Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: My Cozy Home #4
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Mirna Draco had a worry.
It concerned her very constitution.
She had twin younger sisters who were flawless enough to show off anywhere. Unlike other siblings, however, they shared one body between two minds.
Yes. Two personalities.
This was no ordinary matter.
Some called it a miracle from the God of Radiant Flame, but their father, Alesta, had wanted to keep it thoroughly hidden—and so it had remained.
As young children, Mirna and Narmi hadn’t understood why they had to conceal their sisterly bond. But as they grew older, they came to accept it.
Being unusual meant they might face rejection.
The Draco family already attracted all sorts of rumors. If word of the sisters’ bizarre structure got out, who knew what dagger-like words might wound them.
In truth, the reactions of those who learned of their special constitution were hurtful enough.
━Two personalities in one body? They must be cursed or something.
━No matter how devout, they still handle corpses. It’s punishment from the gods.
━Shh, they’ll hear you.
Whispers like that, whether subtle or overt—
━So, can you two have conversations with each other? What’s the principle behind sharing one body?
━I’m writing a paper on multiple personalities—mind if I interview you?
—or approaches driven purely by self-interest and curiosity.
In the end, the sisters had no choice but to hide from each other.
Naturally, this cast Narmi Draco, who had no claim over the body, into the shadows. The silver lining, though, was how well the sisters got along.
Perhaps it was inevitable, sharing one body as they did.
Even when the Draco household began collapsing under mysterious illnesses, the sisters could lean on each other and steel their resolve.
━Narmi, let’s revive House Draco together.
━Yeah!
But the sisters soon hit a wall. Reviving House Draco required outside help—a third party, unavoidably.
In other words, a son-in-law.
The God of Radiant Flame had designed the world for men and women to pair up, prosper, and flourish.
Yet for Mirna and Narmi—or Narmi and Mirna—finding a match was twice as hard as for ordinary girls.
He had to suit both their tastes and treat them without favoritism. It wasn’t easy.
━Miss Draco. I’m Chris, second son of Marquis Valhazak. Might I have a moment of your time...?
━I’m Mitahari, eldest son from the ducal house of Warkir Principality...
Still, as noble ladies of House Draco, they possessed flower-like beauty, drawing plenty of suitors and admirers.
The problem was that those men’s minds brimmed more with greed and desire for House Draco than for the sisters themselves.
━How much wealth does House Draco hold?
━Do you own any elephants?
Even the sons of high noble houses, who already had plenty and no need for more, proved no different.
The higher the status, the more they saw the Draco sisters as mere tools for climbing socially and seizing power.
Pathetic nobles.
Lowering their gaze to commoners without talent or ability was out of the question.
Most lacked even basic education.
It was on one such stagnant, declining day for the family’s revival that Mirna Draco discovered a promising rough gem.
━Miss Mirna, a pleasure. I’m—
His name was Theo Gospel.
The surname Gospel suggested an orphan without parents or backing.
Yet rumors swirled that this oddity clutched the collar of the tyrannical Queen Aira without flinching.
In person, he was more thoughtful and composed than most nobles. No ugliness matching the tales, either.
Above all, Mirna liked how smitten he seemed with her.
Smitten enough to challenge Professor Ballan—the black mage nearing 5th circle—purely out of devotion to her.
If scored, he barely passed.
But when he learned of her constitution, Mirna tensed at how he might change.
Tension? Why would I?
Mirna refused to admit she felt nervous over some orphan commoner.
Hadn’t the Draco family always stood tall even before Demon King Solomon?
Yet she couldn’t help it.
Theo Gospel’s reaction wasn’t contempt or curiosity. It was pure nothing. Her unusual constitution elicited no response at all.
Just that the meat was tasty.
“So, what do you think?”
Mirna asked again.
She hated showing her impatience, but it was her sister Narmi exposing her inner thoughts.
Theo was the first man she’d gone this far for, leaving even Mirna unsure what was right or wrong amid the confusion.
“Tell me, Theo Gospel!”
Her impatience mounting, the sister in the mirror spoke up, as if sensing it.
━Sis, just talk to him already!
* * *
“What was that?”
I stared at the empty seat Mirna had abruptly vacated, touching my face in bewilderment.
She’d screamed, spittle flying onto my face. Needed wiping.
Anyway, Mirna had grabbed a hand mirror and bolted.
Her absence was a boon for me, too.
Time to decide my approach.
This dinner felt pivotal. My actions here could shape future relations.
Even Mirna, showing that much emotion.
The sisters’ bond ran deeper with feelings than I’d imagined.
Of course it did.
They were each other’s only family left in the world.
Inseparable, sharing a body.
They’d likely endured hardships from their condition—strange stares, glares. Definitely.
Perhaps they even harbored an inferiority complex, unfit for their station.
