MFBO 07

Chapter – 07

“Yeah. We should go back.”

When I nodded agreeably, Razette looked dumbfounded. He stared at me as if asking why I had even run away in the first place.

“Not right away, though.”

When I added that, he let out a sigh.

“It’s dangerous if it’s just us.”

“Just trust your big sister.”

“……”

“No matter what happens, I’ll protect you.”

At my confident declaration, he didn’t argue further. It seemed he already knew persuasion wouldn’t work on me.

I tried to casually pull my hand out of his grip, but already immersed in his role as the little brother, he refused to let go.

Instead, he squeezed even tighter.

“My hand’s sweaty. Let go.”

Only then did Razette release my hand.

We’d managed to get out safely, shaken off the knights, and now he was no longer necessary for my plan. In fact, he might even get in the way.

“Calib. Stay here.”

I led Razette deeper into a secluded corner of the alley, somewhere hidden from prying eyes.

“Close your eyes.”

“……Why?”

“Just close them.”

When he hesitated, I covered his eyes with my hand. I felt his lashes brush against my palm as he finally shut them.

“Don’t open them.”

I slowly pulled my hand away and emphasized it again.

“You’re ordering me around, but why do I even have to do this?”

“I’m going to take my clothes off.”

“What?”

Razette’s eyes flew open. I frowned.

“I told you not to open them.”

“You’re stripping here? Are you insane?”

He sounded genuinely flustered. The fact that he was swearing—something he never did—proved it.

“Relax. I’m just taking off one layer inside. I’m not stripping naked. It’s hot and suffocating.”

“Why here? You could just go to a tailor’s shop—”

It seemed the idea of me undressing in the street was deeply shocking to him. Of course, I had no intention of actually doing it. I was just saying it.

“Calib. Shh.”

“…….”

“Close your eyes.”

Razette looked horrified.

Understanding my polite version of “shut up and do as you’re told,” he scowled and pushed me further into the corner.

“If you absolutely have to change here, at least do it where no one can see.”

Then he stepped in front of me as if to shield my body. Watching his back, I frowned.

This was getting annoying.

My plan had been to leave Razette here and go take care of my “business.”

“Don’t turn around. No matter what.”

“…….”

“And don’t open your eyes. If you do, I’ll really get mad.”

Razette nodded.

A moment later, I took off my shoes.

Then, holding the hem of my dress, I approached him.

There was a small gap beside where he stood blocking the view. Pressed tightly against the alley wall, I carefully slid my feet sideways.

Razette was faithfully keeping his eyes shut.

“Big sister.”

I had moved about five steps away from him when he suddenly spoke.

“I’ve been thinking… This really isn’t right. There’s a tailor shop nearby—why do you have to—”

His sudden voice made my feet freeze.

Should I answer? If I did, would he notice? While I hesitated, silence stretched on.

Sensing something was off, Razette frowned.

“Uh… Calib, you remember where the carriage was earlier, right?”

“Why?”

He still hadn’t opened his eyes. At least he followed instructions well.

“When I get back, retrace the way we came. Tell them I’ll be back soon.”

“What?”

Forgetting my words again, Razette snapped his eyes open. He reflexively turned around—only to find me standing right in front of him. His eyes widened.

“Big sister, why—”

Ah, whatever.

“Remember what I said! It’s dangerous, so stay with the knights! I’ll be back soon!”

Leaving just that behind, I bolted away.

“Big sister—!”

I easily ignored Razette’s panicked voice as I ran.

There was a reason I’d gone shopping today. I was here to find my personal maid.

“This is 12th Street?”

After getting out of the carriage with the coachman’s escort, I looked around at the desolate surroundings.

It was completely different from 4th Street, where I lived.

“Yes. This is 12th Street. Is this not where you were headed?”

“No. This is exactly where I meant to go.”

Since I’d never been here before, I had no idea whether 12th Street was a slum or a poor district.

The place I’d arranged to meet Amy was on 12th Street. If the coachman had brought me correctly, then I’d arrived.

“But it’s dangerous for a young lady to walk alone here…”

The overly kind coachman looked worried. To anyone, I probably looked like a noblewoman.

