# Chapter 98
Chapter 98
***
'What is this?'
Sharlone pressed her lips together tightly and clenched her fists.
A soft canopy, a fluffy bed, a cute and lovely room completed in pink.
A desk-sized to fit her height and adorable dolls.
She didn’t know who decorated it, but it was a very lovely room.
A room that belonged entirely to her.
When she was in the house of the woman who called herself a "witch," she had to stay in a narrow attic with nothing but a single bed.
But here, everything was perfect.
A warm and cozy home.
Kind servants.
A soft bed.
On top of that, there was an endless amount of money and honor that everyone envied.
People were always shocked when they heard she was adopted into the Yudia Ducal family.
'Even if it was arranged…'
She carried her father's blood, so she was practically his daughter.
So she had more than enough reason to be in this family.
She even had divine power, and soon, she would attend the sacred beast summoning ceremony.
'I still don’t understand why the witch said that an illegitimate child adopted by Kiriel Yudia would end up isolated…'
The witch Sharlone knew was a perfect person.
Someone who understood the truths of the world and could read a future that others couldn’t see.
Everything she predicted came true.
The strange disease that would occur in the Rubia territory years ago, which business would become a huge success, and even the new invention that would be released soon—everything was exactly as she had said.
A few years ago, she even predicted that the Yudia Duchy would send people to find her.
'Back then, I heard they were refused because the stone in place of my heart was still incomplete…'
But rather than deterring them, it only seemed to provoke them.
They kept visiting regularly, delivering living expenses, and repeatedly asking if she was willing to enter the ducal house.
'So I came here, and…'
Whether they welcomed her or not was one thing, but everyone around her kept shouting, "Bunny, Bunny, Bunny."
'The witch told me that if I acted a little cute and was helpful, I would be loved…!'
For the first time, the witch, who had always been right, was wrong.
Sharlone had lived believing that everything the witch said was true, but now that belief was crumbling, and she felt like the world was turning dark before her eyes.
'No, this isn’t the first time.'
A few years ago, the witch had predicted that the imperial crown prince would die and be replaced, but that didn’t happen.
Instead, the prince, who was supposed to be sick, completely recovered and was now actively appearing in public.
'The imperial palace was so secretive that we couldn't find out what really happened…'
The only thing they had managed to learn was that the royal family had searched for and brought in some miraculous healer.
"This doesn’t make sense.
Why did the future change?
Could there be another participant…?"
"Huh?"
"No, I was just talking to myself.
This much is still within my expectations.
As long as I capture the female lead, my chances of failure are low.
You just focus on becoming a beloved young lady of the Yudia Ducal family."
Now that she thought about it, the witch had said something strange back then.
'Anyway, I have to do something…'
Biting her lower lip, Sharlone clenched her fists tightly and then shut her eyes before opening them again.
In truth, if Sharlone wasn’t loved by someone before she turned 14, she was destined to die.
The life stone inside her would only turn into a real heart if someone gave her genuine love and affection.
If no one sincerely loved her, the life stone would crumble into dust, and she would die.
'I don’t want to die.'
She had endured all those terrible experiments meant to adjust her, trapped inside that narrow house, just to finally step outside.
Now, she only had four years left.
It had already been ten years.
'…The witch said she would come to Yudia territory a little later.'
She had mentioned that there was something she needed to prepare, so she would be delayed.
That meant Sharlone couldn’t ask her for advice right now.
So Sharlone had no choice but to do something herself, using the knowledge the witch had given her.
Somehow, she had to drive that child away.
Only then could she be fully loved by this family, just as the witch had said.
"Fortunately, tonight is a full moon."
The witch had told Sharlone that there was something she absolutely had to do on the full moon.
One of the members of the ducal family had a certain complex that only appeared during the full moon.
Lost in thought, she slowly opened her eyes.
"The easiest and most effective way to drive that girl out of the family is to reveal that she is a demon… But before that, it's better to secure your position first."
"Secure my position?"
"Yes.
First, try to get the boy named Allen on your side."
"Allen?
How?"
"That kid is from the beastman race.
To be exact, he’s a half-human, half-beast… A disgraceful half-blood was born between the beastmen and the Yudia family.
Because of that, he has a serious complex about it."
"…Oh, my.
That’s unfortunate."
"Yes, it's unfortunate and pitiful.
On nights of the full moon, he turns completely into a beast—an incomplete existence.
Because of that, he’s not treated well in the family… So, you should be kind to him."
"Alright.
I'll do that."
"Of course.
Your divine healing power is warm and exceptional.
Your skin is soft, and your smile is absolutely lovely.
It's meant to be.
So, you’ll definitely do well."
Sharlone thought up to that point and clenched her fists tightly.
'Normally, he's by the lake inside the ducal estate.'
She grabbed a blanket and some simple food and stepped outside.
The night air was quite chilly.
'What should I say to comfort him?'
A half-human, half-beast who was looked down on and hurt by people.
Sharlone knew well how it felt to be pushed away for being different.
When she first opened her eyes, her whole body was cold.
No matter what anyone said, she felt nothing.
She was like a doll with no emotions at all.
Only after many years of experiments and adjustments did she finally become normal…
'Telling him about how I couldn’t fit in with anyone might not be a bad idea.'
Lost in thought, she walked quickly toward the lake.
'First, I need to get this Allen boy on my side.'
She didn’t know how much affection was needed to become a real human, but the more people who liked her, the better.
Rustle, rustle.
Sharlone pushed through the thick bushes and stopped.
'He must be feeling really depressed right now.'
That kid, Bunny, probably didn’t know anything about this secret.
Sharlone took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"This time, go fetch this!
Allen!
Hugyeomryong!"
"Grroowl!"
"Piyoooo!"
Whizz—
A ball flew high into the air in a long arc.
'…Feeling really depressed…?'
Thud, thud, thud—!
Under the night sky, a bright red bird flapped its wings and soared up, while a huge four-legged beast sprinted even faster, chasing after the ball.
A massive gray wolf with two tails crouched down mid-run, then leaped into the air, twisting its body to catch the ball in its mouth before landing gracefully.
"…What part of this looks depressed?"
"Wow!
Allen, you're the best!!
So cool!!"
"Awoooo!"
"Piyoooo…"
Clap, clap, clap!
Bunny jumped excitedly, clapping as she received the ball back, while the wolf let out a pleased rumble, wagging its tail as he was petted.
"Piyuuuu…"
And beneath them, a red bird lay on the ground, completely deflated.
'…What kind of prophecy did the witch even see?!'
The scene before her had nothing to do with the word "depressed."
Sharlone stood there, mouth agape, letting the blanket she had brought slip from her hands.