“...Vania?”
Richard soon raised his eyebrows, feigning a moderately surprised look, and opened his mouth.
As if puzzled by the sudden visit from his half-sister, whom he hadn't seen for over five years.
"Who is this?"
“Wow, you knew about such a beauty?”
The young nobles of my age who were playing a game at the same table looked me over with intrigued eyes.
"It's been a long time, big brother."
I spoke, mixing half genuine joy and half acting as if I had come to see him without any purpose.
“I’m sorry for dropping by so suddenly. I heard that you were here. I happen to have business in the capital, so I was wondering if we could meet...”
"Aha."
Richard stood up, rubbing his forehead as if troubled, and scanning the table where the game was in full swing.
“Richard, I said who you are!”
"He's not your biological sister, is he?"
"Well."
Richard chuckled and replied to his idle friends.
I felt awkward seeing her like that.
It was completely different from how he had rushed in, worrying about me when something unexpected happened in the vanished timeline.
'But..."
If it weren't for this acting ability, he would never have been able to escape the family's eyes and ears.
Perhaps it was sheer luck that the first attempt failed.
If the situation at that time hadn't happened.
If only I hadn't seen Richard lose his composure and get agitated, fearing that I might be in danger.
At this very moment, seeing Richard's completely changed appearance, I would not have been able to easily trust him.
Because it was acting that was just like a completely different person.
“Shall we go outside and talk, Vania?”
"Yes."
Just then, Richard's guard, who had been sitting idly leaning against the wall next to the table, stood up.
Richard handed the card he was holding to him as he tried to follow.
“Try doing it for me.”
“Yes, Master.”
Wassenberg's guard accepted Richard's card without any suspicion and took his place.
...Amazing.
Just how much effort did Richard put into creating a situation free from surveillance like this?
“Miss, would you like to go for a drink with me later? I know a good place~.”
"Shut up, you idiot."
As I was about to leave, one of the young men comically grabbed my arm, and Richard playfully shook him off.
My heart raced with surprise.
Every time he, who couldn't even kill an ant, swore, it felt like my heart dropped.
Still, stay as calm as possible.
I follow behind Richard, who is leading the way.
“...Wear it again.”
As he crossed between the tables, he muttered quietly to himself.
It seemed like he was talking to me.
I put the robe I had taken off back on without a word.
Richard soon called a staff member at the entrance counter.
As if by some twist of fate, the problematic employee who had tried to put a mask on me appeared.
“Young Master?”
She looked at Richard, then glanced at me next to him in a robe with only my eyes showing, and flinched in surprise.
'You almost ruined your life by putting the wrong mask on someone without even properly checking who they were, right?'
You should know that I saved your life.
Of course, that is to say, though it is destined to be dealt with by Nike soon.
"Open the door."
“Ah, yes!”
The employee, immediately understanding, picked up the bundle of keys and politely guided Richard.
***
Nike, who was lying in ambush from a distance, saw the back door of the gambling hall open, just as he had expected.
What appeared was Vania wearing a robe.
And next to her.
'...Richard Wassenberg.'
He was Vania's older brother.
Access to the site nearby was restricted, so there were no people around.
In preparation for any eventuality, Nike had already checked to see if there were any suspicious people nearby.
Two people are placed in an environment where their eyes and ears are completely cut off from the outside.
Also, just as Nike expected, the two are heading toward the carriage station.
Everything was as expected.
Now there is only one variable left.
It's only Richard, though.
“I trust you, brother. Because I have verified it myself. There is no need to waste time; I plan to tell you everything as soon as I meet you.”
Nike advised her to reconsider, calling it a hasty decision, but Vania said firmly that she could not delay any longer.
“Christa has already made her move. She is the one who brought us this way. And you know my father is an extraordinary man who can see just how far ahead. There is no time to hesitate any longer.”
“Christa!”
Christa felt nervous seeing the face of her older brother Mario, who had never looked good whenever he came to visit her.
"What is the matter?"
"Let me ask you a favor."
"What is it?"
“You, that... Alexander?”
Her younger sibling's name came up.
Even though Mario hadn't said a word yet, Christa felt her blood run cold.
"I heard you went to meet him? That's what my father said."
"Yes. I'm bringing him home soon, so Father told me to try sweet-talking him first."
"Wasn't he obedient?"
“I don’t know. I asked to be invited over, but he seemed reluctant. I’m closer to Vania than Alex, so I tried talking to her, but."
“Tsk, I guess it can’t be helped. Still, since you were closest to them, just send them a letter. To Alex.”
"A letter?"
“Yeah. Don’t we have a villa in Koenig? I think that would be a good place. Whether it’s to meet up or hang out, just talk to them nicely and call them over there.”
"What are you going to do?"
Mario squeaked and made a gesture of slitting his own throat.
"My father told me to kill him."
"Yes?"
In that moment, Christa's mind went blank.
