I Will Be The New Me
CHAPTRE 22

"Uncle go first, I'll be there soon. There's something I need to prepare."

"Well, if that's what you want."

The carriage bearing the black Panther emblem walked away from the mansion grounds at high speed. Savero cursed himself. He had deliberately read the letter after one of the documents he was working on was finished. Had Savero not done that, he could have come sooner.

"Huh..." Savero let out a long sigh, trying to neutralize his invisible anxiety.

Penelope went into her room and then slammed all the items on the dresser so scattered and partly made of broken glass. "It sucks!" pekik frustrated. He grabbed his hair and ruffled his own head. "Why did he get away from them? it's weird! whether anyone helped him or. no, there was no way he could run away from them!" The makeup girl was pacing back and forth while biting her fingernails.

"Argh! all my plans have failed!"

Penelope did not expect that her tea party would also fail because she was too confident that Quinn would be finished that night. Yeah, that's true. Penelope hired the hit man. Though Penelope's heart only wants to hold a tea party alone with Raiden. "How's this? this is my last day in Helldelune."

Penelope pulled out a bottle of capsules. Unmitigated, he immediately swallowed two capsules without drinking water. "Relax, Penelope. You can't lose your mind." muttered Penelope talking to herself.

Penelope took off the pastel purple dress she bought specifically to attend the tea party and wore a black dress instead. "I can't seem nervous or upset."

The single princess Vincent smiled at the reflection of her own reflection. "I'll find another way to get Quinn out of my way."

Quinn's wound had not been bandaged for long, but he had no pain at all. It may occasionally feel pain in some parts of his body, considering Quinn forced to move all the muscles of his body that was never trained at all.

Quinn quietly opened the plaster covering the wound on her cheek and mirrored. His eyes were round when he did not see a single stroke there. Her cheeks were smooth as they were, while Quinn only drank pain relievers. "Where is my wound lost?" willing to be pressed as hard as Quinn's energy, there was no pain or sore reaction felt. Quinn instantly gained confidence thinking that the wounds on some parts of his body had also disappeared because he did not feel pain like last night.

The girl wanted to open the bandage on her arm as well, but she undid it after remembering that she couldn't put it back together. If anyone sees it, Quinn could get into unnecessary trouble.

He opened his balcony window, giving access to fresh air into his room that felt stuffy. "Has Christian sent the cure? oh, that's right. I also have to go to Aunt Kennedy's place for Izeqiel."

Quinn touched his right eye, "I'm actually half spirit? what if I test it one more time?" The girl did not want to hold back her curiosity. He was looking for a sharp object he could use to injure himself. "There's nothing here. Oho! my sewing needle's in the drawer."

Quinn gulped down his saliva, afraid of the outcome that would come out. With a slow but full of fantasy, Quinn incised long strokes on her wrist to satisfy her curiosity.

Quinn could hear his heart beating faster. "I discovered a secret about myself while I was focusing on strengthening my position so that Raiden could not step on me anymore. What a terrible coincidence."

"Quinn? what are you trying to do?"

"Dad?" Quinn hid his left hand behind his body. Really, Quinn did not hear the sound of footsteps in the hallway. Quinn's eyebrows were raised when she saw Savero's anxious look, her breathing was slightly breathless, and she seemed to dislike what Quinn had just done to herself. "He's worried about me? really did? a miracle of the Shuvillian Savero de Alger was willing to express something unusual." thought Quinn.

"How hurt? feel better yet?"

Savero sat on the long sofa available in Quinn's room, the owner of the room nodding sweetly while sitting on the sofa in front of his biological father. "I'm fine, still a little sore, but it doesn't matter to me anymore. I'm glad you came to visit, I think you're busy with work." Quinn looked at the door that was still open, "Did Penelope not come? is he home?"

"He said he would follow. I see it as if I'm getting ready to attend a party."

Quinn lifted her face to look at Savero then asked, "Certainly? too bad, 'cause I had a tea party with the Prince so it failed. I don't intend to cause this kind of unrest." Although Quinn gives a touch of regret and guilt through face, but his heart is more honest. Quinn wanted to laugh off imagining how upset Penelope was right now.

"So Penelope will only come to the palace alone?"

"No. I was also invited by Raiden, but he swiped at me and most likely Raiden canceled the show because of me."

"That's it."

