Ellen stepped out of the room and quietly closed the door behind him.
The moment he entered the hallway, he saw two maids running away.
"Wait—were they listening to me?"
They disappeared around the corner without looking back.
"Eavesdropping. Definitely eavesdropping."
Ellen sighed.
He still couldn't believe any of this. Magic. A strange body. A mansion filled with people who apparently knew him better than he knew himself.
He hadn't wanted to accept it at first.
But after witnessing magic with his own eyes...
"I really am in another world."
The hallway was quiet.
Too quiet.
"I should probably go outside before someone comes in and asks me about another thing I supposedly did."
He grabbed a long coat from a nearby stand and made his way downstairs.
The garden was peaceful.
Sunlight fell across the green grass, and colorful flowers lined the stone paths. A few children were playing near the fountain.
For a moment, Ellen thought this place wasn't so bad.
Then one of the children noticed him.
The boy froze.
His eyes widened.
"RUN!"
Everyone stopped playing.
"The evil monster has appeared!"
The children immediately screamed and scattered.
Ellen stood there in silence as they ran away.
"...Evil monster?"
He looked around.
Then pointed at himself.
"What the hell did I even do?"
He let out a long sigh.
A voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Don't mind them, sir. They're just playing."
Ellen turned around.
An old man stood nearby, watering flowers.
Except he wasn't holding a watering can.
A small stream of water floated through the air, moving between the flowers as if it had a mind of its own.
Magic.
Again.
Ellen stared at it for a moment.
Then he slowly looked away.
"Yeah... I don't really mind."
He crossed his arms.
"At least they have the power to run away from the so-called monster."
The old man chuckled awkwardly.
Ellen looked at him.
"Sir, can I ask you something?"
The gardener suddenly became nervous.
Almost trembling.
Ellen noticed it immediately.
Why is he nervous?
Ellen himself was nervous too, although for a completely different reason.
He didn't know anything about this world.
Nothing about this family.
Nothing about Ellen.
Nothing about his past.
But he couldn't exactly tell people that.
"Sure," Ellen said confidently.
"I'll try to answer if I know."
I definitely don't know.
The gardener hesitated.
Then finally spoke.
"I heard that your engagement was canceled. Is that true?"
Ellen froze.
My what?
His mind immediately went blank.
The owner of this body was engaged?
To who?
Why does everyone know things about me except me?
The gardener stared at him, waiting for an answer.
Ellen cleared his throat.
"Who told you that?"
The gardener looked surprised.
"I mean... everyone knows."
"Everyone?"
"The maids were talking about it."
Of course.
Ellen immediately remembered the two maids running away earlier.
Those little spies.
The gardener continued.
"They said Lady Alessia was pregnant. She came here to personally cancel the marriage."
Ellen blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then everything slowly came together.
Oh.
So Alessia was my fiancée.
Ellen looked toward the sky with the expression of a man who had just suffered a terrible heartbreak.
Inside, however, he was thinking something completely different.
Thank God. One less thing to worry about.
Outwardly, he sighed.
"I mean... what could I even do at that point?"
The gardener nodded sympathetically.
Ellen continued.
"So I agreed to it."
He shrugged.
"It's not that big of a deal."
The gardener looked relieved.
Then suddenly I became nervous again.
"So... if you're single now..."
Ellen raised an eyebrow.
The old man gulped.
"Would you perhaps go on a date—"
Ellen immediately walked over and placed a hand on the gardener's shoulder.
The gardener froze.
Ellen looked at him with complete seriousness.
"Sir."
"Y-Yes?"
"I respect your choices."
The gardener blinked.
"But I don't swing that way."
Silence.
The gardener stared at him.
Ellen stared back.
"...What?"
The gardener's face turned red.
"I MEANT WITH MY DAUGHTER!"
Ellen froze.
"...Oh."
A few seconds passed.
"Oh."
Ellen slowly removed his hand from the gardener's shoulder.
"My bad."
The gardener rubbed his forehead.
"I was asking if you would go on a date with my daughter."
"Right."
"Her."
"Your daughter."
"Female."
"Yes."
Ellen cleared his throat.
"So... where is she?"
The gardener's eyes immediately lit up.
"So you agree?"
Ellen hesitated.
"I mean, what's the harm?"
Then he paused.
"Wait. Does she even know about this?"
The gardener smiled.
"Of course she does."
That answer somehow made Ellen even more suspicious.
The old man started walking.
"Come with me."
Ellen followed.
As they walked through the garden, the gardener continued talking.
"She has admired you since childhood."
Ellen almost tripped.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
The gardener looked confused.
"You two used to play together."
That must have been the original Ellen.
The gardener continued.
"But when your engagement was announced, she began acting strangely."
"Strangely?"
"Very strangely."
"That's not concerning at all."
"She is twenty-one now."
