The Fake Wants to Leave

 

“Miss Charlize, I think I remember the ending.”

 

At Lena’s words, Charlize, who was lying beside her, opened her eyes wide and urged her to speak quickly.

 

Lena looked up at the ceiling and thought deeply, then moved her slightly open lips.

 

“Grace loved to read novels, but she mostly read novels with happy endings. She didn’t like to read those with tragic endings. So I think the ending Grace wants in this scenario should be a happy ending.”

 

“By a happy ending, do you mean the female and male leads living happily ever after?”

 

“No. She liked the ending where the overpowered female leads trample everyone.”

 

“That’s a happy ending…?”

 

“That’s Grace’s taste, so it’s a happy ending in its own way, right?”

 

“Tia. Then I believe her role has been properly decided.”

 

***

 

“You are asking me to trample on all the men around me? Beneath my feet?”

 

“Yes, if you promise to do so, we’ll go shopping together. Okay?”

 

Tia’s sullen mood quickly dissipated as Charlize agreed to her whim.

 

‘Well, I must coax my sister, but I don’t think that’s possible.’

 

“I’ll do so. But what exactly does trample mean?”

 

“Leaving everyone behind and reaching the top.”

 

“Reaching the top….”

 

“You will make the men around you obey you like your loyal subjects.”

 

“Is it really possible to do that, Sister?”

 

“If it’s by you, Tia, it’s possible. You have the talent.”

 

“Once we reach the ending, will you leave?”

 

Tia actually wanted to stay with Charlize as long as possible.

 

However, contrary to her feelings, Charlize was preparing to leave the mansion after reaching the ending.

 

Well, she said she wanted freedom, so she must be thinking of going on an adventure to find that freedom.

 

But on that adventure.

 

‘Can I join?’

 

The thought suddenly occurred to her.

 

Tia had no intention of letting Charlize go completely.

 

It would be better if she could just stay next to her, or at least within her field of vision.

 

Tia let out her regret and smiled again.

 

For now, dating my sister is more important.

 

I’ll think about the future later.

 

Denying the future that might happen where Charlize wouldn’t be present, Tia linked arms with Charlize in a happy mood.

 

“Sister, there was a place I really wanted to go when I came to the capital.”

 

“I’ll accept all your whining for today. Let’s go.”

 

“Wow, really, Sister?”

 

“Yes. Instead, you have to do your part properly, okay?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Pretending to be unable to resist Tia’s encouragement and whining, Charlize prepared to go shopping.

 

***

 

The capital of the empire was large and had many places to visit.

 

That’s why it was a famous tourist spot where visitors from other countries came to visit.

 

Tia rode in a luxurious carriage with a red rose, symbolizing the Rebecca Household together with Charlize who had an annoying expression.

 

Of course, Charlize’s aide, Lena, also had no choice but to ride in the carriage.

 

They had to prepare for any situation that might arise, so that Charlize wouldn’t be in danger.

 

The secret guards of the Rebecca family had already been guarding them like shadows since they left the mansion.

 

The knights of the Rebecca Household were known as Shadow Knights because of their ways of protecting their master like shadows.

 

Charlize wasn’t even aware of the fact that the Shadow Knights existed.

 

However, Tia was aware that the shadow knights were guarding them from the shadows.

 

It was because she had seen Eugene talking to the Captain of the Shadow Knights several times, and she also had a few interactions with the Captain.

 

Such information regarding Rebecca Household has been concealed from Charlize. The only way she knew things was from her dead mother, so she had no way of knowing.

 

Kim Daneun, who was now occupying Charlize’s body, also wasn’t aware of the fact.

 

There was no mention of any sort of Shadow Knights appearing in the game.

 

Whenever the female protagonist, Tia, was in danger, the male protagonists appeared like knights in shining armour.

 

Since Charlize had no idea about the Shadow Knights, after getting into the carriage, she asked Tia why hadn’t she taken any guards or knights with her.

 

Then, Tia answered elegantly, fanning herself and covering half of her face.

 

“Oh my, Sister. We are already under the watch of the knights. You didn’t know?”

 

“No. I don’t really want to know about things that don’t interest me.”

 

“Well, that’s just how you are.”

 

“Why do I feel like you’re being sarcastic, Tia?”

 

“Sister can ask me if there’s anything she’s wondering about. I’ll answer everything on the way. That is, within my knowledge.”

 

“You mean about the family? I know a fair amount about that.”

 

“You’re probably curious about this world. Although my words may feel like useless rambling to you, I’m usually called a genius.”

 

“Sorry, but I’m really not curious about anything.”

 

“You can also ask about me, or about my sainthood, hmm.”

 

Clinging to her arms, Tia appealed to Charlize, hoping she’d ask her questions about herself.

 

Letting out a small sigh, Charlize thought for a while about what to ask before opening her mouth.

 

“Your birthday.”

