Chapter 9

***

"What, are you thinking of running away? Back to where the filthy wench you call your mama was bred?"

A single drop of blood fell from the thin cut on Rayton's forehead. Blood that resembled his ruby-red eyes.

Sez would dare to bet everything that Bern will come to regret this day. Honestly, she'd kill him first if she were in Rayton's shoes. Bern, oblivious to what Rayton would do five years later, continued snarkily.

"You should take your mommy with you. How will you make a living without that tavern wench?"

They burst into laughter.

"You're making the right choice, Rayton. You won't get anything even if you stick around here."

'He will, though...'

A grim voice in Sez’s mind murmured.

'He'll get everything after killing you, me, and the emperor... no, not me. I'm not planning to die again.'

Her tiny brain started whirring. She had no time to pay attention to Bern spewing nonsense or Rayton biting his lips, blood now all over his face.

If this was twelve-year-old Sez, she'd just cry or run away in fear. But the mind of seventeen-year-old Sez in the body of her twelve-year-old self was a different matter. She was only thinking about one thing.

'This isn’t a crisis, but a chance! I have to gain his favor.'

"Or… why don't you start rehearsing now?"

“…….”

"Kneel and beg. You won't regret it, I’m feeling kind of generous today."

Bern tapped on Rayton’s chest. You could see the rage almost glowing in Rayon's blood-red eyes. From what Sez could recall, Rayton rarely fought back, no matter how severely he was bullied. He didn't fight back when being hit, cussed at, or even kicked into a lake. He was no better than a doll.

'Maybe...'

Sez thought to herself.

'Maybe Mistress Lisette's death was the trigger, he snapped and unleashed the anger that was brewing up inside of him.'

Sez made a choice, after evaluating the situation. The fight shouldn’t escalate too much anyway. Rayton will just endure it, and it will be over soon enough.

'Then it wouldn’t be too risky to tell him to leave my brother alone, it’s my time to shine!'

Sez thought. It's not a big deal, everything will be the same as usual. She wouldn't have to worry about the consequences of taking sides.

"Bern, brother, stop it."

Sez quickly stepped in front of Rayton.

"Oh, now what is this?"

Bern laughed wryly, looking down at his small half-sister. Then, he yanked at Sez's long hair.

‘What a bastard…’

Sez again remembered the type of guy Bern was, he wasn’t exactly a gentle character. He’d always been that way. It wasn't just Rayton that Bern harassed. He had bullied Sez, too. It’d be Rayton one day, then Sez for tomorrow, and repeat. He was always the first one to provoke or beat up the pitiful duo.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

Sez babbled, but Bern didn't give a damn at all. Sez looked at Rayton suddenly, who also didn't care one bit about her. He was just glaring at Bern. Whilst she expected it, it still stung a little.

Well... it wasn't exactly an unexpected reaction, but for some reason, she felt a little offended.

’I hope you realize I’m doing only doing this because of you!’

"Yeah, I thought you were dead anyway, you little shit."

Bern’s insults cut off as he squinted.

"...Hey, looks like the idiots were beating each other up over here! Look at this thing's face!

Bern pointed at Sez's face, laughing. Her face was suddenly the center of attention. Sez remembered just a little too late, that her face was literally in the worst state right now. Sez lowered her head in embarrassment.

'Maybe I acted out a bit too soon. I probably would’ve had another chance…'

The instant regret perfectly suited her reckless actions.

"Hey, how did you hit the little shit? Show me."

Bern dragged Sez by her hair and tapped on Rayton's forehead with his free hand. Rayton didn't move an inch. He was just standing there, clenching his fist and gritting his teeth.

"Are you deaf now, idiot? He told you to show him."

Lilian chimed in, standing behind them. She was the female version of Bern, who enjoyed bullying her half-sisters instead. Sez now understood why Rayton occasionally spat out “blasted blonde hair and blue eyes.” Their siblings were indeed blasted things.

Sez gathered all her strength to shake off Bern's hand. "S-stop it! Stop bullying me and Rayton-"

A sudden slap flung her small head to one side. Shaken, Sez looked up at Bern, her cheek felt like it was on fire.

'...You know what? If Rayton and I get close someday, I’ll tell him to kill you first!'

"What, are you two on the same side now? Yeah, you match well..." Bern mocked them.

"Birds of a feather-"

Slam! Bern fell to the floor as Rayton punched him in the face.

Everyone just stood there, speechless. Sez was no different.

'W-What happened?' She couldn't believe her own eyes. The boy who never fought back, even when someone threw a rock at his head, had now snapped?

"Birds of a what?"

Rayton lifted Bern by the collar, holding him up into the air.

"You monster..!" Bern yelled, struggling.

"Say it again. Birds of a what?"

"I'll kill y...!"

BAM!

A loud thud echoed through the library as Rayton slammed Bern into the table. Now there was blood all over Bern's face too. From his nose. Both of his nostrils were bleeding. He looked even more pathetic than Sez now.

"Do I look like that stupid brat?"

Only then Sez realized why Rayton was so angry. What made that quiet Rayton snap was the line... ‘You look like Sez.’ Sez was dumbfounded.

"Look straight if you have eyes. How do I look like that brat?"

Rayton slapped Bern continuously, not giving him a second to answer.

"Are you blue-eyed bastards all color-blind?"

"Y- you little..."

"You're blue and I'm red. How the hell could we look alike?"

‘Now what, is he doing some kind of color puzzle?’ Sez couldn't figure out whether to laugh or cry.

"Why are you all just standing there? Get him! Help Bern!"

Lilien shouted, her face as white as snow. Four or five minions jumped into action on her command, lunging for Rayton all at once. The once-silent library fell into chaos in the blink of an eye. It quite was literally a dogfight.

Sez found herself suddenly a step away from the commotion and looked at Rayton and the gang in disbelief. Bern seemed really mad. No wonder, as his usually quiet, obedient punching bag suddenly fought back. It wasn’t just a verbal response, he had punched him. Bern would take that as a challenge and punish Rayton even more severely, he’ll probably beat him until he dies. Sez didn’t know what to do.

‘I think I need to make this stop... but what should I do? Can I even do anything?’

The gang had advantages in numbers, too.

‘Rayton didn't help me earlier. So why should I?’ Sez was kind of a girl to hold a grudge, surprisingly.

"You bastard, you dare to challenge me?!”

As expected. The situation had flipped in the blink of an eye. Rayton was quickly surrounded by the group. Bern, who had now raised himself off the table, muttered to himself as he kicked Rayton in the stomach at a rapid pace.

With a groan, Rayton sank into his seat, and Bern climbed on top of him. Bern started punching Rayton in the face like a madman, while the rest of the group grabbed him by the limbs. It was like torture.

But isn't this… a little too much.?

“…”

At that moment, Sez and Rayton's eyes met briefly in the air. That short interaction made Sez change her mind.

'Yeah, I need to earn his favor anyway. Even though I'm blue, I have to show him that I'm actually on his side!'

Sez jumped on Bern and bit his arm. Even a hound couldn’t bite harder than her in that moment.