Aster Veren
Episode 226's

- Esther

Ah, really upsetting. I'm really fed up with people like him. Why are all parents always acting? Don't they think their children are human? So why should they use it as their stepping stone?

So sucks!

I grabbed the teacup in front of me and I poured the tea water on the file in front of me with my annoyance, leaving everyone shocked.

"Aster?"

"You hope I'll say yes I agree? Just because you helped me once?" I stared intently at the figure of Mr. Albert in front of me.

"Don't forget that you betrayed me once too." I continued while standing from my place after putting back the teacup I was holding roughly onto the table.

"Don't be so Aster, think again. If I hadn't done that, you would've been in trouble because those people were—enemies of the Veren family." It stopped me.

"really? I even feel like someone deliberately put me in that situation." I glanced back at Albert behind me.

I saw that he was standing from his place, and looked at me with a furious look.

"How could I do that? Aren't you the one who meddles too much in other people's problems? If that day you don't interfere with the gambling man the father of that son named Dean. You're not gonna lure Rigel out of hiding." Obviously not wanting to give up made me even more upset.

Why would that be my fault? I just intend to help, then where's the fault? When I met Uncle Rigel, he didn't recognize me. But he suddenly moved after the news about me circulated.

I'm really tired, should I continue this debate? My mind can't hold back my emotions anymore. I quickly walked back towards Albert's room and I pulled the tie he was wearing, making him reflexively look down at me.

"That would never have happened if you hadn't spread the word about me, would it? The timing was incorrect as Uncle Rigel and the enemies of the Veren family moved after the news spread. Then what if you don't make the news? Are they going to come out compact like that and make me hurt? You think I'll never investigate? Maybe I look like a kid that you can easily control, but you forgot that I'm a Veren. And keep this in mind, sir. I got hurt because of your rash plan!" I said at length while letting go of it in annoyance.

"So stop bothering me again, let alone seek justification for your actions." I left them all in the living room.

Hah~ feels really tiring because it has to expel all my thoughts and emotions in my condition like this. My mind while holding onto my wounded chest.

***

- Arshel

"Is he really my niece Aster? I can't believe she could say such a thing to him." My murmurs couldn't distract me from Aster's figure walking away from us.

"As my daughter said. After the news of him was revealed to the public, before long the people who were after him started to move." Brother's words made me glance at him who had attracted the attention of master Albert.

"Actually I want to ask you this sooner. But since I've decided to focus on Aster's treatment first, so I keep putting it off. And it seems like now is the right time to ask, so Albert can tell me why you have to make such a big fuss? Isn't it enough to just tell his family?" The next one makes me curious.

I also don't understand his way of thinking on that one. I was nearby, but I didn't know that he invited reporters to interview him about Aster? If I had known, I would have stopped him. But since I didn't know about it until the news spread, I could only keep quiet.

"I just want everyone to know that Veren's daughter is alive and that the news of her death is a lie. Isn't it with that the influence of the Veren family can improve again? Dan—"

"Ah, I understand." My words cut off his words and immediately showed me my thin smile that I forced.

He wanted to help in his way. But I think it was also for his own sake. Recently the influence of the Veren family has indeed worsened due to the descent of the elder brother from the position of its leader and was replaced by me, then all external work was taken over by Victor.

From that alone, everyone could conclude that the Veren family was no longer useful to the Alterio family without knowing anything.

If only they knew that I had purposely shared the task with Victor and deliberately chose to focus on internal work for some reason. It seemed like they would not dare to spread all those rumors.

Yeah, but it's all happened. So why am I upset? And again, people don't need to know why I don't focus on both.

"... is that so? So you want to improve the Veren family's influence with your story. But why not wait until Aster is safe in our custody?" Brother brought me back to reality.

"It seemed that the calm was gone." I muttered after sighing deeply after seeing Albert's stupid expression.

I rarely see him with such an expression. I also never expected that people could make mistakes in making plans.

***

- Carel

I clenched my jaw, trying to hold back my anger every time I remembered the contents of the document that Albert had brought. I really didn't expect that he would use me to get approval from the father for Aster and his son's matchmaking?

Totally bonkers. If only I had known, and had not rashly agreed to that agreement. Maybe the situation won't be like this, when I just realized my feelings for Aster. Just now I was really thinking about him more than a friend.

I stared at the starry night sky above the balcony of the room with the gusts of the night wind that felt colder than usual.

Damnit damnit! My head really hurts now. Aster ... how did he react when he read the file? Did he meet the crazy Albert? My mind while taking out a match from inside my pants pocket and starting to burn the cigarette in my hand.

I don't remember when I started smoking, which I remember I could never calm down after getting word of Aster's death. Then to calm myself down, I looked for a way and started touching cigarettes.

I wanted to be a doctor, but I ruined my body with cigarettes just to find peace. Then I don't know since when, my dream to become a doctor was gone. Tau-tau I've learned to be the successor to the Alterio family.

I can't even forget Grandpa's happy face back then. He's so happy that I gave up on my dream, damn it! My inner song felt annoyed at seeing the satisfied expression of grandfather returning to shadow me.

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Thanks for reading...