Extra's Perfect Ending

Chapter 137: Father

In a dimly lit room inside a hall of books, a lone girl sat on the floor, her face streaked with tears. Her purple hair had grown messy from her small hands running through it every time frustration hit her.

It had been like this for half a year now, ever since her sister had been admitted to the royal school. She hadn’t gotten a wink of good sleep since. She hated how hollow everything felt. With her father ill, no one in the house looked after her anymore.

The servants who once cared for the family had turned into strangers, each vying for a piece of their household. Little by little, belongings vanished, and the house felt emptier by the day.

The only thing stopping them from auctioning off the entire estate was her sister. She had been lucky enough to be accepted into a special royal program that many of society’s elite graduated from. It was the only good news for the family in a long time.

But Theia was still here, left in a house devoid of warmth. After her sister left, she had no power. The servants stopped listening to her. The meals grew simpler and cheaper until it was nothing more than soup with bread—the bare minimum for a commoner.

We were a Baron family, for god’s sake!

She couldn’t help but curse under her breath. Powerless in her own home. She knew being a Baron wasn’t the highest rank, but at least it had meant something. Now, it felt like nothing. No matter what she did, she couldn’t change anything. All she could do was hide in the library.

"Young miss, please have your dinner."

She had lied earlier, about all the servants growing cold and distant. One still checked on her—Kuron, her father’s personal guard, the one who had been raised to protect the family.

His heavy metal boots clanged against the wooden floor of the library. A blonde man, Kuron, entered with a meal in hand. His armor gleamed in the soft light of the warm candle. His smile brightened her day just a little in these dark times.

After setting the bread and soup on the table, she stood up and took her seat. Kuron looked at the unfortunate girl with sad eyes.

"I could only manage this. Those traitors didn’t leave us much."

Theia couldn’t help but give a pitiful smile. It hadn’t been this bad in the beginning, but as time passed, the servants had started using the family’s wealth to buy luxury food for themselves. She loathed herself for being unable to stop it.

She wasn’t brave like her sister, not strong like Kuron. She had nothing. Picking up her spoon, she sipped the soup. All she could taste was bitterness. But still, she kept drinking.

Her family’s business was crumbling. Without her father, their connections had dried up, leaving them with a sliver of wealth that their business partners gladly feasted on. The servants were buying her father’s assets for dirt cheap, claiming it was under his orders.

But Father hasn’t spoken for years! He couldn’t even say hello to his daughters. How in the seven hells could he give those orders?

Theia knew the answer.

They were all collaborating to tear down her father’s legacy. Every one of them. His downfall must have been their plan from the start. But no matter who she turned to, they gave her the cold shoulder—her father’s old friends, her own so-called companions. They were all fake. None of them are honest.

"Young miss, it’s getting late. You need some rest," Kuron said.

But Kuron was still here. At least there was that.

Theia nodded and followed Kuron down the hallway. A once luxurious hall, lined with paintings and statues, now looked like any other bare corridor. Gone were the reminders of her childhood, like the times she and Onia chased each other down these halls, knocking things off shelves. Their father would scold them afterward.

"W-wait... I want to see Father," Theia said softly.

"As you wish, young miss."

They turned toward another room. Theia reached up and knocked on the door three times.

"I’m coming in, Father."

The door creaked open as she stepped inside. In the center of the room lay a large bed, where a middle-aged man slept soundly. If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, one might think he was already dead.

"Father, how are you?" Theia asked, her voice filled with longing.

"....."

No response. Another day, another visit without a word. The doctors had done all they could, and even the priests from the Sun Church had tried their miracles, but to no avail. They claimed it was a curse—one that couldn’t be lifted. Onia had begged to sell off their assets if it meant finding a cure, but the priests only shook their heads in disappointment.

Theia bit her lip, torn between anger and sorrow. A part of her resented her father for falling ill, but she knew she couldn’t truly blame him. She lowered her voice.

"Onia sent a letter. She says the academy is offering more aid. They’ll send another 500 stacs to the house."

"....."

"I... I..." The words caught in her throat. "I don’t know what to do with it. The servants will just take it for themselves, anyway..."

She looked away, feeling pitiful. Too weak to stand up for herself. She could only imagine what her father would say if he woke up. He would scold her for being so helpless.

Theia, remember this—always consider all your options before making a move.

Those were his words, repeated often after he’d finished negotiations with his business partners. Theia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Had he considered all his options to end up in this state? Or was this something beyond his control? She didn’t know. But she would make her own choices now.

"Kuron," she whispered, "could you hide the 500 stacs?"

"Miss..." Kuron’s hesitation was clear in his voice. He didn’t want to do it.

"Please," Theia begged.

At least she could do this much, right? Kuron said nothing further, only bowing his head in agreement. Theia bid her father farewell and quietly left for her bedroom. At least that money won’t be stolen by her servant.