I Don’t Trust My Twin Sister

Thanks to Duke Safeldrick’s consideration, I was in very good physical condition. The palace where he ruled was filled with people who followed and supported me. Because of that, nobody ever bothered me directly. Regardless of the Duke’s consideration, it felt awkward because many people seemed to show me more favor than necessary. According to what he said, he prayed for the peace and well-being of many people and showed generosity by first reaching out to the powerless. If I knew that there was some hidden intention behind it, I wouldn’t be able to say things like that. I could only show an awkward smile to those who showed favor. Still, after taking a day off with such kind consideration, I felt like something good would happen today, and my heart felt lighter. If I take one wrong step, the road to hell will immediately unfold, but I accelerated my preparations, thinking that that would not happen. Even as I was organizing documents and waiting in attire to attend the trial, people who were kind to me came and went from time to time. They explained the necessary procedures. From the start of the trial to the break and the final decision. I was distracted by so many people talking. While I was making a blank expression, thinking that I was going to lose my mind like this, Duke Safeldrick came in and laughed.

 

“Are you tired? But just hold on a little longer. Please understand that we have no choice but to do this as it is a necessary procedure.”

 

“Haha…”

 

“Well, the results will come out positive, so don’t worry.”

 

I smiled slightly at the strong emphasis in his voice and nodded. Duke Safeldrick looked at me, then laughed and sat down in his chair. I thought he was going to leave right away, but my eyes suddenly followed him as he sat down on the chair.

 

“Ollie”

 

He moved his legs to approach him and called Ollie. Although she was still young, the smart maid immediately responded to my call. I followed Ollie with my eyes as he quickly left the room, accompanied by the maids who had been waiting for me, but as soon as the window closed, I shifted my gaze again.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

“Well, there’s nothing to say, I’m just trying to do my job, so it’s right that I have to explain the process of how the trial progresses and what conclusions are drawn, but… do you want to hear it?”

 

The Duke seemed not to want to talk. To be honest, I didn’t want to hear it either. So he made a nervous expression, and Duke Sadric’s voice fell on top of that.

 

“I believe it won’t happen and let’s move on to the next step.”

 

I tilted my head to the sound of his cheerful, slightly excited voice. What… just now? As he raised his eyes, the Duke of Safeldrick stiffened his slightly smiling face and slowly opened his mouth.

 

“What I said earlier was a trivial matter. Actually, there is a separate point. Lawrence, I have something to ask you.”

 

“Are you asking?”

 

He rolled his eyes with a slightly worried expression, but then his voice seemed to have made up his mind. It was a low, powerful, and serious voice.

 

“After this trial, leave the castle immediately. Don’t look back. If anyone catches you, say my name and leave right away. Don’t get caught.”

 

I also had no intention of looking back once the trial was over. However, hearing those words from Duke Safeldrick’s mouth felt a little different, so I waited for his next words. However, Duke Safeldrick did not say anything and just waited for a moment. He quietly looked into my eyes as if waiting to see what reaction I would get. Should I open my mouth first?

 

“Hat…”

 

What should I say? Should I ask why, or should I answer that I knew? As I hesitated, not knowing which answer was correct, Duke Safeldrick opened his mouth again.

 

“Do you think there is a fool who drinks a poisoned glass even after knowing that it contains poison?”

 

“Poison in a glass?”

 

“It is not a deadly poison that immediately kills you as soon as you inhale it. However, there is no way to detoxify it, so it is a poison that eats away at your body very slowly and eventually causes death. What would you do if you drank that poison and gained enormous wealth and power? Tenga?”

 

Duke Safeldrick drew a line between his eyebrows.

 

“Do you want to drink?”

 

In what sense are you asking? There were many different situations that came to mind, but he couldn’t speak out hastily, so he hesitated for a moment to gather his thoughts. He also didn’t raise his voice again, as if waiting for my answer. There was a moment of silence. The answer came out of my mouth as I organized my thoughts.

 

“Maybe I should drink it.”

 

“Why? You might die.”

 

“Then all you have to do is die. If you desire enormous wealth and power, wouldn’t you be able to drink as much as you want? If you are that desperate.”

 

If you had handed me that glass before I returned to the past, I think I would have drunk it without fail. At that time, I wanted to make these two people feel the same way I felt, even if it meant selling my soul to the devil.

 

Duke Safeldrick looked at me quietly and gently raised the corner of his mouth.

 

“Do you want to eat it, Duke?”

 

“Me? It’s just me, it’s unconditional, and if I die slowly, doesn’t that mean I don’t know when I’ll die? It might be in 100 years, 200 years, or 50 years. I’m going to die if I live anyway, just I will eat and enjoy wealth and fame.”

 

“I agree.”

 

I smiled and he responded with a smile too. Why did you ask this question? Duke Safeldrick chuckled and then slowly shook his head.

 

“But you can’t do that this time. No matter how sweet the cup is, you must not take it. You must shake it off. Inside that cup is a very, very bad poison. A very, very bad, very bad poison.”

 

“For example?”

 

“For example, what would you do if I gave you a cup containing Beralt’s life?”

 

“…”

 

His smiling face hardened. I was momentarily shocked by what he said and couldn’t say anything. It was a suggestion he had never thought of or thought about. The moment he heard that, his expression hardened and he could not give any answer.

