The Price Is Your Everything

Nualan, who was walking up the stairs without hesitation, heard the sound of a young girl giggling.

A smile spread across his face. A moment later, a girl with red hair and a white silk nightgown appeared at the corner where the 2nd-floor railing began.

Diane's eyes met Nualan's, who was almost at the top of the stairs. Nualan smiled reassuringly to calm down Diane's startled face.

"It's not time for you to be up, miss?"

"What are you doing here?"

Diane asked back in a sassy tone. Nualan quickly climbed the remaining stairs and bowed his head in front of her.

"I came to keep an eye on you, a grown lady who didn't listen to her nanny and came out of her bed. That's what brothers do, right?"

"Eh, our brother doesn't do that!"

"Joyce sent me. I'd like to scold you right now and say you won't get any snacks tomorrow, but-"

"Either treat me like a child or a grown lady, just pick one!"

Diane pouted, looking upset. Nualan winked and put his finger to his lips.

"But I'm not that kind of person. If you really want to, you can take a quick look at the 1st floor. And I'll get you back to bed soon, okay?"

Diane looked thoughtful, then her attention was caught by the music coming from downstairs. Some of the guests' children were showcasing their musical talents.

Nualan chuckled at Diane's dazed face and opened his arms.

"Do you want me to hold you? We can't go down to the 1st floor, so let's watch from the 2nd floor. I'll hold you, and you can see better."

His attitude was really like that of a parent dealing with a five-year-old child.

A twelve-year-old who liked being treated like a five-year-old didn't exist, so Diane looked around, seemingly hesitant to accept.

However, Nualan, who had read her expression, quickly picked her up and took her to the railing.

At first, Diane had trouble adjusting to the higher vantage point and tightly hugged Nualan's neck, but soon her arms relaxed.

As she gazed down at the 1st floor, her eyes were dazed, watching the well-dressed heads of people passing by in the hall. Eventually, her hand dropped down.

Nualan thought to himself, Now, now, let go of her hand.

Just then...

"What are you doing, brother?"

***

Neris didn't miss the fleeting expression of surprise on Nualan's face.

Even the most shameless villain would flinch when caught off guard, and that expression confirmed all her suspicions.

Wearing a white silk nightgown and a purple gown with gold embroidery, just like Diane used to wear when she was younger, Neris looked like a young princess.

Nualan's eyes blinked a few times before he regained his usual calm smile, which was now tinged with a hint of unease.

"I was showing Diane the 1st floor."

Too late, Nualan thought to himself.

The plan had changed too suddenly from the start.

Nualan hadn't believed Heather's words that a woman from Angelo's company was working with Neris on this plan.

However, it was true that one of Angelo's employees had gone missing, and Muriel was being her usual foolish self. So, Sivana, who was timid, and his father had argued that it was better to act quickly.

The Earl's family, or rather, his uncle's family, was too kind. Diane was the only one who was somewhat perceptive, but she was still young and trusted her family without question.

Family?

What a ridiculous word. Simply because he was born first, his uncle was the Earl, and his children were nobles.

But simply because he was born later, Nualan's father was a knight, and Nualan and Muriel were not nobles.

According to the empire's law, the grandchildren of the current title holder were nobles, but their cousins were not. So, when their grandfather died, Nualan and Muriel lost all the rights they had previously enjoyed. What a ridiculous concept of family in such an unfair situation.

The law was so unjust that Nualan had to come up with a plan to survive.

The idea of using Diane's "condition" had occurred to him less than a year ago.

Sivana, who was frustrated with the poor performance of his business department, and Nualan, who was resentful of Joyce's success in the McKinnon company.

Their vague desires took shape when Angelo Railing appeared before them.

The Earl and his wife, as well as Joyce, were already too old and firmly established. Their only obvious and unique weakness was Diane, the youngest child who had received everyone's love and attention.

The plan was to send the entire family abroad from the start. Diane had already been diagnosed with a lifelong leg condition when she was young, but the Earl and his wife had not given up.

The way they had fallen for the fake story of Dr. Rumarth was laughable.

Nualan's eyes met Neris', and he smiled wryly.

Once they gave up their title and left the country, it wouldn't matter to the people of the empire even if they died in a ditch somewhere.

Heather and Muriel were in charge of making Diane want to leave the country and dislike her own legs. Muriel's actions were simple and obvious, but Heather had a clever way with words.

It was a shame that Diane was too stubborn and didn't fall for it easily, but in fact, Diane's will wasn't that important in this plan, so it didn't matter much.

All they had to do was show the Earl and his wife, who had the decision-making power, that Diane could get hurt at any time.

With Neris's appearance, they came up with another idea. What if they made Diane get seriously hurt and then blamed Neris for it?

Diane would probably claim that Nualan was the culprit, but adults tend not to believe children's extreme claims. Especially if Heather, who was good at spreading rumors, said that Diane was just trying to cover for her friend, the story would be over.

