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The bedroom was large enough to be used by a child.
Even the furniture exceeded the child’s eye level.
It felt strange because in every corner of the room, a firm sense of determination could be seen. It was as if Kiverin was not to be let out until he reached adulthood.
‘It’s the perfect hiding place, isn’t it?’
While Kiverin carefully laid my luggage, I sat on the bed.
The thick unwrinkled quilt seemed new as if it had never been used.
“Do they change the blankets every day?”
“Uh
 no one comes in here.”
I started to ponder.
He couldn’t possibly make the bed all by himself, which only meant that he had never used it.
“Then where do you sleep?”
Kiverin pointed to a corner.
The narrow space was shady and without a carpet.
My forehead crumpled unknowingly.
“Then you will catch a cold. From now on, sleep on the bed with me.”
“B-but the bed
”
“It’s too big, right? Are you afraid?”
Golden eyes stared at me.
Eventually, he gave a cautious nod, which was very cute. I felt like raising a child.
“If you sleep with me, you will be fine.”
Kiverin was dazed.
“Why
?” He asked, his face sullen.
“We are a couple—that’s why. If something scary happens to me in the future, please help me overcome it.”
I made a decent excuse. I dare not spit out the words that normal couples usually do in the bedroom.
I completed checking the rest of the room.
After tying my purple hair into a braid, I was ready to explore the big mansion.
Next, it was time to check the food.
“Can you guide me to the other rooms? Let’s start with the dining room.”
“Ah, yes!”
‘Why does he keep talking respectfully with me?’
Even though the Saint was born from our family, the Count of Mayall was still lower in rank compared to the Duke of Nectarian.
I wondered if Kiverin knew from which family I’m from.
Considering the attitude of the Duchess who couldn’t wait to get out of here, I doubted if she’d even told Kiverin my name.
Soon after, we arrived at the grocery storehouse which was somewhat filled.
However, it was in the same story as in the bedroom earlier.. There was no milk and no snacks for children. The vegetables and fruits were placed too high, as if teasing.
All kinds of seasonings, including wheat, were also placed high in position.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
I dragged the chair, trying to reach the things on the upper shelf; I barely grazed the shelf with my fingertips.
“Ugh, I can’t reach it.”
‘Why did they put it so high?’
Kiverin was the same height as me, so he wouldn’t be able to reach it either.
It was an impossible thing to do unless it was the chef, who was scheduled to be Kiverin’s new toy.
I gave up on my attempt and got off the chair.
In the end, we could only get the raw meat, cold water, and a small amount of dried tea.
We were not animals. How could we live with only eating meat?
I cursed inwardly.
“Young Master, what have you been eating?”
“I, I
”
Kiverin shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t mean to question you, just that from now on, I have to eat the same thing.”
“
”
Looking up at the shelf again, at first glance, the vegetables looked fresh.
Someone must have come and refilled the ingredients regularly. I would have to ask them to take it all down.
I would also need a ladder.
This was surely a nice shitty mansion.
There were large rooms, an extra-large bed, and various food ingredients. And yet, it was terrible for two 10-year-olds to live.
Kiverin closed his lips tightly.
He didn’t seem to want to answer.
I didn’t want to rush and pry us apart yet, so I changed the subject.
“Okay, let’s go to the library. I need to write something down.”
The library was dusty, but there were a lot of books.
I took out a piece of paper and a quill then wrote down the necessary items.
I tried to use the Imperial language by borrowing the memories of Cheria. The results were quite free-spiritual.
Seeing my handwriting, Kiverin showed a puzzled face.
“A worm?”
“
The quill is too big for my hand.”
I explained.
My handwriting would get better over time. It had to be.
After taking notes, the more I looked around the mansion, the more my face wrinkled.
The bathroom was more inconvenient to use than the bedroom.
The terrace, located in a place with a nice view, was tightly locked from the outside.
While walking around the mansion, I realized one thing after several locks kept appearing everywhere.
I had never once seen an open window.
I went to the nearest window.
“It’s also locked outside
”
It was ridiculous; this was just a luxurious prison.
‘Hah! Whether you’re a god or a writer, don’t you think before doing it! I want you to cancel it!’
‘He didn’t do anything wrong!’
“I, there, I’m sorry
”
Kiverin was startled seeing how I looked.
I reassured him that it was okay, thinking that there will be many more like this in the future.
“Don’t be sorry. I’m not mad at the Young Master.”
Rather, I deeply realized why Kiverin had no choice but to go crazy in the novel.
I remembered the part where Kiverin appeared in <The Villainess Only Wanted The Money Path>.
Even though the Duke family tried to stop it, the rumors of Kiverin being a monster still spread quickly.
It wasn’t long before everyone knew that the Duke was afraid of Kiverin and locked him up in the “Snake Cave”.
Aside from the fact that this mansion was luxurious, it did not fit the nickname “Snake Cave”.
After some time, Kiverin, who came of age, appeared fine.
He didn’t stutter like before, and the letters engraved on his back along with the scales on his face had disappeared.
The Duchess died that day too.
Everyone thought Kiverin was the culprit, but they all feared being retaliated.
Kiverin became the Duke and began a purge.
Countless vassals and nobles who persuaded the previous Duke and Duchess to imprison Kiverin were killed.
In a way, it was natural for Kiverin—who stained the Empire with blood—to confront the temple to which my sister belonged.
I looked back at Kiverin, who was now in front of me.
The dry wrists and pale cheeks were imprinted in my eyes.
Cheria didn’t grow up in a good environment either, but looking at Kiverin really made me mad.
He was only ten years old, different from me.
He shouldn’t be apologizing to me right now.
I took a deep breath.
I tried to speak with a calm voice as much as possible.
“Are you hungry?”
“
”
Kiverin shook his head.
But it seemed that even a passing dog would know that hewas not eating properly.
The groceries that were put out of reach from Kiverin would likely be stolen by the servants later.
I realized what the top priority should be.
I and Kiverin had to eat a lot.
And, I had to become evil

“Well, there are some dried tea leaves in the pantry, let’s drink it together.”
“Together
?”
“You don’t like it?”
“Oh, no, I like it!”
My feet were heavy as I went back to the kitchen, but I didn’t express it.
I took the kettle. Kiverin stood in the corner, wriggling his hands.
I sat on the chair and tapped the seat next to me.
“Sit here.”
“A-are you all right?”
“From now on, you will have to sit next to me, Young Master.”
‘I’ll  take good care of you! Let’s move towards the same dream!’
“But, I
”
Kiverin rubbed one face like a habit. It was the scaly side of his face.
As I had experienced in person, Cheria’s past was tearful, but how painful was Kiveron’s past?
I pretended not to see it and poured the tea instead.
Kiverin took a sip as I watched the bright yellow cup with curious eyes.
“What do you think?”
“Good
”
He frowned just like an ordinary child.
It felt like playing house.
“The next time someone comes, I’ll ask them to prepare some snacks.”
It seemed like the Duchess wouldn’t come again unless something special happened.
I bit my trembling lips and avoided Kiverin’s gaze.
Kiverin tilted his head.
“Snack
?”
“It is a sweet and delicious thing. If you eat them too much, your teeth will rot.”
Was he afraid of his teeth rotting? Kiverin tightly closed his eyes.
“I, there—”
“It’s Cheria.”
My full name was Cheria Mayall, but it didn’t matter.
“Miss Ch-Cheria.”
Kiverin called my name several times, as if to make sure that he would not forget it later.
Also, the Duchess didn’t seem to tell him who I was.