Savero breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing firsthand the state of his eldest daughter. "Dad, I have something to ask you."

"What?"

"May I know about where you can meet Mom? come to think of it long ago I never knew anything about mom."

Quinn's observant eyes did not catch any suspicious reaction from the man in his thirties. "I met Sirena in the small village of Nefeli. I used to be with Dad working with some nobles there."

"So, you bought the royal status for Mom?"

Savero nodded small. "You quickly understand also the looks of it."

"Do you know the secret you're keeping? it means that of course only Dad knows." understood the 'secret' intent Quinn asked, Savero replied with a headband. No, he's not hiding the truth. Savero really doesn't know. "He was a forest guard. A job unique to a woman, right? Sirena said she likes nature. Sirena can always help whenever she has a weak physique."

Maybe because I'm half spirit too. Spirits as far as I know also live in nature.

"Well, it looks like your love journey is very exciting. I look forward to meeting someone who's sincere too" Quinn said, adding that she heard a little flashback about her mother Sirena's life. "But Dad never met me with my maternal grandparents. Why is that, Dad?".

Savero took a breath, then replied, "For he no longer has parents. He only lives with one of his friends".

Quinn begins to believe that Savero really does not know the truth about his mother. Sirena hid her identity from Savero. Quinn then recalled her sister, "Is Killian the same as me?" he wonders.

"Are your eyes okay? That doesn't look normal."

"I'm doing fine. Dad doesn't have to worry. Unusual Dad's as frank as this, it feels weird."

"..."

Savero can't argue with that. He used to prefer to have his servant intercede, now he cannot lie by hiding his fear of losing a child. "After I moved here, it seemed like Dad was starting to change. Wh why? are you sorry?"

Savero not ready— error. He never expected those words to come out of his daughter's cheerful and meek mouth talking that bike. "I'm always worried about you." Savero replied briefly.

The youngest son of Bastien Lombardia does not like to take care of anything including his children, because he has repeatedly lost the person he always loved and take care of him well.

Quinn smiled fakely, "So Daddy's the kind of person who's going to regret being behind, huh? If I hadn't chosen to live with Grandpa, Dad wouldn't have been like this."

"If that's your assessment of me, it doesn't matter"

Savero nodded in surprise. He looked at his daughter's sweet face while searching for the truth of the speech through the two Quinn netra. "You don't have to go that far."

Bastien has completed his selection. He got up from the chair about to catch up with Savero to Quinn's room, but suddenly a Butler came calling. "You received a package, Your Majesty."

"Package?" The man with gray hair observed two medium-sized cardboard boxes that appeared to be heavy. "Open it for me."

Bastien's eyes widened in wonder. Dozens of bottles of the drug he received, with no name or return address. Rouse suspiction. "What medicine is this?" ask Bastien to himself.

"Actually, Your Majesty, the courier said it was Lady Quinn who asked."

"Quinn?" Bastien's suspicions are lessened. A knotty smile was imprinted on his lips. The ingenious mind that his grandson had, Bastien was looking forward to his explanation. "Quinn never stops surprising me, hahaha I'll hear the answer myself. Put it under my desk, don't let anyone open it."

"Okay, Your Majesty."

Bastien was blocked again. This time Evan stopped him. He carried a data paper in his hand. Bastien already understood that if Evan took him, it meant that what he brought was an important report. "Your Majesty, I brought you the observations of your new painting business."

"Oh, how did it go?"

"Very satisfying, Your Grace. Even you've made a profit from buying that studio. Now the name Lady Oddeth began to rise to the elite. It looks like you will be able to continue raking in more profits. Congratulations to you, Your Highness the Grand Duke."

"thank you. Give me that report."

Bastien then went to his grandson's room with pleasure. Bastien had no intention of taking advantage of it because the one who gave the idea up to take care of the studio was Quinn, so Bastien would leave everything to her. "He's good at predicting the future." he muttered as he shook his head in surprise.

In the room Quinn still debated about his desire to change his last name.

"Why? who knows, Grandfather wants to make me the successor to his position. I'm his granddaughter anyway." Quinn raised one corner of her lips in a slanted smile, "Don't look at me like that Dad, I'm not after a powerful force. I just want to live safe."

"...you've changed a lot. I hope you didn't take the wrong path." Savero sipped his tea casually.

