Soon the sails were tied, and the anchor thrown overboard. We had reached the capital. I, with the help of Octavia and the crew, managed to not faint while getting off the ship. Octavia was having the time of her life. Despite my desperate calls, she visited the windows of nearly every shop on the way to the inn we would be staying at. I felt a bit embarrassed by her obvious first-time reactions, but the sight of her dancing joyfully beneath the streetlights could not help but bring a smile to my face. And besides, she was carrying all our luggage on her small back, so I did not want to complain.

We managed to find the inn before nightfall. I was worried we would not, due to dusk arriving earlier during the winter months. But because of the change in latitude, the sun set slightly later than I had anticipated. We quickly got our room key, and I jumped into bed the moment we entered our chambers.

I looked over at Octavia, who had started unpacking our essentials. I felt sorry for being so weak and forcing us to stay the night at an inn. Father had told me of his townhouse located in the southwestern part of the city, but my condition simply did not allow for me to continue that far.

“Octavia?”

“Yes master?”

She is never going to learn, is she? Hmm… there must be some way to get rid of her bothersome way of addressing me.

Suddenly, a devious thought occurred to me. It was not a malicious thought. But it was not the nicest thought either.

Sorry Via, but I am going to have to teach you some disrespect!

With a dramatic flick of the wrist, I clenched my chest with my hand and started coughing violently.

“AH! Oh, the pain!! It hurts so much Via…!”

Octavia, clearly shaken by my outburst, immediately rushed to my side.

“Master!! Master Kallius, what’s wrong?! Are you feeling sick again?”

I was actually quite comfortable laying where I was, but I needed to play the part of a man on his deathbed. So, I raised my eyebrows and clenched my teeth. I must have held an extremely pained expression because I suddenly felt a drop of water on my face. Octavia had made a face even more pained than my own.

“I’ll- I’ll go find a doctor…!” she cried as she wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

She turned and started running towards the door. In a panic, I lunged out and grabbed her dress, allowing myself to be pulled out of bed and onto the floor. My forehead must have hit the ground quite hard, as I started to feel my tears well up.

“Argh… wait! Via!”

“No!! Master, you are in pain! You are hurt! I need to find a doctor… please!”

The poor girl tried her best to pull away from my grip, but I refused to let go. Damn it all. This wasn’t supposed to happen…

“No, that is not what I need Via. There is a different way you can make me feel better.”

“Huh? How?”

Octavia kneeled to my level. I felt stupid for saying this next part, but I convinced myself it was all for the sake of the plan.

“You can… call me by my name. Then… I might feel a bit better.”

I hesitantly looked up at her. She did not look sad anymore. She looked a bit angry…!

“You were just pretending, weren’t you?” she said in a monotoned voice.

Ha?! I- I am no match for these clever maids…!

I hung my head in shame and nodded.

“You-you’re so mean…!” she cried. “You looked so incredibly hurt…! Hic- I- I really thought… that you were going to die!”

My heart nearly collapsed. I felt awful. This poor, empathetic soul! I am so sorry! I have committed a great sin by playing such a cruel joke on you…! Forgive me, Via!

I spent the next ten minutes apologizing profusely. Why do I always do this? I made Max cry, and now Via…! I picked a fight with father, and not to mention, Devon already hates me. I am sure I said something that displeased Alice too… Gosh, I’m the worst.

Octavia, sensing my self-loathing emanating from the corner I had pushed myself into, lightly tapped my shoulder.

"I am not angry with you," she said softly, "I am just sad... because seeing you in pain causes me pain as well..."

A benevolent goddess had graced my sights. Via…! You angel!

At moments like these, I felt like it would have been better if I had never reincarnated. Compared to all the sweet people I have met so far; I am an infection. A disease corrupting this world and its people. I want to do better.

With new hope in my heart, I held her little hands inside my own.

“Whatever you want!” I exclaimed. “Let us go out for dinner in the city! Any place you wish to go, I'll take you!”

And with that, her beautiful smile returned. Oh God, I swear I will never complain about her smiling ever again…!

She continued holding me by the hand and started chattering about a few places she had seen and wanted to visit. And somehow, as I listened to her speak about the things she loved, my sickness soon became a memory.