Everyone is Obsessed With Me (reupload)

Chapter 13

It didn't take long for the plot to resume on its original path. It only took 12 hours before he was forced to stand face-to-face with a girl who looked filthy. Her dress was worn out and gray, almost like a used rag his dad would use to clean the floors. She wore a simple necklace with an equally filthy-looking amulet dangling from its rope. From her hair to her toes, there wasn't a place on her body that wasn't covered in dirt. She probably had not taken a bath in days, perhaps weeks. However, her eyes remained clear, like a newborn child who has yet to understand the harsh reality of the world. Her peach color eyes reminded Hanbal of the cherry blossoms back in Seoul, one of his cherished moments with his Appa. And like him, her hair was as white as snow. She was blessed with an otherworldly beauty that seemed to shine brighter than the morning sun. Her features were delicate and soft, while her presence was as captivating as any drug. In stark comparison to her ethereal allure, he felt like a dirty albino cockroach- out of place and awkward. Just looking at her made him feel small, as if he was just a shadow being outshined by her radiant glow.

This helped her greatly throughout the book. No matter what atrocities she had committed, those around her would not hold her accountable for her actions. Instead, the blame was shifted to the victims of her schemes. Since she looked childlike despite being a teenager at the time, people automatically gave her the benefit of the doubt. How can such a pretty woman like her do something as cruel as pushing someone down the stairs? It is clear that the author is a simp when it comes to the Fl.

However, despite his fears for her, Hanbal couldn't form a solid opinion of her. A part of him hated her for what she had put the original Hanbal through, but another part, a smaller part, felt a sense of pity for a girl who did all she could for survival. After all, he recalled that she was close to being sold into slavery before Osric found her. But then again, all thanks to her, the original Hanbal did become a slave for the jail-keepers during his 1 year in prison.

And now, that very girl who had caused so much suffering was in front of him.

"Greetings, sister," Hanbal said with a light smile, choosing his words as carefully as he could. He had to be sure to be as neutral as possible since he did not know how she would react.

"Hello, brother! My name is Berenike Kazazian! Wowie! This place is so big!" She smiled brightly, her voice as chipper as could be. Her eyes seemed to glow brightly, like a kid in a candy store while her smile was so pure it made Hanbal doubt his memory. But he held firm, after all, Berenike had always been a little bit quirky since her first introduction.

"I am Hanbal." He nodded his head and glanced to the side, eyeing Osric, who stood and watched from the far corner. Suddenly, he felt his heartbeat as if he felt danger approaching him. Without making any major movements, he glanced at Berenike and smiled. That feeling went away as soon as it arrived.

'Weird...' He couldn't tell if it was Osric or...

"I do hope we get along, sister." Hanbal strained a smile and offered a hand to shake. Berenike slashed a bright smile and quickly reached out to shake it.

"Yes! Let's get along! I have never had a younger brother before!" She chirped brightly and jumped to hug him. But Hanbal's pulse accelerated at the sudden movement and moved back slightly, causing her to fall onto the ground with a loud thud.

"Owie.." She cried out gently and got up, her eyes moist with tears while her lips wobbled. The servants standing nearby moved automatically towards her but stopped when they felt eyes on them.

Hanbal also flinched and grimaced. "I..I apologize..." He mumbled and glanced to the side, fearing that Osric would come and throw him into the Sather's basement. He gripped his shirt sleeve and stood still in hopes that the girl would stop crying. But she just kept whimpering, which made it worse since she sounded like a kicked puppy. He could feel the gaze of the people around him. The servants seemed to have deepened their hatred for him. And he could understand them. Seeing a girl like Berenike crying on the ground while the young master stood above her without saying anything does paint a pretty scandalous picture.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Osric move slowly towards him, and fear began to overtake his body. His wild eyes darted from one place to another in hopes of finding an exit or a place to hide. The whimpers became louder as loud footsteps on tile floor echoed through the large open room. Whispers began to flood, filling the vacant space with echoes.

"I was well aware of his cruelness, yet to think he would stoop so low as to torment a defenseless young lady fills me with dismay..."

"He has not an ounce of shame..."

"How barbaric."

"Like a mutt..."

"Mutt..."

"Mutt"

"Mutt."

Hanbal clenched his fist, his eyes scanning the face of the brave gossiping servants who dared to gossip in his presence. He wasn't an arrogant type. He does not think highly of himself because, in truth, he is and has always been a low commoner. But to think those servants think so little of him that they would openly disrespect him in front of their master! Did they believe Hanbal would be punished? This disrespect he can not let it go. His pride and ego are what drive the original him into living. If Osric did try to do something, he'd just face it head-on.

"F-father...." Hanbal whimpered and clenched the edge of his shirt. His eyes were red with unshed tears as the bottom of his lip wobbled slightly. He glanced up at Osric's tall figure with upturned eyes, letting his tears magnify it to an extent. " F-father...I didn't..."

Before he could finish, he found himself floating before warmth enveloped his body. He looked up to his warm pairs of eyes that almost resembled the eyes of a doting father. This sent shivers down Hanbal's spine.

"Now that you've introduced yourselves, Hanbal, come with Papa. Papa needs to show you all the things he's brought from outside." Osric cradled Hanbal like he was a masterpiece built by God Himself.

The servants froze and gawked, watching as their cold and deadly master smothered Hanbal with warmth and love. They had expected a scolding, or worse, a beating, as they knew their Master hated Hanbal. They had expected their Master to pity the poor girl since he had spent time trying to find her, which shows she meant something to him. But they did not expect him to disregard her so blatantly, as if she was just litter on the ground.

The brave servants gulped and tried to hide their shaking hands behind their backs. They had heard the Masters, for some reason, began to favor this child. But they just thought it was rumors and spoke rudely in front of the Master in hopes of winning favor. They didn't know that that favor would turn into a death wish. They glanced up, hoping to catch a glimpse of their Master's face so they could beg for their lives. Only to see Hanbal's face peeking over the shoulders, looking at this with a pair of eyes that should not belong to a mere child. Fear gripped them that very moment, and they did not dare to utter a word. Something told them that they had no right to.

Before Osric left, he looked coldly at Old Butler Shen and nodded slightly before the doors closed behind him. Old Butler Shen circled the room and gestured for a maid to bring the child into her new room. Then, when the doors closed and the child was gone, Old Butler Shen turned to face the servants. His eyes were cold, and his lips twisted into a cruel smile they had seen too often. At noon, the entire estate went silent. 

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Chat, I am alive, fortunately. I hope. Believe me

Final version of Osric: