Chapter 1
𝕍𝕠𝕝𝕦𝕞𝕖 𝟝:
𝔸𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕝 𝔽𝕠𝕠𝕝'𝕤 𝔻𝕒𝕪 𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕞
"Let's smack their backs once we've planned everything. It'll be like playing a prank on them for April Fool's Day."
"No, the date we choose might not align with the actual calendar."
"I've told you multiple times already! The event will be open for two days, so it won't matter much if we miss one day or so."
"That's true, but what if we end up missing not just one day, but a few days?"
"You're really... You're joking with me, aren’t you?! I marked it on the first day of the new year, what could we possibly miss?! Are we going to make a plan or not?"
"Oh, is that so? It's because I'm trying to be cautious, you jerk! Show some respect for your Hyung’s meticulousness!"
"If you dare to show your 'meticulousness' once more, I'll blow up and perish even before we get a chance to attempt our escape."
God, it's getting noisy here. I don't know whether I should be pleased or annoyed with their constant bickering. But I should be glad that Lethias has finally recovered, right?
First of all, after brainstorming and calculating, our conclusion is this: every spring, the Serpente Duchy holds a two-day banquet in honor of the first duke's victory day.
It's a bit ironic that the anniversary falls on April Fool's Day, but it's an important event for the family and won't be skipped, even if the head of the family passes away or the successor is away.
In other words, that day is the perfect time to execute our plan.
"It depends on when they will come that day."
Lethias rubbed his chin thoughtfully while his left eye remained covered in bandages.
He claimed the wound had healed significantly, but he still couldn't open that eye. We told Estelle that he had simply fallen and hurt his eye.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, Estelle seemed to have accepted our lies without question.
If she had been like the Estelle she was before, she might have had some doubts, but now my lady has changed to a state where she doesn't express suspicion or ambition no matter what happens around her.
Her cough has also subsided a bit.
For Estelle's sake, we must succeed in escaping. Although we can't be certain of what will happen after that...
"They'll be busy in the morning, so they probably won't come at all, or even if they do, they'll come late at night. Let's set the date for the second day of the banquet."
"Wait, if they come late at night, should we escape and hide somewhere until dawn?"
"... I don't know. Your relatives might have a change of heart and ask them to bring us something delicious."
As I playfully muttered something, Benya frowned, and Lethias reddened, then Benya retorted.
"Damn it, if someone brings back another darn cake, I'll shove the whole thing into his mouth and leave him to suffocate. I don't care if Hyung doesn't want to waste it!"
"Hey, stop bringing up the past!"
"Why? Are you embarrassed again?"
"Hey!!!"
Seeing his face turn red with a bandage wrapped around one of his sides was quite a sight. Even thinking about it, it seemed like a dark history for him.
Though it was the same for all of us, we have accumulated dark history in this place. I've witnessed and experienced things I never would have in my life.
According to the original story I remember, it's known that the Serpente Ducal Princes returned home around late summer this year.
Of course, there was no way for them to know what happened as it was known that they returned safe and sound as if nothing had happened.
Why did we keep silent? Whatever the undisclosed story was, this time it will be different.
We will reveal the truth not in late summer but at the beginning of spring, just a month from now, during a banquet where all the Empire's guests gather.
After setting our escape date, the next step was to plan our attack. Our plan involved attacking and subduing the person who brought us our meals.
Initially, he had to open the mirrored door for us to make our way out.
Following the recent commotion that severely injured Lethias, Harris didn't stop visiting us daily, as Benya had suspected.
He seemed intensely curious about our activities and kept showing up without fail.
Every time he appeared, we pretended to be meek and frightened, putting on a show of trembling in fear. Harris and his scoundrel-like attendant appeared delighted with our behavior.
Despite their apparent pleasure, our meals were still practically inedible. Nevertheless, we forced ourselves to eat, as we needed every bit of energy to ensure a successful escape.
"Now, let's do it again. I'll hide on the stairs, and you, Hyung, stand by the door. So, when they come in..."
"No, no. I'll hide, and you initiate the attack. Then I'll emerge from the darkness..."
"What's with you? Have you only been reading books in the library? Do you want to act all cool despite your injured eye?"
"No, let's not change the subject. Are you mocking your Hyung's misfortune?"
I felt a sense of worry. The task of choosing the right weapon for our attack also concerned us.
The options were limited to rusty and blunt scissors and needles, silver candlesticks, and belts. Despite their carelessness, we knew we couldn't take on two healthy adults.
We had to make do with what we had.
Benya spent the day collecting fragments of the ladder and sharpening its ends with the blunt scissors, while Lethias practiced choosing the best belt to use as a lasso.
They worked tirelessly all day, except during mealtime, to the extent that Estelle became curious about their activities.
"What are my brothers up to? Are they rehearsing for a play again?"
"Well, in a way, it's similar to that. You see, we'll be leaving this place soon. They are preparing for that."
"We're going to escape...?"
"Yes, in just a few more days. Then you won't have to eat the food you dislike anymore. There will be nothing to make you vomit."
Estelle gazed at my face with her big, empty sky-blue eyes and then silently turned away, burying herself in the bed. She mumbled in a faint voice.
"No one will ever know who we are anyway."
Feeling both surprised and concerned, I sat down behind her and embraced her frail shoulders, whispering…
"I don't know for sure, but we've only been living here for about a year and a half. Your friends will remember you and be waiting for you, won't they?"
"Will they, really?"
"Absolutely. We'll get out of here, enjoy delicious meals, resume our studies, and you'll wear beautiful dresses and go to the ball. Everyone will be overjoyed to see you."
Her eyes, like large glass marbles, briefly searched for something in my words. I gently ran my hand through her frizzy curls and planted a soft kiss on her thin cheek.
My poor milk sister. My poor, pitiful lady. All the years of our suffering here could never be fully compensated, but I was determined to do everything in my power to make her happy.
I would do whatever it took to see the light return to her empty eyes, to watch her bloom again as our noble, precious princess.
"Are you coming too, Sasha?"
"Hm?"
"If I go to the ball, will you come with me?"
Well, I suppose it would be possible to accompany her as a chaperone.
While I was stumbling over my thoughts, Estelle suddenly jumped up from her seat and dashed straight to the closet.
It had been a long time since I had seen her move so swiftly and purposefully, so I just watched her in amazement.
"Let's play ball, Sasha. Practice with me."
Oh, my Lady?
It should have felt awkward, given our master-servant relationship. However, there was no reason to refuse when I saw Estelle regaining her vitality.
Her dress, which had been brought here over a year and a few months ago, only reached her calves, but that didn't matter.
For the first time in a long while, we dressed up and played as if we were attending a ball. Despite our circumstances, to be honest, I enjoyed it.
Even the two brothers, who had been immersed in their work in the library all day, seemed perplexed when they saw us.
“Oppa, brothers, come here too. Come and dance with us.”
"E-Estelle?"
Both of them looked wary as if I had performed some kind of magic trick, but they couldn't resist. Naturally, they joined in the fun.
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