Chapter 10

Wanting to Escape (9)

I felt very good in the morning.

Because it was my birthday and there was even a cake.

Even after a day  passes, I would still be satisfied by the taste from the amazing cake, and I decided that after eating something delicious, I want to eat something delicious again.

I was thinking of using the meal ticket I received from Oscar yesterday.

I originally planned to use it sparingly, but today was my birthday!

I had never really celebrated my birthday properly.

I don’t remember ever hearing the word ‘Happy Birthday’, so neither Caitlyn nor Reid must have known the date.

Of course, it didn’t mean that the two of them didn’t do something on their own birthdays since they used to celebrate it lavishly together.

When the two of them went out dressed up every birthday, I hesitated for a while in front of the door before asking.

“Where are you all going?”

“Today is Reid’s birthday, so we’re going to eat.”

“But…”

“Anabelle, don’t you know you can’t skip a day of training? Won’t that be a waste of time when you need to beat Ian Wade?”

“…”

“My good daughter, just win the sword contest, and then I’ll have dinner with you every day.”

“…Yes.”

“It’s all because of Ian Wade. If he hadn’t beaten you, our family would have been much happier.”

“Yes, Annabelle. Mother is right. I’m also sad that I can’t have dinner with you on my birthday. So somehow, you need to beat Ian Wade.”

There was a time when I thought it was all because of Ian that I couldn’t become a member of a harmonious family.

So I thought I couldn’t celebrate my birthday until I beat Ian.

No, it was until I remembered my previous life.

But now that I had become a new person with a different perspective, I decided to celebrate my birthday.

It was foolish of me to train today and have them say that I would beat Ian and I was wasting time at this moment.

I was worth being born, even if Caitlyn and Reid didn’t celebrate that fact.

“That’s strange. I’m sure the Nadits always enjoyed their birthday dinners at our restaurant’s headquarters.”

According to Aaron, it was the Rainfield Restaurant that Caitlyn and Reid always went to without me.

I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to celebrate my birthday there too.

‘Rainfield Restaurant… They must have delicious food.’

It might not be as good as yesterday’s meal prepared by the main chef himself, but the standardized taste of the chain restaurants were also reliable.

‘I like celebrating my birthday alone.’

In the old days, I thought it meant nothing since that was what Caitlyn and Reid had made me think.

But now it was different.

‘This year, I’m alone, but next year, I should get a handsome man and celebrate it together.’

First of all, I had to be free next year…

That could be the case if I just moved abroad, but I was the second-best swordsman in the empire.

Rather than going abroad, the best way was to use my name value without committing a crime somehow.

So, I should never get involved with Ian after saving him like what I was trying to do now.

I couldn’t believe I had to accomplish this ridiculous mission…

‘It’s all of my karma.’

It was me in the past who readily agreed with Reid’s plan, so I had no choice but to suffer today.

If everything went according to my plan, then the future me would be at peace.

“Hey you.”

I was excited about the meal ticket and going out, but Reid, who was drinking tea in the drawing room, called me.

His clothes were in very good condition, and looking at the tin case on the table, the tea leaves must have been very expensive.

‘You’ve never wished me a happy birthday before, but will you say something today?’

“Where are you going without training these days? Are you really tired?”

“…Did you call me to ask that?”

“Then what should I say to you?”

I didn’t expect it, so I wasn’t disappointed, but I got angry.

I strode towards him.

“I have something to say.”

“What? That Ian Wade got hurt?”

“No, not that. Give me some money.”

“…Huh?”

“When I was a child, I gave you all the inheritance rights. I don’t even have the money to buy a decent pair of clothes right now, so I wear them back-to-back every day.”

Reid’s eyes shook slightly, but he immediately regained his composure and said.

“I told you, I’ll hand it over to you if you win.”

Even his voice was sweet.

“But until then, you shouldn’t be distracted. I know all this money is thanks to you. So trust me and wait. Besides, this will really be the last time, right?”

“I’m not distracted.”

“Going out and buying clothes, making friends, and eating are all distracting. Don’t think about anything, just train. It’s really up to the sword contest. It’s not that I’m not paying you, I’m taking care of you.”

“I don’t need that kind of care.”

“I’m sure you’ll win first place this time. Then I’ll give you everything. I can’t do it for you right now.”

If I won first place in the swordsmanship contest, they would give me all of this again.

