Episode 95

‘…So his name is César Estarode.’

It wasn’t until we left the crown prince’s palace that I properly remembered his name. In my previous life, I hadn’t cared enough to bother remembering what the crown prince was called.

“Does your eye still hurt?”

At Edwin’s voice, I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up to see him standing a few steps ahead, waiting. It seemed that while lost in thought, I’d stopped walking without realizing it.

‘This childish body really can’t multitask!’

“No, it’s fine!” I shouted, running up to him hastily.

Edwin resumed walking, his steps measured and calm. I trailed beside him, sneaking glances at his face. He hadn’t said much, which reminded me of the time we left the temple after parting with Ismail.

‘He got upset back then when I called him “Brother” too…’

And now the crown prince had unwittingly mentioned the very same thing. How tactless.

I hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Edwin as we walked.

“…Are you mad?”

“No.”

“Yeah, right. You always say you’re not.”

My grumbling made Edwin pause mid-step. He turned to look at me.

“I told you, it’s not anger. It’s jealousy.”

“Jealousy?”

I blinked in confusion. While his jealousy after the awards speech made sense, what could possibly trigger it this time?

‘Is it about the “Brother” thing again? Does he hate being called that so much?’

I sighed heavily and began reciting the list of things he’d told me not to do.

“What’s there to be jealous about? We didn’t meet as customers today, I didn’t call anyone Brother, I didn’t even smile at him! Also, also—”

“Alright, just come here.”

Cutting me off, Edwin pulled something out of his inner pocket: a light blue handkerchief.

Flutter.

He unfolded the handkerchief, then suddenly grabbed my round cheeks with both hands.

And began vigorously wiping.

“Ow… That hurts!”

“Bear with it.”

After finishing with one cheek, he left the other untouched and said, “Now open your eyes wide.”

“Sniff!”

Reflexively, I widened my eyes at his words. Maybe the idea of dust being in my eye had been bothering him.

After a moment of staring intently at my eyes, Edwin finally let go of my cheek.

“Nothing. They’re fine.”

“Geez…”

As I rubbed my soft, now slightly stinging cheek, I suddenly realized—he had wiped the very spot the crown prince had touched.

“Why’d you do that?!”

My indignant question was met with Edwin’s calm reply.

“Someone else touched it. That’s gross.”

“Gross…? You’re calling the crown prince gross?”

I glanced around nervously, worried someone might overhear, but Edwin didn’t seem to care in the slightest. He stated confidently, “Don’t let random people touch you.”

“Ugh… You always tell me what not to do.”

“Exactly. What if you let anyone touch you, and one of them suddenly turns and does something bad?”

His expression turned serious, and his golden eyes took on that intense, unhinged glint again.

‘Here we go again.’

Frustrated, I shouted, “Who’s even touching my cheeks that much? You’re the one who does it the most!”

I reflexively pointed a finger, seething with frustration, but to my surprise, Edwin’s expression softened instantly.

“I don’t mind,” he said calmly.

“Why?” I shot back, caught off guard.

“Because we’re not strangers.”

“…!”

His simple answer rendered me speechless. It wasn’t anything grand or romantic, but for some reason, my heart thudded in my chest.

‘…That’s right. We’re not strangers. We’re family.’

Though I was currently just an orphan under the sponsorship of the Kallios family, Edwin had mentioned in my previous life that the duke had plans to formally adopt me.

‘So… does that mean Edwin and I would become siblings?’

But why did the thought suddenly feel so off? The heartbeat I’d felt moments ago vanished, replaced by a sharp ache and an uncomfortable heaviness.

‘I don’t want that.’

It wasn’t just dislike—it sent a shiver down my spine.

Edwin and I, siblings? The thought was horrifying.

‘But…’

This life wasn’t for me to indulge in whims. I had resolved to step aside for Diana this time. Remembering my vow, the fleeting excitement of being called “family” dissolved into the cold mud of reality.

I glanced up at Edwin, his handsome features befitting a male lead candidate.

‘In this life, can I watch you and Diana together… without feeling anything?’

In my past life, I couldn’t.

No matter where it was, if they were together, I’d barge in and make a scene. I threatened Diana daily, telling her not to meet Edwin. Worse, my jealousy had driven me to an unspeakable, horrifying desire to kill her.

