I Don’t Trust My Twin Sister

In fact, like all flower festivals, it was a festival where all there was to see was flowers. In particular, as it was far from the capital, it was a bit far for ordinary people to enjoy. For this reason, most of the people staying at the lodgings and villas located here and there were nobles or merchants doing business. A festival was not a type of festival where someone led a party, hosted an event, and made a profit. It was a concept of a maze vacation with many meanings, looking at flowers and enjoying relaxation. The lord in charge of the Sainte-Velle region tried to develop highly profitable products during the period when rape blossoms bloomed here, but there were no cases where the nobles bought items sold on the street, and there were no leisure activities such as gambling at the nobles’ festivals. It’s been a long time since I gave up because I couldn’t prepare for it. It was just that the more people visited, the more revitalized the villages and cities in the Sainte-Belle region were, so they were satisfied with the profits generated from that area.

I wandered outside wearing a white dress and a pink large-brimmed hat. It has already been more than 30 minutes since Ersia disappeared after going into the room saying she would get ready. In the end, the exhausted grandfather took the first step and disappeared, saying he would have a conversation with Beppe, and I also left to give Benson and Ercia some quality time. Except for a few escort knights following me from afar, it was a quiet and peaceful flower viewing experience. With the rape blossoms in full bloom and waves of scent, it felt like I was floating on clouds when I closed my eyes. As I sat down on a mat in a shady place and stared at the sky, a cool breeze blew. In the middle of spring, I was waiting for summer to come. The cold winter left us all embracing the wounds that had been inflicted on us. I, too, was able to escape the pain of a long time and find some peace. In peace, silence was rest, and conceptual tranquility was revealed as stability in reality.

“I’m free.”

It was a three-day vacation, but it was funny to think about how many years I had worked hard to enjoy these three days, and why I ran as if I was being chased because it was so difficult and burdensome when I could have relaxed a little. Before we knew it, the sky sent down clouds like evil, giving us a sense of warmth. But why do I feel like something is missing? I lowered my head and looked to the side. A place that should always be filled was strangely empty. At some point, I realized that Ian’s presence had grown significantly. Even though he wasn’t always next to me, it felt like he was always there. A person who was not in my life before. But now, I don’t have anyone who can’t live without me. The empty space of that very precious person seemed empty, as if blown away by the wind.

I wondered when I would come back, so I leaned my back and head against the tree and closed my eyes. Anyway, there are drivers at a certain distance and there are no people around, so it would be okay to take a little rest. I quietly enjoyed the wind.

* * *

A cool wind blew and disheveled my hair. Her body felt a little cold. When I opened my eyes, I felt that my body was slightly tilted. Still, it was more comfortable than uncomfortable. It was a little warm, and I could see the blanket covering my body at an angle and the back of a large hand holding my hand. When I slowly raised my head, I was met with a soft smile and beautiful ruby-like eyes.

“Are you awake??

An ecstatic voice. The voice that only reached me rang several times like an echo in my ears. The slightly wrinkled mouth, gently curved eyes, and even the hand caressing my cheek. Ian’s golden hair fluttered against the background of the beautiful sky. After confirming that my head was touching his shoulder, I moved slightly and his hand gently pressed my head again.

“You can look forward to it more. You seem tired.”

“…When did you come?”

“Just now.”

Just now? I glanced down at the blanket covering me and raised my head. The sunset had not set yet. It doesn’t seem like a long time has passed.

“Did I sleep long?”

“About 30 minutes? That’s what the technicians said.”

I stood up again, pulled down the blanket to cover my knees, and stretched out. His hand came to my shoulder and gently pressed it. I closed my eyes slightly, feeling my body relax from the cool feeling. Goosebumps appeared as Ian’s muscles relaxed along the path of his hand.

As I let out a languid sigh, Ian quietly stood behind him and wrapped his arms around him. He placed his cheek next to mine and smiled.

“Good?”

Normally, I would have been embarrassed, but I closed my eyes slightly without thinking about the sensation I felt behind me.

“I felt it last time too, but Ian, do you know that you’re good at massage?”

“I’ve been doing it for over 10 years, so it’s natural.”

“Does it feel good if I massage your neck with your own hands?”

“No, not at all. I just feel relaxed, but I don’t feel good or anything like that.”

is it. Well, I didn’t feel that cool when I massaged my neck with my hands. However, when Ian pressed on me, I felt like I was being really pressed and all the fatigue went away from my body.

“It was hard to come.”

“Not at all.”

“It’s a long way away.”

“I’m coming to see Lawrence, but that’s about it. I can go even if I’m on the other side of the continent.”

I thought he was exaggerating a bit, but it wasn’t bad to hear. Although it felt a little unfamiliar before, I now heard a familiar voice, so I turned my neck slightly and kissed his cheek lightly. Ian glanced at me and then pressed his lips to my cheek.

“Did you wait long?”

“I thought you couldn’t come. The reply said that you couldn’t move even a single step because the documents were piled up like a mountain. I thought it would come on the last day.”

“It said so?”

“Yes. Isn’t that what Ian said?”

“…”

He wrinkled his expression strangely and then sighed. When I looked at him wondering why, Ian opened his mouth with a puzzled expression.

“No way. That’s definitely…”

Ian’s expression, which had been shaking his head vigorously in denial, seemed to crumple again, but then he let out a sigh. His eyes returned from staring somewhere.