Until then, he said he was deliberately not giving me money so that I wouldn’t lose focus.

I couldn’t believe that.

‘Should I just pull out my sword and kill him, so I can inherit everything?’

I thought about it for a while, but still, the fact that we were still half-blood siblings suppressed my urge to kill.

No matter how stupid he was, him and I still shared some blood, so I couldn’t just kill him.

I was an orphan even in the memories of my previous life.

It sounded real rubbish, but Reid was the only blood member I had in my life anyway.

Of course, I had my biological father, Marquis Abedes, and his two sons. But I didn’t really want to see them as family.

Since even they despised me.

Reid was a scum who only wanted to take advantage of me, but he at least recognized me as his sister.

However…

“…Reid.”

I said with a deep breath.

“Do you know what day it is today?”

Reid didn’t know.

That this was the last chance I would give him.

‘If you answer well here, I’ll just end it as I planned.’

Reid tilted his head for a moment, then answered in a unsure voice.

“Well… Is it the day they announce the judges of the swordsmanship competition? That’s next week as far as I know.”

“…it’s my birthday.”

“Oh really?”

Reid showed a slightly startled expression, then smiled again.

“But you can’t afford to take care of things like your birthday right now. The swordsmanship contest is coming soon. Your birthday will be back next year, but this is the last swordsmanship contest.”

“So you won’t even give me money?”

“Birthday is no big deal, it’s just one of many days. Let’s put it off until the swordsmanship contest. Even this time, we have a good plan so that we can win.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’m going to make Ian Wade break by any means. I’ve only failed twice, so I still have a chance. I’ve prepared a terrorist attack for tomorrow night, and I really paid attention this time.”

“Tomorrow night?”

I was accumulating only anger at Reid earlier, but now I was taken aback.

“Yes, I’ve done all the behind-the-scenes work. You know that item I told you about? That you were so excited to cooperate in it? I’ve finally received it.”

‘You’re going to use that item tomorrow night…’ Ha. I just sighed.

“Then Ian Wade will be done.”

‘We’re the ones who’ll be done, you idiot…’

Since he had already done behind-the-scenes work to hurt Ian Wade, I needed to keep the information alive and extract it in order to know the exact date and circumstances.

I couldn’t cancel his plans because I didn’t even know who he was connected to.

Anyways, if he knew what would truly happen, he wouldn’t be able to drink tea so comfortably now.

I couldn’t even leave this nice house and property that I hadn’t even enjoyed.

Originally, I thought ‘let’s just eat and run away’, but now even that couldn’t happen.

At the very least, the luxury that I was enjoying alone like this would surely come to an end.

If you had at least said happy birthday to me, I would have let you off the hook since you were my one and only family.

“We’ll see.”

The day of the swordsmanship contest would be the last day for him to have such good expressions.

‘You’ll be truly educated on how to be a beggar.’

I left the mansion without looking back.

~*~

While grinding my teeth and holding down my desire for revenge on Reid, I headed toward the city.

When I was in a bad mood, I had to eat something delicious.

It wasn’t difficult to find Rainfield Restaurant.

That was because ‘Rainfield 3rd Restaurant’ was written on the largest and most stylish building that caught your eyes as soon as you arrived in the city.

Even the 3rd restaurant meant there were also 1st and 2nd restaurants, and that Oscar was very successful.

Just when I was about to enter the restaurant ready to pay tribute to his skills once again,

“Miss Annabelle?”

A strange man in a dark gray robe appeared out of nowhere and suddenly pretended to know me.

“Are you going to eat alone?”

For a moment, I searched through all my memories.

No matter how much I thought about it, no man would talk to me so kindly.

This was because my daily life was either training or visiting Ian to perform a show.

Naturally, I did not engage in any social activities and had no friends.

Besides Caitlyn, my mother, who was not good-natured, there were no other adults who took care of me.

“…Who are you?”

I became wary and narrowed my eyes.

It was also suspicious from the fact that he wore a tight robe himself.

“I originally asked Ian to reserve a seat, but he said it would be difficult.”

He then took off his robe.

His round green eyes were beautifully curved, and his silver hair glistened in the sunlight.

Suddenly, people’s eyes turned to us.

“I’m Robert Calburn Elijah Rowe, who you saved last time.”

Rowe, Prince Robert?

Looking at my dumbfounded face, he asked softly.

“Do you mind if I join you for a meal?”