Her whole body froze immediately.
However, she shouldn't have shown it.
You've been doing well for several years already, haven't you?
However, unable to hide her hands that had started to tremble, Christa hid them behind her back and asked.
“What about him? You said you would have both of them return to the family.”
“How would I know? I just do what my father tells me to do.”
"I don't understand."
Christa pouted and muttered. Mario put his arm around her shoulder.
“Why? Is it a bit awkward because you were close with him?”
"You can't pretend like nothing happened, right? It's been a really long time since I saw his face."
“Hey, still, please help me out. I have absolutely no connection to him, so how am I supposed to handle this?”
"I don't know what benefit you get from killing him."
“I know, right. But I mean, how would I know what Father is thinking?”
"I understand for now."
"You're helping, right?"
"You said it was Father's order. If you can't even handle one incompetent person, imagine how much pressure you'll feel."
Christa said calmly.
While struggling to hide the desperate fear she was feeling for the first time in her life.
Richard keenly focused his five senses on the faint presence of Vania walking beside him.
At the same time, his head was a jumble of thousands of thoughts inside.
He thought that Vania would surely come to meet him, and he was waiting.
But why...
“Where’s the escort? Did you come alone?”
Richard finally could not stand it any longer and asked as he walked, staring directly at the carriage parked in the distance.
“Ah, I didn’t come alone, but I was worried it might be hard to talk to you alone if I’m accompanied by an escort. He waits somewhere else.”
"You did something pointless."
“...”
“And you. Don’t you have any brains?”
"Yes?"
"Those bastards who frequent gambling dens are all the same old guys. They don't even know what it's scary to be showing their faces."
"That’s... It’s been a while, so I was worried you wouldn’t recognize me just by my voice. I’m sorry if that put you in a difficult position."
“...”
Richard had a lot to say, but he swallowed it.
Eventually, he reached her parked carriage, opened the door, and gestured to Vania.
"Get in. Let's talk inside."
"Yes!"
“...”
He had a feeling, and sure enough.
Vania hopped onto the carriage without any suspicion or caution.
Richard's vision went dark.
Feeling frustrated, he also got into the carriage and spoke immediately to Vania, who was flipping off her robe.
“What on earth do you trust me for, following me exactly as I tell you to and getting in when I tell you to...!”
He could not continue speaking. It was because of Vania, who had suddenly hugged him tightly.
“...”
Richard shed tears.
For the first time in a very long time.
Richard soon raised his eyebrows, feigning a moderately surprised look, and opened his mouth.
As if puzzled by the sudden visit from his half-sister, whom he hadn't seen for over five years.
"Who is this?"
“Wow, you knew about such a beauty?”
The young nobles of my age who were playing a game at the same table looked me over with intrigued eyes.
"It's been a long time, big brother."
I spoke, mixing half genuine joy and half acting as if I had come to see him without any purpose.
“I’m sorry for dropping by so suddenly. I heard that you were here. I happen to have business in the capital, so I was wondering if we could meet...”
"Aha."
Richard stood up, rubbing his forehead as if troubled, and scanning the table where the game was in full swing.
“Richard, I said who you are!”
"He's not your biological sister, is he?"
"Well."
Richard chuckled and replied to his idle friends.
I felt awkward seeing her like that.
It was completely different from how he had rushed in, worrying about me when something unexpected happened in the vanished timeline.
'But..."
If it weren't for this acting ability, he would never have been able to escape the family's eyes and ears.
Perhaps it was sheer luck that the first attempt failed.
If the situation at that time hadn't happened.
If only I hadn't seen Richard lose his composure and get agitated, fearing that I might be in danger.
At this very moment, seeing Richard's completely changed appearance, I would not have been able to easily trust him.
Because it was acting that was just like a completely different person.
“Shall we go outside and talk, Vania?”
"Yes."
Just then, Richard's guard, who had been sitting idly leaning against the wall next to the table, stood up.
Richard handed the card he was holding to him as he tried to follow.
“Try doing it for me.”
“Yes, Master.”
Wassenberg's guard accepted Richard's card without any suspicion and took his place.
...Amazing.
Just how much effort did Richard put into creating a situation free from surveillance like this?
“Miss, would you like to go for a drink with me later? I know a good place~.”
"Shut up, you idiot."
As I was about to leave, one of the young men comically grabbed my arm, and Richard playfully shook him off.
My heart raced with surprise.
Every time he, who couldn't even kill an ant, swore, it felt like my heart dropped.
Still, stay as calm as possible.
I follow behind Richard, who is leading the way.
“...Wear it again.”
As he crossed between the tables, he muttered quietly to himself.
It seemed like he was talking to me.
I put the robe I had taken off back on without a word.
Richard soon called a staff member at the entrance counter.
As if by some twist of fate, the problematic employee who had tried to put a mask on me appeared.
“Young Master?”
