I Don’t Trust My Twin Sister

The Marquis of Akpensia, Beralt, was the young head of the Marquis family and my fiancé. Since the power, wealth, and military power possessed by the Marquis’ family was one of the best in the empire, they were always the first to be counted in power, except for the Duke’s family.

Countless people were surprised when the Marquis said that he was betrothed to the daughter of the Viscount of Ajtain. It was because he expected that the combination of the two families with power, honor, and wealth would eventually break the stereotyped axis. The great axis of the two Ducal families. Moreover, the Marquis of Akpensia was famous for being ambitious and talented. He was smart and good at reading people’s moods, so he used to deliver excellent results when signing contracts. After that, there was nothing to say about management, and besides, he was neat and tall. Because he was a man with both manners and culture, many young ladies tried to establish contact with him, but the results were disastrous.

So, when the Marquis of Alpensia got engaged to me, it was quite unexpected that he presented me with a ring. The Marquis and I had never met except one day when I was sixteen when I was at his birthday party. In fact, it was also true that I relied on his goodwill, manners and skills. After my grandfather passed away suddenly, he was by my side and gave me strength when I, who was not yet ready, inherited everything in the family.

When I became an adult and my family was stable, I tried to marry him. But he procrastinated. Almost 11 years passed since I put off getting married for the first time, saying, “It’s not yet.”

I was naive. No, that was stupid. I didn’t know what the man was up to.

He used my sister to sell off the family’s assets and he bought it at a bargain price. It took only 5 years for all the enormous wealth to be handed over to him. And during that time, I tried my best to save the dying family.

I knew Ersia’s real face to some extent. I must have guessed that it was related to Beralt, but I never thought that Ersia would lead our family to its downfall. It was her home to her as it was my home to me. I was willing to be deceived as long as she protected it. But…

“It’s an honor to be invited by you like this, Miss Lorencia. Oh, take this.”

I accepted the rose he offered. It was a blue rose that I had seen published in a newspaper one day claiming to have been made with alchemy. It was ecstatic and beautiful, so many women wanted to have it and receive it. That great was its value.

“I don’t know a woman’s heart well, so I was thinking about what to bring as a gift, but I brought flowers like this. I thought they would suit Lady Laurencia because they are the most beautiful flowers. Unfortunately, the flowers don’t match the lady’s appearance.”

I always thought of him as a romanticist. There were many times when I thought it was sweet to say something like that that lifted me up with a gentle smile. But those sweet words blinded my eyes and ears.

“Marquis Akpensia, do you have any gifts for me? It’s sad that you only show interest in my granddaughter.”

“Haha, of course I brought a present for Viscount Ajstein. It’s a fedora hat that’s in vogue in the capital these days. I prepared it because I thought it would be good for the Viscount, who always looks neat.”

“Isn’t it too young people’s taste?”

“Aren’t you still young, too?”

Seeing as if he liked his answer, I saw my grandfather wearing a bowler hat with a big smile on his face. It was a familiar sight. The blue rose he gives out, the bowler hat my grandfather wears, and even the red rose he gives to my sister right after.

“I also prepared a rose for Lady Ersia. I think this is a very suitable gift for a young lady who is like a flower bud.”

The moment I saw Ersia as she twisted her body and accepted the rose as if embarrassed, I could feel my stomach thumping again. Between the gaze at each other and the words exchanged, memories that I did not want to recall were played over and over again. From the two kissing to the scene indulging each other’s bodies. It was so disgusting that I felt like I was going to vomit.

“Oops…”

“Roa?”

It felt as if my stomach would turn upside down at any moment and the gastric juices would reflux. The attitude of the two people making a surprised expression behind my grandfather’s shoulder, who gave me a worried look at me, suddenly made me even more disgusted.

“Ooh, melancholy…!”

Covering my mouth, I hurriedly ran to the bathroom. I heard my grandfather’s cry from behind, but I didn’t have time to pay attention. My whole body’s energy was drained from suppressing dry coughs and retching several times while barely holding on to my stomach, which looked like it would pour out at any moment.

“Roa! Roa!”

After answering the call of my grandfather who knocked on the door while calling me, I rinsed my mouth with water and moistened my dry face with water. The cold water calmed my complex and distracted mind. However, when I heard the voices of the two people full of hypocrisy and lies, my mind wandered again.

“Sister, are you okay?!”

“Miss Lawrencia, are you okay?”

No matter how worried they were, it’s so insensitive that they were following me all the way here just to hear the retching. It was said that a person’s true nature could be seen in insignificant actions, and now I was able to confirm that.

“…That’s okay. It’s okay.”

After letting out a weak voice, the voices of the two were heard again. My head buzzed. I didn’t want to hear any more. It was like they took everything from me again.

When I opened the door with tired eyes, I was able to meet the eyes of the Marquis of Akpensia and Ersia along with the warm gaze of my grandfather looking at me.

I didn’t want to sit at the same table as these two to eat. No, I couldn’t even eat. Because I felt like I was going to vomit right after eating.

“Grandpa, I’m suddenly not feeling well. Can I go upstairs first?”

“Okay, go upstairs. I’ll tell Mesha to bring you some medicine.”

I didn’t need the medicine, but I didn’t have the energy to respond. After struggling to get dressed, as I was walking up the stairs past the three people, Ersia approached me and put her hands together and said with a worried face.

“Sister, are you okay?”

“Don’t worry and eat well, Ersia.”

