TFBVH 22

Chapter 22

“You’re so beautiful it hurts my eyes.”

At the flattery that had started again, I lifted my head and saw the mirror placed in front of me.

Then I saw my reflection—and was shocked.

Ah! Too bright! My eyes!

I was probably the only person in the world whose eyes hurt from looking at their own reflection.

Just as the maids said, I was dazzlingly beautiful. I had always been pretty, but now that I was clean, polished, and carefully dressed, I almost looked like I was glowing.

It was insane beauty.

Everyone was staring at me in a daze. Yes, yes—if even I, the owner of this face, felt blinded, then of course you would too.

When the butler entered after hearing that the preparations were finished, even he froze in place before speaking.

“Truly… you are beautiful.”

Regaining his composure, he placed steaming tea and cake on the table in front of the sofa and spoke gently.

“Then we will take our leave. Please rest well.”

The maids quickly cleared away the partitions, bathtub, and supplies, then rushed out as soon as he finished speaking. I hurried after them and shouted,

“Wait! Um—thank you for the clothes, but I really need to go home now!”

But Alfred blocked the door and smiled softly.

“I’m sorry. By Lord Lloyd’s order, I cannot let you leave.”

Click.

He closed the door right in front of me and left quickly.

No matter how hard I pulled, the door would not open.

Confinement. Again.

“Aaaah!”

Left alone, I screamed in frustration.

No one came. Only my throat hurt.

I hadn’t eaten breakfast, had been dragged here, bathed, and dressed—I was starving. Fine. Eat first, think later.

I sat on the sofa and stuffed my mouth with the cake and tea Alfred had prepared.

So… so good!

Does the ducal family eat cake like this every day?

As the cake melted in my mouth, my anger melted with it.

Maybe staying here isn’t so bad…?

Warm tea, delicious cake, a full stomach—

Before I knew it, I fell asleep.

How much time passed?

I woke up to loud voices.

[Lord Lloyd ordered that no one be allowed into this room.]

[There is nowhere in this house I cannot go! Open the door, Alfred!]

[I have received orders. I cannot.]

[You know Davien’s temper. Open it.]

Someone was arguing outside. I rubbed my eyes, stretched, and sat up.

[Move, Alfred!]

The loud shout made my ears ring.

…Davien?

A bad feeling crept up my spine.

Then—

KWAANG!

With a huge crash, the sturdy door shattered. Smoke rose as a figure appeared.

“What are you hiding?!”

A tall woman with neat black bobbed hair and a Helderios uniform strode into the room.

A sharp face that looked just like Lloyd’s.

When our eyes met—her beautiful purple eyes trembling with rage—I knew immediately who she was.

The heroine of this novel.

Davien Helderios.

“Iveliana Rosebellier!”

Why was her first line exactly the same as that man’s? Twins, really?

Terrifying killing intent poured out of her. My body began to shake.

No—everything was shaking.

The entire room rattled violently.

“Have you truly lost your mind? Do you know where you are? Sitting calmly in the Helderios Duke Family’s office, drinking tea?”

Her eyes gleamed dangerously.

“If you wanted to hide, you should’ve hidden properly. Why did you come here?”

Her killing intent was even heavier than Lloyd’s. I could barely breathe.

I couldn’t answer her sharp questions at all.

That only made her angrier.

“So you’re not even worth answering?”

She stepped closer. The pressure intensified.

I’m going to die.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Enough, Davien!”

Lloyd’s voice rang out.

He appeared in front of me, blocking Davien. The suffocating pressure eased slightly.

“Lloyd. What is this? Move.”

Davien drew a sword from her pocket space.

Shing.

Aura poured from the blade.

Right. You’re a sword master too.

“I’ll start by cutting off her fingers, one by one.”

As she advanced, Lloyd stood firmly in front of me.

“Davien, stop. This child is not Iveliana.”

He supported my trembling body and continued,

“Put your sword away.”

“Are you insane? Lloyd, are your eyes broken? That is Iveliana. She must die!”

Lloyd quickly pulled me into his arms.

“Watch your mouth, Davien. She will be your sister-in-law.”

The room went dead silent.

“…What?”

Confusion filled Davien’s face.

Yes. That reaction was completely normal.

“Madness. Were you cursed? It’s fine. Kill her, and the curse will end.”

Her gaze turned darker.

Lloyd also drew his sword and warned her.

“Put it away, Davien. Unless you want to see your nephew hurt.”

Silence fell again.

“…Nephew?”

Davien’s eyes moved to my stomach.

Then someone rushed in, shouting,

“What does that mean, Lloyd?!”

A beautiful middle-aged woman with purple eyes and neatly tied brown hair—she looked exactly like both Lloyd and Davien.

Lloyd answered calmly.

“A Helderios heir has been born. The grandson you wished for, Mother.”

Davien was waving a sword, trying to kill me.

Lloyd was happily telling his mother I was pregnant.

And I was just standing there, rolling my eyes helplessly—

When suddenly, an angry voice thundered in.

“What is all this noise?!”

A tall man with broad shoulders, black hair streaked with gray, and a stern, dignified face entered.

No introduction was needed.

The Duke of Helderios.

…Why now? Of all moments?

Lloyd’s face lit up again. I knew it—he was going to say something insane.

I tried to stop him, but the one who spoke was the Duchess.

“Husband, there’s wonderful news. Our son is going to give us a grandchild!”

I froze.

Any parent would panic hearing that their unmarried son suddenly had a child.

But the Duchess wasn’t panicked at all.

She was thrilled.

“A grandchild?! My goodness!”

The Duke’s stern face softened into a smile.

“Is that true? Such joyful news!”

The strict, dignified Duke smiled at me.

…People. Shouldn’t you confirm this first?

I began to seriously wonder if my sex education was wrong.

Maybe in this world, just sleeping in the same bed really does make a baby.

Otherwise, this made no sense.

The Duchess came closer, grabbed my hand, and teared up.

“My goodness… thank you so much. An heir for Helderios. I was so worried after that old prophet said we would never hear a baby cry in this house.”

That prophecy… was actually accurate.

Looking at Lloyd, it felt extremely reliable.

The Duchess scolded Davien.

“Davien! How could you behave like this toward your future sister-in-law? Put your sword away! When you mentioned Rosebellier, I thought a spy had infiltrated.”

Davien’s face twisted with frustration.

Among this flower-field family, Davien was probably the only sane one.

She stared at me fiercely, then suppressed her emotions and sheathed her sword. She bowed.

“I apologize. You look exactly like my enemy.”

Smiling, she extended her hand.

“I committed great rudeness out of loyalty to my family. Please forgive me.”

Her smiling eyes trembled.

We’ll talk later.

I felt killing intent in her gaze.

When I reluctantly took her hand, she squeezed hard—still smiling brightly.

If I told the truth—that Lloyd and I had only slept—
she would probably kill me on the spot.

But if I kept lying?