The Male Lead’s Fake Sister - Chapter 43

In fact, it was quite obvious. She only needed to wrack her brain a little.

She knew that Crow wanted to quit this mission the moment he brought up the orders.

To think that he came to complain just a day after the order was given.

She could see through him well.

‘If he really wanted to do it, he could’ve tried it for a few more days.’

And he wouldn’t say that he couldn’t do it so lightly.

She could read him so clearly that asking him was unnecessary.

He followed Ravia’s orders so far, so he must be thinking that Ravia wouldn’t be able to say anything even if he wanted to withdraw..

Unfortunately, Crow didn’t know Ravia.

Because Ravia made him do what he said he couldn’t do.

When playing chess, other people read the enemy’s movement using a brilliant tactic or a remarkable insight, but Ravia observed the opponent’s hand first.

The enemy’s habits, what words could shake them, and what variables could make them move.

‘If it were someone else, I would have bribed them with money.’

Ravia knew that Crow was motivated by emotion rather than money. To emphasize that, Crow always warned her whenever she made a dangerous move.

Therefore, Ravia instilled some conviction in Crow.

Conviction that the path he was going down was not wrong.

‘With this, I don’t have to worry about Crow for a while.’

There was only one left now.

*** 

Early in the morning, before the sun had completely risen, Ravia went down the stairs.

Her destination was neither a restaurant nor a garden.

It was the annex where she had spent time together with Tidwell.

She opened the annex door to discover a man sitting under a ceiling that was high enough to remind her of a cathedral.

It was impossible for Ravia to know what was hidden under the beautiful mask.

“Good morning, Sister.”

Her younger brother.

Ravia grimaced faintly. She thought Tidwell would come here after her.

‘I didn’t expect you’d be here first.’

Whatever the case, Tidwell moved just as she had anticipated.

Ravia had been ruminating about it. Tidwell was the only variable that Ravia couldn’t predict.

It became a problem when that variable was her opponent in the chess play.

‘It’s totally a performance.’

Scoffing internally, Ravia’s eyes sought Tidwell and the simple tea set in front of him.

A teapot filled to the brim accompanied with two cups on the side. Not to mention, one of the teacups was empty, as if waiting for her arrival.

‘Am I too sensitive? Or is he trying to warn me?’

Ravia’s cynical gaze at the tea table was reminiscent of last night’s event. To be exact, the question she asked before Crow returned last night.

“Crow, did you feel a presence other than me in my room?”

“I’m not sure. The mansion is a place where so many people walk around. I don’t know if it’s inside, but it’s not easy to feel those who were outside the room.”

“How about now?”

“If someone was eavesdropping, I would have told you earlier.”

So it meant there was nobody. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Crow, but she still couldn’t shake off her uneasiness.

It wasn’t just because of the strangely vivid sensation that woke her from her dream.

‘The door was not locked yesterday.’

Ever since Tidwell came to the mansion, Ravia had never skipped a single day to lock the door. She would never forget to lock the window and door before going to bed.

But yesterday she was so tired that she passed out.

That meant anyone could open the door. She wasn’t even sure if she closed the door properly.

‘It’s really bothering me.’

So Ravia deliberately tried to meet Tidwell. She didn’t have the courage to seek him again last night, but she couldn’t avoid him forever.

She wanted to confirm whether Tidwell knew he was drugged or if he came to her room last night.

‘I still don’t want to meet you…’

But she didn’t have any choice either.

Ravia approached the table that was fragrant with the scent of tea.

“You woke up early.”

“My eyes opened early. Sometimes, there are days like that, right?”

“That’s right, but….”

Ravia sat down delicately, sweeping her flowing hair to the side, and asked.

“…Are you sure it’s not for any other reason?”

“Probably because I woke up pretty late yesterday. I woke up around lunchtime.”

“Did you? I purposely left without waking you.”

“It’s my first time opening my eyes in an empty room without its owner. I felt I was being so disrespectful.”

“I gave you permission already. You don’t need to feel that way”

“I can’t help but feel embarrassed, you see.”

As Ravia sat opposite Tidwell, he naturally smiled and filled her teacup. Light brown tea water poured into the white porcelain cup.

It was Rooibos tea.

Of course, it would be the exact tea that Ravia drank with Tidwell last night.

Was it too much to respond sensitively to that fact?

Looking at her reflection on the tea water, Ravia began to talk.

“The servants probably didn’t notice, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Yeah, I heard that Sister told everyone not to come to the third floor.”

“So you heard.”

“Thanks to the note you left.”

Ravia let out a small ‘Ah’ upon hearing Tidwell’s words. Ravia left a short note before leaving the room. Since Tidwell would be suspicious if he found her disappear suddenly.

The content of the note was simple.

I didn’t wake you up, and I have to leave first to attend to business. I’ve told the servants not to enter the room, so you can be at ease and go back to sleep.

“I was curious about what you told them, so I asked, and that was their answer.”

“You asked them?”

“Yes, and I heard a lot of interesting stories.”

Interesting stories.

His phrasing was like a razor wrapped in cotton. There’s no way she didn’t know the meaning behind such malicious words.

Ravia calmly opened her mouth, ignoring the sting in her neck.

“What do you mean by interesting stories?”

“While father was away, my sister decided to act as Leontine’s Lord.”

There was no smile in Tidwell’s voice. What kind of gaze and expression did he show? She could easily tell without having to raise her eyes.

Nevertheless, the predator asked with much generosity toward its prey.

You said you will not covet your family. But are you secretly amassing power after saying so.

“Is that true, Sister?”

He clearly dared her to defend herself.

Of course, she was prepared for this moment. Her father said that Tidwell wasn’t familiar with family matters yet, so he wanted Ravia to take charge for the time being.

He wants me to help you, so how can I refuse? Even if I’m going to be an outsider soon, wouldn’t it be right for me to do what I can before I leave?

She kept repeating the same words before coming here.

Sweet words to calm Tidwell’s unmerciful attitude, and to tell him that she had no choice but to do it.

However, when she actually faced him, Ravia realized that all the time she spent preparing excuses was useless. No, even if it was not completely useless, it was nothing but empty talk as of now.

Especially when Tidwell didn’t reveal his feelings just like right now.

“You know everything but you still ask me, Tidwell.”

She needed to provoke him a little and draw out the answer she wanted.

Ravia tapped lightly on the table. A very short and dull sound like a water dripping or a guillotine falling.

The sound interrupted the tension that lingered between them, and Ravia did not miss the opportunity to ask.

“Do you understand the word ‘deception’?”