Tonight's plan was complete. Although the plan had been rushed due to the disappearance of Angelo's employee, it might be better to just carry it out now rather than risk getting caught.

And what if Diane died?

That wouldn't be bad either. It wouldn't be difficult for the cunning and clever Nualan McKinnon to slowly take control of the family business from the grief-stricken Earl and his wife.

Originally, the plan was to make it look like an accident, with Neris pushing her friend off the railing and then running away in fear. But Neris's unexpected appearance at the scene was not part of the plan.

However, it wasn't a problem that couldn't be handled. It might even be a good thing.

Nualan smiled wryly as he felt Diane's arms tighten around his neck again. And then, he noticed that Neris was still staring at him, which suddenly made him uncomfortable.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"If I hadn't come, you were going to push Diane off the railing, weren't you? I didn't think you'd sink that low."

He had been caught.

Nualan's face stiffened. Diane seemed completely unbothered, and his face contorted even more.

"What? What nonsense are you talking about?"

"I've known all along that you've been trying to hurt Diane. You were afraid that if Muriel exposed Angelo, the whole plan would fall apart. Originally, you just wanted to make her leave the country indirectly, but now that things are urgent, you don't care about the means. I understand."

Nualan's eyes narrowed, and he glared at Neris.

Nualan's face stiffened as he heard Neris's words, and he unconsciously tightened his arm around Diane's leg, causing her to cry out in pain. Diane's face turned pale, and tears streamed down her face.

Neris's gaze became sharp, and Nualan tried to push Diane over the railing. His face was twisted with calculation and cruelty.

"It's too late," Neris said flatly.

Nualan looked down and was shocked to see that several servants were moving the tall candelabra in the 1st-floor hall, and some gift boxes were being placed around the area.

If he made any noise now, everyone would look up at them.

No, even if he didn't make a sound, it was inevitable that someone would witness the scene.

"How?" Nualan asked, his voice trembling with anger and frustration. "How did you anticipate this moment, and how did you know the details of our plan?"

Neris smiled wryly.

"I considered the fact that you didn't correct Diane's honorifics, and the fact that you pushed her into the lake. It wasn't difficult to guess. Unfortunately for you, I know a thing or two about people who are desperate to prove their own worth to others."

"You're just a foolish child," Nualan spat. "You're just a nuisance, and you should be thrown away."

Neris's smile never wavered.

"You're the one who's foolish. You think you're being bullied just because I told you to leave me alone? You're the one who's wrong, and you're just trying to shift the blame."

Neris's words were like a sharp knife, cutting deep into Nualan's psyche.

Nualan couldn't understand what was going on in Neris's mind, but he felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at her calm and collected demeanor.

Just then, a voice came from downstairs, a voice that Nualan didn't want to hear right now.

"What's going on here?"

Joyce was walking up the stairs with his usual elegant gait, his eyes fixed on Diane's tear-stained face.

He stopped halfway up the stairs and frowned.

"Why are you crying, Di?"

Nualan was confused. According to the plan, Joyce was supposed to be with Angelo, and then he would come over here and pretend to be a witness after Nualan had carried out his plan.

But now, Joyce was here, and he seemed to be genuinely concerned about Diane.

Nualan's thoughts were interrupted as he looked at Neris, and he felt his heart sink.

"Ugh... Ugh... Ahh..."

Neris's small face contorted in pain as she collapsed to the floor. Joyce's footsteps quickened.

He reached the 2nd-floor railing in an instant and stretched out his arm to Nualan. Nualan handed Diane over to him without resistance.

Damn it, he was so thorough.

"What's going on?" Joyce asked, his voice firm.

People from downstairs were also murmuring. Nualan gritted his teeth inwardly, but he couldn't just vent his anger in this situation.

He had to think of something. His fingertips felt cold. Yes, he just needed to calm down. The kids would just be seen as joking around if they told the truth-

"Di, don't cry. I'm here. Okay? Don't cry and tell me what happened."

Diane didn't say anything. She was angry and frustrated with herself, but she was also scared.

She knew that what she said now would change her family's life forever.

Nualan noticed her state and even managed a soothing smile.

Yes, just keep quiet. If they could just make it seem like the two girls had a fight, they could get through tonight. They could think about the rest later-

But Neris didn't miss the opportunity to speak up again.

"Nualan was going to hit Diane, and I tried to stop him..."

"What did you say?"

Some people from downstairs were starting to come up, and they heard Neris's words.

Joyce looked at Nualan with a mixture of shock and anger, then turned to Diane's face.

"Is that true, Di?"

"No!"

Nualan denied it vehemently, but Diane looked at him with a red face, her eyes full of resentment. Joyce noticed her expression and put Diane down.

And before anyone could stop him, he strongly punched Nualan in the face.