"It definitely shocked everyone in the room. After all, who in the right mind would voluntarily accept the expulsion when your parents can bail you out of it? But I knew that I needed to take responsibility for my actions. Because that's what Officer Astria would've done."

Inna suddenly laughed as she commended herself.

"Damn, I can't believe I was so mature back then. An eight-year-old actually knew to take responsibility for her own actions, huh. Bet you weren't as mature as me back then, were you?"

Raghnall raised an eyebrow at the taunt. But when he recalled his childhood filled with private lessons and pranks he played on his servants, he had to admit that she was right.

But that doesn't mean he'll admit that. And so, he replied with only a simple chuckle. Inna knew she was right judging from his silence so she chuckled as well before continuing.

"And although my parents couldn't understand my decision, when they heard the resolution in my tone, they relented and decided that they would respect whatever path I chose. And so, with my head held high, I willfully declared that I will be expelled all the while calling them assho--"

Inna stopped herself as she remembered that 'asshole' totally held a different meaning in the world she's in.

"Calling them.. bastards. And although the principal was appalled by my language, he calmly told my parents to expect a notice of expulsion in a few day's time and to think of ways that would help me continue on with my education-- it's just that it should be no longer be there."

"Well, I thought that would be the end of it. But when we went out of the school, turns out, furious parents were out there by the gates with their children in their hands. They were screaming and fuming with rage and mixed in with them were the media that held their huge cameras and microphones."

"I remember my parents cursing under their breaths when they saw the massive number of people surrounding the school. Back then, I didn't really understand why there were so many people and so much flashing lights directed at us. I thought that the people and the media gathered because my parents were there. But it turns out, the thing I did make a huge controversy. I don't know why though. Maybe it's because the whole world was bored with the same old stories, but they especially wanted to cover the news about a small event that was instigated by a child."

"And so, through the 'testimony' of that little psycho bitch, I basically became well-known as the viral sensation called Little Red Pepper. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for that. Really. Because I got a very great advertisement deal from this known Pepper Spray Brand which one way or another led me to meet Officer Astria as well."

"But anyway, it finally came out that I was this adopted child of the two most flourishing businesses in our city. And well, it wasn't received the way I expected. Instead of being annoyed or hassled by it, my parents seem pretty chill with it and they even held an interview to talk about me. That whole two-hour interview was basically just them praising me to the fact that it kinda became cringe and weird. They were basically showing to the world that adopted or not, I was their child. But the issue of the inheritance soon came but they easily deflected it with a simple answer."

"If they were to hand their business over when they retire, it wouldn't be to me but to someone far more capable in their family."

Inna laughed aloud as she recalled the dumbfounded expressions of everyone on set.

"I mean, I kind of get it. I absolutely have no intention of inheriting something I didn't even earn. And besides, they love the company and its money-making capacity so why would they give it to someone like me who has no idea and interest in it? It's the most reasonable decision. And they have lots of candidate nieces and nephews that can inherit it once they retire anyways. Or they can always sell it. I didn't really care much about it."

"And so, from then on, when the whole issue was settled and my expulsion was implemented, I took a year-long break to.. continue my training to be just like Officer Astria. My parents also took a week off work to sort things out with me. From morning until night, we just kept talking and talking, sharing our opinions and views of everything. That's how I came to know my original parents and my short life in the orphanage. And that's also how I came to know and understand them and their separate views in life; about their arranged marriage, their love for money, as well as their mutual respect for each other."

Inna smiled as she recalled her parents. She loved them and although they mainly spent a neutral and indifferent influence in her life, she still couldn't help but be thankful for them.

"Safe to say, aside from that incident in my life, it's been smooth sailing ever since. After that break, my parents were able to convince my grandparents to let me continue being homeschooled. Then, when I reached high school, I got into this school where I met my three irreplaceable minions."

Raghnall raised an eyebrow at the sudden term.

"Minions? You had servants, you mean?"

Inna bursted into laughter at Raghnall's question as she faced him.

"No, no. I call them Minions from the movie, Minions. They're named Stuart, Kevin, and Bob which coincidentally is the same with the names of the characters in the movie as well."

Raghnall didn't seem to follow what Inna meant as he still looked at her with a confused expression.

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"Movie? What's a movie?"

Inna froze for a moment as she tried to think of an appropriate equivalent of it instead of explaining what it was.

"It's a.. show. From where I'm from, we call it 'movie' but in here, its a show."

Raghnall seemed to finally understand what she meant.

"So, I guess they're your close friends before?"

Inna was about to agree when it suddenly hit her.

Before.

That word shot needles into her heart when she heard it. She didn't want the reminder but it seems that she couldn't ignore it after all.

She really can't see them anymore.

They're now a thing from her past, huh.

... A part of her 'before.'

But goddammit, she missed them.