Chapter 16

“Don’t worry, Michael.”

As though she had planned this, Beatrice laughed and answered in a mature tone.

“Erel is an old friend of mine. I really care about her.”

This was not a lie. Beatrice had a selfish personality that only she knew. As a matter of fact,  she actually does like Erel Elorance. It’s just that her standard is a little different from others.

Michael didn’t know how special he was. Of course, there was no way to know more about Beatrice’s heart toward him.

“Thank you. I’m glad Erel has a friend like you.”

Michael took Beatrice’s words at face value and smiled. His blue eyes showed a clear sense of responsibility as a man who cared for his family and knew how to protect them.

Ah, if only she could get past his fence somehow. Beatrice desperately wanted and hoped. That’s why she begged Erel to build a bridge for her but this wretched little sister expressed a rare refusal even though it would have been easy for her since she was so precious to her family.

Sorry, Beatrice. I don’t want to interfere with my brother’s love life. Even if it‘s for her good friend, it’s a little……I don’t think so.

Maybe it was from that time that this all started. She doesn’t hate Erel, but she wants to bother her sometimes.

But you have even been picked up as a Receiver!

On the surface, she pretended to sympathize, but on the inside she envied her. Now the Masaka of all kingdoms will be scrambling to get their hands on her.

Beatrice was unaware of Erel’s detailed circumstances and thought somewhat complacently. The only Receiver sold to Masaka were those who were poor, vulgar, or abandoned by their families.

But Erel Elorence was the glory of a decent count. Her family wrapped their frail youngest daughter up in a terrible way. So even if Erel is a precious Receiver, they will never hand her over to this Masaka.

Even if I risk my life, I will protect you till the end.

Beatrice couldn’t stand the thought and it gave her a stomach ache. Her situation was similar to Erel’s, but her family treated the situation differently than hers. Is that so? Contrary to originally intended, acrimonious words kept popping out.

“Receiver, that’s terrible! I know the Masaka race, Rel. They don’t even see the Receiver as a human being! You’re already weak. How much are you going to suffer?”

Now that Beatrice scared her, she will start crying. Beatrice looked at Erel’s bright blue eyes with anticipation. It was a beautiful colour that she often envied.

But Erel, who blinked a couple of times, let out a nonchalant voice instead of crying.

“…I am fine.”

“What?”

“I didn’t know I was a Receiver. It’s a little embarrassing, but I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

Beatrice, who was suddenly thanked, was puzzled. This was not likely to come from weak Erel. It was clear that this stupid girl who had grown up beautifully had lost the sense of reality.

“What, is it okay with you?” You’re in big trouble now, Rel. You still don’t understand?”

Beatrice retorted strongly with her eyebrows frowning. Her purple eyes glowed as if they were on fire.

“There will be no man that will want to get engaged to you, and even if you do, will the Masakas let you go? They’re going to take you in their hands and suck you on the side like a nourishment!!”

“Don’t say that, Beatrice.”

Despite her insistence, Erel’s face was unchanged when she looked at her. She talked as if she was a different person.

“A Receiver is a useful thing to help the glorious Masaka. I’m glad that I can contribute to the safety of the kingdom, and even humanity.”

What is this little girl talking about? At this point, Beatrice really thought Erel’s head had gone haywire.

Of course, what Erel just said was theoretically correct. But like most theories, it’s a problem because it’s a little far from reality.

In that sense, mining slaves were also glorious jobs that contributed to national industry. But no one actually thinks so.

I guess she had lost her mind.

Unlike Beatrice, Erel was saner than ever. Sitting outside the balcony, she could see everything Beatrice hadn’t seen. For example, like a man with pink hair who just appeared in the yard of the mansion.

It’s Barkan’s man.

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It was Cellos, the man who brought the flower wagon the other day. The colour of his hair was unusual, so she could recognize him at a glance.

She didn’t know how he got into the garden. Considering her overprotective family, it was normal for Barkan’s man to be unable to even get his feet on the mansion.

However, as Cellos noticed her gaze, he slightly bowed his head as if to say hello. The moment she saw this, Erel realized.

Barkan Harmash. The man is now watching her every move.

He could figure out what Erel was doing if he wanted to. So it was foolish to bring up the slightest bit of criticism against the Masaka. Especially when she thought of the cruelty behind his smiling face.

“Whoa, forget it. What can I say?”

Beatrice was irritated by Erel’s unexpected reaction as she did not know about the details. She rose from her seat and shouted as she pushed away the half-drunk teacup.

“That’s enough tea. Let’s go outside!”

Michael clearly advised, ‘Don’t go out because there’s a Kitan in the high street,’ but Beatrice didn’t mind. She was sure a dirty monster like Kitan wouldn’t lay a finger on her. Of course, there are certain things she believed in.

“Lets go where?”

Erel frowned as Beatrice’s request to go out was unexpected. But Beatrice, once determined, continued to insist.

“You promised me last time! Let’s go to Madame Deki’s new hat store!”

No, she never made that promise. Erel didn’t want to go out, even if she didn’t hear about the presence of the Kitan on the high street. She felt uncomfortable to show up in front of Barkan’s subordinate while he was openly hanging outside.

“Let’s just go next time, Beatrice. I’m a little tired today.”

“……What the hell is wrong with you?”

Beatrice, however, did not show any signs of letting this go. Seeing Erel, who was as unmoving as a stone, she became even more anxious.

“You’ve been looking forward to it for weeks, too! You already made a reservation. Why did you suddenly say no?”

At this point, Beatrice’s eyes clearly had a suspicious light. She prided herself in knowing Erel Elorence very well, but she seemed unfamiliar since earlier.

Usually, when Beatrice is stubborn, it was Erel who would follow her with a sad face as if she didn’t win. However, Beatrice’s patience has been stretched thin because she is acting like a completely different person today.

“Erel Elorence. You know you’re being really weird right now, right? You call me Beatrice instead of my nickname, and you’re so sick that you don’t want to go to Madame Deki’s new hat shop that you loved so much. What the hell is wrong with you?”

By this point, Erel couldn’t hold out any longer. It was uncomfortable to be exposed to Barkan’s vision, but it was more urgent to avoid Beatrice’s suspicion. Beatrice was known to be a close friend and is now starting to suspect Erel.

I can’t let her know that I’m not Erel.

Erel rose from her seat before Beatrice could push the conversation further. She then pulled her eyes down to avoid showing any sign of any helplessness.

“Alright, let’s hurry. My body is cold and I don’t want to stay out that long.”

“Of course, don’t worry.”

Beatrice finally got what she wanted and smiled cutely as if she was never stubborn. With her arms crossed, they climbed onto the wagon she had been riding.

Erel kept looking around while being taken by her hand. However, Barkan’s man did not show a hint of his pink hair. As a result, nothing happened until she left the mansion in a carriage.

“Woo.”

Erel took a deep breath unconsciously. As fresh forest air came in through the wagon window, she felt strangely breathless.

Only then did Erel realize that she felt quite stuffy. Although her house was safe, her family tended to overprotect her. Staying 24 hours in that environment was more tiring than she thought.

“Look. You’re happy to be out, aren’t you?”

Beatrice sarcastically glanced at Erel’s cheerful face, but Erel didn’t mind her and laughed for the first time.

Beatrice stared at Erel’s smiling face with her cat-like eyes, she did not know what was on her mind.