EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 103

Chapter 103

 

Whether it was because of the harshly shouted words that hurt her, or because she was simply startled by Ascart, who was usually quiet, suddenly raising his voice…

Clara widened her eyes, then immediately started sobbing sorrowfully.

As her cries grew louder, threatening to seep through the door, Countess Amber, who roamed the Grand Duke’s castle as if she owned the place, barged in at once.

Inside the Grand Princess’s room, which had been regarded almost as a sanctuary were…

Scattered clothes and accessories.

And Clara, wearing them.

Without needing any further explanation, the Countess instantly grasped the situation and shouted,

⟨Even if my sister is in no state to manage things, I am still your aunt, and Clara is your younger sister. And yet, you treat us like this? Is this what you were taught by His Highness the Grand Duke?⟩

The Countess erupted in fury at Ascart, pushing him to apologize.

Ascart wanted to tell Clara to apologize first for barging into his younger sister’s room without permission, but seeing the castle servants all gathered outside the door, he shut his mouth.

For the first time in his life, he, who had been born the noble son of a grand duchy, experienced the feeling of humiliation.

Moreover, Clara’s… the sound of the young girl sobbing as if she could hardly breathe sent a cold sweat running down his back.

He feared that his mother, who already woke up from nightmares every night, would hear this crying too.

⟨I… I was wrong. So please, stop crying… Please.⟩

In the end, Ascart swallowed his pride and apologized to Clara.

But when Clara smiled and said,

⟨It’s okay, Brother. I forgive you.⟩

He thought to himself once again.

That girl is not my sister.

 

***

 

That evening, thanks to the Countess making a big fuss, the Grand Duke, who had been secluded in his study, came looking for Ascart.

After hearing the entire story, his father remained silent for a moment. Instead of scolding or comforting him, he simply said, ‘I understand,’ and got up.

After that, magic was placed on the young Grand Princess’s room, preventing anyone except the Grand Duke, the Grand Duchess, and Ascart from entering.

He worried that the Countess and Clara would throw a fit, but surprisingly, they didn’t.

His father had appeased them by letting them buy as many clothes, shoes, and accessories as they wanted from the duchy’s boutiques and jewelers.

 

***

 

⟨The clothes were too big for me to wear anyway, so this is great. But still, I liked the hair ornament I saw last time better. Oh, and the tiara! Sigh… I wish I were the Grand Princess instead.⟩

Ascart overheard Clara’s voice as she spoke to her nanny while strolling through the garden.

At that moment, he realized—

Clara, who coveted his younger sister’s position, never wished for Adriana’s return.

His anger flared, and he wanted to confront her immediately, but he clenched his teeth and barely held himself back.

He didn’t want to stir up more trouble in the castle because of Clara again.

Even though he knew his father had no choice but to tolerate his mother’s family, he couldn’t help but resent him for it.

He had no idea where his missing sister was or how she was living.

Yet the girl who dared to covet her place was being pampered like a princess in the Grand Duke’s castle.

On top of that, Ascart was exhausted from constantly facing the Countess, who always made him look like a petty and cruel person.

So, after enrolling in the academy, he stopped returning to the duchy even during breaks.

He had things to do in the Empire, but more than that, he simply didn’t want to run into Clara or the Countess.

 

***

 

But that’s all over now.

He had been mentally preparing himself as the semester neared its end, but with the news that his parents would attend his graduation and his recent encounter with Lia, he had momentarily forgotten.

Just as his mood began to sink—

“I’ve never been on the Grand Duke’s ship before. It must be far more comfortable than any regular ship, right? After all, Uncle would have enchanted it himself.”

At Clara’s cheerful voice, Ascart’s head snapped up.

Even though he had heard her clearly, he couldn’t comprehend it.

As he stared at her with trembling eyes, Clara beamed at him.

“After your graduation, I’m going to Belus Duchy with you.”

“…What?”

“Winter isn’t the social season anyway, so it’s perfect. Don’t you think so?”

At that moment, Ascart’s face went pale.

“Why… you…?”

Words burned in his throat, but he couldn’t get them out.

He had disliked her before, but now, an indescribable disgust welled up inside him.

Crash!

Ascart shot up from his seat.

He didn’t care that the chair toppled over as he turned away.

By now, he had learned to smile and deliver sharp remarks when facing Clara. But this suffocating frustration was unbearable.

And at that moment, an image flashed in his mind—

A child smiling while holding the bouquet he had given her.

‘I should ask her to come with me.’

From the moment he reunited with Lia, Ascart had wanted to return to the duchy with her.

But he never asked.

Even after spending days with her, he never brought it up.

He didn’t want to burden the girl who was living peacefully in Duke Elard’s household with his selfishness.

But right now, Ascart was certain…

If Lia were with him, he could endure even the suffocating Grand Duke’s castle.

‘Just this once, I’ll be selfish. At the very least, I can ask. I’ll tell her she won’t have to do any servant work, that she can do whatever she wants… I’ll convince her…’

Even if she wasn’t the Grand Princess, he knew the girl had some fondness for him.

Holding onto that sliver of hope, Ascart hurriedly left the greenhouse, chasing after Lia, who had just left.

.

.

“…Hah.”

Once she was alone, Clara dropped the smile from her face the moment the greenhouse door closed.

For a 13-year-old girl, her expression was terrifyingly cold.

⟨When I look at you, I think of my lost sister.⟩

⟨If I had a younger sister, would it have felt like this?⟩

She couldn’t even let out a hollow laugh.

At first, she thought she had misheard, but seeing him chase after her with such a pale face, she realized she wasn’t mistaken.

“Is he crazy?”

She knew well that Ascart didn’t see her as his younger sister. In fact, she was aware that he outright disliked her.

That was fine.

The moment she accepted that the only sister he acknowledged was the lost Grand Princess, the young Clara, who once sincerely wanted to follow Ascart as her older brother, disappeared.

Even so, Clara had tried to understand. He must be worried about his sister. Besides, she herself had nothing in common with Ascart—neither hair color, nor eye color, nor even facial features.

But…

“Why is he like that with her?”

That maid was no more similar to Ascart than Clara was.

With the Grand Duchess’s pale pink hair and deep pink eyes, that maid didn’t resemble her in the slightest.

If anything, Clara shared more similarities with that maid. At the very least, they both had brown hair.

Even her (Clara’s) teal-colored eyes bore some resemblance to her grandfather’s…

“I won’t let this slide.”

With jealous eyes, Clara reached out and crushed a lush pink rose that had bloomed out of season.

 

***

 

‘Did they have a fight?’

Hurriedly stepping out of the greenhouse, I glanced back and tilted my head in confusion.

Back at the imperial palace, when Clara introduced herself as Ascart’s sister, I had simply assumed they got along well.

But despite the bright smile on their faces, the sharp words they exchanged made me rethink that assumption.

At the same time, I found it odd.

Even to me, a mere maid, Ascart was always kind so why did he treat his cousin that way?

‘I thought he was just naturally kind and gentle.’

Honestly, I was surprised. And it left me with a strange feeling.

As I kept walking, I unconsciously brought a hand to my chest.

My heart felt oddly restless, as if it were stirring uncomfortably.

‘Is it because of what Ascart said?’

I had been too shocked to say anything at the time, but even recalling it now left me just as bewildered.

And on top of that…

“Why am I like this?”

I quickly covered my mouth with the back of my hand, feeling as though I might burst into tears at any moment.

It was the same as last time.

Whenever Ascart smiled brightly, I couldn’t help but smile too. Whenever he looked sorrowful, I felt incredibly downhearted.

And when he was in pain…

‘It feels like I’m about to cry.’

I had no idea why I was feeling this way.

I had experienced something vaguely similar while watching Diana, but never this intensely.

I decided I needed to return to my room and think things through.

But just as I made up my mind…

Thud!

Lost in thought, I had walked straight ahead without looking—making a mistake I normally never would.

I had suddenly crashed into something hard, like a solid rock, and fell backward.

‘Did I just run into a wall?’

The thought of making such a ridiculously foolish mistake was embarrassing enough, but I was even more worried that someone might have witnessed it.

I hurriedly turned my head from side to side—then froze.

Lined up as if greeting their master, the servants of the marquis’ household were staring down at me, their faces deathly pale.

Gulp.

Slowly, I lifted my head forward and immediately froze.

Unlike in my memory, where his hair had been entirely white, now it was only streaked with silver.

Sky-blue hair and clear teal eyes came into view.

“Ah…”

Realizing that I hadn’t crashed into a stone wall but rather into the leg of Marquis Diapel, my eyes widened.

“Grandpa! Are you ok?”

Hello everyone! I am Alaa, the new translator of this novel. This novel was suggested to me by Jean and this chapter and the next 10 or so are sponsored by her. Thanks for the Kofi, dear (⁠｡⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠｡⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠♡

If you find any typos or mistakes, please do inform me!