Chapter 7

The first conversation with Desian ended better than she thought. It only ended because Heled, the butler, called out for Desian.

Citrina thought of which extent the duke's order would be.

'Having an audience with me is not important.'

Citrina decided to think positively. Still, when she met Desian, she realized something.

'I didn't feel like he was lazy nor did he feel like a villain yet. When I think about it again, it looked like there was a possibility of rehabilitation.'

He was strangely more gentlemanly than she imagined. It wasn't perfect, but he wasn't violent either.

'He was different from what the novel described him.'

In the novel, Desian seemed like the perfect psychopath when he was an adult, exploiting and killing everyone as much as he wanted.

He was good at killing people. He would kill everyone, or spare them to some degree.

But Citrina now knew that was not his true nature.

'I can do it.'

It seems like she has a way to prevent herself from dying in the future. When she looked back on the conversation from a while ago, Desian seemed like... a normal person.

This means that the conversation worked to some extent.

"So, what am I going to do now?"

Citrina, who muttered in a small voice, soon headed to the library.

She knew a lot more about this place thanks to her memories in her previous life. She was really curious about jewellery because she loved the shimmer of the jewels.

It wasn't long before she was immersed in her book. Having her one hand on her chin while the other is flipping it's pages.

"Here, Citrina."

"Ah."

It was Aron who came up so suddenly, when she responded, he was amazed. Citrina laughed because it was funny.

When Aron saw her laugh, he couldn't help but smile. He didn't want to disturb the sweet moment.

To encourage him, Citrina kindly inquired him, "You have something to do in the library?"

"Eh? Yes..."

Aron's eyes squinted as he smiled. It was the first time since he was born to have someone he could call a friend. Citrina guessed that he probably wanted to spend some time with a friend.

Citrina looked around for a bit. The outer residence has a separate library, and there are few people who use it, so they can speak comfortably.

Aron carefully pulled out a chair next to her and sat down. Citrina, who looked at him smilingly, closed the book she was reading.

It was a thick book.

The cover was slowly revealed as she had glided by. Aron glanced at the cover.

"Jewellery book? Do you like jewellery?"

Aron looked puzzled by the weight of a fairly thick book.

"I like it. Would you also like to read it?"

"Yes. But why do you like it?"

"I want to do a jewellery business someday."

Citrina answered frankly. It was still the beginning of the book when jewellery was not popular. There were neither genius craftsmen nor famous disciples of dwarves yet. She still has a good chance.

"Someday ..." Aron repeated. Citrina, who spoke such words, looked at him.

Aron still has no future right now; the only future he thinks he has was dying after depleting his mana.

Only after the Duke's death did he really contemplate his future.

Citrina's mood was sullen.

Aron smiled and said, "Citrina, that's cool." There's no jealousy or regret in his clear voice.

"Thank you." Citrina smiled.

Aron didn't reply back for a moment. "I'll buy jewellery sometime later when I go out."

She looked at Aron's clear eyes that were half-closed, and asked in a soft voice, "When you go out?"

"Yes."

"Ok."

Listening to Aron's trembling voice talking about life was extremely sad, she thought.

"There's a gem called ruby, its colour is red. The people of the empire call it the heart of a knight."

"The heart of a knight?"

"Yes. It's as red as the heart of a courageous knight."

"...Cool." Aron whispered. Citrina looked at him, "Someday, I'll give you a ruby."

She also has an ulterior motive for this. Black eyes and black hair, it's probably going to fit him.

But the main reason why Citrina wanted to give him a ruby is that she wanted to give him courage. The meaning of ruby is courage. It's a gem that inspires a bit of courage to the person who owns it.

She knew of some obstacles that would come to the male lead from the novel. She also knew that an act of goodwill would be needed.

Aron looked at her and smiled with trembling eyes. "Thanks. What should I give you in return?"

She smiled at the sight of his eyes filled with naivety. "You can think of it slowly." Feeling a little bit closer.

The sun was slowly sinking from the window of the study.

Citrina blinked with a lazy expression. She likes the feeling of time passing by like this.

*tuk-tuk*

Heled knocked. "Citrina, a letter has come. It is from your sister, it seems to be urgent."

"Come in."

"Citrina has a sister?" As Aron murmured with drooping shoulders, while Citirna was immersed in her thoughts.

'Elena sent a letter?'

Why so?

She knew Elena and knew the world's ending, but she remained ignorant of some things.

"Here it is. Please, check."

With his quick-pace, he politely handed the letter.

She has a question in her mind, 'What's going on?'

Citrina slowly accepted the letter. All her questions were answered as soon as she read the letter, not knowing if it's a good thing or not.

~To my sister, Citrina.

This is Elena.

I was accepted as an apprentice swordsman in the academy. I'm a step closer to success, and so I think I should buy a sword. It's hard to cover its cost from the small allowance given by the academy.

Although there's still the tuition, I would like you to send me the money to buy a sword first. The academy said they would lend me a sword, but I think it's better to use one that's a little more expensive but appropriate for my young age.

I'm sorry to have asked you like this. Still, if I do well, I can provide money for sister. Don't worry, you'll have it.

I ask of you. I'll wait for your reply.

Elena~

So the main goal is to put out money. Citrina sighed and held her head.

Let's make the story clear at this point. Elena was not a bad child, she also has her own difficulties.

It's just that she believed that 'her success' would lead to 'Citirna's happiness'.

'Anyway, by the time she succeeds, I'm already dead. She'll regret it only after I died.'

Even after thinking about it a few times, the ending was still the same. Citrina deeply sighed.

"Ha..."

She was angry. Elena felt that the sacrifice of her family was only natural for her successful future.

'... I'm getting angry at a person who isn't even here. Really now.'

But Citrina calmed down after thinking of the present.

'There was an episode in the novel where Elena bought a sword from a dwarf's workshop. At the time of her visit, the dwarf Rotana and the genius craftsman Adilock Anitogone, who will someday become Rotana's disciple, was there.'

She read the book numerous times, so she clearly remembers it. Elena discovered a spirit jewel sleeping inside a gem when she was buying a sword.

'Time is running out.'

She bit her lip. Can she really rehabilitate Desian and go to Ronata's atelier in time? Can she meet the gem spirit and Adilock Antigone?

The only thing that she knew was that nothing had started yet. Reminded of this fact, her heart became incredibly calm.

'What should I do with Elena?'

She took a few breaths as she made her decision.

Citrina sacrificed a lot to this point. Unfortunately for Elena, she was no longer willing to live as her family's slave.

Citrina opened her tightly closed lips and said, "Please block all letters from my family."

When she was done speaking, she held the letter on both hands and the sound of ripping of paper was heard.

"Yes," Heled replied, collecting the ripped shreds. He had no change expression on his face, like a wax figure.

Heled turned around and said, "I will throw them all in the trash."

He looked back at her, and she bowed her head as she expressed her gratitude.

"Then, have a good time." Heled politely bowed his head and closed the door.

As she listened to the sound of the door closing, CItrina took a little breath and knocked on the table.

'You can just ignore it.'

Citrina suddenly thought of the difference between a supporting character and a protagonist. Her fist tightened, her long fingernails piercing through her skin, seeping out blood.

While Citrina was immersed in her own world, Aron, who was watching the whole situation, was curious yet cautious.

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