WRBEFM 07

Chapter 7

“Brother!”

“Since someone is targeting me, I have even more reason to keep a close eye on her. If you truly care about that brat, you’d better tell me everything honestly.”

Otherwise—

“I’ll have no choice but to find out by force.”

“That’s so unfair!”

“You’re the one who made things complicated, Veronica.”

“Because I know you won’t leave the little one alone!”

Rodrigo was exactly the kind of person who would do anything to get what he wanted.

Veronica stared at her brother in annoyance before sighing.

Then she recounted everything she had heard so far.

“So she is planning something.”

From saying that it was dangerous to stay with her, to talking about bloody revenge and crushing someone beneath her feet—there were hints of much harsher and more blatant anger than expected.

“It sounds like she has someone holding a grudge against her.”

“If what the child said is true, I don’t think she’s targeting the master.”

“She’s probably planning to use him instead.”

To get whatever she wanted.

“Then why don’t we just reach out to Karin first?”

Veronica, who had been listening to the two of them, chimed in.

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. You’re suspicious of Karin because you don’t know why she’s trying to approach you.”

“……”

“I was curious too. She knows perfectly well that you’re an ill-tempered dragon, yet she wants to meet you that badly. She doesn’t even seem afraid of you. Unlike everyone else.”

There wasn’t even a hint of fear.

Nor did she have the slightest intention of mocking him for being from a fallen family. Karin genuinely, sincerely wanted to meet him.

“I told her to give up already, but I guess she really means it.”

So—

“Since we don’t know what kind of scheme she’s planning, why not approach her first while keeping an eye on her? I don’t think Karin would refuse.”

“……”

“Or don’t tell me…”

Veronica tilted her head.

“You’re not planning to keep lurking around and investigating her from behind like some creepy stalker, are you?”

Rodrigo slightly furrowed his brow at that.

Veronica simply shrugged.

“No, I mean, think about it. Even after Siss called you in and talked to you, you’re still doing this. Doesn’t that mean you still haven’t made up your mind?”

“……Ahem.”

She wasn’t wrong.

Rodrigo couldn’t even begin to guess what was going on inside that tiny head of hers.

“She’ll have to leave soon anyway.”

“So?”

“Let’s take her with us.”

Rodrigo was planning to escape from prison soon. Veronica was also expected to be released on parole around the same time.

If that happened, they wouldn’t be able to meet Karin again.

Siss would also resign voluntarily because he had failed to prevent Rodrigo’s escape.

Rodrigo gave no answer to Veronica’s proposal.

But he didn’t refuse, either.

That meant he was considering it.

“Anyway, if you’re going to bring her with us, decide quickly. There’s already some weird bastard following me around, and it’s driving me crazy.”

“A weird bastard?”

“There’s some insect targeting me. I don’t know whether his real target is me or our little one…”

Veronica frowned.

There were more than enough people who wanted her dead, but right now…

She also had their precious little girl to worry about.

Hearing this, Siss tactfully spoke up.

“It would be best to deal with him early so that nothing interferes with your plans. Shall I take care of it?”

“No. If you move right away, he’ll become suspicious of you too.”

It had been a while since she had gotten to stretch her muscles, anyway.

“I’ll watch him for now and deal with him all at once.”

If they moved too hastily, they might either leave evidence behind or lose track of him.

Either way, it would be troublesome.

“When did you say the escape would happen?”

“We haven’t decided on an exact date yet. I believe it will depend on whether or not we take the child with us.”

“Then decide before that, Brother.”

After hearing Siss’s answer, Veronica stood up.

“If you hesitate too long and miss your chance, I’m taking the little one with me myself.”

“……Huh.”

Rodrigo let out a bewildered sigh.

Meanwhile, Veronica finished what she had to say and abruptly turned around.

As Rodrigo watched her walk out of the office, he muttered,

“Has that girl been brainwashed by the child or something?”

“……Rather than brainwashed…”

Siss carefully offered his guess.

“I believe it may be because she reminds her of that person.”

She looked gentle and harmless.

And beyond that impression, there were many similarities in her overall demeanor.

Even Siss could see it, so he understood why Veronica was behaving this way.

That woman had been Veronica’s one and only friend.

And also, Rodrigo’s…

“Nonsense.”

Rodrigo cut him off coldly.

“It’s just a coincidence.”

Rodrigo clicked his tongue.

He knew exactly what his subordinate was implying, but he refused to acknowledge it to the very end.

I slowly opened my eyes after confirming that no one else was in the cell.

‘Just as I thought.’

There was no warmth left in the empty spot beside me.

My sister, who slept beside me every night, had left the cell today.

‘What happened?’

I had always been good at pretending to sleep in my previous life, too.

I had to be, if I wanted to avoid the Count’s abuse even a little.

Because of that, I had been able to see everything, including my sister leaving with the help of a guard.

‘Did they make some kind of deal?’

Otherwise, there was no way she could have left so confidently.

She wasn’t escaping, either.

‘Where did she go? Is she meeting someone?’

My thoughts became complicated.

Staring at the empty space, I slowly got up.

‘Actually, this is perfect.’

I had been debating whether or not to do it in the bathroom.

But perhaps now, with nobody around, was an even better opportunity.

I could find out where my sister had gone later.

After taking a slow, deep breath, I pinched my thigh.

“Ouch!”

Pain surged through me because I pinched myself hard.

I tried to think of the saddest things I could, pinching myself in various places to force as many tears as possible.

Then—

With a small sob, a clear droplet formed at the corner of my eye.

“Sniff…”

Plop. Plop—

Soon, clear tears fell onto the blanket.

Then they began to glow green before hardening.

They were emeralds.

I quickly wiped my eyes.

‘I was worried it might not work.’

Fortunately, it seemed that my ability had returned along with my return to the past.

‘I didn’t want to use it if I could avoid it.’

No one knew yet that I could create gemstones.

I would probably be questioned later about where I had gotten them…

But I had already thought of an excuse.

I picked up the emeralds scattered across the blanket.

‘I’ve got the gemstone.’

Now it was time to obtain the remaining materials.

My sister Veronica returned about an hour later.

It was sooner than I expected.

Of course, I had also been diligently preparing during that time.

“Yaaawn.”

I had slept for barely an hour or two, yet exhaustion weighed heavily on my shoulders.

“My little one looks especially tired today.”

“Mm… I had a bad dream.”

“Oh, dear. Should your sister take care of everything for you?”

She gently stroked my head as she asked.

I shook my head.

“Your hand hurts, Sis. I don’t like it when you’re hurt.”

“……How does this child manage to say nothing but such sweet things every time?”

Clenching both fists, my sister gazed at me with an unbearably affectionate expression.

Just then, a guard approached us.

“Number 444. Sit apart.”

“……Hah.”

Veronica turned toward the guard with an annoyed expression and narrowed her eyes.

It was time for the sacred prayer.

During this time, everyone had to sit in their designated places.

Looking deeply disappointed, my sister stood up.

Before leaving, she didn’t forget to give me a kiss.

I absentmindedly rubbed the cheek where her affection had landed.

I thought I was getting used to it by now.

But whenever she showed her affection like this, I still felt strangely awkward.

It wasn’t that I disliked it.

It just felt unfamiliar.

“Ahem. Please sit up straight, everyone.”

Just then, a priest appeared and stepped onto the platform.

Beside him was a box of matches for lighting the candles.

I swallowed nervously.

Normally, I wouldn’t have been particularly interested in prayer.

But today was different.

“Now, please come forward one at a time.”