「Yes. I remember.」
Rio replied pleasantly.
「At that time, I said that I believe in the existence of previous life. And I have a reason for that. Then again, at that time, you might be bewildered by my sudden question… However, you know about my belief, and if Haruto-sama believe in previous life too… are you not curious about whether I remember my previous life or not?」
Despite the clear nervousness in her voice, Rio understood that Liselotte had finally made up her mind.
「…… Understood. May I have the honor to hear about your story?」
Rio spoke, an earnest expression adorning his face.
「I- I have memories of my previous life.」
Liselotte bit out stiffly as she kept watching Rio’s face, not letting him see any kind of change in her expression. But that also prevented Rio from seeing through her real feelings.
「I believe you.」
Rio said, staring back straight at Liselotte’s eyes. As such, he could see a faint light in her eyes that indicated her surprise at his prompt and unhesitant reply.
「May I ask the reason? 」
‘For you to believe in my story this easily?’ Was the unspoken question behind Liselotte’s words.
「Because Liselotte-sama is the person I trusted the most amongst the royalties and nobilities of this kingdom.」
「…… Thank you very much」
Although his response caused a faint shadow to cross her eyes since it was not what she had expected to hear, she still felt gratitude for Rio’s trust.
「You should’ve remembered what I was hinting to you before. At the time after my investiture as an Honorary Knight during the evening party, I hinted about my awareness of Rikka’s firm and Liselotte-sama’s secret.」 [TL : Around the time Rio saved Almond from horde of ghouls]
「Yes」
Around that time, he told Liselotte about Miharu and the others’ awareness of her products. They knew the goods coming from Rikka’s firm were similar to the goods that could be found on Earth. And he also told her he would keep this as a secret. After all, his intention in informing her was only to build a good relationship with her.
At that time, Rio chose to maintain the status quo since he didn’t want to look like he was groping around for Liselotte’s weakness but――、
「And by my guess, the products of Rikka’s firm were made in accordance to the memories of Liselotte-sama’s previous life, am I wrong?」
It was that time. Right now, Rio decided to break the status quo. And depending on the situation, or rather, since she had finally decided to tell him of her deepest secret… Rio would return the favor in earnest; through divulging the secret of his previous life as well.
「That’s right. Once Miharu-sama and the others learnt this world’s language, of course, they would be aware about the products of my firm. That is only natural. I do have memories of being born and raised in the same world as Miharu-sama and the others. And I did develop the various products of Rikka’s firm using those memories. If I only heard the matter from Miharu-sama and the others, I might not think of this. But because it’s you who come to me with that information, I think there’s a possibility that Haruto-sama also retains memories from your previous life, right?」
「……. Yes. At that time I entrusted Miharu-sama and the others’ to Liselotte-sama; I even considered the possibility of an exchange; between their knowledge about the other world and the newest trend there with your protection in this world.」
「Oh my, the reason you didn’t ask me at that time was because you’ve no proof about me having my previous life’s memories?」
Liselotte asked, keeping her gaze straight to Rio’s.
「Because, looking at it from Liselotte-sama’s position, Miharu-san and the others were just like your business rivals. We might have ended up in jail if we used your previous life’s memories as a way to blackmail you. That’s why, at that time, I told you that I’ve no intention to spread your secret and was just wanting to befriend you. Anyway, Miharu-san and the others weren’t that inclined to open a business enterprise either, so both sides should be just fine.」
「….. My deepest gratitude for your utmost consideration. But, does that mean, at that time, you’re extremely wary of me?」
「If I’ve to be honest, it’s more fear rather than wariness.」
Rio frankly told Liselotte what he was feeling at that time.
「That’s….. Reasonable, indeed.」
Liselotte’s expression looked as if she had just swallowed a bitter medicine. But that was only natural since both of them had yet to build a relationship that was based on mutual trust. Especially considering they had just first met at the time. Therefore, being wary of each other and being extremely cautious with every action they took was only natural.
But, right now, Liselotte was overflowing with emotions to the point that she thought that he should’ve just told her the situation at that time.
「Nevertheless, as I’ve said before, Liselotte-sama is the noble I trusted the most in this kingdom. That’s why I wanted to ask you. Why did you, Liselotte-sama, decided to tell me your secret? 」
Rio was being frank with her when he asked that question.
「Because I…… think that you also have the memories of your previous life.」
Liselotte’s reply was also candid despite the slight nervousness she still felt that could be seen on her face.
「What makes you think so?」
Rio asked calmly.
「I have a reason for my conviction. I mean, if I reincarnated in this world after my death wouldn’t that mean there is a possibility that… the others who died along with me in that traffic accident might be reincarnated in this world too? And that possibility almost turned into a conviction when I heard of your first name and your family name, Haruto Amakawa-sama. But now… I’m becoming unsure again.」
Rio could read various complex emotions that were jammed-packed in Liselotte’s voice. On the other hand――,
「My name and…….. Family name.」
Rio’s eyes were wide opened in shock, shaken by the unexpected development.
「If my prediction is correct, and you’re the very same person with the same name in your previous life… then, I naturally know you in your previous life, Haruto-sama. Or should I call you… Amakawa-san?」 [TL : In this situation, the other people usually called Haruto’s family name in Katakana while Liselotte is using Kanji in this occasion.]
Liselotte spoke calmly, sending an unperturbed gaze at Rio who was sitting before her.
