I walked out of the room to search for Yves but then slowed down as I realized it was a hasty impulse decision.
'You're Marsella now,' I told myself and I let out a shallow sigh. 'Being what I used to be as Vera will only raise suspicions.'
How could I forget? Until my wedding day, I had to conduct myself and stay out of their radar.
I contemplated quickly and decided to return to my room and deal with it after careful consideration. With that thought in mind, I walked back to my room, but I halted once again. If this was Yves' doing, I was certain he was just around, waiting for my screams.
'I'm sure even if this place was deserted, many had their ears open. So if I scream, it will bring me trouble and give Yves what he wanted.' I thought, letting out a sigh as this was giving me a headache.
'I don't think they will beat me up, but there's only one person who respects me in this mansion.' I pondered, rubbing my chin lightly.
My reputation in Tani's eyes concerned me more than what could happen. 'I should at least have one ally in this place, or it'll be more troublesome for me considering how feeble this body was.'
My brows quirked as the corner of my lips curled into a smirk and my eyes brightened suddenly. I figured what I should do. So, I turned my feet once again and continued with my strides. Yves would just be somewhere around here, and I was correct.
I caught a glimpse of his body at the end of the corridor. I didn't stop and continued until I reached the end of the corridor. He jolted when he saw me and I stopped, pretending to be surprised as well.
"You…" He gazed at me, bobbing his head to inspect me. "… why are you here?"
I blinked my eyes as I slowly gazed up at him. "Why are you here?" and asked the same question
His lips parted, but no words came out immediately. "I… was just taking a walk."
"Oh." I nodded and took another step, but stopped when he suddenly grabbed my arm. My eyes fell on his hand and slowly looked up at him, furrowing my brows.
"Brother?"
"Where are you going?" Yves asked. He couldn't even conceal his panic.
What an obvious reaction, brother, that was what I wanted to say, but I held back. I stared at him in silence, blinking my eyes cluelessly.
"Did you go to your room?"
"Not yet," I lied without batting an eye, tilting my head to the side. "Is there something in my room?"
"Uh." Yves finally realized he was still holding me, so he let go and scratched the back of his head. "It's nothing."
"Alright." I nodded ever so slowly, taking another step, but was stopped by him once again.
I faced him squarely. "Brother, is there something you need from me?"
"You should be resting. Where are you going?" His tone suddenly grew stern as he urged me to go back to my room. Did he think it wouldn't raise suspicion if he acted like this?
Well, I guess it was time for me to show the little sister's allure.
"Brother…" I murmured while gazing down. "… honestly, I was about to return to my room, but I don't want to be alone."
"Huh?"
I raised my head when I had enough tears glistening across my eyes. "Brother, there's no one in the hallway or even Tani. So… I got scared and made a turn."
Yves stared at me straight in the eye, eyebrows raised. His eyes glinted with reluctance, but he still said, "I'll walk you to your room, then."
My face brightened up as I nodded, and he really walked me back to my room. When we reach the door, I turned to him.
"Go," He said, raising his hand towards the door, and I sported a weak smile before nodding.
As soon as I turned around, my eyes glinted as a brief smirk resurfaced on my face. I opened the door, pushing it wide, and instantly caught the sack in the middle.
"What," I murmured as I cast him a look, seeing him feigning ignorance as he raised his brows. "Brother, what is that?"
"I don't know. Why don't you check?"
I pursed my lips, hesitant, but asked anyway. "Can you help me take a look at it?"
Yves pondered about it before he agreed with a nod. "Sure."
And so, the two of us headed inside my room with him walking behind me. Since I already knew what was inside this sack, I approached it without a care, feeling his gaze on my back.
I rested my hand on my knees, my other hand pulling the string that I tied around the opening, and it slowly fell off. His anticipation for my reaction lingered in the air as blood and the carcass graced my eyes once again.
"What is this?" I turned my head to him, suppressing myself from laughing louder upon seeing his baffled expression.
"Aren't you scared?"
"Brother, why did you sound like you already know what's inside?" My reply was quick, sporting a clueless expression.
Yves didn't respond. He remained silent, realizing his attempt this time failed.
"Isn't this what the nobles wear? The expensive… goods they procure?" I asked, saving him some face while lowering the chances of raising suspicion by acting like a fool.
"What?"
"They call it…" I trailed off as I looked up briefly. "… fur! Right, this is fur, right? Just a little dirty."
To my surprised, his face brightened up as he grinned. "Yes! That's a silver fox! The best of the best! That's an expensive one once it's made for fur!"
'Yves Henry Ross…' I called internally, realizing something from all his childish pranks from Marsella's memory and today's event. '… you lunatic.'
Yves didn't hate Marsella; he pitied her, actually. However, his ways were too extreme and peculiar. So instead of being appreciated by Marsella, she deemed him as a monster. I'm not in the position to tell who was in the right between Yves and Marsella, but I could take advantage of his brotherly affection.
"Did you gift this to me, brother?" I asked excitedly, despite knowing the answer.
My excitement… was not fake, but this truly made me excited. I realized toying with Yves would be easier. I resisted laughing hysterically.
"Of course!" Yves answered proudly. "Aren't I the best?"
"The best!" I cheered and requested if he could ask someone to clean it since Tani was not present and it was too heavy for me. This fool agreed and happily went out, carrying that sack of carcass on his shoulder.
"What a dummy," I murmured as the door closed, shaking my head as I trudged towards the bed to rest. "Yves... just as I thought, if I play my cards right, I can gain one or two allies in here."