"Okay."
"And she's still acting strangely."
Ellen pointed at himself.
"Are you sure it's because of me?"
"Of course."
Ellen thought for a moment.
"I guess it was just her rebellious phase."
The gardener looked at him.
"Sir."
"Yes?"
"She's twenty-one."
Ellen nodded.
"Late rebellious phase."
The gardener sighed.
"Last week, we introduced her to a young man."
"To marry?"
"Yes."
"So she could live a normal life."
Ellen nodded.
"Reasonable."
"She escaped."
Ellen stopped walking.
"...She what?"
"Her mother scolded her."
"Understandable."
"But she kept talking about a promise."
"A promise?"
"Yes."
The gardener looked directly at Ellen.
"A promise the two of you made to each other."
Ellen slowly scratched his head.
What promise?
What did the original Ellen promise this woman?
And why am I the one dealing with his unfinished business?
Ellen stared ahead.
Is this even morally right?
I'm not Ellen.
I'm Rovelt.
All I've done since arriving here is lie.
He thought about it for a moment.
Then immediately made a decision.
Yeah.
I'm blaming the original Ellen for this.
Ellen suddenly made a sad expression.
"Oh..."
The gardener looked at him.
"She still remembers that promise."
Ellen placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
"I thought she hated me."
The gardener looked confused.
"Why would she hate you?"
"Like everyone else."
The gardener remained silent.
Ellen looked toward the sky.
"Slowly fading away from my life..."
The gardener stared at him.
"...Sir?"
Ellen immediately returned to normal.
"Nothing."
They continued walking.
Eventually, they arrived at a large house.
It was surprisingly beautiful.
A small garden surrounded it, filled with colorful flowers of different kinds.
In the middle of the garden was a young woman picking flowers.
Ellen stopped walking.
He stared at her.
Then slowly turned toward the gardener.
He looked at the gardener's bald head.
Then looked back at the girl.
Then back at the gardener.
"How did your bald ass produce this heavenly creature?"
The gardener's expression immediately darkened.
"Sir!"
"What?"
"Please behave yourself!"
"I was complimenting your genetics."
"That wasn't a compliment!"
The old man ignored him and called out.
"Mira!"
The girl turned around.
The moment she saw Ellen, her eyes widened.
The gardener smiled.
"I brought him here to talk about the promise."
Mira suddenly jumped in excitement.
"Ell!"
She smiled brightly.
"You really came!"
Ellen immediately felt awkward.
Her voice was soft and sweet.
She looked genuinely happy to see him.
Okay.
Maybe she really does like Ellen.
Mira walked closer.
"How are you?"
Ellen smiled awkwardly.
"I'm... alright?"
He paused.
"How are you?"
Mira suddenly became serious.
"The promise."
Ellen's smile disappeared.
"What about it?"
Mira narrowed her eyes.
"Do you remember?"
Ellen remained silent.
Her expression slowly changed.
Her face became red.
Not from embarrassment.
From anger.
"Don't tell me..."
She pointed at him.
"Don't tell me you forgot."
Ellen scratched his cheek.
"I guess..."
He paused.
"I did forget."
Mira stared at him.
Silence filled the garden.
Then she turned around and ran inside the house.
Ellen watched her disappear.
He looked at the gardener.
"I guess she's mad."
The gardener sighed.
Ellen crossed his arms.
"Have you tried taking her to a hospital?"
The gardener slowly looked at him.
"...What?"
Ellen shrugged.
"I'm just asking."
The gardener covered his face.
"Nothing is wrong with my daughter."
"Sure."
The old man sighed deeply.
Several minutes passed.
Then Mira returned.
Ellen looked at her.
Then immediately noticed what she was carrying.
Two swords.
Real swords.
Ellen's smile slowly disappeared.
"...Oh."
Mira threw one sword toward him.
Ellen barely caught it.
He stared at the weapon.
Then slowly looked back at her.
"The promise was a duel."
Ellen froze.
"A what?"
"A duel."
Mira pointed her sword at him.
"Whoever bleeds first loses."
Ellen looked at the sword.
Then at Mira.
Then back at the sword.
Why couldn't the promise have been eating cake together?
Mira continued.
"If you win..."
Her face became slightly red.
"I will marry you."
Ellen blinked.
"Oh."
Then she continued.
"But if I win..."
Her expression became serious again.
"You will ask your brother Richard to marry me."
Ellen stared at her.
Silence.
Then he slowly stepped backward and stood beside the gardener.
He leaned toward the old man.
"Old man."
The gardener looked at him.
"What?"
"Who the hell is Richard?"
The gardener stared at him.
"Your brother."
"I figured that part out."
"The one who always walks around with a pink-haired woman."
Ellen rolled his eyes as he tried to remember.
Then suddenly realized.
Oh.
