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Chapter 09
‘R-Really?’
Since she had never experienced it even once, she couldn’t be sure. Usually, people said that the first time leaves your lower back hurting. Some also said that, depending on the person, there could be bleeding.
She glanced at the bed, and there was a small stain of blood on the pure white bedsheet. Her heart dropped.
“Bibi. Are you alright?”
Sir Constance’s voice came from behind. His voice sounded even gentler than yesterday.
Should I ask? Should I ask him?
“Are you still feeling very unwell? I can bring honey water again—”
“No! I’m fine! Really!”
“But you must be in a lot of pain…”
Pain? Why?
“No, I have to go to work right away, so I should get going—ugh!”
A groan slipped out without her realizing. Her lower back hurt. Thinking it might just be her imagination, she twisted her waist a little—but it really hurt. At the same time, despair filled her.
“Bibi?”
“…I-I’m really fine. More importantly, my clothes over there…”
“Can’t you take a day off? I think it would be best for you to rest well today.”
“If I do that, I might get fired!”
A clumsy excuse came out.
Sir Constance didn’t question her further. He simply picked up the clothes that had fallen to the floor and handed them to her. She slipped under the blanket, roughly got dressed, and got out of the bed.
As she stood up, she clearly felt like her whole body had been beaten up. Maybe the alcohol hadn’t worn off yet, because her head felt like it would split.
Just as Sir Constance said, maybe it really would be better to rest today.
“I will escort you home.”
Sir Constance stepped in front of her. But out of embarrassment, she couldn’t properly look at his face.
“It’s okay. I can go by myself.”
“You look like it’s hard for you to even walk.”
“It’s just, just my imagination, right? I’m completely fine!”
At her firm answer, Sir Constance let out a small sigh. Maybe he was upset by her continued refusal.
“…Then, can we have dinner together again, like yesterday?”
“Huh?”
“If a meal feels burdensome, tea would be fine as well. Honestly, if this is the last time, I don’t want to let you go.”
She couldn’t answer easily. If she refused, she worried she might end up staying with him until it was time to go to work. Sir Constance waited anxiously for her reply.
“…If I have time, I will.”
“Really?”
He said, visibly pleased.
“If I have time, I mean. S-So I’ll get going now!”
“It’s a shame I can’t take you home, but I’m glad we can see each other again later. If your body hurts too much, don’t force yourself to go to work and make sure to rest.”
Her hand, which was about to turn the doorknob, stopped. Was Sir Constance really unaffected by this situation?
A man and a woman were alone in a closed room. They had even spent the night together, yet Sir Constance didn’t even blink and approached her more actively.
‘He must have a lot of experience, unlike me.’
What woman would leave a man with that kind of appearance and status alone?
Since he was young, he must have met the most beautiful women in the country, and among them, there were probably women who spent the night with him, like she did.
It felt a little unfair. He had acted all shy and reserved, but in the end, Sir Constance took her first night and then passed over it without any particular reaction.
“Bibi? Are you really feeling unwell somewhere?”
When she stood still by the door, Sir Constance approached. She bit her lip.
She wasn’t the type to place meaning on her first night, but she never thought it would pass like this. And with a man who would one day abandon her and turn away.
He knew nothing about her. She also knew almost nothing about Sir Constance.
“No, excuse me.”
She opened the door and quietly walked down the corridor covered with luxurious carpet.
* * *
14 years ago.
The hellish world war had just ended.
But the research institute located in the outskirts of Toramd was always at war.
Since only the greatest geniuses had gathered there, all kinds of bizarre things happening was only natural.
“This pretty child is really his daughter?”
“They don’t look alike at all?”
But it was the first time a young girl had crossed the threshold of the institute like today.
The researchers looked at the girl who had newly arrived with curious eyes.
She was a beautiful girl with big eyes and a round nose bridge. Perhaps because she was nervous, she kept twisting her body.
“H-Hello…”
Her voice was clearer than expected. A voice that could never be heard in the research institute. The researchers felt as if the filth inside them was being washed away.
“I didn’t know the chief had gotten married. But to even have a daughter… Where is his wife?”
At that moment, a woman who had been looking at the girl spoke. The girl looked at the name tag on the woman’s pure white clothes. It said Sien.
“…My mom ran away.”
The girl said.
“…Ran away?”
The atmosphere sank. But Sien couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked again.
