Part I - Hana
I went to sleep (or tried to, at least) and remained Livia. It took a while, but I managed with pure stubbornness and willpower, to close myself off to Shizuo's thoughts.
When I do that she assumes full control.
Through tests I discovered a few things: that Livia's memories are available to me, but Shizuo's are not. I believe she also doesn't have access to my memories, considering the stunning number of questions she asked me.
The second discovery is that when both withdraw, Livia sleeps. On the first night after the funeral neither of us knew that, which resulted in a miserable second day due to the little sleep we had.
Shizuo is really capable and adaptable, just as I made her to be, yet I decided not to reveal yet that I created her, as I don't know how she would react to the shock, and I need her well psychologically. She is the best 'player' of this world, I made her to win.
Well, I made her to fail initially, but Ryuuji didn't let me make her die in volume 3...
Now that my destiny and hers were linked, I am glad Ryuuji was so stubborn.
Shizuo?
I called her in my thought.
Hana?
That's right, glad you remembered. I replied.
I still can't believe it! I've never seen any story of reincarnation in another world with two protagonists!
Yeah... the author of this story must REALLY be a genius... Ugh, having to answer that probably made Livia's face blush.
Without a doubt!
You seem much calmer. Excited even. She didn't answer for a while.
I started to think I said something wrong when she finally spoke.
It was a big shock, but... This is all too surreal. I guess it wasn't so hard to accept one more craziness after everything that's happened to me. Like, we're inside a videogame!
Manga.
Damn, I thought too fast. I can't keep letting certain information slip or she will start asking too many questions and eventually find out who I am.
Manga? PsychoLove got a manga?
Humm... Yes, that's right. I... never played the original, only read the manga.
Shizuo stayed silent for a while. I made her smart, besides I am a terrible liar. I bet she noticed something strange in the way I answered.
Do you think we came from the same real world?
Damn Shizuo, why didn't I make you dumb?
I don't know... I replied, hoping I managed not to sound evasive.
And Lucian? Do you think whoever incarnated in him is a good person?
Yes.
Zero hesitation.
I mean, if he were someone with knowledge of the plot and had bad intentions I think we would have suffered the consequences already by this point, don't you think?
Shizuo paused before agreeing: Yes, I guess so.
The sound of knocking on the door saved me, I withdrew again to the back of our consciousness and let Shizuo deal with whoever it was.
You handle people, there is only one person I can handle and he is not around.
Part II - Shizuo
Hana's presence retracted, and I felt her only watching silently as I adjusted my clothes and went to the door. Upon opening it, I was faced with a smiling Evelyn.
I made room and invited her in. She was wearing a white dress and a lovely royal blue shawl.
— Lady Evelyn, please, come in.
— Call me Evelyn, after all we are sisters now.
I nodded. Evelyn was the guide character of PsychoLove, responsible for informing the player about the story's status and supporting the heroine...
At least until her death at the beginning of act 3 of the game, when the dark duke discovers she helped the heroine in secret and orders her execution. Of course this time I would do everything to save her...
Everything will be fine, now you have me to help. — Said Hana, returning immediately to my subconscious.
I blinked, not expecting an intervention from her. Evelyn was facing away and didn't see my strange behavior. She sat at a table by the window. I saw when she looked at and touched the book I had taken with me to the garden.
— It was his favorite... when he still knew how to smile.
— Pardon, I didn't know it was His Grace's. — I spoke.
— Don't worry, he probably doesn't remember this book. Everything in this house will be yours soon, anyway.
She became thoughtful and I took the opportunity to take a closer look at her. It was impressive. I already had my suspicions about her when I played PsychoLove for the first time. She was very suspicious.
She still is, even though I like her.
— I heard about what happened yesterday.
I looked at her, surprised, I didn't imagine the conversation would follow this path. Well, so much was already different from what I knew...
— Are you okay? What the prince did was inelegant, even by his standards.
— I am fine, thank you.
— Great. — She paused, looking out the window before turning back to me — I also wanted to apologize to you.
— For what?
— For lying...
— Ah, forget about it. If you hadn't done that, I fear his grace would still not have called me.
— That is true! — Evelyn confirmed with a melodious laugh. — And you probably wouldn't have moved here. This part of the mansion is much more pleasant, isn't it?
— The west wing was also lovely, but... yes, here is more pleasant.
— So, — she said getting up full of energy — I will consider this a success and accept your conclusion that I don't need to apologize. Even if I feel bad when I deceive people who please me.
Well, would that be affection?
I smiled, half to Evelyn, half to Hana's comment.
Evelyn then approached and spoke, close to my ear:
— Follow my brother's recommendation to the letter. I've known the prince since we were children.
I nodded.
— I know him, I can guarantee he will try to approach you again. Don't let him, for your and for our sake.
I looked at her firmly, and nodded a second time.
— I like you. You're not a fool. Keep it up.
She held my hand and squeezed.
— You... you can count on it.
— Good... My brother will hardly be accused of being kind, but... He is very zealous with his possessions and with those under his protection.
I swallowed hard, what was I, possession or protected?
— Don't underestimate him, Livia. He CAN protect you if you allow it.
I didn't answer. Evelyn looked at me for a while longer until she seemed satisfied with what she saw, smiled and left.
I sat at the table where the book rested and let out a heavy sigh I was holding.
I had a lot to think about.
Hana?
Yes, Shizuo?
In the manga... which route did they choose?
Silence. Hana seemed to think. Something in the way her voice sounded uncomfortable talking about the supposed adaptation bothered me, but I didn't know what.
The worst one.
She finally said. It was as I thought.
Our conversation was interrupted by a new set of knocks on the door. Precise, protocol-compliant.
I opened it, and came face to face with one of the mansion's servants. I didn't remember his name. There were many I still didn't know well, and that was problematic.
He smiled and when I excused him, he entered conducting a tea cart. He placed a vanilla cake, a rose tea with blackberries, and some homemade cookies.
I thanked him with a smile and he left.
I sat down and served myself a piece of the cake. By the smell and warm temperature it had been baked recently. I served the tea in a cup and took a small sip. Slightly sweetened, but for me it tasted like syrup it was so sweet. I detested drinks like that.
And yet.... I couldn't stop drinking.
Hana?
Ah, yes, it's me. I LOVE sweets.
But did they have to be SO sweet?
Of course, if it is to be sweet let it be really sweet.
Despite everything I found myself appreciating that drink. I remember hating very sweet things since... I don't remember since when, but I know it was a long time ago.
Stopping now to think, my memory has been full of these random holes, as if information were missing, since I reincarnated.
I looked out the window and watched the garden for a while, and when I finished eating I got up. I stretched, feeling tiredness appear sneakily in me.
The last few days were... intense. I thought to Hana.
Don't even tell me... Sasaki you damnhornybitchmotherfucker!
Wow who is this guy? — I asked Hana.
The damn stalker who sent me here.
Ah, so you came via truck-kun, I thought this way of getting isekai'd was more common in shounen...
It wasn't a truck, it was a pickup truck and I was in a car too.
Damn, sorry Hana...
It's okay, at least I got another chance. I just wanted to have your luck, dying from overwork seems like a drag, but it must hurt less... I thought I would go like that one day too..
...
Hana?
Yes?
I never told you how I died.
Part III – Hana
Oh, Shit.