Episode 2
No matter what I’ve decided, right now I’m still nothing more than a pitiful orphan, soaked like a drowned mouse.
Water dripped from my clothes as I trudged back into the orphanage.
Then, a familiar voice scolded me while placing a thick towel over my head.
“Are you crazy?”
“Ri—cough, cough!”
“You seriously talked back to that insane lady? Do you want to die?”
The boy who covered me with the towel lowered his voice and whispered as he rubbed my head dry.
He nagged me, saying I’d catch a cold if I didn’t dry off quickly.
For some reason, I smiled.
It had been so long since anyone worried about me like that.
But more than that—
his blunt words felt strangely refreshing.
‘That crazy lady.’
The orphans secretly called the lady that.
In front of nobles, royals, and priests, she acted like an angel.
But in front of us, she showed her true, insane nature.
Just like how she pushed me into the lake earlier.
“Your hair’s mostly dry. Go change your clothes, Tii.”
“Thanks, Lindel. You’re the only one who worries about me.”
“…At least you know that.”
Lindel scratched his cheek, his bright face slightly flushed.
Looking at him again now—
he was really just a kid.
He was thirteen at the time, four years older than me.
To me, who had never known a real family,
Lindel was like one.
We had been together since before entering the orphanage,
back when we wandered the streets.
‘I don’t even remember how we met… maybe because we were so young.’
To me, Lindel was basically like an older brother.
We held hands and came to this orphanage together.
And here, he was the only one who took care of me.
And…
‘Soon, he’s supposed to die. At Tiseriel’s hands.’
Even just that fact was enough to make my heart heavy.
But it was worse than that.
My chest ached.
‘Lindel… basically died in my place.’
Both before and after I returned, this orphanage was small and poor.
So poor that it was strange the Atherion family even donated to it.
But the orphans knew the real reason.
‘It’s Tiseriel’s toy house.’
The orphans here were her toys.
She would visit sometimes—
play with them, break them.
And sometimes, she would take one away to use as a toy.
Lindel was one of the children taken like that.
And he died.
Actually, back then—
I was the one chosen first.
The children all knew about Tiseriel.
No one wanted to go.
So we drew lots to decide.
And I drew it.
‘That… was supposed to happen today.’
At that moment, Lindel had quietly taken the lot from my trembling hands.
“L-Lindel?”
“Hey, you… it’s dangerous! You know that!”
“The last kid died after just three months!”
Lindel was tall, handsome, and kind.
The boys followed him as a leader.
The girls all had a crush on him at least once.
No one wanted Lindel to go instead of me.
Except Lindel himself.
He smiled and said:
“This is a chance to work for the ducal house. I can’t miss this.”
Then he gently patted my head and whispered:
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
“But, Lindel…”
“I’ll rise quickly and come back for you.”
And just like that, Lindel went to the Atherion family in my place.
A few months later—
the orphanage heard that he had died.
I cried for the first time in forever.
But even his sacrifice didn’t end my bad fate with Tiseriel.
If it had, I wouldn’t be living a second life now.
Tiseriel was nothing like her reputation.
To nobles, temples, and the public, she was known as kind—
worthy of the prophecy.
‘An angelic lady.’
‘Our saint.’
That’s what people called her.
But in reality, she was completely different.
In front of others, she acted perfectly.
But when she couldn’t hold it in anymore—
she took it out on people she could abuse.
Usually orphans with no protection.
Or…
prisoners locked in cells.
‘And I was both.’
As an orphan before.
And later—
as a prisoner, after she discovered my identity when I worked as a palace maid.
Tiseriel became the savior of the empire—
saving people suffering from demon curses.
‘With my blood.’
Because the sacred relic only worked
with the blood of the true Atherion lineage.
“I’m so glad we discovered the relic responds to Atherion blood.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s not the actual person. Blood is enough.”
“So… you’re just a blood bag.”
Smack!
She grabbed my hair roughly, almost tearing it out.
“Look at this pathetic, rat-like hair. You’re clearly not the real heir.”
The true Atherion line was said to have silver hair.
Even my mother in the portraits did.
But for some reason—
I had ordinary brown hair.
Tiseriel mocked that.
“See? I’m the real saint.”
Her hair shone even more silver than mine.
And so—
I lived in a prison,
having my blood taken every day like livestock,
until I died.
***
Just like before—
the lot for the “toy” ended up in my hand again.
Even though I tried to pick a different one.
I smiled bitterly.
“Wait!”
Just like I remembered,
Lindel grabbed the lot from my hand.
“Sorry, Tii. I’ll take this.”
“….”
“It’s a chance to work for the ducal house. I can’t miss it.”
He smiled, saying the exact same words as before.
But this time—
I didn’t stop him.
‘It’s okay. This time will be different. Anyway…’
BANG!
The orphanage director’s door burst open.
It was Tiseriel’s maid—the same one who pushed me earlier.
Lindel stepped forward, holding the lot.
“I’ve been chosen this time. Please take me—”
“Move.”
“…What?”
The servants grabbed Lindel and pulled him aside.
The maid pointed at me with a cruel smile.
“Prepare that one.”
“Excuse me?”
The director and teachers were confused.
“Our young lady is very merciful. She has decided to give that foolish child a special opportunity. You should feel honored.”
Shock and relief spread among the orphans.
“Ah… so she got marked earlier.”
“Serves her right for blocking the lady’s path…”
“Well, she wouldn’t forgive something like that with just a lake push.”
They realized—
the “toy” had been decided from the start.
And they were relieved it wasn’t them.
Only one person objected.
“This is crazy! No way, Tii!”
I smiled brightly—
just like Lindel had before.
“I’m fine, Lindel. Do you think chances like this come easily? I’ll do well!”
I repeated his own words back to him.
He flinched—
then got even angrier.
“I said no! Do you want to die?!”
When I wouldn’t listen, he turned to the director.
“She’s too skinny! She won’t last even a day there!”
“Hmm. Lindel, be careful what you say. You might misunderstand the lady.”
“…What?”
“Taking servants from our orphanage is an act of kindness. If they died, it was just bad luck.”
“Who would believe that nonsense?!”
Lindel finally snapped and cursed.
I was surprised.
I’d never heard him talk like that before.
“You’re sending kids to their deaths just to keep the funding—!”
SLAP!
The trashy director slapped him.
“I’ve been too lenient with you! Lock him in the storage room!”
As he was dragged away, Lindel shouted:
“No, Tii! Run!!!”
I smiled and waved at him.
“Goodbye, Lindel.”
Goodbye, my brother.
He was my only family.
“No, Tii—!!!”
‘At least… I did one thing after returning. I saved Lindel.’
And not just that.
‘This time… I’m going to the ducal house myself to survive.’
Clenching my small hands,
I followed Tiseriel’s maid out of the orphanage.
