I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain

‘In my previous life…What was my mother like?’

 

I tried to recall my previous life, but it was so vague that I gave up.

 

I just thought it was a book I had read in a previous life, and I couldn’t remember anything else.

 

However, from the moment I was possessed, it was almost as if I had been brainwashed, and all I could think about was,

“I am human. I must not forget that. I am not a squirrel. I must become human.”

 

‘Well, this is my life now. What’s the big deal if I don’t remember my previous life?’

 

Anyway, thanks to the brainwashing thought that ‘I’m human, so I have to become human’, I was able to become human.

 

Anyway, the important thing is that Sienna really felt like a mother to me, even if the other people said she was crazy.

 

“Mother, get some rest.”

 

I could have just sat by Sienna’s side forever, but I cautiously whispered and stood up.

 

When I looked at my watch, a lot of time had already passed.

 

Now it seemed the time had come to face Jayden’s scrutiny head-on.

 

As soon as I left Sienna’s room, the maid who had been waiting quietly approached me.

 

“Dinner was prepared separately in the dining room. The young lady asked not to disturb the two of them unnecessarily. The princess and the count ate together.”

 

Since it was well past dinnertime, this was a natural arrangement.

 

Realizing I was a bit hungry, I immediately made my way to the dining room.

 

“And the Count wishes to see young lady Yurika.”

 

‘I knew it.’ 

 

I was lost in thought as I munched on the appetizers.

 

‘I want to meet him soon too.’ 

 

And just as the steak was served, I casually asked the maid, 

 

“I bet they had a delicious meal. The menu looks really good, so I guess the chef put a lot of effort into it.”

 

“Ah.”

 

The maid answered with a kind smile.

 

“Yes, the chef worked hard on it, but… the count doesn’t seem to have much of an appetite. He barely ate, and the chef was quite worried.”

‘As expected…’

I took a bite of the steak with a nonchalant expression and asked innocently,

“Really? The steak’s delicious—why wouldn’t he eat it?”

 

“Oh, he especially dislikes meat. He probably didn’t eat much for dinner tonight.”

 

“I see. But it’s really delicious.”

 

“Yes. The chef was also disappointed. He put in extra effort today.”

 

Looking at the worried face of the maid, it seemed the kitchen had been troubled for a while.

 

Well, there’s nothing more nerve-wracking than having guests over and not knowing whether they’re eating or not.

 

“I see…” 

 

I smiled with an innocent look on my face.

 

“May I use the kitchen for a bit? I might need a little help from the chef.”

 

After I finished dinner and returned to my room, not long after, Mariel and Jayden knocked on my door and came in, just as the maid had announced.

 

“Yurika, how was your trip? Your report was incredible!” 

 

Mariel spoke first, smiling brightly.

 

“You’re truly my sister! It was really the wrong person who almost got full. I got carried away with good intentions and just kept increasing the budget.”

 

“It’s fine. The ones who embezzled are the bad ones.”

 

I replied lightly and looked at Jayden’s face sitting next to Mariel.

 

He opened his lips several times as if he wanted to say something, but then sighed and closed his mouth.

 

Mariel, noticing that, gave him a playful nudge and giggled.

 

“If you have something to say, Uncle, you should just say it. Why don’t you tell Yurika why you wanted to see her?”

 

Jayden ran his hands through his hair, looking embarrassed. Then he sighed slightly and spoke calmly.

 

“First of all, Mariel, you go out.”

 

“What? No way! Who knows what you’ll say to Yurika.”

 

Meriel protested, shrugging her shoulders.

 

But I already had a sense of Jayden’s character. From what I could tell, he didn’t seem like a bad guy.

 

After all, anyone who made sure children stayed warm and made sure they already ate couldn’t be all that bad.

 

“Sister, I’m fine. I think he has something to tell me, and I want to have a conversation with him.”

 

“but…What if you just get hurt and can’t say anything? Like me!”