To me, though, their constitution was special but not freakish.
In this world without advanced psychiatry, maybe different. But dual personalities or dissociative identity disorder weren’t unknown to me—just unfamiliar.
Of course, theirs seemed like two souls intermingled, distinct from those.
Point is, it was just intriguing.
“I’m in no position to call anyone strange.”
Truth be told, I’d been through something grander.
My soul inhabited a body from another world entirely.
Possession, basically.
By rarity or severity, wasn’t I the weirder one?
If my secret got out, Mirna might crack my skull open. She’d think me the freak.
Realizing that, I grasped the courage it took to bare such a secret.
Mirna had mustered tremendous resolve to reveal herself.
What answer would I want in her shoes?
Then Mirna Draco returned to the table, hand mirror in hand, and sat. Ahem—she cleared her throat, her excitement evidently settled.
“I showed you something embarrassing, commoner.”
“No. It’s fine.”
“As you see, my sister and I are a bit... unusual. Fascinating, right? I won’t ask you to understand. Just—”
Mirna paused. Her eyes slid shut. She stayed silent for a stretch.
Glancing at the mirror, I saw Narmi shrug at me.
Figure it out yourself?
Tricky.
Felt like a formal meeting of families. Was that how they went?
I racked my brain for words Mirna Draco would accept.
She was devout. Religious framing might work.
“Miss Mirna, do you know of divine providence?”
“Divine providence?”
Her red eyes narrowed thinly. Go on, it said. I continued softly.
“Everything in this world has reason and purpose. To me, the reason the Draco sisters live with such unique traits must hold some meaning.”
“You mean the God of Radiant Flame intends something? What do you think it is?”
“Who knows. I can’t say. Like an ant grasping an elephant, how could a mere creation fathom such heights? But—”
But.
I paused there.
Dramatic effect.
Important words need that beat.
“But what?”
Mirna was hooked.
Her pre-meal prayers suggested she enjoyed faith-based talk.
“But since there are two of you, pondering together should reveal the answer swiftly. Truth is simple, after all.”
“Falsehoods complicate; truth simplifies.”
“Exactly.”
“Hmm—”
Mirna hummed thoughtfully, then asked, surprised.
“Theo Gospel. Never expected such words from you. I don’t recall seeing you pray or attend services.”
“Looks can deceive. I’m church-raised.”
Lucky the Church of Radiant Flame’s doctrine mirrored my old one. And my words rang true, spoken to myself too.
I believed all events, causes held purpose.
My plight included. I trusted that.
Finding it was my role. Might take a lifetime. Purpose keeps one from straying.
“Passable, Theo Gospel. Rough, but sincere.”
With that, Mirna ended the meal. She downed her red wine, wiped her lips with a napkin.
“Shall we stroll and discuss our faiths?”
Faith talk? Pass.
“......”
Rolling my eyes, I caught Narmi smiling, thumbs-up. I’d navigated the hurdle.
* * *
The afternoon sun had been scorching; the evening breeze in the mansion garden now chilled sharply.
Yet moonlight over the graves, flowers blooming thick—that held charm.
The Draco garden’s rear, once packed with tombs, now brimmed with beautiful flowers, shovels, seeds—like a nascent garden.
Patchy in spots, but vastly improved from the grave-choked days.
Imagining Narmi tending flowers nightly instead of graves? Utterly satisfying.
“Revamping the garden will keep you busy.”
“But come this time next year, it’ll bloom incomparably lovelier. So we must tend it well from now. This is just the start.”
“House Draco starts anew, too?”
Mirna halted, staring. Had I misspoke? I scratched my head sheepishly.
“I know single-handed revival’s grueling. Let’s encourage each other.”
Same boat, reviving Angmar alone. Tough road—I got it, so Mirna sympathized. She chuckled.
“Encourage each other? Proposing now?”
“Uh...”
Not intended, but that’s how it landed? Dodging her gaze, I met her red eyes.
Mirna stared back. Wine from dinner flushed her cheeks rosy.
“Theo Gospel, we’re exactly the same height. Eyes level. Like mirrors.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“You said all things hold providence. Our matching heights—creator’s intent?”
Her question carried mischief, testing if I’d falter.
I countered playfully.
“Maybe calibrated for easy kissing?”
“Kissing—?”
Mirna flustered hard.
Her already flushed face turned crimson; she trembled, at a loss.
“Such irreverent thoughts, Theo Gospel. Disappointing. Insulting.”
Moonlit flowers, devout noble lady blushing shyly. Romantic, no?
Narmi wanted her first kiss here. Sister Mirna too?
The thought entranced me; I approached as if compelled.
Before Mirna could react, my hand lightly circled her waist, lips meeting hers.
“What—mmph.”
Her soft lips parted to speak; mine sealed them.