81 - Friends
Mariana’s world tilted. Not metaphorically—no, it genuinely felt like the ground beneath her feet had shifted just enough to throw her balance off.
“… excuse me?” she repeated, her voice quieter this time. Careful. Guarded.
Because that word—isekai’d. That wasn’t a term anyone in this world should know.
Sadia didn’t look alarmed. Didn’t look like she had just dropped something world-shattering into the middle of a casual street conversation. Instead, she simply smiled. Soft. Gentle. Almost apologetic.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Sadia said, her tone warm and reassuring. “You just… had that look.”
Mariana’s brows furrowed slightly. “… what look?”
“The ‘what is going on with my life’ look.” Sadia replied lightly.
Mariana froze.
Okay, that hit a little too close.
Silence stretched between them, thin and fragile.
Mariana’s instincts screamed at her to deny it. To brush it off. To pretend she didn’t understand. But something in Sadia’s expression—there was no malice. No calculation. Just quiet understanding.
“Yo-You’re serious...” Mariana murmured.
Sadia nodded. And somehow, that simple gesture broke something.
Mariana exhaled shakily. “Yo-You’re not joking.”
“I wouldn’t joke about that,” Sadia said gently. “Not to someone like you.”
Someone like you.
Mariana swallowed. Her chest tightened, but not in fear this time. In recognition. “You really don’t have any ill will toward me...?” She asked suddenly, the question slipping out before she could stop it.
Sadia blinked, surprised. Then her expression softened even more. “None,” she said without hesitation. “Absolutely none.”
Mariana searched her face. Desperately. Looking for even the smallest hint of deception. There was none.
Sadia took a small step closer. Not invasive. Not forceful. Just enough to bridge the distance. “You don’t have to be on guard around me,” she added softly. “If anything… we’re in the same situation.”
That… hit differently.
Mariana’s shoulders, tense for who knew how long, eased just slightly. “Trust you?” She echoed.
Sadia smiled. “I’d like that.” A pause. Then, more lightly, “Would you… like to have tea with me?” she asked. “There’s a café nearby. We can talk properly there.”
Mariana hesitated.
This could be a trap.
But then again, if Sadia wanted to expose her, she could have done it already.
“… okay.” Mariana said finally.
Sadia brightened. “Great.”
—
The café wasn’t far. From the outside, it looked elegant but not overly extravagant. A place clearly frequented by nobles—but not crowded.
As soon as they entered, a staff member approached. Polite. Professional. Sadia reached into her sleeve and presented a small, intricately designed stamp.
The moment the staff member saw it, their posture changed instantly. “Archduchess Sadia,” they said, bowing deeply. “Please, this way.”
Mariana blinked.
That’s… convenient.
They were led upstairs. Past several private rooms. Until they reached one clearly more secluded than the rest.
VVIP.
The door opened. Plush seating. Soft lighting. Absolute privacy. Mariana sat slowly, still taking it in.
Sadia sat across from her, posture relaxed but graceful. For a moment, neither spoke. Then, “I’m sorry about earlier.” Sadia said suddenly.
Mariana blinked. “Earlier…?”
“When our eyes met,” Sadia clarified. “I ran.”
“Oh…” Mariana recalled. “Yeah…”
“I didn’t want to get involved,” Sadia admitted, looking slightly sheepish. “Especially not with him.”
“Him?” Mariana echoed, though she already knew.
“Zafiel.”
Mariana froze slightly.
Sadia sighed, resting her chin lightly on her hand. “He’s the original male lead, right?”
“… right…” Mariana nodded slowly.
“I’m not interested.” Sadia said plainly.
Mariana blinked. “What...?”
“I don’t want to follow the plot,” Sadia continued. “And he’s not my type anyway.”
Mariana stared at her. “… excuse me?” Again. Because what.
Sadia laughed softly. “I know, I know. That sounds crazy.”
“No, it sounds illegal.” Mariana muttered under her breath.
Sadia snorted then leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “I was isekai’d too.”
Silence.
Mariana blinked once. Twice. “… I think I heard that wrong.”
“You didn’t.”
“You’re serious?”
“Very.”
Mariana leaned back slowly, processing. Processing… Processing failed. “Wa-Wait,” she said, holding up a hand. “If you’re not interested in Zafiel then… why are you even here in Luxor?”
Sadia’s expression shifted. Softened. Then brightened. “My bias is here.”
