Lady Solea Just Wants to Go Home

Chapter 5

As she absentmindedly flipped through the journal, new entries began to appear on the previously blank pages.

—Please send me home. My precious 1.7 billion won is waiting for me.

Honestly, that guy with gray, lifeless eyes should be named Gray the Asshole. He’s definitely not giving off any warm vibes with the way he’s acting. Does he have some kind of grudge against me? Why is he acting cute? It’s annoying. If he were any less handsome, I’d have already picked a fight with him.

And why is the pink-haired guy acting so strangely? You know, my gut tells me that something is up, and my instincts are never wrong. Is he living up to his looks?

Every thought Jiyoon had after entering Solea’s body was somehow recorded in the journal. However, she was certain she had never written a single word in this place.

Only a few days had passed since she first came here, and she had never set foot in the study before. She only discovered she could read the language of this world after receiving the list from Duke Diergo, so she couldn't have written any of this herself.

Solea’s face paled as she continued reading.

“Are future events written here too?”

With trembling hands, she carefully turned the next page, but the ones that followed were all blank. She flipped through the remaining pages from the back, but they were empty too. That was when something fell to the floor. It was a black pen.

“What is this?”

Could it be that only this pen writes on this paper? Then, if she were to write about future events, would she be able to go back home? Excitedly, Solea grabbed the pen and placed it on the paper. She had only one sentence in mind.

Returned to my original world safely with the 1.7 billion won lottery ticket in hand.

Just as the tip of the pen was about to touch the paper, a strange force pushed it back, preventing her from even making a dot. It felt like two magnets repelling each other.

Solea set the journal down on the ground and gripped the pen with both hands. She tucked the precious lottery ticket into her sleeve, took a deep breath, steadied herself, and with a determined grunt, pressed the pen onto the paper.

“Please…!”

She strained, putting all her weight behind the pen, desperately trying to leave even a single drop of ink, but it was no use.

“F*ck!”

She exerted herself to the point of sweating, but nothing happened. Frustrated, she hurled the pen away, watching as it rolled across the floor.

No, I shouldn’t have thrown it away, no matter how upset I am. That damn pen is my only hope!

Her fingers twitched, straining from the effort, and pain radiated from her shoulder down to her arm, as though she had torn a muscle. It felt like she’d just done fifty pushups.

Solea crawled on her knees to retrieve the pen. She had no idea what exactly it was, but she knew it was something she absolutely needed. She slipped the pen back into the journal and stood up.

Weaving her way through the bookshelves, she made her way to the desk. She tried to bring the various pens closer to her journal, but each time one got within a certain distance, it would crack and break with a loud snap.

“What the hell is this?!”

You won’t give me the 1.7 billion won so easily, huh? Damn you, cruel world. Nothing comes for free.

With a scowl, she clutched the black pen and journal tightly as she exited the study. The moment she stepped outside, she heard the frantic voices of the people searching for her.

“Lady Solea’s missing!”

“Anne, weren’t you supposed to be with her after she finished talking to His Grace and left the room?”

“I-I only stepped away for a moment to use the bathroom!”

Amidst Anne’s and the other maids’ voices, she caught an unpleasant, slightly out-of-breath one.

“What if she fainted somewhere again? Did you check the rear garden?”

“Yes, Young Master Gray. I checked—”

“I’ll go there again.”

Gray hurried down the hall, but when he turned the corner, he collided with Solea.

“Whoa, you scared me!”

Solea was about to shout, I’m here! Before she could, this charging bull of a man had barreled into her. His outstretched leg caught hers, and as she crashed into his chest, her forehead smacked against him, sending her tumbling backward.

“You lifeless-eyed—”

Before she could finish her insult, everything went black.

In the darkness, before she regained consciousness, she silently pleaded.

Please. Let it be home. I won’t complain about living in a half-basement. If you just give me back my 1.7 billion won, I swear I’ll live a quiet, kind life. I’ll never curse my fate again. I’ll be forever grateful for the 1.7 billion won that was bestowed upon me, and I’ll live the rest of my days humbly and with joy. Please. Oh, please.

She must have unknowingly mouthed the word “please,” because an angry voice immediately snapped, “Are you awake?”

Her eyes flew open at the irritated tone, and she glared at the owner of the voice.

“Are you seriously getting annoyed with me right now? You’re the one who just— Ow!”

She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain surged through her, forcing her to lie back down. Just as she was about to hit her head on the headboard, Gray quickly stepped forward, supporting her head with his hand.

“Are you all right? You broke your leg.”

“What?”

“Your leg is broken.”

That explained the pain in her leg, but even her head hurt as Gray held it, along with her stomach, chest, and shoulders. She was aching all over. It was almost like someone had beaten her up.

With a cold tone, Solea glared at Gray and asked, “Did you hit me?”

“No!” he exclaimed, shocked. In his flustered state, he accidentally let go of her head, causing her to fall back onto the bed.

“Damn you!”

“Why would I hit you?”

“Then why does my body hurt all over?”

For some reason, it was easier for her to speak a little more harshly toward him. It must have been because of his casual demeanor. In response to the accusation, he averted his gaze as a pout formed on his face.

“It’s because you’re weak.”

“What was that, jerk?”

“Jerk?”

“Yeah, jerk!”

How dare you call me weak? You have no idea what it takes for a young woman with no guardians and a mountain of debt to survive in Korea, you gold-spooned, lifeless-eyed, cray-cray Gray!

Gritting her teeth, Solea spat out, “Anyway, why are you just standing there? Call the insurance company!”

“Insu— What?”

“I mean, the hospital!”

