After crying for what felt like an eternity, her head began to throb.

Taking a drink to soothe her dry throat, Lilliana laid down on the bed.

There was still a little time left before she had to begin her day’s work.

She decided to use those precious moments to go over her plan one last time.

According to Paien, someone from House Eberhardt would arrive in the kingdom in ten days.

But since he’d gone to House Eberhardt’s guild on her birthday to sell her…

She knew she only had three days left.

That means I have to put my plan into motion the day after tomorrow…

If I fail… I’ll die.

It was the greatest crisis of her eighteen years of life.

She had been treated worse than a slave in the Parvane household.

Her spirit had been worn down until there was almost nothing left.

Even so…

She was still alive.

But if she met Rajes Eberhardt…

Even her soul would be devoured.

She didn’t want to die.

She really, truly didn’t.

In her previous life, she had experienced a horrific death.

Her entire body had been crushed and shattered.

She no longer remembered every detail of that moment, but the lingering sensation had remained, becoming a trauma she could never escape.

“I just want to live an ordinary life…

A simple, peaceful life, like everyone else…”

She wasn’t asking for extraordinary happiness.

That was why she’d always been waiting for the day she could finally escape the Parvane family.

But death had reached her before that day ever came.

If she wanted to escape it…

She had no choice but to struggle with everything she had.

A few years ago, she’d tried to run away despite her weakened body.

She still vividly remembered the day Tartan had caught her in his iron grip and dragged her back.

He had beaten her until she was on the verge of losing consciousness.

It was a memory she could never forget.

But this time…

Things were different.

Unlike the frightened, impulsive, helpless child she had been back then…

This time, she had a plan.

Ever since it had been decided that she would be sold as a Cero, her family had stopped laying a hand on her.

They didn’t want to lower the value of their merchandise.

Tartan still hurled insults at her from time to time…

But he no longer beat her.

The backbreaking labor had also come to an end.

Thanks to that, she’d finally been able to regain some of her strength.

Her Cuatro family knew nothing about it.

Once a Cero’s mark appeared…

They gained a small ability of their own.

Unless someone understood how this world’s system worked, or was closely connected to a Cero…

There was no way they could know.

It wasn’t an overwhelmingly powerful gift.

But it was more than enough to work against ordinary people.

On top of that, she could feel that her stamina had improved as well.

If I use this ability wisely… I should be able to escape.

Just to be safe, however…

Lilliana planned to conserve as much strength as possible…

And put her plan into motion two days later.

Maybe it’s only because I’ve been doing less work that my stamina has improved.

Since her life was on the line, she couldn’t afford to be careless.

If I fail…

Rajes Eberhardt will kill me.

A shadow fell across Lilliana’s face.

A life she had never wanted.

A life filled with hardship and misery.

And waiting for her at the end of it…

Another death.

If only I hadn’t been born a Parvane…

No.

Enough of that.

Lilliana sprang to her feet and climbed out of bed.

Bending down, she moved aside the box beneath it that held her scarf and gloves.

Underneath was a wooden floorboard that looked noticeably looser than the others, one of its nails having come free.

She carefully lifted the board and reached inside.

Hidden beneath the floor was a small, faded jewelry box.

Opening the lid, she found a pendant and a handful of small gemstones.

The pendant, which must once have gleamed beautifully, had long since become worn, its finish almost completely rubbed away.

Even so…

The engraving on the back remained perfectly clear.

Leshi.

She was the only member of the family who had ever cared about Lilliana.

Leshi Parvane.

Paien’s younger sister.

Another victim of the Parvane family, just like Lilliana.

Leshi, too, had suffered abuse and violence at the hands of her own family.

Perhaps because they shared the same painful past…

She had always pitied Lilliana.

Every few years, Leshi returned to the Parvane household.

She couldn’t bear the sight of the older brother who had tormented her.

Even so…

She came back solely to see Lilliana.

Whenever Leshi was around, Paien never made Lilliana work.

More than ten years ago, Paien had held the upper hand.

But not anymore.

Leshi had left the Parvane family shortly after her eighteenth birthday.

