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Chapter : 6. Chapter 1. You Who Came Like a Dream (6)
She hated darkness. It always felt like it was grabbing her ankles.
The darkness of small, confined spaces was truly terrifying. No matter how much she wanted to escape, she couldn’t. A tight space meant there was nowhere for her to run.
I want to get out. I hate this place.
She rubbed the faint line of light seeping through the gap. But she didn’t even have the courage to leave. If she came out and caused trouble for the Countess, she would never be forgiven.
I’ll be kicked out.
Ronell hugged her throbbing head tightly, trying not to sob.
She couldn’t even make a sound. If she did, she would be kicked out. And if she was kicked out… if she really was kicked out…
Mary had once told her many stories about what happens to a seven-year-old girl left outside alone.
Living here and being beaten was awful, but being eaten by monsters on the streets was even scarier.
So, so… she couldn’t be kicked out.
But… how long did she have to live like this?
Would it be better to just be eaten by monsters on the street? At least then she wouldn’t have to live in pain.
Even though she tried her best, a sob still escaped.
She covered her mouth and tried desperately to calm herself. She just had to endure today at least.
BANG—!
At the sound from outside the closet, Ronell froze pale and covered her head.
I’m going to get hit. I don’t know who, but someone’s going to get hit!
Just moments ago, she had wished to leave the closet—but now she was too scared and hoping the door would never open.
Don’t open it. Please—
The faint light grew stronger. Ronell braced herself for the coming kick, covering her head tightly. Experience had taught her that getting kicked in the hands was better than the head.
“Child.”
…Don’t open it…
At the new voice, Ronell slowly lifted her head.
Through the pouring light, black hair like a fragment of the night sky flowed beautifully.
Red eyes held emotions she couldn’t understand. Just seeing those jewel-like eyes made her heart pound.
Meow!!
The tense atmosphere shattered with a single cry.
A pure white animal darted forward and leapt toward the person it had chosen. Ruby jumped excitedly at Ronell’s feet.
“C-cat?”
Ronell asked awkwardly, her swollen cheeks making her speech unclear. Ruby’s large eyes filled with tears.
Sorry I’m late, my butler!
Ronell carefully bent down, trying to calm the cat—
But then the cat’s paw gently brushed her hand.
In an instant, the wounds on her face and cheeks disappeared completely. Aisila’s eyes widened slightly at the unbelievable sight.
Ruby purred proudly in Ronell’s arms.
“Is this her?”
Meow meow. Yes, this is my next butler!
Ruby proudly straightened her chest.
Meanwhile, the child instinctively hugged the cat tighter and lowered her head. Aisila knelt down to meet her eye level.
“Child.”
A clear voice without a trace of mockery. Gentle, soft warmth flowed through it. Ronell, who had never imagined the voice was directed at her, only then gathered her senses.
“Can you answer me? Are you alright?”
“M-me?”
“Yes, you.”
Eyes like glowing garnets looked straight at her.
“What’s your name?”
“R-Ronell…”
She answered hesitantly, then gathered courage to ask:
“Um… may I ask who you are?”
“Aisila Duncan. Hmm… the granddaughter of the owner of that cat you’re holding.”
“Ah… yes.”
So the cat did have an owner. Even knowing that, she still felt a little disappointed.
Even though she knew something like this didn’t belong to someone like her…
She had dared to wish for it.
Ronell blinked hard and lowered her head. The cat rubbed against her hand, meowing insistently.
Pet me quickly! What are you doing!
She instinctively hugged the cat tighter, and it purred happily.
“So affectionate.”
A calm voice followed.
“And I came to take you with me.”
“W-why…? Why me?”
Was she being taken away to the streets? Just a moment ago she had thought she wanted to die—but now the idea of being dragged outside made her feel unbearably sad.
Tears blurred her vision, and she didn’t notice the Countess trying to speak angrily nearby. While Aisila silenced her with a glance, Ronell kept her head down.
“I… I don’t want to die… I didn’t try to steal the cat. I didn’t steal anything. I didn’t do anything wrong. I really didn’t steal anything…”
It was all Lloyd’s fault. He always blamed her.
Watching the crying girl, Aisila suppressed rising anger.
Calm down. The priority was to soothe the frightened child.
“Child.”
“……”
“I didn’t come to take you away. I came to bring you with me.”
Confused eyes looked up at her.
“Reinhardt Duncan is the richest man in the Edherka Empire. And the next owner of that cat is entitled to inherit 10% of his fortune.”
“……”
“So—”
The Countess, realizing the meaning, inhaled sharply.
Ronell quickly lowered her head again.
The Countess used to say her green eyes were annoying. Remembering those painful words, she hugged the cat tighter.
A soft white paw gently patted her face.
“Lift your head.”
Reluctantly, almost hypnotized, she did.
“That cat says you are its next owner.”
Ronell glanced down. The cat’s sly eyes looked straight back at her.
Proud, aren’t I? Say it.
It rubbed itself against her happily.
“…What?!”
Ronell reacted a beat late.
A beautiful woman in front of her began clapping.
“Congratulations, child.”
Clap clap clap.
Silence fell again.
Breaking the eerie quiet, Aisila declared cheerfully:
“You’re going to become one of the richest people in the empire.”
…What?
As Ronell blinked in confusion, Aisila smiled even brighter.
At that moment—
“But.”
A sharp voice shattered the atmosphere.
“What does that have to do with anything, Lady Duncan?”
The Countess’s tone turned vicious.
“Shut up.”
The unexpected curse made her go pale.
“Ignorant woman shouting in a place where you should be silent.”
“……”
“Are you not ashamed? Not sorry? No conscience? If it were me, I’d be on my knees.”
“You…!”
The Countess trembled.
“I understand disliking children. Fine. I do too.”
“……”
“But child abuse is on another level. You should have ‘I am trash’ stamped on your forehead. How dare you treat a child like this?”
“That child belongs to the Artez family—”
“Shut up, child abuser.”
The Countess shook.
Aisila stood slowly.
A predator about to bite its prey’s throat.
“You make me want to burn this place down.”
“……”
“Would stuffing money into your mouth shut you up? Or should I do to you what you did to that child—beat you, lock you in a closet, and make you beg and cry?”
Her red eyes flashed like hellfire.
“How exactly do I shut you up?”
“Y-you’re insane—”
“You think I can’t? I’m a Duncan.”
A smile formed on her lips.
“Come to think of it, the Artez family’s wealth comes from southern grain fields, doesn’t it?”
The Countess’s face twitched.
“It would be interesting if those roads were blocked, don’t you think?”
