Chapter 61
It was a strange thing to say.
A really strange thing, Nina thought.
If anything, it should be Ravian doubting her. But for her to not be able to trust Ravian? That was something that could never happen.
“I…”
Then suddenly, a question struck her.
Did she really trust Ravian?
Why had her heart sunk when he mentioned the Sally Juice incident earlier?
Why was she still so anxious that he might find out how she had actually been treated while growing up?
Was it because she feared the plan might fall apart? Or was it because she was ashamed?
No. It was simply anxiety.
The fear that he might abandon her.
It was utterly ridiculous.
Even after all he had gone through because of her, she was still holding on to such pointless doubts.
“That’s just disrespectful.”
Not only disrespectful but downright ungrateful. Nina swallowed her self-mocking sigh.
“Yeah, I’ll trust you.”
When she spoke firmly, Ravian shook his head.
“Promise me. From now on, no matter what happens, you’ll believe in me.”
He held out his little finger.
Nina obediently hooked her small finger over his.
“I promise, mister.”
The kidnapper and the little hostage sealed the promise with their fingers pressed together.
It was a lifetime contract.
A few days later, Ravian left for the Imperial Capital.
As always, he traveled alone. But since Anubis’s members didn’t know Mercy’s true identity, they assumed she went with him. They grumbled about favoritism, thinking Mercy had gotten special treatment.
Of course, it wasn’t loyalty that drove them—it was the fact that riding first-class on the train was their lifelong dream.
In any case, not long after Ravian left, the city’s biggest seasonal event began: the Carnival Festival, which lasted for two whole weeks.
Some thought the Hameln incident would dampen this year’s excitement, but in Rojas—far from the eastern regions—it didn’t matter in the least.
The entire city was caught up in a festive, lively mood, and even the penthouse of the hotel where Nina was staying buzzed with the atmosphere.
The day before, Mercy had suggested they go enjoy the festival together, so from early morning Nina washed up and brushed her teeth with a bubbling excitement.
“Will the festival be the same as in my dream?”
She suddenly recalled the carnival streets she had seen in her dream.
Back then, Kis and Mercy had taken her out on the very last day of the festival, letting her see the carnival for the first time in her life.
And the fireworks on the final night, too.
“This time, will I be able to watch the fireworks with Ravian? He said he’d be back before the festival ended…”
“Uwaaaagh!”
A sudden scream rang out, making Nina jump in fright.
She spat out the rinse water and ran out of the bathroom—only to find an unexpected scene.
“Wh-what the heck, you perverted old hag?!”
“What? Old hag…?!”
Mira’s face twisted into a chilling smile as she glared at Katya, who looked equally startled.
If Nina hadn’t rushed in, who knows what might have happened.
“What’s going on?”
At her voice, both Katya—slumped messily on the bed—and Mira—standing menacingly—turned their heads with a jolt.
“Oh, pretty one! You were here all along!”
“Nina, who is this woman?! I was sleeping, and suddenly I hear sniffing noises like some creep, and then—”
“What’s her problem? I thought it was my pretty one, so I came to say hello, but then I nearly fainted from the sewer stench coming off this one—”
“What, what do you mean sewer stench! You perverted old hag!”
Unlike before, Mira didn’t even flinch at being called “old hag.”
Completely ignoring Katya, Mira lunged forward and grabbed Nina in a tight embrace, sniffing her furiously.
“Ahhh, yes, this smell. I missed it so much I thought I’d die…”
What on earth was this “smell” she was talking about?
Unable to breathe, Nina squirmed helplessly in Mira’s arms.
Finally, Katya rushed forward, yanking Nina’s arm to pull her free.
“What are you doing to Nina, you pervert?!”
“Get lost, you!”
“Let her go!”
“You stink of sewers—back off!”
And with that, Mira picked Nina up and dashed out of the bedroom.
Katya chased right after her, and a chase broke out down the hall.
“You stubborn little sewer brat, what are you jealous for?!”
“Don’t be ridiculous! As if I’d ever be jealous of a perverted old hag!”
The two hurled insults at each other as they raced around, turning the place into a game of tag.
They circled the hallways, darted through the living room and kitchen, barging into and out of random rooms.
Nina grew dizzy from being carried around so roughly—her chest tight from Mira’s grip, her body shaken and jolted until she felt sick.
Like rampaging cats, their chaos crashed into the men who had been enjoying a rare peaceful morning.
“Keoughhh…!”
Without knocking, Mira leapt onto the bed to avoid Katya, startling Smokey, who had been sleeping in late. He nearly met his ancestors from the shock.
“Sorry!”
Mira shamelessly shouted as she bolted out and into the smoking room—with Katya still in pursuit—only to come face-to-face with Lisa, who was in the middle of changing clothes.
“Eeeek!”
Lisa screamed, hastily covering her broad, hairy chest.
Katya clapped a hand over her eyes while Mira snapped back in annoyance.
“Why the hell are you changing clothes in here of all places?!”
“I-I was embarrassed to use the dressing room outside…” Lisa mumbled tearfully.
And at that moment, the bathroom door next to the smoking room banged open, and Kis stormed out.
“Who the hell took a dump and didn’t flush?! Was it you again, Mira?!”
“If you saw it, then you flush it, you idiot!”
“Watch your mouth in front of the kid! Why the hell should I clean up after your crap, you psycho?!”
Taking advantage of the chaos, Katya grabbed Nina’s wrist and shouted furiously at Mira.
“Act your age, you perverted old hag!”
“Let go of her!”
“You let go first!”
“Flush the damn toilet already!”
“You two want me to beat you both into next week?!”
“STOP ITTT!”
Finally, Nina’s patience snapped. Her scream rang through the entire penthouse.
The whole place fell silent in an instant. Everyone froze, staring blankly at Nina.
And then—
Bang, clatter, clunk, thud-thud-thud!
The fake security team burst in, armed with every tool imaginable.
Mira and Kis clicked their tongues in unison.
“What is this, a mutiny?”
“N-no, it’s not what it looks like…”
Meanwhile, Nina, finally set down, spotted Günter among the fake guards, holding a nail-studded bat.
“Hello, mister. What’s that?”
“….”
Blinking awkwardly above his mask, Günter suddenly found himself pierced by the deathly glares of his two terrifying superiors.
“Hey, what’s this? You thief-looking bastard—do you know the kid? Are you close to her?”
“Why’s the pretty one happy to see you, huh? What dirty tricks did you pull?!”
Moments later, Günter was running for his life—dodging Mira with her stolen bat and Kis twirling a kitchen knife.
Meanwhile, the fake security team, relieved they’d avoided the fallout, whispered and chuckled among themselves.
“That blonde girl—she’s apparently Lady Mercy’s sister-in-law.”
“Ah, I see. No wonder. She already stands out so much.”
“Stands out? Absolutely.”
Crunch!
Their laughter died as someone stomped mercilessly on their feet.
“Aaaargh!”
While the fake guards screamed in pain, Mercy walked past them without so much as a glance, striding calmly toward Nina.
Her golden eyes shimmered with gentle warmth.
