TTMLPTWW ~ Chapter 50

* * *

“Did you read that novel I told you about?”

“Sis, reality is already sad and horrible. Do I really need to read a novel like that too?”

My sister from my past life and I had completely different tastes.

Clothes, food preferences, everything was opposite.

Even our preferences in male leads were completely opposite. My sister liked arrogant regretful male leads that had comments demanding “Change the male lead!”, while I preferred straightforward kind male leads.

“The female lead marries a male lead who hates royalty, but the female lead is actually a fake princess. After her fake identity is exposed, the female lead tries to run away… Anyway, it’s a hate-to-love, escape, and confinement story!”

Despite her passionate sales pitch, my sister’s explanation skills were lacking, so to summarize:

After discovering the female lead is a fake princess, the male lead imprisons her as she tries to escape, forcing her to continue acting as a princess while inflicting emotional damage and humiliation.

Eventually unable to endure it, the female lead takes her own life, and the male lead belatedly realizes he loved her and follows after her – it was a hopeless, depressing story of regret.

“I only want to read happy things. If I die, I might be reborn into a novel or manhwa I’ve read. Big bro is probably already born in the Hidden Leaf Village training to be a ninja. Or maybe he became a pirate.”

“Then how about this? A war story where you get kidnapped by a crazy duke!”

Not backing down from my sister trying to evangelize dark fantasy novels, I would counter by presenting the gospel of a healing romcom male lead who was sunshine incarnate.

“No, how about a comedy with a male housekeeper lead who does the housework!”

“Don’t suggest it unless he imprisons her while doing the housework!”

Though we were sisters with different tastes, our relationship wasn’t bad. We were each other’s last remaining family and only support.

“You know, I feel like you could turn any worldview into a romcom.”

My sister used to say I seemed like I could survive even if stranded on a deserted island.

“Plus, you were born lucky.”

Who would have known that would be called the ability to survive by stealing others’ luck.

Weeeeee-

One day, the debris of a building collapsing from an air raid fell on us. More precisely, it fell on my sister who had pushed me out of the way.

“Wait, I’ll get you out!”

But there was no way to get my sister out from under the massive concrete debris.

My sister reached out her hand through a small gap. I held her hand.

“It’s a bit cramped, but I could probably live here rent-free. Seems like you can’t lift this on your own, so go call people to get me out.”

My sister was relaxed, even mixing in jokes.

I forced a smile, pretending to be cheerful.

“Okay, wait here.”

Soon I started running quickly, leaving my sister behind. I heard my sister’s shout from behind me.

“Hey! If you’re lucky and survive again this time, swear by the River Styx that you’ll read it! I read that <The Adorable Sunshine Lady Wins Everything> book you recommended! I’m seriously upset!”

“So what’s the title then!”

The moment I looked back at my sister, there was an explosion and red flames erupted.

BOOM-!

The place where my sister had been was already engulfed in flames.

In the end, I couldn’t save anyone.

I still don’t know what novel my sister was talking about.

…But, maybe because there are a lot of similar themes. The plot my sister described seems kind of similar to my current situation?

I woke up from what may have been reminiscing or a dream, muttering to myself.

“I must have fainted.”

It was the familiar ceiling of the official residence.

Feeling like the warmth of holding my sister’s hand still remained, I turned my head to see a small hand grasping mine.

Eugene was sleeping soundly, slumped over the bed sheets while holding my hand.

Fortunately, he didn’t seem to be injured.

On the other hand, I had bandages wrapped from the back of my hand up to my arm. It looked like I had been cut by shrapnel.

Suddenly, a wave of emotion that made me forget the pain washed over me.

“I too… can save someone…”

My luck had protected the child instead of me.

I lowered my head, pressing my bandaged hand against my wet eyes.

* * *

A dark underground interrogation room.

It was infamous as a place you couldn’t leave unscathed once you entered.

“Eugene’s birth mother was Esatain, and despite being subject to forced internment, she escaped with the help of her Medean husband.”

Said Emil, the subject of interrogation.

With his remaining pride, he absolutely refused to reveal that he had been a servant.

And he had no intention of mentioning the names of Eugene’s parents.

In fact, Eugene’s father was a high-ranking noble of Medea, with considerable influence.

If it was revealed that he had sold out Eugene’s hidden parents for money, he wouldn’t be able to keep his life.

