Funina, please let me steal your heart!

If the older brother has a talent for magic, he can expand his social circle and show off to others.

And if you are a younger sister, you can give it away as a gift.

"The girl you adopted is quite interesting, just like a cat."

"Oh...if you want, I can let her 'board' at your house. But..."

"I know. I will tell my family members later."

Although this is a complete violation of the law, nobles usually know how to avoid investigation. A table of food, a bottle of wine, and a little "thought" can get a lot of information.

The nobles who "made the best use of everything" were later eliminated by "father", but this is a story for many years to come.

"From now on you will live with your new father!"

The nobleman at that time stuffed Linnet into the carriage, ignoring her struggles and resistance.

As the car door closed and the scenery passed by quickly, Linnet couldn't help but cover her cat ears, thinking that the ending might have been determined.

Why do I have ears like this?

When the carriage stopped, she looked out the window. The sign on the gate read "Lefefel", and beyond the gate she saw a rather eye-catching mansion.

It's over, Linnet couldn't help but think.

"Be prepared, Mr. Lefebvre wants to enjoy you quickly. Dress yourself well, and if you can please him, you will live."

The guard grabbed Linnet's hand and threw her into a spacious room.

Most of the other girls in the mansion were hidden in the basement, but it seemed that when they first arrived, they were all imprisoned in this room.

The room was large and luxurious, but she didn't want to stay here at all.

Linnet clenched her teeth, her nails leaving a white mark on the floor.

"Brother..." Tears slid between her lips.

Although she didn't know what kind of situation she would face next, she vaguely knew that she would never see her only family again.

at this time.

"Were you just brought here too?"

"Eh?"

The same childish voice sounded, causing Linnet's cat ears to twitch.

She raised her tear-filled eyes and subconsciously looked towards the source of the sound.

There sat a petite figure at the window, bathed in the moonlight, looking particularly ethereal and unreal.

It was a girl about her age.

Blonde hair, red eyes. She was dressed simply, but that couldn't hinder her budding beauty.

Most importantly, the sound is very pleasant, as clear as a bird's song.

Linnet forgot her fear for a moment and said in a daze: "You are..."

The girl smiled and said, "My name is Luna."

"I was just brought here too. What about you? What's your name?"

Linnet got up and sat on the ground, at a loss: "Lin, Linnet..."

"Are you a cat?" Luna asked curiously.

Linnet immediately covered her cat ears.

Enough is enough.

This ear has never brought her any good.

When her parents were still alive, she was questioned by many children: Are you your parents' biological child? Why are you completely different from your brother?

I don't want to hear anything.

"It's so beautiful."

"......?" Linnette raised her eyes blankly.

Luna jumped out of the window, walked in front of her and squatted down.

"I like cats. I wish I had a pair of cat ears." Luna said and stretched out her hand, wanting to touch Linnet's cat ears.

"Do not touch me!"

Luna immediately withdrew her hand, feeling somewhat guilty: "I'm sorry, you were brought here because of this. As for me..."

She pointed to her neck.

"It's because of this."

neck?

Linnet stared at Luna's neck, with no other thoughts than "so white" and "beautiful".

So she was silent for a while, then hesitated and asked, "Neck?"

"Throat."

Luna sat down and touched her neck: "The owner of this mansion thought my voice was nice, and then..."

She hugged her knees and lowered her eyes.

"The people from the orphanage sent me here. I just saw a big bird cage. Maybe they wanted to lock me up there."

Although they were of similar age, Linnett realized from his behavior and words that he seemed to be more mature than her.

Linnet wiped the wet tears from her face with the back of her hand and whispered, "I hate these ears."

Luna raised her face and looked at her.

"...I may never see my brother again. He is my only family." Linnett found it difficult to sort out the chaotic emotions churning in her heart.

“What will become of us next?”

Luna shook her head.

Of course she didn't know, how could she know?

She was sent here just like me...Linette's eyes dimmed.

Tick-tock, the clock in the room kept ringing.

It's so harsh. Linnet drooped her cat ears.

The more she heard the sound of the clock, the more she realized that the end was approaching.

As for what the outcome will be, perhaps only this bright moon can tell.

Linnet curled up her body. It wasn't cold tonight, but she felt a chill penetrating into every part of her skin.

Ta-da... She suddenly heard Luna's footsteps going away, then coming closer, and then a piece of cloth was draped over her. Linnet shuddered, without raising her eyes.

"I'm so scared." She whispered.

Luna sat next to her and thought for a moment.

"Have you heard the story of "The Night Country Adventure Tales"? "

“…I have some impression.”

But Linnet didn't understand why she suddenly brought this up.

But it was better than enduring the torture of silence. Linnet continued to talk softly.

Yan: "But I've only seen the stage play, and I didn't finish it."

She had only seen performances by small street groups and had not been able to watch them all.

If you want to make a living, you can't waste your time on things like this.

So every time I pass by, I can only see scattered fragments and can't piece together the whole story.

If he told Linni, he would definitely take her to see it, even if it was just secretly.

But that would only add more burden to my brother.

"Then let me tell you this story."

"A long time ago, there was a princess of the Night Kingdom. Her seven dwarf muskets disappeared due to the invasion of the enemy. The beautiful stepmother gave her a bright apple and summoned a pumpkin carriage..."

Linnet pricked up her ears and couldn't help but listen.

Luna's voice was soft and melodious, easily drowning out the harsh ticking of the clock.

The room was not warm, even though the windows were tightly shut and not a breath of air came in.

But listening to Luna's voice, Linnett felt that her mind had passed through this cage and was brought to the world of the story.

"Linnet."

"Ok?"

"Do you want to go back to your brother?"

"Yeah." Linnet answered without thinking.

She whispered, "Where's Luna?"

"Me? I...have nowhere to go back to."

Luna lowered her eyes, then looked back at Linnet.

"But I can try to get you out of here."

She fished a knife from her pocket.

Where did this come from? Linnet was surprised. No matter what, she knew that the people in this mansion would not let them, caged birds, touch any weapons.

Luna just whispered, "I stole it."

"from here?"

"The orphanage. Stolen before being stuffed into the car."

Does that mean she had already planned to leave?

"Then why don't you just run away by yourself first?" Linnet couldn't help but ask.

“…Hey, hey, hey.”

Then it was carried away by perfunctory laughter.

Does she really want to escape? Linnet thought so for a moment, and before she could ask, the door was suddenly pushed open.

Luna hid the knife in that brief moment and looked over with Linnet.

The guard tightened his belt, on which hung a small rifle.

"The time has come. Mr. Lefebvre wants to see you. Come with me."

He had a blank expression and indifferent eyes. He didn't think these two thin girls could do anything to him.

"No...I don't want to." Linnet whispered.

"Don't want to? It's not up to you."

The guard grabbed Linnet's arm and lifted her up easily.

"It seems I have to make you understand that resistance is useless." The guard raised his fist.

Linnet closed her eyes subconsciously, and her cat ears drooped immediately.

But the expected pain did not come from anywhere, instead a touch of warm liquid splashed on the face.

"Uh...ah..."

The force that was holding her wrist disappeared in an instant, and Linnet fell to the ground.

She opened her eyes in surprise and found the guard lying on the ground with a knife stuck in his neck. The tip of the knife pierced through his flesh with precision.