「Yes. I remember.」
Rio replied pleasantly.
「At that time, I said that I believe in the existence of previous life. And I have a reason for that. Then again, at that time, you might be bewildered by my sudden question… However, you know about my belief, and if Haruto-sama believe in previous life too… are you not curious about whether I remember my previous life or not?」
Despite the clear nervousness in her voice, Rio understood that Liselotte had finally made up her mind.
「…… Understood. May I have the honor to hear about your story?」
Rio spoke, an earnest expression adorning his face.
「I- I have memories of my previous life.」
Liselotte bit out stiffly as she kept watching Rio’s face, not letting him see any kind of change in her expression. But that also prevented Rio from seeing through her real feelings.
「I believe you.」
Rio said, staring back straight at Liselotte’s eyes. As such, he could see a faint light in her eyes that indicated her surprise at his prompt and unhesitant reply.
「May I ask the reason? 」
‘For you to believe in my story this easily?’ Was the unspoken question behind Liselotte’s words.
「Because Liselotte-sama is the person I trusted the most amongst the royalties and nobilities of this kingdom.」
「…… Thank you very much」
Although his response caused a faint shadow to cross her eyes since it was not what she had expected to hear, she still felt gratitude for Rio’s trust.
「You should’ve remembered what I was hinting to you before. At the time after my investiture as an Honorary Knight during the evening party, I hinted about my awareness of Rikka’s firm and Liselotte-sama’s secret.」 [TL : Around the time Rio saved Almond from horde of ghouls]
「Yes」
Around that time, he told Liselotte about Miharu and the others’ awareness of her products. They knew the goods coming from Rikka’s firm were similar to the goods that could be found on Earth. And he also told her he would keep this as a secret. After all, his intention in informing her was only to build a good relationship with her.
At that time, Rio chose to maintain the status quo since he didn’t want to look like he was groping around for Liselotte’s weakness but――、
「And by my guess, the products of Rikka’s firm were made in accordance to the memories of Liselotte-sama’s previous life, am I wrong?」
It was that time. Right now, Rio decided to break the status quo. And depending on the situation, or rather, since she had finally decided to tell him of her deepest secret… Rio would return the favor in earnest; through divulging the secret of his previous life as well.
「That’s right. Once Miharu-sama and the others learnt this world’s language, of course, they would be aware about the products of my firm. That is only natural. I do have memories of being born and raised in the same world as Miharu-sama and the others. And I did develop the various products of Rikka’s firm using those memories. If I only heard the matter from Miharu-sama and the others, I might not think of this. But because it’s you who come to me with that information, I think there’s a possibility that Haruto-sama also retains memories from your previous life, right?」
「……. Yes. At that time I entrusted Miharu-sama and the others’ to Liselotte-sama; I even considered the possibility of an exchange; between their knowledge about the other world and the newest trend there with your protection in this world.」
「Oh my, the reason you didn’t ask me at that time was because you’ve no proof about me having my previous life’s memories?」
Liselotte asked, keeping her gaze straight to Rio’s.
「Because, looking at it from Liselotte-sama’s position, Miharu-san and the others were just like your business rivals. We might have ended up in jail if we used your previous life’s memories as a way to blackmail you. That’s why, at that time, I told you that I’ve no intention to spread your secret and was just wanting to befriend you. Anyway, Miharu-san and the others weren’t that inclined to open a business enterprise either, so both sides should be just fine.」
「….. My deepest gratitude for your utmost consideration. But, does that mean, at that time, you’re extremely wary of me?」
「If I’ve to be honest, it’s more fear rather than wariness.」
Rio frankly told Liselotte what he was feeling at that time.
「That’s….. Reasonable, indeed.」
Liselotte’s expression looked as if she had just swallowed a bitter medicine. But that was only natural since both of them had yet to build a relationship that was based on mutual trust. Especially considering they had just first met at the time. Therefore, being wary of each other and being extremely cautious with every action they took was only natural.
But, right now, Liselotte was overflowing with emotions to the point that she thought that he should’ve just told her the situation at that time.
「Nevertheless, as I’ve said before, Liselotte-sama is the noble I trusted the most in this kingdom. That’s why I wanted to ask you. Why did you, Liselotte-sama, decided to tell me your secret? 」
Rio was being frank with her when he asked that question.
「Because I…… think that you also have the memories of your previous life.」
Liselotte’s reply was also candid despite the slight nervousness she still felt that could be seen on her face.
「What makes you think so?」
Rio asked calmly.
「I have a reason for my conviction. I mean, if I reincarnated in this world after my death wouldn’t that mean there is a possibility that… the others who died along with me in that traffic accident might be reincarnated in this world too? And that possibility almost turned into a conviction when I heard of your first name and your family name, Haruto Amakawa-sama. But now… I’m becoming unsure again.」
Rio could read various complex emotions that were jammed-packed in Liselotte’s voice. On the other hand――,
「My name and…….. Family name.」
Rio’s eyes were wide opened in shock, shaken by the unexpected development.
「If my prediction is correct, and you’re the very same person with the same name in your previous life… then, I naturally know you in your previous life, Haruto-sama. Or should I call you… Amakawa-san?」 [TL : In this situation, the other people usually called Haruto’s family name in Katakana while Liselotte is using Kanji in this occasion.]
Liselotte spoke calmly, sending an unperturbed gaze at Rio who was sitting before her.
