TEWMDD07

Episode 7

Gasp!

I hurriedly pulled my invisibility cloak over myself and held my breath.

Who is it?

My heart pounded in my chest at the unexpected situation.

Since they weren’t heading straight for the laboratory, it probably wasn’t Dad Kyle.

Still wrapped in the cloak, I tiptoed toward the door and pressed my ear against it.

Step, step, step—

A few light footsteps echoed, followed by the creak of another door opening and closing.

Judging by that walk…

Must be Dad Derrick.

Come to think of it, his room was right beside the stairs on the first floor—practically the closest to the underground lab.

So he was still awake…

If I’d come out just a little later, I might’ve been caught.

A chill ran down my spine and I gave a tiny shiver.

Still, he hadn’t checked my room, so that was a relief.

Guess all those years of being a well-behaved little angel finally paid off.

It should be safe to go now, right?

I waited until every trace of movement disappeared, then gathered a few more things, and slipped quietly out of the lab.

Good. All I had to do now was sneak carefully back to my room—

“Footsteps.”

The voice struck like lightning in my ears the moment a door banged open.

I froze on the spot.

I swear I heard multiple doors earlier—so I thought he went back to his room!

Why is he still in the hallway?!

“……”

I clutched my chest to steady my racing heart and stared right back at Dad Derrick.

He, too, was staring straight at where I stood.

“……”

In the heavy silence, not even the faintest breath could be heard.

His gold eyes glimmered with an unreadable expression.

I should be invisible. I must be invisible.

So how on earth was he looking me dead in the eye?

Is this what they call a hero’s instinct?

Scary, scary…

If I so much as twitched, I’d be completely exposed.

Just as the suffocating tension was becoming unbearable—

“What are you doing there?”

Dad Harzen’s voice suddenly rang out from the side.

At last, Derrick’s gaze shifted past me toward him.

“…It was you.”

Phew. Thank goodness.

So he’d mistaken Harzen’s presence for the “footsteps” he heard.

I took the chance to inch back toward my room—

“You must be troubled too. Understandable, since Yuria’s about to leave for the imperial palace.”

—Only to pause.

Now this was a conversation worth eavesdropping on.

I tightened my grip on my things, eyes gleaming.

“…Dangerous.”

“Yes, it could be dangerous,” Harzen replied, nodding as if he fully understood that curt remark.

“There are many enemies there. The problem is, we can’t completely identify them.”

“And yet—”

“And yet, she must go.”

Harzen’s eyes glinted as he added quietly,

“Because Yuria wants it.”

“……”

“As always—if she wishes it, we can only follow.”

My jaw dropped.

Wow… that’s epic.

As expected of original-story male leads—they’re helpless before the heroine.

This was like watching a legendary scene unfold from the front row!

“And besides, a few days away won’t cause any major problems.”

At that, my excitement plummeted.

Oh, Dad… if only you knew.

A few days away is going to cause the biggest problem ever.

“And even if something does happen, I won’t sit idly by.”

More like—you won’t just not sit idly by, you’ll end up destroying the entire world.

Of course, Mom’s death and the end of the world aren’t happening immediately.

I don’t know exactly when she’ll die…

But since her trip to the palace marks the start of the side story, something will happen there.

Something so horrific that not even Archmage Harzen could stop it—

Something that would lead to Mom’s death.

Which is why I have to stop it.

I’m the only one who knows the future, so I have to do something—anything.

Save Mom. Save the world.

And reclaim my happy ending.

Honestly, if even Dad couldn’t prevent it, what chance did I have?

Still… I have to try.

I can’t just watch Mom die without lifting a finger.

I have to do everything I can.

I can do this!

I’m Cici—already a big girl of seven, thank you very much!

No matter how hopeless it looks, I’ll tackle the problem step by step—

“…That aside, since I won’t see Cici for a few days, I wonder if I should take a look at her now.”

Gasp.

My thoughts screeched to a halt and I flinched.

Was he going to my room?!

Please, no!

“…Light sleeper.”

I was about to slip away along the wall when Derrick stopped him.

Thankfully, Harzen caught his meaning and let out a warm chuckle.

“Yes, I know. Our little princess has always been a terribly light sleeper, ever since she was small. Wonder who she takes after?”

Both Mom and Dad, obviously.

Anyway—phew.

That was close. My grand plan nearly ended before it even began.

I crept toward the stairs, quietly exhaling in relief.

Guess they’re reminding me not to get cocky.

I’ll stay on guard until the very end—for Mom, for the world!

The next morning.

“Is this all your luggage?”

Count Leonard eyed the single trunk in front of him.

Harzen, still clearly displeased, spoke in a frosty tone.

“We’ll be back soon enough. No need to burden ourselves.”

“Harzen.”

Yuria gently chided him before turning to Leonard with a faint smile.

“As Harzen said, I don’t intend to stay long at the palace. I promised my child.”

She closed her eyes briefly, recalling last night—

Cici’s cheeks puffed out like little buns, yet she’d nodded when told Mom would be back after ten nights.

Just remembering it pricked her chest with guilt.

When she opened her eyes, she glanced up toward the second-floor balcony.

“Still asleep…?”

“With all this noise outside? No way,” Kyle scoffed, following her gaze toward Cici’s room.

“She’s sulking, obviously. She’s been in a mood since yesterday.”

She’d even refused Yuria’s offer to sleep together—a rare event indeed.

Normally, she’d cling to Yuria’s leg until she got her way, so she must be really upset.

Well, she was her mother’s daughter.

Kyle clicked his tongue at Yuria’s faintly pouty expression.

Both stubborn, both soft-hearted—and both adorable.

“What do you want to do? Drag her down?”

Yuria shook her head and smiled.

“No… it’s fine. We’ll see each other again soon enough.”

“Then at least take a communicator. You know she’ll be crying for you before the day’s over.”

“That won’t be necessary. Better not to give the palace an excuse to snoop.”

After all, they were already attracting more attention than they wanted.

Leonard seemed to understand, bowing deeply.

“Thank you for your cooperation. While you’re at the palace, you will want for nothing.”

“Yeah, sure you will,” Kyle muttered.

“That’s enough, Kyle,” Yuria said with a wry smile before addressing him and Derrick.

“Anyway, we’ll be off. Take good care of Cici while I’m gone. No funny business. Make sure she eats properly, and don’t take her too far—”

“Got it, got it, now just go.”

Kyle, clearly exasperated, waved her on.

By the time Harzen, Yuria, and the imperial knights stood ready at the massive magic circle Harzen had conjured—

“……”

Derrick, who’d been silent all morning, suddenly strode back toward the house.

Kyle blinked. “Hey! Where are you going? They haven’t even left yet!”

“…Send-off.”

“Then why the—”

“Cici too.”

He climbed the stairs and stopped outside Cici’s room.

The faint rustle of sheets. A soft sniffle.

So she was in there crying.

“Cici.”

He opened the door and stepped toward the bed—

“…?”

Then froze.

Because lying there wasn’t a little girl…

…but a hunk of scrap metal.