#.18
The restaurant Marius had reserved was a place that provided private rooms for security and privacy. Alice meticulously reviewed the documents Marius handed her.
“The marriage maintenance period is ten years from the day of the imperial marriage. The compensation and benefits related to this are outlined in the documents, and-“
Alice interrupted him firmly.
“Add one more condition regarding the healing through divine power.”
“What kind of condition?”
“My younger sibling is a scholar who researches various things. According to them, attempts could be made through magic as well. So, allow a mage tower lord or a magician of equivalent skill to research and treat Liliana’s condition.”
“I’ll need to discuss that part with François Cassel separately. I’ll contact the mage tower lord today and get back to you in a day. Can you wait until then?”
“Alright. Also, specify that during the marriage period, my family can reside in the Empire at any time without requiring permission or approval.”
“Thorough, aren’t you? I’ll include that as well. Anything else?”
Instead of answering hastily, Alice re-examined the contract. She checked it repeatedly and, finding no additional points to address, asked Marius.
“Does His Majesty have anything to add?”
“Me?”
Marius smiled broadly, seemingly amused by her question, and shrugged.
“What more could I ask for when I have Alice by my side?”
Alice clicked her tongue lightly, finding his answer overly sentimental, and missed the strange flicker in his gaze. It was a fleeting mix of darkness and seriousness, faint enough to require focused attention to notice. However, Marius erased that obscure emotion with a playful smile, as if wiping it away.
***
It was late evening when my younger unnie and I finally returned home. When we opened the front door, we found our eldest unnie and second unnie talking. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t even glance at me as I entered.
“I’m home!”
Clutching jelly in one hand, I ran into the living room, only to hear my older unnie yelling from behind.
“Wash your hands first!”
“Alright, alright.”
After washing my hands and roughly drying them on my clothes, I noticed something I had missed earlier: Leopold was there in the living room. At the same time, my second unnie beckoned to my younger unnie.
“Emilia, come here and greet Mr. Leo. Leopold, this is my twin sister, Emilia.”
Sensing an unusual atmosphere, I clutched Jelly tightly and hurried to stand beside my eldest unnie.
“Leopold von Baltrahein. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m Emilia. What brings you to our house? Oh, I heard you helped search for Lilliana when she went missing. Thank you for that. You came at the perfect time-“
“That’s not why he’s here. Emilia, listen. Starting today, Leo and I have decided to date.”
“A long-distance relationship?”
“No. I’m going to the Empire as well.”
“What?”
I couldn’t help but let out a strange sound. I still didn’t know whether I should be happy or concerned about my second unnie going to the Empire with him. My eldest unnie sighed deeply beside me, holding her forehead, as if she had already discussed this with our second unnie.
Looking at our youngest unnie, whose face was turning red with frustration, I quickly covered both my ears with my palms. At that very moment, she let out a shout.
“Regina Berchio, have you lost your mind?”
“Emilia, lower your voice. I’m not deaf.”
“Why on earth are you planning to go to the Empire?”
“I don’t like long-distance relationships. Besides, Leo is a good person, and I want to meet him often. Anyway, let me introduce my new boyfriend. Tada! Oh-ho-ho-ho.”
My second unnie clapped her hands in her characteristic nasally laugh, clearly in high spirits. Unintentionally, I moved Jelly in my hand as if it was clapping along.
“You… That…”
Our youngest unnie ground her teeth, unable to complete her sentence. Even at six years old, I could easily understand what she wanted to say.
“Let’s talk.”
“No.”
She slammed her palm on the table, glaring at my second unnie for a long time. Ultimately, she lost the staring contest. She grabbed her wallet, stormed out of the house, and slammed the front door behind her, leaving the air vibrating from the force.
The tense atmosphere made me uneasy. My second unnie suddenly turned her attention to me and asked.
“Hey, little one. That’s a doll I haven’t seen before. Did Emilia buy it for you?”
“No. A handsome man gave it to me. But, unnie, are you really dating Mr. Leo?”
“Of course. Don’t you like Mr. Leo?”
“Yeah! I do!”
But my second unnie wanting to be with Leopold had been before our eldest unnie’s marriage announcement to Marius. Now that my eldest unnie was settling in the Empire, and with my second unnie and Leopold possibly advancing their relationship, half the family would end up in the Empire while the other half stayed in Trovancha.
It made me feel conflicted. Still, considering how much my second unnie had been hurt in the past, I couldn’t bring myself to oppose it outright. She’d had more than her share of heartbreak.
‘Leopold will genuinely love my second unnie…’
Unlike my eldest unnie, who loved her work, and my youngest unnie, who was devoted to research, my second unnie wanted a normal relationship and marriage.
However, her previous boyfriends were all awful. They were cowardly and said terrible things before breaking up with her.
Leopold, on the other hand, was strong and kind. Even if my second unnie had a “secret,” he wouldn’t make her sad.
“…Are you two serious?”
For the first time, my eldest unnie, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke.
“Yes, I am serious.”
