Chapter 602
Chapter 602
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 602
Chapter Title: Back to Daily Life (2)
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1.
"We'll let you pick and wear whatever you want from here from now on too..."
"Break up with the Assistant."
The twins casually voiced their conditions.
Lurye was outraged at the twins, who stuffed cake into her mouth only to yank it out right away while demanding such an outrageous trade.
Abandon the empire's letter for the freedom to wear a few outfits?
If that was the case, she shouldn't have shown them in the first place.
It was an exchange ratio she could never accept.
"Don't talk nonsense! Do you think I'd yield to such a vile bargain? How dare you..."
"Fine? Then let's go with a different condition."
"How about no magic when fighting us?"
Before Lurye could fully unleash her anger, the twins swiftly changed their demand.
They hadn't expected Lurye to accept the first one anyway.
""Swear it on your witch's name.""
In unison, they thrust their pinkies right in front of Lurye's nose.
It was a strategy: throw out an absurd condition first, then follow up with a lighter one to make negotiation easier.
"You're the 23rd Hierarchy, and we're just Apprentice Witches."
"Competitions have to be fair."
"Ha."
Lurye snorted briefly, flustered by the abrupt topic shift but quick to recover.
Now she saw the full picture of why these pint-sized twin sisters had suddenly started flaunting clothes and making a fuss.
These two were scared stiff in advance.
"Make the competition fair? How adorably you're scheming. Are you that afraid of me? If you're scared, you can forfeit. Admitting defeat and fleeing before an overwhelming gap in power is hardly shameful."
In just a month, Lurye would regain her full strength.
They'd just cowardly ganged up 2-on-1 to suppress her, but soon the tables would turn completely.
"Why don't you two give up on Si-woo and hand this dressing room over to me? I'll show mercy then. I never forget grudges. I'll make sure to repay what you did—suppressing me and tickling me without permission—with interest."
In short, the side proposing a truce first in war was the one sweating bullets.
And Lurye's guess was close to the truth.
From the twins' perspective, Lurye was a new dark horse.
She might look pathetic at first glance, but she was an exile carrying the lineage of an ancient witch.
The other three competitors wouldn't resort to brute force, but Lurye was an unpredictable wild card.
Of course, with their solid backing, the twins wouldn't swing wildly, but they wanted at least some safety measures in place.
"You must really lack confidence."
"You're scared, so scared."
Lurye smirked, certain of her advantage, when an irrefutable retort hit her.
"Scared? Nonsense. Who's the one scared here—you two."
"We're not scared at all."
"You're the one trying to win with magic because you lack confidence."
The twins took turns unleashing their tirade.
"You can be honest. There's no way I can beat you with charm alone."
"So you'll brute-force it with magic to seize his love."
"Nonsense! I'm on a far higher level than you even in charm!"
"Then why do you hate the no-magic condition?"
"You said you're way higher even in charm anyway?"
In truth, whether it was fair competition or not, the side holding more advantages had no reason to relinquish them willingly.
The twins' "no-magic-during-combat" ploy was a childish provocation and utter nonsense.
"So we can only think you lack confidence."
"You call yourself a queen and all, but really, you're afraid of us?"
Provocations only work at the right level.
And the twins' immature, dual-pronged taunt was tailor-made to hit Lurye right where it hurt.
But the twins' scheme didn't end there.
Odil's violet eyes locked straight onto Lurye's wavering gaze.
"If you want to deny it, take this dress and those shoes, swear on your witch's name, and promise not to use magic in competitions with us."
"Sis! Hold on! Isn't this too disadvantageous for us? You're giving her a golden chance to prove her confidence in charm by forgoing magic, plus a pretty dress and shoe set!"
Odet flailed dramatically beside her, stirring the pot.
"And look at this dress—noble royal blue! The lace meticulously embroidered by artisans on the sleeves adds even more elegance!"
"Hmm... It really suits her well. Even that tacky dress looks decent on her. Pair it with shoes that accentuate her swan-like legs, and she'll soak up tons of the Assistant's love."
True to their inseparable bond since birth, their impromptu acting was seamless—rivaling top-paid show hosts in perfect back-and-forth.
"Sis, trading just giving up magic for a weapon like this might put us at a disadvantage. She'll look like a real queen."
"Odet, you're right. Lurye, was it? No trade..."
Whoosh—Lurye's hand blurred with afterimages, snatching the dress and shoes from Odil's hands in an instant.
Of course, they'd been holding them loosely on purpose to make it easy.
"Too late."
Lurye beamed triumphantly at the twins.
Listening quietly, it seemed like a pure win for her.
