Mixed-Blood in a Gender Role Reversed World - Chapter 56

 Chapter 56 : The Withering Flower (3)

Looking at them explaining to Pecha with faces full of fear, I could only sigh.  

Their excuse was that they ended up here because they were intimidated by my threat.

*"I just meant to give them a bit of a scare, but they really went and made a mess of things."

Isn’t there a saying about a cow stumbling backward and catching a mouse?  

No, maybe it’s more like accidentally stepping on and crushing a hamster you’re raising.  

That’s how sudden, bewildering, and awkward the situation was.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I braced myself for the storm that was about to hit.  

Once those immature girls finished talking, it would be my turn.

“…”

I glanced over and locked eyes with my aunt, who was sitting at the table, staring at the money in the case.  

I quickly turned away before I could decipher the emotions in her eyes. I didn’t want to deal with the prelude to a lecture just yet.

“So, the young master told you to prepare the money?” 

“Yes…”

They’re spilling everything, aren’t they?

“There was nothing around him at the time. What made you obey so meekly?”

At Pecha’s interrogation, Hyemin rattled off her reasons. Pecha’s expression, arms crossed, began to harden.

“…And why were you so sure he was that kind of person?”  

“Pecha.”

As the questions dug deeper, I called out to Pecha.  

It felt uncomfortable and unsettling to have my flaws laid bare like this.  

I spoke to Pecha in Russian so they wouldn’t understand.

“You know they didn’t come here with the intent to harm me. Shouldn’t we wrap this up now?”

Pecha let out a low hum and uncrossed her arms. She seemed conflicted, glancing between me and my aunt.  

Seizing the opportunity, I gestured to the girls, who were practically glued to the floor, to get up.

“Take the money back. And don’t come back.”

Hyemin and Suyoung cautiously stood, glancing around nervously before inching toward the table where my aunt sat.

Sending back a hundred million won was no small pang, to say the least.  

But what was I supposed to do, tell them to keep it?  

With my aunt glaring daggers, was I supposed to greedily hold onto money obtained through half-threats?

That would be a one-way ticket to ruin. Not only would my aunt disapprove, but I might end up locked away for good.  

Everything I’d discussed with her up to this point would be for nothing. I was this close to freedom there was no way I could let that happen.

It might already be too late, though…

As they lingered near the table, I looked past their backs.  

My aunt, her face stiff, was staring intently at the case. So that’s why.

*Click*

The sound of the case snapping shut made their shoulders visibly tremble.  

My aunt, with half-lidded eyes, stared into the void and murmured.

“…Sasha. Step outside for a bit. I still have some questions.”

Her voice trembled faintly.  

I wanted to ask why, but there was no need to stir up trouble.  

All I could do was hope they’d speak kindly on my behalf.

“Understood.”

Swallowing a sigh, I stood up. Hyemin and Suyoung looked at me with shaking eyes, silently asking why and if they were free to go.  

I couldn’t answer their desperate gazes, so I ignored them and walked to the front door.

“Where are you headed? Oh, should I just come with you?”

Yuri, standing by the door, asked with a bright smile.  

I paused and studied her face. She usually seemed a bit airheaded, but hadn’t she subdued Suyoung in the blink of an eye?  

The memory of the first day I met these people flashed through my mind, along with the scenes Pecha had shown me. And my aunt, too.

These kinds of women had shown up out of the blue. What was I to them?  

A sudden sense of disconnect hit me, reminding me just how complicated my situation was.  

A creeping unease I’d never felt before. Overnight, it felt like I’d become someone else.  

But I’m normal now why hadn’t I noticed this strangeness before?

Hiding my darkening expression, I asked Yuri,

“…You’re not hurt, are you?”  

“Nope…!”

Yuri covered her mouth and nodded, seemingly touched by my concern.  

With a bitter smile I couldn’t quite understand myself, I stepped outside.

---

The place where I smoked in the morning before school or work.  

Leaning against the cracked wall, I lit a cigarette.  

The sound of the flint sparked a few times, and the tip of the cigarette glowed red.  

In the darkness all around, only the burning tip flared brightly.

“Feels like I’m going insane.”

A quiet mutter summed up my state of mind.  

At this point, it’s impossible not to notice. That damned dream is messing with my head.  

The reason I’m only feeling this strangeness now is probably because I saw my real dream today.  

That dream must be a memory of my past life, lingering in a corner of my mind.

If that’s true…

If memories manifest as dreams, then Sasha’s were real too?

*Whoosh!*

The sudden heat on my fingers broke my focus.  

I tossed the cigarette, which had burned down to my hand, and the long ash scattered like dust.  

I stared at the sight silently before putting another cigarette in my mouth.  

