Funinna, please let me steal your heart!

The older brother has a talent for magic, which can expand his social circle and allow him to show off to others.

As for the younger sister, she can give it away as a gift.

"The girl you adopted is quite interesting, just like a cat."

"Oh... if you want, I can let her 'stay' at your house. But..."

"I know, I'll tell my family later."

Admittedly, this was a blatant disregard for the law and an illegal act, but nobles often knew how to evade investigation. A meal, a bottle of wine, and a small token of appreciation were all it took to glean a considerable amount of information.

The nobles who "made the most of everything" were later eliminated by "Father," but that's a story for many days to come.

"From now on, you will live with your new father!"

The nobleman at that time stuffed Lynette into the carriage, ignoring her struggles and resistance.

As the car door closed and the scenery rushed by, Lynette couldn't help but cover her cat ears, thinking that the ending might already be predetermined.

Why do I have ears like this?

As the carriage stopped, she looked out the window. The sign above the gate read "Lefèvre," and beyond the gate lay a rather conspicuous mansion.

It's over. Lynette thought to herself.

"Get ready, Mr. Lefffield wants to have your fill soon. Dress yourself up nicely, and if you can satisfy him, you'll still be alive."

The guard grabbed Lynette's hand and threw her into a spacious room.

Most of the other girls in the mansion were hidden in the basement, but it seemed that when they first arrived, they were all locked up in this room.

The room was large, even luxurious. But she didn't want to stay there at all.

Lynette gritted her teeth, her fingernails scratching a white mark on the floor.

"Brother..." Tears streamed down her lips.

Although she didn't know what she would face next, she had a vague feeling that she would never see her only family again.

at this time.

"Were you also just brought here?"

"Eh?"

The same childish voice rang out, causing Lynette's cat ears to twitch.

She raised her tear-filled eyes and instinctively looked towards the source of the sound.

A petite figure sat by the window, bathed in moonlight, appearing ethereal and otherworldly.

It was a girl about the same age as her.

Golden hair, red eyes. Her simple attire couldn't hide her already emerging beauty.

Most importantly, the sound is very pleasant, as clear and melodious as a bird's song.

For a moment, Lynette forgot her fear and stammered, "You are...?"

The girl smiled slightly: "My name is Luna."

"I was just brought here too. What about you? What's your name?"

Lynette scrambled to her feet, sitting on the floor, bewildered. "Lyn... Lynette..."

"Are you a cat?" Luna asked curiously.

Lynette immediately covered her cat ears.

Enough is enough.

This ear has never brought her any good.

Even when her parents were still alive, she was often questioned by other children: "Are you your parents' biological child? How come you're completely different from your brother?"

I don't want to hear anything.

"It's so beautiful."

“…?” Lynette raised her eyes in confusion.

Luna jumped out of the window, walked up to her, and squatted down.

“I love cats. I wish I had a pair of cat ears too.” Luna said, reaching out to touch Lynette’s cat ears.

"Do not touch me!"

Luna immediately withdrew her hand, somewhat apologetic: "I'm sorry, you were brought here because of this, right? As for me..."

She pointed to her neck.

"That's why."

neck?

Lynette stared at Luna's neck, her thoughts consisting of nothing but "so white" and "beautiful."

So she remained silent for a moment, then hesitated before asking, "Neck?"

"Throat."

Luna sat down, touching her neck. "The owner of this mansion thought my voice was very nice, and then..."

She hugged her knees and lowered her eyes.

“The people at the orphanage brought me here. I just saw a big birdcage; maybe they wanted to lock me up in there.”

Despite being of similar age, Lynette realized from her demeanor and speech that the other person seemed to be more mature than her.

Lynette wiped the wet tears from her face with the back of her hand and whispered, "I hate these ears."

Luna raised her face and looked at her.

"...I may never see my brother again. He's my only family." Lynette struggled to control the turmoil of emotions churning within her.

What will happen to us next?

Luna shook her head.

Of course she didn't know; how could she possibly know?

She and I were both sent here... Lynette's eyes dimmed.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, the clock in the room kept ringing.

That's jarring. Lynette drooped her cat ears.

The more she heard the clock tick, the more she understood that the end was drawing ever closer.

As for what will happen, only the bright moon can know.

Lynette curled up. It wasn't cold tonight, but she could feel chills seeping into every part of her skin.

Tap tap... She suddenly heard Luna's footsteps recede into the distance, then approach again, and then a cloth was draped over her. Lynette shuddered, without raising her eyes.

"I'm so scared," she whispered.

Luna sat down next to her and thought for a while.

Have you heard the story of "Adventures in the Night Kingdom"?

"...I vaguely remember."

But Lynette didn't understand why she suddenly brought this up.

But it's better than enduring the torment of silence, isn't it? Lynette then spoke softly.

Yan said, "But I've only seen stage plays, and I haven't even finished watching them."

She had only seen performances by small street groups, and never watched the whole thing.

If you want to make a living, you can't waste your time in places like this.

So every time I pass by, I can only see scattered fragments, unable to piece together the whole story.

If he were to tell Linni, he would definitely take her to see it, even if it was just to watch it secretly.

But that would only add to my brother's burden.

"Then let me tell you this story."

"Long, long ago, there was a princess of the Night Kingdom. Her seven dwarf muskets disappeared during an enemy invasion. Her beautiful stepmother bestowed upon her bright red apples, which summoned a pumpkin carriage..."

Lynette pricked up her ears, unable to resist listening.

Luna's voice was soft and melodious, easily drowning out the harsh ticking of the clock.

The room was not warm, even though the windows were tightly shut and not a breath of wind could get in.

As Lynette listened to Luna's voice, she felt her mind break free of the cage and be led into the world of the story.

"Linette".

"Ok?"

Do you want to go back to your brother?

“Yes,” Lynette answered without hesitation.

She asked softly, "Where's Luna?"

"Me? I... have nowhere to go back to."

Luna lowered her gaze, then looked at Lynette.

"But I can try to get you out of here."

She took a small knife out of her pocket.

"Where did this come from?" Lynette asked in surprise. She knew perfectly well that the people in this mansion wouldn't let them, these caged birds, touch any weapons.

Luna simply said softly, "It was stolen."

From here?