IBVS 10

Chapter 10

“Ah, that was delicious.”

“Milady, was it alright? I was worried it might not suit your taste.”

“No, Jane. It was so good I almost cried.”

“Really? Then that’s such a relief.”

While waiting for the craftsmanship to be finished, we got hungry and came to the restaurant Jane recommended. The meal ended up being far more delicious than expected.

Though, having gotten used to the rather luxurious meals at the Glade Ducal Estate, it did feel a little plain.

Still, the children and I enjoyed it, so that was enough.

Thinking it was about time to pick up the gifts we had left behind, I was about to stand up when I noticed sauce smeared on Briana’s face across from me.

“Ah, Briana? On your face……”

As I leaned closer to wipe the sauce off her face, the child instantly shrank back.

That reaction startled me instead, and I withdrew the hand I had stretched out.

‘Ah, I’m an idiot……. She still hasn’t let down her guard around me.’

Back at the magi-engineering street, I thought Briana and I had grown a little closer.

But seeing how she kept cautiously watching me throughout the meal, and how startled she became at my touch, I realized it had only been my own misunderstanding.

The emotional scars Sierra had built up in Briana over the past half year were far deeper and longer-lasting.

Honestly, it was greedy of me to hope those feelings would disappear just because she spent a few hours with me.

Of course, I felt a little disappointed—just a little—but that only strengthened my resolve to treat the children even better.

When the children, Jane, and I stepped outside, the sky had already turned orange as the sun began to set.

Since it was getting late, I asked Jane to go retrieve the items while I sat with the children on a bench in the plaza.

Not long after, Belkas spotted a cotton candy stand and his eyes widened into circles.

“Witch-nim! What’s dat?”

“Hm? That’s cotton candy. Belkas, haven’t you ever tried it?”

Instead of answering, Belkas nodded vigorously and looked at me with sparkling eyes.

I doubted anyone inside the ducal estate would buy commoner desserts for the children.

That was probably why it was his first time seeing it.

Thinking that, I looked toward Briana and Belkas.

Surprisingly, even Briana—who seemed like she’d stay indifferent—was sneaking glances at me with obvious anticipation.

She looked so adorable that I unconsciously smiled a little.

‘It’d be nice if Briana could gather just a little more courage…….’

But that was probably just my greed again.

Thinking that, I stood up and spoke to the children.

“Then I’ll go buy the cotton candy, so stay seated here quietly, alright?”

“Mm! Otay!”

Unlike the energetic Belkas, Briana hurriedly grabbed the hem of my skirt.

“M-Mother……. I’m alright. You don’t have to buy one for me……”

“What do you mean? One per person. I’ll buy them fairly. Ah, and even though I’ll only be gone for a moment, just in case……”

Holding Briana’s hand that clutched my skirt, I took out a blue whistle from my arms.

It was a whistle Jane had given me for self-defense, saying you never know what could happen.

I’d only be away briefly, but just in case, I hung the whistle around Briana’s neck.

“You probably won’t need it. But if something dangerous happens, make sure to blow the whistle. No matter where I am, I’ll come running right away.”

“……Yes.”

Even as she answered, her emerald eyes trembled faintly with unease.

I didn’t want Briana to feel anxious, so I carefully—very carefully—stroked her silver-gray hair.

“I’ll be right back.”

Instead of replying, Briana nodded and smiled.

Reassured by that smile, I lightly waved my hand and headed toward the cotton candy stand.

Without knowing how much regret those footsteps would leave behind.

Watching Sierra’s figure disappear into the distance, Briana fiddled with the blue whistle Sierra had given her.

‘Today…… is she in a good mood?’

Normally, her stepmother would get angry just from looking at her, but today Sierra seemed different somehow.

‘She didn’t even call me unlucky today…….’

Every time they met, Sierra would mutter that Briana was unlucky because she resembled her deceased mother.

The fact that Sierra hadn’t said that even once today made Briana happy.

‘And earlier, she even encouraged me.’

Why had that single word—“Briana”—lingered in her heart so deeply?

‘Big brother said Stepmother was a bad person, but…….’

Maybe she really wasn’t?

Like Belkas said, had Stepmother become a different person?

Which one was the real Stepmother?

Would she return to the way she used to be after today ended?

Could she trust her?

Meanwhile, remembering Sierra’s red eyes that had looked at her warmly all day, Briana felt strange inside.

She wanted to believe.

But she didn’t want to believe.

Because if she hoped, disappointment might follow.

And Briana was afraid.

