TSHLWTL Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Catherine sat by the window, gazing at the bottle of “Philotes” in her palm under the moonlight.

The pink liquid inside was clear and beautiful, almost like sweet syrup.

But despite its appearance, “Philotes” was a dangerous drug that awakened primal instincts. Whether it triggered emotions or raw desire depended on the person who drank it.

One thing was certain—whoever consumed it would be overwhelmed by an intense and uncontrollable urge.

Some would lose all reason and act like wild animals, consumed by their desires.

In the worst cases, it would leave them mindless, turning them into empty shells.

The drug’s effects were said to last for at least three days.

Rachel had ordered Catherine to give this to Eleanor.

It was a crime, plain and simple.

“Did Catherine ever give this to Eleanor in the novel?”

No. This drug wasn’t even supposed to appear at this point in the story.

It was originally introduced much later when Eleanor had already joined the academy and started getting involved with the male leads.

It was merely an event trigger—something to stir up jealousy and love drama.

So why did Rachel have it now?

“Do you want to know something? That filthy act you despised… funny enough, that woman’s mother once did the same thing to me. 

So this isn’t a crime—it’s karma.”

What did she mean by that?

Now that Catherine thought about it, Rachel had never physically harmed Eleanor herself. She was cruel to Catherine, yes, but she always had others do the dirty work when it came to Eleanor.

She simply enjoyed watching Eleanor suffer.

Catherine had assumed it was just a twisted hobby, but Rachel’s hatred for Eleanor seemed deeper than she had thought.

“Why? Just because Eleanor is the protagonist? Because she’s the villain’s daughter? Or… is it something else?”

Did it have something to do with Eleanor’s mother?

Rachel despised Eleanor’s mother. And she spoke as if she had known her personally.

This was never mentioned in the original story.

“Did they know each other? Why did Rachel sound so hurt when she talked about her?”

The emotion in Rachel’s eyes wasn’t just hatred—it was sorrow. Deep, overwhelming sorrow mixed with resentment and a thirst for revenge.

Catherine didn’t want to give Eleanor the “Philotes.”

Doing so would go against everything she was trying to achieve in this world.

But Rachel knew Catherine’s weakness. She threatened to use Alex against her.

In the end, Catherine had no choice.

She could run away if she wanted to.

But what about Alex?

If she abandoned her role, Alex would take her place.

And that would surely lead to his death.

“I can’t let Alex take my place just so I can escape.”

She had already resigned herself to her fate. She couldn’t push that fate onto him.

She clenched the small bottle in her hand, feeling its weight more than ever.

At that moment—

Creak.

The door opened carefully.

There was only one person who would enter her room like this.

“…Alex.”

“Are you okay?”

Alex stepped inside, his voice filled with concern.

“Hmm? That’s not the usual medicine you carry.”

He was holding a different ointment than usual. It looked expensive.

“…Someone gave it to me. It’s a good one. Let me apply it.”

“I’m fine. Helen already put medicine on me.”

“This is better. It’ll help you heal faster.”

Alex gently applied the ointment to her face. His touch was indifferent yet oddly tender.

“What did your servants say?” he asked after a moment.

“I made them keep quiet.”

“…Then?”

“I told them to pretend they didn’t see anything. That’s the best way.”

“….”

His deep blue eyes—so much like Rachel’s—began to tremble. He looked… distressed.

“What’s wrong?”

“You… are you really okay with this?”

Catherine didn’t understand his reaction.

Alex almost seemed like he wanted Rachel’s actions to be exposed.

But she knew that wouldn’t happen.

People didn’t care about what happened inside someone else’s household.

And even if the Duke or others found out, all they had to do was throw Rachel out of the family.

But if that happened… it would be Catherine and Alex who would suffer the consequences.

Catherine thought Alex was naïve to expect anything different.

“Catherine… my foolish sister… Can we stop now?”

Alex’s voice was quiet, almost broken.

He looked both resigned and desperate, like a child on the verge of tears.

“Stop what?”

“…This game of ours.”

And suddenly, Catherine understood.

He was talking about the “game” they had been playing since childhood.

A game where they pretended to be loved.

“Catherine, listen. This is just a game. We’re just pretending.”

“Pretending?”

“Yes. Mother loves us. But if we disobey, she punishes us. It’s not real punishment—it’s just part of the game.”

“Really? Does she love us?”

“Of course. Father said so. He said, “Mother loves us.”

A desperate illusion they clung to to survive.

Before they even came to the Duke’s household, they had already been playing this game.

A game where their mother was kind and only scolded them when necessary.

A game where the abuse wasn’t real.

A game where their mother’s love was the truth.

“This isn’t abuse. This isn’t abuse. This isn’t abuse.

“This is love.”

Back then, the younger Catherine, with no memories of her past life, had believed it.

Because she wanted to be loved.

Because she wanted to stay together.

And now, Alex was asking to end it.

A lump formed in her throat.

“You think we can just ‘stop’ this game so easily?”

“End it? Do you think we’ll ever get an ending?”

“…Catherine.”

“If Mother abandons us, will everything be over? If we abandon her, will everything be okay?”

“….”

“Alex… I don’t know anymore.”

Catherine looked at him with hollow eyes.

When did we become like this?

What did we even want when we came to this household?

She felt pity—both for herself and for Alex.

There was no one to ask for help.

No one understands them.

Even if they left Rachel, would they be able to survive?

“Without Mother, can we even survive in this household? In this world? If we have nowhere to go… then what do we do?”

“…What?”

“I’m scared, Alex.”

As if her fear had infected him, Alex’s face twisted in pain.

Years had passed, but the two of them were still lost in the cold winter forest.

“Stay with me tonight.”

Alex had been about to leave for his room, but Catherine stopped him.

“…Hey, we’re not kids anymore. You’re fifteen, and I’m sixteen. We’ve grown up.”

“I get scared when I sleep alone.”

Was it okay to be a little selfish tonight?

Catherine tugged on his sleeve.

“…Ha, you’re such a baby. Move over, pig.”

Alex sighed but climbed into bed beside her.

“You’re such a spoiled brat…”

“Says the one who used to be scared of sleeping alone.”

If someone asked whether they were a close, affectionate pair of siblings, Catherine would say no.

To her, the definition of “close siblings” was Eleanor and her brothers, David and Killian.

Brothers who adored their sister, willing to give her everything.

After seeing such pure and warm love, Catherine’s expectations of sibling bonds changed.

Compared to that, she and Alex were just… ordinary.

Most of the time, they ignored each other.

But when it mattered most, they always turned to each other.

That was how they had survived.