The Original Work Got Ruined After I Quit Being the Sub Male 75

Honestly, I was hoping that wasn’t the case.

I moved my lips for a long time before finally managing to say it.

“Why… didn’t you tell me until now?”

[…]

“You know everything I’ve been thinking all this time. If you knew I was mistaken, you should have told me.”

My voice became sharp without me realizing it.

I felt somewhat betrayed. When I closed my mouth to calm my feelings, Prometil answered gently as if soothing me.

[I told you. I wanted to ‘watch over’ you.]

“…”

[Everything was your choice and your freedom.]

So it’s my fault for not asking.

My fault for not knowing.

[Oh my, honey. I didn’t mean it that way.]

“…”

[You’ve gotten upset.]

“I don’t know.”

I vented like that for no reason, then quietly sighed. Taking it out on Prometil wouldn’t change the situation.

“Then this world is… not what I was thinking, right? Was I confusing some memories from before the regression?”

[Right. Originally, only people with very sensitive senses like Terion could perceive regression, but Chronos had cast additional magic on you. Because of that, some memories from before the regression remained with you too.]

“…The incantation that was cast on me was that.”

[That’s right.]

Having heard that answer, I was in a situation where I could no longer avoid reality.

What I had thought was a novel all this time was just a delusion, and everything actually happened, and the person who regressed was Cedric.

My having a crude power struggle with Cedric over Riette, acting immaturely and being branded as a beta who coveted an alpha’s omega, suffering great damage to my honor and being isolated in noble society before giving up my life in depression…

All of it actually happened.

“What is he thinking?”

[I don’t know that either. Go ask him directly.]

“You’re not just pretending not to know?”

[No matter how much I’m the god of wisdom, I don’t have the superpower to look into individual humans’ innermost thoughts.]

“Can’t you use magic? Isn’t there such magic?”

[There is, but ultimately you would have to be the one to use that magic on your lover, and if you’re going to do that, wouldn’t it be better for both of you to just resolve it through conversation?]

“…”

I had nothing to say back and just sighed deeply again. Right, I should talk with Cedric. I know that asking directly without avoiding it is the fastest solution.

I do know that.

‘I’m scared.’

I’m afraid of what answer will come back when I dig for the truth about whether he really likes me… I was even more so because of the things from before the regression that I remember.

I hope it ends as just a simple mishap…

But what if it doesn’t?

I don’t think the fact that my reputation was so damaged was Cedric’s fault. That was because of many mistakes I made myself.

What makes me angry isn’t that part.

I was angry at the point that Cedric was actually someone who fought with me over Riette, yet he whispers love to me with a face that knows nothing.

‘Does he really like me?’

Why does that guy like me in the first place? Until now I hadn’t suspected Cedric’s feelings so I never even thought to ask… I regretted it. I should have asked beforehand.

Seeing me become gloomy, Prometil, who had been quietly watching me, reached out his hand and moved it as if patting my shoulder. Since he wasn’t a substantial mass of light, I didn’t feel anything touching me.

Soon Prometil’s form disappeared. A moment later, the reception room door opened and Castian poked his head in.

“Rabbit. What are you doing there alone?”

“…I was just thinking about something.”

“Thinking? What were you pondering so deeply?”

Castian, who had come close, patted my head and sat in the seat next to me.

“Hmm. You seem to have less energy than before.”

“…”

“Did Terion do something strange to you?”

“Ah, that’s not it! I’m fine, so don’t worry.”

I was quickly denying it in case Terion might be seen as a bad person.

Following Castian, Father and Lionel, and Terion who had brought them, returned to the reception room.

Father’s expression was relaxed, seeming to understand that nothing particular had happened.

“Son, have you had dinner?”

“Not yet.”

“Then let’s all eat together.”

I nodded at that and got up from my seat. Meanwhile, Lionel said he would go back first and left the mansion, while Terion and Castian had dinner with our family.

“My. Living eternally, is that really true?”

Mother, who heard about Terion during the meal, showed a very surprised reaction.

While Terion himself, the person in question, stayed quiet, Castian stepped forward and chattered, causing all the household members to find out. Terion also seemed to have given up and didn’t seem to care.

“That’s what they say.”

Castian, who was sitting next to me, answered Mother’s question while touching the corner of my mouth.

When I looked up in surprise, he showed me there was sauce on it and smiled.

“You shouldn’t be absent-minded during meals.”

“Ah, sorry…”

“No. I like having someone to take care of.”

Suddenly, I remembered promising Cedric that I would clearly tell Castian I was seeing someone. But I didn’t even have the energy to say such words and just smiled wryly. It was also a confused situation where I had come to doubt Cedric’s sincerity.

I focused on eating again. I could feel Castian’s gaze watching me intently, but I just pretended not to know.

“Divine artifacts are really mysterious. Oh, come to think of it… Eddie, have you ever made a wish to that god called Prometil?”

I had been trying to eat quietly as if I weren’t there, but Mother’s question flew to me. I glanced at the gazes gathering on me and put down my cutlery for a moment.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Mm. He doesn’t grant just anything.”

“I see.”

“Each god can fulfill different types of wishes.”

When Castian added such a kind explanation, Mother was amazed.

“Your Highness knows a lot about divine artifacts. Well, I heard you have a lot of interest in that area through Eddie. It makes sense since you’re even coveting our son because of that. Hoho.”

…Mother’s skill at indirect criticism is quite something. Castian looked slightly flustered and whispered so only I could hear.

“Oh my. It seems I left out my true feelings when speaking.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Can I clarify separately later?”

“Do as you please.”

It can’t be helped.

And well… at this point, it didn’t particularly matter if my parents knew that Castian had genuine interest in me. The situation being what it is, ultimately the fact that I liked Cedric remained unchanged.

“…”

Somehow, I felt miserable.

* * *

Terion and Castian decided to stay at our mansion for a few days.

Terion had nowhere else to go, and once preparations were finished, he would immediately leave on a journey to find divine artifacts, so he would only stay until then.

That night, I had a dream.

Events from before the regression unfolded in my dream.

〈What are those two doing right now?〉

It was something that happened at a banquet. I looked up at the chattering voice near me and discovered a large figure standing face to face with someone in a corner of the banquet hall.

It’s rare to see a man with such a well-balanced, good-looking physique and tall height. It was definitely Cedric. And the beautiful silver hair glimpsed over Cedric’s shoulder belonged to Riette.

〈Oh my, she’s bolder than she looks.〉

〈How shameless.〉

〈But they do make a good-looking pair.〉

The two seemed to be kissing.

Do they like each other that much? To the point of rushing in and kissing without caring about the place. The jealousy and inferiority complex from that time became as pervasive as reality. Soaked in deep defeat, my breathing naturally became rough.

I liked her first.

I expressed it first.

Why can I never beat that bastard?

How long is that guy going to keep interfering with me?

I glared at the two of them for a long time.

When I escaped from that distant memory and woke up, I felt unsettled. Right after waking up, the emotions I felt in the dream remained intact, making me gasp for breath.

“…Hah.”

I threw off the blanket, got up, and held my forehead. I swept back my hair that was slightly wet with cold sweat.

The memory I had forgotten and remembered again was no different from an unpleasant nightmare.

I tried to pull myself together by going about my daily routine as usual, but anxiety kept stirring in a corner of my heart.

“Young master. Young Master Cedric has arrived.”

And past noon.

Cedric, who had said yesterday before parting that he might visit suddenly, really did visit the mansion suddenly.

I closed the book I was reading.

Yesterday’s events felt like the distant past.

“…Send him away.”

“Pardon?”

“Also tell him I have no intention of meeting for a while.”