Chapter 13

While growing up, he didn’t see many people, but generally, their reactions were similar. He tried to leave before the girl in front of him became noisy.

“Hey!”

He did not stop even when a voice called him from behind. According to Helios, most aristocrats are annoying, so it was better to not get involved.

“If you’re going to save me, please save me till the end!”

He stood still unknowingly at her words. Sirius looked down at the trembling girl, he didn’t understand that he saved someone.

‘I saved you?’

Why did he save her? He couldn’t figure it out. Sirius, who didn’t even know what he was looking at now, decided to think simple. If you don’t know, ask.

“I…. Why did I save you?”

“You can ask me again.”

The girl answered firmly. A different reaction from Helios, who asks if there is something he doesn’t know. Sirius was deep in thought. He knew it too, being unable to feel emotions because of the curse placed on him.

‘But why did I save her?’

Sirius had to admit it. I don’t know why, but I felt something when I saw her. I was attracted to her as if I had walked all the way here for the lights in the palace.

“Help me.”

A voice that breaks your thoughts. The girl, who still couldn’t get out of the pond, gave a sad look as she grabbed her trousers. Again, Sirius’ body reacted before he could think. Before he knew it, he lifted the girl in the pond. Sirius was surprised that she was so light, but more than that, he wondered why he couldn’t refuse the girl’s words.

“Thank you.”

“…….”

What makes me so drawn to her?

Sirius stared at her for a long time, motionless. All his attention was focused on the girl who was squeezing her dress and ignoring his gaze.

“Achoo!”

Seeing the girl shivering in the cold even after getting out of the water, he was contemplating whether he should take off his jacket, but without realizing it, she turned her head. The silver-gray eyes looking at the dress turned to him.

Sirius then realized.

He was drawn to the silver-gray eyes that shone in the moonlight and he wanted those eyes to only turn to him. He didn’t know why, but it didn’t matter to him.

The only thing that mattered to him was her.

***

2. Flags are unexpected.

The Crown Prince’s birthday banquet passed safely and we returned to our daily lives. Although there was a small occurrence.

The culprit who pushed me at the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet was obviously Kanarin. It was not surprising, because it was easy to infer from her behavior. What was surprising was that she came directly to the duke.

“I’m sorry. I was envious of Sernia.”

“You envied me?”

It was pure curiosity. I’m just a cousin of Duke Ardentine. If you look at it in a fragmentary sense, it may be enviable, but it was not possible for me to inherit the family, nor was I a direct family member, so it was difficult to marry into another family who wanted harmony between the families.

‘Because you usually marry to your immediate lineage.’

It wasn’t like the Duke did not have a daughter. Most families who wish to unite with the Ardentines want Ariel. What was there to be envious of me for?

“Because you have something I don’t have. So I was going to tease you a little bit. I thought Sernia would be up soon, but I didn’t realize it was deep enough to swim.….”

She’s hitting the bone, too. I can’t believe she mentioned my new dark history, ‘I couldn’t stand up in a shallow pond that only came to my waist.’ I laughed awkwardly.

“I’m not good with water.”

“No, I’m so sorry! Something happened then. I envied Lady Sernia who is loved by her family. I was scolded by my father that day… to see Sernia who can laugh even after stepping on the scary duke’s feet…”

Did you see that? I didn’t want anyone to know, but I’m sure my dancing skills are now well known in society. I want to hide in a rat hole. Still, you envy me for being safe even after stepping on the Duke’s foot.

“I’m a tool. A tool that will bring my family higher.”

I found out a few days ago, but the notebook had Lady Kanarin’s name written on it. She was Ariel’s right-hand woman!

‘I must have had a very good memory in the past. I even wrote down the name of the supporting villain.’

On the notebook, ‘Kanarin: Jealous and ambitious. She flatters Ariel and was a frivolous person,’ was written.

“My father doesn’t love me. He feels sorry for the money that goes into me and thinks it’s a waste. So I was envious of Lady Sernia, who could laugh even when she made a mistake. I could see they truly loved the Lady. Even though I’m his real daughter…”

Kanarin burst into tears. I approached her and hugged her tightly.

Perhaps Kanarin, who appeared in the novel, grew up desiring such a family. A child who finds her own worth in her family.

No matter how jealous you are, isn’t it too much to push me into the pond? If it was deep, I would be really dead, how could you do that? I thought.

‘If you think about it, there were a lot of kids who did worse things when they were in school.’

