Lia watched the subtly different yet familiar story.
'Even in this timeline, Bran gets the better of me….'
She startled Bran, who was walking alone, and because of that, his flower vase broke. Then Bran explained the cost of the vase, and Lia's expression darkened at the shocking amount. Bran demanded compensation. Lia, tears streaming down her face, desperately pleaded for more time. And then.
"Then how about this, Lia?"
"S-sniff, wh-what…?"
Bran smiled faintly, drawing Lia into his trap.
'…Seriously, even seeing it again, it's too much. How can he do this to someone he likes?'
Watching these scenes, Lia wiped away the tears that had been flowing moments ago and yelled at Bran. Of course, shouting here wouldn't be heard by the figures in the dream. Still, since so much had accumulated before, Lia thoroughly cursed him. However, she wasn't worried.
'Emil will come to save me soon anyway.'
It was a subtly different flow, but she believed Emil would surely appear and rescue her. After all, she had received help like that before.
But.
"No way… don't mess with me, Bran…! Th-fifty gold coins, I really can't repay such a huge amount…!"
"Messing with you? What are you talking about, Lia? This was a deal."
"...What?"
"Didn't you play a game with me on the condition that the 20 gold for the vase would be waived?"
'…Emil's a bit late.'
Emil, who should have appeared, didn't show up at the expected time. Normally, he would appear at this timing and save her. The translucent Lia still calmly watched her own self being threatened. And as the story progressed, she gradually realized.
'Why… isn't he coming…?'
The flow of this timeline was somehow different from her memories.
"Sniff, please… Bran… please, not my family…."
Emil didn't appear. As a result, Lia realized a shocking truth.
"Then let's do this, Lia."
"Huh…? Wh-what? If you forgive me, I'll do anything…!"
"Haha, anything, you say."
"Yes…! I'll do anything! Please…! Just please, give me one more chance…!"
"Then, Lia…."
The translucent Lia felt a chill run down her spine upon seeing Bran's sinister smile. He leaned his face close to his dream self's ear and whispered quietly. But in the silent classroom, his voice was clearly audible.
"Sell Emil."
"...What?"
'What…?'
Her dream self and the translucent Lia almost simultaneously asked again. The expressions on both their faces were identical. An expression of disbelief at what they had just heard. But neither of their ears had misheard. Bran had clearly said it. ━Sell Emil.
"Wh-what in the world…"
"It's a simple deal, Lia. I know. I heard you've been on good terms with Emil lately, haven't you?"
"Th-that has nothing to do with my current situation…!"
"Nothing to do? It has everything to do with it. I simply can't tolerate it."
Bran gazed into Lia's eyes with a chilling look. His eyes held a sticky jealousy.
"I can't tolerate you falling for a guy like Emil, what do you even like about that guy? More than some scumbag like him… more than that trash…."
"…Ugh, ugh."
"So, Lia. I, the kind one, will give you a chance."
"...."
At Bran's words, Lia's expression hardened. And to her, Bran slowly spoke.
"Deceive Emil and sell him. Follow my words. Then I'll make those 50 gold coins disappear, just like that."
"...."
Fifty gold coins. Hearing that specific number, Lia stared silently into Bran's eyes.
'What, what's wrong…'
Then, a sense of unease began to sprout in the heart of the translucent Lia, who was watching the two. …Something was going wrong.
'Th-this is strange talk…! Why would she sell Emil? Refuse! Hurry and refuse! Th-that measly 50 gold coins…!!'
"...I'll do it."
'What...?'
Lia, who had been shouting in anxiety, stopped speaking at her dream self's short reply. And she looked at herself with a disbelieving face. Her dream self. Was smiling with a face that had given up on everything.
"I'll… sell Emil. Please… just make it disappear…."
'....'
Could those words really have come from her own mouth? Lia couldn't believe it.
"Pfft, heheh…! Hahahahahaha!"
'Don't joke around… Emil is… Emil is your lover, isn't he….'
Bran laughed as if amused. Lia muttered in a hollow voice.
'I… am someone I can never have, no matter how much I want him…! Why in the world…! Why in the world…!!'
But no matter how much she denied it, it wouldn't change. Her voice didn't reach. Because this was only showing what had already happened.
"Heheheh, so now that you've sold him, he's basically not even your lover anymore, right? Right, Lia?"
"Yes… that's right…."
"Remember, you're tricking Emil and handing him over to me. That's the condition of the deal. Understood? We're in this together, Lia."
"Yes…."
"Good, you're a good girl."
Bran stroked Lia's head with distorted affection. And at that moment, his gaze fell upon Lia's pale white thighs as she sat slumped.
