The Villain’s Sister Suffers Today

Ash's expression changed subtly in my words, but whether he did or not, I calmly continued, recalling about 15 years ago.

“In such a busy and crowded place, we have to walk hand in hand, you know. You can't let go of this hand.”

I spoke with considerable dignity.

In fact, I was like that at that age. Was I seven or eight?

It was the day when I followed my parents to watch the festival for the first time in a long time, and my head was full of thoughts that I, who was a child but an adult in spirit, should not miss my younger brother, who was three or four years old.

Children are taken care of by adults. That's how I felt.

However, it would have been like a child taking care of another child from the parent's perspective that day.

‘So what was it like back then?'

Did I end up walking around holding his hand all day?

Ash, who was young, didn't say a word of complaint even though his hand was held by me throughout the festival.

On the contrary, if I was distracted by something else and my grip was a little loose, he knew it like a ghost and held my hand tighter.

Yeah, that's how it was.

That's right. So I thought it was unexpected when I saw Ash.

Even though he used to wield a toy knife like a real knife and smash wooden pillars, as expected a child is still a child.

At that time, Ash held my hand so tightly because he was scared of being lost.

‘He was like that back then.…….’

By the way.

At that time, I didn't doubt it, but now that I think about it, maybe it was the other way around.

I know he was scared, but not because he was afraid he'd lose my hand and become a lost child, but he was afraid if I lost his hand…

“……..”

It's weird. It's supposed to be a ridiculous imagination against a four years old boy, but why is it so convincing?

What's that supposed to be?

While I was in confusion, Ash held my hand.

I was surprised to forget that I had reached out my hand to reinterpret my memories.

“Why are you surprised?”

“……I know, right?”

“What noonim say is right.”

He called me noonim. When I looked up to him, his next word followed.

“We don't know what will happen if I let go of this hand in this crowd.”

“……. “

“Maybe it’ll just become a lost child.”

“…… who?”

I asked, remembering Ash's bracken hand when he was four years old, who held my hand firmly so as not to miss it.

Ash replied with a gentle smile.

“Of course I am.”

“……really? Why not me?”

“The one who becomes a lost child is the one who suffers more damage when he loses the hand.”

Wait, that's a hard statement to pass on. There is room for opposition.

“No, I don't know if I was younger, but in this current situation, look. Wouldn't my damage be greater?”

“Well.”

“I’ll suffer more damage. I'm a lost child.”

“Hmm.”

“Are you talking about mental damage, not physical? Still, I'm going to suffer more?”

“Hmm, well.”

Ash answered vaguely until the end but was not positive.

While I didn't give up on my own and insisted that I was the lost child, the savoury smell suddenly stimulated my nose.

It was a cake shop that baked cookie dough and spread chocolate and jam in between.

“Eum.”

After a while, I walked down the street holding snacks with my hands that didn't hold Ash’s hand.

‘Delicious.'

It was sweet, crispy, and delicious. I don't really like sweet things, but if we’re on the street, we should eat something like this. That’s a must.

I almost avoided the kind of sweets because I once smelled tart and was nauseous, but now I'm comfortable with these.

Perhaps thanks to the people coming in, my steps were a little bit stronger.

Sir Davery followed me, walking diligently with a certain distance behind me, said.

“There are many nobles.”

It was a bit of a question.

“Are there many nobles?”

“Literally. There's a lot of nobles on the streets.”

I casually looked ahead at his words.

Dylan, who voluntarily accompanied us on this outing, helped.

“To be exact, there seem to be a lot of people walking around with appearance saying ‘I'm a nobleman'.”

“Ah.”

I understood. I blinked my head.

Obviously, as it said, there were quite a few nobles on the streets now, and although they were dressed in casual clothes, they were all taking escorts with a sword around their waist.

Everyone seemed to say, “I'm a nobleman, and the knights next to me are my escort.”

‘I'm no different.’

Ash's not my escort, but… oh, is he not?

Well, three people around me can fight with their swords anytime.

On the surface, I was no different from them.

“This isn't the usual scenery, is it?”

I asked after I remembered that there was a mixture of curiosity in Sir Davery's voice.

The answer came right back.