From elementary to high school, school violence was everywhere. They did it without teachers knowing and sometimes in the face of teachers. It was cruel and terrible to the victim, even if they didn’t use direct force. It was much better than children who did it for ‘fun’.

‘I didn’t think what Kanarin did was good, but I’ll forgive her for having the courage to come out and apologize directly to the duke.’

She’s only fifteen years old. She was at the age to make mistakes and long for love from her parents. My heart wavered because I saw the twins in Kanarin.

‘Phew, yes. You’re reflecting on yourself, so it’s okay.’

I patted Kanarin on the back until she calmed down. I wanted to comfort her at least a little because the wound she must have felt was conveyed.

***

“Sister, I haven’t finished yet.”

“I’m fine. I got an apology.”

“Apologizing doesn’t mean everything is forgiven!”

‘Fortunately, before Ariel woke up, Lady Kanarin came to turn herself in.’

That day, Ariel noticed the culprit was plotting something by herself. Perhaps it was revenge for me. I don’t know what it was, but I thought it was fortunate that things were settled peacefully.

“There’s a letter for you again.”

“Don’t reply.”

Haha. I masked my answer with a laugh.

I had become close to Kanarin by exchanging letters. Ariel also wants to be friends with Kanarin. Is that too much of an intervention?

“Sister, don’t try to laugh it off again.”

“It doesn’t work.”

I already sent a reply. I used a diversion skill, with Kanarin’s letter, the Academy’s admission letter that also arrived today.

“The academy admission letter has arrived. Next year is around the corner.”

Commoners or nobles who did not receive an admission letter may take the entrance examination, but high-ranking nobles who got admission letters are able to enter without a special examination. The admission letter serves as a brochure that provides information on the date of the entrance ceremony and what to prepare.

“Time goes by so fast. It would be nice if I could enter school together with Sister.”

​​Ariel’s expression became sullen at once. She muttered that she didn’t want to go to the academy because she had already forgotten about Kanarin.

The Academy.

Well, I’d like to see Daisy in person, but it’s impossible.

Again, my favorite character was Daisy. My second favorite was Grandwin. Now Ariel and Erial are the most precious to me, but apart from that, my affection for Daisy still lingered.

It’s a fan’s heart.

The Academy is a place where students enter to build a variety of studies, but it is not mandatory. Of course, the Duke asked me. Are you going to get into the academy?

The academy is a place where students enter to pursue a variety of studies, but it is not required. Of course, the Duke also asked me if I was going to enter the academy?

‘The answer is NO.’

I refused on the spot. It was a time when I was obsessed with the original story, so I thought I shouldn’t interfere.

‘And I want to spend as much time with twins as I can.’

The Academy has a two-year program. It was short for an educational institution. However, if I entered the academy, I wouldn’t be able to see the twins often for two years, and I won’t have seen twins for almost four years because they would enter school after I graduate.

‘If I give up on the academy, I only have to wait two years.’

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go to school. If Ariel or Erial get married later, it would be difficult to see them, so I wanted to be with them even a little longer while I could see them.

“It’s okay. We can meet on vacation.”

“But, I still want to be with you more.”

Is Ariel thinking the same thing as me? Even though she’s a little kid Ariel feels it too. We don’t have much time left to be together.

“By the way, I heard that Father is going to visit the Imperial Palace soon, so will Sister follow him?”

This time, Ariel changed the subject. She probably didn’t want to think deeply about what’ll happen after her coming-of-age ceremony.

“Oh, right. I forgot.”

I responded with a light chuckle. It was true that I had forgotten.

‘What’s the difference between formal greetings? I bought some juice to show my appreciation for that day. Isn’t it?’

No way.

I didn’t know what procedures to go through, but since I’m the one who was helped, I felt like I had to go.

“Can I come with you?”

“Well, maybe I should ask the Duke.”

I’m just a cousin. The Deubusal family had no power or influence. The pinnacle of power is the Duke! Even if I asked to come along, it would be inevitable if the Duke rejected it.

“Well, can you ask him? Father is weak to Sister.”

“The Duke is weak against me? I don’t think so.”

I suddenly recalled the expression of the duke, who was running in haste, but it disappeared so quickly that I doubted whether it was in vain.

“He listens to all of Sister’s requests. He escorted you, too.”

“Ariel….”

“No, it’s not what you think!”

Ariel strongly denied, forming an X with both hands. A strong denial is a strong affirmation. When I looked at her with a more sentimental look, she exclaimed, ‘It’s not like I really envy you or that I wanted Father to escort me!’ Then, she left the room.