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It was the next day after that.
“…I had been in this body for several months.”
Possessed for N times.
When I opened my eyes, the ceiling like in the fantastic party, which I could see, was no longer surprising. The chandelier was so dazzling and splendid that I didn’t think just any family could get it.
I got out of bed and walked straight to the mirror. This is definitely the prettiest.
There was a reflection of a woman who I had become accustomed to. The blonde hair that flowed down her fair shoulder, eyes as red as rubies… I’ve seen the face of a villainess in all kinds of novels, but I’ve never seen a woman this beautiful. Although the problem was that she looked slightly gloomy.
“Oh my gosh, Lady, you’re already up.”
“What kind of tea should I prepare for breakfast?”
The maids hurriedly came in as they had felt my slightest movement.
“The one I drank every day. Not too hot, please.”
“Yes, Lady. Please wait a moment.”
The maids immediately moved like machines at my words.
It’s a great development.
When I first woke up in this body, even if I kicked out the blanket and screamed, no single ant entered the room.
“Argh! Where is this place again? Why is no one there? Is there anyone out there?”
“Ugh, why is she so crazy today? Shh, let’s be quiet. She’ll get tired of doing that alone.”
“By the way, Daisy. Do you hear anything about ‘my gift’?”
“Ah… that, not yet.”
Daisy, who was combing my hair, hesitated when I asked while I was being groomed in the morning.
It had been several days since I made a bombshell request for Redian.
“In any case, His Grace will have to consult with young Master Irik…”
Well, the duke must have made a decision, so it was time for the response to come out.
“Kyaa!”
Then I heard the sound Kwaang~!
“Oh my gosh, young Master Irik.”
Daisy was startled and turned pale as she held the brush.
“Older Sister.”
In the meantime, a boy with cold eyes walked toward me.
How is he opening that big door with one hand? There was nothing so surprising. Having experienced all sorts of things, there was even room for me to check the door.
“I have something to share with Princess, so get out.”
“But…”
“I already told you to get out.”
The boy shook his head coldly as if he wouldn’t say it twice. Terrified, Daisy left, leaving only me and the boy in the room.
“What’s going on all of a sudden?”
“Ha, all of a sudden?”
Light pink hair resembling cotton candy and sky-blue eyes.
“What are you doing?”
His tone didn’t suit his soft impression.
“What do you want as a gift? Are you really crazy this time?”
He let out a laugh.
“Siani. No, Sister. No matter how much you disgrace our family, Sister should be ashamed of yourself.”
Whenever I saw him, he looked so fresh and shiny that I wondered if he was the male lead. What a waste of your face. He shattered my belief that a good soul resided in a good-looking appearance.
“I thought you were slowly coming to your senses as you’ve been quiet lately.”
“…”
“Were you thinking about who to play with in a vulgar way?”
This human is Irik Lev. The adopted son of Duke Felicite and my younger brother, who is not related to me by blood.
<Say hello, Siani. These are the children who will stay with you from now on.>
When I saw him, Siani’s memory was naturally summoned. It was long ago, the day when Duke Felicite first brought Irik and Luna with him.
* * *
Duke Felicite, who returned to the duchy after a few years, wasn’t alone.
“I didn’t expect Lev to die leaving these little children behind. That’s too bad.”
“…”
“When I think of the loyalty we shared on the battlefield, I couldn’t just leave them alone.”
All eyes were on the two children standing beside the duke. A brother and sister with light pink hair and soft sky-blue eyes. They were pretty as dolls, even in shabby clothes, perhaps wandering around the streets.
“Starting today, they will become our family and stay with us.”
Duke Felicite patted the two children’s shoulders with crude gestures.
“You guys should say hello too. This is my daughter, Siani Felicite.”
Only then did Luna find someone standing on the stairs.
“Ah…”
Small lips parted slightly. Irik’s eyes, which were calm for his age, were also strange. However, I couldn’t tell what Siani’s, or my expression, was looking at them.
“Now, I think this is enough to greet the new family.”
The duke told Loid, the butler, and Jen, the head of the maid, who were behind me.
“I’m glad Your Grace has returned, but the little guests are also here, so it’s a blessing for the duchy.”
“You must have had a hard time coming from a long way. What kind of dessert do you two like?”
Loid and Jen greeted the brother and sister first. They were the children the duke himself took. In other words, they could have been adopted by Duke Felicite. That’s why they treated them kindly.
“Lady Luna is completely different from our princess. She is so lovely and cute.”
“Look at that young master. How can a boy look so handsome?”
The servants who had been gathered far away were also busy watching the new family.
After the duchess died, only silence and darkness remained in the duchy. Even here, the bright sun seemed to shine for the first time in a while.
“Everyone, come here and greet the lady and the young master.”
At Jen’s words, the servants quickly gathered around the brother and sister.
“That, I don’t know if I can say this…”
At that time, Luna cautiously opened her mouth to the maid who stood beside her. “Sister smells so fresh and sweet.”
“Oh my, is that so? I just came back from baking lemon cake.”
“Haha, you’re cute.”
Bright laughter erupted around Luna.
