“Isn’t it thanks to her that you’re talking to me right now?”

Yujin’s words made Yuri frown, but he didn’t argue. It was true, after all.

He crossed his arms again and nodded.

“That’s right. Titi told me to talk to you. She thought there might be a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding, huh…”

Since he was already being honest, Yujin decided to lay everything out and brought up some old stories.

“I’ve been envious of you for a long time.”

“…”

Yuri was at a loss for words now that Yujin was being so straightforward. Compared to Yujin’s awareness of him, Yuri hadn’t really thought seriously about his sibling.

After discussing the past, silence returned between the brothers who hadn’t interacted much over the years.

To break the awkwardness, Yujin brought up a topic they both shared interest in: the whereabouts of Titiana.

“Where did she go?”

“I told you not to talk about Titi.”

Despite his grumbling, Yuri answered earnestly.

“We decided to go our separate ways today. And Titi has the artifact I gave her, so… huh?”

It was a transparent, droplet-shaped artifact that indicated Titiana’s location.

Yuri frowned as he checked it.

“It looks like she’s leaving the village.”

“What?”

There was no way Titi would leave the village on her own when nothing was resolved yet.

***

How much time had passed?

‘Ugh, my head hurts.’

The first thing I felt as I came to my senses was a terrible pain, as if my head had been put into a wine press.

I instinctively touched my head and widened my eyes at the sticky liquid that came away.

‘Blood?’

As I tried to figure out what had happened to me, I heard my father’s grumbling from somewhere.

“You fool. You should have listened to me from the start.”

Those words made my lips part automatically.

‘Seriously?’

I hadn’t realized it because I couldn’t see it myself, but it seemed my father had hit my head, and blood was coming from my forehead where he missed.

‘Unbelievable.’

After making my life difficult all these years, he resorted to violence just because his daughter spoke the truth once?

There was no way a place where someone like that took me after knocking me out would be good.

I slowly got up. Luckily, only my head throbbed, and I had no trouble moving my limbs.

‘Where am I?’

A musty smell filled the dim space. It was cramped and occasionally jolted. Since I couldn’t see my father, it seemed I was in a separate area.

‘A cart. It’s a cart.’

It was definitely a cart for carrying things like straw or milk. Given our family’s situation, we didn’t own a cart, so he must have stolen it from someone else.

‘Well, let’s see if there’s anything to use.’

Violence, attempted murder, kidnapping, and now cart theft.

With charges like these, he might end up in prison longer than Robi. I mentally listed my father’s crimes while searching the cart. Since I couldn’t match him in strength, I needed a weapon.

‘Anyway, why should I just take it when he resorts to violence?’

That’s not being good; it’s being foolish.

Yuri’s words helped ease the burden on my conscience.

But regardless of my resolve, there was nothing in the cart that could be used as a weapon. After thoroughly checking the corners, I found a wooden fork in an empty lunchbox, presumably left by the original cart owner.

‘It’s not metal, just wood. It’s better than nothing, though.’

Could I hurt someone with this if I stabbed them?

To what extent?

‘I don’t know since I’ve never done it before.’

As I fiddled with the end of the wooden fork, there was a clunking sound…

‘It stopped.’

…and the cart I was in came to a halt.

Since my father hadn’t tied me up while I was unconscious, I could peek outside through a gap in the cart.

Outside the cart stood one of my father’s long-time moneylender friends. He was the one who harassed me about paying off debts in my previous life too.

“Here you are. I thought you’d run away without a trace since you hadn’t shown up.”

“No, no way. I have to pay back my debts. Ha ha ha.”

“Yeah, debts need to be paid. I thought you didn’t understand such basics, but I’m glad you do. So, is there money in that cart?”

Listening to their conversation, it seemed as if there were no closer friends in the world.

‘But even in my past life, that guy told me to repay my debts with my body if I didn’t have the money.’

I didn’t expect it to be much different this time around. I looked at my boastful father with cold eyes.

