Want to Die?
"Want to die?"
"W-what do you mean...?"
Anna's face drained of color.
She stumbled back, stammering.
"I-I was just... Lady Charlotte made a mess, so I was going to clean it up..."
"Clean it up? A mess?"
I let out a scoffing laugh.
"Is that what you call hurling a napkin like that? Is that the training they gave you?"
"Th-that was... my hand slipped..."
"Oh, slipped?"
Guess she'd forgotten my temper.
I nodded and rose from my chair.
Scraaaape—
The sound of the chair sliding back echoed through the silent dining room.
"Hands slip sometimes. Sure. It happens."
I approached Anna slowly, right up to her face.
"But you know..."
Her eyes trembled with terror.
"If your hand slips on its own like that, does it really need to stay attached?"
"Eek! P-please, miss...!"
I tilted my head, pretending to think it over.
"If I cut off your wrist, it won't slip again. Want me to help?"
My voice was low and calm, but the killing intent laced through it was real.
This wasn't just about an insolent maid.
It was territorial marking.
Right there at the table, Charlotte had been treated like a ghost—or worse, invisible.
Even the family head, Cassius, was just watching. How pathetic must she have looked in the servants' eyes?
'The master stays quiet, so the dogs bite the master.'
The reason I sat next to Charlotte wasn't to comfort her.
'She's by my side.'
'I'm looking out for her.'
It was to show everyone that.
The infamous good-for-nothing lady of House Bellaph. Elise de Bellaph cherishes this girl.
An unspoken warning to tread carefully.
And yet, she dares pull this shit right in front of me?
Time to make it crystal clear.
So no one touches Charlotte even after I head back to the academy.
"I-I'm sorry! Miss! Please spare me!"
Anna collapsed to her knees right there.
The other servants in the dining room froze, not even daring to breathe.
I crouched down to meet her eyes.
Then lifted her trembling chin with my cold fingers.
"Listen well."
I whispered softly.
But my voice carried clearly to every corner of the room.
"You said your hand slipped and made a mistake?"
"Y-yes! That's right! Please...!"
"Sure. It happens. You're only human."
I smiled coldly and tightened my grip.
"So you get it—my hand might slip too?"
I had no real intention of harming her, but to make an example, I amped up the theatrics.
Thud.
That's when it happened.
Someone tugged at my dress hem.
"S-sis... please stop."
It was Charlotte.
She'd climbed down from her chair and stood behind me.
Her small hand clutched my dress, trembling.
"Charlotte?"
"You can... stop now."
"Let go. Don't you know what this bitch did to you?"
"I know. But..."
Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them and looked at Anna.
The maid cowering flat on the floor in fear.
And her scary sister looming over her.
Charlotte took a deep breath and stepped in front of me.
"I-I'm... okay now."
"What?"
"Sis got... so mad for me. You fought for me."
Charlotte looked up at me with a beaming smile.
"Heehee... see? I'm fine!"
That innocent, idiotic grin deflated my rage like a punctured balloon.
I was furious for her sake.
But if the victim herself smiled so brightly and said she was fine, I'd just look like the crazy one if I kept going.
"Haa..."
I let out a deep sigh.
The venom boiling inside me evaporated in an instant.
'Can't win against her. Seriously.'
"You're lucky."
I released Anna's chin with a flick.
"Don't ever pull that shit in front of me again. Next time, your fingers won't be the end of it."
"Th-thank you! Thank you...!"
Anna's legs gave out completely as she crawled away, fleeing the dining room.
I turned from her retreating back and scanned the remaining servants.
Those who met my eyes gasped and bowed their heads in unison.
"That goes for all of you."
It was just Anna this time.
But surely some among them had ignored Charlotte before.
"You know what I mean?"
"Yes, miss! We'll remember!"
Their replies boomed out.
Satisfactory.
Only then did I take Charlotte's hand and sit back down.
"Come on, sit. The soup's getting cold."
I picked up my spoon casually and resumed eating.
You might ask if I could stomach food after stirring up such a mess.
Whatever. Not my problem.
"Please continue your meal, Father."
I nodded curtly toward Duke Cassius.
He'd done nothing to intervene during the chaos.
His amethyst eyes stared straight at me.
Would he scold me? Tell me to leave?
Tension hung in the air.
"The soup's cold."
He said curtly.
"Sebastian. Bring fresh bowls."
"Understood."
At Sebastian's gesture, the waiting servants swiftly cleared the cold soup and brought steaming new bowls.
To me. And to Charlotte.
Cassius picked up his spoon again as if nothing had happened.
"Eat."
Those words carried weight.
He was condoning my actions.
No one treated Charlotte like air anymore.
The servants moved with silent efficiency until the meal ended, not making a single loud breath.
I pulled Charlotte's plate over and cut her meat for her.
"Here, say ahh."
"Ahhh..."
Charlotte held back tears and opened her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk as she chewed.
She swallowed the meat, then rubbed her eyes with her sleeve.
With trembling hands, she gripped her fork again.
"I-I can eat properly too!"
Her determination was so endearing that my lips curved up involuntarily.
"Good. Eat lots."
Cassius watched the whole scene in silence.
A strange glint flickered in his eyes.
"You're taking care of Charlotte."
"She's my little sister."
I wiped sauce from Charlotte's mouth with a napkin as I replied.
"Since you won't, someone has to."
Cassius fell silent for a moment.
Then he lifted his wine glass again.
"Do as you like."
With that...
///
The meal ended, and we left the dining room.
"Thanks for the meal."
I gave a brief nod and turned. Charlotte grabbed my hem and trotted after me.
We reached the main building's entrance.
"A moment."
Sebastian blocked our path.
"Lady Bellije should head to the annex, but Lady Charlotte's room is in the west wing of the main building. This way, please."
Charlotte's face stiffened at his words.
"Ah..."
Her eyes shook anxiously as she looked up at me.
I wrapped an arm around her shoulders first.
"No. I'm taking her with me."
"Pardon?"
Sebastian questioned my firm tone.
"But Lady Charlotte's room is in the main—"
"I know. But starting today, she'll stay in the annex."
I tightened my hold on her shoulders.
I didn't need to ask why her face had hardened.
The main building.
Even without the maids' disdain, it must have felt like a prison to her.
Leaving a child alone in a place like that was too cruel.
"Any objections?"
I pushed shamelessly.
"His Grace hasn't given permission."
"Then go get it now. Should I fetch it myself?"
Sebastian looked troubled for a second, then sighed.
Duke Cassius's attitude at dinner.
Sebastian wasn't blind to it.
"Very well. I'll inform His Grace."
He stepped aside.
Only then did Charlotte's stiff expression soften.
She let out a relieved sigh and hugged my waist tightly.
"Good night."
Sebastian bowed and retreated.
///
On the way back to the annex.
Stars blanketed the night sky.
"Sis."
Charlotte swung our joined hands as we walked.
"Yeah? What?"
"You were so cool, sis."
"Really? Or just my shitty temper?"
"No! You were really, really cool in my eyes!"
Charlotte clung to my arm, eyes sparkling.
"I made up my mind."
"About what?"
"I'm gonna get strong like you, sis."
"You?"
I chuckled.
"How's a scaredy-cat like you gonna do that?"
"I can! You protected me this time, but next time, I'll protect you too!"
Charlotte clenched her fist determinedly.
She was so cute I couldn't resist pinching and stretching her cheek.
"Ow, that hurts!"
She rubbed her cheek, grumbling, but the smile never left her face.
"Alright. I'll be waiting. Protect me next time."
"Yeah! Promise!"
And so we returned to the annex.
That night.
Charlotte came to my room with her pillow, as if it were the most natural thing.
"Sis, let's sleep together!"