That fucking bum I saw in the hallway.
Ellen slowly turned toward Mira.
Then back toward the gardener.
"Oi, old bum."
"What did you call me?"
"I've been talking to you with the utmost respect."
"You literally just called me old bum."
"What the hell is this?"
Ellen pointed at Mira.
"You said it was a date!"
The gardener nervously stepped back.
"Well—"
"This woman is challenging me to a duel!"
Mira raised her sword.
"And she clearly loves my brother!"
The gardener turned around.
Then immediately started walking away.
"Wait."
Ellen stared at him.
"Where are you going?"
The gardener increased his pace.
"OLD MAN!"
He started running.
"COME BACK HERE!"
Within seconds, the gardener disappeared around the corner.
Ellen stood there.
Mira stood in front of him.
The two were alone.
Ellen sighed.
"Fine."
He placed the sword down.
"Mira."
She looked at him.
"Do you love my brother?"
Her face immediately turned red.
"...Yeah."
Ellen nodded.
"Okay."
Then he asked another question.
"Do you love me?"
Mira stared at him.
Then suddenly burst into laughter.
She laughed so hard that she had to hold her stomach.
Ellen's eye twitched.
"What's so funny?"
Mira wiped a tear from her eye.
"Don't get me wrong."
She tried to stop laughing.
"But why would I?"
Ellen's face became blank.
Mira pointed at him.
"You're number two in swordsmanship in the entire academy."
Ellen frowned.
"And?"
"You're a bum."
"...Excuse me?"
Mira raised her sword proudly.
"Your brother Richard is number one."
She looked almost dreamy when she said his name.
Ellen stared at her.
"So this whole thing..."
"Yes."
"Was never about me?"
"No."
"The childhood admiration?"
Mira shrugged.
"You were there."
"The promise?"
"I needed someone who could introduce me to Richard."
Ellen stared into the distance.
His soul slowly left his body.
"I see."
Mira nodded.
"So?"
Ellen dropped the sword.
"I lose."
Mira blinked.
"What?"
"I surrender."
Ellen turned around.
"I'll try to arrange a meeting between you and Richard."
Mira's eyes widened.
"Really?!"
"Yes."
She immediately jumped in excitement.
Ellen began walking away.
I can't believe I almost thought someone actually liked the original Ellen.
Behind him, Mira suddenly smiled.
Then raised her sword.
"Sorry, Ell."
Ellen stopped.
Mira swung.
A sharp sound cut through the air.
But Ellen didn't move.
No.
That wasn't right.
He hadn't even seen her attack.
His body moved on its own.
Ellen's eyes widened.
What?
His body turned.
His hand caught Mira's wrist.
Mira froze.
"Ellen—"
A sickening crack echoed through the garden.
Mira screamed.
Her arm bent at an unnatural angle.
The sword fell from her hand.
Ellen stared forward.
His expression was completely blank.
"No..."
Mira stepped backward, holding her broken arm.
"Ellen, wait—"
He didn't respond.
Something was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Ellen couldn't move.
Or rather...
He could feel himself moving.
But he wasn't the one controlling his body.
Anima Index.
His body moved forward.
Mira backed away.
"Ellen!"
She tried to swing her remaining arm.
He avoided the attack without even looking.
It was effortless.
Perfect.
Inhuman.
Mira tried to run.
He grabbed her.
She struggled.
She tried to counter.
Nothing worked.
She tried to speak.
To reason with him.
"Wait! Please—!"
He didn't hear her.
Ellen wasn't there.
Or perhaps...
He was.
Trapped somewhere deep inside his own body.
Watching.
Unable to stop it.
His hand grabbed Mira by the face.
Her eyes widened.
Then—
CRASH.
Her body slammed against the wall.
Blood splattered across the stone.
Mira collapsed.
Ellen's body moved again.
She tried to defend herself.
Nothing worked.
She tried to fight back.
Nothing worked.
She tried to speak.
He didn't listen.
Stop.
Ellen screamed inside his mind.
STOP!
But Anima Index didn't answer.
THIS ISN'T ME!
His body continued moving.
STOP!
Darkness slowly swallowed his vision.
The last thing Ellen heard was a faint voice.
A scream.
Then—
Nothing.
When Ellen finally regained consciousness, he was lying on cold stone.
His head hurt.
His body felt heavy.
He slowly opened his eyes.
"...Where am I?"
He sat up.
His surroundings were unfamiliar.
A narrow, empty alleyway stretched between two old buildings.
There was no garden.
No mansion.
No gardener.
No Mira.
Ellen stared into the darkness ahead.
His heart began to race.
"...What happened?"
Then he looked down at his hands.
For a moment, he couldn't breathe.
There was blood on them.
Ellen slowly closed his eyes.
A single thought echoed through his mind.
What did Anima Index do while I was gone?