‘They might lock me up in that terrible underground prison they call hell for the living.’

“Brigadier General Vicente, my homeland was occupied because of the Esatains. The duchy also suffered air raids for the same reason. Even what happened to Eugene is ultimately their fault, isn’t it?”

Emil tried to justify his actions by any means.

“I lost my family, home, and livelihood. You understand my desire for revenge well, don’t you?”

Masera sat across the cold metal desk, silently staring at him.

Thinking his story was getting through, Emil smiled.

“Isn’t that why you married the fallen princess too? For revenge. As fellow refugees…”

Masera took off the watch on his wrist and rolled up his shirt sleeve.

THWACK-!

A heavy impact echoed through the sealed interrogation room.

Masera pulled on his leather gloves as he looked at Emil, who had fallen backwards in his chair.

“You dog of a war criminal nation. Are you treating me the same as yourself?”

A dark purple glint flashed in his coldly narrowed eyes.

‘Damn it. I thought he didn’t know, but how much does he know?’

Emil looked at him fearfully, blood flowing from his nose.

“Is this kind of violent torture allowed in a republic that values freedom and justice?”

“I’m just treating you the way you were subservient to imperialism, what’s there to complain about?”

At his chilling voice, Emil shut his mouth.

“Your kind only cry out for justice when it’s disadvantageous to you, and then use the freedom you gain to trample on others.”

Masera had already found out that he had fled after committing treason.

Countless people must have been captured and cruelly killed in internment camps based on just a few words from this man.

Masera leaned back in the metal chair and looked down at him.

“And, the torture hasn’t even started yet.”

Emil’s face, slumped on the floor, turned deathly pale.

* * *

With all his crimes revealed, Emil was to be sent to a prisoner-of-war camp where war criminals were held.

Masera only left the interrogation room when morning came.

He squinted at the bright sunlight pouring in through the window panes.

“Isn’t that why you married the fallen princess too? For revenge.”

What’s left after revenge?

For some time now, something like a shard of glass lodged deep in his chest kept pricking him whenever he associated Cynthia with revenge.

Perhaps he had been looking for reasons to hate her out of a sense of obligation, he thought.

He recalled when he had followed the Major, Cynthia, and Eugene.

They had clearly said it was trauma from the sound of hunting rifles, but having a panic attack from hearing the alarm…

Doesn’t that mean she directly experienced air raids?

He desperately didn’t want to believe it, but the symptoms Cynthia had shown so far were typical post-traumatic stress of a war victim.

But she had never spoken about the cause of her symptoms herself.

‘…Hiding mental issues is grounds for divorce.’

Looking at it coldly, it was an opportunity to confine her to a mental ward and act on her behalf on the grounds that she had lost judgment.

Masera looked out at the garden that had turned white from the snow that fell overnight.

Snow was piled softly on top of the cat house that had collapsed as soon as Cynthia completed it.

“Uncle.”

Just then, a small hand tugged on his sleeve.

Eugene spoke with his head bowed low, as if making a confession.

“My mom was an Esatain on the run. That’s why we were chased out of the hospital and orphanage. I’m sorry for hiding it. I was afraid you would hate me, Uncle…”

Eugene’s clear eyes were like green sprouts emerging between the white snow.

“Even after I realized big sis the princess had no intention of chasing me away, I avoided her because she looks so much like my mom.”

Eugene’s shoulders shook as he tried to hold back tears.

“Big sis is innocent. I was the one looking for reasons to hate big sis. Big sis said she was lonely like me, and that’s why she wanted to be family with me…”

Reasons to hate.

Masera’s eyes widened at Eugene’s words, realizing they had been thinking the same thing.

It was clear that Cynthia, who had thrown herself under the falling sign to shield Eugene, hadn’t been trying to abandon him at the mental ward.

Masera bent down to meet Eugene’s gaze.

Eugene tightly gripped Masera’s finger.

“I was scared of being abandoned again.”

“I understand. I would have felt the same.”

Masera took out a handkerchief and wiped Eugene’s sniffling nose.

“Your mother is not a criminal, but rather a victim. And I don’t abandon family.”

Eugene’s eyes widened in surprise, having gathered the courage to confess expecting to be chased away.

“Am I… family?”

“Yes.”

He smiled kindly with his eyes.

“Then is Big sis Cynthia also family?”

Masera’s lips pressed into a line, then curved again, conscious of the child’s gaze.