I Don’t Trust My Twin Sister

What happened? How much happened the moment I drank and lost my senses? When asked again out of anxiety, his grandfather sighed and opened his mouth again.

 

“He came to me while I was sleeping with a red face and begged me to hold an engagement ceremony.”

 

I rolled my eyes slightly and Ian nodded. Nonsense. Really? Did I do something like that? I?!

 

“Lie…”

 

“I wrote a memorandum like this because I was afraid people would insist that it was a lie. Now, take a look.”

 

My grandfather unfolded the paper on the back of the wedding invitation and showed it upward. The words written on the few lines of paper clearly stated that I gave my unconditional consent to hold an engagement ceremony with this man. There was a signature engraved on it. My clear seal and signature are probably forged, right? no way. I think it’s probably a forgery.

 

“It’s a joke, right?”

 

“Did this old man seem leisurely enough to go around making wedding invitations early in the morning as a joke?”

 

I flinched at the voice that subtly pressured me. As time went by, my embarrassment grew. Did I really say that? I said with my own mouth that I would have an engagement ceremony with this man and even wrote a pledge with my own hands. go? I couldn’t believe it, but I couldn’t have done the seal and signature in front of me. As I was agonizing and frowning, my grandfather’s voice came again.

 

“…I guess that was something I said out of anger after drinking, yes, I guess so. I get it. Lawrencea, your grandfather was too careless. Let’s just pretend this incident never happened.” I hurriedly raised my head at the sound of a sad, weak voice, and my grandfather’s bitter smile caught my eye. His shoulders slumped and disappointment was written all over his face. I was wrapping my arms around myself. Suddenly, I remembered what Ian had said. The words that my grandfather had said when he was happy about being able to see his great-grandchildren were, “Rest. “Grandpa, I guess I should go and get some sleep.”

 

As I slowly turned around, my grandfather’s back, who looked smaller and weaker, caught my eye. My heart was pounding, and a part of my heart felt uncomfortable, as if I had done something really bad.

 

“Ha, grandpa!”

 

When I called her urgently, her grandfather stopped in his tracks and looked back at me very late. The pupils were shaking. Oh, it can’t be like this… It can’t be done! I knew it couldn’t be done, but I couldn’t make my argument strong even after seeing my grandfather like that. Besides, it was something I did. I have to take responsibility.

 

“…I will do it.”

 

As her quiet voice burst out, her grandfather shook his head.

 

“No. My granddaughter is already married, so her grandfather is being too scolded.”

 

Judging by the fact that he cooked me so skillfully, it was clear that he was acting. But the expression, voice, pitch, etc. were not something I could handle. In the end, I had no choice but to utter the last word.

 

“Would you like to pledge again? I will.”

 

I sighed. I can’t live. See if you drink again.

 

“Marriage.”

 

* * *

 

Ian stared at Lawrence’s empty seat. She had left, saying she needed to gather her thoughts, so the only people left in her room were herself and her Viscount Ajstain. Viscount Ajstain’s expression, who had been acting slyly just a moment ago, calmed down. Likewise, Ian also had a slightly heavier expression. In a room with heavy, still air, the two people remained silent, looking alternately at the floor and wall, where there was nowhere to focus their gaze. Ian looked at the documents on the table again. Lawrence’s signature was clearly engraved in it. He stared at the document and slowly opened his tightly closed lips.

 

“What are you thinking, Viscount Ajstain?”

 

At the sound of his voice breaking the silence, Viscount Ajstain put down the tea cup he was sipping and calmly adjusted his posture. Ian couldn’t understand his decisions and sudden actions.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

The sly question made me burst into laughter. Did Lawrence know about this? Ian adjusted his posture and asked back, similar to his attitude.

 

“Why do you want to remove Lawrence from her position so badly?”

 

Ian was once again recalling the conversation he had with Viscount Ajstain when he secretly met him at night while Laurencia was sleeping. In fact, she told Laurenceia that she followed her to Aztine Castle to be with her for a little while, but the reality was different. Ian came to the castle because of Viscount Aztain’s recommendation. There was an odd incident along the way, but Ian continued the conversation by taking a sip of tea and putting his cup back down.

 

“Honestly, I was surprised. I thought Viscount Aztain would want Lawrence to remain as the next heir to this castle. Was I mistaken?”

 

“Could it be a mistake? If Lawrence, who has been intelligent since she was young and has a good nature by nature, succeeds me, she will be able to continue her family’s position without any trouble. She may even be able to flourish further. .”

 

The Viscount tilted the teacup as if watering the dry earth and then opened his mouth again.

 

“Many people have expressed concern about the unconventional actions that Lawrence has recently shown. Starting with a sudden investment in the principality, they readily offered an amount that even the empire would salivate over under the name of relief for the people’s livelihood. I believe that Laurentia is making money. I observed her to see if she was using it too carelessly. If it was a fruitless and impulsive action, I would correct her. However, contrary to what I thought, my granddaughter achieved something very important through two actions.”

 

He grinned.

 

“One is you, His Highness Grand Duke Berdian.” 

