Shuttling Between the Two Worlds

When they came over Anna's place, they all wore casual outfits, except Maria. Due to her special circumstances, she chose to wear a hoodie, with her purple hair showing up to her shoulders.

Still, her brother still recognized her.

"Don't come near me."

"Maria-"

"I'll fucking kill you if you do."

Maria, who was always calm, showed her wrath for the first time. Her anger-laced voice didn't hide her intentions to kill.

Hearing that, he froze. He looked towards Red and others before going back to his car.

"Don't show up in front of our family again."

"You don't need to ask me. If I show up, it's the end of them."

He said to her calmly. Strangely, there's no trace of ill intent in his voice. Even though Maria is bewildered, she's too angry to notice anything. She stared at him until he left the vicinity.

"Are you alright?"

Red asked her. She took a deep breath once before replying.

"Yes."

'She's now back to her usual tone. Brother? Could it be..?!'

Red knew from his past and present life that Maria has a severe conflict with her family. She was destined to get married off to the Flammingbird Empire, but she escaped this time thanks to Red.

Her family's greed caused all of this. They fantasied that once they gain the support of the empire, they'll belong to the top Nations inside the Federation. Even if they weren't supported explicitly, they'll still have a rise in status. Through that, they'll strive to gain even more power.

"Let's go."

Anna invited the three of them inside to break off the silence. Meanwhile, her father watched all of this calmly.

'Poor girl.'

As a big power in Aindell, he knew what the Eizenburg family is up to. Since they both belong to Aindell, he already guessed that they aimed for more power.

With that, they came up with the idea of marrying off their future daughter if they ever had one. So as to say, Maria's fate has been sealed up even before she was born.

***

"I'm glad.."

Maria's brother, Kyle, heaved a sigh of relief. Joy couldn't be hidden from his face.

"She's now happy with her current life. I should do my part and help maintain it."

Kyle is Maria's elder brother. As her brother, he loves her dearly. However, their family is hellbent on marrying her off, leaving him conflicted.

On one side, it's the family who raised him up well. On the other side, there's his little sister whom he cares for very much. It caused him so much pain and conflict when he knew that the two sides are irreconcilable.

One day, he finally knew how to settle this once and for all. For everyone to have a happy ending, he decided to do whatever he can, even if he'll end up harming himself even more.

He advocated Maria's engagement strongly to the point that his family got surprised. They knew that the two were close, but he suddenly did so out of the blue.

Of course, they were overjoyed while Maria just felt betrayed. It was at this time that she decided to lock her emotions up and become emotionless. She believed that if she did that, it'll cause her lesser pain.

'Maria..'

Upon seeing it, Kyle felt his heart tighten, with his resolve to do things until the end become stronger. Due to him, the engagement sped up. Instead of marrying when she finished college, her marriage got moved to the end of her high school term.

Kyle wanted to see exactly this since he'll only be able to save her during that time. Wherever she goes, her protectors follow, so he thought that he'll only be able to make his move on their wedding night; it was at this time when she'll be left with her fiance alone in a mansion.

He's confident that he'll be able to do it, even at the expense of his life. He's confident to save his sister while not implicating his family from it.

Inwardly, he wished to rest. The years of internal conflict inside him tired him so much to the point that his only goal is to have a happy ending. After that.. he doesn't know.

That's why he doesn't care whether he dies there or not.

"I got nearer to the happy end that I envisioned unexpectedly."

His mood improved considerably as he thought of what happened today. Unknowingly, he started to be more determined to finish that last step.

"I wish you happiness, Maria."

***

After eating lunch, Red and the other two went to the living room while Anna and her father talked privately. Scarlet is entertaining Maria, but she always answers in short sentences.

Meanwhile, Red couldn't help but get in a daze for a while.

'That man.. is it Kyle?'

Kyle Eizenberg is the man who raised the status of the Eizenberg family single-handedly. He's the one responsible for raising their status from the middle ranks to the top ranks of Aindell.

Sadly, he died after leading Maria to freedom. It wasn't publicly known at the start, but Red knew of this later on after he had a chance to see his hidden diary on the collapsed Eizenburg Main Mansion. It was hidden in a secret compartment, thus it withstood Maria's power.

His inference told him that Kyle is a very complicated person. He led his family into a great success, yet he sacrificed himself just to free Maria. Ironically, she destroyed his years of efforts and killed off the main branch of the Eizenburg family with the exception of the ones she deemed as innocent.

After recalling this information, complex feelings welled up in him.

'Right now, she hates him to the bone, maybe as much as her parents who sold her off. I should solve this too..'

For him who knew of it in the past, he can only empathize. But now that he knows that he can do something to prevent that tragedy, he felt compelled to do something. Maria is his comrade, after all.

'It will benefit Aquamarine too.'

After reasoning with himself, he became even more determined to change their endings. One by one, step by step, he swore to change the history of his past life.