As the sky grew dark, Vera lit the gas lamp on the dining table, and a warm yellow glow filled the kitchen.
Ansu ate the cozy dinner his sister had carefully prepared for him.
Given their family's circumstances, it wasn't particularly fancy, consisting of nothing more than baked beans, a thick pot of stew, and slightly warmed rye bread. It wasn't exactly delicious, but it wasn't bad either.
"What's wrong, Brother?" Vera noticed Ansu's expression. "No appetite?"
"No, I'm just thinking about things."
Ansu took a bite of the bland, hard-to-swallow rye bread, thinking that if he had the chance, he could cook for her himself and show off his superior culinary skills.
Besides, their family's meals really needed an upgrade. Ansu subconsciously glanced at Vera's small, underdeveloped frame.
There were almost no curves on her chest, so she really should be eating more high-protein foods.
It was time to improve the family's financial situation.
With the ability to simulate the future, Ansu felt he wouldn't lack ways to make money. For instance, if he just found a casino or a racetrack, he could turn into a god of gamblers in minutes.
Of course, the prerequisite for everything was to first overturn his fated death...
"Since you came back, you've been spacing out a lot..." Vera was very perceptive. Ansu had been dazing off quite a bit today, and sometimes his face looked filled with worry.
"Did something happen at school?"
"It's nothing." Ansu knew he could never hide his emotions from Vera, so he smiled to reassure her. "Just a bit of trouble, but I've already handled it."
"Oh... I see." Vera blinked. "Then don't think about things that put you in a bad mood. Brother, tell me something interesting about school!"
"Sure." Ansu nodded. "What do you want to hear about?"
"For example..." Vera asked with a beaming smile, "Did any girls write you love letters at school?"
Ansu looked at her helplessly. "Why are you always focused on that...?"
"Just kidding!" Vera's eyes curved into lovely crescents. "Brother, talk about your studies then!"
Under the warm yellow light, the two siblings ate dinner while chatting about the problems Ansu encountered in his studies. Although those profound subjects were still far beyond Vera's reach, she listened very intently.
Ansu could feel that Vera longed to go to school.
Their adoptive father had been a doctor, so they were originally considered a respectable family, but ever since he passed away three years ago, their circumstances had plummeted.
Ansu, who attended that famous institution, was the family's only hope, but because the fees at Benalu Royal Academy were quite expensive, his sensible sister had taken the initiative to drop out to fully support his education.
After selling their house, the siblings also worked part-time during weekends and holidays to maintain the household, living a rather frugal life ever since.
Ansu gazed at the old dress Vera was wearing. He remembered their adoptive father had bought it for her four years ago. Since the girl was still young and hadn't fully developed yet, it still fit, but it had inevitably begun to show signs of wear.
This gave him a pang of heartache.
"Vera... in a while, you should go back to school." Ansu suddenly suggested. "And then we'll move to a place with better security..."
Vera's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Brother, stop joking! Where would we get the money?"
"Don't you worry about that. When the time comes, I'll definitely have money, lots and lots of money!" Ansu still had that much confidence. After all, he was using cheats...
Moreover, he didn't want Vera to step onto the path from his previous life.
Spending every day with a bunch of freaks and lunatics, fighting and killing, covered in scars, and never knowing when she might suddenly lose her life...
His sister was actually very bright, and it would be a pity if she didn't study.
"Hmm?" Vera looked at Ansu suspiciously. Ever since he came back today, she felt her brother was a bit different than before, but she couldn't quite put her finger on where the change came from...
"You're just a poor student who hasn't even graduated yet, so where would the money come from?" The more Vera thought about it, the more something felt off. "Brother! You haven't been... taken in by some rich woman, have you?"
"Huh?" Ansu was stunned for several seconds before speechlessly poking her little head.
"How could your brother ever stoop to being a kept man? What on earth is that brain of yours thinking about every day...?"
"As long as you haven't..." Vera breathed a sigh of relief, then giggled as she dodged Ansu's large hand.
"I'm not just thinking nonsense. Who told you to be so handsome? The plot of a talented poor boy being kept by a wealthy woman is quite common, right? If I were a wealthy woman, I would..."
"You would what?" Ansu glanced at her.
Vera said with a laugh, "I'd lock you up, watch you every day, and never let you out!"
Ansu rolled his eyes hard. "Then it's a good thing you're not a wealthy woman."
Vera burst into laughter and stopped teasing her brother. Instead, she rested her chin on her hand, her eyes unblinking as she observed her brother's appearance.
The Ansu before her had a subtle temperament that sat somewhere between a boy and a young man.
Perhaps because he was always worried about the future, those dark green eyes were slightly melancholy, giving him a mysterious and inscrutable aura.
Even though he wore a cheap linen shirt and his unkempt black hair was a bit messy, his handsome and soft features made everything look just right. He looked like a noble youth whose family had fallen into ruin, all of which was thanks to the good education their adoptive father had given him.
No wonder Ms. Joanna from next door was so smitten the moment they moved in...
The girls in the poor districts had never seen anyone like this before!
...
After dinner, his sister continued to urge him as usual not to study too late and to go to bed early.
Seeing her acting like a nagging mother figure, Ansu shook his head with a smile and closed his bedroom door.
The moment the door closed, a familiar laugh came from inside the room.
"Your sister is quite cute~"
Ansu was startled and turned around to see—
Celia was sitting in his chair with her long, smooth legs crossed, curiously flipping through the stack of books on his desk.
"You..." Ansu immediately checked outside the door, but his sister didn't seem to have heard anything. "Lady Witch, why did you suddenly come here? You didn't even say hello..."
"Didn't I already say hello?" Celia raised an eyebrow. "Besides, do I really need to knock when I come to see one of my own?"
Ansu nodded helplessly, then lowered his voice. "Do you have something for me?"
"No need to be so careful. I've already put up a magic barrier; your sister can't hear anything." Celia looked at the nervous and cramped Ansu, a mischievous smile suddenly playing on her lips.
She leaned in close and said slowly in a threatening tone:
"It seems you two siblings have a very good relationship. That means you'll have to work even harder for me, otherwise..."
"You wouldn't want your cute little sister to meet a tragic end, would you?"
Ansu's heart tightened, but he quickly forced a sincere smile onto his face.
"Lady Witch, you said it yourself that I'm one of your own now. If you have any orders, just say the word, and I will give it my all."
Celia watched Ansu with a beaming smile. It seemed his sister really was his weakness.
This would make Ansu even easier to control.
So, she stopped teasing him and took out a booklet, handing it over.
"This is..." Ansu flipped through it and found that it was a student registry for Benalu Royal Academy, covering everyone from freshmen to seniors, and even including the names of teachers, teaching assistants, and graduate students.
"Your next mission is to help me find someone in the academy."
"Find someone?"
Rate on N.U.
