Chapter 25
“Wh-What are you doing?!”
A strange face, awkward demeanor. All the people Lucy tried to stop seemed to be new servants.
What’s going on? Are they all servants sent from the Aros family?
After being refused several times, Lucy finally gave up on asking anyone for help.
“Move!”
Lucy, almost bumping into a servant carrying a silver tray piled with glasses, pushed him behind her and moved forward at a faster pace.
The servant, thrown off balance, began to fall—straight toward where Joshua was.
“S-Sorry…!”
He apologized reflexively, already knowing what was about to happen, but Joshua effortlessly caught his body, while Lucion caught the tray and saved the glasses on top.
“Thank y—”
“Be careful.”
“Next time, we won’t save you.”
With that, the two of them coolly left the servant behind and continued chasing Lucy. Watching them as she stood frozen from the thrill in her chest, Sophia gathered her strength and ran after them.
Despite working together smoothly earlier, Joshua and Lucion were now exchanging sharp words as if that harmony had been a lie.
“If you’re slow, stop running and check on Sophia!”
“Hah! If I did it properly, I’d be faster than you, got it?!”
“Watch your mouth.”
“What did you say?!”
As if he’d decided to boil manners into soup, Lucion shouted back and ran ahead of Joshua.
Whatever burst of competitiveness had struck them, they showed no concern for Sophia’s shorter legs, leaving her unable to keep up and eventually forcing her to stop.
She gave up on chasing after the two who had disappeared from view and leaned against a wall to catch her breath. In a way, it was a relief. Even if she caught up, she wouldn’t be much help. There was no point in exhausting herself for nothing.
Just as her racing heart began to slow and her uneven breaths returned to normal, a clatter and a woman’s startled scream—one that wasn’t Lucy’s—echoed nearby.
She turned toward the noise, on edge, and saw Lucy Hazley turning the corner, running straight toward her.
“…Oh.”
In Lucy’s hand were broken shards of glass, and upon noticing that, Sophia realized Lucy was coming straight at her with the shards.
Oh no…!
Feeling a chill down her spine, Sophia turned and started running to escape Lucy. She knew she couldn’t outrun her.
An adult, especially one with good reflexes, was obviously faster than a child who had spent most of her life indoors. There was no chance.
She just kept running, praying that Joshua or Lucion would catch Lucy before she got caught.
With every thudding footstep and rough breath growing closer behind her, her own breath caught in her throat and sweat pooled in her palms.
“Sophia!”
“My lady!”
Just as Joshua and Lucion’s voices echoed in her ears, something brushed past her hair.
I’m caught. I should’ve cut my hair!
She had barely finished that pointless regret when a strong arm lifted her body.
Assuming it was Lucy, she shut her eyes tight, but the voice that reached her ears was one that brought instant relief.
“I’m sorry, my lady.”
A soft embrace, warmth, a familiar scent.
“…Ro-Ray…”
Stunned by the unexpected appearance, Sophia froze. Just then, something heavy crashed to the ground with a loud thud.
“Let go!!”
From the shouting, it was clear Lucy had been caught. Sophia, still in Lorei’s arms, patted his back a couple of times as a signal that he could let her go now.
Just as she slipped out from his slightly loosened hold to check on what had happened, a cold voice pierced the air.
“Shut your mouth. Before I crush your legs.”
The icy voice that stirred a new kind of fear belonged to Joshua. It was just like the rumors that he was like a finely honed blade, in contrast to his more docile brother, Benjamin.
Feeling the killing intent in the hands gripping her neck and body, Lucy shut her eyes tight in fear.
She had thought being young might spare her, but clearly, it made no difference—it might’ve even made things worse.
When she frowned, recalling the moment he once held a blade to her, her eyes met Joshua’s.
Joshua, with his sleeves rolled up and Lucy pinned beneath him, smiled faintly as he met Sophia’s gaze.
“You okay?”
His voice was endlessly gentle. Lucion, who had just taken his place beside Sophia, looked at Joshua like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Sophia felt the same. She wasn’t used to Joshua wearing that kind of soft expression when looking at her.