 

He was quite pleased to be well-liked by the sole guardian of the woman he had his eyes on. Moreover, speaking of Viscount Ajstain, he was in contact with many people. It was nice to hear stories like this from someone who was famous for his good character and personality within the aristocratic society.

 

“Thank you.”

 

When I answered plainly, the Viscount laughed lowly. He was always relaxed even in front of Ian. He was once said to have a very eccentric and aggressive personality, but recently he became quiet because of his two granddaughters… I was able to feel once again how great family love is. “You probably know the rest even if I don’t tell you, right?” Ian calmly nodded his head and continued answering.

 

“Something that isn’t easy to obtain is family prestige.” 

 

“That’s right. The empire is currently suffering. The conflict that began with the crown prince’s ambition for power has spread beyond the capital. Of the two dukes, the Safeldrick family, which declared neutrality, is okay, but the Verdian family wants the Marquis of Alpensia. We are under intensive control by one new force, starting with them. They are working together with the crown prince. You have been under financial pressure for as long as 10 years, right?”

 

“Fortunately, thanks to Laurencia, her duchy never collapsed, but it would probably have been only a matter of time before it would have collapsed without her.

 

As Ian showed her the number 100,000, she pulled the corners of her mouth, recalling the image of Lawrence proudly stretching out her arms. That image will probably not be forgotten even as time passes.

 

“Even I didn’t know at the time what meaning Laurencia’s actions had. However, my granddaughter set the family’s path step by step and worked hard to bring about more results. She re-excavated numerous abandoned mines and built the mines inside them. While bringing out things that were hidden, I discovered a challenging yet promising business. If Count Nemir’s business succeeds, it could probably bring in even more profits. Also, I expanded my area into military affairs, so Lawrence will probably be better than me. It might be better to take over the position of head of the family quickly.

 

“That can’t be right.”

 

Viscount Ajstain’s eyes were very serious as he shook his head towards Ian, who smiled and answered lightly.

 

“The child has already jumped over the fence I put up.”

 

Why does Lawrence, who has just turned eighteen, give off such an aura? Did the loss of her parents make her like that? Or is she the cradle of education?

 

“I’m both happy and proud. I tried to treat her warmly, but since Laurencia was the only one who could carry on the family while Ercia was lying in a hospital bed, I had no choice but to be rude to her. I couldn’t help but criticize my granddaughter, who wouldn’t hurt even if I put her in her eyes. I was also heartbroken when he was forced to teach me difficult business administration and a lot of economic knowledge. He told me to study all night long about financial methods and taught me how to read, analyze, and write all kinds of documents. That was when he was only ten years old.”

 

Ian rolled his tongue around her, loosening the inside of her mouth. She felt like a bitter taste was washing over her from somewhere. For a ten-year-old girl, the education of the heir to the family usually begins step by step from an early age and ends with a great maturity. She didn’t have a lot to learn. As long as you learn basic land science, business administration, and military science, running a fiefdom was not difficult. However, Lawrence was the granddaughter and successor of a wealthy, well-known family in the empire. The amount of studying she had to do every day to educate her successor must have been considerable.

 

“I am very grateful that I have accepted and followed through with everything without a single complaint. But at the same time, I feel sorry. I feel like I have placed a heavy burden on that child.”

 

“Lawrence won’t think so. She was proud to play.”

 

“That’s why it hurts even more.”

 

Ian looked at the eyes of Viscount Aztain, who was looking at him but seemed to be looking into the distance.

 

“If there is another way… if there is a way to help the child let go of the burden without burdening him anymore, I would recommend that route. For example…”

 

Ian’s ears twitched at the sound of the other person’s short breath.

 

“Like marrying into the Verdian family.”

 

Viscount Ajstain lazily leaned his upper body against the back of his chair and lifted his chin. Although he looked fair for his age, he was already in his sixties. Normally, people of that age would retreat to a back room and watch the world go by. The Viscount was also like that until he lost his child, and Ian’s gaze at him became tinged with complexity. The union of the Ajstain family and the Berdian family, or simply the marriage of the two families, is not that much of a problem. But this perfect union leads to a different story.

 

“…Wouldn’t it be possible for the Verdian family to protect and protect the Ajstain family and unite the two families?”

 

The value of the name of Berdian, who had built up a power and influence that even the imperial family could overcome, was by no means light. But the problem lay elsewhere.

 

“I told you this early in the morning, but there will be a lot of noise.”

 

“I know that too.”

 

“The Berdian family is still being checked. If the Ajstain family’s financial power is combined, there will probably be an even stronger backlash.”

 

“So are you going to give up?”

 

Viscount Ajstain’s mouth twisted into a smile as he glanced at Ian’s twitching shoulder. His eyes pierced straight into Ian’s heart, as if he already knew all the answers. Ian just looked at the viscount, then smiled and nodded, leaning back in his chair as well.

 

“It would not be possible with the power of the Verdian family alone.”

 

“There is also the power of the Ajstain family.”

 

“Still, it’s not enough. We need a place with at least a similar level of power as our family.” 

 

“You mean the Sapheldrick Duke family?”

 

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Translator Note: