I Became the Replacement Fiancée for My Childhood Friend Who Went Missing, but Apparently He Has Been Found - Chapter 2

One day, a man visited me in the mansion.

“Selena, I came to see you. How are you doing?”

The one speaking to me in that gentle tone was Oct, the person I would have surely ended up with if I hadn’t been brought here.

He and I were childhood friends who had been together since we were little.

Being born into noble families, our parents were close and got along well, so it was natural for us to meet every day.

By the way, Selena was my original name before I was ordered to become Ellis.

“Oct, this is dangerous. You sneaked into the mansion again today avoiding surveillance, didn’t you?”

“What’s wrong with that? You know me, Selena. I’ve always been good at this sort of thing.”

“Good at it, you say…”

Despite being the son of a noble family, he had always been a bit mischievous.

He would often sneak into my mansion saying he wanted to hang out at night, then take me out to play.

“If Lord Schnaud finds out, it’ll be terrible. After all, I’m currently the First Prince’s fiancée.”

Back then, if we were caught, we’d only get scolded by our parents.

But now, it’s completely different.

If it were discovered that he contacted me like this, not only him but his entire family might face severe punishment.

Perhaps they might even lose their status as a noble family.

“Don’t worry. I understand that I have to take that risk if I want to see Selena.”

“Don’t say things like that.”

Although I said that to Oct, deep down I was genuinely happy that he came to see me.

Amidst my daily life of being tormented by Lord Schnaud, the reason I haven’t lost myself is probably because he regularly visits me like this.

“…You’re the only one, Oct. The only one who still calls me Selena.”

Some time had passed since I came here.

During that time, people’s memories of me once being a woman named Selena had faded, and it was becoming normal for my existence to be Ellis.

…Even I myself sometimes lost sight of who Selena was, feeling my identity being gradually eroded by Ellis day by day.

“…Selena?”

“Sometimes I get confused about which one is the real me.”

I was born as the daughter of a minor noble family.

Perhaps because of that, when my parents learned that Lord Schnaud had proposed to me, they immediately decided to send me away.

…I haven’t seen them since then, but I imagine they’re living elegantly somewhere in the place arranged by Lord Schnaud.

They must have been convinced that I would definitely be happy since I was to marry Lord Schnaud.

So surely, they never think of me anymore.

“Selena, listen to me.”

“…?”

At that moment, Oct, who had been smiling cheerfully until then, suddenly became serious as he spoke those words and looked straight at my face.

“No matter what anyone says, you are Selena. You’re just playing the role of Ellis for work right now, but you’re still the same you’ve always been. I’m not here to see Ellis. I’m here to see Selena.”

“Oct…”

Oct encouraged me with those clear words.

His words felt truly comforting to me now.

While everyone calls me Ellis and expects me to behave like Ellis, only he sees the real me.

…But I can no longer rely on Oct’s feelings.

If I depend on him any further, I might truly bring about his ruin.

“Oct, thank you so much. I feel better now.”

“Do you?”

“…But this is the last time we’ll meet.”

“…?”

“If I involve you any further, it might lead to irreversible consequences. I might be beyond saving, but you’re different. You have the mission of succeeding your father. …Yet if Lord Schnaud finds out that you’re paying attention to me, it would cause trouble for you and your father… So, I…”

Tap, tap, tap…

“!?!?”

At that moment, I heard footsteps approaching our room.

I didn’t know who it was, but if they found Oct here, it would be bad!

“Q-quick, hide!”

“B-but you’re telling me so suddenly…!”

“If we’re found, you’ll be in trouble! I-I’ll come up with some excuse, just hide!”

Click!

At that moment, the door to our room opened, and a single figure appeared before us.