Mariana blinked. “… your what?”
“My bias,” Sadia repeated, smiling a little wider now. “Sir Leonhard. Zafiel’s escort knight. One of the Imperial Knight Commanders.”
Mariana’s brain shut down. “… I’m sorry,” she said slowly. “You… came all the way here… for a fictional man?”
Sadia pointed at her. “He’s not fictional anymore.”
“… fair.”
“And he’s gorgeous.” Sadia added dreamily.
Mariana stared at her. Then looked away. “I’m dealing with a simp...” She muttered.
“I heard that.”
“Good.”
They both paused. And then, they laughed. Just like that. The tension broke.
“… I don’t even know what’s happening anymore...” Mariana admitted after a while, rubbing her temples lightly.
Sadia nodded in sympathy. “Same.”
“The plot is already ruined,” Mariana continued. “You’re not interested in Zafiel, he didn’t even react to you earlier, and—” She stopped because something hit her. Her plan. Her escape route. “… my plan is gone…” She whispered.
Sadia tilted her head. “Plan...?”
“I was going to… push you and Zafiel together...” Mariana admitted weakly.
Sadia choked on her tea. “WHAT?!”
“It was a good plan...!” Mariana defended. “You’re the heroine, he’s the male lead! It makes sense...!”
“I don’t want him!” Sadia shot back.
“I don’t want him either...!” Mariana snapped.
Silence. They stared at each other. Then, “… we’re doomed...” They said at the same time. And then groaned.
After calming down, Mariana leaned forward slightly. “… how did you get here?” She asked quietly.
Sadia’s expression flickered. “I don’t remember clearly...” She admitted after a pause.
Mariana nodded slowly. “… I saw a magic circle,” she said. “Purple. Black. And then… I was here.”
Sadia’s eyes sharpened slightly. “… that sounds ominous.”
“Very.”
A pause. Then Mariana looked down at her hands. “… I’m sorry.” She said softly.
Sadia blinked. “For what?”
“For… taking your role,” Mariana said. “The Saintess. That was supposed to be you.”
Sadia stared at her then laughed, actually laughed. “I don’t want that.” She said easily.
Mariana blinked. “… you don’t?”
“Nope.” Sadia leaned back, smiling. “I just want to live peacefully. Maybe… fall in love.” A small pause. “… preferably with Sir Leonhard.”
Mariana deadpanned. “Of course.”
“So don’t worry,” Sadia added gently. “You didn’t take anything from me.”
Mariana felt something loosen in her chest. Relief. “Thank you.” She murmured.
Sadia smiled. Then, after a moment, “Can we be friends?” She asked.
Mariana blinked. “… friends?”
“Yeah,” Sadia nodded. “We can have tea like this. Visit each other. Talk about… stuff.” She hesitated slightly. “… things only we understand.”
Mariana stared at her then smiled. “I’d like that.”
—
Time passed quickly after that, too quickly. They talked about everything. Anime. Manhwa. Tropes.
“Enemies to lovers?” Sadia asked.
“Overrated if done badly." Mariana replied.
“Yandere male leads?”
“Depends how unhinged.”
“Childcare?”
“Instant favorite!”
They laughed. Debated. Agreed. Disagreed. They talked about novels. About their old world. They discovered they were from the same world but different countries.
“That explains the accents...” Sadia mused.
“And the language?” Mariana asked.
“Probably auto-translated by the world system,” Sadia shrugged.
“… convenient.”
“Very.”
—
Eventually, the tea was finished, the sweets gone. Reality returned. Sadia stood first. “I should go.”
Mariana nodded, standing as well.
“I’ll reach out soon,” Sadia promised. “We’ll meet again.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Mariana said.
They smiled at each other. Then parted ways.
By the time Mariana returned to the villa, exhaustion had fully settled in. Her mind. Her body. Her everything. Too much had happened, way too much.
She walked straight to her room, barely acknowledging the maids who greeted her. The door closed behind her. Silence, finally. Mariana exhaled deeply, leaning against the door. “… I need a break…”
Her eyes closed briefly. Just for a second, just to breathe. “Iana.”
Her eyes snapped open. Her entire body froze.
That voice, melodious. Soft. Yet filled with authority. And it called her. Not Mariana but— “Iana.”
Slowly, very slowly, she turned but nothing. Her heart began to pound.