I Don’t Trust My Twin Sister

Ian came in with a rather stern face and gave me a sweet smile and a harsh voice to Duke Safeldrick.

 

“If you say that, you’ll think I’m really trying to assassinate His Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

“Is not it?”

 

“No.”

 

It’s just… I never thought his voice would be so sweet as he speaks slightly. It was more than twice the sweetness I felt from Duke Safeldrick earlier. It feels like honey is dripping!

 

“I was thinking of cutting off the hand of the person who tried to stab who would be my wife.”

 

“Huh, that’s very merciful.”

 

The sound of Duke Safeldrick’s laughter rang out next to him, as if he was making a joke. As his laughter grew louder, Prince Deoreden’s face crumpled. He was very angry at Duke Safeldrick for laughing so wantonly in front of the next emperor, but he could not stop him. Ian ignored him and came up to me, smiled, and hugged me lightly. I raised my head from his warm and cozy embrace.

 

“When did you come?”

 

“Just before.”

 

He had a very sorry face. It felt good to have his hands gently stroking his hair.

 

“Why are you making that face?”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“What?”

 

I couldn’t understand why I was sorry, so I asked back. I wondered if he had done something bad to me, but nothing in particular came to mind. Ian smiled bitterly at my question and immediately turned his head. His gaze fell on the crown prince.

 

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

 

He did not give the title of Emperor to the Crown Prince. The voice was extremely cold and low, and even contained a subtle sense of life. Ian’s anger was unfamiliar to me. How many times has he gotten angry? Except when he criticized me for my reckless gambling the other day, he never got angry. His anger was cold. He was burning hot, not with the kind of heat that would burn someone. It was like frost that was so cold that it seemed like it would freeze to the touch.

 

“It’s been such a long time since I last saw you, and I’m sorry that you witnessed such a horrible scene.”

 

“Grand Duke Berdian.”

 

“I don’t know why he did this, but consider yourself lucky that crown Prince didn’t hit my wife-to-be with those hands.”

 

There was a hint of murder at the end of his words. The hand that held me gained strength.

 

“If that were the case, the crown prince of this country might change.”

 

“Now…”

 

The crown prince’s hands trembled and his voice wavered. Although it seemed like he could not hold back his rising anger, the crown prince’s expression showed embarrassment. The crown prince, who seemed to have nothing to stop him, was unable to make any rebuttal to Ian, who dared to say something so outrageous that it could be considered treason. Other than biting his lip and clenching his fists,

 

“Are you threatening me now?”

 

Ian was silent. He turned his head and looked down at me. The life and energy that I had felt until just a moment ago were nowhere to be found. Only warm hands and a soft smile greeted me. But when his gaze returned, his eyes were completely free of emotion.

 

“The Berdian family has been in step with the history of the empire for over 500 years. They swore allegiance and stood at the forefront, ensuring the safety of this country and playing a major role in helping the empire become a military powerhouse. I did my best. But to be honest, I am very disappointed, Crown Prince.”

 

Ian paused. When I closed my eyes and opened them, the atmosphere became a little more brutal.

 

“I don’t mind putting direct pressure on my family, as long as it brings balance to this country. But if it means hurting and bleeding someone dear to me, you better be prepared. Behind the shield that protects this country. You will feel for yourself which sword was sleeping.”

 

“Ian Carrillo Berdian! You mean…!”

 

“Hahaha! I guess that’s true. If you treat a family that has sacrificed their lives for the country so poorly for hundreds of years, then of course there will be such consequences. Isn’t that how loyalty is rewarded, Your Highness?”

 

“Duke Safeldrick!”

 

Duke Safeldrick, who had been laughing, stopped laughing and opened his eyes to look at the crown prince. Although he was not a murderous man, he was the owner of a ducal family in this country with a fearsome spirit. Ian gave his advice with sincerity.

 

“You better be careful. Make sure you know that the position you stand on was not created entirely in the name of the imperial family. Many people shed their blood to protect that position, and even more people’s sweat and effort went into it. Your Majesty, the Crown Prince, must know that, although the owner of this country is the Emperor, it is the efforts of others that maintain that position.”

 

“How dare you… how dare you try to teach me about the position of emperor over me and the survival of this country?”

 

“I wish I could teach you so you can understand, but unfortunately I am not your tutor.”

 

“Safeldrick…!”

 

The crown prince gritted his teeth at his sharp words.

 

“What happened today…”

 

Ian’s voice rang out. The crown prince’s gaze fell on him this time. Ian squinted his eyes.

 

“I will not forget. I will keep quiet about the fact that the crown prince is a star, but if the blade of anger turns into revenge and is directed at someone other than me…”

 

Ian held his breath and let it out slowly. His mood seemed to have calmed down a bit, but the words that came out of his mouth were without hesitation.

 

“You will be able to see how the two swords that support the imperial family change into different forms.”

 

“…”

 

The crown prince looked at the two people in turn. The sight of him grinding his teeth was extremely pitiful. His face was crumpled so miserably that it was impossible to see him as a man who had been shouting and believing in his authority and power until now. The crown prince, who had been breathing heavily for a while and unable to control his anger, suddenly burst into laughter. Ian frowned.

 

“…Okay. Anyway, it’s not like I didn’t know what the two of you were thinking, so I’ll just leave. But you’d better think about it carefully. What kind of words are you guys spewing at me just now, and who are they talking about?”

 

“It’s pointless to worry.”

 

“Hah!”

 

The crown prince snorted loudly and looked at Ian before turning his gaze to me. Ian hugged my body slightly closer and made a gesture to hide it. The crown prince sneered.

 

“They said they were playing among themselves, but now that the arrogant things are grouped together, there is no such thing as unsightly behavior.”

 

He ruffled his hair and his face changed into his signature soft smile. I was almost speechless at the extraordinary change in his expression.

 

“After talking so proudly, you ended up being held in a man’s arms and unable to say anything… I’m so disappointed, Lady Lawrence, I guess I overestimated you. It’s a shame.”

 

Are you provoking me? Since they couldn’t win against those two people, I couldn’t help but laugh as I wondered if they were targeting me this time. But the crown prince did not stop his words.

 

“Please think carefully about what I said. Lady Lawrence is the one who kicked you even if you gave her the chance, so don’t regret it no matter what the consequences are in the future.”

 

The sight of him just saying what he wanted to say and leaving the room was extremely petty. All of the evaluations of him circulating in the world were false. All evaluations of the crown prince as being kind, good, and talented and popular throughout the world, and as a true next monarch who generously looked after the people, were all nonsense. Well, this is why rumors can’t be trusted, Lawrence declared.

 

“That won’t happen.”

 

He stopped while walking. But didn’t look at me. Looking at the side of his face, I also said my last words to him.

 

“And I will remember what happened today. I will always remember this day when you pushed me and tried to threaten me. Even if you ascend to the throne, Your Majesty.”

 

The Crown Prince flinched at his last words and turned his head to look at me. His face was cold and stiff. When I met his eyes, he clicked his tongue low and turned his head.

 

“I’ll remember that too.”

 

I followed his disappearing figure through the closed door with my eyes and turned to look at Ian. He was smiling. He thought he’d like to meet this guy, but he never thought he’d meet this way. Did the shoulder situation end up like this? He even got into an argument with the crown prince, whom he had difficulty meeting once in his life. If you think about it with common sense, a conversation with this country’s hostility would inevitably result in a miserable response from the emperor, but instead, I felt relieved. It wasn’t scary, was it because of this man?

 

“Well, didn’t I tell you to leave the castle without looking back, Miss Lawrence?”

 

He clicked his tongue and turned his head slightly at the voice scolding me. Duke Sapeldrick had his arms crossed and a disapproving expression on his face.

 

“I told you in advance that something like this would happen, but why are you so confused?”

 

If I had listened to what he said, this wouldn’t have happened.

 

“Sorry.”

 

“Well, there’s nothing to be sorry about. It’s probably my fault I should have explained it in more detail. I had no idea that the crown prince would make the move himself. I thought it might happen, but it turned out to be a reality. I should have paid a little more attention.”

 

“No. Duke Safeldrick did nothing wrong. Moreover, because of me, you two made disturbing remarks to the crown prince, which made him angry, so that was also my fault…”

 

“Look. I said I was going to say that, right?”

 

“Yes?”

 

Huh? What…? Uh? The sound of Ian’s laughter came from above his head. Why are you smiling? I opened my eyes wide.

 

“Hey, Grand Duke Berdian? As I told you, the woman who will be your wife is so kind. Incredibly kind, too, and so pure that she can’t be considered a granddaughter born and raised by that scary and eccentric Viscount Ajstain.”

 

Me? Am I pure and kind? What kind of absurd thing are you saying?

 

“That’s right. It would have been better if you were a little more cunning like a fox and sneakier like a wolf.”

 

He looked down at me, not yet understanding the situation, and grinned. What are you talking about, Ian? I blinked.

 

“I like that aspect. It’s lovely though.

 

“…If you can’t speak, well. Anyway, now that the situation is like this, the checks will probably become more severe. Let’s talk later and go back.”

 

The situation won’t get any better if you put it on.

 

“All right.”

 

I looked at Ian from afar, who had finally let go of me from his arms. Duke Safeldrick, who was standing behind him, clicked his tongue again.

 

“Lawrence, you should know very well how ignorant this guy is.”

 

“Ignorant?”

 

This guy? It doesn’t suit him at all,

 

“You just thought it was out of place, right? But this guy is so ignorant, he came fully prepared to turn this place upside down if something happens to you. With just a wave of his hand, the knights of the scary Berdian family will trash this place. I would have made it, that damn bastard, just threatened me.”

 

“You mean a threat… Did Ian threaten you?”

 

I narrowed my eyes at the sight of him scratching his cheek with a shy face.

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note: