TDAF 21

Chapter 21

On Wednesday, Scarlet headed to the Crimson residence. No matter how the world changed, her daily routine remained the same.

Lying on Isaac’s attic bed, Scarlet spoke.

“Lately, life feels so meaningless.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I feel completely useless.”

“Don’t say that.”

Isaac carefully pulled Scarlet up by her arm and helped her sit on the bed. He hesitated, then cupped her cheeks in his hands and spoke.

“I would have died long ago if you weren’t here.”

“That much…”

“It’s more than that. I lived swallowing your childhood, like a monster that devours people.”

“Why would you say that?”

Scarlet frowned, momentarily lifted from her sadness by his words.

He gently pressed his forehead to hers. When their parents passed away and Isaac lost his sight, leaving him speechless, Scarlet comforted him without even having the time to grieve. Every day, they would press foreheads together like this, and she would smile and say, “I’m still here.”

Thinking of that, Isaac often felt like a monster who shouldn’t exist in this world. Even as his younger sister was being abused right beside him, he had been consumed by his own sorrow, and even after regaining composure, he relied entirely on Scarlet’s care.

Isaac looked at her with his usual kind, gentle smile and said:

“So don’t ever say you’re useless.”

“Okay, I won’t. But…”

“Still, let it out here if you’re sad. I’ll listen to everything.”

He smiled faintly, as if to lighten the mood.

Scarlet smiled softly at the thought that even someone as “useless” as her had still saved at least one life in the world. By her own measure, it was a considerable success.

She soon spoke.

“I want to go to the treehouse.”

“The treehouse?”

“Yeah. I often think about playing there with Mom and you. Especially on snowy days like today. Remember? We used to play the candy-picking game with that amazing toy Mom made.”

“Oh, I remember. That toy might even still be in the treehouse.”

Isaac got up.

“Let’s go.”

“The treehouse?”

“Yeah. Marilyn and Arnold are older now, so they don’t go there much.”

Though the house belonged to the siblings, there were few places they could freely go. The attic and the basement storage Scarlet lived in were their only spaces. Scarlet felt a twinge of anxiety about being scolded by their uncle, but she thought it would be fine to sneak a quick visit.

“If I find the candy-picking toy, a little scolding won’t hurt.”

Scarlet grabbed her staff and handed it to Isaac.

He followed her out of the attic, smiling to keep the mood light. Scarlet, though older in experience, still had a childish side, like worrying if her actions would get her in trouble.

Soon, they made their way to the treehouse, about ten minutes’ walk from the mansion. It was an impressive structure, carefully designed by the two geniuses. Inside, shelves were lined with fine liquor.

Scarlet muttered.

“Drinking here… probably Arnold’s doing.”

“Likely,” Isaac agreed.

“Wonder where the toy is…”

Looking around, Scarlet bit her lip to hold back tears. Graffiti on the wooden walls remained intact.

[Rule 1. Don’t cross the line.]

Scarlet smiled faintly at the line drawn on the floor.

“Remember? We always argued about not crossing each other. The line’s still here.”

“Where?”

Scarlet made him stand on the line. Isaac grinned.

“Even now, yours is bigger.”

“No, it’s yours. Yours is bigger.”

“Swap?”

“No.”

They bickered quietly, trying not to laugh out loud.

Luckily, the items inside had mostly remained as decorations and hadn’t been moved. The staff kept it clean, so no dust had accumulated. Scarlet pulled a box from the shelf and set it on the floor. Examining the wooden lock, she said:

“The password is ‘Cherry Pie.’”

“You remember that?”

“Of course. I made it.”

Scarlet slid a wooden stick through the gear slots, aligning the letters in order, and the box opened. Inside was the candy-picking toy, with candy still in it.

Scarlet wound the toy and flicked it like rolling dice, and a candy popped out. The toy’s music box weighed the remaining candies and played a tune according to the last number.