“Why?”
“Senior, that’s a bit…”
Tiago, who couldn’t bear to watch, lightly hit Sien’s arm. He was a kind-looking young man. He was also a former researcher and one of the people who brought the girl to the institute.
“What is it?”
“I’ll tell you later, so for now, please keep quiet.”
Sien slightly pouted her lips at her junior’s scolding. The girl thought that expression looked funny.
“Little miss.”
At that moment, an androgynous voice came from behind the girl. There stood the person who had come with her along with Tiago.
A mature woman with short silver hair and blue eyes. The girl knew her name was Rene.
“Don’t be too scared. They’re not scary people.”
“…Are all of them people who work with my father?”
“Yes. And now they’re the people you’ll be living with. They’ve all spent their lives studying, so they’re a bit loose in the head.”
“I did not only study, senior.”
Sien interrupted again. Then Tiago, who was beside her, looked shocked and pinched her arm hard.
“Senior, please!”
“Haha. That’s right. That sister named Sien used to be a military doctor. Do you know what a military doctor does?”
“An officer.”
“That’s right. You’re smart.”
Rene smiled kindly and stroked the girl’s head.
“That’s enough sightseeing of the neighbors. Shall we go see your room now?”
At Rene’s words, the girl nodded. Their hands held together.
As they walked down the corridor, Rene introduced which rooms were okay to enter, which were not, and which required knocking.
“There are so many rooms, it’s hard to remember, right? Sorry. I’ll give you a layout later.”
“It’s okay. I’ve already memorized them all.”
“Wow. That’s amazing.”
Even at Rene’s praise, the girl didn’t smile.
“…Does my father know that I came here?”
The girl asked hesitantly.
“Of course. You could come here because your father agreed.”
“Where is my father now?”
The girl gathered more courage. Even so, the word ‘father’ still felt awkward and unfamiliar.
“Do you want to see your father?”
The girl nodded.
“Your father should be in the room ahead labeled ‘Atomic Theory Laboratory.’”
Rene held the girl’s hand and stopped in front of the room where Galinne was. “Can you wait here for a moment?” At Rene’s words, the girl nodded.
Rene coughed awkwardly a few times, as if nervous, then knocked on the door.
But no sound came from inside. The girl stared blankly at the unopened door.
“I think no one is there.”
“This… might be a sign that someone is inside. Probably.”
Rene knocked a few more times, then grabbed the doorknob.
“Wait here for a moment. It won’t take long.”
With those words, Rene went into the room alone.
The girl quietly stared at the door Rene had entered. Soon, voices could be heard through the gap.
She stepped closer to the door to eavesdrop, frowning as the sounds were muffled.
At that moment, the slightly open door was pushed by her body. Startled by the widened gap, she couldn’t suppress her curiosity and went inside.
She thought the laboratory would be dark and scary… but contrary to her expectations, it was excessively bright.
On the table were unfamiliar instruments and piles of books. Crumbs from half-eaten snacks were scattered on the floor.
Walking forward, the girl spotted Rene ahead. There, along with Rene, was her father Galinne, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.
The girl took in her father’s face. She had seen him a few times before, but after so long, his face looked even gloomier and scarier than before.
“I clearly told you I would bring the child.”
“…Why?”
“Your wife ran away. She left the child alone in a hotel room and disappeared. She even took all the money from the safe.”
“Mm.”
“‘Mm’? Your wife ran away!”
“She never loved me in the first place.”
The girl flinched. She didn’t expect her mother’s name to come out of her father’s mouth.
“What can I even say? My point is, the wife ran away, and the child was alone in a hotel for a week. She even caught a cold during that time. When we arrived, the child’s condition was serious, sir.”
“….”
“After discussing with Tiago, we brought the child to the institute. We can’t leave her alone. You agreed to it at that time as well, sir.”
“Right.”
Galinne, who had only been giving short replies, shifted his gaze to the side. Soon, he discovered his daughter inside.
Even though he knew she had been secretly listening, his expression didn’t change at all.
“So please, pay some attention to the child. If she ends up getting hurt like this…”
Rene stopped. Having noticed a presence belatedly, she turned her head. Their eyes met.
“Child!”
The girl quickly ran away.
So that’s how it is. Father really has no interest in me.
He didn’t even look for Mother. Even if I died, Father wouldn’t care at all.
The girl thought her situation was utterly miserable.
