CHAPTER 5
According to the family code, all missions must be carried out in pairs.
In other words, it was an implicit permission to murder your partner—as long as you returned alone, no one would question it.
‘The fact that I was excluded from this frost beast subjugation mission must be divine intervention.’
Just being temporarily free from Leon and Clark was a major relief.
And to top it off, I wasn’t given any mission orders either.
This was the perfect time to carry out my plan.
“How’s the task I assigned going?”
“They were still loading the items a moment ago.”
“Go check if everything’s finished.”
Tia nodded and left the room.
“Wait a second—my makeup looks a little too heavy, doesn’t it?”
I frowned, noticing how the makeup had gotten heavier during our conversation.
“Y-you want it lighter than this?”
“Yes. It needs to look natural—like I’m not wearing much at all. Do it over.”
Kiana usually liked bold makeup—fitting for her villainess role.
Even then, thanks to her stunning features, she still managed to look fatally attractive.
But the person I was meeting today was the issue. That kind of intense look might backfire.
‘First impressions matter.’
I had to make it absolutely clear from the first meeting that I was not like my bloodthirsty half-siblings.
“Would this be okay?”
After carefully adjusting my look for a while, the maid nervously asked.
“Not bad.”
I smiled, satisfied with my reflection.
It gave off a soft and pure impression without feeling overwhelming.
My loosely styled hair and the modest dress—something even a priestess might wear—created the image of an innocent, delicate heroine.
“My lady, everything is ready.”
Tia returned just in time with her report.
Without hesitation, I left the room.
I didn’t want to risk running into Leon or Clark, who were likely to depart for the Snowfields this afternoon.
Passing through hallways lined with gruesome decor—taxidermied beasts, weapons like swords and axes—I made my way down the central staircase.
“Hey, stop right there.”
“……!”
I froze on the spot.
“Hmm. You look like someone I know… and yet, maybe not.”
A woman’s voice rang out from behind, sending chills down my spine.
Of all places to run into her—why here?
They say if your luck’s bad, even falling backward breaks your nose. Today was that kind of day.
I forced a smile over my grimace and turned around.
There she was, leaning against the second-floor railing, sipping wine.
Short, wavy dark red hair. A mermaid-style dress with far too much skin showing.
Her forest-green eyes were half-lidded, possibly from drinking in broad daylight.
Josephine. The second daughter of House Brünnack—and my half-sister.
“I thought so. That was definitely your back.”
Josephine’s catlike eyes curved languidly.
“You look… different than usual today.”
Her gaze swept me from head to toe.
The inexplicable intensity of it made my throat dry.
“Just trying something new to freshen up. Does it suit me?”
I played it off casually.
A drawn-out excuse would only make me sound more suspicious.
“You look lovely.”
Josephine sipped her wine and assessed me.
“You know, I think this is what men mean when they say they want to protect a woman.”
Flinch.
I didn’t mean to aim for that impression, but it was true I wanted Evan to see me in that kind of light.
“If you’ve got time, why don’t we play dolls together?”
‘D-dolls?’
“I just got a new one. I was getting bored playing alone.”
I had a strong feeling she didn’t mean the innocent kind of doll play.
“It’ll be more fun—and way more thrilling—if we play together. What do you think?”
Josephine covered her mouth with one hand and giggled, clearly amused just imagining it.
At that moment—
Warning! Risk of Death Increasing!
The warning message popped up again, and a chill ran down my spine.
‘She’s danger level one now. Absolute top priority.’
I mentally elevated Josephine to the number-one spot on my internal threat list and etched it into my heart.
“I’ll have to decline. I already have a prior engagement.”
I swallowed my fear and dodged as politely as I could.
Talking too long to a crazy woman like her was just asking for trouble.
“Shame. Then let’s have a glass of wine sometime instead. Be sure to dress as prettily as you did today.”
Josephine smiled like a blooming rose.
‘Like hell I will.’
I nodded vaguely and turned to leave like I was fleeing the scene.
“Ah. You know refusals aren’t really an option, right?”
‘Why are you like this!?’
I forced myself to keep a composed face and turned away.
Just when I thought I could finally breathe a little easier… fate had to throw Josephine at me.
It felt like I had gotten rid of one burden only to pick up a much heavier one.
I exited the main building and headed toward the annex.
“This way, my lady.”
As we exited the rear of the annex, I saw a dozen or so wagons being loaded and unloaded.
This was where supplies for the estate—food, materials, and so on—were brought in.
“It’s this carriage.”
A two-wheeled cart and a supply wagon were parked side-by-side.
Next to them were the coachman, servants, and maids who’d accompany me.
“Did you take care of the crest?”
“Yes, just as you ordered.”
Most noble carriages bore their family’s crest.
I had given clear instructions to remove all identifying marks.
‘No one can know I’m from House Brünnack.’
They say you should eat the best first and take the beating last.
If I wanted to make a good first impression, the last thing I needed was for Evan to find out who I was.
“Let’s go.”
The carriage rumbled to life.
Before I could even get used to the vibration and noise of the wheels, we had left the estate grounds through the rear gate.
‘Wow.’
The scenery outside the window took my breath away.
Gothic and Baroque-style buildings, just like the ones I’d studied in textbooks, passed by in a stunning panorama.
This had to be what the streets of Europe looked like—the ones I used to dream of seeing.
‘I’ll survive this world no matter what—and live like a queen.’
Going back to the real world meant returning to poverty.
The only family I had left was a mother who dumped me in an orphanage—and I didn’t want to see her anyway.
But here?
I had a flawless face, noble birth, a prestigious family, and no need to worry about money.
If I could just avoid death flags and stop the world from ending, this life would be way better than the one I left behind.
“That mountain over there—beyond it is the slums.”
As we passed the outskirts of the city and approached a hilly area, the view grew bleak.
The trees were all dried up, their branches bare. The ground was so desolate, it looked like nothing could grow there.
Abandoned houses stood in ruin, and even in broad daylight, the atmosphere was chilling.
‘People live in that?’
As we crossed over the hill, the carriage began to slow.
“We’ve arrived, my lady.”
I nodded and stepped out of the carriage.
What I saw next left me speechless.
Dilapidated shacks that looked like they’d collapse if the wind blew too hard.
People with ragged appearances and lifeless eyes.
If the city was sunlight, the slums were the shadows—where the forgotten and rejected gathered to survive.
“Begin the food distribution.”
At my signal, the servants and maids began unloading supplies from the wagon.
Baguettes, soup, seasonal fruit, and basic medicine.
“Gather the people.”
Tia and the others fanned out to invite the nearby residents.
This food was for the people who likely missed meals regularly—something to ease their burden, even if just a little.
‘Evan should be somewhere around here, right?’
My one and only lifeline—the only rope that could pull me out of my many death flags.
Whether it would be a golden rope or a rotten one… that was up to me.
‘Why isn’t anyone coming?’
Strangely, no one showed up to receive the food.
Just as my suspicion deepened, Tia returned with an awkward expression.
“My lady… They say they’re full.”
“……Full?”
I turned to look at the slum dweller she had just spoken with.
He flinched, clearly startled that I was looking at him, and quickly averted his eyes.
‘Ah.’
That’s when I finally understood why the people were hesitant to approach
