IBYSRHML | Chapter 24

#.24

Edgar originally spent his time alternating between the Imperial Palace and Leopold’s estate, but now that his two cousins had returned from Trovancha, he planned to stay in the palace for the time being.

Incidentally, his room was said to be located in a palace not far from where we were staying.

As a result, I unintentionally encountered Edgar quite often. Especially—

‘He always clung to Leopold’s side.’

It seemed clear that Edgar was very fond of Leopold. He constantly called him “Hyung” and looked up at him with sparkling eyes.

However, whenever I appeared, he glared at me as if I were about to snatch away his favorite toy.

“By the way, do you know why Edgar’s last name is different from Leopold’s?”

My eldest unnie, sipping her tea, posed the question to my second unnie. It was during our tea time after lunch, a moment shared only among the sisters.

My youngest unnie had been so busy at the Mage Tower that she left early in the morning and only returned late at night. As a result, I rarely saw her except just before bed.

“Leopold’s father inherited the title of Duke of Baltrahein, while Edgar’s father, his younger brother, married Princess Elizabeth and was granted the title of Duke of Rundballenieu. That’s why the surname was changed.”

“I see. They say he lost his parents at a young age; it must have been tough growing up between his older brothers.”

“Does Edgar not have parents either?”

Crunching on a cookie nearby, I couldn’t help but perk up when Edgar was mentioned. My eldest unnie began stroking my hair with her fingers as she answered.

“Yes, Edgar lost his parents when he was young. But it’s a sensitive topic, so don’t bring it up, okay?”

“Okay. But I didn’t have a hard time growing up with my unnies.”

Both my eldest and second unnie turned their gazes toward me. I held a cookie close to my nose, letting it take in the chocolate aroma, and added:

“I liked growing up with my sisters. Edgar must like living with his uncles too, right? Isn’t that right, Cookie? You like living with me, don’t you?”

“….”

“….”

For some reason, neither sister responded. Curious about their lack of reaction, I raised my head, only to be embraced simultaneously by both of them.

“Where did we get a child as precious as Liliana?”

“Let’s live together forever, okay, little one?”

“Ugh, you’re smothering me! Let go!”

Their tight embrace crushed the cookie in my hand, causing the chocolate to melt and turn sticky. Wriggling out of their arms, I grabbed a napkin from the table to clean my hands before picking up the broken cookie and standing up.

“Liliana is going for a nap now. Goodbye, everyone.”

Afraid my sisters might grab me again, I quickly slipped out of my eldest unnie’s room and returned to my own. Preparing for my nap, I propped a jelly and cookie against the headboard of my bed and lifted the blanket.

And then—

“Whaaat…?”

Was it possible to be so shocked that you couldn’t even scream? I stared wide-eyed, exhaling in disbelief. Beneath my blanket lay an old pumpkin. I didn’t need to guess who had placed it there.

“Edgaaar!”

Fuming, I heard muffled laughter outside my window. Creeping closer, I peered outside to find Edgar crouched beneath the sill, struggling to stifle his giggles.

“You!”

Enraged, I rushed to the bed, grabbed the cookie, and returned to the window. Gripping the cookie tightly, I began whacking Edgar’s head with it.

“Stop! Don’t!”

“Edgar, you water bug! You pond skater! You mantis!”

“If I’m a water bug, then you’re a gorilla!”

“G-Go… gorilla…? Waaaah! Edgar, you’re dead!”

Furious, I stormed out of my room, determined to grab him by the collar. By then, Edgar was already sprinting away.

“Stop right there!”

“Bleh! Catch me if you can!”

Pausing occasionally, Edgar stuck his tongue out at me with irritating confidence. His taunts only fueled my anger, and I chased him until I was out of breath, my frustration boiling over. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t catch him.

Hot tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision before spilling over uncontrollably.

“Waaaah! I hate you, Edgar!”

It was maddening to be unable to catch him no matter how hard I tried. Collapsing onto the ground, I bawled loudly, tears streaming endlessly down my face.

“Hyung, put me down! I didn’t do anything wrong!”

Moments later, I saw Edgar being carried over like a sack of flour on Leopold’s shoulder.

Before long, Leopold set Edgar down in front of me.

“Edgar, you shouldn’t make your friends cry.”

“She started it!”

“No! Hic! Edgar started it! He called me a pumpkin! Waaaah!”

When Edgar tried to argue back, my sorrow flared up again, and I burst into tears once more. Leopold picked me up and gently patted my back, his rough hands soothing me. Slowly, I began to calm down.

Looking back at Edgar, I saw him staring at us with a face that seemed to have lost everything in the world.

His complexion was as pale as a ghost, his expression filled with misery and resentment.

“Edg…”

Before Leopold could say anything, Edgar suddenly turned and ran off without a word.

