WICE 32

Chapter 32

“…W-Wait a second!”

Gale reacted strongly the moment he heard they were going to Sharon’s house. Roni barely held back a laugh.

‘My little brother is just too easy. Sharon should really know how easy he is.’

It seemed Sharon had her guard up when it came to romance—though why, Roni didn’t know.

“I’ll give you five minutes. If you get ready and come out by then, I’ll go with you.”

Thud, thump, bang.

At Roni’s words, Gale dashed back to his room, put on one of his favorite outfits, and reappeared in less than five minutes.

“It hasn’t even been five minutes, sis.”

“If only you were this efficient with your work, Dad would be thrilled.”

“…Are you sure Sharon’s really at home?”

Gale double-checked, worried Roni might be lying to him.

As she climbed into the carriage, Roni thought to herself. Actually, Ian invited Gale, not me. He wanted to talk to him—as Sharon’s brother—so I just tagged along.

Of course, she had no intention of saying that out loud. Watching Gale fiddle with his outfit the entire ride, Roni smiled like a proud mom.

“Gale, your sister fully supports your love.”

“Don’t just support—talk me up to Sharon, too.”

“You keep calling her Sharon. Shouldn’t it be ‘Sharon noona’?”

At Roni’s teasing, Gale pouted for a moment before responding with a serious expression.

“…I don’t call my girl ‘noona.’”

“Pfft. Gale, you really are the best.”

It was even funnier because he was so serious about it. Though Gale tried to keep a straight face, he was red as a beet.

‘I don’t call my girl noona’? Roni was reminded of an old Korean song that had once been popular, “Because She’s My Girl.”

Seeing Gale’s blushing face, Roni thought of Sharon. She, too, seemed to be paying attention to Gale lately. Roni smiled warmly at the clear signs of romantic tension between them.

It felt strange to witness the birth of a love line that hadn’t even existed in the original comic.

‘Before I go back, I’d love to see Gale’s wedding.’

Roni was surprisingly perceptive when it came to others’ love lives.

When they arrived at Vernique Castle, Ian greeted them in the parlor. Gale looked disappointed when he saw Sharon wasn’t there and shot a suspicious glance at Roni.

He probably thought she had tricked him. Roni just shrugged.

“Where’s Sharon?”

“Ah, I told her Lady Roni would be visiting a bit late, so she stepped out to prepare.”

While answering Roni, Ian’s gaze subtly shifted to Gale—as if he were sizing him up.

As expected from someone who had a sister he cared about, Ian’s demeanor was a bit more intense than usual. The usual wit was gone.

It was like he was saying, “Who’s this guy who thinks he can date my sister?”—a big brother full of suspicion.

Gale was clearly nervous facing the older brother of his first love. He didn’t joke around like usual and was overly cautious with every move.

Just then, Sharon entered through the door. Unlike how she usually dressed when Roni visited, today she seemed to have put real effort into her outfit.

‘Ah, so that’s why she was late.’

Roni glanced at Ian. He smiled knowingly, as if to say, “You get it too, right?”

Apparently, Ian had told Sharon that only Roni would be visiting—probably to gauge Sharon’s feelings—when in fact, he had intended for her to meet Gale. Both Sharon and Gale had been outed by their respective sibling.

“Sharon, looks like you put extra effort in today?”

“Eh? Oh, n-no. I just happened to buy a new outfit recently…”

Sharon was startled, like someone whose feelings had just been exposed, and scrambled to make excuses. Gale didn’t seem to care what her reasons were—he was just thrilled to be looking at her.

The four of them had a surprisingly peaceful meal together. Gale answered Ian’s questions well, and Sharon chimed in from time to time, helping the conversation flow.

After the meal, they drank tea and relaxed. At some point, Ian gave Roni a meaningful glance, signaling her to leave the two men alone.

“Sharon, didn’t you say you bought some clothes recently? I want to see them. Can you show me?”

“Hmm? You’re not usually interested in clothes.”

