Chapter 5
Summer sat comfortably on the couch, swirling the glass of apple juice Davis handed her. Her lips curled into a half-smile, more amused than pleased. Across the room, Ciara sat stiffly beside their father, eyes lowered, hands clenched tightly on her lap. Good. Let her tremble.
"So," Summer broke the silence, sipping her juice with a calm composure, "are we adopting strays now, Father? Should I prepare a room for the next one you bring home too?"
Simon Bellani flinched as if the words had physically struck him, but Ciara clutched his sleeve like a frightened kitten. Summer rolled her eyes with practiced elegance.
"Summer, enough," Simon said firmly, shooting her a warning look. "Ciara is your sister now, and she deserves respect."
Summer tilted her head to the side, her smile deepening. "My sister? That's odd. I don't recall my mother giving birth to her. Or did you and someone else handle that while we were still mourning?"
"Summer!" he barked, his voice echoing through the hall.
Leonardo, her grandfather, banged his cane on the tiled floor. "That's enough, both of you. This is not the place for raising voices over bast—over... guests."
Ciara lowered her gaze, tears glistening in her eyes. A performance worthy of applause. Davis made a disgusted sound under his breath.
"Grandpa, can I say something?" Summer's voice dropped into a polite but poisonous tone. "I want to officially request a restriction on who enters Mother's wing. I noticed someone went snooping around there recently."
Everyone froze. Ciara's shoulders stiffened like a puppet yanked by invisible strings.
Leonardo's eyes narrowed, his gaze swinging sharply to Simon. "Who went in there?"
"Not me!" Ciara blurted before anyone asked. The room grew colder.
Summer's lips twitched. "How curious. I never mentioned a name."
The old man leaned back, stroking his chin. Simon cleared his throat awkwardly. "Maybe one of the staff..."
Summer interrupted. "No. Rosa was with me all day yesterday. And the servants know better than to cross that line. I wonder who else could be so bold."
Ciara suddenly stood, brushing nonexistent dust from her skirt. "Excuse me, I'm not feeling well. I'll head to my room."
Summer smiled sweetly. "Try not to get lost. Or trespass."
As Ciara fled, the silence left behind was electric. Davis let out a long whistle. "You're on fire today, Little Tyrant. Should I be scared?"
Summer sipped her juice. "You should always be scared of a girl who's come back from hell."
Later that night, Summer walked barefoot through the halls, her silky robe trailing behind her like a whisper. The household had quieted. Only the occasional creak of old wood accompanied her.
She entered her late mother's sealed bedroom. A place left untouched for years. Moonlight streamed in through gauzy curtains, casting long shadows on antique furniture. The air was thick with old perfume and unspoken memories.
She walked to her mother's vanity, fingers gliding across the dusty surface. Her reflection stared back at her in the cracked mirror—familiar, but new. Stronger.
Then she saw it.
A silver hairpin, ornate and ancient-looking, sat tucked in the corner of the jewelry drawer. It wasn't there before. Or perhaps... she simply hadn't noticed it until now. It glowed faintly under the moonlight, pulsing with something unnatural.
Her fingers closed around it.
The air shifted.
Ding! A chime echoed not through the room, but inside her mind.
[Sham Sham System Activated]
Welcome, Host.
Summer stumbled backward, eyes wide. Her heart thudded. "What the hell—?"
I am Sham Sham, your divine support system. You have awakened your maternal inheritance. Congratulations. You may now begin your first task.
Summer blinked. "Okay... I've officially lost it. I'm hearing voices."
Incorrect. You are hearing me. You died. You were reborn. Compared to that, a talking system is hardly the strangest thing, yes?
She paused. "Fair point."
Task 001: Destroy Ciara's public image within 10 days.
Reward: Enhanced charm aura + temporary immunity to low-level poison.
Summer raised a brow. "Now that's more like it."
Bonus Note: This task has optional multipliers. Embarrassment level, reach of scandal, and emotional damage will increase reward tiers. Do you accept?
Summer grinned.
"Oh, Sham Sham... we're going to get along just fine."
Affirmative, Host. Let the games begin.