Chapter 70: Night Tension [2]

’Tsk... Not yet.’

Despite how tempting the opportunity was, Sofia understood the danger.

She was inside the Riina family residence.

Even if she managed to kill Lorenzo, escaping afterward would be nearly impossible.

She would probably be killed before she could even set foot outside the room.

Who knew how many Awakeners, Masters, and Saints were guarding the residence?

She couldn’t afford to act recklessly and surrender to her desire for revenge.

Sofia clenched her fists, forcing herself to abandon the thought.

’I’ll wait for a better opportunity.’

She glanced at Lorenzo one last time before lying down again, keeping as much distance between them as possible.

She intended to stay awake...sleep, however, had other plans.

Despite her determination, despite every mental preparation she’d made, exhaustion pulled her under after only a few hours.

She fell asleep hating herself for it.

---

The morning arrived gray and heavy with rain.

Sofia woke to find Lorenzo already moving around the bedroom.

He appeared to be suffering from a hangover, judging by his frown as he straightened his clothes and carefully adjusted his attire to perfection.

"Ah, you’re finally awake?"

"..."

They weren’t close enough to exchange warm morning greetings.

Sofia merely nodded.

"I’ve informed the servants to bring breakfast here. After we’re done eating, clean yourself up, and we’ll head straight back to the academy."

"I see..."

Having said that, Sofia turned her attention toward the window.

Rain poured outside, forming a gloomy curtain over the residence.

She stared at the storm, trying to clear her mind and gather her thoughts after the previous night’s ordeal.

Before long, the servants arrived with breakfast.

Sofia turned around, only to stare at the sheer quantity of food they had brought.

"What?"

"Isn’t this a little too much?"

Lorenzo glanced at the table.

"You seemed to have quite an appetite when I saw you eating at the restaurant yesterday, so I told them to prepare more."

"..."

His words might have sounded considerate to someone else.

To Sofia, they were irritating.

She couldn’t believe he had paid attention to something so trivial, especially when he had given her so many reasons to despise him.

Still, after everything she’d endured, she didn’t have the energy to argue over breakfast.

She sat down and began eating without another word.

Once she had finished her meal, Sofia took a bath and changed into a fresh Golden Dawn Academy uniform that she had stored in her storage ring.

As she prepared to leave, Lorenzo spoke again.

"Meet Sara before we go. She misses you."

At the mention of Sara, Sofia’s expression changed slightly.

She pictured the little six-year-old girl, the only person in the Riina family she didn’t hate.

Sofia had met Sara on several occasions, including the engagement ceremony and a few subsequent visits to the Riina residence whenever she had been forced to come here.

Sara was a sweet child.

In different circumstances, Sofia might even have grown fond of her.

But that didn’t change anything.

No matter how innocent or lovable Sara was, she was still a member of the Riina family.

And Sofia’s ultimate goal remained unchanged.

’I’ll bring down the entire Riina family.’

She didn’t want to kill Sara.

The thought alone left an unpleasant feeling in her chest.

But she couldn’t allow that attachment to interfere with her plans.

After all, a wounded Riina was far more frightening than an ordinary enemy.

’When times comes, I’ll decide to what to do with her.’

For now, Sofia decided that Sara didn’t share any of the misdeeds that were done to her by Lorenzo and Aldric.

Still, she didn’t wanted to meet Sara. It was complicated to her.

"I don’t think that’s a good idea," Sofia said quietly.

"It’s not a request."

Of course it wasn’t.

Sofia made her way downstairs, and it wasn’t long before small footsteps came running down the hallway.

"Big sis Sofy! You came back!"

Sara threw herself at Sofia before she could brace herself, small arms wrapping around her legs with the uncomplicated enthusiasm of childhood.

Sofia’s chest tightened in a way she deeply resented.

"Hello, Sara," she managed, gently placing a hand on the girl’s black hair.

"Did you colour your," Sara said, looking up at her white hair which was black before. "But why?"

Sofia chuckled at her innocent question.

’Only if she knows...’

She could feel Lorenzo watching from somewhere behind her. Could sense his satisfaction at seeing this moment—at watching Sofia interact with his little sister, proving something to himself about connection and belonging.

Sara tilted her head, studying Sofia’s face with surprising thoughtfulness for a six-year-old.

"Why? Because I wanted to." Sofia said with forced smile.

"You’re sad," the girl announced.

Sofia blinked. No one else had noticed. Or rather, everyone else had noticed but didn’t care enough to mention it.

"I’m fine," Sofia said.

Sara frowned, clearly unconvinced.

"You should smile more," she said seriously. "Smiling makes people less sad. That’s what Father told me."

Sofia’s hand stilled in the girl’s hair.

’Their father.’

The legendary Overlord. The man who’d built this empire on blood and sacrifice.

And yet he’d apparently taken time to teach his daughter about smiling and sadness.

The contradiction was almost painful.

"I’ll try," Sofia whispered.

She meant it more than she wanted to.

Sara smiled up at her, satisfied, and let go. "Okay! Come back soon, okay? I’ll ask Father to bring you more things you like to eat."

Sofia managed a nod before Sara was called away by servants, ushered back to her lessons or meals or whatever filled a six-year-old’s day in this place.

’Well, at least now I can get the hell away from this place as fast as possible.’

Sofia thought to herself as she made her way to sedan along with Lorenzo.

Enzo was injured during yesterday’s attack so he was resting and someone’s else was driving the car...

Along the way she didn’t talk to Lorenzo and he didn’t he talk to her too.

Which she was glad for.