649 Sleepover (5)

"I can help you. We have the same goal," I turned to Alex.

"You can get rid of me if I manage to find someone with the same ability," I offered my hand.

"I told you that I don't hate you," Alex mumbled, turning his head away.

"Just drop the act. It'll be faster to obtain our mutual objective this way," I tilted my head.

"I can find you a nice obedient tool you always wanted," I tried to negotiate.

"I'm sorry Rika. I'm really sorry," Luke's voice shook.

"You know you're a part of my family. The Roselia family name is equally yours as it is mine," he hugged me tighter.

I was starting to get annoyed as my gaming time was quickly shrinking. How else would I stay sane while going through those new hell-like schedules? They claimed they didn't see me as a tool, but it was exactly how they treated me and wanted me to become. A tool never had any freedom of their own, they were always controlled by their owners. His family always emphasized this fact, equally cold in trying to take away everything from me.

I tried to convince Alex again, "tell your cousin to let go of me."

"I don't care if you reject my offer, but this is the only free time I have in the horrible schedule you two planned for me," my feet pushed against the floor to free myself.

Ugh! I swore someone polished the floors today, I told them to just clean the mats. Now, my feet were sliding off the ground like ice. Meanwhile, Luke's grip was getting tighter and tighter, nearly starting to become deadly. I groaned and stared at the ceiling, "I'll never believe you guys anyways. Don't you think hate goes both ways?"

"How can you not tell our family genuinely loves you? Our entire family cares about you more than you think," Alex started to resemble Luke.

"Your entire family loves me for my potential for possessing an unlimited amount of mana. I'm not stupid," I hung my head.

"Part of the reason you keep me confined is to keep this ability among yourselves. The horrible reason why you're not letting me go on that sleepover," I rolled my eyes, knowing I was needed while they trained to increase their mana potential.

"No one would sacrifice their lives for you using that petty reason. Do you know how our grandparents dangerously pushed themselves to keep you alive before? Luke would never try to exchange his life for yours if he didn't love you. I would never put myself in danger to keep you safe if not for the same reason," Alex seemed hurt.

"I think they're right. Everyone puts their own life first," Oili listened to them.

"It may be a misunderstanding on your end," Cillian agreed.

"I've lived more than ten years with them, and I've never felt a single speck of love. It's not a misunderstanding, they don't know since their family is cold in general," I tried to point out.

"Do you know how calculating they are? They managed to scam s-class monsters!" I recalled how we obtained the tower.

"You're the least person we're calculating towards. If it is, everything is done for your sake," Alex felt wronged.

"Do you know how much uncle and aunt watches over you so they could provide you with the best future?" his face was plastered with his raw emotions.

"We can visit our parents this weekend. I'll also send a message to our grandparents. We don't hate you Rika," Luke continued to deny.

"I think you should apologize to them Rika," Oili interrupted us, oddly on their side.

"They don't even give me the basic freedom to go to a sleepover," I shook my head.

"I can adjust our schedule. We can use the time-space rooms during the weekend for the usual lessons," Luke suddenly placed his hands on my shoulders.

"Would you mind if you let Rika host the sleepover in one of my mansions?" He turned to my friends.

"I don't mind," Delia appeared a little guilty.

"We can adjust our plans," Sienna nodded.

"Is it the same day?" Shelly wondered.

"I can make it the same day," Luke agreed.

"..."

He did realize none of this would've happened if he suggested that from the start, right? Or was he working on his acting skills? I shrugged, I didn't know what Luke was thinking this time.

It was weird he was suddenly acting nicer than normal. What was his objective? He never let my friends visit the mansions unless they were forced like the situation with Ethan. Even in elementary school, I never hosted a sleepover and only attended those I was invited to.

However, I preferred it this way, getting a chance to be out of his control. It also made sense since nothing was truly mine, everything belonged to the Roselia family.

"Can you forgive me Rika?" Luke faced me.

I would never be able to forgive him as long as I lived. But I knew I would be one painted in a bad light if I didn't apologize. Unfortunately, Luke's acting could win many awards in any world and there was no way he and Alex didn't hate me. However, my own acting skills had tremendously improved from living with him. I subtly nodded, tears welling my eyes, "I can. I'm sorry I didn't know. I always thought you hated me."

"You'll never find another partner like him. It's extremely rare," Ethan mumbled.

"It's pretty hard," Oili agreed.

"That's why I told you her thoughts were ridiculous in the first place," Alex tried to point out.

"They didn't form for no reason," Shelly knew my true thoughts.

"I don't know what to believe anymore," Delia murmured.

"This is really genuine," Cillian believed.

Wait. Luke mentioned something about visiting his parents and grandparents this weekend, the people I wanted to avoid if I could. Ugh! I had to convince them that I didn't believe they hated me or else I could be sent to suffer under the strict tutors. Huk! Was this his real plan this time?