“Sorry, I think grandpa was playing a prank.”

“If it’s your grandfather… that old butler?”

“Ugh. I had a hard time because I had a lot of work to do. But I finished it all this morning and passed it on, so there won’t be any problem.”

* * *

At the same time, the old butler of the Berdian mansion opened his mouth, his eyes deepening with wrinkles that revealed his age.

“…Are you saying he ran away?”

“Well… I heard he was going for lunch, and while I was going out to rest for a while, he disappeared. Seeing that the Grand Duke’s horse also disappeared, I guess…”

“Ha.”

* * *

As I looked at him suspiciously, Ian smiled coolly. The dominant thought was that there was no way the old butler could have lied, but since Ian said he wasn’t a fan, I had no choice but to believe it. I leaned back slightly and was able to fall into Ian’s arms and be hugged. He closed his eyes lazily, looking up at the sky in his arms.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. It feels like I’ve seen you for the first time in a year.”

“That’s surprising. I didn’t think Lawrence would say something like that.”

“Sure?”

When he raised his head slightly and rolled his eyes, Ian pulled the corner of his mouth and smiled.

“I thought you would say in a chic way, ‘It’s been a while. I saw you two weeks ago, so I don’t have to say it’s nice to meet you, right?’”

“No way.”

“It’s real? That makes me even more happy.”

He pulled me into his arms with both hands, hugged me, and nuzzled his cheek against my head. I heard a grinning sound and raised my head slightly, and his lips came softly and placed a light kiss on the tip of his nose.

“Wha…!”

I was surprised. As I froze in shock, thinking it was on my lips, Ian hugged me tightly from behind with a cheerful smile and closed his eyes.

“I thought I was dying because I missed you.”

“…”

As he tried to express his embarrassment, his voice caught a hint, and Ian held his hand a little more tightly and hugged him.

“I’ll stay like this for a little while.”

“…Am I the mother bird?”

“No, baby bird, I was so worried about being away that I thought I was going to die. It wasn’t like this before, but it’s gotten worse these days.”

“Hold on a little. Anyway, I closed my mouth to say, ‘We’re going to get married and live together’ before summer came. It wasn’t wrong or a lie, but it felt unfamiliar and embarrassing, so I pursed my lips, and Ian’s gaze caught my attention as if he was waiting for me to say something. It’s embarrassing. He turned his head slightly and struggled in his arms, as if he didn’t want to let me go. “

Where should I go? What were you just trying to say??

“Oh, it’s nothing! Rather, please let me go. It’s frustrating…!”

“You were going to say you’re getting married before summer, right?”

I slapped his ghost-like hand and looked at him from a distance, and Ian looked at me quietly and opened his lips leisurely.

“Lawrence, I’m asking because I’ve come to speak… Shouldn’t we set a date now? I feel like I’m waiting vaguely without a date, so I’m having a bit of trouble getting ready. Grandpa’s been asking me every day too, what do you think?”

Ian is being scolded as well, and so am I.

“It’s the same for me. Ercia is always making a fuss about setting up a date quickly. After she sets the date, I have to deal with it one by one… I’m so crazy, Won.”

He mumbled like he was grumbling and got up from his seat. Ian followed suit, took the blanket from my hand, and packed his things. As I naturally looked at all the luggage in his hands, Ian smiled indifferently as if it was no big deal.

“Anyway, what do you plan to do with the succession?”

“I’ve been thinking about that issue, and I don’t think I need to give up my position right now, so I think I can handle the Aztain family’s business for about two years. There’s no need to give up.”

“Well, that’s right.”

“But it’s a bit too much to throw everything at Ercia. There’s still a lot to learn and practical skills, and if Ercia wants to become a successor, she’ll have to choose a groom who’s a little more free in marriage matters. Well, given the current situation, If you look at it, it’s not that difficult, but we still have to wait and see.”

“What does it mean?”

Ian tilted his head at the meaningful expression and smiled.

“It means that maybe something good will happen again this year.”

“Hmm?”

He grabbed Ian’s arm and dragged him, who was twisting his mouth at an incomprehensible expression.

“Don’t do that, just look at the flowers. Do you like rape flowers?”

“To be honest, I don’t really like flowers.”

“If you’re too honest, you’re not attractive.”

“But she goes well with rape flowers, and I love Lawrence more than I like her.”

As I slightly opened my mouth at the unexpected remark, Ian came over and gently wrapped his arms around my waist and hugged me.

“I’m going to use these expressions often from now on, but are you going to be so surprised and stiff every time I do it? I don’t mind because you’re still cute, but… I’m a bit excited to see how long you’ll be surprised.”

“…Are you kidding me?”

“No.”

Ian lightly kissed her on the forehead, making a sound. When she lifted her head slightly, Ian released her arm, took my hand, and walked lightly as if swaying in the wind.

“Let’s look around a bit.”

She was a little embarrassed and surprised, but as she stared at his back, the empty scene that had previously felt looked a little different. It probably means that Ian is already a precious person to me that I can’t live without. I increased my speed a little and stood next to him, and Ian matched my stride. He always accommodated himself to me. He could make or break a run, but he didn’t go anywhere and kept pace with the play. The scent of rape flowers was very sweet.

 

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