Chapter 165 - 163

Chapter 165: Chapter 163

’What did Gramps say again...?’

I lay there motionless, staring blankly at the pink ceiling.

’That... I’m from this world?’

’How?’

’Then what about my body back home?’

’And what did he mean by my real father sent me there?’

The more I tried to piece everything together, the less it made sense.

Every possible answer I tried to think had somehow given me three new questions.

It was like solving a puzzle only for someone to casually throw in another thousand pieces.

I groaned and clutched my head, only to freeze.

"..."

Instead of fingers, a fluffy little paw rested on top of my head.

"...Nyang?"

Translation: Seriously?

I stared at my paw for another few seconds before letting out the deepest sigh my tiny leopard body could manage.

I glanced around the room in hopes of spotting my energy stone somewhere nearby but I couldn’t find it no matter where I look since the color pink were assaulting my eyes.

My eye twitched as I buried my face in both paws.

Whoever decorated this room needs professional help.

I can’t do this anymore.

I’ve only been awake for two minutes and I’m already developing a headache.

Determined to escape the aggressively pink prison, I hopped off the bed without hesitation...

Only to land face-first on the plush pink carpet.

’What happened to this body? Did it become sloppy because I don’t transform often?’

With a sigh, I pushed myself upright when a sharp sting shot through my shoulder.

I instinctively looked down to see a clean white bandage wrapped securely around my shoulder, hidden beneath my fur.

The sight instantly brought everything rushing back.

The underground lake.

The explosions.

Kayden.

The gunshot.

’...Right. I got shot.’

I absentmindedly poked the bandage with one paw before immediately regretting it.

’Ow... Still hurts.’

I looked around the room again.

’What happened after I passed out?’

’Did they catch the bastard who fired that shot?’

’Did Gawain had fun torturing that man?’

The questions refused to stop coming.

There was only one way to find out.

I slowly climbed back onto all fours and began limping towards the door.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

I limped quietly down the hallway, my attention completely abandoning my earlier existential crisis.

My eyes were now glued to the mechanical robots moving around the mansion.

One was polishing the windows with frightening efficiency.

Another was vacuuming the carpet.

A third one rolled past carrying a stack of freshly folded towels on its little mechanical arms.

I watched it disappear around the corner with undisguised envy.

’Where can I buy one of those?’

Imagine never having to hire employees.

No salary.

No annual leave.

No complaints about overtime.

No awkward staff meetings.

Sure, the repair and maintenance costs were probably ten times an average worker’s yearly salary...

’But I want one....’

I could already picture one standing inside Crimson Snow Atelier.

It could greet customers, sweep the floors, organize inventory, maybe even remind me to eat lunch whenever I got too absorbed in carving.

"..."

I stopped walking.

Actually, there was no need to buy one because I already had Gawain.

He greeted people whenever I couldn’t be bothered.

He cleaned up after my mess without me even asking.

He somehow knew where everything was in place, even the things I had misplaced.

He reminded me to eat, sleep, and drag me away from my work whenever I overdid it.

He was basically a walking personal assistant, bodyguard, secretary, manny, and an unpaid therapist whenever I decided to do something catastrophically stupid.

Well I did pay him an absurd amount.

Though, considering everything he had to put up with on a daily basis, he honestly deserved a raise.

I instantly shook my head.

If he heard me thinking that, he’d probably ask for one immediately.

I smiled to myself.

Sure, a robot could follow every command perfectly.

It would never complain, argue, or sigh so dramatically it sounded like its soul was leaving its body.

But...

Could it instinctively stand in front of me whenever danger appeared?

Could it scold me for skipping meals while quietly handing me a plate of food anyway?

Could it remember all my little habits without me ever saying a word?

Could it stay by my side through every ridiculous situation I managed to get myself into?

...

Probably not.

A robot could do exactly what I programmed it to do.

Gawain, on the other hand...

Cared.

Even if he disguised it behind endless sarcasm, insults, and the occasional threat to personally admit me into a mental asylum.

My smile softened.

’I don’t need a robot. I’ve already got Gawain.’

I shook my head, abandoning my dream of owning a housekeeping robot, and continued down the hallway.

I only made it a few more steps before I stopped again as I saw one of the doors ahead hadn’t been fully closed.

A thin sliver of light spilled into the corridor through the narrow gap.

"..."

My ears perked up before letting out a smile.

’Like they always say... Curiosity won’t kill the cat if it won’t get caught...’

I glanced left.

Empty.

I glanced right.

Also empty.

"...Just one peek."

I silently padded towards the door and leaned ever so slightly towards the opening.

’I’m not eavesdropping, I’m simply investigating.’

With that completely unreasonable justification accepted by the committee inside my head, I shamelessly pressed one fluffy ear closer to the gap and listened.

"...It’s already been a week!" an unfamiliar man barked. "Why isn’t she awake yet?!"

"Calm down, Dad. She isn’t like the rest of us," Gawain replied with his usual patience.

My ears twitched.

’I didn’t he still has family. I honestly thought he was an orphan considering he doesn’t talk much about his family.’

"The fact that she’s not like the rest of us is exactly the problem!" the man snapped. "She’s more delicate than any of you idiots, yet you brought her into this godforsaken district!"

"I was about to drag her back to the capital," Gawain defended himself. "then the twins showed up."

"We were excited to formally meet her!" Remington said without a shred of guilt.

"Boss had been asking us what time it was every single minute," Colt added in his usual matter-of-fact tone. "We had no choice but to meet Miss Blanca halfway."

’...So the twins are here too.’

"And you," the man’s attention shifted. "What possessed you to let her come here?"

"She came because of a business agreement," Kayden answered calmly. "The real question is why you suddenly invaded my territory."

’...Kayden too.’

"So..." Gawain said, his voice growing suspicious. "Why did you suddenly order Islave to attack the Cartiere Estate?"

"I—"

"Yeah, Sir," Colt interrupted. "Mind explaining why you decided to show up uninvited?"

"I wanted to—"

"And while we’re asking questions," Remington chimed in cheerfully, "why—"

"Say one more word," the man growled, "and I’ll throw you out that window, brat."

Remington immediately shut his mouth as he puffed out his cheeks and pouted like a scolded child. "Not fair."

The man let out a long, exhausted sigh. "I only wanted to see my daughter."

’What? Me? Daughter? Huhhhh...?’

Inside the room, everyone reacted at once.

"By kidnapping her?" Gawain asked flatly.

"I was only going to borrow her for a little while!" the man protested indignantly. "How was I supposed to know another group of lunatics would show up and start shooting the place up?"

"And let’s say you actually succeeded in borrowing her," Gawain let out a long, exhausted sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Would she even believe you if you suddenly told her you were her father?"

"Ye—"

The man stopped mid-sentence as his eyes slowly shifted toward Gawain.

"You..."

A dangerous silence settled over the room.

"...still haven’t told her you’re her brother?"

Nobody spoke.

Even Remington, who usually couldn’t survive five seconds without making a comment, wisely kept his mouth shut.

Gawain looked away. "I was waiting for the right opportunity."

"The right opportunity?" the man repeated, sounding personally offended. "It’s been years!"

"I know."

"You live with her!"

"I know."

"You eat together!"

"I know."

"You practically raised her!"

"I know."

"And you somehow forgot to mention, ’By the way, we’re siblings’?!"

"I was busy."

"You were busy?!"

"I had other priorities."

The man slapped a hand over his face. "I genuinely don’t know whether to be impressed or disappointed."