DDSWTB 09

Chapter 9 

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I ran as fast as I could toward my room.

“Haah… haah… haah…”

Once inside, I placed the flowers I had picked on the table and threw myself onto the bed.

“Ugh…”

After a while, I rolled over from lying face down and stared up at one point on the ceiling, whispering to myself:

“…Tiana must have been really hated, huh.”

Liam hadn’t listened to me at all.

I absolutely don’t want that future where I’m executed. As my anxiety consumed me, I kept staring at that single point and thinking.

“…Fuu.”

I have to switch my mindset.

It’s true—even in the original story, Liam was always overbearing toward Tiana. But that was because of Tiana’s selfishness, her twisted attitude, and her harassment of Ellie.

Right now, it’s me inside Tiana’s body. If I don’t change, nothing will. Luckily, I already know the cause. That means I can fix it from here on.

In my previous life, I often had to read people’s moods, so I think I’m actually pretty sensitive to emotions.

It’s okay. I can do this.

First, I’ll prioritize my original goal—apologizing to my sister.

When I looked toward the table by the window, I saw an empty vase placed there.
It must have been Chrono, after hearing what I said earlier, who prepared it for me.

He’s so kind… really.

I put the flowers I’d picked into the vase and arranged them.

They looked so beautiful when finished, and before I knew it, my heart had calmed down.

Alright, let’s go apologize.

The annex is a bit of a walk away from the main building.
As I walked, I could feel my heartbeat rising faster and faster from the nerves.

Finally, I reached my sister’s room.

Standing right in front of it made me feel even more nervous.
I took a deep breath and mustered my courage.

Knock knock

“Yes?”

With trembling hands from the nerves, I opened the door.

“Um, Sister… I wanted to talk to you—”

I lifted my downcast face and looked at her. She was sitting on a chair by the window, reading a book.

The sunlight shone down on her, as if it illuminated her alone. Her silver hair sparkled, and she looked so beautiful that words couldn’t begin to describe it.

That sight was so breathtaking… and carried a kind of fleeting fragility.
She noticed me and looked up in surprise.

“Tia, what’s wrong?”

Even after all the bullying I’d done, she still called Tiana by her nickname.

All this time, I’d been hurting such a sweet, kind sister.

“I’m truly sorry!”

Tiana bowed her head deeply.

My sister was startled and quickly told me to raise my head.

“Raise your face, Tia!”

I looked up and spoke the thoughts in my heart.

“I wanted to apologize for everything I’ve done to you. Even the other day, when I slapped you across the face… that must have hurt. I know it’s too late to say this now. But I just couldn’t stop myself from apologizing. I just… wanted to tell you I’m sorry…”

“…!”

My sister looked at me with a shocked expression.

 

After a brief silence, she rushed over to me and showed me a smile.