 

“You didn’t even know my birthday until now?”

 

“When was it? I suddenly can’t remember.”

 

She only knew it was the day she possessed the villainess Charlize.

 

But what about the date?

 

Hmm, I remember it was a cold day.

 

And what?

 

What was the date?

 

I can’t remember it at all.

 

“December 21.”

 

“Oh, I see.”

 

“I know your birthday too.”

 

“When is my birthday?”

 

“August 21.”

 

“It seems we’re only three months apart.”

 

“Huh, you forgot your own birthday as well, Sister?”

 

“I don’t remember a single thing. I don’t know why.”

 

“Then what about the Emperor’s birthday?”

 

“Why do I need to know that?”

 

Charlize frowned, wondering what was the need to know about Harrison’s birthday.

 

“Isn’t it normal to know the birthday of the Emperor as a citizen of the Empire?”

 

“It’s not like I planned to live my whole life as a citizen of this Empire. So I have no reason to know.”

 

“No, Sister. No matter how much you hate His Majesty, you still need to know the Emperor’s birthday.”

 

“Fine, when is it?”

 

“January 21st.”

 

“21st? All three of us have the same date.”

 

“Would you like to know something more interesting?”

 

“…What is it?”

 

Clearing her throat loudly, Tia began speaking.

 

“John’s birthday is also on the 21st. And, Jude and Luke’s birthdays are on the 21st as well. We all have the same birthdate.”

 

“… What about our brothers?”

 

“Brothers’ birthdays aren’t on the 21st. Brother Eugene’s birthday is on May 22nd, and Brother Jeremy’s on September 14th.”

 

“Brothers have different birthdays.”

 

“Yeah. I was also surprised. The people around me have the same birthdays as me and Sister.”

 

While Tia showed a surprised look, Lena quietly whispered to Charlize.

 

“Grace really likes the number 21. That’s why your birthdays overlap.”

 

Just as I thought.

 

It wasn’t just one or two people, but so many people with the same birthdays?

 

The fact that the date was intentionally created by Grace was painfully obvious.

 

Charlize’s gaze turned to Tia, who was just muttering about a fate without knowing that, with a pitiful look.

 

‘Tia, you’re being manipulated.’

 

However, Charlize held back her words, not wanting to break Tia’s delusion.

 

“Oh, Sister. Do you know about my past?”

 

“About your past? Tell me.”

 

Since she had nothing better to do, Charlize decided to just chat with Tia in the carriage.

 

She had a strong feeling that if she didn’t talk, Tia would keep whining and ask to talk.

 

“Do you know that I’m also an adopted child like you?”

 

“I know.”

 

“I see. So Sister knew. I thought since brothers didn’t know, you also didn’t know. That’s why I felt sorry for you. I felt guilty that although we’re both adopted children, our treatment was so different.”

 

“So what are you trying to say? Don’t speak in such a roundabout way and speak clearly.”

 

“Sister, did you know? We’re from the same orphanage.”

 

“…What?”

 

Charlize showed a look of astonishment at Tia’s statement.

 

She knew that they were both adopted, but from the same orphanage?

 

What kind of soap opera was this?

 

Charlize nodded her head, indicating to explain to her.

 

So Tia continued.

 

“Unlike my sister, I was secretly adopted into the Duke of Rebecca’s family. I showed signs of sainthood from my early childhood. Our deceased mother noticed it right away and brought me here. She had a precognitive dream. A dream that I would become the next Saintess.”

 

“No way, I was adopted after you. If she adopted you already, why did she adopt me?”

 

“The truth is, Mother fell in love with Sister when she stopped by the orphanage. She said this was my perfect doll.”

 

“…Mother’s doll?”

 

“Yeah. And what’s even more hilarious is that I’m also a fake. I was adopted as a substitute for the youngest child of the Duke of Rebecca who had suddenly died. My name isn’t Tia Rebecca.”

 

“What do you mean? You’re a fake too?”

 

“You seem to know nothing about your family.”

 

Tia put down the fan that covered half of her face and smiled awkwardly.

 

“Tia Rebecca was the youngest child of the Duke of Rebecca who looked exactly like me. But she suddenly died of an illness. Alone in the mansion. I heard that Father loved his youngest child very much. The reason my brothers don’t know that I’m an adopted child is probably because she died in the villa and they didn’t get the news of it.”

 

“So you’re saying you’re also a fake like me, Tia?”

 

“Yeah. I’m a fake too. And I was adopted from the same orphanage as my sister. It was hard for me to live as Tia. Being a substitute was painful. Everyone only knew me as Tia Rebecca, so my real name disappeared as time passed by. No one called me by my real name. That’s how I became Tia Rebecca.”

 

As soon as Tia finished speaking, Charlize asked absentmindedly.

 

“What’s your real name?”

 

 

T/N: If you like my work, consider supporting me on Kofi.