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Chapter : 2
‘It’s already been a year.’
I went everywhere trying to find him, but I failed.
I slumped in the chair and let out a deep sigh.
Where on earth is he hiding?
Or… has it not happened yet?
Knock, knock.
“Miss, the Count is calling for you.”
What is it so early in the morning?
The man I call my father looked down at me with an expressionless face. I didn’t want to admit it, but he looked exactly like me.
Well, it was only natural since I had his blood—but being stared down by a face so similar to mine was not a pleasant feeling.
‘Why is he suddenly calling me? Come to think of it, I don’t think we’ve ever properly talked face to face.’
I hopped off the chair and brushed off my clothes.
I had to get rid of anything he could pick on.
Whenever we ran into each other, his slow-moving eyes felt like they pierced right through me. Every time I met Edgar’s gaze, it gave me chills.
“Do I really have to go?”
I cracked the door open and peeked at Diria.
To anyone else, it would look like a little child whining. But I genuinely didn’t want to see that man first thing in the morning.
And besides, wasn’t it suspicious? He had never called me separately before.
“Miss, there must be a reason the Count called you. It’s the first time! Maybe he’s finally taken some interest in you.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. He’s never cared before, so why now?”
At my grumbling, Diria looked at me with pity.
Do I look like a child twisted from lack of affection…?
“It’s just strange because he’s doing something he’s never done before.”
“Hmm… maybe it’s because you’ve been going out often lately?”
“Did you tell on me?”
“As if I would.”
Diria shrugged. If it wasn’t her, then it had to be the knights.
I looked at them with a wronged expression.
Seeing them avoid my gaze, it was obvious.
‘So petty, tattling like that.’
To find Rion, I went out into the city once a week, sometimes twice.
It was also to buy what I needed, but he never stopped me.
He never cared about me in the first place. No matter what I did, he said nothing.
I trusted them to keep it a secret and wandered freely!
It must have been the knights—feeling uneasy about my frequent outings, they must have hinted something.
“How about asking the Count for permission so you can go out more comfortably?”
“He won’t care anyway.”
I dragged my feet and stood in front of the door.
Do they even know who I’m suffering like this for?
If my so-called father hadn’t interfered in the relationship between Jenis and Rion, I wouldn’t have died.
I didn’t even have a partner, and yet I died at such a young age.
I was brutally killed on the terrace of a banquet hall by Delter Kabezer.
Well… maybe it was punishment.
But why do I have to suffer for my father’s sins? That’s unfair!
Delter Kabezer, the Crown Prince of this country, loved his half-sister, Jenis Abel Botina.
He didn’t know she was his sister at first.
He happened to meet Jenis outside and fell for her, secretly nurturing his one-sided love. But when she became a princess, he was furious.
Because their love could never come true.
Still, he seemed to be the kind second male lead.
He chose to support the happiness of the female lead. And for that to happen… I couldn’t exist.
Because I would always be someone who might stand in their way.
Considering what my father had done, it made sense.
He secretly imported and sold drugs, opened slave markets, and formed alliances with countries that could rival the imperial family.
Of course, all of this was hidden from others.
On the surface, he ran an information guild and only appeared to do legitimate work.
The scale of it was large, and since he never left any loopholes for the imperial family—no unpaid taxes, nothing to pick on—he had survived until now.
But if all of this were exposed…
It wouldn’t be strange if his head rolled off immediately.
‘Blood ties really are a curse.’
But even if I wanted to run away… where could I go?
I fidgeted with my small hands.
Just thinking about facing him after so long made my heart pound like it would burst.
At this point, I might as well demand things boldly.
As the door slowly opened, I stepped into the office with determination.
A man with red hair and blue eyes—just like mine—came into view.
‘That damn enemy.’
He looked at me entering and smiled mockingly.
“Looks like the stray cat has arrived.”
A stray cat? A stray cat?!
The first words he said upon properly seeing me were truly shocking.
At my stunned expression, he let out a small laugh.
His cold, sunken eyes scanned me quickly as always.
“Seems you have something to say to me.”
Oh, I do. I really do.
I parted my tightly shut lips and shouted—
“Y-you enemy!”
At my loud outburst, everyone froze.
His brow twitched.
“Ah… that’s not what I meant to say.”
I quickly covered my mouth, but what was already spoken couldn’t be taken back.
With Diria’s pale face, everyone’s attention turned to me.
‘Yeah… I know.’
My so-called father set down the pen in his hand and looked at me with mild amusement.
“That’s not it—”
“Enemy, huh… You’re that kind of existence to me as well.”
He didn’t scold me.
If anything, I was grateful he called me an enemy back.
“Since we’re both enemies, let’s call it even!”
“And why should I do that?”
“Because we’re blood-related whether we like it or not! It’s not like I chose to be born into this world!”
If you hated it that much, you shouldn’t have planted the seed.
You’re responsible for my birth too.
I won’t complain if you ignore me—but at least leave me alone like this.
At my bold words, my father’s expression twisted slightly.
“M-Miss!”
Diria tried to stop me, but once I started, I couldn’t stop.
“If you’re going to stop me from going out—!”
“It’s dangerous, so I’ll assign more knights to you. It would be troublesome if you died somewhere.”
Troublesome if I died? What a nice way to put it.
I clenched my teeth and put my hands on my waist, glaring at Edgar.
He looked annoyed, as if my existence itself was a bother. I wanted to punch him.
“Wouldn’t it be more convenient if I died?”
“That would only be the case if you died by my hand—without others knowing.”
Th-that…!
I quickly covered my neck and stepped back.
No matter what, I’m still your blood! Listen to how you talk!
Isn’t this like some twisted obsession? Only I can kill you—that kind of thing?
Edgar looked away as if he had nothing more to say. Still staring at him without leaving, I heard him add—
“Once a week. No more than that.”
“…Really?”
I asked suspiciously.
Could I trust someone like him so easily?
He nodded. Watching me with half-lidded eyes, he tapped the desk with his pen.
“What? You don’t like it even if I allow it?”
“No! Is that why you called me?”
“Yes. Sneaking around like a stray cat doesn’t look good—especially for a six-year-old child. Remember, you must not do anything that lowers the dignity of this count’s house.”
Oh, so he even knew my age? That was unexpected.
“So you did know my age. That level of interest is enough. Let’s just go back to how things were. This feels strange.”
“Very well. But you’d better not do anything that irritates me. Everyone here serves as my eyes and ears.”
“Don’t secretly listen to things behind my back. That lowers your dignity too.”
I didn’t back down at all. Go ahead, kill me if you want.
‘H-he won’t really kill me, right?’
At my raised chin, Edgar’s eyes sharpened.
Diria quickly picked me up, bowed, and hurried out.
As I looked back at Edgar, I covered my ears with my hands and flashed him a grin.
The knights watching this scene froze and looked at Edgar.
He was about to stand up—
But Diria ran faster than anyone and escaped the place immediately.
