Choose Me Instead (UNDERGOING RE-PLAN AND REWRITE)

Act 1, Scene 22

After reading tons of manhwa like this, you should have known that the butterfly effect will happen. Everything you know is now different, this is the reality now. Not a book that has set gears but your new reality. You've been far too comfortable that you've ignored everything. And now that you've returned to your sense, you need to prepare.

You have to prepare for the future. No more playing around.

↠━━━━ღ◆ღ━━━━↞

"I have no choice but to feel anxious!!" Aristia shouts in frustration, breaking your train of thoughts.

"...I see," Carsein muttered in awkwardness. "Oh, well you could have just told me that earlier. I thought you were just swinging the sword to show off." he embarrassedly confess.

You hear Aristia gasp at her slip up before putting on another facade. "Are you satisfied?" she asks, before instantly proceeding to ask Carsein to go.

Flustered by her sudden hostility, Carsein stumbles on his words. "Huh? Wait, but..."

"You have no right or reason to be involved in my business. I apologize that my sister and I have been disturbing you these past few days, but that won't happen again." Aristia states on both of your behalf. And that made you slightly annoyed. But you can't fight the fact that you may have been disturbing him these few days.

"HUH?! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?" Carsein shouts in surprise, taking a step forward to protest. "I CAME BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT-"

"One more thing," Aristia says, cutting Carsein off. The poor boy had no choice but to immediately quiet down so that Aristia wouldn't be angry any further.

"Just because one excels in a certain area doesn't mean their flaws can be ignored. If you truly care about the reputation of your family and your own..." Aristia paused, scoffing at Carsein. "Then you better learn how to act like a noble."

You gasp, eyes widening at the roast. "Oooh burn..." you whisper under your breath.

Offended by Aristia's choice of words Carsein couldn't keep his anger. "HEY...!! YOU-"

"Now then. Farewell, sir." Aristia says, ignoring Carsein. "[Y/N], if you wouldn't mind," Aristia asks, her glare directed to you.

You raised an eyebrow at the glare, before nodding your head. "C'mon Carsein...we should let Tia rest. It's been quite the week for her." You commented, grabbing onto the sleeves of Carsein's shirt. Dragging him out as he shouts for you to stop.

After the door shuts behind you and Carsein, you quickly turn towards Carsein with an apologetic look. "Sorry about that...Tia isn't usually this sentimental. You must have quite the gift to bring that out of her." you chuckle.

Feeling his cheeks getting hotter at your praise, Carsein swiftly turns his head away. Scratching his cheeks, a habit he does when he gets flustered. "Ye-yeah...it's no problem at all."

Your eyes soften at the rare sight of Carsein. "Well then, shall I have a carriage prepared for you?"

"Oh, there's no need for that. I came here by carriage after all. It's should still be outside." Carsein hurriedly dismissed your offer.

You have no idea why but you felt in the mood to tease Carsein. "You seem a bit too eager to go." you joke. "Well I can't really overstay my welcome can I? I did barge in after all." Carsein sheepishly answers.

"Don't worry, you will never overstay your welcome here. It's much livelier with you here after all." you grin, not thinking much about your words.

However, to Carsein, it sounded a little like a confession. As a result of him turning into a red tomato. "Wh- what are you talking about!?" he embarrassedly shouts at you, quickly walking forward leaving you behind. "You better think before you speak next time!" he yells to you from upfront.

You didn't really understand what he was so flustered about, as you laugh and quickly ran after him. "Where are you going!?" you shout, still laughing.

"I'm obviously going home!" he yells back.

Both of your interactions were caught by some of the maids in the house. And just like what happened in the De Rass household. Rumours of you and Carsein once again spread throughout the house of Monique.

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

"See you again soon Carsein!" you shout after the carriage that is moving further and further. When out of a sudden, Casein's head pops out of the window and wave you goodbye. "I'll see you real soon [Y/N]!" he yells back.

You snicker at his action, using your fist to cover your mouth. "Lady [Y/N], shall we head back in now?" Mikasa suddenly pops out. "ARGH WHAT THE- Seriously, how do I ALWAYS fall for that!?" you mutter to yourself annoyed. "Alright Mikasa, let's head in." quickly composing yourself, already walking back into the house. "Very well Lady [Y/N]," Mikasa answers, following you.

It was quieter, now that Carsein has gone home. It feels empty again. It's not usually like this. Normally there's Allendis or 'grass' as you like to call him to make this place less lonely. "It seems a bit empty today..." you softly say to no one in particular. "Does Sir Carsein make this place livelier?" Mikasa asks you.

"Hmm, I guess? This place certainly feels less lonely with him around," you say, speaking your thought honestly. For some reason, you feel like you can talk to Mikasa about anything. Perhaps you really did get attached to this place subconsciously, not that you would admit it. "Lady [Y/N]...do you like Sir Carsein?"

You stop where you stand. Staring at the ground. Do you like him? You weren't sure. He wasn't as chaotic as he was shown in the manhwa, it's like the Carsein you fangirl over has another side the author never showed. The calmer and chiller side of him. So which Carsein do you actually like? The one the author portrayed? Or the Carsein right in front of you? That you don't know.

"Carsein is just...a friend." you finally answer. How could you like or even say you love someone you don't really know? But the word 'friend' left a bitter taste in your mouth. "You seem happier with him Lady [Y/N]." Mikasa honestly says.

You raised an eyebrow at this. Do you? You yourself have no idea. But tomorrow will be a better day. You're going out to town all by yourself! Without your father here, you're basically the head. Well, acting head to be precise. You made sure to clear 3 days of work in 1 day. Which was a huge shock to the workers but not really to you or Mikasa. "Sucks to be them I guess." you thought to yourself.

"I'm going to do so many things tomorrow! I'll have to visit the swordsman to pick up that sword I'm going to give father when he returns. Hmm, do I have to take it myself? Oh! There's a play in the town centre! But wait- there's the bakery Duchess Ernia mentioned that I need to check. And my book! My very own fanfiction of Melissa and Yuri that needs to be published to everyone!" you mentally cried.

Seeing your scheming face, Mikasa sighs hoping to not get more complaints from the butler. She has written at least 10,000 reports on this matter for the Marquess.

"I'll see you tomorrow Mikasa!" you cheerfully says, turning to face the maid. "Huh," Mikasa replies, as you look at her with expectations. But as the seconds go by, that smile of yours slowly turn into a frown. "You forgot...didn't you?"

"It's okay Mikasa." you fake smile, patting her shoulders. "I know you're busy with Casper, my daily routine and all those papers the butler gives you." still faking the cheerfulness, you slowly walk backwards into the room, closing the door. "Goodnight, Mikasa. Let's meet under the tree before going on our trip to town," you say before fully shutting the doors close.

Your hands linger on the handle as you sigh. "We were planning this trip for months though...was I the only one looking forward to it?" you mutter.