The Male Lead's Fake Sister

If the times had been different, she might have considered another option. The circumstances, however, were far too coincidental.

Soon after meeting Rette at the Cheshire Cat, she began having nightmares.

On that day, Ravia was torn between the fate Rette had predicted for her and her own desires, and she eventually chose a path that would lead to her death.

But what is with these appearing signs?

The level of foreboding almost seemed to reinforce the prospect of Ravia’s death.

But should I say it’s a relief? As the Cheshire Phenomenon was a phenomenon that was not yet fully understood, there was a good chance that some assumptions were wrong.

For example, the event that prompted the Cheshire Phenomenon had already occurred.

‘Even if it’s not my death, there are many events that I could guess would be strong possibilities.’

For example, the fact that she met Rette, or she discovered Crow’s real identity. Events that likely occurred in the past and had an impact on the future.

Since she started having nightmares from the day she went to , it’d be safe to assume that one of the events today triggered the Cheshire Phenomenon. The problem was that memories of the past weren’t perfect, so she couldn’t guarantee anything.

‘It would have been nice if my memories had come back even a little bit more.’

Ravia saw the things in her dreams as ridiculously fragmented. It was the main reason why Ravia suspected her nightmares weren’t about her past memories.

The dreams were so fragmented, and there was barely anything she could remember after waking up.

‘If they were true memories of the past, I should be able to recall them completely after waking up.’

As she did after rolling down the stairs and experiencing the Cheshire Phenomenon.

The Cheshire Phenomenon weighed on Ravia’s shoulders unexpectedly, as if to mock her thoughts.

‘It’s clear that the information I just discovered is not enough to figure out what caused the Cheshire Phenomenon.’

But, it’d be easier to ask Rette or Crow about the Cheshire Phenomenon.

Ravia looked out the carriage window, and whether she had slept more deeply than she expected, the sun had completely set, making it difficult to see outside.

‘I told Tidwell that I will return around sunset.’

If she returned to the Cheshire Cat from here, she’d be late, and she didn’t have the confidence to arouse unnecessary suspicion.

Is it right to go to now?

Her agony was short-lived.

‘First, I need to find a way to prepare for this phenomenon.’

She lacked the confidence to return to the state where she had no idea what had happened and let herself drown in anxiety.

Ravia was standing on a chessboard in a vulnerable position, knowing that if she made a mistake, she’d be pushed off the board.

For this reason, Ravia had to be ready to move her pawn to the end of the chessboard.

So that she could bounce back even if she was pushed out now.

‘Fortunately, Tidwell’s been quiet lately…’

Rather than him being quiet, it’d be more accurate to say that she hadn’t seen his face as much as usual. Mainly because Ravia was busy moving around, but looking back, she realized that Tidwell didn’t show much reaction either.

Maybe he relaxed his guard after we returned from the banquet?

Ravia had tried very hard in the past to be punctual so as not to arouse Tidwell’s suspicion, but she decided to slack off even more and turned back the carriage.

It’s dark now that the sun has set, but I’m sure he’ll understand if I say something urgent came up.

Hold on.

‘Did it get dark because the sun went down?’

Suddenly, realization struck Ravia. It was around dusk when she set out, and this location didn’t appear to be anywhere close to the city center. If the sky had changed so much, she should’ve arrived at the Duke residence no matter how long she slept.

Rattle-

Ravia’s doubt was heightened as the carriage shook. Following the rattle, there was a brief moment of silence. Chills ran down her spine like morning dew sliding down the leaves.

“Stop right now!” Ravia screamed as loudly as she could, as if she were drowning.

Because there was only one explanation of the carriage’s sudden departure in an unknown direction.

‘It’s kidnapping.’

Who the hell are you? Why? Is there anyone who wants to intervene now that most of the things have been settled?

Bang! Ravia kicked the carriage door powerfully.

The carriage was built with a structure capable of locking the door from both the inside and the outside, and even though she unlocked it from the inside, the carriage door did not open.

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As expected, it was locked from the outside.

But how strong is a carriage lock, anyway?

The carriage was moving so fast that jumping immediately would almost certainly result in serious injury, but Ravia didn’t care.

If the kidnapper wasn’t concerned about her safety, they would have given her sleeping pills or knocked her out, and not in such a sloppy manner.

‘No, it’s possible they did give me sleeping pills.’

She had fallen asleep as soon as she entered the carriage, so they may have given her a weak soporific. But even that sedative was far too weak for a kidnapping. It meant Ravia’s kidnapper had no intention of harming her.

Bang!

As Ravia kicked the carriage door once more, the lock broke open, and a breeze began to ooze through the gap. Just one more kick and the door would swing open.

Ravia shouted once more.

“Coachman! Stop the carriage right now! Do you think I can’t jump?!”

“I’m sorry, Miss!”

And, contrary to her expectations, she received a polite response. Even the voice sounded familiar.

She thought it made sense that he’d replace the real coachman while the carriage was parked, but to think he was being polite on top of that familiar voice? And did he say ‘Miss,’ too?

“It’s dangerous, so please sit back! I was told to bring you without informing you…”

The way he addressed her as ‘Miss’ reminded her of Crow, but she would have recognized Crow’s voice. After all, it was easier to distinguish his voice from anyone thanks to the mask he always wore.

This voice was lower, and firmer than Crow’s. The familiar way of addressing her with ‘Miss’ and the not-so-unfamiliar voice.

No way.

Ravia froze while thinking as the carriage gradually slowed. The carriage came to a halt with the sound of a horse snorting, and the half-damaged carriage door creaked open.

Through the open door, she could see a building that looked like a villa, and then a man wearing a hunting cap.

Ravia recognized the coachman’s face and laughed out loud.

“Right. I thought it must be someone who worked at the Leontine residence.”

“…My apologies.”

“I’ve always wondered what goes through people’s heads when they apologize after deliberately committing a crime.”

“….”

“What do you think? Will splitting your head open answer my question, Vincent?”

Ravia’s cold tone made even her smile appear sarcastic, but no one knew. In reality, Ravia was laughing as she couldn’t stand the absurdity.

Haha.

Her smile was dry. How could the timing have been so perfect?

Who would have guessed that this happened just as she was about to return to the after experiencing the Cheshire Phenomenon?

Vincent, who picked her up and rushed to this place, was highly appreciated for his quick thinking and reticence, and was a servant that Duke Leontine often took with him.

No, not to the point where he always took Vincent by his side. But it was no exaggeration to say that Vincent was his close aide.

Vincent, like Clovia, moved from the countryside to the city and found work as a footman in the mansion.

Ravia could recall a naive footman with a taciturn expression saying that cutting grass for cows was easier than organizing a carpet.

And the Duke of Leontine had a knack for taking naive people who were unfamiliar with life in the city and shaping them into his own hands and feet. That way, they’d be loyal and not easily bought.

That was primarily why Vincent was chosen to accompany Duke Leontine on his business trip.

And he kidnapped Ravia.

It simply meant the return of her father, Duke Leontine.

Ravia erased the smile from her face as if her laugh earlier had been a lie and began speaking coldly.

“Step aside and lead me to your master if you don’t want your head split open.”

Even when she woke from her dream, reality still was more brutal than a nightmare.

Ravia caught her breath as she dismounted the carriage and felt death rushing right beneath her chin.

It was a good night for her to reflect on what she had left behind.