“As far as I remember……… that's right.”

The additional explanation was attributed to Dylan, who had been understanding Hidden's situation until relatively recently.

“Originally, even though nobles often come here, they don't make themselves noticeable. Especially for middle-aged men. Because it was clear what the purpose they’re here for.”

Indeed, the real purpose is Hidden’s gambling house where they pay money to watch people die.

Even though they enjoy it, it was illegal anyway.

“And as far as I know, it hasn't been much different…It's unique today. Is it because it's a festival? Even so.”

Dylan murmured. Like Sir Davery, there was a sign of doubt.

As a result, I was also wondering.

‘I know. Why?'

When I looked around the streets, a few of the people who came out to watch the festival were noblewomen like me.

Most of them were busy with escorts and showing off their nobility. Their ages also vary.

‘It's definitely him, and him. Physically speaking, rather than holding cotton candy at a festival, I think they'll be holding up stakes in a gambling house.…….’

Hmm, is this too much prejudice?

In the first place, the physiognomy of this place is illegal with no ground. Eliminated.

When I thought like that, in one corner of the streets, a merchant engaged in a heated solicitation.

“Come on, look here! If it's not today, I'll never come back. If you hit the centre of the target correctly, I'll give you a special gift for today! It's really just for today!”

“Although the day he says it will never end. Yesterday, tomorrow, today, this time of next year.”

“Haha.”

I laughed softly at Dylan's undeniable words, but I didn't take my eyes off the merchant.

It's because I was a little curious about what an obvious but special gift would be.

Then the merchant shouted loudly.

“A ticket to the latest performance of the popular troupe ‘Love a Thousand Times! I'm giving you a ticket that says it's hard to get even if you have money!”

A thousand loves?

The theatre company name of the performance that I am planning to go to see tomorrow during the day was “Fate of a Thousand Times.”

It's only one difference, but I liked that name quite a bit. Where is that performance?

As I showed curiosity, Ash gave the merchant a look.

“Are you interested?”

“Well….”

My worries were short.

“Yes.”

“Then I'll go.”

Ash led my hand and took a step right away.

The merchant was pleased to see us approaching.

“Welcome! Ho….. dear customer!”

“Hogu?”

I squinted my eyes. Isn't this person's snout too unmanageable?

If you want to do business with nobles, you should be able to hide your heart.

However, I did not bring it up with words after thinking about it. It didn't really matter to me anyway.

There was one thing I was interested in.

“They said you'd give a ticket as the prize.”

“That's right, sir. Do you know the theatre company, “Love a Thousand Times”? As for this ticket, you’re going to……….”

“When and where is the performance?”

“Oh, that's. The earliest performance will be in the capital next week.”

Perfect. I checked that Ash nodded and saw the merchant again.

“What am I supposed to do? Hit the target?

“Who wants to do it?”

“This one.”

“Oh, well, I just need you to hit the target right in the middle of the target, exactly ten hits.”

The merchant stuck out a small-sized crossbow to Ash, which seemed to have been remodelled for the event.

I asked while Ash took the crossbow.

“How many shots in total?”

“Fifteen shots, you have to guess in there.”

Ten out of fifteen times, the probability is around 60 to 70%, the target is quite far and the centre is narrow, but the probability was okay.

‘That's pretty good enough.'

Unexpectedly, the merchant rubbed his hands when he thought it was conscientious.

“By the way, the entry fee is……….”

I took gold coins out of my arms without even listening to how much the entry fee was. I only had gold coins anyway.

I feel like I'm rich in oil now.

“Thank you! Ho….. dear customer!”

He's doing that again. What's wrong with him?

While kicking my tongue inside, Ash lifted the loaded crossbow.

He was still holding my hand with one hand, so he held a crossbow and aimed with one hand.

The merchant was surprised.

“Are you going to shoot with one hand? Even if it looks like that, it's not easy because it's heavy…….”

Knock!

Even before the merchant's words were finished, the crossbow fired an arrow.

And I doubted my eyes.

The arrow deflected the target and stuck it on the wrong floor.

“Khm, this crossbow is harder to measure than it looks. Don't think the same as other crossbows. I forgot to tell you.”

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