Click, click.

With each gentle sway of the carriage, my body would slightly bounce.

Each time, the hand holding me would gently pat my back. As if to say, don’t be startled.

As sleep was overtaking me from the rhythmic touch, I heard a voice above my head.

“I still can’t believe he had an affair. How could he even have a child…!”

“Shh, Cecilia… There, there, cry as much as you want. It’s just us here.”

“Sob, I tried not to show it in front of the children… Is Lili sleeping?”

“Yes. She’s sound asleep.”

In truth, I was awake.

But I kept my eyes tightly shut, pretending to sleep soundly.

Because my mother, who always smiled like sunshine, was crying like the rainy season. She seemed to not want me to see her like this.

Above my head, I could hear the voices of my grandfather and mother speaking softly.

“Get a divorce.”

Grandfather said firmly.

“I can’t bear to see you wither away living with such a man.”

“…People will gossip. You know how they look at divorced women. It will tarnish the reputation of the Lopez family that you’ve worked so hard to build, Father.”

“What does that matter? Even if there’s a blemish, it’s that damn bastard’s fault, not yours!”

Grandfather scolded in a hushed voice.

It was the first time I’d heard such a voice from my always gentle and kind grandfather, so I pretended to be asleep and shrugged my shoulders.

Grandfather stroked my shoulder and said with a sigh.

“Only the happiness of you, Cecilia, and our grandchildren matters to me. Don’t think of anything else, just pursue your own happiness.”

“…He won’t agree to a divorce.”

“Who cares what that good-for-nothing thinks! Just kick him out on his rear end. He’ll be thrown out stark naked, stripped of all property and titles. That’s the punishment for tearing your heart apart!”

“I’m sorry for causing you worry, Father…”

“Don’t say that, just gather yourself.”

Among the words exchanged above my head were some difficult ones, but I could roughly understand the situation.

‘Dad made Mom sad.’

Indeed, Dad had been acting strange lately.

He drank often, came home very late, and sometimes came in smelling oddly strongly of flowers.

Every time that happened, I knew Mom would close the door and cry.

I wiggled my fingers while watching the adults above cautiously.

Actually, I wasn’t supposed to be on this trip.

Mom and Grandfather were supposed to go on a trip just the two of them, but I had snuck into the carriage.

Then, afraid they might make me get out, I pretended to be fast asleep.

Fortunately, when Grandfather discovered me, he chuckled and let me lie on his lap, taking me along.

I had been pretending to sleep since then… but now I was considering whether to stop the act and get up to hug Mom.

Grandfather let out a heavy sigh.

“When we get to the estate, take a good rest. I’ll come down after taking care of some things.”

“Father, you don’t look well. Is there something else besides my issue?”

“…”

After a moment of silence, Grandfather slowly opened his mouth.

“Yes, Cecilia. I think I should tell you too. A few days ago, Janice… passed away.”

Sister Janice was the prettiest and kindest among the sisters and brothers who sang the songs Grandfather composed.

I had been wondering about her since I hadn’t seen her lately, but what did ‘passed away’ mean? I perked up my ears.

“Actually, the night before, she came to see me. Then, completely drunk, she said some strange things. You know she had been hanging around with the Second Prince’s group lately, right? It seemed she had just come from the Second Prince’s secret gathering that day…”

Grandfather continued in a troubled voice.

“She confessed while trembling so much I could barely understand. She said she had heard something she shouldn’t have.”

Grandfather’s palm covered my ear. But thanks to the carriage jolting greatly at that moment, a gap was created and I could hear the following words clearly.

“It seems… she overheard the Second Prince’s plan to assassinate the Crown Prince.”

I heard Mom take a sharp breath.

Assassinate? What does that mean?

As I pondered that word inwardly, Mom spoke in a hushed voice.

“Oh my goodness, then Janice’s death…”

“I suspect it was murder. The Second Prince’s side must have taken action after realizing what she had overheard.”

“Oh, goodness…”

Mom repeated those words over and over as if broken.

With her beautiful voice turned pale, Mom spoke in a whisper.

“Then… aren’t you in danger too, Father?”