She had married the owner of a small merchant company whom she had been introduced to through one of her father’s acquaintances.

Leshi hadn’t wanted to marry at such a young age.

But because of her family…

She had been forced into it, as though she herself had been sold away.

Fortunately, her husband cherished her dearly.

He loved her sincerely and did everything he could for her.

Though Leshi had pushed him away at first…

His warmth, like sunlight, gradually healed her scars and opened her heart.

But that wasn’t all.

After their marriage, every venture her husband’s merchant company undertook proved successful.

They didn’t become wealthy enough to rival the nobility.

Even so, the business steadily escaped debt and slowly began building its fortune.

The moment Paien heard about it…

He demanded money from Leshi.

The same man who had once treated her as less than an animal suddenly began treating her like a person.

Leshi wanted to ignore him.

But she couldn’t stop thinking about her young niece.

Afraid that Paien might sell Lilliana to some unscrupulous trafficker if he ran out of money, she reluctantly gave him enough to cover their living expenses.

Whenever she could, she visited Lilliana and shared stories from the outside world.

Leshi had always wanted to take Lilliana away with her.

If she could have, she would’ve adopted her.

But Paien demanded an outrageous price.

No matter how steadily the merchant company prospered…

It was far more than they could ever afford.

In the end…

Leshi had no choice but to give up.

Instead, she left Lilliana with a small sum of money for her future.

Half a year ago, Leshi had pulled Lilliana into a tight embrace and said,

– Lily, I don’t think I’ll be able to visit you for a while.

– Are you going to be very busy?

– Mm. I have business on the western continent. So… I’d like you to have this.

What Leshi placed into Lilliana’s hands…

Was her pendant and a few small gemstones.

– Aunt Leshi… these…

– If the day ever comes when you have the chance to escape this house… take these and run.

– But I can’t accept them. It’s not as though you’re well off yourself, Aunt.

– I’m sorry this is all I can do for you.

– That’s not what I meant. If I take these… it’ll only make things harder for you…

Leshi slowly shook her head.

– This much is fine. And inside the pendant… there’s a map. Years ago, when I traveled beyond the kingdom with the merchant company, I stopped by a village. If you go there and show them this pendant, they’ll hide you.

– It’s a place even your father doesn’t know about. It’s… a special village, so you’ll be safe there.

– But I… I can’t leave. I’m scared.

– It’s alright. You can do it. If you leave after you’ve come of age, your father probably won’t come looking for you. That’s what happened when I got married. He only came running after he heard I’d made a little money…

Leshi let out a bitter smile before continuing.

– Anyway, he won’t look for you. It pains me to say this, but your father doesn’t even consider you family. So… you don’t have to worry too much about that.

– Do you really think so?

– I do. So when you finally find the courage… leave. That’s the only way you’ll ever be happy. I want you to escape the Parvane family, Lily. I want you to find happiness. I want you to do the things you truly want to do… and live the life you want to live. I just… don’t want you to end up like me.

Lilliana gently ran her fingers over the pendant engraved with Leshi’s name.

The image of her aunt’s warm smile floated before her eyes.

After her failed escape years ago, she had abandoned all thoughts of ever leaving.

The only person who had given her the courage to hope again…was Aunt Leshi.

Thanks to her, Lilliana had finally begun to imagine, if only vaguely, a future beyond the Parvane family.

She had never imagined that becoming a Cero would be what finally gave her the chance to escape.

Whatever the case…

Once she managed to flee the Parvane family using her newfound power, she intended to head for the village Leshi had told her about.

“But…I’m a Cero. Will they come looking for me?”

They probably will.

Her family had always been blinded by money.

But…

Lilliana unfolded the piece of paper tucked inside the pendant.

It was a map of the lands beyond the Kingdom of Verona.

On it was a village marked Kartel.

Leshi had called Kartel a special village.

Lilliana didn’t know what made it so special.

But for now…

That was where she intended to go.

First things first… I have to escape.

If I use my ability and stay hidden… maybe they won’t be able to find me.

Clutching the pendant tightly to her chest, Lilliana silently steeled her resolve.

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