Chapter 15
“But they’ll still recognize it even if it’s drawn like this… right?”
Sitting at the big desk with that determination in mind, I spent a long time drawing with my clumsy hands, when I suddenly started to worry.
Everything in my head was so vivid, but when I tried to draw it with my hands, it came out kind of vague. No… more than just “kind of.”
“They’ll recognize it. There’s no way they wouldn’t recognize this.”
That’s what I said, but it really felt like they wouldn’t. Still, there was no other way now. If I called someone else to make this for me, they’d definitely become suspicious.
So I had to make it myself. After drawing here and there for a long time, I finally grabbed the best-looking one and left the room.
A bunch of ruined drawings were already scattered all over the floor. It would’ve been nice if I was better at drawing… but I did the best I could.
“Where are you going?”
“To my brothers.”
Mellinje must have stepped away for a bit, because one of the maids I barely even remembered spoke to me like she knew me well.
“You go to them often.”
She reacted sharply to the word “brothers.” I guess it bothered them that I was showing affection toward those twins no one cared for.
“Yeah. Someone has to take care of them. No one else does.”
“Ah… yes. Please be careful, and if anything happens, make sure to tell us.”
“What could possibly happen? Don’t be so overly sensitive.”
I snapped a little, ignored everyone talking to me, and headed toward the twins.
Maybe because I hadn’t lashed out recently, the number of maids trying to act all friendly with me had increased.
‘Maybe I should lose my temper again while I’m at it.’
After that nanny incident, no one talked to me for a while and it was great. But now it was getting annoying again.
Before long, I arrived at the twins’ room.
Perhaps because suspicion toward them had lessened, the number of guards in front of their door had clearly decreased.
“You’re here, Young Lady.”
“Are my brothers eating well?”
“Yes, you don’t need to worry.”
“Don’t you dare treat them badly just because they’re outsiders, or give them worse food. They should be eating the same food I do.”
The attendant standing guard went pale for a second, then brightened again — like someone caught doing something wrong.
“Y-Yes, don’t worry.”
“If I check and it turns out even slightly lacking… I won’t let it slide.”
“O-Of course.”
Yeah. Looks like they weren’t feeding them properly. I only tested them just in case, but that reaction said everything.
A surge of anger rushed up inside me.
Both Father and I told them to take proper care of them. And you still dare make them suffer over food? You should never be stingy about something as basic as food.
“Yeah. I’ll just go inside and ask them myself.”
At this point, it would’ve been better for him to just confess honestly, but instead the attendant was busy wiping sweat from his forehead.
And that handkerchief he was holding looked very familiar — it had our family crest embroidered on it.
In noble families, we don’t buy items from just anywhere. They’re made by craftsmen, and each item is delivered with our crest.
A servant was holding a handkerchief marked with the family crest.
‘One that only direct family members are supposed to use.’
And he wasn’t treasuring it — he was using it to wipe sweat. That meant those handkerchiefs must be everywhere. A mere servant casually using something meant only for the family.
‘Even if I want to deny it… this has to be connected to Grandmother!’
Handkerchiefs are expensive items for commoners. And noble handkerchiefs are luxury goods.
But in noble households, they’re common enough to use and toss aside. A servant being able to use one so casually means someone gave permission.
And of course that person would be Grandmother… for him to be using it so openly.
I just stared at him quietly.
“Young Lady?”
“It’s nothing. I’ll head in now.”
“Yes. I’ll open the door… but Young Lady, do you really plan to ask about their meals?”
“Yeah.”
He must’ve felt guilty, because he asked very cautiously. Then, as if deciding I must be easy to fool, he spoke bluntly.
“But it’s such a trivial matter that you don’t need to concern yourself with.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean it’s something so insignificant that a noble young lady like you shouldn’t bother worrying about. Truly, absolutely trivial.”
He emphasized the word “trivial,” clearly hoping I’d drop it. That only made me want to know more.
“Oh? Something so trivial I don’t need to care?”
I tilted my head, curious what nonsense he’d say next. Sensing his chance, he kept talking eagerly.
“Yes. Things like that are for servants to handle. You just need to eat well and enjoy yourself.”
“Is that so~”
“Of course.”
“But now that you’ve said all that, I really want to ask. Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about it that much earlier.”
“Huh?”
“So I’ll go check. You stay here and guard the door.”
The door opened in the meantime, and I slipped in quickly like a squirrel.
“Y-Young Lady!”
The startled attendant called after me, stomping his feet in panic, but I ignored him and went inside.
‘Seriously… do they really think I’m an idiot?’
No… it’s not just me. They must think Father is a fool too.
“What are you doing?”
As I stood silently staring at the door after coming in, the younger twin suddenly spoke to me.
In the blink of an eye, he was already beside me. He always appeared next to me before I could even hear his footsteps.
“Oh. Nothing. I just came.”
“I know. Have you ever come because of something? You always just show up.”
After saying what he wanted, the younger twin walked back to the chair he had been sitting in.
Two chairs placed by the window… looking strangely lonely.
“I thought you weren’t coming today.”
Unlike him, the older twin waved brightly with a big smile. But as if to show emotional distance, he kept physical distance.
“Why wouldn’t I come? I want to get closer to you guys, so of course I’ll come every day. So, what were you doing?”
“Nothing. Just sitting here.”
“I see.”
“If you ask what we were doing while being locked up here, the answer is always going to be the same.”
Seriously, his mouth is so mean.
One day, I really want to pit him against Grandmother’s other grandchildren and see who’s more irritating. Who makes people angrier faster.
‘I really don’t like him.’
Even so, since these two held my fate in their hands, I tried my best to endure.
“So what about you, Amannet? What did you do?”
“Oh… I went to see Grandmother.”
“Grandmother?”
“Yeah. She’s… well… ugh, anyway!”
What should I even call her? The final villain? A bad person? Someone you should never go near?
Unable to find the right words, I just shook my head.
“If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to.”
Noticing my hesitation, he didn’t ask further.
“Yep!”
I couldn’t talk about it yet. It’s not like saying anything now would change much anyway.
‘Besides, if we manage to escape…’
I probably won’t have to see Grandmother again. Especially if they return to their original family.
‘If they run away, life might still be hard… but they’ll survive.’
They were born with the Duke of Aporta’s blood. Even without eating, even without sleeping, even if hurt, they’d heal quickly. Eventually they’d realize they were different.
Should I tell them about the family? I was thinking about that when…
“It sounds noisier than usual today.”
The older twin, looking out the window, listened to the unusual commotion outside. The people seemed busier than usual.
“Oh.”
Just as my head was filled with worries, he opened his mouth as if to rearrange all my tangled thoughts for me.
“Isn’t it?”
“Oh—right. Something’s happening tomorrow!”
“Something?”
“My birthday party is tomorrow.