While she was lost in those thoughts, Briana suddenly sensed something strange and looked beside her.

Belkas, who had been sitting next to her just moments ago, was gone.

In an instant, her heart dropped.

“Bel-Belkas……!”

As she called his name and looked around frantically, she spotted Belkas running after something not too far away.

Panicked, Briana hesitated for a moment before running after him.

‘If Mother finds out…… we’ll get scolded badly.’

Yet the first thought that came to her mind was that Sierra might hate her again and punish her.

Imagining Sierra’s pretty face twisting in disappointment made Briana’s chest ache.

For the first time in half a year, Sierra had smiled at her.

She had met her eyes warmly and treated her gently.

Just like her late mother used to.

It felt like Sierra truly cared about her and Belkas.

That warmth was so comforting.

Briana didn’t want to lose it.

“Bel, stop!”

Breathing hard as she ran, Briana finally grabbed Belkas’s hand and stopped him.

How could such a tiny child have so much energy?

Even though Briana’s legs were much longer than Belkas’s, catching up to him had been difficult.

“Noona, look at dis!”

As if trying to worry her even more, Belkas simply grinned brightly and proudly showed her the black butterfly in his hands.

“Haa…… Bel, we need to go back. Mother’s waiting for us.”

“Ah, dat’s right! Cotton candy!”

Unable to get angry at her little brother, Briana let out a small sigh and held Belkas’s hand tightly.

Then she looked around—

And her face instantly turned pale.

‘We got lost…….’

The sun had already set, and street lamps were lighting the darkened roads, making it impossible for Briana to tell where they were.

She considered asking an adult for help, but the tall adults only glanced the children up and down before continuing on their way.

Those cold looks frightened Briana, and she squeezed Belkas’s hand even tighter.

‘We have to get back……. I’m the older sister, so I have to protect Belkas.’

But the more they retraced their steps, the more unfamiliar the roads became.

Like wandering through a maze, and Briana felt fear creeping in.

“Noona, my legs hurt.”

“Just hold on a little longer, Belkas. We’ll be able to return to Mother soon.”

That’s what she said, but Briana herself wasn’t sure they could make it back.

Even so, she didn’t want to pass her anxiety onto her younger brother, so she desperately held back the tears threatening to spill out.

How long had they walked like that?

Eventually, Briana found herself entering a dark alleyway when she suddenly felt a chilling sensation behind her and turned around.

There stood three rough-looking grown men, grinning unpleasantly as they stared at Belkas and Briana.

“Well now, what are little noble brats doing in a neighborhood like this?”

“At this hour too. Looks like you got lost, huh?”

Though they spoke as if they were worried about the children, Briana instinctively knew.

These men were dangerous.

“D-Don’t come any closer!”

Pushing Belkas behind her, Briana shouted.

Her 모습 looked brave enough, but to them, it was no more threatening than a chirping chick.

After all, they were slave traders who bought and sold people.

“Pfft, how cute. Both of them are absolutely adorable.”

“Well, well. It’s been a long time since we found such premium goods. They’ll sell for a high price.”

“Now then, stay still and you won’t get hurt too badly!”

With loud laughter, the slave traders surrounded Belkas and Briana, cornering the children deeper into the alley.

“D-Don’t come closer. If you touch us, something terrible will happen to you!”

Briana cried out as she cautiously stepped backward.

“Puhaha, how scary.”

“Did you hear that, Gires? She says something terrible will happen.”

But the slave traders only mocked Briana and laughed amongst themselves.

Belkas seemed to realize something was wrong too, and he grabbed Briana’s clothes while looking up at her.

“N-Noona……”

“It’s alright, Belkas. Noona will protect you.”

She said that, but Briana had no idea how they could survive this situation.

A twelve-year-old girl and a five-year-old child could never defeat three grown men.

As she lowered her head in despair—

Drip. Drip.

To make matters worse, rain began falling from the dark sky.

‘What do I do…….’

Her entire body trembled in fear.

She couldn’t think of any way to escape this situation.

The slave traders noticed the hope gradually disappearing from Briana’s eyes and exchanged glances.

If they were caught selling noble children as slaves, not only would they lose their lives, but their entire bloodlines would be exterminated.

But the greater the risk, the greater the reward.

They weren’t stupid enough to throw away such fortune that had rolled right into their hands.

The fact that these children had been allowed to get lost all the way into a lower-class district already meant they weren’t especially valued within their noble household.

Normally, noble children would have guards with them.

The men swallowed hard as they stared greedily at the prey that had fallen into their laps.