CH 12

My words seemed to please my father, and he said he would consider my proposal. However, I knew it was just a formality. The way he smiled and spoke showed me that he had already made his decision to entrust Cassis entirely to my care.

After dinner, Jeremy and I bid our father farewell and left the dining hall. I couldn’t shake off the feeling of disgust in my mouth from the lies I had just told about the cruel things I would do to Cassis. I knew they were all untrue, and if I tortured him excessively, he might come back to seek revenge.

I had only said what I knew would please my father, as he had a deep hatred for Pedelians and wanted them to suffer as much as possible. But I knew that merely inflicting pain on Cassis wouldn’t satisfy him; he wanted to see the Pedelian heir completely broken in mind, body, and spirit.

“Are you really going to play with that toy by yourself?” Jeremy asked, walking beside me. He was still surprised by my intense interest in Cassis, but now he understood how much the prisoner meant to me, enough that I even sought our father’s approval.

The young boy was deep in thought, his usually expressive face now tense with a hint of fear. He seemed afraid that I would pay less attention to him if I started to spend more time with Cassis.

“I do want to play with the toy,” I said in response.

Suddenly, Jeremy and I felt someone’s presence behind us, and we turned to see my younger sister, Charlotte, standing there.

“What are you saying? Is Unni going to teach the toy in the dungeons now?” Charlotte’s voice was sharp and malicious.

She was always insecure about her appearance, with her red hair and green eyes not resembling our father, Lant Agriche, at all. In a strange way, I envied her; even though I was considered beautiful, I still felt resentful when I looked at my own reflection. I had inherited my father’s red eyes and delicate features, which only accentuated my femininity.

Charlotte wrinkled her nose in disapproval, having overheard a conversation that she didn’t like. She was embarrassed to have been caught eavesdropping, as she had not been invited to dinner, but she couldn’t resist the urge to show herself after hearing that her beloved toy would be taken away.

I grinned. “Yes, Charlotte. I requested to have the toy for myself during dinner.”

Dion’s absence had resulted in an early end to the family dinner. Charlotte was taken aback by our sudden departure. Her hiding spot behind the curtain was not well thought out. She may have intended to speak to Father alone to ask for permission to have the toy. She had even caused a commotion with the guardsman in the dungeon just to see Cassis.

Father wasn’t too strict about most toys. After using them for a day or two for work-related purposes, he usually gave them to his children. However, the restraining order for Cassis had already lasted four days, making Charlotte anxious.

“That doesn’t make any sense! It was mine from the very beginning!” Charlotte exclaimed in frustration. Her anger was evident on her face, as if it were written in bold letters. In her mind, she had already taken possession of the new toy.

I felt annoyed at Cassis for being such a charmer, but I didn’t mention that Father had not yet decided who would get to keep the new toy. I had noticed Charlotte’s infatuated expression when she saw Cassis for the first time, as if he were some kind of idol that she both admired and envied.

Jeremy sneered, “You think you’re important enough to claim the toy first?”

Charlotte retorted, “Roxana has never been interested in toys! It’s not fair! And you!” She glared at me. “Why do you think you can just swoop in and take what’s mine?”

I had to respond. “Charlotte,” I spoke slowly, “Father has absolute authority over every toy. Whoever earns his respect will take priority. While you were given some of the toys before because your older siblings had no interest in them, today is different. Do you really think you have more authority than me?”

I gazed at her tenderly, but my words dripped with condescension. “Do you, an insignificant little brat, really think you can have a higher authority than me?”

I tilted my head and gave Charlotte a condescending look. “You, insignificant little brat? Do you think you have the right to refuse me?” I said, slightly annoyed at her stubbornness.

Charlotte sensed a warning in my calm voice but was too headstrong to back down. “It’s my toy, Unni. I won’t give it to you or anyone else who wants it,” she retorted, grabbing a whip from her waist.

I sighed, addressing her as if she were a child. “Do you even understand what you’re saying, Charlotte?” I asked sympathetically.

She didn’t seem to comprehend, and I decided to make my point clear. “Okay, let me explain it to you, even though it seems you’re a slow learner,” I said with a smile.

As I reached for my hairpin, I saw Charlotte ready to fight. “I hate children who don’t learn quickly,” I said, feigning innocence as her cheek began to bleed.

“I don’t understand why you bother trying to compete with me when you know you can’t win,” I said, my hair falling over my back as I spoke. In my hand, I held five small jewelled pins that glimmered in the dark corridor.

Charlotte’s face lost its fiery expression and she fell back, her elbows barely keeping her head up. Blood trickled down her cheek and into her hair, making it look like she was crying.

I stepped on her foot and asked, “Do you really believe that I need your permission to have a toy I want, Charlotte?”

She groaned in pain as I dug my heel in further.

“Is that what you think?” I asked, smiling in a friendly manner.

I didn’t take pleasure in abusing Charlotte. She was only a child who had been brainwashed by this family since birth. However, if I didn’t assert myself, she would take advantage of my kindness and try to become one of Father’s favorites.

I became irritated with Charlotte, who I didn’t even consider a worthy opponent but rather an annoying pest. It was getting tiresome to keep putting her in her place.

However, instead of looking embarrassed for falling on the ground, Charlotte gave me a venomous glare.

“When I’m as old as you, I’ll be stronger,” she muttered bitterly, her expression indicating that she wanted to harm me.

I chuckled softly, causing Charlotte to flinch. Despite her fear of me, she continued to pout.

“Why bother with people you know you can’t beat?” Jeremy interjected.

He had been leaning against the wall with his arms folded, but now stood upright. After giving Charlotte a contemptuous glance, he addressed me.

“Noona, I’ll take care of it,” he said.

I looked from him to Charlotte and back again, then slowly walked past both of them.