Ch#99
99화
‘What is this?’
Shallone pressed her lips together and clenched her fists tightly.
A light, airy canopy, a soft bed, and a cute, lovely room finished in shades of pink.
A desk sized just for her, and adorable dolls.
She didn’t know who had decorated it, but it was an incredibly endearing room.
A room entirely her own.
When she had been in the house of the woman who called herself the Witch, she had been confined to a narrow attic room with nothing but a single bed.
But here, everything was perfect.
A warm and cozy home. Kind servants. A plush bed. And an abundance of money that never seemed to run out no matter how much she spent, along with the fame everyone envied.
Whenever she said she had been adopted into the Yudia Ducal Family, everyone was shocked.
‘Even if I was made…’
She had inherited her father’s blood, so she was as good as his daughter.
That gave her every reason to be in this house. On top of that, she possessed divine power, and she was scheduled to attend the divine beast summoning ceremony soon.
‘I don’t get why the Witch said an illegitimate child adopted by Kiriel Udiya would be isolated…’
The Witch that Shallone knew was flawless.
A person who understood the ways of the world and could read futures others couldn’t see.
Everything she predicted came true.
The epidemic prophesied to break out in Rubia Territory years ago, the business that would skyrocket, the new invention that would appear soon after—all of it had come to pass.
Years ago, she had said someone from the Yudia Ducal Family would come looking for her, and that had happened too.
‘I heard they refused back then because the stone in place of my heart was still imperfect…’
Rather than deterring them, it seemed to spur them on, as they visited periodically, delivering living expenses and repeatedly asking if she wanted to join the ducal family.
‘And yet…’
Forget whether the atmosphere was welcoming or not—everywhere she turned, it was nothing but people shouting Bunny this, Bunny that.
‘She said if I just acted a little cute and helpful after coming here, I’d be loved…!’
For the first time, the Witch, who had always been right, was wrong.
Shallone had lived believing every word from the Witch was correct, and now that it had crumbled, she felt darkness closing in around her.
’No, this isn’t the first time.’
Years ago, she had said the empire’s Crown Prince would die and be replaced, but he hadn’t.
Instead, the illness he was supposed to have was completely cured, and he was out and about perfectly fine.
‘She said she couldn’t find out what happened because the imperial palace blocked information so thoroughly…’
The only thing she had learned was that they had summoned some renowned healer from somewhere to treat him.
“That’s ridiculous. Why did the future change? Could there be another participant…?”
“Yes?”
“No, just talking to myself. This is still within the range of predictions. With me capturing the heroine, the odds of failure are low. Just focus on safely entering the Yudia Ducal Family and becoming a beloved lady of the house.”
Come to think of it, the Witch had said something strange back then too.
‘Anyway, I have to do something…’
Biting her lower lip, Shallone clenched her fists tight, squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them.
In truth, Shallone was fated to die if she wasn’t loved by someone before turning fourteen.
The Stone of Life would transform into a real heart only when someone gave her genuine love and affection.
If no one truly loved her, the Stone of Life would crumble to dust, and she would die.
‘I don’t want to die.’
She had endured those horrific daily experiments for adjustment in that cramped house, and finally gotten out.
Now, Shallone had only four years left. It had already been ten years.
‘…The Witch said she’d come to Yudia Territory a bit later.’
She had said she had preparations to make, so she was delayed. Shallone couldn’t seek her advice right now.
So, she had to figure things out herself based on what the Witch had told her.
She had to drive that child out somehow—only then could she be fully loved by everyone in this house, just as the Witch had said.
“Fortunately, it’s a full moon tonight.”
And the Witch had told her there was something Shallone absolutely had to do on full moon nights.
One member of the ducal family had a complex that only surfaced on full moons.
Lost in thought, she slowly opened her eyes.
“For now, the easiest way to completely drive that girl out of the house is to expose her as a demon kin… But first, it’s better to solidify your own position.”
“Solidify it?”
“Yes. Start by winning over the boy named Allen in that family.”
“Allen? How?”
“He’s a beastkin. More precisely, a half-breed… A worthless mongrel born between beastkin and the Yudia family. Because of that, he has a huge complex about it.”
“…Oh my. That’s so tragic.”
“Yes, it’s pitiful and heartbreaking. On nights of the full moon, he turns completely into a beast—an imperfect one. That’s why his treatment in the family is poor… So be kind to him.”
“Yes. I should.”
“Of course. Your healing divine power is warmer and superior to anyone else’s. Your skin is so soft, and your smile is so lovable. It’s all set in stone. You’ll definitely do well.”
Shallone thought that far, then clenched her fists tightly.
‘She said he’s usually at the lakeside in the ducal estate.’
Shallone grabbed a blanket and some simple snacks, then headed outside. The night air was quite chilly.
‘What should I say to comfort him?’
A half-breed scorned and hurt by people.
Shallone knew well the feeling of being pushed away for being different. When she first opened her eyes, her whole body had been cold.
No matter what anyone said, she felt nothing—like a doll with no emotions at all.
It had taken time and countless adjustments, but now she was okay…
‘Telling him about how I couldn’t fit in with anyone wouldn’t be a bad idea.’
Deep in such thoughts, Shallone hurried toward the lakeside.
‘First, I’ll make that Allen kid my ally here.’
She didn’t know exactly how much affection she needed to become truly human, but having as many people like her as possible should do it.
Rustle, rustle.
Passing through the long stretch of bushes and stepping inside, Shallone froze.
‘He must be incredibly depressed right now.’
Bunny probably had no idea about this secret.
The moment Shallone took a deep breath and stepped forward one more time.
“This time, go get it! Allen! Grroowl!”
“Grrrng!”
“Piyooo!”
Whoosh.
The ball arced through the air, flying far into the sky.
‘…Incredibly depressed…’
Thud thud thud—!
Under the night sky, a red bird blazing brightly flapped its wings and flew up, while a massive four-legged beast chased after it even faster, pursuing the ball.
The enormous gray wolf with two tails tucked its running body low, then leaped high, soaring over the arcing ball. It twisted its upper body sharply mid-air, snatched the ball in its mouth, and landed.
“…What’s so depressed about that?”
“Wooow! Allen’s the best!!! So cool!!!”
“Awoo!”
“Piyooo….”
Clap clap clap.
Bunny bounced up and down in place, clapping and taking the ball back, while the wolf let out pleased grrr, grrr growls as it returned the ball and received pets.
“Piyuuu….”
And below them, a dejected red bird melting away in gloom.
‘…What kind of prophecy did the Witch see?!’
At the scene where not a single thing matched the word “depressed,” Shallone dropped the blanket she had brought with a thud, her mouth falling open.
