Chapter 221
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 221
“Adel, Adel! Look at this. I have nine medals now.”
I spun around in place with a triumphant expression.
“My lady, please stop spinning. You’ll get dizzy.”
Adel quickly caught my hand, though she couldn't hide her proud smile.
“It suits you so well. I never imagined you would pull off the Grand Princess’s uniform so perfectly...”
As a sentimental Adel began to tear up, the sound of someone sprinting echoed from far down the hallway.
The speed was comparable to a hound charging forward...
“Whoa! They say clothes make the woman! Brother, look at her! She finally looks like a sister I wouldn't be embarrassed to claim in public!”
Leon Frezier, having arrived with the speed of a gale, circled around me in admiration.
“Gah!”
Just as Leon clutched his solar plexus, Lisian walked up and greeted me.
“Tulia.”
“Brother! Did you sleep well?”
“Yes.”
I smiled at Lisian, but then I noticed the maids exchanging meaningful glances.
If I were to translate those looks, they would be:
‘Hey. There’s a insanely handsome man passing by fifty meters ahead.’
‘Crazy! He’s not just handsome, he’s on another level!’
The reason the maids were exchanging such intense looks, unlike their usual selves, was because of the twins' attire.
For the ennoblement of the Grand Princess, they had also taken great care to dress formally. Leon Frezier, in particular, seemed to have captured the hearts of many maids.
‘Well, Lisian is always neat, but Leon is usually like a wild colt. Seeing him all dressed up is a rare sight.’
Looking at Leon Frezier, whose raven-black hair was neatly swept back, I thought:
‘I guess a man’s exterior really is that important!’
“Tulia Frezier.”
Leon Frezier immediately struck an arrogant pose.
“You look totally smitten. I guess I really am too perfect and dashing today.”
‘Begone, superficial shell...’
I immediately shook my head vigorously.
“Get a grip, Leon Frezier. Brother Lisian is incomparably cooler than you.”
“You’re really discriminating again, aren’t you?”
Leon Frezier glared at me, but I didn't care.
“You’re the... prettiest, Tulia.”
“You look like an archangel, Brother. Let’s go.”
I gave Lisian a beaming smile and held out my hand.
Lisian blinked, then broke into a smile so deep his dimples showed.
I couldn't tell if it was that rare, winter-fairy-like silver hair that was a cheat, or if it was his absolute beauty.
Or perhaps it was just the buff of being the true male lead. My vision was so dazzled I could hardly keep my senses.
“Congratulations... on your ennoblement.”
With a gentle voice, Lisian bowed slightly.
His posture—one hand behind his back and the other extended like a gentleman—was so perfect it could have been in a textbook.
A balanced face and eyes filled with soft affection.
‘His face is truly insane.’
If the sun were to disappear from the world today, couldn't we just hang Lisian’s face in the sky...?
At the very least, isn't that a brilliant appearance that would allow women to endure the bitter cold...?
It wasn't an exaggeration to say he had captured the hearts of almost every woman here in an instant.
“Brother Lisian,” I said solemnly, with a heart full of worship. “The person who marries you will be the happiest person in the world.”
“I also...”
“Hmm?”
“When I look... at you.”
Lisian smiled warmly.
“I think... the same thing, Tulia.”
“...!”
“Let’s go.”
I followed beside Lisian like someone intoxicated, unable to snap out of it.
‘Sigh. The Corico in <The Milk Bread> must have had it good.’
She got to monopolize a man like this through real love, not some forbidden romance.
“No, seriously, this is ridiculous.”
I heard a low growl from beside me. Leon Frezier snatched my other hand and threw a tantrum.
“I’m your flesh and blood too, you know? Is it fun to just isolate me? Huh?”
“Be quiet. And I have a higher rank than you now, don't I? Use formal speech with me from now on.”
“What? Wow.”
Leon Frezier looked truly wronged.
“You didn't say that to Brother! What’s the difference between him and me? Huh?”
“Brother Lisian is a gentleman.”
“And me?”
“My... underling?”
“Hey!”
We went downstairs, laughing together.
In the Great Hall, the servants were already lined up in attendance.
“Tulia. The uniform suits you very well.”
“Thank you, Grand Duke.”
As Grandfather laughed heartily, Father stroked my hair from beside him.
I offered a few compliments to Father as well, then shifted my gaze. It was because of the clicking sound of approaching heels.
“You’ve come, Hyasin... Corico.”
“Grandfather. Corico is here.”
Corico bowed her head, looking a bit thinner than before.
“There is no need for such a greeting. Come down.”
“Yes.”
Grandfather had granted me the title of Grand Princess and had agreed to change Corico’s name to Corico, but his affection for his deceased eldest daughter’s child was sincere.
Because of that, Corico’s dress had become much more lavish, and I heard that many gifts had been sent in the Family Head’s name.
If Corico had truly been the daughter of my late aunt, Hyacinthia, Grandfather’s heartbreak would have been less severe.
If that were the case, I wouldn't have even asked Grandfather to change her name.
‘Of course, the title of Grand Princess... honestly, I was greedy for it, so it might have been hard to give up.’
After all, I was now higher in rank than my father, who was a Marquis!
Thinking of the stipend and territory that came with it, I, the incarnation of greed, simply couldn't help myself.
More than anything.
“Tulia-onni is being escorted by the brothers. Then I...”
Corico’s eyes turned toward Father and Grandfather. But Father didn't seem to care at all.
Right, that was just how Father was. Grandfather cleared his throat.
‘He’s probably worried that people will gossip if he escorts Corico during my ennoblement ceremony.’
Meanwhile, Tedric was following from a distance, looking anxious, like a high-ranking servant.
It seemed Corico didn't rely on Tedric as much as I thought.
‘It’s only natural, I suppose.’
The most harmonious sight here would be for me to offer one of the twins—or generously, both—to Corico.
So, I approached her.
“Corico.”
According to Adel, the maids assigned to Corico pitied her and treated her very well. Indeed, she was perfectly groomed without a single flaw.
Corico, with Han Ina’s face, looked at me. She didn't look at me with those inorganic eyes like she did that day. I held out my hand and spoke.
“I’ll escort you. Let’s go.”
“Pardon? Ah...”
I took Corico’s hand and walked forward. Leon watched me like a dog that had lost its bone, while Lisian simply wore a smile.
Father looked a bit displeased, while Grandfather had a faint, proud look in his eyes.
“Your hands are cold.”
“Ah... It’s probably because I put my hands in cold water a lot when I was young...”
“It’s like a corpse’s.”
“...”
“Just kidding. Look ahead. We have to walk.”
Corico, who had been following silently, called out to me.
“Sister.”
It was a very small, low voice.
“Do others know you bully me like this?”
My steps slowed for a moment, and then I looked back at her. It was still awkward.
When would the face of Han Ina that Corico was wearing finally be stripped away?
‘No, will it ever be stripped away?’
“Of course they don't.”
I also whispered very softly.
“I’m bullying you secretly like this, so how could they know?”
“...”
“Let’s go. You’re the Saintess, aren't you? The High Priests will be sad if you’re late.”
“...Yes, Tulia-onni.”
I turned my gaze forward, reflecting on the text I had seen earlier.
Name: Corico
Age: Unmeasurable
Feature: Wearing your mask.
Reason: To kill you and become you.