She looked at Richard, then glanced at me next to him in a robe with only my eyes showing, and flinched in surprise.
He seemed startled upon realizing that the person who had come looking for him earlier was Prince Wassenberg.
You should know that I saved your life.
Of course, that is to say, though it is destined to be dealt with by Nike soon.
"Open the door."
“Ah, yes!”
The employee, immediately understanding, picked up the bundle of keys and politely guided Richard.
***
Nike, who was lying in ambush from a distance, saw the back door of the gambling hall open, just as he had expected.
What appeared was Vania wearing a robe.
And next to her.
'...Richard Wassenberg.'
He was Vania's older brother.
Access to the site nearby was restricted, so there were no people around.
In preparation for any eventuality, Nike had already checked to see if there were any suspicious people nearby.
Two people are placed in an environment where their eyes and ears are completely cut off from the outside.
Also, just as Nike expected, the two are heading toward the carriage station.
Everything was as expected.
Now there is only one variable left.
It's only Richard, though.
“I trust you, brother. Because I have verified it myself. There is no need to waste time; I plan to tell you everything as soon as I meet you.”
Nike advised her to reconsider, calling it a hasty decision, but Vania said firmly that she could not delay any longer.
“Christa has already made her move. She is the one who brought us this way. And you know my father is an extraordinary man who can see just how far ahead. There is no time to hesitate any longer.”
***
“Christa!”
Christa felt nervous seeing the face of her older brother Mario, who had never looked good whenever he came to visit her.
"What is the matter?"
"Let me ask you a favor."
"What is it?"
“You, that... Alexander?”
Her younger sibling's name came up.
Even though Mario hadn't said a word yet, Christa felt her blood run cold.
"I heard you went to meet him? That's what my father said."
"Yes. I'm bringing him home soon, so Father told me to try sweet-talking him first."
"Wasn't he obedient?"
“I don’t know. I asked to be invited over, but he seemed reluctant. I’m closer to Vania than Alex, so I tried talking to her, but."
“Tsk, I guess it can’t be helped. Still, since you were closest to them, just send them a letter. To Alex.”
"A letter?"
“Yeah. Don’t we have a villa in Koenig? I think that would be a good place. Whether it’s to meet up or hang out, just talk to them nicely and call them over there.”
"What are you going to do?"
Mario squeaked and made a gesture of slitting his own throat.
"My father told me to kill him."
"Yes?"
In that moment, Christa's mind went blank.
Her whole body froze immediately.
However, she shouldn't have shown it.
You've been doing well for several years already, haven't you?
However, unable to hide her hands that had started to tremble, Christa hid them behind her back and asked.
“What about him? You said you would have both of them return to the family.”
“How would I know? I just do what my father tells me to do.”
"I don't understand."
Christa pouted and muttered. Mario put his arm around her shoulder.
“Why? Is it a bit awkward because you were close with him?”
"You can't pretend like nothing happened, right? It's been a really long time since I saw his face."
“Hey, still, please help me out. I have absolutely no connection to him, so how am I supposed to handle this?”
"I don't know what benefit you get from killing him."
“I know, right. But I mean, how would I know what Father is thinking?”
"I understand for now."
"You're helping, right?"
"You said it was Father's order. If you can't even handle one incompetent person, imagine how much pressure you'll feel."
Christa said calmly.
While struggling to hide the desperate fear she was feeling for the first time in her life.
***
Richard keenly focused his five senses on the faint presence of Vania walking beside him.
At the same time, his head was a jumble of thousands of thoughts inside.
He thought that Vania would surely come to meet him, and he was waiting.
But why...
“Where’s the escort? Did you come alone?”
Richard finally could not stand it any longer and asked as he walked, staring directly at the carriage parked in the distance.
“Ah, I didn’t come alone, but I was worried it might be hard to talk to you alone if I’m accompanied by an escort. He waits somewhere else.”
"You did something pointless."
“...”
“And you. Don’t you have any brains?”
"Yes?"
"Those bastards who frequent gambling dens are all the same old guys. They don't even know what it's scary to be showing their faces."
"That’s... It’s been a while, so I was worried you wouldn’t recognize me just by my voice. I’m sorry if that put you in a difficult position."
“...”
Richard had a lot to say, but he swallowed it.
Eventually, he reached her parked carriage, opened the door, and gestured to Vania.
"Get in. Let's talk inside."
"Yes!"
“...”
He had a feeling, and sure enough.
Vania hopped onto the carriage without any suspicion or caution.
Richard's vision went dark.
Feeling frustrated, he also got into the carriage and spoke immediately to Vania, who was flipping off her robe.
“What on earth do you trust me for, following me exactly as I tell you to and getting in when I tell you to...!”
He could not continue speaking. It was because of Vania, who had suddenly hugged him tightly.
“...”
Richard shed tears.
For the first time in a very long time.
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