I stared blankly at my cunning sister, then turned away. What an abomination.

* * *

I lay down on the bed and fell asleep for a while, and when I woke up, a deep darkness covered the room. He wondered if he was still eating when he heard the loud noise coming from downstairs. When I got up, the door opened a little just in time.

“Were you awake?”

My grandfather who opened the door and entered asked with surprised eyes. After putting medicine and a glass of water on the table, my grandfather sat under the bed and watched me quietly. The faint smell of pies, the scent of play from Grandpa, who likes the apple pie made by Aunt Mesha the most. This scent calms me down. Grandpa’s eyes lift me up from being weighed down by anxiety and thoughts.

“I’m sorry I thought you were sleeping and came in without permission.”

“Say something like that. Grandpa always doesn’t care.”

You have good manners too. Grandpa smiled softly, looked at me, and raised the glass of water on the table again.

“The Marquis of Akpensia is very worried about you. Even when he left, he even asked for your regards and even sent a new shrine.”

I wonder if the loud noise earlier was the sound of people leaving.

“It felt a little empty without Roa, but it was nice that Ercia came out after a while and eat together. Of course, it would have been better if you wee there too.”

I was looking forward to having a meal with my grandfather for the first time in 10 years, but I could never sit at the same table as the two of them.

“Roa.”

Grandpa called softly as he took a sip from the cup of water he held out.

“The Marquis of Akpensia told me.”

“What?”

He put the cup on the table and tilted his head.

“Roa, he wants to develop his relationship with you a little more, so why don’t we make an official announcement since everyone knows what the relationship is like between the two of you?”

My face hardened. In the end, was it something that would happen even if I didn’t join the meal? The other day I was very happy with this news. But not now.

“Grandpa, I…”

“I know. I also don’t want to dictate your life the way I want. So I asked the Marquis to ask for your permission.”

My kind and warm grandfather. Ah, the kind grandfather who thinks of me like a play.

“I like the man… but you don’t know. What do you think?”

In the past, my grandfather reacted favorably to the combination of me and Beralt. He thought that marrying him, who was voted the nicest man in society, would make me happy. And I liked him too

“He is not good.”

But now I don’t want to be involved with him. Nice guy? It was the nonsense of those who did not see what kind of person he was. He was trash. Having an affair with his fiancée’s twin sister could not be called anything different. In addition, he was the one who brought down the family along with his sister. As long as I knew what he was thinking, I couldn’t just ignore him.

“So? I thought he was a great match for you, but if you disagree, then I can’t help it.”

I smiled at the warmth of my grandfather who never hurt me. This grandfather glanced at the medicine bag.

“But the Marquis of Akfensia is not one to give up after failing once. You should know that. He is ambitious.”

A man full of ambition. My grandfather got him right. I laughed bitterly.

“I know.”

Very terribly.

“Oh, and an invitation came. What will you do?”

“An invitation?”

Invitation? What invitation? When I thought about it, I remembered accepting Beralt’s marriage proposal at this time and going out to a party to announce the fact. For sure…

“It’s an invitation to the Grand Duke of Verdian’s party. Will you refuse it like last time?”

It was Grand Duke Berdian, the leader of a wariors family known for sodomy and debauchery, and it was his party. I shook my head, exhausted, and tried to refuse as before, but a good thought suddenly crossed my mind. I’m sure the Marquis of Akpensia would come to that party.

“No. I’ll go.”

I smiled.

* * *

The Lyrus Empire was a military powerhouse with vast granaries and plains located in the southern part of the continent. It was also a rich and powerful country that occupied half of the continent’s total food production. The Lyrus Empire was able to achieve the most advanced technology through a huge number of standing armies and huge commercial and industrial investments based on its enormous wealth. With a 600-year history, the imperial family of the Lyrus Empire had two ducal families in its grasp, which could be called relatives.

One was the family of the Duke of Verdian. As a family that owned territory in the west, it was a prestigious warrors family that produced the commander of the Guard Knights and the commander of the general corps every time. The other was the Duke of Sapeldrick family, a family that owns a territory located in the northeast, and has produced prestigious ministers.

The Lyrus Empire enjoyed great power under the absolute protection of both families. However, the reason why their momentum has started to falter recently was because the power that supported both sides, one of them, the Berdian family, was in a strange state. In fact, Ian, the current head of the Berdian family, was a person who was evaluated as outstanding in both business and civil affairs. As far as I knew, there were dozens of stories that raised his prestige. There were countless stories of him participating in his first subjugation at the age of fifteen and beheading an enemy general, and of being offered the position of head of the Royal Guard at the age of eighteen.

However, apart from his ability, the evaluation of Ian was quite poor. Representatively, there was a story that he enjoyed sodomy and was very prodigal. Being prodigal means that aristocrats had that much wealth, so there was no big problem. However, enjoying sodomy was still a wall of resistance to those who were just trying to break away from a religious point of view.

“That’s what that man means…”

Sitting on a chair, I sipped the nameless yellow forest and looked at the organizer of the party. A man like that was a sodomy? I couldn’t believe it. No, saying it’s a waste would be the correct answer.

His shoulders were wide open, and his legs, firmly supporting his torso, seemed half as long as the others. In addition, he was able to catch a glimpse of his boldness and grandeur in the way he exchanged conversations with people while laughing coolly.

—————————————————————

Translator Note:

I changed the sister name to make it exact to the mangwa version. Sorry if last chapters were confusing!

Want to read more?