Chapter 09
“I’ll come find you.”
His final words echoed in her ears.
What had the Master of the Magic Tower seen to look so shocked?
Had he seen the same illusion?
“Ha…”
Belia ran both hands down her face.
She’d wanted to cast aside all complicated thoughts and just enjoy life, but strange memories kept resurfacing.
It was already hard enough to manage her emotions, and now she had to face her eldest brother in this state? The thought disgusted her.
She stomped her foot in frustration, but the thick carpet muffled all sound.
“To eat while looking at that face…”
The idea of sharing a meal with someone who had essentially sentenced her to death made her head ache.
She didn’t have the stomach to dine with someone like that.
As she walked down the hallway, thinking she’d eat quickly and leave even faster, a voice called out.
“Hey, Pumpkin.”
A voice that was unfamiliar yet familiar—it had been a long time.
Belia immediately turned around.
“You’re the Lady of the Year now?”
His expression clearly showed how unimpressed he was, and his lazy swagger was almost amusing.
Belia’s face brightened.
“Bedol?”
It was her second brother.
She had once hated him deeply, but now, seeing him brought tears to her eyes. He was precious.
‘Belia! Run! I’ll be fine!’
That smiling face that had once helped her escape now overlapped with the cocky expression before her.
She hadn’t even realized how much she missed him.
“What’s with you?”
Bedol hesitated at the sight of Belia smiling at him, as if it were unfamiliar.
Noticing his reaction, Belia quickly wiped the smile off her face.
The fleeting smile gone, Bedol approached again.
“Imperial nobles must all be blind. How did you become Lady of the Year?”
‘Bratty Bedol.’
He was sneering again, clearly displeased with something, and Belia held back a laugh.
His ash-gray hair and clear blue eyes made it obvious—he was the second son of House Arpedi, now awakened.
“The world’s definitely gone mad. No other talent around? How could you be chosen?”
If he had said that to her in the past, she would’ve pretended not to care while quietly being hurt.
But now she understood why Bedol had acted that way.
When she was eight, he had been just as much a child as she was—he, too, needed care and love.
In her third regression, when they’d finally opened up to each other, she understood his pain.
Caught between a sick little sister and an overachieving eldest brother, Bedol had always been treated like a nuisance.
No one had attended his academy entrance ceremony or his birthdays.
Because she was always unwell, Bedol had spent his childhood alone and neglected.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Don’t even want to talk to me?”
Even when he acted cold, in the end, Bedol was the one who cared for her most when she had no one else.
Perhaps after every one of her deaths, he had been the one to cry for her.
Unable to hold back any longer, Belia broke into a silly grin.
“What the…?”
Bedol blinked in confusion.
“Oppa, it’s really good to see you.”
Belia suddenly hugged him.
“W-What the hell?!”
Bedol pushed her away.
It should’ve hurt, but Belia just kept smiling.
“You’re seriously too cute.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Hey, don’t talk to your little sister like that.”
Belia playfully flicked her finger and pinched his cheek.
“Gah!”
Bedol recoiled a step, startled by the unexpected gesture.
His horrified expression made her laugh even harder.
Looking at Belia grinning like that, Bedol gave her a disgusted look.
“You really are insane. No, seriously, are you sick?”
“Nope. Not sick. Just happy to see you.”
When Belia smiled sweetly, Bedol brushed his arms down rapidly.
“Agh! Gross! What is wrong with you?! You’re seriously sick again, aren’t you?!”
Seeing his horrified face, Belia nodded knowingly.
She may have warmed up to him thanks to her regressions, but from Bedol’s point of view, his sister—who had been all cold and serious yesterday—was suddenly hugging him. His reaction made sense.
Still, how could she help it?
On top of all the resentment was now genuine affection, and Bedol looked more lovable than ever.
“I’m not sick. I just like you, that’s all.”
When Belia blinked innocently, Bedol went pale.
“Ugh, my stomach hurts. What is wrong with you?”
Even as he recoiled in horror, the image of Bedol helping her escape—‘You’re my sister. Don’t say you’re not.’—floated in her mind, making her giggle again.
