I Don’t Trust My Twin Sister

“Wait for a sec.”

 

Ian lightly placed the blanket in his other hand over my lap. My legs, which had been battered by the cold wind, regained their warmth. Ian grinned.

 

“Lean back comfortably.”

 

I tried to open my mouth to respond, but with so many people watching, I felt embarrassed to speak out, so I just nodded. His chest rose with a chuckle. I wanted to scold him, wondering what was so funny, but I liked the sound, so I made a loud noise and lightly put my head against his chest. Ian stamped his foot and led her horse slowly, telling her he would be back by evening. He felt a bit cold, but a cool breeze blew and swept the bread pleasantly away. He was not very fast, so he was able to see what his surroundings were like. When he heard the loud salute of the guard captain defending the inner castle and the murmurs of the residents of the outer castle, his face turned slightly red. I was wondering how I would appear to those people right now, and as I lowered my head in shame, I heard Ian’s happy, cheerful voice.

 

“Close your eyes. Then you will only hear sounds and you will feel comfortable.”

 

After that he increased his pace slightly. I don’t know if the horse was a famous horse or if his horsemanship was excellent, but although the speed was quite high, there was little vertical recoil. No, it was almost non-existent. That’s interesting. As a result, the cool breeze and moderate speed made me feel somewhat drowsy. It was even more so because his arms were warm. For some reason, I feel like rubbing. I quenched my appetite. Because it can’t be done. Instead, as he said, he closed his eyes, listened to the sounds around him, and quietly enjoyed the current situation. I didn’t know where I’m going, but at least I enjoyed being with Ian. So much so that I don’t even think about leaving tomorrow. I closed my mouth and leaned against him for quite a while, then slowly opened my eyes. A bright light caught my eye, so I hid myself in the gnome Ian had created and looked around the scenery. Since we passed the inner and outer fortresses, we should be able to see the outlying villages spread out on the outskirts of the castle, but there were no scenes of people living, only a long road extending along the highway. The wind blew along with the sound of the horse’s hooves. The coolness that gently pushed from the front made me smile. When I lifted his head slightly, Ian felt my gaze and looked at me. The pure white clouds that clearly illuminated the sky and the deep blue sky that showed the pain between them shone brightly. At the same time, Hongok’s eyes were looking at me and smiling softly.

 

“Cold?”

 

He pulled the blanket up slightly and shook his head. His hair was pushed back a little more neatly. I was worried that my hair would block my view of the place because the wind was blowing right in front of me, but fortunately, it was blocked by Ian’s broad shoulders and chest. Ian flinched slightly as I pressed closer to him, fearing that if I fell any further, I would fall apart.

 

“Should it fall a little?”

 

Was he uncomfortable riding a horse? I learned horseback riding because it was a basic skill of nobles. But I barely remember seeing anything. I always traveled by carriage. I learned how to ride a horse a long time ago, so I only drove it slowly, and I don’t remember riding at this speed. So, I asked Ian because I was worried that if I got too close, Ian would be in trouble, but after thinking for a moment, he gently stroked my head with one hand and pulled me into his arms. My head rested comfortably on his chest, where his slender collarbones were presumed to be. I wanted to do something for a moment, so I left him alone and Ian’s voice rose again.

 

“Because it’s better to stick together more.”

 

The soft sound and quiet voice stimulated my ears. This moment on the horse seemed like it would last forever. If he lifted his head slightly, I could see that his neck was raised high. It was like proof that he was a man. If you put your hand on him, he seems to squirm. I opened my eyes more and looked blankly at Ian’s face. I was curious. What is he thinking? He was the one who expressed interest in me first, but I was honestly suspicious of him. A lot of people showed interest in me. Whether it was a rational attraction or a calculated calculation, at first it didn’t matter whether the attraction he showed was real or not. All that mattered was that Ian needed me. And I needed the power to chase away the mayflies with enormous force and power. But now? Now I was curious. I wondered if the way he was showing me was just a favor shown to the person he had signed a contract with and was in need of, or if he was sincere. I remember his hands shaking as he hugged me at the coming of age ceremony. At the time, I thought I could sense his sincerity, but in reality, I was anxious because I had not actually heard his feelings directly and nothing was confirmed. If things go on like this, when can I see you again? If I go back like this, what excuse will I have to see him again? Is it okay to go back like this without being able to do anything? It was brief, but it was fun. Although it seemed like he had done a lot of work for five days, the horse ran for a long time, passing through a road covered with trees and climbing the slanted ridge of a mountain. The fragrant scent of grass reached his nose. When he turned his head, Ian’s voice was heard again.

 

“Didn’t you hear where I was going?”

 

“I thought I was going to sign a contract with Pierrot.”

 

His chest heaved softly. Was he smiling?

 

“As I said before, I really don’t want to see such trash looking at Laurencia with dark eyes.”

 

Why? These words rose up to my throat. went down. Let’s be patient. I didn’t want to ask now, so I tried to change the topic.

 

“Then where are you going?”

 

“If you climb up this ridge, you will reach a fairly large hill. If you climb up that hill, there is a flower garden managed by the Verdian family. Let’s go there.”

 

I remembered hearing it from Patricia yesterday. Her eyes blinked and her mouth opened with the sound ‘Ah!’

 

“The former Grand Duke will give it to the Grand Duchess… So, you are saying that there is a statue of Ian’s mother?”

