Chapter 24

‘Because it was originally my nickname.’

“…Yes.”

“Rina, can I be the only one to call you that?”

“Perhaps you’re the only one who will ever call me that again.”

Since Citrina had no friends and her family will never call her by her nickname anymore.

“Good.”

Desian replied briefly. However, she was able to see that he was delighted. It was the first time she heard what Desian wanted and what he did not directly from him.

Citrina slightly raised her eyes. This situation seems to be a bit dangerous.

“Don’t allow anyone.” Desian said quietly.

Making their own nicknames means that they are imprinted on each other. Interest and curiosity slowly turned into liking, and liking into obsession.

The first feeling of affection and experiencing something new.

He never intended to let go of all those feelings.

“…Yes..?”

It was when Citrina sensed the subtleties of the atmosphere, someone politely knocked on the door.

“It’s Heled.”

“Yes? What wrong?”

“Baroness Foluin visited. Should I send her back?”

Citrina was worried. Before she left for another empire, she had to resolve all situations before then. Desian had been enlightened to some extent, and it was time to settle her own relationship with her family.

Desian asked Citrina with a conflicted expression.

“Do you want me to do it, Rina?”

Upon hearing his suggestion, Citrina hesitated a little, but the decision came out easier than she thought.

“… No. I’ll do it, Del,” she decided. It was bound for her to fully tell her intentions to the Baroness.

“It’s something I have to settle. If I don’t get out of there for a long time…”

Gentle eyes were looking at her. A gentle gaze that one cannot imagine belonging from a villain.

“I’ll come, of course.” Hearing that, she felt that they had become closer.

So Citrina headed to the waiting room, and Desian decided to stay in the next room.

She felt it had been so long since she met the baroness.

Considering the duration, it’s been a month or so.

A lot has happened during that time, but the baroness has never changed.

“Citrina Foluin.”

The baroness seemed to be in a hurry. She pulled out her body without even touching the tea that Heled prepared.

“Yes.”

“I’ll be straightforward. I’m running out of money. The baron needs the last money to invest…”

The baroness’s words were desperate and she knew why.

“The money for gambling, right?”

The baroness shifted her gaze from Citrina’s face.

“That… Anyway, it’s not enough. I know you’ve been paid by now, but this is the last time. Please help the family, my good daughter.”

Because of being good, Citrina lived in pain every day.

“You say that every day and just take the money.”

In the future she had seen, the baroness would always take the money until Citrina died. It’s as if she memorized what to say when talking about returning the money back.

‘Citrina, you earned so much money and died so vainly.’

Citrina giggled. Seeing the smile on Citrina’s face, the baroness talked in an impatient tone.

“If this has anything to do with sending you to the two young masters of the Duke’s house… I just need to borrow a little money… yes. In fact, you don’t need to lend me anything for gambling, not that, but just enough for Elena to buy a real sword.”

How did such a person become her mother? A person who sent her daughter to this rumored duke family, but still only thinks of Elena. How?

In the eyes of the baroness, there was expectancy.

“We’ve raised, clothed and fed you. Your family has done everything for you to be educated… You are our good daughter, aren’t you?”

It’s funny how much her speech changes. According to Citrina’s memory, she had been working ever since she was old enough. She personally earned what went into her mouth, and to her family’s.

“No. It has nothing to do with Del.”

“What?”

“It’s me. There’s something that suddenly came to mind, so I’ll just ask you one thing.”

“What the hell are you talking about, dear… Our good daughter, why the hell-”

“Please answer me.”

“What is it, then? Tell me.”

Citrina closed her eyes. Her body trembled strangely.

“Do you know what my nickname is? Not my name Citrina.”

The baroness was silent upon hearing her question.

The affectionate voices of her parents that she heard for the first time. The sweetness of calling one’s nickname. Even the little happiness that gave her hope.

‘I remember everything changed from the moment Elena showed prominence/talent.’

The voice that called her unconsciously turned cold. The nickname that used to be Citrina’s was lost. At some point, it was passed to Elena. Back then, Citrina didn’t cry.

She just tried to forget the nickname ‘Rina’. But all she got was demand for money.

“… Is that a problem now? There was no such thing, Citrina.”

“I… I was expecting for nothing.”

Disappointment.

This was the result of her sacrifices for the family.

Yes. From the perspective of the baroness, everything could not have been a big deal.

Still, she didn’t think she would answer like that.

“Okay, Citrina. I don’t know what the problem is, but yes, I was wrong. This mother apologizes.”

Maybe that wasn’t a lie. Citrina looked at the baroness’s few grown strands of gray hair. It must have also been difficult for her because of her husband’s gambling.

‘Just because the Baroness was also in a difficult position and apologized to me doesn’t make any difference.’

Citrina made up her mind. Even though the baroness had it rough, it does not change the fact that she had Citrina do all the work and put her all expectations and love on Elena.

If you are poor, love will fly out the window. However, they had many opportunities. Such an opportunity to have them live happily enough.

“You should have apologized earlier.”

Citrina’s body trembled. It seemed like she had chills.

She clasped the table tightly as she said what was needed to be said.

The face of the baroness was getting impatient.

“Citrina, I said I was sorry.”

“An apology doesn’t mean it has to be accepted. I don’t want your apology.”

The baroness’ face was washed dry. Tears fell from her eyes. However, it was not comparable to the calluses on Citrina’s fingertips and the burden placed on her shoulder.

The baroness spoke again, “Citrina, I’m telling you,when Elena will do well is when we will be well. This is an important time for Elena. She may succeed and be elected as a knight of the Imperial Palace. But you, you weren’t smart. So if we sacrifice a little more, then we can… Could you consider Elena and give her a chance?”

Her speech was done. It was a voice almost like a last-ditch defense.

Citrina felt like she was on a parallel line where the conversation couldn’t go anymore. She sighed.

“I want to live my life too!”

Her voice rang out loud in the room. It was unprecedented for Citrina to raise her voice. The baroness swallowed her breath in a hurry.

“I want to live. I want to.”

Citrina’s words stopped.

After hearing her loud voice, Baroness Foluin sat with a blank face.

“You too…”

“Please speak.”

“You too… Have a life?”

Ridiculous.

She’s asking if she has a life too? So was she just an ornament that was unmoving?

“Why do you ask me such an obvious question?”

Citrina waited for a long time. But contrary to what she expected, only silence fell in the room. After a few seconds in that situation, “Stay there.”

Stomp, Desian walked in.

Citrina didn’t even know she was shaking. Behind her, Desian’s hands gently grasped her trembling shoulders. The strange warmth from his cold fingertips gave Citrina a slight relief albeit she felt feeble.

Citrina gave a long sigh.

After this, at least all relations with the baroness are over. That was what her intuition was telling her.

The conversation fell silent. It was Desian who naturally intervened in that silence.

“Rina,” Desian called Citrina by nickname.

It was only then that the baroness remembered the fact that she once had the nickname Rina.

“Citrina…” The nickname Rina did not come out from the lips of the baroness.

She shut her lips after calling Citrina’s name, because it was already too late for her to realize. She was no longer entitled to call Citrina by her nickname.

“What do you want to do?”

Citrina lifted herself up. She almost stumbled, but still stood upright. Desian’s arms were tightly wrapped around her.

“Never.”

“Never?”

Desian’s voice was so gentle it made her want to cry.

“… I don’t ever want to meet you.”

“Everything will be up to you now.”

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