Perhaps taken aback by that unfamiliar smile, she suddenly noticed a small cut on his cheek. It seemed he had been scratched by the glass Lucy was holding while subduing her.
“I’m fine. But more importantly…”
Sophia stepped a little closer to Joshua, pointing out the cut on his cheek. Which, of course, meant she had moved closer to Lucy as well.
If even the smallest gap opened up, she could escape. That gap was Sophia. If the child showed even a slight distraction, everyone’s attention would shift, and a gap would appear.
And Lucy wasn’t going to miss that chance. Just as she reached for Sophia’s leg—
Another foot came down, crushing her arm without mercy.
“She’s my master.”
“Urgh…!”
Lucion yanked Sophia gently behind him and stomped down on Lucy’s arm like squashing a bug. Her groan of pain burst out, but the pressure only intensified.
“Don’t touch her.”
It was a voice Sophia had never heard before. She couldn’t believe it was Lucion—the same boy who always smiled and spoke kindly.
Startled by the unfamiliar tone, Sophia looked up at him. He smiled gently down at her.
“Are you alright?”
“Y-Yeah…”
Watching with clear irritation, Joshua clicked his tongue and turned toward Lorei.
“You left a fox at her side instead of a proper servant?”
“Well, you’ve got foxes in your own family. I don’t see why not.”
“Benji is a sly little fox, yeah.”
Lorei just smiled in response to Joshua’s annoyed expression, as if to say, And so are you.
Resting quietly in Lucion’s protective arms, Sophia suddenly realized something felt off.
There were no guards. Despite all the noise and chaos.
Not a single servant had gone to call for help earlier?
Just as that question surfaced, Lorei pulled Sophia toward him.
“Then I’ll escort the young lady to a safe place and call the guards.”
“Please do. Oh, and Fox—you stay.”
Joshua pointed directly at Lucion, but Lucion openly turned his head away.
Which let Sophia clearly see the sour expression on Joshua’s face. Maybe because of their rocky first meeting, there was no sign that the two would get along any time soon.
Since Lorei was with her, Lucion staying behind to help hold Lucy was best, so Sophia spoke up.
“Zion, you stay here. I’ll go with Lorei, so don’t worry.”
“Yes. Please be careful!”
Finally nodding in reply, Lucion watched them go. Joshua, meanwhile, felt his anger boil. If only he weren’t holding Lucy—if only his hands were free…
“Annoying brat.”
He would’ve smacked him good.
Just as things were settling down and Lorei began to lead Sophia away, Lucy’s voice stopped them in their tracks.
“It’s strange… It’s all so strange…”
Joshua looked down at her as her voice grew louder.
“It’s strange! Does this make sense?!”
“…What the hell?”
“Except for Demis, no one tries to leak that Sophia Benny is alive! Like they’ve been brainwashed!”
Sophia, feeling the grip Lorei had on her hand grow tighter, realized something was wrong.
“Lucion.”
At the same time, Lorei called Lucion’s name, and he immediately moved to cover Lucy’s mouth.
“My lady, you don’t need to hear any of this. Let’s get back to your room…”
Lorei tried to use the moment to lead Sophia away, but the more Lucion tried to silence Lucy, the more she struggled.
Shaking off his hand and opening her eyes wide, Lucy shouted even louder—this time, directly at Lorei.
“Lorei, you—!”
What is she talking about?
Sophia also found it odd how all the servants had been so tight-lipped about her. There were so many people in the castle—how could not a single one have leaked her secret?
“Like they’ve been brainwashed.” That’s what Lucy had shouted—and now she was pointing the finger at Lorei.
Was that why Lorei had gone so far as to silence her, even using Lucion?
Was he afraid her name would come out of Lucy’s mouth?
“Lorei.”
Sophia now gripped his hand—not passively, but with strength, flipping their roles.
This was something she’d always wanted to ask him.
How had he controlled so many servants? How had he kept all those secrets from leaking? What exactly did the lord trust him with to give him that role?
“Tell me everything. What does she mean by that?”
“For once, don’t lie to me.”