Immersed in nostalgia, they kept playing until all ten songs had played. As they lost track of time, a loud noise came from below. The siblings realized they had stayed too long and went down the stairs, built low for children.

Below, Arnold had brought his friends. Already drunk, he grabbed Scarlet’s arm.

“Who told you to come here? Did you steal something?”

“I didn’t steal anything.”

As Scarlet stepped back, one of Arnold’s friends remarked:

“I heard your maid divorced. Guess it’s true.”

Arnold’s friends had always called Scarlet the family maid. Scarlet was grateful she had married upon reaching adulthood, sparing herself such humiliation.

As Scarlet tried to leave with Isaac, Arnold blocked her.

“Where are you going? We’re not done.”

The smell of alcohol hit them. Arnold’s friends surrounded Isaac, trying to remove his bandages. Isaac dodged swiftly. Scarlet rushed to stop them.

“I brought Isaac out. He needs to rest…”

Arnold snatched the toy from her hand.

“What’s this?”

“It’s from Mom.”

When Scarlet tried to grab it back, Arnold threw it to another friend.

As Scarlet moved, Arnold tripped her. Isaac’s expression hardened as he turned toward the commotion.

“…Scarlet?”

Scarlet scrambled up without feeling the pain and apologized to Arnold.

“Sorry. We won’t come back.”

Arnold pressed his finger to her forehead, and her back hit the wood.

“Are you really sorry?”

“Yes.”

“Then why bring Isaac out to suffer?”

“I won’t do it again.”

Arnold grabbed her chin.

“If you’re sorry, start on your knees. You won’t remember anything if I tell you… Ugh!”

Arnold fell to the ground. Isaac kicked him in the face, making him scream again. His friends tried to intervene, but Isaac was too strong.

“Isaac! Behind you!”

Scarlet shouted. Isaac caught Arnold’s arm and swung the other hand to grab his hair, punching his face repeatedly.

Scarlet finally managed to hold Isaac’s arm.

“Isaac, stop! You’ll kill him!”

He stopped, and Arnold screamed, covering his bloodied face.

“You crazy bastard! Get out of my house!”

“This is my house,” Isaac replied calmly.

“Don’t you know my father’s your guardian? You won’t get away with this!”

“If I die, you think this house will be yours?”

Everyone fell silent.

Isaac continued, his voice twisted with anger.

“If I die, Scarlet becomes the head of this house. I won’t die alone. I’ll kill you and your father first. Only Scarlet Crimson will remain in this world.”

Scarlet’s eyes widened in shock.

Arnold, threatened, stammered:

“What crazy… what are you saying…”

Isaac wiped his bloody hands on Arnold’s clothes, grabbed his neck, and spoke.

“I’ve always been dirty and cruel. Like you always said, I lived comfortably while exploiting my sister. But now… I’m going to make life uncomfortable for you.”

“Ugh!”

Arnold struggled, but he couldn’t overpower Isaac. Though Isaac had been bedridden, he had grown taller than Arnold, and his pale hands held unimaginable strength.

Isaac released him just before cutting off his air. Arnold’s friends rushed him back to the mansion.

Isaac turned to Scarlet, smiling faintly.

“Let’s go.”

Scarlet held the toy tightly, dazed. Her brother, bloodied from fists and face alike, looked at her with a gentle, innocent light despite everything.

“Sorry, did I scare you?”

“Why’d you hit him like that?”

Isaac seemed embarrassed.

“People…”

He looked at her with concern, searching.

“No one in this world is human like you, except me.”

“….”

“You’re the only one in my world. I told you, I’d do anything for you.”

Scarlet’s fingers trembled violently.

Having grown up in the attic, Isaac Crimson had developed into a kind and warm person, and Scarlet had silently been grateful for that. Seeing him act this way now, however, seemed far from normal.

Still, as Isaac approached worriedly, Scarlet forced a trembling smile.

“Still… still…”

She didn’t know what to say to him. She just didn’t.