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nThe scene shifted again, the girl known as Marlina sat in front of a dressing mirror, staring at her reflection.

nShe appeared so fragile and helpless, but no matter how delicate she seemed, her gaze remained resolute.

nAll of this was seen by Seraphina.

n“Marli…”

nThe girl who was observing all this could only utter her sister’s name in a weak and pale voice.

n“Seri…”

nAs if responding to her, the girl in front of the mirror whispered softly:

n“I will save you, I will definitely… get you out of this hell, believe in me.”

nShe seemed to be speaking to Seraphina, and also reassuring herself.

n“Ansel…” Seraphina stared blankly at Marlina, who was making a vow, “What was I doing at this time, and what did I do after this?” freewёbnoνel.com

n“…” Ansel hesitated for a moment, “Seraphina, you need to understand one thing, these are only your original future, not the present, what will happen in the future, it no longer exists, so—”

n“What the hell am I doing!”

nSeraphina roared in rage, “Did I do nothing but enjoy Marlina’s protection!”

nAnsel sighed, “It’s worse than that, I can only say, if you want to see, be prepared.”

n*

nSeraphina, dressed in a red and black uniform, hid a woman in a concealed cellar, then stood up amidst the increasingly close footsteps.

n“Hey, wild dog, is there no one else?”

n“There’s no one else, and, I warn you, if you call be by that name again, I’ll break your legs!”

n“Tsk.” The man in the same red and black uniform as Seraphina sneered, “Then I’m really scared, get out of the way.”

nSeraphina’s eyes tightened, “What are you going to do?”

n“What am I going to do? See if you’ve done anything stupid again.”

nThe man walked over with an expressionless face, “Last time you let that baron’s kid escape, our team not only got nothing, but also got whipped thirty times by the lord, and you got away with nothing… Heh, it’s great to have a favored sister, or did you sell yourself?”

n“Bastard…” Seraphina drew the short knife from her waist, her dark red eyes filled with a ruthless and violent determination, she said word by word, “If you dare, say it again.”

n“…”

nThe man seemed to be deterred by the increasingly intense and terrifying violent aura on her, he didn’t say anything else, just tugged at the corner of his mouth, “Get out of the way, I don’t have time to waste with you.”

n“I told you, there’s no one else, can’t you hear?”

n“Heh, that attitude. Wild dog, has anyone ever told you that you’re a complete idiot, an idiot who can’t hide anything?”

nThe man stared hard at the floor behind Seraphina, “Without your favored sister, you would have been played to death by the lord long ago!”

nHe drew the short knife from his waist and threw it at the partition that opened the cellar.

nAt the same time as the blade was firmly nailed into the wooden board, a terrified scream came from under the floor.

n“As expected… If I hadn’t been careful, I would have been killed by you little bastard again!”

nThe man spat, and walked straight towards Seraphina, “Now, get out of the way, or—?!”

nSlash—

nThe sound of a blade entering flesh interrupted the man’s words.

nHe stared in disbelief at Seraphina, at that blood-stained face filled with rage and madness, no different from a wild beast.

n“You… you…”

n“Die, scum.” Seraphina growled as she thrust the entire knife into the man’s heart, her eyes so fierce that she seemed to want to tear him apart, “This is what you asked for, you have to pay the price!”

n“Heh… heh… pay, the price?”

nA mocking and contemptuous smile appeared on the man’s face, although he could no longer speak, his expression had replaced his words, making his meaning clear.

n“The one who should pay the price is you, wild dog.”

nSeraphina, who was watching herself, closed her eyes, her body trembling, speaking in utter despair.

nShe was almost… unable to be angry anymore.

nAll she could feel was deep, deep despair.

nThe scene changed, in the cold underground prison, Seraphina heard the sound of a whip whistling, and Marlina’s painful moan.

n“Lina… Your sister has been causing trouble over and over again, she’s not as valuable as you said, not only is she not valuable, she also killed one of my good men, what do you say… What should I do?”

n“Sir, please… give her one more chance, the last… chance, I promise this is… the last time…”

nThe sound of the whip lashing on Marlina’s body made Seraphina’s heart ache, and Marlina’s intermittent words due to pain made Seraphina wish she could rush into this memory.

n“Ah… Who made you so pleasing to me? These few days, you’ve done surprisingly well with those paperwork, alright, this is the last time, this is the last time I’m lenient with you and her, Marlina.”