"Shall we go back now? I'm sorry I scared you earlier, Lia. You understand, right? I truly cherish you."
"Yes… I understand."
"Lia really understands well."
Bran helped Lia to her feet. At his touch, she followed without any resistance. She had sold the lover she had promised her love to, in exchange for 50 gold coins. Lia, having already uttered that declaration, had given up on everything. Having given up on everything, she was merely led by Bran's will. And headed to the dormitory with him.
'Wait… don't go….'
The translucent Lia muttered, looking at her own back. Just then. Lia's voice, walking beside Bran, was faintly heard.
"Emil… he'll understand too. Surely… Emil… loves me…."
'....'
***
"E-Emil."
"Hm?"
Several days had passed since Lia had promised to sell Emil to Bran. During that time, Lia continued to feign a good relationship with Emil, as per Bran's instructions. And at night, she repeatedly went in and out of Bran's room at his summons. Three days before summer vacation ended. The day Bran had spoken of arrived.
"By any chance… do you want to play a game?"
"A game?"
"Yeah… I found something fun…."
"Alright, when do you want to play?"
"A little later, after we go back to the dorm and have dinner… meet me in front of the dorm."
"Okay."
Emil nodded at Lia's suggestion without any suspicion. And Lia, too, smiled naturally and met his gaze. Several days had already passed since she betrayed Emil and joined Bran. Her worn-out conscience no longer ached. And. That evening, the day of the promised game with Emil.
"Hello, Emil. Glad you came."
As planned, Emil met Bran in the classroom in the middle of the night.
"Fifty gold coins?! Are you messing with me?! Does that even make sense?!"
"Don't get so worked up, Emil. I'm in a difficult situation too. After all, I'm the one who suffered the damage."
"You bastard…!"
"So, Emil."
Bran smiled faintly, watching Emil fall into the trap as planned.
"You help Lia."
"...What?"
"If you win the game with me, Lia's debt will be cleared."
Thud.
And Bran plunged a knife into the table in front of him.
"But you don't have anything to bet. …How about your fingers instead? Each of your fingers is worth 10 gold coins."
"...."
'No, don't… Emil…! Don't do it…!'
The translucent Lia desperately tried to stop Emil with a pleading voice. But he couldn't hear her, so she couldn't stop him.
'Think again━! Are you really going to sell Emil?!'
"...."
Her own self, watching the situation with a vacant smile. She urgently shouted at herself, but her dream self didn't budge. Ultimately, like that.
"Alright, I'll do it. But… you must keep your promise."
The game between the two began. And.
"Ugh, Aaaahhh━!!"
Emil was overwhelmingly defeated in the game.
"Hahahaha…! Heheh…! Hahahahaha! Emil! How could you not even get one question right? I only managed to deduct 20 coins by getting it wrong!"
"Ugh, gasp, shut up… Bran…."
"So, will you save face? It's for your beloved, isn't it? Huh, Emil?"
"Ughhh…!"
'No, Emil… please, please stop….'
The translucent Lia sat down blankly in front of Emil, who was dripping blood, and wept. It was all useless. He didn't need to suffer like this.
"Aaaahhh━!!"
"You've lost all your betting money with this, Emil. …What are you going to do? Want to bet your other hand's fingers too?"
"Haa, haa…"
Having lost a lot of blood, Emil's eyes were unfocused and his skin turned pale. But even in that moment, Emil looked at Lia. At Lia, who was standing blankly behind Bran, her head bowed.
"...Alright."
Therefore, he accepted.
"I'll bet… the five fingers on my other hand…!"
Because he couldn't just abandon her to a mountain of debt like this. And the moment Emil, with grim determination, offered his other hand.
"Pfft, heheh… kuhahahahaha!"
"...What's so funny?"
"Kuhahahahaha!"
"You bastard…! What's so funny━!!"
Bran began to laugh loudly at Emil. As if mocking his resolve. Completely unlike his usual expressionless face, Bran laughed very loudly. And then.
"Haa… Emil, want me to tell you something good?"
"What…?"
'....'
At Bran's words, Emil's expression filled with doubt. The translucent Lia, who was watching him with tears, trembled and bowed her head.
"Actually… Lia's debt is already gone."
And the moment Bran's words continued.
"What… did you say…?"
Emil, pale from having five fingers cut off. Looked at Lia, who was standing behind him, with an even whiter face. Emil looked as if he couldn't understand. To him, Bran uttered the words he had prepared, as if passing a sentence.
"Actually, I was just playing with you, Emil. …Lia and I. Together."
"...."
The moment he heard Bran's confirmation. Emil's eyes began to tremble violently.