16
Chapter 16
That which is invisible to the human eye but exists, that which does not understand human language, that which does not possess intellect.
"...Being able to control all of that is worthy of being called the Superpower of the Throne."
Oh, I don't know what it means, but it sounds incredibly cool. It's just pie in the sky for me, though.
Superpowers are usually passed down through bloodlines and manifest at a young age.
If Belinda had a Superpower, it would have manifested a long time ago, and everyone would know.
Without any lingering attachment, I closed the book, chose a few books that Leo might like to read, and left the study.
The hallway was dim due to the relentless rain that had been pouring since last night.
I frowned at the silhouette of someone standing in the middle of that dark hallway.
'I told them not to come up to the second floor unless I called.'
At first, I thought it was a maid who came to manage the mansion.
However, the moment a flash of lightning from outside briefly illuminated the interior of the hallway.
My body instinctively stiffened.
That was enough for me to see through the other person's identity.
There is only one person who makes Belinda's body so tense.
"Schwebel..."
"Hello, Bel. How's the marriage business going?"
A snake-like voice echoed from the darkness. Schwebel's shadow stretched out long and reached my feet.
I unconsciously scanned my surroundings first.
Only the two of us were in the hallway.
Realizing that fact, I felt a chill down my spine for some reason.
"So many replies to the Engagement proposal you sent have arrived."
I bit my lip as I looked at the bundle of letters in his grasp.
A few days ago, after hearing about the dowry, I asked the various families who sent me Engagement proposals only one thing.
What they were thinking about property division in the event of a divorce.
That answer was now in Schwebel's grasp.
It would be too optimistic to think that he hadn't checked the contents of those letters.
And as expected, Schwebel blatantly revealed that he had opened the letters addressed to me.
"Divorce, how unlike you. It was quite a clever move. But Bel, did you really think that would be enough to keep you safe?"
Safe?
It was a strange word.
Step by step, Schwebel slowly approached me.
I had nothing to lose, so I should have faced him confidently, but I unconsciously took a step back.
'Why is this happening?'
As soon as I realized that I was alone with him, my hands trembled terribly.
Calm down, Belinda. Don't get excited and deal with him calmly.
I hid my trembling hands behind my back and said coldly.
"You're a brazen intruder. I never gave you permission to enter my mansion, did I?"
Ignoring my words, Schwebel only said what he wanted to say.
"Everyone's been saying that you've been doting on a little brat lately. You seem to like him quite a bit."
Look at him spouting nonsense with that gaping mouth. He used Leo to screw me over.
"Surely you haven't forgotten. That child, I personally chose him and sent him to you. Who knows? Maybe he's confessing your every move to me, just like your previous maids."
Thwack. Thunder struck again, illuminating Schwebel's face.
I couldn't see his expression, which was deeply shadowed, but I felt an urge to run away from him immediately.
But ironically, my legs were frozen in place.
"Yes, let's say that orphan really is loyal to you. But what about the man you're going to marry?"
Perhaps I had been making one mistake.
That this trembling towards Schwebel stemmed from disgust.
But now that we were alone, I could be sure.
"If you die after successfully inheriting the estate, all of your assets will belong to your husband's family. So Bel, can you really call that husband your ally? Maybe I..."
It wasn't disgust or anger, but fear.
"...Might have orchestrated your death."
When only one step remained between Schwebel and me.
His hand grabbed my chin like a hook. It felt like my throat was blocked. Schwebel's dark eyes gleamed with obvious mockery and murderous intent.
Ah, right. It's this bastard.
In an instant, as if I had been splashed with cold water, I came to my senses and understood all of Belinda's situation.
"You need to learn how to suspect people. How foolish, you've been through so much and you still trust people?"
The reason why the real Belinda tormented Leo so much.
The reason why she never got married in the game despite inheriting such a large dowry.
'She couldn't trust anyone.'
She was so isolated that she couldn't choose someone to marry on her own.
This man in front of me was the one who made it that way.
I clenched my sweaty fists tightly.
'Belinda, I can finally understand you a little.'
The harsh curses I had been shouting whenever I faced Schwebel.
It was just a facade to hide her fear.
But this is Belinda's fear, not my fear.
'So leave it to me, Bel.'
What Belinda couldn't do because of fear.
Without hesitation, I kicked Schwebel's shin with all my might.
"Ugh!"
And in a follow-up combo, I swung the hardcover book I was holding and smashed it into his head.
Once, twice, three times.
Finally, Schwebel, who was hit in the temple by the corner of the book, saw blood. He momentarily lost his mind and roughly grabbed my wrist.
"Are you crazy, really!"
Compared to a healthy man, Belinda's body was too frail, so I had no choice but to stumble and be pushed against the wall.
Bang. My back hit the wall, and I lost my way to escape.
The shadow of his raised hand covered me, but I didn't even blink and looked up at him. With a cold, expressionless face.
Flash. Once again, lightning struck, brightly illuminating the hallway, and he stopped as if frozen with his hand raised.
Perhaps Schwebel also realized it. That he couldn't lay a finger on me.
At least while he was known to the world as a 'kind older brother'.
"As expected, you know your place well, like the mongrel you are."
I let out a sneer and roughly pushed his hand away.
"Listen carefully, mongrel."
Then, I wiped my chin and hand where his hand had touched with a handkerchief and calmly explained as if dealing with a subordinate.
"If there's even the slightest scratch on my body, I'll call a doctor right away. And I'll say. This injury was caused by 'my older brother, who is so kind that he can't do anything to his younger sister,' because he was upset about the dowry."
"Do you think people will believe that?"
"Why wouldn't they? As soon as the will was revealed, I was sent to this wretched annex and lived alone without any employees residing in my residence."
Gritting. The sound of Schwebel grinding his teeth echoed fiercely in the hallway.
"Ah, that's right. Was that what I wanted? But will people really think that way? That 'that Belinda' went to the annex of her own accord."
This is all happening because I'm trying to make up for my lack of lineage with my personality, so who can I blame? I should blame my own mouth.
Originally, it's the upright image that's the hardest to manage. How many celebrities in my past life went down because their true colors were revealed while managing their image?
"People will be more enthusiastic about the rumor that the victim, who they thought was kind, turned into a perpetrator than the obvious story that a thug was acting violently. You've been acting kind enough all this time, Schwebel. It's no good if your mask comes off in a place like this."
I threw the handkerchief at Schwebel's feet and sneered at him.
"You haven't even killed me yet."
Welcoming news popped up above the head of Schwebel, who had a grim expression.
Synchronization rate +1.
Synchronization rate +1.
Synchronization rate +1.
Synchronization 25% complete
As a reward, acquire 'Reward of the Quest: Belinda's Memory Fragment (First)'.
You will receive a special reward when you acquire a Fragment of Memory.
Finally!
I was so happy with the System window that popped up that I forgot about the situation for a moment.
A dull thud echoed in the hallway.
My head immediately turned in the direction of the sound.
Since when was he there? Leo, who had dropped the book, hurriedly picked it up.
"I, that's... I was late coming because..."
Soon, the moment Schwebel's gaze reached the terrified Leo, my body moved before I could even think.
I pushed Schwebel away, roughly grabbed Leo's hand, and hid him behind my back.
I realized it was an irreversible mistake only after seeing Schwebel's expression.
His face, which had been distorted with anger, instantly regained its composure.
"It seems you've found something precious. Yes, people become stronger when they have something to protect. There, what's your name?"
"I, I am..."
"Don't answer."
I turned around with Leo as he was, but I couldn't hide my dismay.
It seemed that Belinda's situation was more serious than I thought.