“The doctor has already checked on you and left. He set your leg in place, so stop moving. He said you’re so weak that when you bumped into me, you took a harder hit than most people would. The rest of your injuries should heal in a few days, but if you want your leg to heal without mana, you’ll need to rest for at least two months.”

“Two months?”

The lottery receipt period was only one year. Every day was precious, and now she was expected to waste two months.

Who will compensate me for the time I spent lying in bed?

Solea’s jaw dropped in shock. Gray, noticing her reaction, stood there awkwardly before picking up a thin book from the table and returning to her side.

“If you were going to the study, you should have told me. You know, everyone only looks for you here. Why did you do that, you idiot?”

This small-minded, lifeless-eyed bastard…

Solea internally clenched her teeth as she reached for the journal. He was about to hand it over, but then Gray suddenly pulled it back.

“Is this that important? Important enough that you didn’t even hear my footsteps while clutching it?”

“It… is. And I did hear your footsteps. I just miscalculated the distance because you were running like a herd of cows.”

Before she could ask whether he had seen the contents of the journal, Gray’s face turned bright red.

“What’s with your face?”

He turned away, trying to hide his flushed face, and stammered, “I-I know you’re an adult now, b-but for you to be looking for such… No, I didn’t even know the study had this sort of book.”

“What are you talking—”

Before she could finish, Gray cut her off.

“I hid it and brought it here, since it would be humiliating if the maids were to see this, but don’t read those kinds of books too often.”

“Wh-what does this look like to you?”

His reaction was strange. If he had seen the journal’s contents, shouldn’t he be asking about it? Even a simpleton would question, Is the gray, lifeless-eyed person in this journal supposed to be me?!

Gray’s face and even the tips of his fingers holding the journal turned an even deeper shade of red after hearing Solea’s question.

“It’s… Lady Remsha’s Secret Affair…”

“What?”

Gray couldn’t meet her eyes, darting his gaze side to side, doing everything he could to avoid her stare.

“I understand. I really do. Being cooped up in the mansion all day… You’d naturally be curious about, well, this kind of book. It’s fine. It’s normal.”

“W-wait. Read this. Is that what this book is about?”

“Don’t play dumb with me! What do you mean, read it?”

“I mean exactly what I said.”

“Are you insane? You want me to read this? Right now? Here? In front of you?”

Gray, who had been turned away ever since handing over the book, suddenly faced Solea with a startled expression.

“Sorry, all right? I’m sorry I shoved you! That doesn’t mean you should make me do something like this.”

“Just read it!”

Seeing Solea shout so earnestly for the first time, Gray couldn’t bring himself to refuse. The large purple bump on her forehead and the ice pack on the back of her head, its temperature maintained by mana, only intensified his guilt.

“F-fine. Don’t you dare go around telling people that I read something like this.”

“Ugh, whatever.”

“Seriously, don’t say a word.”

“All right!”

As he nervously flipped through the pages, biting his lip, Gray cautiously asked, “Wh-where should I start?”

This idiot.

Only when Solea shot him a menacing glare did he hastily continue.

“D-don’t get me wrong, you hear? I’m only doing this because you’re too sick to read it yourself! If that’s the case, you need to tell me where to start. What, do you expect me to just pick a random page? Fine. Have it your way.”

Gray did his best to remain calm and opened the book. After a reluctant sigh, he began reading the explicit text in a low, steady voice.

“A moan escaped through Lady Remsha’s t-teeth… Do you seriously want me to continue?”

When Solea continued to glare at him in silence, Gray tightened his grip on the book, his hands trembling. With his face still flushed, he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before forcing them open again, squinting at the text.

“‘My lady, I think you’re rushing into this.’ Reshma smiled lightly after she heard Erasto’s low moan. She then kissed him passionately, almost as if she were trying to steal his breath away.”

“Is that really what’s written in there?”

“Yeah, it is!”

Gray’s face looked like it might burst at any moment. He practically threw the book onto the nearby table and quickly stepped back.

“No way. I’m not doing this anymore. You can read it yourself once you’re better! Seriously, how do you expect me to read this? You must be crazy.”

“Did you just call me crazy? You said I’m your younger sister!”

“You don’t even call me your brother! Younger sister, my ass!”

Gray turned to leave, but a knock stopped him. He jumped like a startled deer, then quickly darted back, grabbing the book and shoving it into the bottom drawer.

Feigning composure, he said, “Come in.”

“Anyone who hears you will think this is your room,” Solea jeered, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Anne opened the door and entered.

“What’s going on?”

“Your friends are here to see you, my lady. They only know that your fever has broken and are unaware that you injured your leg. What should I do? Do you think you can meet them?”

With a large bump still on her forehead, Solea responded in a baffled tone, still using the third person.

“Solea has friends?”

Gray shook his head slightly and turned to Anne.

“Bring them in after you’ve taken care of the injury on her face. Solea could never say no when her friends visited. Though I’m not sure whether she actually liked them.”

After giving Anne instructions, he turned back to Solea with a smile.

“Gray will leave now. Solea didn’t like it when Gray was around during her friends’ visits.”

“Solea was like that?” she asked, still not realizing she was referring to herself in the third person.

Gray’s smile grew even gentler, though there was a hint of solemnity mixed with his usual cheekiness.

“If your friends give you trouble, just call your big brother.”

“Big brother, my ass.”

“That’s right. I am your big brother.”

As soon as Gray left, Anne and the other maids hurried in, fussing over Solea and preparing her to meet her visitors, even though she was still bedridden. What kind of friends were they that she had to greet them even in this state?