Since the day she attacked Richard, Christa was transferred to the main castle and had been confined there for several days already. Staring blankly like a corpse.
All she did was lie in bed and stare silently at the high ceiling.
Since no one had visited her since she was imprisoned, she could not see her father or her other siblings. It was probably not that they didn't come, but that they couldn't because they didn't know when Christa might go berserk.
Thus, she could only learn about the situation outside through the words conveyed by the servants of the main castle.
"Young Master Mario's funeral took place."
News she never imagined.
To think that her brother, whom she thought her father would send to kill Alexander, had died instead. She thought it was a relief. And then, she soon became terrified of herself for having such a thought. What kind of person am I? He was still my brother...
"It seems he died along with Young Master Alexander during a physical struggle."
She was shocked by what followed. For it was none other than herself who had killed Alexander.
Alexander, who must have sent a reply with excitement upon receiving the letter bearing his sister's name. Her younger brother, who must have rushed out simply with joy. However, the one waiting for him was not his sister, but...
"Aaaargh!!! Aaaargh!!!"
She screamed and caused a ruckus. Then she thought again. Mario, you damn bastard. If you were going to die, just die alone. If I had known you were going to die so stupidly, I would have killed you long ago.
I knew all the filthy things that bastard was doing through his asshole, yet I closed my eyes and covered my ears, pretending not to know, just to hold out in this house!
Why did they do that?
Why! Why! Why!
I'm strong! I could have killed that vermin in an instant! I regret the time I spent holding back. I regret it. I regret it!
“Alex, Alex..."
I was wrong. I'm sorry I couldn't kill that guy sooner. I took away so much of the life you had left before you even became an adult.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry...
Alexander must have left resenting her. That fact rendered her unable to think normally.
I didn't want to live.
However, Christa steadfastly abandoned it. Because she couldn't go alone. She just hoped that someone would come find her.
Sometime, some way, there will be an opportunity.
It doesn't matter which of the bug-like brothers is alive and only causes harm.
Just one person, exactly one!
Come see me!
Such an earnest wish.
“Aaaah!”
“Run, run away!”
Did God grant the wish?
The castle, which had always been quiet, was turned upside down with noise. Without any warning whatsoever.
"Open the door! What's wrong!"
"O-open the door!"
Christa rose weakly from the bed. Then, staggering, she went to sit on the couch.
From there, she could see the maids desperately banging on the door.
She had no idea what was happening outside. Only terrible screams and loud gunshots could be heard incessantly.
"Stupid."
Christa muttered indifferently at the maids clinging to the door, shouting to be let out.
"Wouldn't it be safer to just keep your mouth shut inside?"
What on earth had happened?
It was war outside. Whoever it was had bravely invaded the fortress of the superpowered. That much was certain.
With what skill?
She doesn't know for sure, but they wouldn't have done this if they didn't have a backer they were relying on.
The Imperial Family?
Or perhaps nobles harboring hostility toward Wassenberg had joined forces and raised a private army?
Whatever it was, Christa remained composed.
'I knew a day like this would come.'
Wassenberg was evil.
It is the natural order of things for evil to disappear.
If you didn't want to be punished...
You shouldn't have lived like that.
This is the price.
The price they had to pay someday.
And she, too, had to pay the price. Since she had lived under the name Wassenberg, whether she wanted to or not.
Ah...
Why did you do that? You idiots. It was truly fascinating how you reigned like gods without a shred of caution or guilt.
Someday, we too could become mere ants. Who knows, there might actually be a God who tramples on us? Why didn't you worry about that? Did you think you could close your eyes in peace after committing so many sins?
Click, click.
The sound of a locked door opening was heard from outside. Christa stood up.
"If you want to live, come over to my side! It's safest next to me!"
Even in the midst of that, she felt that she could not kill the innocent maids.
The door opened soon.
A half-dead body slumped over.
It was Mark, the guard who had been holding the key and thoroughly confining Christa all this time.
"Aaaargh!"
"Ah! Aaaah!"
"Hey, you idiots! Don't go! I said don't go!"
Despite Christa's attempts to stop them, the startled maids rushed outside in an instant.
Conversely, the guard crawled slowly in front of Christa, covered in gunshot wounds that looked as if his whole body had been singed with fire.
At least he knows how to use his head.
"P-please spare me... Miss."
He knew that only Christa, who possesses strong supernatural abilities, could save him.
"Who did this?"
"..."
She asked for the intruder's identity, but there was no answer. He was already dead.
Just then.
"It is dangerous, you must not come out! We don't know what condition the subject is in!"
A voice was heard from outside.
"I will try to speak to her first! Absolutely, absolutely do not come out!"
Soon, a burly stranger burst through the open door. No, it was a woman. A knight with her white hair tied up high.
Christa was surprised.
It was because she recognized her face.
'That woman is Alex's...'
She remembered seeing her a long time ago.
Alexander and Vania's bodyguard knight.
Kali.
The moment she identified the intruder she had never imagined, Christa was horrified.
"Chri... Miss Christa!"
Even though she opened her mouth to speak, nothing registered in her ears.
She had only one thought.
You came for revenge.
I.
Because I killed Alex.
"Me. Me, no, ah. No..."
No?
I indeed killed him. Alexander, who came out to meet me, is dead. He must have died thinking he had fallen into my trap, right?
"Ah. Ah. Yes!"
Christa trembled and stepped back.
"Yes, I know why, why you came here! I'll die! I will die! But give me just a little time! L-like this! I can't die like this! I! I..."
I'll take at least one person with me. I really intended to do that. Please. I need to at least have the face to see Alexander in death.
I had to get away for now. From that person who had no intention of letting me go.
So, just enough to subdue.
Just to that extent.
While thinking...
<True Storm>
Ah.
Damn father.
However, her mind went blank for a moment as she found herself helpless.
<Mirror Eye - Steps of Darkness>
"Ah!"
"Miss!"
Suddenly appeared next to Kali.
'...Vania?'
Dream?
“Christa!”
Is it a dream?
“It’s dangerous!”
Kali covered Vania. She became invisible. However, Vania immediately pushed Kali away and revealed her face to reassure Christa.
"Alex is alive!"
That's what she said.
Appearing like a dream, like magic.
Great pain.
"No matter what anyone said to you, it's all lies! He's alive! Perfectly fine!"
It must be a dream, right? It must be a dream.
Otherwise...
I miss him so much.
There’s no way I’d say the words I so desperately wanted to hear—sweet enough to instantly clear my numb ears.
"He's waiting for you to come..."
Ah.
But it was nice even if it was just a dream.
Even if she were to die right now, Christa wanted to disappear in the arms of her beloved sister, hearing only the words she wanted to hear.
“Christa.”
Before she knew it, Vania slowly approached with a face covered in tears.
"I'm too late. I'm sorry..."
One step at a time.
"I'm really sorry for making you go through all this trouble here alone..."
She was sobbing.
"I came to pick you up..."
With her pretty face contorted into a mess, Vania took a step closer and spoke.
“Let’s go home.”
Vania hugged Christa, speaking in a voice choked with tears. She could feel the warm embrace and the beating heart.
"To my house where Alex and I are..."
Vania did not disappear.
It didn't seem like a dream.
"Let's go together, Christa..."
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