Back in the hallway outside her room, Caitlin muttered to herself like someone possessed, making her butler, Darach, trail behind her with a helpless smile. He couldn't help but wonder if she had truly lost her mind.
Unlike butlers who blindly obeyed their masters, Darach—a powerful trainer in his own right—had agreed to take care of Caitlin out of both professional duty and personal sympathy. He was less of a servant and more of a guardian to her.
When Caitlin's whims crossed the line, he would firmly put his foot down. That was precisely why she hadn't confided her wild scheme to him—she knew Darach would refuse outright and lecture her. At the corridor's intersection, Caitlin finally snapped out of her daze and turned to the butler following her.
"...Darach, I'm going to rest now. You should too."
"Then I shall see you tomorrow, my lady."
The butler smiled slightly, bowing as he watched Caitlin's retreating figure disappear into the first-class cabin area. Only then did he shake his head and leave.
When Darach had seen Ryuusuke suppress Caitlin's psychic powers, he had been overjoyed. If Ryuusuke could stay by Caitlin's side, she might gradually learn to control her abilities, eventually living a normal life—able to interact with others like anyone else.
But all of this hinged on Ryuusuke's willingness. If he refused, Darach could only accept it, however regretful. Unlike Caitlin, whose temperament had grown increasingly erratic, Darach was a man of principle.
As Caitlin walked back to her room in low spirits, the corner of her eye suddenly caught a familiar figure. She let out a soft gasp, her face lighting up with delight.
---
After parting ways with Ash, Ryuusuke headed to the exclusive restaurant reserved for first-class guests. It was an elegant, secluded dining area staffed by world-class chefs specializing in cuisines from different regions. When Ryuusuke arrived, the restaurant was empty. After satisfying his appetite, he returned to his cabin to rest.
Before his transmigration, Ryuusuke had been an ordinary person. Now that he could experience the luxuries of high society, he saw no reason to feign reluctance—this was all earned through his own efforts, not handed to him like some spoiled heir.
Digging through his bag, he pulled out a set of dark casual clothes. His flashy red suit wasn't suitable for sneaking around the S.S. Anne at night. He had come here to relax and enjoy himself, and helping Ash was just a side task. But since he'd agreed, he intended to do it properly.
As he removed his suit jacket and adjusted his shirt, a knock came at the door. Assuming it was Ash, Ryuusuke called out without much thought, "...Come in. The door's unlocked!"
"Ash, you're early. Couldn't wait to—...Huh? Oh, it's you, Miss Caitlin."
Sensing someone approach from behind, Ryuusuke was puzzled by Ash's unusual silence—until he turned around and realized his mistake.
Hair finer than spun gold, an elegant princess-like dress, and a delicate, porcelain face that seemed plucked from a fairy tale—she blended seamlessly with the luxurious furnishings of the cabin, as if the opulent decor existed solely to complement her.
A flawless, breathtaking beauty.
"Just 'Caitlin' is fine, Mr. Ryuusuke."
With the poise of a noble lady, Caitlin lifted the hem of her dress slightly, offering a glimpse of her slender, alabaster legs before dipping into a graceful curtsy.
"So you've looked into me..." Ryuusuke mused. "I know why you're here, but barging in uninvited isn't very ladylike."
"No, you don't understand! I—"
Caitlin's face twisted with urgency, fearing yet another rejection. She rushed to explain, but Ryuusuke raised a finger, using his psychic powers to seal her lips shut.
Struggling in vain to speak, Caitlin could only let out muffled whimpers.
Ryuusuke smirked. "...Of course I know why you're here. Uncontrollable psychic powers that bring disaster, an inability to interact normally with others, despised by everyone—even your own family. Disappointing your parents, living alone in a desolate castle, gazing at the moon in self-pity with no one but your butler for company. Terrified that even he might abandon you one day, leaving you with nothing but pure despair."
Though Ryuusuke hadn't investigated Caitlin, the gossip in the casino and the erratic fluctuations of her psychic energy made her life story easy to deduce.
Because her life was a simple, tragic blend of isolation and hopelessness.
"You—"
Caitlin's pupils shrank as if struck in her most vulnerable spot. Ryuusuke released the psychic restraint on her speech, but though her lips parted, no words came out.
This was the sorrow and fragility she never wanted exposed—yet here it was, ruthlessly laid bare before him.
"If... if you know all this... then why? Why won't you help me?!"
Caitlin's eyes widened, her delicate features twisting with a mix of fury and desperation. Even in her distress, she remained as beautiful—and as fragile—as a porcelain doll. Her voice rose to a ragged shout, though the soundproofing of the first-class cabin ensured no one else would hear.
Caitlin no longer knew whether her volatile temper caused her psychic outbursts or if her uncontrollable powers had warped her personality. The cycle was self-perpetuating, and she was trapped in its chaos.
If she could just master either her emotions or her abilities, she wouldn't be like this. But tragically, she had failed at both.
"Why should I help you?"
Ryuusuke regarded her with genuine puzzlement. Even as a noblewoman, even when pleading for aid, she couldn't afford to be this entitled. Ryuusuke had his own pressing matters—he didn't have time to indulge a spoiled heiress.
His time was precious.
"Name your price! Anything I have, I'll give it to you! If I don't have it, I'll find it for you!"
Caitlin's control was slipping. Her psychic energy surged violently, a storm of fear, desperation, and longing.
Frowning, Ryuusuke grabbed his cane and tapped it against Caitlin's chest once more, dispersing the turbulent energy before it could erupt. Then, like a wizard from Hogwarts, he flicked his wrist—psychically hurling the girl onto the bed with a startled yelp.
To be continued…
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