Chapter 9

Lady of the Asher Family (Chapter 9) (9/141)

Since returning from Grandfather's office two days ago, I haven't taken a single step out of my room in the annex.

Part of it was because I was engrossed in the books I brought back from Grandfather's office, but the bigger reason was that I didn't want to face the irate Chandler and Jason.

I should have pushed their buttons a bit more that day.

Knowing their foul tempers, I thought it would be better to avoid them.

However, today was such a beautiful day, and I was almost done with the book, so staying in the room all afternoon seemed like a waste.

'Should I go out now?'

After all, I would have to meet them in class in a few days, so I couldn't hide forever.

Alright, let's just go out!

So I did.

"Hey!"

As soon as I stepped out of the annex, Chandler confronted me, and I felt my shoulders sag. It was as if he had been waiting for me.

Just as I expected.

Chandler Asher and his lackey, Jason Asher.

These two, standing proudly in front of me, were the young rascals who would carry the future of the Asher family.

'Grandfather really is in a tough spot.'

Margo Hayden Asher.

Our grandfather was an outstanding person in every aspect, from his exceptional talent to his keen eye for trends and politics.

Thanks to him, the great Asher family became so powerful that even the royal family couldn't mess with us.

However, there was one thing he lacked.

It was his ability to raise children.

As the saying goes, you can't control your children, and Margo Asher's children—except for our father—were all good-for-nothings.

And naturally, the poor upbringing of his children led to the poor upbringing of his grandchildren.

If they were to inherit the head of the family, it was clear what would happen to their grandchildren.

How could the family not decline?

Anyway, the two troublemakers in front of me were part of that poorly raised group of grandchildren.

Slap!

'Brother?'

'You dare to call yourself a direct descendant of the Ashers? How can your dirty blood be an Asher!'

'Shut up and live.'

They would beat me up for no reason, as if to vent their frustrations, and they would mock me for losing both my grandfather and father. They even called me a thief, searched my room, and took everything of value.

'Thief.'

'Dirty woman!'

Thinking of Chandler's face, drunk and leering, showing his yellow teeth, and laughing like a demon as he pushed me under his boots, I felt my lips harden.

How could I have thought of mingling with such people?

I could only sigh in despair.

'I was young back then.'

I sighed and lifted my head.

"Move."

"What?"

"Get out of the way."

"Are you crazy?"

Chandler's face twisted in anger as he approached me, muttering.

"Are you getting too cocky because Grandfather listened to you a bit?"

"Too cocky?"

I looked at Jason's thin face, which was following Chandler's words, and clicked my tongue in disdain.

I'm seven or eight, not at the level to fight with them.

"Hmm."

Shaking my head, I moved to the side of the two.

'Let's not fight.'

Engaging in a pointless argument would only harm me.

But my ignoring them seemed to upset Chandler, who grabbed my shoulder with a stiff face.

"Hey!"

And at that moment, I was pushed over by the strong force of the boy who couldn't control his strength.

"Ah!"

I fell to the ground, my bottom hitting the dirt painfully, and my body sprawled out.

The two, who had flinched for a moment at the sight of me almost hitting my head, soon burst into laughter at my disheveled appearance.

"Hehe, that's what you get."

"That's what you get."

"You shouldn't have acted so high and mighty."

"Shouldn't have!"

I had just put on a nice dress for the first time in a while, and now it was covered in dirt. I couldn't help but frown.

'Arina will throw a fit again.'

Thinking of Arina's shrill voice, which would constantly nag me, I brushed off my skirt and stood up.

"Move."

Despite my annoyance, I looked at him with a blank expression, and Chandler's eyes widened in surprise.

He must have thought I would sit down and cry right there.

That might have been the case before.

But after experiencing a terribly difficult life in my previous incarnation and being reborn, this was nothing to me.

Being pushed around by people was nothing new, and I had even picked up food from the ground to eat when I was starving.

Would I cry over something like this?

How ridiculous.

So I walked past him, looking him straight in the eye.

Chandler, taken aback by my reaction, glanced at Jason and frowned.

"Are you really going to keep acting like this? Bastard."

"..."

Oh, this kid is really overstepping.

I stopped and turned my head.

Only then did Chandler, seemingly satisfied with my reaction, smirk and step closer, bending slightly to meet my gaze.

"Know your place."

"..."

"While Grandfather is around, you can face me like this, but you dirty..."

"Say that again after Old Grum dies. Move."

"..."

"What? What?"