 

“That’s right. How do you know?” 

 

“Patricia told me that only a few people know.”

 

I laughed. He thought he wanted to see it, but he got to see it right away. I felt pretty lucky. Ian raised his hand and gently placed it on my head again as a strong wind blew over the mountain ridge. His sturdy forearms and palms were thick enough to keep not a single strong wind from blowing against me. Feeling protected. It was a strange feeling. He was always the one protecting me, but now it’s the opposite. For some reason, he felt like it was tickling, so he closed his mouth. After that, his horse ran a little further. We stopped when we came into sight of the border line blocked by iron bars located on one side of a large hill. Ian dropped me off first, then walked over to the door with the basket hanging from his horse and pushed lightly. He’s not locked? Ian lifted his hips and smiled at me.

 

“No one who values their life would come this far and enter the Berdian family’s private property.”

 

Did he read my mind? He shrugged his shoulders and went inside. I couldn’t tell from the outside, but as I entered, the scent of flowers hit me and I widened my eyes. It wasn’t inside the building or blocked somewhere. All I had to do was open the door and come in. But still, it has such a strong floral scent. Ian looked back at me slightly and smiled.

 

“It’s where my mother’s abilities are contained. It’s a garden created with all the essence of my mother’s family. It is not affected by the season and always remains the same.”

 

“If it’s your mother… Drisilla?”

 

“Huh.”

 

What family did the former Grand Duchess come from? I looked at Ian with a vague memory and he answered lightly.

 

“My mother was the eldest daughter of the Count Grandia family.”

 

“O…!”

 

That’s right. It was like that, right? It was a unique family that was given the task of cultivating the tea and spices loved by the first Emperor and managing all the gardens of the imperial castle. I also signed a contract with the Grandia family and purchased numerous tea leaves.

 

“My mother said that she originally intended to inherit the count’s family, but when she married my father, she passed that title to the current count of Grandia. Well, she didn’t seem to have any regrets about that place.”

 

Ian, who was looking around with a soft face, probably because I was talking about his parents, turned his head to me.

 

“Anyway, let’s put this conversation aside and come here, Lawrence.”

 

He stretched out his hand. I closed and opened his eyes a couple of times, stretched out my back arm and held his warm hand. Ian smiled cozily, opened the inner door, and walked right in. Then a strong wind enveloped me, and it was not cold and chilly, but warm and cozy and pleasant, like the sunlight of a spring day. I couldn’t believe the view I saw through the open door. What unfolded right in front of me was truly the climax. In a flower field so far away that the horizon was visible, several trees stood firmly like landmarks. At first glance, you could almost believe it was Porral Hill. Porral Hill was also a tourist attraction and was said to be the largest flower garden in the Lirus Empire, and it was comparable to that.

 

“Huh?”

 

But the temperature was warm. Strangely enough, even though it was a bit of a bitter winter, this place was full of warmth. As if it were spring. Ian walked in front, looked back slightly, and happily stretched out his hands.

 

“This is the Spring Flower Garden managed by the Berdian Principality.”

 

“Spring Garden?”

 

“Huh.”

 

As I was blinking, a flying butterfly came into view. Butterflies in this weather… I lightly took off the coat I was wearing and hung it on his arm. It wasn’t cold, but rather warm. I couldn’t help but laugh at the strange phenomenon. Ian came over, took my coat, and led me to the tree in the center of the flower garden like an escort. After telling them to wait a moment, he put down the basket and took out a large mat from it. And he laughed as if he was telling me to sit down. I thought it was cute, so I smiled and walked over to him and sat down. Ian took out a simple drink from the basket and handed it to me.

 

“You like it warm, right?”

 

The bottled drink was sweet peach tea. It was warm and well insulated. As I sipped while fiddling with the glass, the sweet taste filled my mouth. The warm spring weather, the fragrant scent of flowers, the sweetness in your mouth… And even the person sitting next to you and sharing time with you. A time of such beautiful and ideal peace felt unfamiliar.

 

“They say it’s the culmination of the Grandia family’s technology. My mother mobilized all of the Grandia family’s technical skills in creating this flower garden. The flower garden outside is open to the public during the festival, but this place is not open to the public. This is a space created to be with very important people and the most precious people.”

 

“……Important person”

 

The last word seemed to be heard more clearly than the other words. I sipped the peach tea while holding it with both hands. What kind of person was I? Was I a precious person? So what did that precious person mean? He was going to tell me if I asked him, but when he rolled his eyes, Ian smiled and laid back leisurely, looking up at the sky covered in shadow.

 

“But how is it spring weather here?”

 

“Well, I asked, but my mother wouldn’t tell me, saying it was a family secret. I think they said it was thanks to some kind of jewel… but I’m not sure.”

 

It’s a gem… I looked at his face as he smiled and closed his eyes. It looked very peaceful. I got greedy. I wanted to stay like this a little longer with him. I was happy, but I wanted to know his heart a little more and I wanted to be with him more. If he got greedy, he would get angry, so he pursed his lips and then stopped. What should I do after listening? With the intention of just enjoying the moment, I put down the peach tea and lay down next to him. My back was soft on the grass, and the warm wind passed by my body comfortably. While I was moving my mouth to smile, something touched my head. I looked up and saw that it was Ian’s hand. Why was this here?

 

As my gaze wandered down his arm, I saw Ian looking away and stretching his arm unnaturally.

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note: