I Don’t Trust My Twin Sister

When I opened the door, I saw Ian sitting at an angle right in front of me. He looked up at the statue carved out of stone, then turned his head at my call and smiled.

 

“Are you finished talking?”

 

“Didn’t you leave earlier?”

 

I remembered him kicking out of his seat, saying he had to give instructions to his subordinates. The principality territory was more than 20 times larger than the Ajstain territory, so there were many places that needed to be protected. It was natural that giving orders and managing troops would take time. So, I wondered if he would return to Berdian territory soon, but I couldn’t help but wonder since he was smiling right in front of my eyes. Did you come to say hello?

 

“Are you going back now?”

 

“Where? To the territory?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“No. Since I’ve given the instructions, I’ll leave it to you. Even if I’m not there, there are a lot of capable people. There are a lot of people who will help you if the situation arises, so you don’t have to worry about that place.”

 

Even though an urgent situation was unfolding before his eyes, his relaxed expression struck me as strange. He seemed a bit relaxed, as if he had some trust. Are his subordinates’ abilities that outstanding? However, if nothing is certain, I think we need to go out to the field and give instructions at least a little longer. I crossed my arms and looked up at him. Ian smiled and tilted his head as if asking why.

 

“You don’t have to go back?”

 

“The instructions have already been given. Someone as trustworthy as me will be there to take my instructions and resolve the matter. And since Ajstain Territory is not a military state, if an explosion does not occur, Beralt may launch an armed war. I think it would be better if I stayed here. Ian, who is so confident, secretly wondered who would use the expression ‘as much as me’. Is there anyone who has any clues to solve this problem? When I looked at him inquisitively with coy eyes, Ian smiled.

 

“That person’s abilities are a bit unique. I wanted to bring him here, but I can’t leave the principality easily, he’s the leader of the security corps, and I have to protect the principality right now.”

 

I gave him a slight smile to express that it was okay to never give him another taste. Knowing that Ian was enough, and that I depended on him to a surprising degree, I thought about something I needed to discuss with him. I took out a piece of paper from my pocket and handed it to him. I took this plan and asked what it was. I looked at him and said:

 

“This is the expected list of people Rodilla told me about. Maybe not one of them survived. It’s just a guess.”

 

A quick investigation had already been completed through the Information Guild. He invested a huge amount of money into the information guild and felt rewarded by becoming something of an operator.

 

“I have instructed you to draw simple portraits and distribute them. They will also be distributed to Ian’s soldiers, so please give me instructions in advance.”

 

Ian looked away from the paper and grinned as he held me.

 

“Good job. Thank you for your hard work, Lawrence.”

 

“What about the hard work? It’s not over yet.”

 

He withdrew his hand from stroking my hair, took it out, and put back on the coat he was holding in his hand. As I walked past him, I heard footsteps following me and a calling sound.

 

“Are you going to go out yourself?”

 

“Yes. Everyone is going to have a hard time on site, so I have to help out as well.”

 

Fievel was shocked and tried to stop him, but he turned his head slightly to see if Ian would try to stop him as well. He nodded his head slowly as if it was no big deal. There’s no reaction? As I looked at him in confusion, Ian seemed to sense my gaze and smiled and tilted his head.

 

“What?”

 

“Is Ian okay?”

 

“What?”

 

“I am going to the scene myself and running around. Butler Fievel told me in advance to evacuate to a safe place. He said that both Grandfather and Ercia should evacuate as well. I gave instructions to respect each person’s will and let them stay where they want. But I got off.”

 

“I thought Ian would naturally react differently to what I said, but I was surprised because it didn’t seem like a big deal.”

 

Ian rubbed his chin and chuckled as he listened to me.

 

“Are you sad? Because I don’t seem to care about Lawrence?”

 

Is that what the story is about? I was just curious, but I thought it would sound like I was disappointed from Ian’s perspective, so I shook my head after thinking about it for a while. He smiled slightly at my answer and then looked in front of him.

 

“It’s Lawrence’s decision.”

 

Ian left a short comment and then opened his mouth.

 

“And I think that decision is right. Like Butler Fievel said, I also want Lawrence to wait in a safe place. Then I too will feel a little more at ease. But the woman I know named Lawrence is not that irresponsible.”

 

If you were an ordinary person, it would be okay to avoid far away. But if you are the next lord who is responsible for the lives of the people living on this land, if you are a person with that status and authority, you must protect what you want, even if it means risking your own life. That is what other people do. It’s the responsibility of someone who lives a richer life. And the person who will become my wife has that sense of responsibility more than anyone else, so doesn’t it sound like she’s being too generous in her evaluation of me?

 

“That’s why I’m going with you. To protect you just in case, the Principality is fine. But I’m worried about Aztain Territory and Lawrence. Even if I feel like rebelling, I want to surround you and take you far away, but I feel like I’ll be hated if I do that, so I have to do it like this.”

 

“What are you going to do if I make a mistake?”

 

I looked up at Ian, who suddenly stopped standing tall. He stared at me with unmoving eyes and then raised his hand. My gaze rose as I was guided by his hand lightly pulling on my chin. Naturally, his face came closer and his lips briefly collided and fell. What does this mean?

 

“I’ll bring you back even if it’s through the gates of hell. You won’t be able to escape from my side.”

 

A terrible obsession. If someone else had done it, it would have been so horrible that it would have given me goosebumps, but with his voice, even that obsession made me happy. He is similar to me, who gets absorbed in something and concentrates on it without looking around. So I quite liked the fact that his attention was focused on me. I gently pulled the corner of his mouth and gently pressed my fingers against his neck. His eyes narrowed.

 

“…I have a favor to ask.”

