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Concentrating my senses on my fingertips, I tried to feel my scar over the fabric. I felt the uneven texture and smiled awkwardly. “Oppa told me to wear it because others will see my scar.”
Yulina glanced up, raising her eyebrows, and said, “…Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
Yulina quickly changed her attitude and cleared her throat. Oppa’s words must have convinced her. “…Well, if he says so, you should listen.”
Her attitude was docile, uncharacteristic of Yulina, who was usually outspoken, assertive, and had a firm tone. Gradually, she felt like her story was coming to an end, so she focused on putting the clothes inside more than before.
Yulina hesitantly crossed her arms and said, “So, when will your brother come back…?”
“Oppa?” I put the rest of the clothes neatly on the table and sat down.
Yulina, whose cheeks had turned red, shook her head. I adored the way she looked– full of anticipation, like a girl in love, and she smiled helplessly.
“Do you like him that much?”
Yulina frowned as if I had asked something obvious. She whispered in a lower-than-usual voice, “…Every young woman in this town must have their eyes on your brother, right?”
My eyes widened at her frank words. She shrugged when she saw how surprised I was.
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Was Oppa that popular? I blinked and scratched my cheek. Well, every time we moved and settled down, the village women were busy spying on him.
“Maybe you’re right.”
As a relative, the compliments about him didn’t affect me, so I didn’t bother denying it. Yulina pushed me on the shoulder and wrinkled her nose.
“In order, am I first?*”
“Oppa’s feelings matter more than mine.”
“That’s why Izenne, I’m asking you to help me. It seems like your feelings come first for your brother.”
Puzzled, I chuckled and looked out the window to avoid the conversation.
“All right, all right. I won’t ask you,” Yulina sighed. She quickly noticed and grumbled but didn’t continue the conversation.
A while later, Yulina, observing the scenery with me, clapped and looked back at me as if she had remembered something. Then, she flippantly slapped my shoulder and said, “Ah, Izenne! You know what?”
I was already used to how she often didn’t get straight to the point, and when I weakly shook my head, Yulina grinned.
I looked curiously at her as she immediately brightened at the new topic.
I waited for her to speak, but she didn’t. Instead, her intense gaze looked like she wanted a response like a storyteller. I chuckled and asked, “What is it, Yulina?”
“Well, I heard Madam talking to the Lord, and she said that a great noble from the capital was coming down to recuperate in Cedria.”
“Is that so?” I looked out the window, sighing in uneasiness at her words.
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“But that nobleman,” Yulina paused and tilted her head. She then glanced around and whispered, “There’s a rumor that said they’re completely insane.”
Insane? At her words, I turned and stared at Yulina. She continued her story, her expression satisfied when she realized she had caught my attention now.
“It’s been several years since his wife was kidnapped and died, but they said he’s still looking for her. There are a lot of rumors and speculations about him, like that he’s an alcoholic or drug addict. Funnily enough, I also heard that ladies and young children were sick for three days because the object of their admiration, who they once called a hero, was ruined.” Yulina shrugged and lightly continued, “Hearing this story makes me want to meet him. Is he as handsome as your brother?”
“A hero?” As I recalled Yulina’s words with a frown, she spotted someone outside the window and smiled.
“Ah, right on time.” Yulina waved her hand out the window. “Julian!”
Shortly after the carriage stopped, she hurriedly packed the dress and opened the carriage door. When she hopped off and handed the dress to someone standing there, the other person had no choice but to grumble and accept it.
I stepped out of the carriage and thanked the coachman for turning a blind eye to my companion with a light bow. As I looked through the door, I saw a familiar face.
“Izenne!”
Yurina’s brother, who looked just like her, jumped out like a puppy welcoming its owner. While he didn’t have a tail, his eyes drooped like a puppy’s.
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Yulina frowned and crossed her arms. “Eh, Julian, can’t you see your sister? If you look at Izenne now, you’ll start grinning.”
Julian glared at her, his cheeks stained red in embarrassment. “Who said I would?”
Yulina came over and pressed her index finger against his cheek. “Look in the mirror, Julian. Your face is like a perfectly ripe apple.”
“Yulina!” Julian frowned and covered his face with one hand.
Yulina giggled and continued to poke his cheek while Julian avoided her touch. Watching them live without fault, I thought of Oppa and smiled faintly.
I tapped Yulina on the shoulder to draw her attention. “I’ll be going, Yulina.”
“Why are you leaving already? When you were loading the carriage, Grandma said it’s okay to let you go.”
“All the more reason for me to go. I have to go out into town and buy groceries.”
“Alright. There’s nothing I can do, then.”
Yulina pouted, but Julian approached her, pushing her aside. He grinned at me and said, “You’ll need a porter! Shall I go with you? Who knows if it’s coincidence or fate! I’m free because I’m done with my work! How do you like it, I–aah!”
At that moment, a hand came out from behind Julian and mercilessly pulled his ear. Surprised, he tried to let go of the clothes, but Yulina quickly ran to take them.
“No, the dress!”
Julian identified the person pulling at his ear and frowned. “It hurts, Father!”
Hal, the father of the twins and the manor’s carpenter, appeared, skinny with a shaggy beard. He reprimanded Julian and shot at him, “Hey, where are you going after you say you’re digging trees?”
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“Go out into the city and look at the flowers! Eat something delicious! Go to the flower garden too! Well, and then hold hands with Izene–ack! Stop!”
Hal pulled Julian’s ear up even more. Julian, scowling, stood on his toes and followed his father’s hand.
“You’re a carpenter, but you have no discipline!”
Julian opened one of his eyes and glared at him, his eyes flashing with displeasure. “Better than Father, who drinks alcohol in broad daylight- Aah!”
Hal twisted his ear this time, and Julian yelped in pain and struggled to escape.
“Are you incapable of learning? Think about it, will Takan leave you alone when he comes back? Do you still have the heart to act like that after being hurt last time?”
His face red from pain, Julian fought back. “I’ll just have to win this time!”
“You have no talent, but you keep running your mouth. I don’t know what to do with you. When I was young, women in this village followed me one after another–”
“Again, again with your younger days. The only heart you didn’t catch was Mother’s heart–Ack!”
Hal frowned, kicked Julian in the butt, and forced him into the mansion. “This guy! Hurry up and pick up some firewood!”
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Julian bounced off, rubbed his butt, and then glared at Hal. He pouted and grumbled, but he froze when his gaze landed on me. “D*mn it…”
Julian hurriedly avoided his gaze, the tips of his ears turning red.
Yulina grabbed Julian by the back and waved at me as she dragged him away. “See you next time, Izenne!”
“Ah, let go! Let go!”
Julian struggled but was helplessly dragged by his sister’s strong grip. I smiled faintly and waved.
Hal put his hands behind his back and looked disapprovingly at the twins as they walked away. “When will they grow up, tsk.“
“Why? It looks good.”
“It looks good, you say. Take out your eyeballs and wash them clean.”
When I chuckled, Hal frowned and said, “It’s not a joke.”
But after a while, his expression softened.
“Is Rin doing well?” He glanced at me.
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“Yes, I received a letter a while ago. This time, he said he’s visiting a foreign country famous for archery.”
“Well, that’s fine.”
He looked like he wanted to ask why Rin didn’t contact him. Hal grunted, but his expression seemed relieved by Rin’s current situation.
Hal yawned and waved his hands before heading toward the back entrance. “Go ahead before the other employees find out.”
I smiled at Hal, then lightly bowed. “Then see you, Hal.”