“I’ll be fine. You can go.”

I had a small but useful knife hidden in my clothes—something I’d slipped away during dinner.

‘Big sister, don’t go! Big sister!’

Razette’s voice lingered in my ears.

The moment I exited the alley, I was lucky enough to find a hired carriage.

I shoved aside a noble who was just getting off, climbed in, and escaped from Razette.

Through the window, I saw him stop mid-run, staring at the carriage as it disappeared into the distance.

‘What was he calling out so desperately for?’

It was unsettling.

Forcing myself to ignore the afterimage of Razette’s words, I walked while studying the map Amy had given me.

After some time, I reached the area near the destination.

“It should be around here…”

As I searched for a shabby building, something from a few days ago came to mind.

Amy, who had harassed the count’s daughter, had been locked in the basement. When I went down there, I offered her a deal.

‘Young lady! I did everything you told me to! How could you do this to me? How could you!’

She burst into tears the moment she saw me.

I pressed a finger to my lips.

There were knights outside.

I’d told them not to come in, but if things got loud, they might barge in anyway.

‘Be quiet. You’re going to burst my eardrums.’

‘S-sob… I trusted you, young lady.’

‘I used to trust you too. But you were the one who betrayed me, Amy.’

Standing before her as she crouched on the floor, I handed her a sheet of paper.

‘Find this. This is your last chance.’

‘…What is this?’

‘A potion that restores memories. Get it and wait for me. As for the place—pick one yourself.’

Aside from the count’s estate, I didn’t know anywhere else.

‘If you do as I say, I’ll take you back as my personal maid. I’ll also tell my father not to punish you.’

‘……’

‘Otherwise, you’ll be standing trial tomorrow. I’ll stop that myself.’

The potion I wanted was extremely hard to obtain.

It was traded only in the underworld, passed from one person to another through a long and complicated process.

It was best to get what I wanted without dirtying my hands.

In the original story, the female lead obtains this potion after great difficulty and gives it to the male lead, deepening their bond.

But I didn’t care about the original story.

‘Why are you doing this to me? You say I betrayed you, but now you’re giving me a chance? How am I supposed to trust you?’

‘Betrayal? That’s because you underestimated me.’

Amy had been arrogant. She’d not only looked down on me, a noble, but even tried to threaten me with poison.

Leaving her alone wouldn’t change anything. Believing honest conversation would work on someone like her was childish.

And in a world where I had no allies, it was better to secure at least one.

Compared to unknown maids, Amy—whose thoughts I could partially read through Lizenne’s memories—was far easier to handle.

‘Write down the meeting place. Anywhere is fine.’

That was why I chose Amy. And if I got the potion too, even better.

‘I’ll give you three days. Get it by then, no matter what. Here—this is the money you’ll need.’

‘…Th-this much?’

Amy stared into the pouch, then up at me in shock.

‘That’s for the item. Not for you.’

She nodded, swallowing hard, and wrote an address on the paper I handed her.

“So… did Amy really not run away?”

I stopped her trial. I said I didn’t want unnecessary trouble, and the count seemed to agree.

She was dismissed without a letter of recommendation—a fatal blow for a maid.

Rumors spread instantly. That was only natural.

Nobles wouldn’t hire a maid surrounded by scandal.

Even if she somehow found work, her future would be bleak.

‘How do I know all this?’

The thought surprised me, but I soon realized Lizenne’s consciousness must still be lingering.

Memories, emotions… even everyday knowledge.

“If she ran away…”

If Amy had given me a fake address and run off with the money, I would simply leave her alone instead of punishing her.

It would be irritating, but not worth the effort.

I had given her a chance—and tested her at the same time.

Would she flee with the money and live in fear, or cling to me?

Unaware of my true intentions, which choice would Amy make?

Would she take the risk of being reported and run?

Or would she faithfully complete the task I gave her?

“I’d prefer it if she succeeded.”

If she chose my side, I’d gain an ally—and the memory potion as a bonus.

The moment I entered the teahouse marked on Amy’s map, I finally learned what choice she had made.