Volume 3: Chapter 34 - Only Family, Lia (Part ll) (Extra)

I had to do something, I had to do something…

Just then, I saw Sister Aisha also arriving at the door.

Strangely, Sister Aisha no longer gave me that uncomfortable feeling from before. Even, I saw guilt in her eyes.

Then Sister Aisha suddenly apologised to me which surprised me. But currently, I had no mind to pay attention to her.

At this moment, I want to comfort Brother Robert. I couldn't control my compassion, but I also couldn't think of what to do, so I just hugged him without a second thought.

Because whenever I felt sad, my mother would always hug and comfort me, and in her arms, my heart would feel warm and incredibly safe.

So I simply thought that if I also hugged him, would he return to his gentle self?

At the same time, a strange warmth also enveloped me from behind.

Looking back, I saw Sister Aisha hugging both myself and Brother Robert.

Suddenly I felt my nose turn sour. This warmth, I hadn't felt it ever since my mother passed away.

Brother Robert started crying and apologizing to me. I also started crying, venting out the emotions hidden in my heart. Sister Aisha also kept apologising.

We hugged each other like that for an unknown amount of time. I could feel it; the gentle Brother Robert from before had returned and even Sister Aisha had become gentle. It was wonderful.

My intuition was right after all. Brother Robert was my other ray of sunshine, coloring my world once again.

But now, there was another extra ray of light which I hadn't expected and that was Sister Aisha.

From then on, Brother Robert, Sister Aisha, and I finally became true family.

Being together always was a matter of course, as I later learned.

From a certain day, for some unknown reason, Brother Robert suddenly started practicing swordsmanship.

At first, I hid and watched him curiously together with Sister Aisha as he swung his sword in the air, but after a while, it became boring, and I even felt annoyed.

Wouldn't it be better to play with me instead of repeating the same movements over and over?

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So I decided to play a prank on Brother Robert. I quietly walked behind him, intending to suddenly scare him.

I put on a mischievous smile, convinced that even if Brother Robert was startled, he would laugh and forgive me.

But when I was still a few steps away from him, before I could do anything, Brother Robert's movements suddenly changed…

When I came to my senses, the wooden sword in his hand was only a finger's width from my neck.

I was so scared I couldn't move, unable to react to what had happened, and dared not imagine what would have become of me if his hand hadn't stopped in time.

Brother Robert himself, however, looked even more shocked than I did. After recognizing me, his eyes widened as if he couldn't believe he had made that motion to attack me.

Then his body began to tremble slightly. He released the hand holding the wooden sword and pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Please… Lia, don't approach me from behind so casually again. Please…"

At this moment, I deeply realized how afraid Brother Robert was of losing me. Just as I cared about him, he also cherished me equally.

Poor Brother Robert, still unable to escape the shackles of the past, still unable to escape his fear of the past, and hating himself for almost making a grave mistake.

At this moment, he was as vulnerable as I was when I lost my mother.

"Yes, I understand."

In response, I also hugged him tightly.

Of course, I would forgive him, because in Brother Robert's world, who else but me could forgive him?

I had to do something, I had to… protect such a vulnerable Brother.

As this thought arose, I was also incredibly happy that Brother Robert valued me so much; the pain from being hugged so tightly even felt sweet.

Then I had to repay him.

Everyone around me said I was a person with "talent." At first, I didn't care, not understanding what good "talent" on me was, or that I could live perfectly fine without it.

But now I finally thought of a specific use: I would use my "talent" to become stronger, to fear nothing, and to be able to protect Brother Robert and Sister Aisha.

For this, my ultimate goal is to control everything in Anglus Family, to wield the power of the Marquis Family for my own use. I need no one but Brother Robert and maybe Sister Aisha too.

Neither Lucius, nor the aunts (step mother's), not even Father. Those who don't love me, or those who want to use me, I don't need any of them.

Brother Robert plus Sister Aisha are my only family.

I also dislike that old man Belius, but he objectively fostered the bond between brother and me, so I'll begrudgingly forgive him.

Although the most effective solution would be for me to directly replace Father as the head of Anglus Family, I'm still too young.

That man still has value, and the plan to fake his accidental death isn't fully formed yet, nor is the timing right. Plus, I also don't have the strength to get rid of him yet.

For now, I'll continue to be Father's "good daughter" to achieve my current goals as much as possible.

By the way, I plan to prepare a "surprise" for Brother Robert next year. I wonder what kind of expression he'll have when he finds out? He'll definitely be very happy. I truly can't wait for next year to arrive.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but chuckle. I looked up and realized I had already arrived at the door of Father's room, which was also my destination.

I stopped, and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in."

I hugged the orange cat doll in my arms, opened the door, and walked in…

…

"Oh, isn't this my dear daughter Lia? Is there something you need?"

"There's something I'd like Father to help me with."

"Oh? This is quite rare. Tell me, I'll certainly help with anything I can do."

"Thank you, Father. I love you the most. But this matter, please keep it a secret from Brother Robert."

…