I Think the World Made Me Its Enemy

"I was just so scared because of what my family did... and I'm sorry... sob..." I covered my face with my hands, pretending to cry.

Whatever the reason this prison warden is so concerned about the original owner of this body — tears are the best weapon!

"U-uh... I-I didn't mean to bring up something painful. Please, forgive my incompetence!"

Clearly flustered and confused, the man panicked, trying to calm me down.

A few seconds later, I finally "came to my senses," looking up at him with big, innocent eyes.

There were still so many questions, and I still didn't fully understand the relationship between the former girl and this man. But one thing was comforting —

he didn't find out about my little walks, so the rest wasn't that important.

"Your family did something terrible. I can't imagine how you felt when they made you the scapegoat," he said again, full of regret.

"Please, don't blame my family... they had no choice. Honestly, they're good people. It was just... the circumstances," I exhaled without the slightest hint of a lie.

"And still, I heard you had some run-ins with criminals. Thank goodness you weren't hurt."

"Oh, right… that's true. Ha-ha…"

I let out an awkward laugh, but it came out dry and obviously fake.

(What the hell is wrong with this guy?.. Feels like I'm in an interrogation room...)

Well of course I had run-ins with criminals. I was trying to die, after all. Lucky for me, they blamed it on trauma.

Still, it sucks — knowing absolutely nothing. Seriously, who's the lazy bastard that dumped me here like this?

Shouldn't I have received the memories of the body's previous owner first? Or some basic world info? That's how it always works in those isekai stories!

(Fuck…)

(…I'm starting to sound like one of those high school girls obsessed with webnovels…)

(I seriously need to do something about that…)

"I know this may not be much, but you can ask me for anything you need. If anyone bothers you, or if you need something—"

"Isn't that corruption? You're surprisingly direct for a prison warden…"

"You can just call me Hel. After all, your family has long-standing ties with the Mage Prison."

(Ties…? Am I imagining it, or are the questions just multiplying at this point…)

I nodded silently, drowning in my thoughts.

(Seems like the real Rosaline knew him. Not very closely though. And it looks like he can't stand her family. Fair enough…)

"As for corruption... well, I'm not as kind or good of a person as Lady Rosaline…"

He lowered his gaze, and his long black lashes trembled faintly.

"Don't say that… just like with my family, maybe you had your own reasons," I said softly, looking at Hel with hopeful eyes.

"You really think so?.. That means a lot to me. Also, I didn't report the incident to the marquis. You probably already knew that."

(So this girl's family really is a piece of work, huh…)

"Ah, thank you. And as for those favors... I really do appreciate it. You're very generous…"

"You won't reject my desire to help you?" — his brown eyes lit up with a new emotion.

(What the... Who in their right mind would reject that?!)

Still, Hel continued to stare at me like he was trying to burn a hole through my soul.

(This idiot wasn't just dumb — she was some kind of self-sacrificing saint!)

"Yes… I've had a lot of time to think while I was here, so if I do need help — I'll be sure to ask you."

"Well then, since you've truly accepted... I have no right to keep you here longer," Hel said, trying to keep his voice neutral but clearly pleased.

(Wow, Rosaline, you really didn't use the prison warden's protection and preferred to just die in fear instead of accepting help?)

(The previous owner of this body was seriously... something else. And it seems like she didn't even consider that the prison warden might be in love with her? Well… all the better.)

(Special treatment from the prison warden himself, who apparently had feelings for Rosaline… I wonder if his little friend in his pants dreams of her too? How cute.)

(Looks like I'm insanely lucky. Heh…)

Saying goodbye, I reached for the doorknob, but stopped at the last second.

"Oh, and you don't have to be so formal with me. You can call me Rosie."

"Rosie?.." he repeated, his ears and cheeks noticeably turning red.

"That's right. My friends call me Rosie, so I don't mind at all," I smiled at Hel with the sweetest smile I could manage.

Grin.

Finally, I opened the door and walked out.

"….."

I was holding back laughter, my eyes even tearing up a little.

(Oh my god… That face. No seriously? It was hilarious. Well, nothing wrong if he starts thinking the real Rosie might like him back, right?)

(It's the least I can do for this poor guy suffering from unrequited love. At least now his face doesn't look like a rotten vegetable like it did at the start.)

Hel, huh…

"Hah…"

Even back in the prisoner room, I couldn't stop thinking about the original owner of this body.

Seriously now, how could she treat reincarnation this irresponsibly?!

And just like before — I had not a single clue who the real Rosie even was.

L