I Don’t Trust My Twin Sister

 

“No, no matter what, I also feel responsible for driving your generation to the brink of destruction.”

 

“You don’t have to think that way. I think this incident stemmed from a simple misunderstanding. Also, where my seal was copied from and who stole my seal and copied it are issues I need to find out a little more about. There is no need for you to take responsibility.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

He snorted and tilted his torso slightly, resting his elbows on the table and spreading his chin. The action continued smoothly and flexibly, like calling water. The crown prince smiled as his eyes turned to his arm. My body seemed to stiffen from his good-natured smile.

 

‘That laugh…’

 

A smile that I have seen many times. It was a laugh that was all too familiar to me. A good smile, or rather, clothes that try to look good. The smile that just quietly tugged at the corners of his mouth as if there was nothing planned was a smile that Beralt often made. There was deadly poison in that smile. If you hold the hand that extends out to you with its goodness, it will spread through your entire body and become a fatal poison that will eventually take your life. I pushed down my body that was flinching and forced myself to return the smile. Prince Deoremen tapped the table with his other hand and looked at me as if measuring something.

 

“Lady Lawrence is just as I heard.”

 

“Yes?”

 

‘Just like you heard?’

 

“They say that she is a confident and courageous woman, and that she built Viscount Ajstain into a family with great support based on her outstanding abilities. She is humble and humbles herself in relationships with people, which is attractive, so it is very uncomfortable to talk to her. I said there wasn’t. I don’t have to say anything about my beauty, but it’s widely known, so you know it without me saying anything, right?”

 

If someone else had said something unfamiliar to me, I would have laughed and waved my hand, but the words he said had a different feel. It felt like a butcher evaluating livestock and gave me goosebumps.

 

“…That’s too much praise.”

 

“No, no.”

 

He waved his hand exaggeratedly.

 

“That’s an overstatement, but I’m not a person who can say empty words, so I want you to know that I told it like it is.”

 

“…In that case, I gratefully accept the compliment.”

 

“Haha.”

 

He laughed cheerfully. I felt like something was stopping me. It is true that there is an insurmountable class wall between me and the crown prince, but the crown prince’s speaking style was very uncomfortable. I felt like I would jump out of my seat at any moment because of the discomfort of dealing with Beralt. While I was struggling to push myself down and continue the conversation with him, he slightly changed his relaxed gaze towards me.

 

“So, what do you think? I have done a very big mistake to Lady Lawrence, so I would like to give her a nice gift as an apology.”

 

“A gift…”

 

“Will you take it?”

 

I don’t know what it is, but wouldn’t the conversation end when I receive a gift? I tried to reply that I would accept it right away out of mere thought, but I answered too hastily and it was no good, so I turned away for now.

 

“May I ask what kind of gift it is?”

 

“Well, it’s nothing special.”

 

He leaned his upper body back. He looked relaxed and bored.

 

“This is punishment for the person who accused Lady Lawrence of guilt with trivial evidence.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I’ll put it simply.”

 

The crown prince’s eyes were calm. His voice was at a pleasant pitch and his hand gestures were not particularly excessive or static. His appearance was flawless, as if to show that he was the perfect next ruler who had been educated in everything about kings.

 

“I will place Marquis Beralt Akpensia on the execution ground. How do you feel?”

 

However, the words that the flawless man spoke were so shocking that I was so scared that I didn’t know what to say. Are you talking about Beralt’s life by putting him on the execution ground?

 

“Due to his inaccurate grounds, a family almost disappeared. Moreover, even though he carried out the work in the name of the high-ranking imperial family, he was eventually found not guilty. This is like inflicting irreparable damage on the name of the imperial family. No, is that so?”

 

He couldn’t bear to answer. As he said, the meaning of the summons borrowed in the name of the imperial family had the same weight as the emperor’s edict. In most cases brought to trial by subpoena, there is accurate and clear evidence. Moreover, the crimes were often serious. That is why most knights arrest criminals and bring them directly to prison. You can’t run away anywhere. However, perhaps because the evidence was insufficient, I came freely, attended the trial, and was found not guilty. It is safe to say that this put a big scratch on the name of the royal family. He could have received the stigma of having been placed on the bench to destroy an innocent family.

 

“It was not an unconditional verdict of guilty in the trial that took place after sending out a summons. When I searched for precedents, it was written that in the rare cases where acquittal was declared, the person who took the lead in holding this trial would be judged. If not judged, false evidence would be used. They said they would punish him severely because it could serve as a means of keeping a family in check. The most recent punishment was beheading.”

 

“Yes?”

 

The crown prince touched his neck. Aside from his calm hand gestures, the words coming out of his mouth were nothing short of creepy.

 

“I’ll cut off his head. For giving false testimony.”

 

He smiled softly. The expression on his face was so natural that the words he had just heard seemed insignificant as he was intoxicated with that laughter.