Quinn nodded her head. This girl had seen the future and had already felt a miserable death and was in a very humiliated state. Given the cold and indifferent attitude Savero and Killian showed as he pleaded for help as a last hope, it would not be an exaggeration if Quinn actually did what he said just now.

"Dad, since my arrival home yesterday, I've decided something. I'm not going to act like you're the most important people in my life. Yesterday it was the last time I acted like an old Quinn." Quinn showed no doubt at all and it made Savero's breath choked. "Dad is my father, Killian is my sister, but one day we will all be split into each other's lives. I'm with my family, Killian's with her family, and Dad's alone. So, why don't we get used to it from now on? there's no harm."

"Quinn, it—"

Quinn interrupted Savero's remark before the man could convey what he wanted to say. "Quiet, Dad. I'm not gonna embarrass Shuvillian's name. Perhaps I too will soon change to Lombardy."

"Hm, that's not a bad idea. I do need a successor to carry on all my responsibilities." said Bastien who had heard all Quinn's words from the door.

"Grandfather? since when was Grandpa there?"

Savero set his breath. "I think you need to find a stronger figure. Quinn can't stay under pressure." Savero knew Quinn was just like his late wife, both had weak physiques so they easily fell ill and the pain was not a mild illness.

Quinn rotated both his eyes puffed up. "Dad, this is my life so I have the right to decide."

Bastien laughed crisply to reduce the tension in the room. He was joined by his son and grandson. The man then gave the data Evan had brought to him. "Congratulations, son. You're a big success."

"Me?" parrot Quinn did not understand. After reading the contents of the paper, Quinn offended a proud smile. Not to appreciate yourself, but rather feel proud Oddeth can avoid a sad future as well. Quinn's guilt is gone. "I won't take a penny of the profit I get. That was your idea, so let's just take advantage of your brilliant idea."

"really? grandpa sure it's okay?"

"certain. Oh and what about the plants? is it getting fresh?"

"Already, grandpa. I just need to get them to join us."

Savero was unable to keep up with Bastien and Quinn. Out of curiosity, he finally asked Bastien. "What kind of business are you talking about?"

Quinn replaced Bastien's duty to answer. "Grandfather will make a factory. He wants to make his people happy here."

Quinn being able to keep up with this business chat alone was already very strange. Savero glanced at Bastien's happy face. "It seems I don't need to worry about anything." Savero resignedly, though there was in one corner of his heart that throbbed pain.

"Quinn, I'm receiving a package of drugs. What do you want to do with those drugs?" bastien asked confusedly.

"Grandfather remembers, right? cases of the disease in children who are quickly contagious. I ordered the medicine from a great person, so we can share it. Just one drink will improve, at least until grandfather can produce the soap." Quinn smiled at the good news. Means Izeqiel has also received a package of medicine for his people in his territory. "I've found a farmer who can care for plants in his rosemary garden. Oh grandpa knows? the farmer's son was interested in medicine. I'll recruit him."

Savero. Quinn was different. The girl wasn't bragging. He seems to be getting serious.

"That's great. Your work is very fast. I'll look forward to the results." Bastien patted the top of his grandson's head, "But you won't let me go anywhere. You have to heal your wounds."

"But..."

"Working faster is good, but you can't forget your own condition. Your father will worry about you even more."

At the same time, Penelope was stopping at a flower shop close to the Lombardy residence. "Excuse me, can I have a look over there?" asked Penelope politely while pointing at the corner of the store where only flowers with special meanings were placed there. "T-of course, Lady."

The ranks of thick colored flowers with a less good meaning attract the attention of Penelope. Not everyone understands the meaning of each type of flower and its color. "I hate you Quinn, you always get anything easy. You never once felt the same pain as me." murmured Penelope with a hardened jaw.

He also picked up ten orange lily stems. The beautiful girl picked up a bottle of poison powder that could make anyone who inhaled it in very close proximity have difficulty breathing. Then he put the bottle behind the pot.

"Excuse me, I want to buy this."

"Okay, Lady."

After buying, Penelope went back inside the horse-drawn carriage while imagining Quinn's face which to her looked very ugly and annoying. "Quinn, sacrifice for me. I promise I will always make a pilgrimage to your tomb and pray that God will put you by his side."

Penelope's grip on the bouquet of flowers on her lap strengthened as soon as the carriage she was riding on began to stop. "Your angel of death is coming, Quinn."