Chapter 16: CH 15

Come to think of it, both of them had no choice but to hide incredibly well.

Rieta grew up under the orphanage director, who wielded violence as he pleased.

Of course, she had to find a hiding spot where no one could find her.

As for Shuel…..

“They surprisingly clean quite often under the sofa. So, hide under the table even if it’s a little dirty there. It’s uselessly wide and dark underneath, so it’s hard to see. If you’re being chased, run and hide in a clean and smooth place immediately, rather than a dusty one…..”

That was what I had told him when we were still in the Broschte estate.

How to hide well in the room, just in case you get caught. Very elaborate details were emphasized.  

I dug my own grave, deeply….

I sat down and rubbed my sore legs, took a deep breath, then got up again.

There was not much time left, but there were only a few more places left that I haven’t looked at yet.

The children would come out soon if I gave up looking for them, but I refused to do that.

I have the pride of being the oldest.

However, while I was looking around the garden, my surroundings suddenly became quite dark. I quickly made my way back to the corridor.

Krungg. Suddenly I heard a noise and when I looked up, the blue sky had already begun to turn murky.

Shortly after, it began to rain heavily and the garden landscape disappeared.

It looked like it would only rain briefly, but it was still strong enough that a child could be swept away.

The backyard was not very large and there were a few large trees, so there was no risk of getting lost.

I knew that the children were not there after meticulously scouring the garden just now, but it still felt ominous.

The humidity from the rain made the hot air feel like a steamer. It was not a very delightful experience when my sweaty limbs didn’t dry out and felt sticky.

I frowned at the strange feeling.

It was just rain. I’m sure it would end soon.

I felt anxious, as if someone was pulling the back of my head.

It was strange, too. On such a perfect day, a short rain suddenly appeared.

At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps were heard. It was accompanied by the sound of water dripping onto the floor, indicating that they had recently come from outside.

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The footsteps sounded unfamiliar and held a sense of urgency in its pace.

It was too heavy for it to be either Shuel or Rieta, and too reckless to be Marius or Kendrick. It didn’t sound like it was any of the servants either.

It was unclear to who it was but familiar goosebumps arose.

…I know the sound of those footsteps!

“Arwen……!”

Goosebumps crawled down my spine. The feeling was similar to having my hair yanked back at this instant.

Rumble, Boom!

Lightning flashed and a shadow was seen. No, it wasn’t just one shadow…

Shadows in different sizes shook like monsters in the wind.

I turned my head slowly.

The world, which had been glistening in colours just a moment ago, turned black and white in an instant.

In the middle of the corridor, stood a woman with brown hair, smiling wide.

My gaze shifted then to the man and the boy standing next to her, before returning back towards the woman.

Tick, tick, ding!

A faint sound rang from the pocket watch.

It was a sound that marked the end of the game.

How are you here? How did you know I was here?

Ironically, that was the first thing that came to my mind. My fingertips became cold and I clenched my fist tightly.

Another lightning flashed and the Viscountess of Broschte’s face appeared. 

Like a switch that turned on and off. At first, the expression on her face resembled a demon from hell.

Before I could even take a step backwards, she had reached me within a few steps.

“My darling!”

I instantly closed my eyes, embracing myself for the terrifying pain that engulfed my entire body as she hugged me tightly.

“How have you been? How could you not say a word to me? Do you know how worried I was?”

The viscountess caressed me while pouring out words of concern.

I felt nauseous by the gentle touch that was stroking my hair yet her eyes were cold as she looked down at me.

I barely opened my frozen mouth and produced a sound as if my throat was being strangled. 

“……Mother.”

Even chewing on grains of sand wouldn’t be as difficult as this.

The ‘name’ I had been calling her before became uncomfortable to say again, like the feeling of being pricked with pins and needles.

The viscountess continued to stroke me, pouring out words of affection. But I hardly believed any of it.

This person couldn’t have genuinely searched for me out of worry.

Thinking indifferently, I turned my gaze and saw two other people over the viscountess’ shoulder.

A pair of black and platinum blonde hair individuals. It was Marius and Kendrick.

“What a relief. You were safe!”

Ah, right. It was obvious.

“Honey, the child is shocked.”

“Oh. Yes, I am too.”

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The viscount woke up at the sound of the viscountess’ tender voice as she wiped away her tears.

I glanced at the hand she held out to me.