 

“Just say anything.”

 

I laughed happily while listening to Ian’s confident words. This person often has an expression full of fun and leisure. When we talk together, I often feel a little more relaxed and somehow leisurely. Even when things are overflowing right in front of your eyes and filling the floor, Ian erases them from your memory for a moment. Is that the charm of this man? I wanted to be imbued with his atmosphere even just a little bit.

 

“Even if something bad happens to me, please protect my family and the people of the territory.”

 

Ian’s expression hardened. I knew it too. How selfish and mean what I say is. The premise that I am wrong is a terrible idea, but if I were to die and disappear from this world, there would be no need for Ian to protect Aztain. However, if I am wrong about this, my family… Especially my grandfather, the day when my grandfather passed away is not over yet. That was something that had to be avoided at all costs. So even if I die, I wanted Ian to protect the family. By any means.

 

“Can you give it to me?”

 

Ian quietly looked down at me. Red eyes sparkled. His expression was tense due to a lot of worry. I followed his gaze and raised his hands, cupping the warm cheeks with the bottoms of both hands. Ian raised his arm, covered the back of his hand with his hand, and slowly opened his mouth.

 

“You’re greedy, Lawrence.”

 

“Rich people are naturally greedy.”

 

As I grinned, Ian also burst into laughter. I didn’t avoid his approaching lips. His warm touch always felt like a hand that soothed my empty heart. His hands are soft. I could feel him wrapping his arms around my waist and giving me some strength. It seemed as if he was trying everything he had ever seen, and he wanted everything from me. Even without saying or seeing, I could tell just by his wriggling hands. He smiled as he felt his hands moving around his waist like a hungry hyena looking for a place to go.

 

“Why are you laughing…”

 

I grinned at Ian’s grumbling voice as he parted his lips and grumbled, as if he was a little upset.

 

“We need to get married quickly. If this continues, Ian, I’m dying of sorrow.”

 

“What?”

 

“Let’s go quickly. We have to resolve this, right? Isn’t that possible for us to have the slightly more advanced relationship that Ian always talks about?”

 

I took a step forward, showing my back, and then lifted his waist slightly. He was looking at me blankly. He smiled and gestured.

 

“Let’s go, Ian.”

 

He rolled his eyes at my voice and looked at me. He then grinned and lifted his chin slightly. As always, he had a confident and relaxed expression. Ian came over to me and stood next to me. It would be too selfish to hope that the path you walk with him will always be happy.

 

“How many children do you think it would be good to have?”

 

“Are you already thinking that way?”

 

“I think a daughter would be best. A daughter who looks like Lawrence.”

 

“Nope.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I thought that if I had a daughter, you would like her more than me. Are you saying I should be jealous of the baby?”

 

“No way. For me, Lawrence is the best.”

 

“Then you don’t need any children?”

 

“That’s a little…”

 

A chuckle came out of my mouth. Nothing had been resolved yet, but as long as I was with Ian, it felt like this would just pass by. Just like his grandfather used to say. I found it cute to see him having a hard time just looking at me, so I smiled.

 

* * *

 

Following the knights and soldiers who had already completed their preparations and departed, I also completed preparations and mounted my horse. Riding a horse wasn’t a very familiar experience, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t ride it at all, and I was able to imitate it quite well. I saddled my grandfather’s favorite horse and hoisted himself up. Ian, who was looking at me from the side, tilted his head. Why do you do that?

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“No, I think the words are too loud.”

 

“Ah, this is my grandfather’s horse. I chose this horse because it was the fastest and calmest horse.”

 

Ian rubbed his chin and looked at me, then raised his eyebrows and looked at his horse’s hooves. He put his horse’s hoof on the box, looked at it, and clicked his tongue. What’s strange?

 

“Get off, Lawrence. If you go on this, you’ll be in big trouble.”

 

“Why?”

 

The horseshoes on the horses’ hooves are old and worn out. It looks like they have been maintained consistently, but seeing that they haven’t been sharpened means either the coachman was lazy or Viscount Ajstain gave instructions. Usually, when a horseshoe is sharpened, the cross section of that part is awkward, making it difficult to travel long distances.

 

“There is a high risk of falling off the horse when riding, so some riders don’t sharpen their horseshoes often, and I think that’s probably why.”

 

Is it? I widened my eyes because it was my first time hearing this story. Ian reached out his hand and grabbed me by the waist, lifting me up and lowering me to the ground. What was it just now? I stared at him blankly, amazed at his strength as he carried me so comfortably, as if he were carrying a light burden. Although the weather wasn’t hot, he rolled up his sleeves slightly as if it was uncomfortable to move, so his forearms were clearly exposed. Even though it wasn’t white enough to be transparent, I could see strong muscles moving under the moderately tanned skin. Visible veins flowed down the back of his hand like rain. When the employees working at the castle complimented the man’s biceps, I wondered why, but after seeing this, I think I understand a little…

 

“Let’s ride my horse together. It’s the horse you ride on the battlefield, so it’s safe because you won’t be surprised by anything. And if you ride with me, there’s less risk of falling.”

 

“…is it so?”

 

As I approached Ian, he naturally wrapped his hands around my waist again and made me sit down on his horse. Although I felt like a burden, my heart trembled with a strange excitement. As if he had done this before, Ian also got ready and got on the back. He stretched the reins out in front of my body, then took a stable stance and slowly drove the horse. I quietly leaned my back against Ian’s chest, feeling that the speed was not that fast. It’s cozy.

 

“Ian.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“You didn’t lie to me because you didn’t trust my horseback riding skills, right?”

 

“Ian?”

 

Ian?!

 

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Translator Note: