Chapter 02

“It’s already been a year.”

I’d searched everywhere for him, but I still hadn’t found a single trace.

Slumped in my chair, I let out a long sigh.

Where on earth is he hiding?

Or…

Had the event not happened yet?

Knock. Knock.

“Young Miss, the Count has summoned you.”

This early in the morning?

The man who looked down at me with an expressionless face—my father—was, much as I hated to admit it, almost my exact mirror image.

It wasn’t surprising.

His blood ran through my veins, after all.

Still, having someone with a face so similar to mine stare at me so coldly was incredibly unsettling.

“Why is he suddenly calling for me? Come to think of it… I don’t think we’ve ever actually sat down and talked face-to-face before.”

I hopped down from my chair and dusted off my clothes.

I had to make sure there wasn’t anything he could criticize.

Whenever we happened to pass each other, his slow-moving gaze always felt as though it could see straight through me.

Every time I met Edgar’s eyes, a chill ran down my spine.

“Do I really have to go?”

I cracked the door open just enough to peek at Dyria.

To anyone else, I probably looked like an ordinary little girl throwing a tantrum.

But I truly had no desire to see that man first thing in the morning.

Especially when he’d never once called for me before.

That alone made it suspicious.

“Young Miss, the Count must have a reason for summoning you. It’s the first time, isn’t it? Maybe he’s finally started taking an interest in you.”

“That’s exactly what worries me. He never cared before, so why now?”

At my grumbling, Dyria looked at me with sympathy.

Maybe I looked like a child acting out because she hadn’t received enough love…

“It’s just strange because he’s suddenly doing something he’s never done before.”

“Mmm… Could it be because you’ve been going out so often lately?”

“…Did someone tell on me?”

“Of course not.”

Dyria shrugged.

If it wasn’t her…

Then it had to be the knights.

I shot them an accusatory glare.

The way they avoided my eyes confirmed my suspicion.

“Cowards… Tattling behind my back.”

I’d been going into town once a week—sometimes twice—to search for Rion.

Officially, it was to buy things I wanted.

The Count had never stopped me.

Mostly because he’d never shown the slightest interest in me.

No matter what I did, he never said a word.

I’d thought I could wander around freely because everyone had agreed to keep it secret!

The knights must have finally felt guilty about my frequent outings and casually mentioned it to him.

“Wouldn’t it be better to get the Count’s permission? Then you could go out more comfortably.”

“He doesn’t care enough for that.”

I dragged my feet as I walked toward the door.

Do they even know who I’m doing all of this for?

If my father hadn’t interfered with Janice and Rion’s relationship…

I wouldn’t have died.

I didn’t even have a companion, and yet I was destined to die in the prime of my youth.

I’d be mercilessly murdered on the terrace of the banquet hall by Delter Cabezer.

I suppose that was my punishment.

But why did I have to be punished for my father’s sins?

That part was completely unfair!

Delter Cabezer, the Crown Prince of the Empire.

He loved Janice Abel Botina, his half-sister.

He hadn’t fallen in love with her knowing they were siblings.

He’d met Janice by chance outside the palace and quietly nurtured an unrequited love.

Then…

She was recognized as a princess.

When that happened, Delter flew into a rage.

Because their love could never come true.

Even so, he was ultimately the kind and devoted second male lead.

Choosing to support the happiness of the woman he loved, he decided to cheer for Janice and Rion instead.

There was just one problem.

Someone like me couldn’t exist in that future.

Because I was someone who could potentially stand in the way of their happy ending.

Considering everything my father had done…

It wasn’t surprising.

He secretly imported and sold narcotics.

He opened slave markets.

He even formed alliances with foreign nations capable of opposing the Imperial Family.

Naturally…

None of this was known to the public.

On the surface, Father operated a massive intelligence brokerage.

It was perfectly legal—or at least it looked that way.

His organization was enormous, and he always paid his taxes properly.

He never gave the Imperial Family any excuse to investigate him.

That was how he’d survived this long.

But if all of his crimes were ever exposed…

It wouldn’t be surprising if he were executed on the spot.

“Blood relations really are a curse.”

Running away wasn’t an option.

Where could a six-year-old girl possibly go?

I stared at my tiny hands, nervously fidgeting with my fingers.

Just thinking about seeing him after so long made my heart pound.

Fine.

If it’s come to this, I’ll just ask him directly.

As the office door slowly opened, I stepped inside with all the determination I could muster.

Behind the desk sat a man with crimson hair like mine and piercing blue eyes.

“That damned curse of a father.”

The moment he saw me enter, a faintly amused smile crossed his lips.

“So, the little stray cat finally decided to show herself.”

…A stray cat?

A stray cat?!

The very first thing he said after properly meeting his own daughter was that?

Seeing the stunned look on my face, he chuckled.

His cold eyes slowly swept over me from head to toe.

“You seem to have something to say.”

Do I ever.

Clenching my fists, I shouted at the top of my lungs.

“Y-You curse of a father!”

Silence.

The entire room froze.

A twitch appeared between his brows.

“…Ah.”

“That wasn’t how I meant to start.”

I hurriedly covered my mouth.

But words, once spoken, couldn’t be taken back.

Everyone stared at me.

Dyria’s face had turned completely pale.

“Yeah… I know.”

Father calmly set down the pen he was holding.

Looking oddly entertained, he gazed at me.

“I mean—”

“‘A curse,’ huh…”

“To me, you’re much the same.”

He didn’t even seem angry.

If anything, I was grateful he’d simply called me his own curse in return.

“Then let’s call it even! We’re both each other’s curse!”

“And why should I?”

“Because we’re family whether we like it or not! It’s not like I chose to be born into this world!”

If he’d hated me that much…

Then maybe he shouldn’t have had a child in the first place.

My birth wasn’t solely my responsibility.

He shared the blame.

I wasn’t even asking him to care about me.

I just wanted him to continue ignoring me and leave me alone.

For a brief moment, Father’s expression twisted strangely.

“Y-Young Miss…”

Dyria hurriedly tried to stop me.

But once I’d started talking, I wasn’t about to stop.

“If you’re planning to forbid me from going out—”

“It’s dangerous.”

“I’ll simply assign more knights to accompany you.”

“It would be troublesome if you died somewhere.”

…Troublesome?

What a lovely choice of words.

I planted my hands on my hips and glared at him.

He sounded less worried about my safety and more annoyed by the inconvenience.

I wanted to punch him.

“Wouldn’t my death make things easier for you?”

“Only if I were the one who killed you.”

“And only after making sure no one else found out.”

W-What?!

I instinctively grabbed my neck and took several steps backward.

Seriously?!

No matter what…

I was still his daughter!

What kind of thing was that to say?

It almost sounded like some twisted obsession.

“Only I have the right to kill you.”

Was that really what he meant?

Edgar looked away as though the conversation was over.

When he noticed I still hadn’t left, he added,

“Once a week.”

“No more than that.”

“…Really?”

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

There was no way I was going to trust someone who looked like he could scam people for a living.

Father nodded.

Watching me carefully, he tapped the desk lightly with his pen.

“What?”

“You’re unhappy even after I gave you permission?”

“No!”

“Was… that why you called me?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve been sneaking around town like a stray cat.”

“It doesn’t look good.”

“Especially for a child who’s only six.”

“Never forget that anything you do reflects upon the dignity of the Count’s family.”

Oh.

So he actually knew how old I was.

That was unexpected.

“So you even knew my age.”

“That’s enough interest for me.”

“Let’s just go back to how things were before.”

“This is… kind of awkward.”

“So be it.”

“But you’d do well not to do anything that annoys me.”

“Everyone in this mansion serves as my eyes and ears.”

“Then stop listening to gossip behind my back.”

“I think that does more damage to the family’s dignity.”

I refused to back down.

Go ahead.

Kill me if you want.

…

“H-He won’t actually kill me… right?”

Seeing the way I proudly lifted my chin, Edgar’s eyes sharpened.

Before anything worse could happen, Dyria hurriedly scooped me up into her arms.

After giving a quick bow, she rushed out of the office.

As she carried me away, I stretched out my hand toward Edgar, covered my ears with my fingers, and flashed him a mischievous grin.

The knights watching the exchange all stiffened.

They looked nervously toward Edgar.

He started to rise from his seat—

But Dyria ran even faster, escaping before he had the chance to do anything.