“Little ladies, have you heard of the Imperial Mark?”
“The Imperial Mark? Is there anyone in the Kaiter Empire who doesn’t know about it?”
“Indeed. You can’t call yourself an imperial citizen if you don’t know it, can you?”
I nodded, taking it as a given.
The Imperial Mark was a unique setting in the game “Happiness.”
The mark symbolized the imperial bloodline, shaped like an inverted triangle (▼), usually appearing under the eye and larger than a typical mole.
The color could vary slightly depending on the individual, and it was characterized by a shine as if a jewel were embedded in it.
People called it the ‘Triangle.’
I had seen it before when I was trying to capture the male lead candidates.
“Then, do you know this? Why the Imperial Mark only manifests on men?”
I came here because I was curious about the future, but why is she suddenly asking me this?
Even so, I pondered Grandma Horuru’s question for a moment.
‘Hmm.’
When I was playing the game, I was too busy trying to capture the male lead candidates, and I wasn’t particularly interested in the game’s settings or background.
As I’ve said repeatedly, not knowing it didn’t affect the game’s progress at all.
“Well, why is that?”
When I asked back as if I didn’t know, Grandma Horuru leaned forward and whispered as if she were telling a secret.
“If that mark appears on a woman, it’s a sign of a great disaster. Usually, they call that person a witch. So, if a daughter is born with the mark, they kill her right away.”
That’s why none of the imperial daughters have ever manifested the Triangle.
I got goosebumps all over my body at Grandma’s story.
“Th-That’s a really scary story.”
I frowned and wrapped my arms around myself.
If this was true, it was certain that humans were the cruelest animals.
“Ugh, to kill their own children over something like that. It’s truly terrible.”
This time, my sister spoke up.
It was the first reaction she had shown since coming here.
I strongly agreed with her words.
Even as I nodded, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of doubt.
“Grandma, that’s just a folktale that’s been passed down, right?”
“Well, it’s up to you little ladies whether you believe it or not. But one thing is for sure, I’ve never heard of the mark appearing on an imperial woman. Strangely enough.”
What, now that I think about it, that’s true.
It feels quite credible.
Reading the agreeing atmosphere, Grandma Horuru continued.
“Some ancient books describe the efforts to find witches.”
“There’s something like that? What is it?”
“Usually, there’s the act of magically poisoning fruits or dishes. So that the person can’t notice it.”
“Ah! I see.”
I was gradually losing interest.
This wasn’t the kind of story I wanted to hear.
I just wanted to know the future.
Whether I could avoid the great disaster, whether I could succeed in capturing the hidden ending, and whether I could escape from this place.
So, I couldn’t hide my listless expression any longer.
“But Grandma, what does that story have to do with us?”
“Hmm, you’re not ordinary. Not ordinary at all. Your very existence is questionable, so it wouldn’t be strange if the world came to an end. Why do you little ladies have so many secrets?”
It might have been just an ordinary question, but I almost hiccuped at the way she was staring at me.
It felt like she had seen right through me, and I felt uncomfortable.
Besides, it seemed I wasn’t the only one feeling this discomfort.
My sister flinched at this question as well.
“S-Secrets? We don’t have any such thing. We just came because we were curious about the future.”
I quickly changed the subject like someone who had a guilty conscience.
I nudged my sister’s side, who was sitting next to me, and prompted her, “Right, sis?”
It was a simple thought that we wouldn’t lose in terms of numbers.
“Tsk tsk, but what to do? You can’t hide what’s there. It’s useless to try to cover the sky with your palm.”
My expression darkened along with Grandma’s tongue-clicking reaction.
Does that mean things aren’t going well?
I came here hoping to hear good things, but what is this?
I was starting to regret bringing my sister along, thinking I was just ruining her mood.
“But is there any existence in the world that isn’t needed? Even an ant has its use. In the future, the earth will shake greatly.”
Grandma added that decline and prosperity are only a hair’s breadth apart, and that only the true owner of the land can save the world.
It was all difficult language.
I couldn’t even guess whether I would succeed in capturing the ending or not.
“Excuse me, Grandma. What does that owner of the land have to do with us?”
“Well, you know better than I do. Anyway, the two of you don’t have an ordinary relationship.”
“Re-Really? We don’t have an ordinary relationship?”
I tried to create a connection with my sister at all costs, putting aside everything else.
Hoping that a beautiful answer would come from Grandma’s mouth.
“Bad relationships and good relationships are all relationships. Hehe, this is the first time I’ve seen a chart like this in my life. The little ladies’ fate charts seem to be very closely related to the imperial family.”
“The imperial family?”
“Now, do you see this?”