n“Thank… thank you for your mercy…”

nWhen the scene changed again, the girl named Marlina had lost her spirit, her pupils were pitch black.

nBut even so, Marlina’s heart still held that belief, the belief that even if her own life was shattered, even if greater suffering was in front of her, she had to realize it.

nShe murmured softly, emotionlessly, mechanically:

n“I have to get Seri… out… I must… get Seri… out…”

n*

nThe arrival of the severe cold wave did not alter its course. This time, however, without Ansel’s proposal, countless people perished in the Red Frost territory due to the harsh cold. And this… this was Seraphina’s sole opportunity.

nHer only chance to escape from the Red Frost Manor, the city of Red Frost, and even the Red Frost territory itself. On the day the cold wave struck, a vehement dispute erupted between Seraphina and Marlina. “Marlina, what on earth are you saying? Why should I obey that swine’s commands? Do you know what he wants me to do?” Seraphina bellowed, “He wants me to rob, to steal, to kill! To murder innocent people, the elderly, children, women! Do you have any idea how repulsed I feel, how much I want to die when I do these things? Why must I do them… I don’t want to do them anymore!”

nMarlina, clad in a purple off-shoulder gown, casually responded, “Have you finished?” “You…” Seraphina was livid. She forcefully slapped the lit cigarette from Marlina’s hand, shouting furiously, “Marlina, what has become of you? Does the life of a rich lady make you this happy? Have you forgotten the life we used to lead? Look at yourself now, look at your attitude in front of that man… How could you change like this!”

n“And what’s the alternative?” Marlina retorted, “Should I yell at him like you, and then we both get executed the next day?”

n“I…” Seraphina was momentarily speechless. She gritted her teeth, staring intently at Marlina. After a long silence, she finally softened. “Marli, please don’t do this…” She pleaded, “I’ll find a way, I’m already trying to find a way. I’ll get you out of here, please stop degrading yourself like this, please… I will succeed.”

nMarlina smirked, taking another cigarette from the box on the table. “So, what have you done, Seraphina?” she asked softly.

n“I… I’m trying to find a way, Marlina, you have to believe me. I’m very capable, there are only a few of his guards who can defeat me now, it won’t be long… That scoundrel won’t be a match for me, I can definitely help you escape—”

n“Enough, Seraphina.” Marlina interrupted her, lighting her cigarette. She exhaled a cloud of smoke nonchalantly, “I want to stay here.”

nSeraphina was stunned. She stared blankly at her sister, obscured by the smoke, and forced a smile, “Mar-Marli, you’re joking with me, right?”

n“Are you still a child, Seraphina?” Marlina countered, “I’ve had enough of our past life. Now, here, lord can give me the best. Why should I leave with you?”

n“…”

nShe ignored the stunned Seraphina, flicking her cigarette and scattering sparks, “As for you, do whatever you want. I don’t care, as long as you don’t disturb me and lord.”

nEnraged, Seraphina slapped Marlina, sending her cigarette flying. The scene… was eerily familiar. “Marlina! I won’t consider you my sister anymore!” The young girl yelled, standing up to leave, but she stumbled and fell due to a sudden wave of exhaustion.

n“Seraphina, he has wanted to enjoy you for a long time, so I added something to your tea earlier.” Marlina said, flicking her cigarette. She leaned down and whispered in Seraphina’s ear, “For my sake, and yours, behave yourself.”

nWith that, she blew a puff of smoke in Seraphina’s face. “Mar…lina…” Seraphina, drained of strength, glared at Marlina with an almost inhuman rage and hatred, “You… you… Ahh!!!” She roared, her previously weak body suddenly filled with a violent strength, as if the effects of the drug had suddenly worn off.

nThe enraged wolf lashed out, gripping Marlina’s throat tightly, her dark red eyes devoid of reason. But when she met Marlina’s dull eyes, her pupils trembled. The howling wolf harshly pushed away her sister, who was no longer the person she once knew, and crashed through the window, disappearing into the blizzard brought by the severe cold wave.

n“Cough… cough…” Marlina, huddled in a corner, coughed incessantly. In the cold wind-filled room, she shivered and took a drag from her cigarette. The last glimmer of light in her eyes was extinguished. “Don’t come back, Seraphina. Heh, heh heh…” The woman laughed cruelly and masochistically. “Don’t disturb my beautiful life.”

n*`

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