Karlotte did.

One day, while wandering into the detached building, Karlotte unexpectedly encountered Elodie in the garden.

A sweet-looking girl with pale blond hair and bright pink eyes looked at him, startled.

His sister did not greet him, but instead stepped back nervously.

‘How dare she avoid me?’

A childish emotion surged within Karlotte.

He pointed at her and spoke:

“Illegitimate child.”

“…Huh?”

“Everyone says you’re an illegitimate child.”

Elodie said nothing and simply blinked.

That reaction only irritated him more.

“Illegitimate children are dirty. So you must be really dirty!”

“I’m not dirty. I take baths properly.”

“But you’re still illegitimate, right?”

“……”

“Get lost, you illegitimate child.”

Karlotte pushed her shoulder roughly.

“Ah!”

It wasn’t even a strong push, but Elodie fell weakly onto the ground.

“What? Don’t pretend to be weak! You illegitimate child!”

“I’m not pretending… I was just surprised—”

“Young master!”

The head maid, who had been searching for Karlotte, rushed over.

“Oh dear, young master! You can’t just run off like this. Let’s go back inside. You’re not supposed to come here.”

“I came because that illegitimate child was here.”

“P-please don’t say things like that.”

The maid glanced at Elodie on the ground, then left her there and took Karlotte back to the main house.

After that, Karlotte often visited the detached building to hurl sharp words at Elodie.

Elodie simply ignored him with a blank expression.

Ironically, whenever Karlotte insulted her, the servants comforted him excessively. Even though he was the one being cruel, he was treated as pitiful.

‘I’m the poor one. Because of that illegitimate child, Mom and Dad don’t get along.’

Attention from others felt good.

Even if his parents remained cold and only fulfilled formal duties toward him.

Karlotte’s childhood passed quickly.

A few years later, Karlotte once again headed toward the detached building on impulse—but this time, he heard the sound of sobbing and hid behind a large tree.

Elodie Perdier was crying.

“I want to die, nanny. I didn’t choose to be born.”

“You mustn’t say such things, young lady…”

Her nanny held her tightly, face twisted in distress, but Elodie’s shoulders still trembled.

“You probably think I should have never been born too… I’m just a dirty illegitimate child…”

“Good heavens, who told you such things…!”

“Did my mother really die? Can I ask her to take me too?”

“My goodness! You must never speak of that! The master will be furious!”

Karlotte, who had always seen her as indifferent and cold, was shocked to see her crying and saying she wanted to die.

After overhearing that conversation, Karlotte never called her an illegitimate child again.

But by then, it was already too late.

Their relationship had become too twisted to fix.

They only scratched and hurt each other.

Perhaps hatred had become habit.

…

Why was he remembering things from his childhood now?

Karlotte roughly ran a hand through his hair and clenched his teeth.

“Where did she go… you idiot…”

Even the proud power of the Perdier family was useless when it came to finding someone who had disappeared.

Should I inform Father? No—if I do, he might think I’m incompetent.

He hated the idea of being seen as useless more than death itself.

So he couldn’t report Elodie’s disappearance.

Karlotte began searching the area again.

In the distance, the towering silhouette of the Mage Tower could be seen.

There were four mage towers across the continent, each overseeing a cardinal direction. The one she had entered was the Somnia branch of the Western Tower.

Suddenly, she realized how bright the sunlight was and how light her hand felt.

“Oh, I left my parasol.”

It was a parasol she liked.

But going back to retrieve it risked running into Karlotte, whom she had just managed to shake off. In the end, she gave up on it and hurried forward.

From the beginning, today’s outing had been planned to escape Karlotte.

To evade the keen senses of Karlotte, a swordsmanship quasi-master, she had deliberately guided him into a crowded pâtisserie and then slipped away.

The plan involved several calculations.

Karlotte won’t report it to Father immediately.

Given his prideful personality, he wouldn’t immediately report that his assigned target had disappeared.

He would likely search for her himself.

She also expected that news wouldn’t immediately reach the duke.

If she was caught sneaking out like this, she would likely be confined again.

Before that happened, she needed to reach the pâtisserie.

I’ll just say I went to a nearby café because I was thirsty.

Rehearsing her excuse, she entered the Mage Tower.

The spiral staircase stretched all the way to the top, an unusual interior structure that caught her attention.

At the reception desk, a staff member greeted her with a polite smile.

“Welcome, what are you looking for?”

“I’d like to invest in the Mage Tower business.”

“Recently, gold mine investments have been popular. Are you interested in those?”

Gold mines were good, but too many people were already investing in them, making big profits difficult.

She already had a target in mind.

“I heard there’s something called named sponsorship investment?”

“Yes, of course. Do you have a mage you’d like to sponsor?”

“I’ll invest everything in Mage Elby.”

The staff member’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“…Pardon?”

“8,000 Larit.”

The staff member left with a dazed expression, carrying the money pouch.

It was a natural reaction.

Mage Elby was an unknown junior mage not even listed in promotional materials.

“Are you really investing the full 8,000 Larit?”

“Yes.”

“Would you like to reconsider? There are better investment options…”

“No. I’ll invest everything in them.”

There was a reason for her certainty.

The mage she was investing in would soon invent a magical device that would become a massive hit and earn an enormous fortune—at least according to the book she had read.

Since her attitude was firm, the staff gave up persuading her and handed over a magical contract.

It verified identity to prevent disguise or fraud.

“Your name, please?”

Since it was a magical contract, using a real name wasn’t necessary.

If she used her real identity, her funds might be traced—and her power exposed.

A name came to her mind.

Arcelia…

She turned to the waiting staff member.

“Riri Arcel.”

Her nickname was Riri, but it was common enough that no one would associate it with her.

“Very well, Ms. Riri Arcel. Your registration is complete.”

Having finished her final task, she immediately left the tower.

Should she return to the pâtisserie? Would Karlotte still be there? Or should she go straight back to the estate?

Maybe things are already chaotic by now.

As she walked toward the pâtisserie with a resigned attitude, someone suddenly grabbed her shoulder.

Karl…?

She thought it was Karlotte—but it wasn’t.

A tall, well-built man.

Black hair darker than night and striking red eyes that immediately drew attention.

He was extraordinarily handsome.

His lips parted.

“…ta.”

What is he saying?

She frowned slightly, trying to listen more carefully.

Then a clear word pierced her ears.

“Yoon Ga-eul.”

“…!”

It was an uncanny experience, as if the voice engraved itself directly into her eardrums.

Time seemed to stop.

Those sorrowful red eyes staring at her.

She stepped back slightly.

“You… who are you?”

This man—why does he know my past life name?