“Yes, Nell oppa.”

Nellusian assessed Nellis’s expression for a moment.

He still didn’t know the truth of what happened in the vacant house by the lake last time. He separately questioned Isabelle and Delma, but Isabelle claimed not to know, and Delma insisted that it was all Nellis’s fault.

Considering how Valentine was breaking down, it seemed like things weren’t going according to his plan, but, well… It didn’t seem like the cause was Nellis.

Valentine even made an alibi and left. It’s obvious who the person he wanted to meet first was.

Of course, just because it started from this side didn’t mean one could retaliate recklessly. The Elendria family had to be revered appropriately.

But isn’t there something more important now?

‘Intelligent Nellis.’

There was a part omitted in that expression.

‘Intelligent enough’ Nellis.

Good at school but naive, she was attacked from various places. What a convenient condition to exploit.

Nellusian had plans to eventually stand Valentine next to Abelus. The more people to help, the better.

Of course, that was a distant future event, and it might become a sensitive issue that needed to be handled carefully after forming the family’s power and becoming independent from the royal family.

‘Giving a hostage to the royal family in advance is not a bad idea.’

To reassure the royal family, it was good to propose an alliance that seemed unbreakable from this side at the right time. For example, through a secret meeting.

Of course, even if Nellis was the owner of the Jan, it wasn’t an overwhelmingly great condition to become a princess. So, it was unreasonable to bring her in instead of Natasha as a convenient princess to shake and hold.

Nellusian had to explore various possibilities from different angles now. For the family and for his own ambition.

Valentine could only marry after everything was over, and until then, the Elendria family had to hide their ambition to become independent from the royal family.

So, it was inconvenient for Valentine to speak out now.

“I heard that Valentine was very rude to you last time. Are you okay?”

Therefore, Nellusian chose his words carefully. With his kind voice, Nellis shyly smiled and spoke.

Her innocent appearance was so different from Valentine, and Nellusian felt disappointed again. How much easier things would have been if Valentine were only half as smart.

“It’s okay. Actually, that day, I was so surprised that I just left Valentine there… Is Valentine okay?”

It probably wasn’t just leaving him behind. Did she deliberately lock him up? Nellusian smiled bitterly.

“That kid has a quirky side because we find her too pretty. She’s playing around, but it’s okay. So, what really happened that day?”

Nellis widened her eyes.

“Valentine didn’t tell you?”

“She did, but that kid is not good at expressing herself well. And in these situations, you have to hear both sides of the story.”

“Fair, Nell oppa.”

So fair that he calmly asked about the situation, sitting comfortably and asking about the circumstances from the person who locked her in the rare human warehouse.

In her previous life, even though she was being harassed unilaterally and not showing much interest in people’s words, Nellis internally scoffed at the person’s words.

Taking Nellis’s words at face value, Nellusian, who was unlike others, smiled with a dazzling smile.

“You’re also my sister. So… Valentine called you first, right? I can guess that much. What did she say?”

“Um.”

Nellis made an embarrassed expression this time. Nellusian patiently urged her.

“You can tell the truth. It’ll be a secret for Valentine. I need to know how much she did wrong to apologize to you.”

“Why do you need to apologize, oppa?”

Nellis’s words crawled into his mind like a whisper. Nellusian’s conjecture in his mind turned into certainty.
Of course. There was no way Nellis intentionally locked Valentine in the warehouse and locked the door.

“I taught my sister wrong, didn’t I? Tell me. Did Valentine bother you?”

Nellis looked up and met Nellusian’s gaze.

Seeing her trembling pupils, slightly moist eyes, and a face that seemed to pale as if recalling something frightening, Nellusian believed he had guessed the answer.

“…I don’t want to talk about the details, Nell oppa. It’s in the past, and… I think Valentine wants to apologize first.”

Valentine wants to apologize first? Nellusian raised his head in surprise, hearing those words for the first time.

“Valentine? Did she come to you and apologize?”

“Not yet. But… honestly, Valentine and I are different in status. She’s young, and it’s embarrassing for her to bow first. I understand that.”

As Nellis spoke up to that point, her voice began to tremble like her eyes.

However, she quickly blinked her eyes to hide the tears and forced a bright smile. Her appearance was so pitiful that anyone watching would feel sorry for her.

“Oppa, actually, Valentine sent me a party invitation. Isabella told me that Valentine wanted to greet guests with me that day. Look at this invitation. I just received it.”