“Actually, that’s why I secretly contacted a mercenary group to hire guards. They’re watching the carriage closely even now. I didn’t want to worry you with this when you were already so distressed… but given the nature of the matter, I couldn’t keep it secret.”

“Of course, Father. How could you try to handle this alone? My goodness. The Second Prince planning such a thing… What do you intend to do now?”

“I must inform His Majesty the Emperor. Whether what I know is true or not, I’ll leave the judgment to His Majesty and simply convey what I’ve learned. Isn’t that the duty of a subject?”

“…”

“I promise. I’ll make sure no harm comes to you and our grandchildren.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.”

“Don’t worry too much. Your father has some talent in music, and there are countless people who say they can’t live without my music, aren’t there? I’ve built up enough connections to protect myself and my family…”

Bang!

Grandfather couldn’t finish his sentence.

Something long and hideous suddenly protruded from the carriage ceiling. And it…

“Kyaaaaaah!”

It was extended towards Grandfather.

Grandfather coughed up blood, and Mom let out a scream.

With a loud crash, the carriage ceiling was forcibly torn off.

Pulling out the sword that had been stuck in the ceiling, a man sneered.

“Of all the mercenary groups, why did you have to choose our Dawn organization? What rotten luck, old man.”

“Cough, hack…”

As Grandfather kept coughing up blood, the man laughed mockingly.

“That’s what you get for being an artist meddling with the affairs of the high and mighty instead of just plucking your instruments.”

Grandfather’s wide-open eyes scanned me and Mom once before losing their light.

“F-Father! Father!”

“Ugh, so noisy. And why did you bring the kid along?”

The man with a face so pale it looked like he was wearing a mask glared at me with eyes like hollow cavities.

“Lili, Lili. Come to Mommy.”

Mom hurriedly picked me up and started running.

The pale-faced man and his companions were in no hurry at all.

They slowly tightened their encirclement, as if chasing trapped prey for fun.

Mom ran desperately to avoid them, dashing into the forest. The men leisurely followed us, mocking.

“Where are you going? I’m getting out of breath.”

“That’s right, you should have just turned a blind eye when your husband strayed a bit. If your husband hadn’t thought to kill you before divorce talks came up, this wouldn’t have been so easy.”

No matter how much we ran, the distance just wouldn’t widen.

“This won’t do. From here on, Lili, you’ll have to help Mommy.”

Finally, at some point, Mom put me down and urged.

“Run as fast as you can to get out of this forest. Understand? Soon you’ll come to a village, blend in with the people there. After that, find the patrol first. Do you understand?”

“No, Mom. Let’s go together…”

“Lili, please.”

Mom smiled while panting.

“Run without looking back. You can do that much for Mommy, can’t you? Come on, we’ll meet again at home. Now go quickly!”

Mom’s hands pushed me hard.

From then on, I was barely conscious.

I ran until my mouth tasted sweet, yet the footsteps quickly drew near. Soon, I encountered a cliff.

“My, my, little one. You’re quite persistent.”

A white face approached me from the dark forest.

“Stop troubling the adults and come here now. His Excellency has promised an enormous reward for this mission. I’m thinking of taking a ten-year vacation at some faraway resort after finishing you off and collecting it.”

The white face drew closer with a grin.

The stark white face and pitch-black eyes were grotesquely terrifying.

With each step backward, pebbles fell off the cliff with a plop.

Even as young as I was, I knew I would die if that man caught me.

I squeezed my eyes shut. Mom’s face flashed before me, whispering, “Lili, please.” Please run far away, she had said.

Trembling, I clenched my teeth and jumped off the cliff.

“What?!”

The white face rushed forward in panic, but my body had already begun to fall.

The white face, rapidly receding, contorted as if witnessing a comedy.

Seeing that expression, I realized this choice also held no chance of survival.

In the end, I couldn’t escape. I’m sorry, Mom.

With that final thought, I lost consciousness. That’s how my life ended.

…Or so I thought.

“Open your eyes if you don’t want to die!”

Until I met the gaze of a boy with bright red eyes who was slapping my cheeks hard.