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Day by day, time passed quickly after that.
Unlike before, the older brothers started treating the monster Luarel kindly.
Naturally, because of that, the time they spent with me gradually decreased.
“I’m seriously so angry I can’t stand it! How could they all turn their backs on our young miss like that...?”
“There are even people starting to talk badly about Miss Shupetty. That group is getting bigger.”
“Huu... Our Miss Angela is noble by birth, beautiful, lovely, and like an angel. And yet, within the family, she’s being pushed aside... even though she’s also unawakened!”
Meanwhile, Matilda and Lina had become close. That was because Angela and I were constantly hanging out together.
To be honest, I could have just played alone…
But Angela came to see me every single day.
Because of that, we started eating together, napping together, and there were many days she wouldn’t go home and just stayed with me.
“Kya-haha!”
“Miss Luarel, you shouldn’t run like that. You might fall!”
“It’s fine! Let’s all run together!”
While I was sitting by the sunlit window drawing with Angela, I heard loud laughter and poked my head out.
Outside, the monster Luarel was playing tag with several servants.
Leaning against a tree nearby, Brother Mikard was watching them.
I pressed my nose against the window and waved wildly at Brother Mikard.
Somehow, he noticed, looked up, and smiled.
“Aren’t you even upset? Everyone’s giving attention to that mean girl these days!”
Oh right, Angela didn’t attend the meeting that day, so she wouldn’t know.
Still, I can’t tell her because what was discussed there is a secret.
“I’m not upset at all.”
“Are you stupid? Why are you letting her take what’s yours? If Brother Lev ever did that to me, I wouldn’t just sit back—I’d cry, scream, and cause a huge scene.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Within this family, no one calls Class Leader Leviwood by a nickname—except Angela.
[The Spirit King of Emotion, ‘■■■’, is laughing.]
[They’re a fitting pair of siblings. The brother with no emotions, and the sister overflowing with them. Truly heartwarming.]
Yeah, I really can’t imagine Class Leader Leviwood shedding tears.
And conversely, I can’t picture Angela ever having a blank expression either.
‘So anyway, I’m really not upset about that...’
But Daisy, we need to save her quickly.
I tried asking the brothers if that meant Daisy was dead, but they didn’t give me an answer.
The Spirit Kings said she probably wasn’t dead though...
‘They would know better than anyone.’
She’ll be okay, right?
If I really never got to see Daisy again, that would be way too sad.
If that happened, I might end up crying like Angela.
‘And I’ll never forgive that monster Luarel.’
Or whoever is backing her.
Just like the main character in the fairy tale I read last night, I gave a little shrug.
And then—
SPLASH!!
“Kyaaah!”
“M-Miss Luarel!”
……?!
Before I knew it, Angela had thrown open the window—
and dumped a full bucket of water straight down.
Right on Luarel’s head!
“What is this? P-Paint?”
“Serves you right.”
Angela stuck her tongue out at Luarel from above and slammed the window shut with a satisfied look.
I just sat there, mouth agape, and clapped my hands.
“I always repay a grudge tenfold. That’s my rule in high society.”
“Ah… I see…”
“Keep that in mind. Don’t let things slide. Make a statement!”
Angela clenched her fist and shook with emotion, then slammed the now-empty bucket down with a loud thud.
Honestly, I guess Angela went a bit easy on her.
[The Spirit King of Chaos ‘■■■■’ is delighted and urging for more fighting.]
Seeing the glowing text float up, I made up my mind.
I’ll definitely save that contract with the Spirit King of Chaos for last.
***
“What are you going to do with your hand like that?”
“Haha! It’s nothing. Serving the Pashayen family wholeheartedly is my duty.”
“But still… I’m upset. Make sure you apply the medicine, okay?”
These days, Luarel found life quite enjoyable.
Even though Angela relentlessly bullied her, it was barely annoying to the point of a yawn.
Besides, thanks to the 'ingredients,' her skin was holding together nicely, so it didn’t matter.
On top of that, ever since she dropped her awkward stammering and started smiling openly, for some reason, even the family had begun treating her well.
After those changes, she started attracting loyal servants and Luarel took care of each one of them meticulously.
“Ugh, my hands are filthy from all that dirt.”
Of course, she didn’t keep up the act once she returned to her room.
She had already scrubbed her hands with soap so thoroughly that they only smelled nice now, but Luarel still took out a clean handkerchief, wiped again, and then threw it to the floor.
“Wait a second, what’s this?”
She slumped into her chair in front of the vanity out of habit, and her eyes narrowed.
Among all her cosmetics, there was one item she didn’t recognize.
At first glance, it looked like a lipstick…
‘What brand is this? I never ordered something like this.’
Its plain design, lacking even a single gemstone, was incredibly dull.
Just as she was about to throw it away without even checking the cap, she paused—because a symbol appeared where her palm had touched.
‘This is……!’
Velarion!
‘Why is this here?’
Moon Horn.
Two crescent moons overlapping and facing each other on a pitch-black background.
The shape as a whole resembled devil's horns, a symbol unmistakably belonging to Velarion.
“……”
Swallowing dryly, Luarel finally opened the lipstick cap.
With trembling hands, she turned over the container, and out dropped a folded note along with two pills.
[A poison that will gradually weaken the target and cause death within 48 hours. Give it to the Family Head.]
The heavy, domineering handwriting made Luarel jump to her feet.
‘Poison them? Are they serious?’
What if she got caught?
Of course, she’d be killed!
Spinning around, she rushed to the window and drew the curtains.
Then she screamed hoarsely for her maid.
“Did anyone come in here?! Answer me!”
“Wh-what? What’s wrong, my lady? No one came in. Just me for cleaning…”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure! Really!”
SLAM!
Luarel slammed the door in the maid’s face and began biting her nails in frustration.
‘What do I do? What do I do?’
No one else had entered the room, so why was this thing suddenly here?
The only explanation was Velarion’s shadow powers.
‘They’re watching me here too?!’
It was infuriating but she had no choice.
She had to follow the order.
But the problem was… if she got caught, she'd still die.
‘I need to be smart. I need to make it look like someone else did it.’
To do that…
Crack, crack.
Cracking her fingers one by one, Luarel suddenly smiled brightly.
‘As long as they don’t find out it was me who gave it to him, I’ll be fine.’
It was at that moment...
Knock knock.
Short and firm, the knock echoed through the room.
Luarel froze, then lowered and lifted her head again.
She erased all expression from her face and perfectly assumed her persona as Luarel Pashayen.
Her voice turned sweet and composed.
“Who is it?”
“It’s the butler, Miss Luarel.”
“Oh! Just a moment, please.”
She rushed to open the door and there stood the real butler.
“You have a message, my lady. The Family Head wishes to take a walk with you three days from now.”
“A walk? With me?!”
“Yes.”
“I’m so happy! But why… I mean, someone like me usually doesn’t get to be alone with Grandfather…”
Given what had just happened, Luarel approached cautiously.
The butler added without a change in expression.
“At the swimming lesson the other day, the Family Head heard that you fainted out of fear of the ocean. He said he felt responsible as your grandfather and wishes to take more attentive care of you.”
“I see! Please thank him. Tell him I’d be happy to join him!”
Perfect!
Luarel beamed with genuine joy and followed the butler out into the hallway to see him off.
Looking every bit the innocent, kind-hearted nine-year-old girl eager to be loved by her grandfather.
Even though, in reality, she’d lived at least five times that long.
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