 

“So, if Lady Lawrence wants, I can behead the Marquis of Alpensia. Oh, of course, the first thing to do is to interrogate him and find out whether he really intended to harm Lady Lawrence or not. In the process, the Marquis of Alpensia can be found to have been intentional. If he did this with malicious intent, he will be executed under the solemn name of the imperial family.”

 

“…”

 

Logical and ideal. The punishment is certain and fair. There is nothing against me. He was saying very sweet things.

 

“What do you think? If Lady Lawrence wishes, if she accepts the gift I recommend, will the Marquis of Alpensia be punished? Even if he is not put on the execution ground, he will at least be punished by having his title revoked or demoted.”

 

Clasp your hands together and smile slowly with a relaxed face. The eyes looking at me did not waver. He wasn’t looking at me or observing me. It literally sounded like a proposal made entirely for me. It was confusing and confusing. I had to figure out the purpose of his words, but each and every one of them hit like a storm. How should I react? How should I answer? He was smiling. It felt like my one answer would really turn Beralt into a executioner. He had the ability and the will to do so. But why? Why do they want to sacrifice Beralt, the central point of the emerging nobility? Is Beralt just a throwaway word to him? Probably not. Beralt was a powerful person who could be granted the title of duke if the crown prince inherited the throne. It made no sense to abandon him like that. Then why?

 

“Can I ask you a question?” I should have answered why, but I couldn’t organize my thoughts, so I turned around. The crown prince chuckled at my question and nodded.

 

“As I said before, it is both an apology to Lady Lawrence and a gift from me. It is also a procedure to correct the foundation of the nation.”

 

It was a good excuse to hear. According to what he said, there was no need for my permission or decision. Just do it if you want to. If you wanted to apologize, it would be enough for the crown prince to come to you in person and say he was sorry. Besides, it’s a gift. 

 

My eyes narrowed. Gift. This word was annoying. Why is dealing with Beralt a gift to me? He simply punishes those who falsely accused him. What is his intention in calling something that could have been said as a gift? He thought for a moment and then shook his head. There was no exact answer. It was not clear what the crown prince wanted. I’m sure they won’t try to build a connection with the two dukedoms based on me. Rather, should I endure them? I couldn’t help but sigh because his purpose was probably to strengthen the emperor’s authority. He couldn’t pinpoint his intentions. But one thing was certain.

 

“Your Majesty the Crown Prince.”

 

“You tell me.”

 

I opened my eyes and looked straight at him. Without retreating even an inch, I looked into his eyes and spoke softly and forcefully.

 

“I am fine.”

 

“Why? He framed you and the entire Ajstain family, right? You’re angry and resentful, don’t you?”

 

I didn’t pay much attention to the change in the crown prince’s face as he slightly raised his eyebrows with an interesting expression. That wasn’t important.

 

“I’m angry. I feel unfair and resentful. If I reacted incorrectly or made a mistake, it could have been wrong for me, my family, and the people who depend on me.”

 

“But you don’t want him to be punished?”

 

“I want it.”

 

“Then…”

 

“But.”

 

I rudely interrupted the prince’s speech in the middle, but I didn’t feel like I was particularly afraid or rude. He was already looking at me. He tempted me with a glass filled with very sweet poison. Is this what Duke Safeldrick was talking about? Did he even foresee this situation? Same example, same presentation. He smiled slightly as he remembered what it would have been like if he had received this offer without listening to the duke.

 

“I hope it happens regardless of my will.”

 

“…Why?”

 

Many thoughts ran through my head, but the answer was simple. He tugged at the corner of his mouth.

 

“I don’t want to have anything to do with that man, and I don’t want to hear any more about Beralt. If he digs his own grave and disappears into the dew of the execution, that would be exhilarating and enjoyable in its own way. But I didn’t want that to be my decision.”

 

Revenge. That’s just it, it didn’t impress me at all. So there’s no reason to get involved. The crown Prince just looked at me, chuckled, and stood up. I followed his movements and stood up, and he waved his hand.

 

“I came to you rudely and said something rude. Please forget about it.”

 

“I’ll forget it.”

 

“…”

 

He laughed as if he was taken aback and then burst out laughing. He smiled and shook his head.

 

“Haha…! Really, I want this… So, it’s because I have this type of personality, right? I understand.”

 

I quietly watched him open the door and leave. As he headed toward the door, he suddenly stopped. He looked up curiously.

 

“Is Lady Lawrence in a romantic relationship with AGrand Duke Berdian?”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

Since it wasn’t a question worth considering, I answered it plainly. He grinned.

 

“It’s a good time.”

 

The age difference between he and me makes me feel like a young old woman….

 

“There will be many difficult times ahead. To be honest, I think that the combination of the Berdian family and the Ajstain family may lead to the birth of a monster.”

 

“A monster?”

 

When he turned his head diagonally and rolled his eyes, his eyes were sharper than anything he had shown before. My body reacted to the change.

 

“With force, wealth, and power all united into one point, everyone will probably pay attention.”

 

“That…”

 

“I don’t know…I don’t know, but there will be a lot of noise.”

 

Does that mean we are a thorn in the side? When I looked at him without answering, he looked cold.

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