When my second unnie said she was serious, it carried far more weight than it would from anyone else. Leopold’s gaze made it clear that he was entirely devoted to her.
‘If Leopold knows my second unnie’s secret and still loves her, they might even marry in the Empire…’
I rubbed my forehead against Jelly’s crown. I don’t want to leave Trovancha.
And I don’t want to go to the Empire and never come back.
The warm climate, the beautiful beaches that can be seen anywhere, the delicious and cheap lemons, my friends, and the memories with my family.
“Then, does that mean you won’t come back to Trovancha with me, second unnie?”
“Ahem. Hmm.”
Leopold cleared his throat and asked,
“Does Liliana want to stay in Trovancha?”
“Liliana…”
Unable to answer, I glanced at my eldest unnie and noticed an unfamiliar ring on her finger.
An engagement ring? Oh my, what do I do! She must really be planning to marry Marius.
Even if I tried to dissuade her, it wouldn’t work.
I’m just a six-year-old kid, and my sisters are adults responsible for their own lives.
‘Above all, I don’t want to speak out and be hated.’
Even though I believe my sisters wouldn’t hate me, I can’t help but worry.
Andrea left for the South one day without warning, and now my only family left are my sisters.
My choices boil down to two:
Either stubbornly stay in Trovancha with my youngest unnie or follow my eldest and middle unnies to the Empire.
Can’t we just live together like before, all four of us?
Pouting, I hugged Jelly tightly and stood up.
“I’m going to sleep now. This is getting boring.”
It will take me over ten years to become an adult.
That’s 3,650 more nights to sleep, not just 100 nights.
Thinking how unfair it was, I went into my room and flopped onto the bed.
Jelly in my arms was the only comfort at that moment.
***
“Ugh, my head…”
When I regained consciousness, a dreadful headache stabbed through me.
Blaming herself for drinking too much the previous day, Emilia pulled the blanket over her head to block the morning sunlight.
‘Sunlight?’
It was only then that Emilia realized something was off.
First, her room had thick blackout curtains, so sunlight couldn’t come in.
Second, her blanket didn’t crinkle like this.
Finally, there shouldn’t be any sign of someone else nearby.
A chill ran down her spine at that moment.
As every hair on her body stood on end, Emilia threw off the blanket and sat up.
What she saw was…
“You’re finally awake.”
Francois Cassel sat casually in an armchair next to the bed, sipping coffee.
Dumbfounded by his audacity, Emilia asked,
“What happened?”
“What? Don’t tell me you don’t remember?”
Francois asked as if he were disappointed.
His blatantly crestfallen expression and drooping eyebrows seemed to imply something had indeed happened.
Emilia let out a breath that could have been either a sigh or a laugh.
Was this headache truly from a hangover?
Or was it her body punishing her for her disgraceful choices the day before?
Grabbing her head in her hands, she flopped back onto the bed.
Francois raised his eyebrows at her reaction.
“Let’s just pretend nothing happened.”
“Well, that’s neat. Life must be so simple for you.”
“Are you asking for compensation? Or should I take responsibility?”
“Of course, I’ll take responsibility.”
How could the word “responsibility” sound so terrifying?
When Emilia clammed up, sweating nervously, Francois lazily wiggled his fingers.
Then, from somewhere, a stained shirt flew toward her.
“A shirt made of the finest silk, worth 15 gold coins. You held onto me, saying you were dizzy, and threw up… It was absolutely disgusting.”
While Francois showed outright disgust, Emilia’s face lit up with relief.
Grinning ear to ear, she brushed the shirt off onto the floor.
“I’ll pay 16 gold coins, with interest.”
“The Emperor contacted me, asking if he could take care of your younger sister’s health for the next ten years.”
Emilia’s expression froze at Francois’ unexpected statement.
Without care for her reaction, Francois continued in a casual tone,
“Your eldest sister and the Emperor. No matter how you look at it, it’s a contract marriage.”
“I figured as much. Do you think my sister will have a hard time settling in the Empire?”
“A woman who isn’t royalty, nobility, or even a common aristocrat ascending to the throne as Empress? Do you think the Empire’s nobles will stand idly by?”
“My eldest sister is too stubborn to stop, even if I try. And if it concerns Liliana’s health, she’ll never give up.”
Though Francois seemed to be watching Emilia, his gaze touched upon a secret no one else could read.
He took out a pill from his pocket and bit down hard on it.
The pill, meant to suppress emotional swings and keep reason intact, spread its bitter taste throughout his mouth.
This damn pill barely worked, but for now, it was the best he could do.
Just a few more years.
By then, no matter what it takes, he would solve this issue.
To that end, he needed to make preparations in advance.
“In that sense, let’s make a deal.”
“A deal?”
“I’ll help you and your sisters. In return, ten years from now, you’ll help me.”
“What kind of help will you need?”
“You’ll find out when the time comes.”
Despite his angelic face and smooth smile, his eyes were filled with shadows.
Emilia found the faintly smiling Francois to be slightly unnerving.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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