“Leave this at the Barelotte Marquis’ residence. If you do, everything you want will come true.”

The memory of Adolf Galagos handing me the vial of poison flashed vividly before my eyes.

Then came the cascading memories of everything that followed—the fall of the Kallios family, my imprisonment in the imperial dungeons, and Edwin dying to save me.

It was like being doused with icy water. I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms.

‘Even after all that, am I still capable of such vile greed…?’

I quickly cast my gaze downward, unable to meet Edwin’s eyes any longer.

“Why the face?” he asked suddenly, noticing my strange silence.

“You don’t like it when I say we’re not strangers?”

“N-no!” I stammered, shaking my head furiously.

Forcing a bright smile, I shouted, “I love it, Edwin!”

As long as you’re safe, nothing else matters. Not my feelings, not my lingering guilt. All that’s important is ensuring Edwin and the Kallios family survive this time, no matter what.

Edwin, seemingly satisfied by my smile, returned to his usual composed demeanor.

“Then what will you do if someone tries to touch you again?”

“Umm… I’ll stop them.”

“Good.”

“But what about Tara?”

“Women can be an exception.”

“That’s so unfair…”

Despite my grumbling, Edwin chuckled softly.

That smile—precious and irreplaceable—was one I never wanted to lose again.

Never.

“I’ll wash the handkerchief and return it to you!” I exclaimed, reaching out.

“It’s fine. Just return the ones you’ve already used to wipe your nose,” he teased.

“Ugh…”

I clamped my mouth shut, guilty. I hadn’t deliberately avoided returning them! Tara had already washed and dried them for me, but I’d been waiting to return them with a proper gift.

‘Once I get the building from the crown prince, I’ll finally have the funds!’

I resolved to buy Edwin the best present I could find on Main Street, along with gifts for the duke and Joshua.

Without realizing it, my resolve to avoid being the crown prince’s ally had started to waver.

As Edwin and I walked together, I asked curiously, “By the way, where’s His Grace?”

The duke hadn’t returned, even though an hour had passed.

“How did you know to come here, Edwin?”

“Father sent word through Logan. He had urgent business and told me to come pick you up.”

“Ah!”

Warmth swelled in my chest. Even in the midst of his busyness, the duke hadn’t forgotten me. He’d even gone to the trouble of preparing a new guardian delegation form.

The thought made me feel a little embarrassed and flustered.

“…So, did you really decide to be friends with the crown prince?”

Edwin’s casual question startled me. I glanced at him nervously, but his face was calm. He seemed genuinely curious.

“Um, well… it’s just words,” I replied.

“Just words?”

“Yeah! How could I really be friends with the crown prince?”

It was true. The crown prince’s talk of friendship was just a cover for the deal between us. And frankly, I didn’t want to be friends with a male lead candidate, especially one who might turn against me for Diana’s sake.

“That makes sense,” Edwin said with a rare broad smile, nodding.

I couldn’t help but pout a little.

‘What’s that supposed to mean? Is he saying it’s absurd for a common orphan like me to be friends with the crown prince?’

But Edwin’s next words corrected my misunderstanding.

“You don’t know this, but the crown prince is a miser and a notorious penny-pincher.”

“…Huh?”

“And he holds grudges like you wouldn’t believe. He’ll milk something that happened years ago for all it’s worth.”

“…”

“Honestly, getting close to him is more trouble than it’s worth. Just so you know—”

“Shut your mouth!” I cut him off, panicked.

‘If I were taller, I’d clamp my hand over that mouth of his!’

But Edwin was much taller than me, and after a few futile jumps to reach him, I gave up and shouted, “We’re in the palace! What if someone hears you?”

“That’s why you shouldn’t make me jealous,” Edwin replied nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.

Then, with the same dangerous glint in his eyes as before, he added, “I can’t guarantee what I’ll do.”

“What on earth…”

“Young Master?”

At that moment, a voice called out from the far end of the hallway.

Startled, I turned quickly to see who it was.

And then—

“Long time no see! Is that the girl Kallios is sponsoring now?”

Approaching us were the second prince and Diana.

“Is she the one?” the second prince asked, his gaze sharp as he looked me up and down.

“The fake Saintess candidate.”