 

“What do you think? Would you like a drink?”

 

My heart was pounding. Even though the cup was not actually handed to me in front of my eyes, many random thoughts were mixed in. I want to drink. I wanted to drink it right away. If I could put that person’s life in my mouth, chew it and swallow it, I wanted to drink it no matter what poison it was. Drink? No, I could have shoved even ten glasses into my mouth. If it’s that guy’s life…

 

“I think I’d like a drink.”

 

“Why? If you drink that cup, you will lose everything. Not immediately, but one by one, everything around you will leave. Starting with your followers, your friends, your family, and finally your lover. How about that? Ian’s presence to you. “Is it worth less than Beralt’s life? Your grandfather’s life? Are the two people who care for you and care for you worth less than Beralt’s life?”

 

I felt my pounding heart calm down a little. My heart, which was obsessed with a vague desire for revenge and was busy pounding instead of flowing, began to move again. Only then did I realize that I had stopped breathing, and the moment I exhaled with a ‘thud’, I heard Prince Sadric’s voice again.

 

“That’s what a glass of poison is that you can’t refuse. It has a sweetness that I’ve never thought of before. But you have to be careful and watch out for the poison in it. Do you understand?”

 

“…yes.”

 

I bit my lip. Even though the glass was not actually in front of my eyes, I felt deeply disappointed in myself for not being able to control my emotions and trying to act emotionally. I still hadn’t grown up. Although I always said I had to make decisions rationally, in the end I was still emotional and impulsive.

 

“Grandpa will be angry if he finds out.”

 

“Even though his personality has died, his old fiery self still remains. Not long ago, he came to me and gave me a punch before leaving.”

 

“Have you met? Recently?”

 

“Well, let’s do it later when we have time.”

 

He smiled and stood up. He got up and tried to see him off, but Duke Safeldrick shook his hand as if it was okay and turned away. He looked behind him as he walked away, then sat back down weakly and let out a low breath. I pressed my palm against my still pounding heart and closed my eyes. It felt like all the emotions I had been suppressing were coming back up and messing with my head. I didn’t know why Duke Safeldrick said these things to me, but from a few simple words of conversation, I could see how complacent I had been in drawing conclusions and simplifying his thoughts. Ian always told me to be open to many possibilities. Is this what it means?

 

“Miss, are you okay?”

 

I removed his hand and opened my eyes to see Ollye’s face looking at me with concern. Her face frowned. I ignored all other people’s existence and only thought about my own revenge. Abandoning the memories and future we would build with them.

 

“It’s okay. Should I go now?”

 

He patted Ollye’s head, who nodded with worried eyes, and then stood up. I once again told Ollye, who was following me, that it was okay, then put on the top she gave me and slowly moved her legs. I felt like a lot of weight was being placed on every step I took towards the judge’s place. Because my actions and conclusions will all change the future. It’s not something you can put a price on. Many things that I understood and accepted in my head hit my heart again. What I understood and accepted was a calculated perspective. So, I guess I told Yuli not to worry because I will take care of your food bowl. I felt sorry for Ollie, who was crying and yelling at me. All relationships were evaluated from two perspectives: profit and loss. The only thing related to Beralt was being emotional. My tilted parallel weight regained its center and moved. To be able to deal with things and people a little more emotionally than the parallel weight that moves between simple gains and losses.

 

‘Ian…’

 

I stood in front of the judge and took a deep breath. His voice seemed to pass by.

 

I chuckled as I remembered his face, unable to figure out why you liked this inhumane me. I guess I’ll have to have a serious conversation when I get back.

 

“Let’s go in.”

 

Slowly I moved my feet. I put my body into the open minute. Now, face it There were issues that need to be addressed.

 

“Welcome.”

 

I looked away. The silence of the courtroom, which was filled with quite a few people, seemed to be oppressing me. When I looked up, I saw Duke Safeldrick sitting in what appeared to be the highest seat, smiling. I turned my head again. I saw a lot of people, but I could immediately feel his gaze looking at me passionately.

 

“…”

 

I bit my lip and met Beralt’s eyes looking at me. Me in the past and me now, nothing has changed, but the problems I face are definitely starting to change somewhere. When I returned to the past, I couldn’t even think about revenge. All I could do was run away. I was only afraid that if I couldn’t escape now, I might experience the same future again. But it was different now. Beralt came up to me with a smile and greeted me nicely.

 

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Miss Lawrence.”

 

That voice sounded horrifyingly disgusting. In the past, I would have moved to avoid that voice. But there was no need for that now. Maybe revenge is my ultimate goal, but what does it matter?

 

“I see.”

 

I walked past Beralt to where I needed to be, stopping briefly next to him. I felt Beralt glance down at me. Without meeting his gaze, he opened his mouth.

 

“I’m going to get married.”

 

His shaking body proved that he was agitated by my words. At least the Beralt I know was so greedy that he didn’t want even a small coin taken away. If he thought it was his, he had to get it no matter what. That was the culmination of the greed that this man possessed. I, too, once thought he was mine, so this reaction would be natural. I rolled my eyes and looked at him.

 

“And you will be happy.”

 

After briefly watching Beralt open his body, Marge Park spoke.

 

“Groverilt.”

 

I wish you would get out of my life. The ultimate goal of my life is that I want to be happy, and that’s only one thing.

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note: