Chapter 1 (2/2)
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Because of my inevitable fate, I felt anxious and restless looking for a way to survive in this seemingly hopeless situation.
Shortly after, there was no need for me to do so.
That was because my house had fallen before I even met the main character.
Ever since my parent's' business started dwindling, misfortune came from left and right.
My parents were geniuses; they were both straightforward, but rather naïve. Their friends' sweet tantalizing words seeped into their heads which made them embark on an unreasonable business.
Knowing the future, I spoke to my parent about it however, they didn't take the words of a child seriously.
It was a risky business from the start.
From the moment it failed, everything came spiralled downwards.
From a huge mansion, to a small house, and finally, an old shack.
Living in this small and shabby house, my twin siblings had suffered from poverty.
I never lost hope, however, fate wasn't kind to us. My parents, with their helplessness and despair, ended up with a gruesome decision that they can never take back.
-We're sorry. We're so sorry…
With a rope in their hands, they wrapped it around their young children.
[Light: Too dark boi, too dark. Someone open the lights.]
[Haru: What kind of parents are they?!]
They hung my twin siblings and I from the ceiling, and they followed afterwards.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the old house wasn't st.u.r.dy enough.
The beam broke under as it couldn't support the weight of three children and we fell down, leaving me with a broken arm.
My siblings and I survived in the face of death.
But how could I be happy?
In front of me was my hanging parents' corpses, and we who survived were left to pay a debt of 5 billion marcas.
At the time, I was merely fifteen and my siblings were seven.
Out of this miserable situation, there were only three silver linings.
Because the creditor of this place was the Vatican, it cannot be sold and we can continue living here.
In the future, the twins would become notable wizards.
As soon as they are recognized as a wizard, they'll be treated as the same level as a Duke.
They'll be able to gain honor and wealth all at once.
However, this was still in the far future. So until then, we're still considered as orphans without a home to return to.
Reading it in the novel, it was just a rough setting in my head, but experiencing how terrible poverty is first hand made me realize how horrible reality is.
Five billion marcas was equal to five billion won. And huge debts incur enormous interests on them.
The original Ertha in the novel made living by selling herself in a brothel without telling her younger siblings.
But I didn't want to do that.
I decided I'd stick to them until the moment the twins made their debut as wizards.
I tried paying my debts slowly by working at random places.
Paying the interest itself was already overwhelming, I could barely manage to pay the original debt.
The five million marcas debt loomed over me like a shadow.
It crushed me. And at the age of 18 years old…
I was buried in that huge pile of debt.
”Haa…”
I sighed heavily. Today was the day I pay the interest. The money I had earned from crazily working everywhere had all disappeared in a blink of an eye.
The words they uttered continued to play in my mind.
-I'm afraid we'll have to increase the interest for next month…
-You haven't paid the initial debt for a long time.
-So this month…
They slipped out a paper, and scribbled on it was an outrageous amount that was hardly anyone could afford.
I tried to seek mercy from them because it was impossible for me to take on more work, but the words from the Vatican collector's cut through me like a knife.
I was rejected without any consideration.
I rummaged through my empty pockets with a heavy heart.
There were only a few coins left. Still, I could buy some bread with this along the way home.
Of course, I could never buy milk, fruit s drinks, or even cheese and jam.
I decided to buy the cheapest bread and bought as many as I could in the bakery.
I think this bread will last until tomorrow morning.
I continued walking with a bag of bread in my arms.
When I reached home, the sun was already down.
A cry suddenly broke out from the window of the old shabby house that seemed like it would c.u.mble at any given moment.
Startled, I dashed into the house.
”Charles! Ethan!”
I could see Charles and Ethan weeping.
”Sister!”3
”Si-sister…”4
Charles angrily pointed at Ethan.
”Ethan, by himself…”
From what I heard, they've gotten an apple from somewhere. They were planning on splitting the apple in half, eating one by themselves while the other half will be given to me. However, Ethan accidentally gobbled it all up.
”I'm- I'm so sorry, sister…”
”It's okay, Ethan. Charles too, don't be so angry with him, instead, let's go eat this.”
I gave the bread to my younger siblings.
Charles, who has been sending murderous glares at Ethan, and Ethan, who had been on the verge of crying, turned silent.
The bread was hard and crumbly. However, they ate in a hurry out of hunger.
I alternately glanced between Charles and Ethan as they gobbled up my bread.
The condition of my younger siblings' bodies caught my eyes.
They were thin like dried twigs in the middle of winter. It was no wonder though, since they have been starving at the peak of their growth.
Suddenly, I felt suffocated. My throat was closing up, and tears welled up in my eyes.
The interest will increase drastically once more in the next month.
I would be 18 and my siblings would be 10 years old by then.
Their debut as a wizard comes when they hit 15.
Five more years. I have to hang on for five more years…
So far, we've managed to deal with it, but we're on the edge now.
After pondering for a moment, I mumbled, putting down the last piece of bread that I've eaten.
”…I feel like I'll starve to death first before getting eaten by the main character.”
”Huh? What did you say, sister?”
”Nothing.”
Charles and Ethan gave me a bewildered face as I got up from my seat. I stood in front of the cracked mirror in the corner of the room.
A tall lady with feline-like eyes. Lips drawn with a straight line that would make onlookers give an impression of being blunt and cold. Bluish-gray eyes paired with long platinum locks.
I raised my eyebrows for a moment before tightly tying my hair up. It looks neater than before.
Thinking about the person I'll be meeting, I think it's better for me if I wore a dress.
But there's no way I could afford one, so I tied my hair up instead.
After fixing and tidying up my rags for clothes,
”I'll be out for a bit. I'll be back soon,” I informed Charles and Ethan. Then they asked me where I was going to which I replied with,
”I'm going to buy something delicious.”
Their eyes went round at that statement.
But as soon as I shut the door, I clenched my trembling hand.
The main character, a wizard, needs a purifier.
As a purifier, I'll need money.
So I was planning to sell my body to the protagonist.
For the price of five billion marcas.
If you ask me, it's a not such a bad deal for both the hero and me.
Notes:
[ 1 ]- Charles, Female.
[ 2 ]- Ethan, Male.
[ 3 ] – Charles called Ertha with ‘언니 ‘
[ 4 ] – Meanhwile Ethan, called Ertha with ‘누나'
Just in case anyone wondering, yes, Charles is female name. Light already confirmed it for me xD tbh i thought Charles is a male name xD. Those twin siblings called Ertha in different way. That's why i knew that Charles is female.
How was it? I hope you guys enjoy it. Your feedback could make me update the new chapter faster xD
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