"Stop saying 'What? What?'! Move. I'm going back to my room to rest; I'm tired."

Chandler opened his mouth, surprised by my calm and adult-like tone.

Jason had been gaping since before.

Looking at his stupid face, I realized that a rational conversation was impossible.

I shook my head and walked around him.

But.

"Really!"

Seemingly furious at my actions, he grabbed my shoulder again, and I fell over once more.

But I stood up and brushed off my skirt again.

'Let's just go back.'

I didn't want to argue with him anymore.

"Move."

Even if I shouted and fought, the physical difference was too great, and there was no servant to help me against the direct heir.

Ignoring him was the only solution.

But the price of that ignorance was falling ten times on my way back to the annex, my clothes in tatters, and my knees bleeding.

"Damn it!"

"Chad, let's stop now."

Chandler, who had chased me from the annex entrance and tripped me eleven times, was panting and brushing his hair out of his face.

Jason, who had been pulling on Chandler's sleeve, looked at my expressionless face and pulled him again.

"Let's go. Okay?"

"Let go!"

But Chandler, who had been holding Jason's sleeve, roughly pushed him away and raised his hand as if to strike my clean face.

At that moment, the sound of something moving and a voice called out—

"Hey? Captain Bennett!"

A voice from a distance called out, and it seemed to come from above the tree.

Jason, who had been pulling on Chandler's sleeve, looked up.

"If it's really Bennett, he's Grandfather's captain. If we get caught, we'll really be in trouble! Look at her! What do we do?"

"..."

Chandler clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

He looked like he wanted to hit me but couldn't—

"Consider yourself lucky."

He turned around, pretending nothing had happened, and straightened his hair.

"See you later."

He didn't forget to hit my shoulder hard as he passed by.

But I was more concerned about why Bennett was here.

"..."

But no matter how I looked around, the annex was as quiet as always.

What is this?

It was definitely Bennett.

I narrowed my eyes and turned around to look around, but there was no sign of Bennett or anyone else.

Is he a ghost?

Anyway, thanks to him, the situation ended faster than expected.

It was a good thing for me.

I needed to change my clothes and read a book, so I turned around with my book—

"Miss!"

Hail, who was walking from the back of the annex, dropped her laundry basket when she saw me.

Was I that messy?

I couldn't see myself, but from the serious expression of the usually expressionless maid, it seemed I was in bad shape.

But I was fine.

"Fine..."

But the words "I'm fine" wouldn't come out of my mouth, which opened and closed soundlessly.

Instead, Hail's face, calling out to me and running over, blurred and then disappeared into darkness.

* * *

Thud!

"Is this the best you can do?"

The small baseball hit my stomach, and the orphanage director's voice echoed, fading in and out.

Is this a dream?

'It should be a dream.'

I never wanted to return to those terrible times.

"How can I face the sponsors with this?"

The new director, who claimed to modernize the orphanage, was very different from the previous nun. When he was angry, he would torment the orphans until his anger subsided.

I would be hit even if I apologized, and if I talked back, I would be hit even more.

"You need to go to the best university! The donations will increase!"

"..."

"Are you not answering? Do you want to leave? Where? To some rural backwater?"

I should say no, but the words wouldn't come out.

Unable to control his anger, the director stood up and approached me, muttering.

"Are you going to rebel?"

Then he slapped me from behind. The force of the push made me fall to the ground, and the floor changed.

"Did you plan to ruin our family? Did Shari tell you to do this?"

Before I could understand or respond, a kick came.

"You filthy things, you trash!"

The second uncle, Andrea, kicked the small, crouched body.

His kicks, which seemed to aim to break every bone in my body, continued endlessly. But no one in the room tried to stop him.

Instead, they egged him on, and Vellia looked at me with disgust.

Contempt, mockery, and laughter.

I wanted to close my eyes, but I couldn't.

I was aware it was a dream, but I couldn't wake up.

There was no pain, but the looks and voices felt like they were tearing my heart apart.

'I don't want this.'

I didn't want to see this, didn't want to return to those times.

Never. Again.

To those terrible times.

"I don't want this."

Please, someone, save me.

Finally, I managed to shake my head and let out a faint sound, and at that moment, warmth enveloped my body.

"Alright, I'll give you a chance."

And the hand in front of me.

Neither Uncle Andrea nor the orphanage director was visible in the golden warmth. I moved my hand with great effort and grabbed the hand in front of me.

I want to live.

I want to live.

I want to live happily.