“There’s something better than money in there.”

“Oh? What’s better than money?”

“See for yourself.”

As expected.

‘I don’t even feel disappointed anymore.’

Thanks to the terrible experiences I had in my past life, it wasn’t a huge shock. I held my breath for a moment, eavesdropping to hear how their disgusting conversation would end.

“She’s got some hidden assets I didn’t know about. So, get it from her instead.”

“Why didn’t you bring the money?”

“She wouldn’t meet me. I figured I’d pay off the debt and keep some of what I could sneak away.”

“You’re talking nonsense about leftover money. Do you even know how much you owe me?”

‘Insane.’

The moneylender was revolting, but my father, demanding a share for himself, was beyond words. He was truly an irredeemable piece of trash.

Feeling there was nothing left to lose, I quietly slipped out of the cart.

‘I need to escape while they’re arguing.’

It was the perfect moment to run away.

‘If I make it into the forest, it’ll be hard for them to follow.’

I jumped from the cart and crept toward the nearby woods. Just as I was about to enter the underbrush, I was spotted by the gang that had been watching my father and the moneylender’s exchange with amusement.

“Hey, boss! Over there!”

‘Damn.’

I took off running immediately. But my father, who was standing closer to the cart, was quicker.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

His hand grabbed my shoulder, trying to turn me around, but it got caught on the necklace around my neck. My father, with a face like a demon, called out to me.

“Titiana Este!”

“Don’t call my name, it’s disgusting!”

“How dare you speak to your father like that!”

My father, calling himself that, was infuriating. I glared at him with red eyes and shouted back.

“Do you think raising me makes you a parent? You’re just an obstacle in my life!”

“You little! How dare you speak like that!”

He yanked on the necklace. It dug into my skin like a dog’s collar, dragging me along.

‘No.’

I couldn’t let myself be dragged away. I was finally living my own life, and now I was being pulled back to clean up after my father again.

‘No way!’

At that moment, I stabbed my father’s hand with the wooden fork I was holding with all my strength.

“Argh!”

He screamed and swung his hand wildly. My neck burned with pain, but escaping was my priority.

“She’s getting away!”

“Don’t let her escape!”

There weren’t many in the gang, but they were threatening enough.

I ran frantically. Branches scratched my body, and I felt nauseous, but I didn’t stop. The wound on my head must have reopened, as warm blood trickled down my face.

Feeling dizzy, I realized running far was impossible. I wedged myself into the trunk of a large tree and held my breath.

As I caught my breath, the pain finally hit me. They say humans only feel the greatest pain. The pain I felt was in my neck.

‘Ugh, my neck hurts.’

I shuddered and pulled my hand away after touching the torn skin. As I wondered what had caused such a jagged wound, I sighed.

‘He ripped off my necklace. It was a gift from Yuri.’

My father had swung his arm so hard at the end that it broke and flew off. It was the necklace.

It was one of the few birthday gifts I had received. Feeling suddenly downcast, I closed my eyes tightly.

‘Damn it, I should have been more careful.’

Thinking that, I laughed in frustration.

Having to be cautious when returning to my own home.

‘What is this, really.’

My situation was so pathetic that my eyes burned with tears. I couldn’t cry now; I needed all my strength to escape, yet tears kept welling up.

‘No matter how many times I turn back time, it seems I can’t change anything. I’m always stuck in this endless muck, struggling.’

Why did I have to struggle so hard just to live?

As I shook with sorrow, I heard a rustling.

‘Oh no!’

Someone was pushing through the bushes, walking toward me. I bit my lip too late.

‘Ah, I should have run further.’

Pretending to run far and then doubling back to escape in the opposite direction was too flimsy a plan.

But still, finding me so quickly in this vast forest?

‘Just go. Please, just go.’

I kept muttering to myself. My heart pounded faster and faster.

When I was almost faint with fear, the person who had come right up to me called my name.

“Titi?”

It was a familiar voice.