Grandma Horuru pointed to a large star in the chart.
Then, a slight wave rippled around the star, and it transformed into the appearance of the imperial palace.
My mouth slightly opened at the unexpected sight.
“Wow!”
“I can’t know everything. I can only guarantee that the little ladies’ lives are not simple destinies.”
I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
So, I quickly latched onto Grandma’s words.
“So, does that mean our future is bright because there’s a big star?”
“Hehe, it could be or it might not be.”
What, she’s supposed to be a master of astrology.
What kind of ambiguous answer is that?
Tch, I can say things like that too!
I narrowed my eyes as if I was half-doubtful, but Grandma Horuru instead stared at the two of us in turn with sharp eyes.
“You can never change your innate destiny. Resisting it will only bring pain. But you can definitely forge the path to your destiny.”
“Forge?”
“Please, make a wise choice. That’s all I have to say.”
After that, Grandma Horuru didn’t answer any questions.
She clamped her mouth shut as if her lips had been glued together.
She only gestured for us to leave.
We had no choice but to leave the tent.
‘What the heck?’
Was I expecting too much?
I just felt more confused.
Moreover, I was conscious of my sister’s feelings, so it was truly the worst situation.
I glanced at my sister and asked.
“Haha, that’s a really strange grandma. You’re not supposed to believe in things like that, right? How about we just think of it as seeing it for fun?”
“Yeah. Let’s do that.”
Somehow, my sister’s answer didn’t sound convincing.
Her expression seemed cold too.
‘What should I do?’
I felt uneasy too, so I couldn’t help but think that way.
It didn’t seem like the atmosphere would improve even if we talked more.
Besides, I was nervous that she might find out I was a transmigrator.
‘I even broke out in a cold sweat when I heard her say that I was trying to cover the sky with my palm.’
Just then, as if to purify my heart, a sweet scent wafted through the air and brushed against my nose.
I happened to see a cotton candy store across the street.
“Sis, should we get cotton candy?”
“Sure.”
We quickly crossed the street.
It was only after putting the sweet cotton candy in my mouth that I felt a little better.
My sister’s expression also improved.
‘Phew, that’s a relief.’
Only then could I breathe a sigh of relief.
What happened today was just one of many days.
The only thing on my mind was that my sister and I didn’t have an ordinary relationship.
And one fact that still hasn’t changed.
My goal is to capture my sister.
More precisely, to succeed in capturing the hidden ending.
I didn’t want to face a terrible future anymore.
To do that, I must succeed in this life.
The path I’ve taken so far hasn’t been smooth, and the path ahead won’t be easy either.
‘If I can’t change my innate destiny. I should at least forge the path I take.’
I clenched my fist and made a firm resolution.
Time flew by like an arrow.
One late night, as the founding festival, which lasted for about a month, was nearing its end.
A private carriage stopped in front of the house.
I couldn’t sleep tonight, so I had come down to the first floor.
Wrapped in a blanket, I was drinking warm cocoa that Anne had made for me and fixed my gaze out the window.
“Anne, did you see that?”
“Yes, miss. I’m not the only one who saw it, right?”
“Yeah, what is it at this late hour?”
“I wonder. It’s not a thief, is it?”
What kind of daring thief would bring a carriage?
But accidents can happen to anyone.
“They say ‘never’ is a dangerous word, right?”
Startled, the two of us looked at each other at the same time.
Then we started looking for things we could use as weapons.
Just then, we heard whispering in front of the entrance.
“Leave it here.”
“Should I put it inside.”
“Are you trying to wake everyone up?”
“Ah, of course not. Then I’ll be on my way.”
Soon, we heard the sound of coins being handed over, and then the locked door opened and a large man appeared.
“Dad?”
“Say?”
“Dad!!”
I instinctively ran and hugged my dad tightly.
I didn’t even realize that the blanket I was wearing was falling to the floor.
“You’re still awake, huh?”
“I couldn’t sleep. By the way, how did you come without telling us?”
I widened my eyes as if I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
As far as I knew, Dad always contacted us separately before coming home.
“I came because I missed my daughter.”
“Wow, really?”
“Of course! I managed to make time so I could spend at least the last day of the founding festival with you.”
Dad smiled brightly and lightly kissed my forehead.
It was truly a surprise visit.
And one with a very meaningful purpose.
“Dad, thank you.”
“I missed my little bean so much. Say, it’s so good to see you like this.”
“Me too.”
And as he patted my back.
‘Hua.’
I felt like I was about to burst into tears at his warm touch.
I had nothing to fear in the world right now.
Because I had such a reliable thief, no, Dad.
‘I want to live with Dad for a long, long time.’