I've Reincarnated as a Love Rival !

IV

"Hey, what's your name?" I ask, our eyes still meeting.

The boy's neutral expression suddenly grew into a small smile.

"A friend gave me the name Cecil. I was abandoned by my parents, who didn't even bother naming me."

I was taken aback. That line...I recognize it!

I knew there was something about him that stood out. That grayish-blue hair and those bright green eyes. This boy, he's obviously one of the male leads!

Cecil, he doesn't have a last name, and he didn't bother giving himself one. Like he said, he was abandoned by his irresponsible parents for reasons unknown. Fortunately, he was found by an elderly couple who then took him to an orphanage.

In that orphanage, he met Liana, the heroine of the game. They got to know each other and became good friends, but they were forced to separate when they were only nine years old. That's because Liana was picked up by a noble family, who then enslaved her. I think that family was called the Amber family.

She escaped from them when she turned seventeen, and since she's the same age as me, she should've left by now and got taken in by the royal family. The royal family found her passed out in front of the palace, and that's when they noticed an unique magical power in her.

Ever since Liana got taken, Cecil grew a bitter resentment towards nobles and smiled a lot less. He was eventually adopted, but escaped his foster family. That's why he's living on the streets now at the age of 18.

Cecil swore to find his friend again, but what he didn't realize is that he's already developed romantic feelings. According to the storyline, the two would reunite somewhere in an alleyway. If I'm remembering correctly, I think Liana was sneaking out to do something reckless (like a typical naive MC).

Then, why is he here? The story never mentioned an important interaction like this. Maybe he wasn't meant to run into me...

"I'm Elisa Griffiths, it's a pleasure to meet you, Cecil." I smiled softly and reached one of my hands through the bars.

I'd expected a hand shake, or maybe a mean glare, but he just stared innocently at my hand without moving at all.

Well this is awkward...I slowly retracted my hand after seconds of silence.

After clearing my throat, I spoke again,
"A-anyways, do you remember me? You stole some bread and tried to run but you ran into me instead."

Cecil's eyes traveled from my hand to my face, "no, I barely remember what happened. I just remember snatching bread."

"I see, then may I ask why you did that?" I already knew the answer, it was that he was starving on the streets. But I asked just so it'll give me a reason to know his story.

"Of course, a noble like you wouldn't understand." He looked to the ground and muttered, but I could still hear his words clearly.

I knew this boy would make some kind of remark like that. Actually, I'm surprised he's not being more aggressive than he is right now! In the game, he was all cold and harsh, except towards the MC of course.