“Arwen?”

Her hysterical voice overlapped with her friendly call. My breathing became suffocated.

There’s nothing I could do. I had no choice but to go back with them.

Nothing had gotten worse. It just…simply went back to its original state.

I wanted to stay at the duke’s residence, but it was clear that I wouldn’t be able to stay here any longer now that Viscount Broschte had found me.

I raised the corners of my mouth to smile, but it quickly fell down. My throat kept feeling like it was choked up.

I had to reply and accept her hand, but my body wouldn’t move like I wanted it to. Like a doll whose string had fallen off.

“…..Yes.”

The difficult word to say came out very faint. 

＊  ＊  ＊

“Oh, that’s right. She is my daughter, but she is very kind hearted.”

The Viscount who smiled and spoke softly was an unfamiliar sight to see. He had never made such a smile.

I thought he was incapable of it, but turns out he merely didn’t feel the need to.

Neither Jeffrey nor the Viscountess were acting normal. They were both smiling like people who only knew joy.

The Viscountess, who occasionally strokes my hair. Jeffrey, who would push a snack towards me. They both appeared to cherish me very much.

Unlike them, who were omitting a pretence of a warm atmosphere, Marius and Kendrick’s faces were chillingly cold.

Marius had a frosty look, as though proving her expression had been gentle all this time. Kendrick also appeared unfamiliar with his expressionless face. 

The Broschte family acted like they were knights returning from victory.

They proudly occupied the parlour, stood in front of Marius and Kendrick, while praising me as the hero who saved Shuel. 

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Greed flashed in the eyes of the Broschte couple. It was impossible not to notice something so blatantly obvious.

What will they ask for?

Viscount Broschte, who wanted to establish a connection with the nobles of the capital, would not be satisfied with just a simple compensation. 

It was me who had saved Shuel, so as a result, they could be here with me.

I had to intervene in their goal, but my head was all blank.

I tried to focus on the situation and blamed myself for constantly losing my train of thoughts. 

Obviously, the Viscount of Broschte would want to keep ties with the Sebrirua Duchy.

But they couldn’t continuously be indebted to him just because I had saved Shuel.

Perhaps, there was only one way for them to continue their ties with the Duke of Sebrirua. 

By getting Shuel and I to be engaged…

‘I can’t let that happen.’

Getting engaged would really cross the line.

Engagement was a semi-permanent thing. The fact that the heir of the duke would be engaged to the young daughter of a Viscount would already make a disgraceful scar, not to mention a divorce later on.

The chances were not impossible.

Rieta was also staying in the Duke’s residence after informing Shuel’s whereabouts, so the justification was ample.

But at the sight of the Viscount family behind me, I wasn’t sure whether the Duke and Duchess would continue to be kind to me, the cause of it all.

There was no ulterior motive in my decision to save Shuel. He was just a child that was being abused and he happened to be the only child I could save.

If I mentioned right away that I had no intention of getting repaid, everything would be solved.

But what would happen to me after that?

If they failed to push me towards the Duke of Sebrirua, they would drag me back at all costs.

And once again, they would try to sell me at a high price.

There was no way out…

It was as though the ground was ripped open from under me. I had nothing to begin with, but I still felt a great sense of loss. The resignation feeling felt all too familiar. 

The ducal couple were kind. If I proved my innocence, they wouldn’t kill me.

So I had to wait until I became an adult before running away.

Yes, that’s the plan.

Even if I leave this place. Even if they no longer treat me kindly, I could still live.

…If that was the case.

The moment I thought of that, a shadow fell before my eyes. When I lifted my head, I saw a soft, platinum blonde hair.

Kendrick’s gentle face, which always bore a relaxed smile, seemed like a facade. I had never seen such an angry look from him before.

I understood his reaction. The Broschte couple were shameless and vulgar. And I, their daughter, couldn’t appear to be lovely after meeting them.

Don’t be angry.

I did nothing wrong.

That was what I wanted to say, but I kept my mouth shut.

T/N: (╥﹏╥) 

pr/n: MY POOR BABY. 

Kendrick approached me slowly. The anger lingering on his face subsided when our eyes met. 

I thought he would hit or curse at me, but Kendrick didn’t do either.

Just like when he and Marius spoke to me, like how the other servants did, Kendrick knelt down and looked into my eyes.

“Rwen. Come here. Let’s go out with uncle.”

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