 

Indeed, the good Mariel could not argue back loudly even when someone treated her rudely, and just suffered alone.

 

“Do you think this kid is a fool like you? And if you stay, she might hold back because of your presence. Go out now.”

 

“But…I also wanted to see Yurika!”

 

Mariel puffed out her cheeks, stared at my face, and then slowly stood up.

 

I also nodded to Jayden’s words, so she must have decided that there was nothing she could do.

 

“Spend all day with me tomorrow, okay?”

 

After making me promise with a pinky, she left the room.

 

In the room where only the two of us were left, Jayden sighed and spoke first.

 

“You seem like a smart kid, so I’ll be straightforward.”

 

Mariel wouldn’t have hidden my accomplishments, so she must have already told Jayden everything.

 

Judging by his slightly softened tone, it seemed he had come to appreciate my efforts.

 

“The Medest family is in a serious state of crisis right now. They are not as good a noble family as they appear from the outside.”

 

I nodded solemnly, knowing full well that it was true.

 

“My brother-in-law, the Duke of Medes, has gone missing. Mariel is leading the family without even inheriting the title.”

 

Jayden’s face filled with depth.

 

‘Well, I think I would be quite worried about this situation if I were the only adult that Mariel could rely on.’

 

“It’s obvious that a child with no experience and no proper education cannot lead a family well, so let’s leave that out of the question, and Mariel’s position itself is not good.”

 

I was quietly impressed by his perspective—not blaming Mariel for her shortcomings but understanding that they were due to her youth. It felt reasonable and mature.

 

“Once the war ends, Meriel’s future is uncertain. We don’t know who the war hero will be—man or woman, young or old—but her fate will be tied to theirs. You understand what it means for another ‘Medes’ to exist, don’t you?”

 

But even the rational Jayden couldn’t know the future.

 

The war hero would be Yohan, and since Yohan had already been indifferent after meeting Mariel, it was highly likely that he would not become obsessed with her like in the original story.

 

If there was a possibility of obsession, it would be me, a divine being.

 

Anyway, it seems like the worst future that Jayden imagines won’t come to pass.

 

“Besides, to be honest, you’re in danger too. If something happens to Mariel, you’ll have to shoulder the responsibility given to ‘Young lady of Medes’.”

 

Oh, this is a side of things I’ve never thought about.

 

If something goes wrong with Mariel, does that mean I have to be the war hero’s mate?

 

And is Jayden worried about that right now? He’s a better person than I thought.

 

“Anyway, I wanted to let you know that although people might call you lucky to have become the adopted daughter of Medes, it’s not really like that.”

 

Jayden cleared his throat, as if he had read some subtlety in my expression, and then said, 

 

“No one would have told you this. It’s not that Mariel is irresponsible, but rather that she’s slow to grasp the situation.…”

 

Jayden clicked his tongue, seeming worried.

 

Perhaps he sent Mariel out because he wanted to tell this story.

 

“You seem to be a pretty smart kid, so there might be a better place to adopt you. This isn’t just about a day or two—it’s your future. Think about it carefully. I can help you find a stable family.”

 

I thought carefully. Jayden might seem cold, but his intentions were good. He was worried I’d be caught up in the Medest family’s troubles.

 

‘Well, he’s not entirely wrong. If this follows the original story the Medes family would have been completely ruined, and just like Mariel was manipulated by Yohan, I too could be manipulated by strange men.’ 

 

But I had no intention of letting the Medest family end up like that.

 

Also, Yohan may have grown up to be a good person.

 

Even if something went wrong and I became a squirrel again, I could always become human as long as I stayed by Mariel’s side, who had unknown magical powers.

 

“Actually, I’ve already reached out to a potential family for you—” 

 

That was then.

 —Tok Tok 

“Young lady, may I come in?”

 

The maid’s voice was heard along with a “knock knock” sound. It was exactly at the time I had instructed in advance.

 * * *