While they waited, Leticia also met Joey’s parents.

And, of course, Joey’s siblings.

They were all very kind. Leticia could see the doctrines of their village, their city, their country, and even their world weighing on them—but that didn’t change the fact that they were good people.

Only kind, gentle people like them could raise someone like Joey: a guy who got along with the whole village and always wore such a bright, open smile.

To think she’d feel a faint pang of jealousy deep down...

Ah, yes. Perhaps it was because she’d lived two lives and still never received affection from the people closest to her?

No, Leticia. You should learn to be content. At least in your previous life, your parents brought you into this world and did their duty to provide for you. And in this life, Uncle John has treated you even more kindly than his own daughter...

Yes. It was just a little frustration, that’s all.

Watching that big family laugh and chatter together so happily, she felt just a little frustrated...

She didn’t know what she was feeling as she made her way behind Joey’s house. In the yard, several piles of wheat straw stood taller than a person. They were golden, soft and loose, and carried a scent that was soothing to Leticia.

Without thinking, she dove right in. The straw prickled her face until it stung, but somehow, that made her feel even safer.

She closed her eyes and lingered in the feeling for a little while. Then a voice rang out in her mind.

“You lousy Bamboo Pole, what are you doing? Why does my face feel so awful?!”

Stano felt like he’d become more and more laid-back lately. After all, he couldn’t find a way to take over Leticia’s body, and this little Bamboo Pole was wandering around like a lost soul, swaying back and forth without any idea what she was doing.

“Who’s there? ...Oh, it’s you...”

Leticia lifted her head and looked around. When she saw no one there, she remembered that there was still a little brat inside her body. “I finally get a moment to rest. What do you want?”

What did she mean, what did he want...?

Scratching his cheek hard, Stano glanced at the back of his slightly dark-skinned hand and, looking thoroughly annoyed, scratched his face again. “What are you even doing?”

“Relaxing my body.”

She stretched as hard as she could. Even such a tiny movement brought on an unpleasant wave of dizziness. “Easing my mind. Ah...”

Easing her mind...

For no reason at all, he suddenly felt furious.

Stano asked gruffly, “Hey, what happened between you and that awful woman?”

“What do you mean, what happened? Nothing happened...”

Leticia drawled, “Why are you so hung up on this? Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”

“What?! As if!”

Stano raised his voice. “How could I ever feel such an ugly, despicable emotion toward someone like you? You’re the one who must’ve lost your mind!”

“Lost my mind...”

Leticia’s expression twisted, just slightly. The faint, almost broken look on her face was chilling. “If I ever really do lose my mind, it’ll be because of something you did, won’t it, Young Master Stano Bansen?”

“Didn’t I tell you not to call me things like ‘Young Master’?”

Annoyed, Stano frowned and scribbled all over a sheet of paper with a quill in his room. “I specifically gave you permission to address me as an equal. You’re the only one!”

“Well, thank you so much.”

Leticia spoke softly. “It was the fault of a lowly village girl like me for neglecting you all this time. You’re a magnanimous gentleman, so I beg you to forgive me.”

“You!”

“All right. We’ll leave the rest for later...”

Leticia asked darkly, “Stano, there’s something I really want to know. Back in Rhodes, after you met your uncle, what exactly did you do to help me escape?”

“That...”

“Don’t hide it from me.”

Leticia did her best to stay calm and think clearly. “We both know that, with my abilities alone, I would’ve been caught in that city. There was no other possible outcome. So what exactly did you do?”

“...”

Silence lingered in her mind. Leticia waited a moment, then slowly curved her lips into a faint smile. “How about this? Tell me the whole story, in detail, and I’ll consider helping you send out the intelligence your uncle obtained. How’s that?”

“Really?!”

Stano instantly grew excited. He’d already been planning to speak directly with his father, but every time he worked up the courage, it vanished by the time he reached his father’s study.

He knew he was afraid. He simply didn’t have that kind of courage.

“Mm. I promise.”

Leticia spoke in a low voice, one hand pressed to her forehead as wave after wave of dizziness washed over her.

Then she realized something. “By the way, Stano, have you felt dizzy at all lately?”

“Dizzy? No. Why do you ask?”

“...I see. It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. Go on...”

So that’s what it was...

Leticia had already learned a great deal about Demon Maids from Lady Ye Mi’ai, so she could draw some conclusions.

If she connected everything that had happened to her lately...

The taboo act of burning her life away had left Leticia in an irreversible decline. Her body would slowly fall apart. If things continued like this, Stano, as her Connector, would inevitably be affected too. He would also feel the agony of this slow death in his mind.

So the connection had weakened. They could still talk just as before, and Stano could still feel what she felt—but any sensation that might harm the Connector no longer reached him.

How ironic. Leticia had thought Stano could no longer take control of her body as freely as before because of how fiercely she’d fought him that night. She’d thought she’d gained a better hold over her own body.

But no. It was only because her body was gradually falling apart, gradually becoming useless. To keep Stano from being affected, the connection had been weakened?

Heh. How ironic. No wonder it was called the Bridal Garment. When it was needed, you put it on. When it wore out, you could toss it aside whenever you pleased.

Was this Leticia’s fate—the fate she had to face?

Though, letting the connection break just like that, saving my own life, and winning my freedom wouldn’t be a bad choice...

With both hands over her face, Leticia fought the dizziness and spoke to Stano in a low, solemn voice. “Just tell me. I’ll help you as much as I can.”

But how could she be content to simply be cast aside like this?

The score between us will be settled, little by little, Mr. Stano Bansen—the count’s son from the neighboring country, heir to generations of generals and ministers!

Just then...

“What are you doing here?”

The voice behind her startled Leticia. She hurriedly put on her usual expression and gently pressed a knuckle to her temple. “Joey? What’s wrong?”

Joey looked nervous, their fingers twisting and tangling together.

“Rona and Uncle Nicola are back...”

At that, Leticia told Stano to wait a moment in her mind, then slowly stood up and gave Joey a gentle smile. “Don’t be scared. Let’s go. I’ll be cheering you on!”

They’re finally here. I hope we learn something.