12 O'Clock Marionette

Chapter 2

"The account... doesn’t exist?"@@@@

"It does not exist?"

"Yes. Even if it had existed, there’s no way it would still be active."

"No way?"

"According to what you say, the last time the bank was used was over a few hundred years ago. With no one to manage it, of course, it would be gone."

"Gone, of course?"

"...Customer. I’m sorry, but please check again and come back later."

The bank clerk practically threw me out, looking as if he had just been cursed with bad luck.

I stumbled out, dumbfounded.

I wanted to throw a fit and demand an explanation, but I knew nothing, so I couldn't even do that.

Sinking into the carriage seat, I mumbled in a daze.

"My money..."

Not even a single silver coin?

I was certain the wealth of the temple was stored in Coltish Bank.

Back then, it was said to be enough to buy several castles.

Just in case I ever had to access it, I had memorized the account number and password until my tongue nearly wore out—yet it’s gone?

I endured the pain of possessing other bodies, telling myself that one day, I’d enjoy being rich. And now they’re saying it’s gone?

"My money!"

The senior priests deceived me!

I buried my face in my knees and cried.

Even the rattling of the carriage felt like a personal insult.

To hell with all of them.

No, they’re already dead—let them move into hell instead.

***

It’s hopeless.

Climbing up to my empty bedroom, I felt just as empty inside.

Three days left—no, after wasting a whole day at the bank, only two now.

"I should ask for a recommendation letter to become a maid or a lady’s attendant."

That was my only option.

Even if my adoptive parents had a poor relationship with the Count, surely they’d do at least that much for me.

A vision of the villain’s grand mansion flickered before my eyes.

"The Count should have enough influence for that, right?"

Come to think of it, I still didn’t know which noble family this house belonged to.

Even Betty only called him "the Count," so how was I supposed to know?

Still, judging by the size of the house, it must be a fairly prominent family.

Before begging for a recommendation letter, I should at least find out what the people in this house like.

I reached for the bell but stopped.

Whoever answered would be random anyway, and I couldn't just keep ringing until Betty showed up.

Might as well find her myself and get a feel for the mansion’s atmosphere.

With that in mind, I opened the door—

"Wow."

My eyes met those of a silver-haired young man.

Tall and elegant, his sharp gaze carried a refreshing air.

I’d long since developed high standards, but his looks actually met my rigorous aesthetic sense.

"Hey."

Even his voice was clear.

I almost responded without thinking but hesitated.

Should I speak formally or casually?

Fifty-fifty chance.

"Yeah, go ahead."

"Father wants you to come down for a meal. He said we should have one last dinner together."

"Ah, but I still have a couple of days left?"

"He’s busy. If not today, he won’t have time."

Phew, for a second, I thought I was being thrown out immediately.

It seemed Betty hadn’t given me the wrong date after all.

Sighing in relief, I trailed after him.

Only then did I realize how hungry I was.

Now that I thought about it, since becoming Siora, I hadn’t eaten a single meal.

Imagining the dishes waiting on the table, I followed him into the dining room.

And then—

"Sit."

A cold atmosphere struck me like a slap.

Were they really inviting me to dinner?

The Count’s family didn’t even look at me.

No, they didn’t even seem interested in each other.

Honestly, if not for the recommendation letter, I wouldn’t care about these people either.

So, instead, I focused on eating.

Only after my stomach was somewhat full did I have the energy to take in my surroundings.

Three people, including me, made four.

"Uncle—no, Father!"

As long as I had the Bonetti name, wouldn’t that be enough?

I sprang to my feet and walked up to the head of the table.

Then, dropping to my knees, I solemnly declared—

"I have longed to call you Father!"

***

The Count didn’t immediately accept.

Still, the fact that he said he would consider it was already a victory of sorts.

What bothered me was the absence of the Countess.

Apparently, she was in the territory, recovering from an illness.

In Fate, she was barely mentioned, so I had no idea what kind of person she was.

Should I go to the Count’s territory, heal her, and win her over?

As I rolled around on the bed, devising my next move, Minuet entered the room.

I sluggishly sat up to face her.

"What’s your angle?"

Her cold, sharp voice carried suspicion.

I stared at her.

Silver hair cascading like a waterfall, delicate and ethereal features—

I had grown sick of seeing the villain’s side, but this was my first time facing the protagonist.

It was strange.

The events of Fate no longer felt distant—they were closing in fast.

This wasn’t the time to be lost in thought, though.

"Minuet."

It should be fine to call her that.

I glanced at her reaction.

"You’ve been holed up in your room all this time. Now, all of a sudden, you’re doing this? Let’s hear it—why?"

"Simple. You don’t want to get married, and I have nowhere to go."

"So you’re choosing hell?"

A bit dramatic, aren’t we?

Hell is where my senior priests are residing.

The White Desert Duke’s mansion, on the other hand, is... tolerable.

Of course, I couldn’t say that outright, so I settled for something more reasonable.

"Where would a penniless, connectionless noble be not in hell?"

"Compared to the White Desert, anywhere would be better."

"Oh, come on, it’s not that—"

"You bother me."

Minuet abruptly cut me off.

I blinked at the sudden shift in conversation.

"Ever since the funeral, you’ve been like this. You didn’t speak, didn’t show any emotion. I thought you were some kind of doll."

"Hmm."

"So I assigned someone to watch you."

"...Who?"

"Betty. She’s mine. You said you lost your memories?"

Oh.

So I’d already been betrayed.

She had acted so innocent and confided in me so easily—I had trusted her, if only a little.

And this is what I get.

Humans, I swear.

"Earlier, you went to Coltish Bank. Don’t worry—I couldn’t hear what was said inside, thanks to their security."

That part didn’t even surprise me.

Of course they would spy on me if they had the means.

After all, everyone I used to gather information... belonged to Bonetti.

"I also looked into your background. Nothing came up."

"Oh dear."

"So let me ask again, Siora. What are you really after?"

What am I after?

If I started listing everything, I’d never stop.

But in the end, the answer was simple.

"World peace?"

"Hah."

"Don’t overthink it. It’s exactly as I said. I lost my memories, I went to the bank just in case, and I found out I was broke."

I took a step forward, invading Minuet’s personal space.

Placing my hands on her shoulders, I whispered—

"And you need me."

She couldn’t deny it.

Even while pretending to hold Gavotte back, her distaste for the marriage had been crystal clear.

In Fate, Minuet had felt the same way.

So if I took the protagonist’s place—if I became the observer in this story—wouldn’t it benefit both of us?

I smirked.

"Tell me I’m wrong."