“Well, I’m trying to take an interest now.”

With that, Roni led the puzzled Sharon toward her dressing room and exchanged a knowing look with Ian. No words were needed—it was a silent alliance.

Once they reached the dressing room, Sharon enthusiastically began showing off her new purchases. Roni wasn’t particularly interested in fashion, but she listened attentively.

After chatting for a while, Roni gently broached the topic.

“Hey, Sharon. What do you think of Gale?”

“Huh? He’s a nice guy.”

“No, I mean, as a man.”

Sharon’s cheerful smile faded, replaced by a hint of sadness.

Seeing her expression, Roni wondered if she’d said something wrong and waited anxiously for Sharon’s response.

“I don’t want to get married.”

“…What?”

In a firm tone, Sharon made it clear she had no intention of marrying. Roni had suspected something had happened even before her engagement was broken, but it still came as a surprise.

Because of her shy smiles around Gale, Roni had assumed things were going well between them. When Roni looked flustered, Sharon gave a small, forced smile.

“Especially if it’s your brother, I don’t want to get involved romantically. I want to stay close to you, Roni.”

“Why would dating Gale mean drifting apart from me?”

“Mm… because all my past relationships ended badly.”

Sharon’s expression turned bitter. When a relationship ends badly, it’s harder to start a new one.

It seemed she had been deeply hurt in the past. Roni felt guilty for asking about Gale so hastily.

She didn’t know what exactly Sharon was afraid of, but to Roni, Sharon was a precious friend. She held Sharon’s hand tightly and smiled brightly to reassure her.

“Sharon, whether you end up with Gale or not, you’ll always be a dear friend to me.”

“Thanks… for saying that.”

Sharon finally smiled again, looking a bit more like herself.

Chapter 9 – Side Story: She Changed (Allen’s POV)

I looked at the girl in front of me with a blank face, as if I couldn’t feel anything. Her long black hair flowed like the night sky, and her navy blue eyes sparkled coldly. She smiled coolly.

“So you’re Allen.”

Her name was Roni Sharligan. One of the young ladies Harry Romanit had recently set his sights on. Judging by her reaction, it seemed Harry was barking up the wrong tree.

Harry, standing beside me, tried to drag her away, saying she shouldn’t bother with a guy like me and come have fun with him instead.

But Roni slapped his hand away and said coldly,

“You’re boring. And don’t touch me with those filthy hands.”

“W-What?!”

I silently rejoiced at the sight. Harry, always acting high and mighty just because of his bloodline despite having no real ability, finally got a taste of humiliation.

I bit my lip to suppress the laugh that was threatening to escape. I had to remain invisible, as always.

Then my eyes met Roni’s. It felt like she had seen right through me. She reached out and gently brushed my hair.

Her touch was sweet—like a spider luring its prey.

“Wanna come to my house?”

I knew what she meant. She was suggesting an engagement.

Harry jumped in outrage, yelling that it was absurd. He didn’t even hesitate to say I was an illegitimate child, as if it were a shame to be aired in public.

But instead of being disgusted, Roni looked even more intrigued.

I saw it as a chance.

“Yeah. I’ll come. To your house.”

And so, I entered the Sharligan household with nothing but Sasha, my cat.

I brought nothing from the Romanits. I didn’t want anything from them—not even by accident. Sasha was all I had.

I thought that in this house, I could finally escape the torment of the Romanits.

But that was when the nightmares began.

Roni treated me like a new toy. She hit me, insulted me, and seemed to enjoy watching me suffer.

I was terrified of her—and ashamed of how helpless I was. Resisting only ever brought one outcome: silence and submission.

If there was any advantage this place had over the Romanits, it was that after the abuse, she would leave me alone for a while. And she always came back with sweet words to keep me from running away.

I was becoming conditioned. I had to wake up. One day, I’d break free and get my revenge on everyone who made me this way.

But then… Roni changed.

“No, it’s not your fault.”

If that wasn’t true… she would never have said those words.