Chapter 24
24
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When tears welled up in Beatrice's green eyes, I was so flustered that I almost confessed it was all a pretense.
Thankfully, someone knocked on the door at that moment.
—Knock, knock.
As soon as Beatrice wiped away her tears and stood up, Icarus appeared in the doorway.
"Um, Maid..."
"Sir Chenelli!"
She ran to him almost colliding, causing Icarus to flinch and step back.
"H-How... How did this happen? I didn't receive any notice, but you've been sick again since yesterday...? Really, is it some kind of poisoning...?"
Icarus must have known all the details since Rosa started faking her illness yesterday.
That's why, unlike Beatrice, he answered with a calm face.
"The Royal physician says it doesn't seem to be poisoning. Grand Duke ordered an inspection of the food ingredients, and spoiled ingredients were found in the kitchen."
"Spoiled ingredients? Are you saying Your Highness ate them?"
While I watched with interest, Icarus continued to explain.
"No. Your Highness didn't eat them, but they were stored nearby... The servant in charge of that area will probably not be able to avoid responsibility."
It seemed Rosa was framing another innocent Royal physician.
I sighed in frustration.
"Haa."
Hearing that sound, a smile formed on Icarus's lips.
Beatrice looked suspiciously back and forth between Icarus and me before asking.
"Then you're not very... very sick, are you?"
"Yes, Maid. You'll be better with a few days of rest."
Only then did Beatrice nod.
"Thank you, Sir Chenelli. But Grand Duke must still be upset..."
This time, even Icarus couldn't bring himself to say it was alright and remained silent.
'That Rosa...'
In my mind, I cursed Rosa with all sorts of harsh words.
That Rosa, not only pretended to be sick but also pushed away her father and acted shy.
'I finally melted his heart...'
He must be disappointed again?
What should I do? Should I make an excuse that I was irritable because I wasn't feeling well?
'Then what am I going to do tomorrow!'
Ah, I just want to tell him everything!
'Dad, I'm actually a twin. The mean one is my sister, and I wasn't like that.'
It would be nice to confess like that, but the secret of the oracle that Mother received had to be kept.
'The existence of the oracle may be revealed after the child's Divinity is manifested.'
Okay, let's just be patient...
Just a little more patience, Lilin.
'Until Divinity appears...'
As I stroked Yan, making up my mind, he flipped over on his back.
He was showing his belly as usual.
"...Do you want me to 'hoo' again?"
—Peeeeeep...
His cry sounded particularly plaintive today.
'He's just acting like a master...'
I had no choice but to heal (?) Yan again while Beatrice watched with tears in her eyes.
It was originally the time for me to pay my respects, but Mother came to see me.
It was the first time in my life that I had ever faked an illness.
'Ugh, how embarrassing...'
But Mother only smiled as if she had resigned herself.
After Mother sent Beatrice out, she held my hand tightly.
"...You were having a hard time because Rosa kept taking the lessons, so you were only reviewing?"
That wasn't the only reason for my pretense, but most of the many reasons were actually things that hadn't happened yet.
'I can't tell her all that...'
When I just nodded, Mother shook her head.
"Yes, I understand your feelings. I'll try to persuade Rosa again tomorrow."
Then Mother glanced at Yan and asked.
"By the way, baby, has the bird always answered so well?"
"At first..."
I swallowed hard.
I was cautious, wondering if there was a trap in Mother's question that I hadn't noticed.
Because of Rosa, Mother wanted to keep Yan away from me.
"I wuz vewy sick... So he wuz quiet."
When I answered truthfully, Mother asked again.
"So he started answering like that after he got a little better?"
I nodded silently.
"Yesterday, the bird came to the Main Palace by himself. Did our baby let him go?"
When I nodded again, Mother continued.
"Father... says the bird seems to be a Magical creature of Shamash."
I asked cautiously.
"...Is Daddy wight? Is Yan a Magical creature? Can I keep taking care of Yan?"
Mother hesitated for a moment and then asked back.
"Yan, would it be okay if Mommy talked to you?"
When I looked at Yan at that question, he nodded instead of me.
Mother asked clearly, as if talking to a baby.
"Yan. Could you comfort Rosa? Rosa is Lilin's sister... She's very jealous that you only stay by her sister's side."
But Yan turned his head so sharply that the sound of wind could be heard, rejecting Mother's request.
I don't know the exact reason why Yan hates Rosa, but anyway, it was fortunate.
'Rosa will definitely harass Yan.'
So I intervened as if taking Yan's side.
"Mommy, but Sister hates him... Sister is just mad about the kitten..."
After closing my eyes tightly once, I even added firmly.
"And the kitten isn't an impowtant animal. Not a Magical creature, and it even hawashes Magical creatures."
"Lilin, my baby."
Mother gently stroked the back of my hand that she was holding.
"The smarter you are, the more a Magical creature chooses you, the more you must embrace your sister. You are the younger sister, but you must take care of your sister."
Suddenly, joy bloomed in my heart.
'Before, Rosa must have heard these words.'
That's why she pretended to be so considerate of me in front of my parents.
"I have to admit that you are a special child. But baby, you are both equally precious to me. Just as the left and right hands are both mine, you are both my daughters."
But this was actually the will of God.
'The will of God, who said that both twins must be saved and raised.'
Mother continued to urge.
"So try not to clash with Rosa as much as possible. The more she realizes that you are so special, the more sensitive Rosa will be. Understand her, who can't help but be like that."
Frankly, I couldn't help but laugh.
Understand?
'Rosa?'
What choice did Rosa make after realizing my specialness?
She deceived me and deceived everyone so that no one would know that specialness.
Before anyone could even notice that specialness, she trapped me and killed me.
'Even if I'm born again, I won't understand Rosa.'
But there were still more than enough reasons to be a daughter that Mother liked.
"Okay, Mommy."
When I told an unwilling lie, Mother hugged me with a moved face.
"Thank you, baby. Mommy is so grateful."
Mother hugged me for a long time and then placed a few medicine packets on the table.
"You have to take your medicine well after your meal. I'll send you some candy to eat after you take it."
Why suddenly take medicine?
Mother must have replaced the medicine that Rosa received for pretending to be sick with something else.
I smiled innocently, pretending not to know.
"Chocowate pwease."
But before leaving the room, Mother unexpectedly added.
"Oh, Marquess Hestia said he wanted to visit you. I've allowed it for now, but do you want to meet him? You can be honest if you don't want to. I can convey your greetings instead."
"Um..."
I thought of Gray.
Also, the blue eyes that stared intently at my nonchalant wrist.
'He must be worried, since he heard that I collapsed as soon as I received the gift he sent.'
I managed to answer, hiding a groan.
"Yeah, it's okay. I wike him."
After breakfast, Silvia and Father visited me in turn.
I didn't know what to do with the teacher's worried face.
'Rosa must have acted quite well...'
Father once again avoided my eyes and reduced his words.
'There's no way if Rosa is so uncooperative...'
If she changed her mind every other day, anyone would think it was strange.
'I'd better not get too close to Father until Divinity appears.'
I was feeling a little depressed because of that, but then I heard a knock again.
—Knock, knock.
When Beatrice got up and opened the door, golden hair fluttered behind a large bouquet of flowers.
"Your Highness. I heard you allowed me to visit... May I come in?"