‘What just happened?’

Even though Edgar was the one at fault, it felt like I was somehow the villain.

‘Why did he look so sad…?’

Despite being the same age as me, he knew how to wear such a heartbreaking expression. Unlike me, who didn’t understand how to feel that way.

Even as Leopold escorted me back to my room, I couldn’t bring myself to say a word—not about Edgar’s prank, nor about my own tears.

“I can’t just sit here.”

The heaviness in my chest wouldn’t let me sleep because of Edgar.

‘I need to see Edgar.’

Kicking off my blanket, I got out of bed. I packed a peace offering for Edgar in my squirrel-shaped bag and headed to the palace where he was said to be staying.

Fortunately, there was no one to stop me. Most of the maids had disappeared after the first two days, and my sisters were off attending to their own business.

‘I got here quickly!’

I succeeded in reaching the adjacent palace, but a significant problem loomed before me.

“I don’t know Edgar’s room!”

I had no clue whether Edgar’s room was on the first or second floor.

Coming all this way without even asking my sisters was reckless. I’m such an idiot.

I fiddled with Cookie’s nose and looked around, but there wasn’t a soul in sight.

The palace where I stayed with my sisters was bustling with people, likely because we were guests, and my eldest sister was set to become the empress.

I opened a few random doors, but strangely, there were no signs of anyone living in those rooms.

Even at a glance, there were over ten rooms on one floor; it was impossible to check them all one by one.

‘Where could Edgar be?’

Having no other choice, I sat on the stairs, waiting for someone to pass by.

I yawned, played with my jelly, and eventually sprawled out, stretching my limbs.

Staring absentmindedly at the clouds floating across the blue sky outside the window, I clumsily braided and unbraided my hair over and over again.

After entertaining myself for a while, faint voices drifted over from beyond the wall beside the stairs.

“Don’t even get me started. That lady marrying His Majesty is already making work unbearable because of how picky she is.”

“Her demeanor was cold from the start, so no surprise there. Did you see all the family members tagging along with her? They’re acting like they’ll finally get some imperial treatment now that thier sister’s becoming the empress.”

Whoever they were, talking bad about my eldest unnie without knowing anything!

I jumped to my feet in outrage.

I was just about to rush down the stairs and step on their feet when they suddenly started gossiping about Edgar.

“By the way, that young Marquis Rundballenieu. I heard he’s throwing another birthday party this year.”

“I don’t get it either. His Majesty killed all his other siblings but keeps pampering the young marquis. With the imperial wedding coming up, it’s strange to fuss over his birthday too, isn’t it?”

Honestly, I couldn’t fully understand what they were saying.

When Marius and Leopold spoke, they enunciated clearly and spoke slowly for me, but these voices carried the Empire’s strong accent, making it hard to follow.

Still, I could catch bits and pieces—certain words and the tone of their remarks.

“They say the young marquis isn’t just any marquis. Apparently, he was born after killing Princess Elisabeth.
He even took his own mother’s life at birth. I can’t understand why His Majesty dotes on a cousin who’s so cursed.”

Born after killing? His mother? Are they saying he killed his mother at birth?

As I grasped the meaning of their words, something exploded in my head.

I forgot this wasn’t Trovancha but the Empire.

I dashed down the stairs, rounded the corner, and charged toward the maids walking down the corridor.

Without hesitation, I headbutted one of them in the stomach.

“Don’t you dare insult Edgar!”

“Ahh! What’s with this girl all of a sudden?”

“You’re all horrible! What’s so bad about Edgar? Edgar is way prettier, kinder, and more fun than you!”

My eldest unnie once told me, “You weren’t born after killing your mother. She risked her life to protect you.”

Edgar must be just like me.

Hearing such cruel words about someone so precious made me furious.

Even after headbutting them, my anger didn’t subside, so I started slapping their arms.

“You’re mean! You’re not even adults! May your eyebrows go bald!”

As I swung my fists recklessly, one of the maids grabbed my arm and pushed me back.

I stumbled and landed hard on the marble floor, hitting my backside.

“Ouch!”

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

One of them stepped forward to charge at me again, but the other stopped her.

“Don’t. Now I recognize her—she’s the child from Trovancha. If you hit her, we’ll be in trouble.”

“Move aside. Even if she’s part of His Majesty’s fiancée’s family, someone needs to discipline this brat. No one would fault us for scolding an unruly kid.”

“But…”

“She’s just a barbarian child. Who’s going to believe her if she tattles to her sister? As long as we keep quiet, there’ll be no proof, right?”

The angry one rolled up her sleeves and advanced toward me step by step.

Seeing her half-rolled eyes, I suddenly felt a jolt of fear. That’s when it happened.

“Who dares to cause such a commotion in my palace?”

Edgar burst out of the central room in the corridor.