I Became The Villain’s Master - Chapter 2.4

Unlike the simple Cream who was genuinely happy to be able to play with me, Sugar was never sincere throughout the game.

For him, who had been forcibly enduring his unpleasant feelings, this situation must be a justification.

A justification to separate Rory from me.

Is this why he suggested including Rory in hide-and-seek?

“Ha. This is really infuriating.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

To Sugar, who raised one eyebrow in question, I added coldly.

“Don’t talk to me from now on. We’re really strangers.”

This kid only learned bad things.

For a mere 10-year-old, he’s unbelievably cunning.

Lying without batting an eye, pretending to care for me…

Ann, who had approached me unnoticed, knelt down and carefully picked up Rory, asking,

“Young miss. Are you alright?”

Though she had witnessed the situation from afar and was clearly shocked, I didn’t have the luxury to consider her feelings.

I turned my gaze away from the dumbfounded Sugar and pushed Ann.

“Rory’s not okay. Let’s hurry.”

“Merchen!”

Cream, who had been fidgeting, ran to me.

He looked like he had no idea what action to take between his brother and me.

“Cream. I’m very angry today.”

“Merchen…”

“So remember today clearly. What happens when you act like your brother.”

Cream couldn’t answer.

He just looked scared.

“They say second children are quick-witted. I hope you understood what I meant.”

After briefly glancing at Cream’s disheveled hair, I turned and ran to the mansion with Ann.

***

“Young miss. Please sit down and rest instead of pacing.”

The family doctor, Rudolf, pointed to the sofa as he watched me restlessly moving about.

But I absolutely couldn’t sit still.

Why is a child who was playing fine suddenly in so much pain?

Did I miss something again? Did he eat something he shouldn’t have? As I was about to bite my nails anxiously, Ann grabbed my hand.

I urgently asked Rudolf, who was sitting in a chair next to the bed examining the child.

“Rudolf. Why, why isn’t Rory waking up?”

To my pressing question, he replied calmly with a kind smile.

“Don’t worry, young miss. He’s just suffering from the heat for a moment.”

“The heat?”

“Yes. You, young miss, and the young masters are resistant to heat as desert fox shapeshifters, and the knights and servants who have worked in the mansion for a long time have become accustomed to enduring the heat, but for this child, the desert heat must have been severe.”

Rudolf wiped the child’s face and body with a towel soaked in cold water.

Every time he massaged, rubbing the arms and legs, the child’s breathing became a little more comfortable.

“To think it was because of the heat.”

In a way, it’s obvious, but why didn’t I know?

Living in Merchen’s body, I had forgotten how hot the desert can be.

I was suddenly afraid that Kim Ha-neul’s memories might gradually disappear.

***

An excessively early independence that came with my parent’s divorce.

Despite struggling with living expenses, I never once reached out for help, all because of that petty pride.

18 years old.

I bit the arms of two classmates who tried to bully me, thinking I was an easy target because I didn’t hide the poverty I had chosen for myself, and sent them to the hospital.

Dropping out of high school while earning the ridiculous nickname ‘wild dog’.

Everyone chattered that my life, full of bumps and edges, was a ‘failed life’, but I loved my life.

Sometimes, when I felt too lonely, I regretted the choices I made to stand my ground instead of compromising with the world…

But I tried my best at every moment.

Because I did the best I could.

The more I thought about the times and choices I had struggled through, foolish but steadfast in my youth, the more my eyes welled up.

Floating through the sea of memories, the final destination I reached was ultimately my last trip.

The sea, so blue it hurt my eyes.

Cotton candy-like clouds and moisture-laden wind.

And the train accident.

Screech.

It seemed like the terrible sound was repeating.

To escape from my reverie, I gently held Rory’s hand.

I could feel a pulsing heartbeat from the soft, warm hand.

Was it really a coincidence that the girl I met at the musical and audition happened to hand me that book and that I entered that book?

Rudolf was slowly pouring water into the now calm child’s lips.

I gently let go of Rory’s hand that I had been holding tightly.

At that moment, Rory’s hand grabbed onto mine as it moved away.

Though trembling without much strength, it was urgent and desperate, like grasping a lifeline thrown at the edge of a cliff.

‘Becoming Merchen Hauser of all people, and meeting you of all people, is it luck or misfortune for me?’

It was such a weak grip that I could have easily pulled away with just a slight twist, but instead, I held the child’s hand firmly once again.

***

Count Hauser called for me.

“Merchen. Did you write this note?”

“Who else could it be? I wrote my name on it.”

“My goodness! My daughter is a genius! We must throw a party right away!”

Count Hauser picked me up and ran around the office, making a fuss.

Feeling dizzy, I pinched his ear.

“Please sit down.”

“Alright! Let’s do that! What did my daughter want to talk about?”

“I hope Father won’t hurt anyone.”

“I, I’ve never hurt anyone in front of you… Why do you say such things?”

“You hit my brothers yesterday. You seemed used to throwing things, are you treating the servants roughly too? No problem can be solved with violence.”

“Ahem. Punishment is necessary when someone does wrong. In raising children. In training servants. Without it, order would collapse.”

“Then will you hit me too? If I displease you?”

I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Would you hit Merchen, your beloved youngest daughter, if she defies you?

“Hit you! That would never happen!”

“Even if order collapses?”

“No matter what you do, order won’t collapse. You’re the most precious person in our family, and also the most important.”

What a contradiction.

“Then as the most precious person in the family, I have a request. Please promise that you won’t use violence against anyone from now on. That you won’t hurt others.”

Count Hauser muttered, “Why is my daughter suddenly like this…” before nodding.

He gently stroked my head, his kind eyes crinkling.

“Alright. I promise.”

Got him.

“I can’t trust a verbal agreement. Please write me a note.”

“Huh? Write what?”

Pretending not to hear when you clearly did.

I moved my short tongue and lips as much as possible to speak clearly.

“A. Note.”