“What do you mean, ‘what’s wrong’? We’re siblings—it’s normal to be close.”
Belia skipped over and linked arms with him.
“Hey! Are you insane?! Get off me! What the hell! You’re not letting go?!”
Bedol freaked out and backed away from her.
“Ugh, goosebumps.”
“Why? Siblings can link arms. We even held hands and ran together last time.”
“Are you dreaming? What the hell are you talking about? Was that with our older brother? You and I never did that!”
Belia shrugged.
But it was a real memory in her mind.
“You’re seriously not okay today. I mean it. Go see the doctor. You’re sick.”
Bedol backed away, as if she were dangerous.
“That way’s opposite the banquet hall.”
“Then go first! Shoo, shoo!”
Belia chuckled at his waving hands.
Sibling bonds would heal with time, wouldn’t they?
“Wow, she’s really lost it.”
For once, Bedol’s words didn’t sound like insults.
He’d definitely blushed when she hugged him.
“So cute,” Belia whispered as she walked on.
Even if he seemed repulsed now, part of him might be secretly pleased—especially the Bedol who had always carried the loneliness of being ignored by his family.
Sunlight poured dazzlingly through the hallway windows.
“Whew…”
She took a deep breath, easing some of her nerves.
Belia turned the ornate doorknob.
Three people were already seated; two seats remained empty.
She slowly walked toward them.
“You’re late.”
As soon as she sat down, Soph spoke with a worried tone.
“Sorry I’m late.”
Belia forced a smile.
This dinner was dreadful, but looking at her mother made smiling a little easier.
She turned her head with a fake smile, spotting her nodding father… and the one she hated most.
Her eldest brother, Barun.
‘Truly insane. Trash.’
She tried to remain calm, but curses slipped through her mind the moment she saw him.
Her stomach turned, and Belia had to fight to keep her expression neutral.
He sat there, calmly slicing steak behind his silver-rimmed glasses, and she couldn’t stand the sight of it.
How could anyone eat in peace with someone like that at the table?
His sharp gaze and icy demeanor sent chills down her spine.
“You’re not my sister.”
His cold tone cut to the bone.
The memory struck like lightning, and her heart began to race.
“You’re wrong. I’m not an impostor. Think about it—if I’d really been switched at the fire when I was eight, someone would’ve noticed. If I’d truly been replaced back then, you would’ve noticed first!”
She had reached through the prison bars, desperate.
It had been suffocating, like something was strangling her from every side.
Everyone blamed her, but surely Barun would believe her.
Her thigh still throbbed from the lashes of the whip.
She had nothing to say to the torturers asking who’d ordered her actions.
In that dark, cold prison, time had passed without meaning until finally, her older brother had come.
Even if they hadn’t been affectionate while growing up, he was still family—so she had reached for him.
She didn’t care that her arm got caught in the bars, didn’t care that it bled.
She knew he must’ve been shocked on the day of her awakening, but she hoped that in time, he would recognize his little sister.
With that tiny hope, she had endured the freezing prison.
“Really? You’re the real one?”
When his blue eyes flickered with hesitation, she had been overwhelmed with joy.
She thought—maybe he’ll believe me. It wasn’t a matter of life or death anymore.
She just wanted someone to acknowledge her existence.
She wanted to shake off the feeling that her entire identity was a lie.
“Yes! I’m real. I’m not—oppa, please…”
Prove it.
Tell me I’m not fake.
Tell me I’m alive and I didn’t steal someone else’s life.
Tears spilled over and choked off her words.
“Then do it.”
“…What?”
Tears and snot smeared her face. She looked wretched, pitiful.
And then her older brother laughed.
His curled lips, his mocking gaze were aimed straight at her.
There was no pity in his eyes—no sadness.
Only a vile sense of superiority, as if to say you and I are not the same.
“Awaken, then. Prove it.”
Her lips froze, unable to form a single word.
She felt like she couldn’t breathe.
“See? You’re a fake.”