"I swear on the great name of Nukelabi. When we tussle over him, I won't use magic. But this alone isn't enough. I'll forgive your tickling offense if you let me browse a few more outfits."
She swiftly swore before they could back out.
"Great? Then let's look around more."
"Want to see a dress for tonight's dinner?"
"Uh, yeah...?"
The twins' reaction to achieving their goal was far from Lurye's expectations.
She'd snapped up their botched condition—they should be furious or despairing.
Yet they grinned slyly, just as planned, and draped their arms cozily around her shoulders.
"You swore on your witch's name, right?"
"You know what happens if you break it?"
"And no revenge for the tickling—that was on your witch's name too?"
"Sis, let's get a written pledge too."
But pointing that out was impossible with the tantalizing pile of treasures right before her eyes.
The twins and Lurye differed sharply in body types, but it wasn't a big issue.
"Ooh, how about this one?"
"Perfect! You could model it right now!"
"What about this?"
"Aaaah! The queen's dignity is too dazzling!"
"Um hahaha! Is it that good?"
The dressing room brimmed with so many outfits, after all.
"This one's too tight..."
"Corsets are snug by design. But it slims your waist. Odet, grab that side."
"Pull on three, sis! Three!"
"Guhhh! My guts are spilling out...!"
For Lurye, trying on heaps of pretty clothes.
For the twins, doll-playing with a responsive Lurye after hitting their goal.
It was a fun time for everyone, they say.
2.
A joyful dinner celebrating Si-woo's safe return.
The count's family dining hall overflowed with the aromas of exquisite delicacies.
There were nine participants in total.
After four hours ogling clothes with the twins, Lurye was famished, and the array of unfamiliar Gehenna cuisine kept her salivary glands working overtime.
She bombarded the now-friendly twins with questions while piling food onto her plate.
"Your submarine doesn't have stuff like this, right?"
"Hmph, even so, no one beats Akula in seafood. My kingdom has Chef Anastasia."
"Really? Cook for me next visit."
"Of course. I never forget grudges, but I repay lavish hospitality just as faithfully."
Si-woo, her protector, relaxed seeing Lurye bond well with the new twin friends.
But Al bireo's brow furrowed like a crumpled napkin.
"Your glass is empty. Let me pour."
"No, thank you. I've had plenty."
"I insist."
"Ah... Thank you."
Because Deneb, who should be at the host's seat, was glued to Si-woo's side instead, serving him food.
The others, excluding the chattering trio of twins and Lurye, gawked in stunned silence at the bizarre scene.
Normally, Deneb would nag Si-woo endlessly about table manners during meals.
'Utensils from the outside in!'
'Who blows on soup to cool it? Stir it with your spoon!'
'Who's holding the knife like that? Look at our twins—how sharp and elegant they eat!'
Since etiquette mattered and everyone knew why Deneb scolded Si-woo, they'd brushed it off.
But now...
"Si-woo, try this. Chicken sauté with orange liqueur."
"Ah, thank you, Deneb."
"How is it?"
"Delicious."
This.
Did she look like a newlywed bride eager to feed her husband every dish? Was that too much imagination?
Of course, bonds formed from their aquarium ordeal—comradeship in battle—and Si-woo's risking danger in her stead warranted gratitude.
If Deneb's change was thanks, it wasn't entirely out of left field.
Everyone nodded along and focused on their meals, but it struck Al bireo differently.
She alone knew the aquarium events weren't just "battle."
Even trusting Deneb's judgment or dismissing her suspicions as hasty...
"Hehe, right? I cooked it myself for once."
"Ah, yeah. You're a great cook."
"Tell me if you want more. Oh, try this too?"
Watching that eroded a century of trust in Deneb.
Come to think of it...
Al bireo scanned the room anew.
Sharon, eyeing Deneb and Si-woo suspiciously.
Amelia, dining like a noble etiquette textbook, without flaw.
Tiferet Duke, sipping wine and slowly getting tipsy.
Odil and Odet, picking out veggies and dumping them on Lurye's plate.
Lurye, dutifully chowing down the veggie mountain without complaint.
Deneb, eyes never leaving Si-woo.
A chill ran down her spine.
She'd realized something terrifying.
Every woman here had shared her body with Si-woo in some way.
Except Al bireo.
"I'll excuse myself first. Enjoy the meal."
She'd known he had many lovers, but seeing it so starkly hit home.
Vowing to lecture Deneb later, Al bireo left the dining hall first.
"I need to keep my wits about me..."
Today too, her incompetent son-in-law deepened Al bireo's worries.