Leaning against the wall with a hollow gesture, I lit it.

Then, quietly, as if exhaling a sigh, I spoke softly to someone who was already gone.

“…You crazy bastard. How am I supposed to handle all this? At least tell me everything.”

Back in my mafia days, what kind of grudge did I earn to end up like this?  

From what I remember, I must have been pretty high up.  

Putting aside how a man climbed that far in this world, why am I living like this now?

“…”

How long did I stay like that?  

Cigarette butts piled up at my feet. My throat felt rough, and my stomach churned.  

Still, as I reached for another cigarette—

Heavy footsteps approached from the distance. With the cigarette still in my mouth, I naturally turned my head.  

My aunt appeared, her face expressionless but with a faint chill in her eyes.

“…Are you done?”

She didn’t answer, just walked toward me, staring at my face.  

I tilted my head slightly, puzzled, and her mouth opened.

“Did you always smoke?”  

“…Who knows.”  

“That’s not important, is it?”

Mimicking me, she pulled a cigar from the pocket of her black coat and put it in her mouth.  

Her oddly subdued voice gave me a bad feeling.

“…Sasha. My dear nephew.”  

“I’m sorry.”

Assuming she’d learned the full story, I quickly apologized.  

Her eyes glinted as she asked in a low voice,

“…For what?”  

“For my reckless actions…”  

“No, not that. That’s not it.”  

“…?”

That’s all there is, though?

“Swear to me. From now on, you’ll only tell the truth.”  

“…Alright.”  

“Have you ever lied to me?”  

“…No.”

Even now, I’m lying. I can’t exactly say her nephew is already gone.

“…”

Her eyes seemed to narrow, almost menacingly.

“Then… explain how you did what you did to those girls.” 

“I just acted on instinct.”  

“Oh? Even after losing your memories, that’s still there? Impressive. Crushing someone’s face in front of others and threatening them so naturally.”

Her tone turned icy.  

Why is she suddenly like this…? Before I could dwell on it, a fragment of those tormenting memories surfaced, giving me the answer.

Her nephew was a mafioso who lost his memories.  

Yet that same nephew suddenly acted so ruthlessly without hesitation.

“…Living here, hiding your claws, must have been tough. Pretending to lose your memories, playing on my sympathy to call me here. Unfortunately, that wasn’t a great choice. I don’t have much power right now.”

Was she trying to provoke me, or was she genuinely angry?  

I lowered my eyes, answering as calmly as possible.

“Why would I pretend? I didn’t even want to be protected.”  

"Why? Because the more you acted like that, the more I wanted to protect you with everything I had. I’d have become a blade for you in a heartbeat if you asked.  

I was happy. You’d changed, become so lovely and kind, and I loved that. But was it all a lie?”

Her eyes reddened as Pecha and Yuri arrived quietly, standing behind her, reading the mood.  

I put out my cigarette and ran a hand through my hair.

“Whatever I say now… will you believe me?”

Her trembling shoulders steadied as she let out a long breath, like a final exhale.

“Listen to the name I say. If you stay composed, I’ll believe you.”

Just that…? Of course I’ll stay composed. How many people could I possibly know who are connected to her?

“Would I even remember anyone you name?”  

“Don’t say that… Are you giving up the act now?”  

“…?”

Her piercing gaze stung my skin.

“Just… tell me. I won’t know.”  

“Katia Rizhova. You definitely know that name.”

I felt nothing. It was a name I’d never heard, foreign and unfamiliar.  

So I was sure I’d succeeded. Looking her straight in the eyes, I said,

“I don’t know it. Are we done now?”  

“…I don’t hate you. Your actions to protect your sister were so pitiful and tragic it drives me mad. You didn’t have to do that. Why did you lie to me…?”  

“What do you mean…?”  

“Look at the expression you’re making right now.”

I reached for my phone to check, but I didn’t need to.  

The metallic taste of blood brushed my lips.

I realized what expression I was making.

“How… could my nephew do this to me…”

I understood.

“…”

Why? I’m the real Ryu Sehwa.

But soon, I found the answer.

It’s etched into this body.

That unknown name had torn my lips apart.

“…Pack your things. We’re going back to Russia.”

She turned and walked away, the girls bowing slightly as they followed.  

Just as they were about to leave, I barely moved my lips to stop her.

“…Who is she? The name you mentioned.”

She paused and glanced back.

“You’re becoming more like your sister… Should I tell you this? Before you died, the lover you killed.”

“…”

“There’s one thing I hate most in this world.”

Her eyes, bathed in cold moonlight, radiated ice.

She left with a single, cryptic word.

“Lies. You didn’t need protection anymore.”

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Translated by Reversalmanhwa.web.id  

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