“Umm, does Duke like cake too? Cake is difficult, but… I can make some cookies.” Luna, with her eyes wide open, asked Duke Felicite.
“Excuse me, Lady Luna. You must not raise your eyes when you speak to the duke.”
“It’s okay, Loid.”
The duke dissuaded Loid, probably because Luna was cute.
“Do as you please. From now on, this is also your home.”
“Wow, really? So everyone here is my family?” Luna’s cheeks turned red.
“Oh my gosh, she’s so lovely.”
With that smile, the air in the duchy, which had been cold the whole time, was relieved.
That’s the female lead.
I thought as I looked through the memory. On the other hand…
This is the villainess.
Siani, who was standing with no expression, looked as if she was looking at a cursed doll.
<Everyone likes that kid smiling.>
The words that stayed in Siani’s heart that day could be read automatically.
<Why are you kind to those things that I hate?>
<If you’re going to do this, I’d rather you throw me to the orphanage.>
<Haha, because I’m the cursed witch who killed my mother. I deserve to be treated like this.>
<No! Why me? It’s not my fault that my mother died!>
My chin went numb as Siani gritted his teeth tightly.
“Young Master Irik, Lady Luna, shall we go to the parlor first?”
“Okay! Sister!” Luna answered in an excited voice as if the tension was quickly relieved.
“Duke, let’s come with us too!” Then she grabbed the duke’s hand. “Eating something sweet makes you feel better. Duke must have been tired of taking us all the way.”
“Okay, then let’s go together.”
The expression of the servants looking at the two became puzzled. They never thought the duke, who was always cold and blunt, would have such a side.
“…”
So the duke took Luna’s hand and walked away. I’m not sure if he knew that Siani was still standing there that day though… It was visible to me who read the memory. Still, it’s too much. It’s the first time you see your daughter, that you haven’t seen in years.
The duke didn’t look back at Siani until he exited the hallway. Luna, the duke, and the servants who followed them were already gone. Silence came again. But then,
“Older Sister…”
Irik, who was still in his seat, looked up at Siani.
“Do you always look like that?”
“Or are you doing this on purpose?”
When no answer came back, Irik opened his mouth again.
When no answer came back, Irick opened his mouth again.
“Um, what shall I say.”
Irik was a quiet child when he was with the duke.
“It’s kind of…” In a moment, Irik changed his expression and laughed. “Unfortunate.”
That was their first meeting.
* * *
That’s intense. I could see why the two growled at each other whenever they met. Anyway, it was he who attacked first.
“Ah, Lady Luna, be careful. What are you going to do if you fall like last time?”
While recalling their first meeting, I heard a muffled voice come through the open window.
“There will be a welcome party hosted by Grand Duke Benio soon, so you should be more careful. There are rumors that it will be the place where the grand duchess is chosen.”
“But I’m not going to get married though? I’ll live next to His Grace and my brother for the rest of my life.”
“Ohoho, is that so?”
Turning my eyes, I was able to spot her at once.
“Above all, I can never be Grand Duchess Benio.”
It was Luna Lev, the female lead of this novel.
“The wound my older sister received from the grand duke hasn’t healed yet.”
“Aah, by the way, Lady, how long are you going to look at the princess?”
“Honestly, the position of the next grand duchess suits the Lady much better than the princess.”
The maids looked around the garden and muttered.
“You guys should be careful. What if my sister hears it?”
I’m sorry, but I’m already listening.
“Well, I heard that the princess made a strange request for this birthday present.”
“I heard she asked for Norma in the basement? Why such a monster… I’m so scared.”
“That’s enough. I’m not interested in anything other than picking tea leaves and giving them to His Grace.” As if telling them to stop gossiping, Luna moved her steps. “Let’s go over there.”
“Yes, Lady. Please be careful!”
Her light pink hair swayed as she ran. Around her, petals seemed to be scattered along with the gentle wind.
“It’s your fault to hear that even from your servants, Siani,” Irik said to me as I stared at Luna’s back.
“Don’t think about venting your anger on Luna for nothing.” He seemed to be worried that I, who openly heard it, might harm her.
But I really, really wanted to get along with them. There was no need to make such a noise until my goal was achieved.
“By the way.” I smiled kindly. “Instead of lecturing me, why don’t you pay attention to your little sister, Irik.”
I couldn’t help it that my mouth was crooked because of the habits of my previous life. “To keep such low-level servants by your sister’s side. You probably don’t know that the level of servants reflects the level of their master.”
“…What?”
“You and Luna are part of the Duke Felicite family.”
I also couldn’t help it if the tone of my previous life was left behind, which made me sound sarcastic.
“Ah, of course, you didn’t inherit ‘real’ Felicite blood like I do.”
That’s too bad. I mean it.
“You…”
“I’m not interested in Luna.”
I was about to say I won’t bother Luna.
“So stop messing around and faithfully carry out Father’s orders.”
What I wanted to say was, ‘Let’s cooperate and get along well from now on.’
“Wh..at?”
“What are you standing there blankly?”
Unlike my pure and tender heart, my mouth moved freely…
“Without immediately leading me to the basement where Redian is.”
I couldn’t help it. Because it was my principle to step on those who bothered me first.