I asked the boys, stroking Giuseppe’s head. “Are you Giuseppe’s friends?”
“Ah, that’s…”
“Don’t fight with your friends and get along well.”
“Yes, yes.”
I snapped my finger like Ozworld. Snap! Then the magic that had been controlling the boys disappeared. As soon as Giuseppe was able to move his body, he struck out my hand, which was stroking his head. Regardless, I took Giuseppe’s hand and gently waved the other hand at the boys.
“Then everyone, go home safely. Let’s go, Giuseppe.”
“What, what are you doing?!”
“Why? I want to hold my beloved younger brother’s hand.”
Giuseppe’s face flushed red with my brazen words. “Stop talking nonsense! What are you planning? Why are you doing this?”
I lowered my head and whispered in Giuseppe’s ear. “If we look like we have a good relationship, won’t the kinds behind you be more careful in the future?”
“…!”
“Let’s go. It’s almost time for dinner. Libby, come here too.”
“Yes!”
Libby smiled and quickly took Giuseppe’s other hand. Giuseppe had become calmer than before, but he still glared at me suspiciously.
“Do you think I’ll support you to become a successor just because you help me? You’ll never be Duke Squire. Because you’re stupid.”
“Yes. You’re all right.”
“Hiik…! Do you think I’m kidding?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t even have the desire to become a duke in the first place though?”
Giuseppe snarled low and shook my hand with all his might. “Then why were you so anxious that you couldn’t kick me and my mom out?”
Libby remained silent, perhaps because she thought it was not something to intervene recklessly.
What should I say? It wasn’t something I did, but it was a burden I had to carry as I live as Theresa anyway.
“Sorry.”
Giuseppe’s eyes widened, probably not expecting to hear an apology from me.
“It was hard to accept you and stepmother. I feel like I will be left alone.”
I reached out to Giuseppe and asked for forgiveness. “From now on, no one can kick you and stepmother out of the duchy. Of course, Libby too. I promise with my life.”
It was a very simple oath. It was because I just needed to be treated silently. In the first place, I wasn’t greedy for the family and was even less interested in the title. I just wanted to get away from the main plot.
Did he feel my sincerity? Giuseppe still had a fierce expression on his face, but he made an irritating sound and took my hand again.
“I haven’t forgiven you yet.”
“Yes.”
“We’re just pretending to be close because stupid jerks are watching us from behind. Don’t be mistaken.”
“Okay.”
Giuseppe spoke rudely, but he held my hand quite calmly. In the meantime, I was conscious of the boys who glanced behind me once in a while and were still staring blankly at us and the nobles who were giggling and looking at us in surprise.
“Hmph.” Giuseppe unconsciously shook his hand as if he felt better.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Mad Mania’ has sponsored 10,000 coins.]
[Why am I watching this heart-warming scene? ㅠㅠ My taste is not like this.]
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Bet Your Life on Theresa’ has sponsored 10,000 coins.]
[That’s because you were influenced by…]
The carriage carrying us entered the still magnificent and splendid Squire Duchy. It stopped at the entrance where the servants were waiting. Miranda, the head of the maid, welcomed me with a smile.
“Oh my, how did the three of you come together?”
“I met them on the way.”
Then Roseanne appeared. She also had a surprised expression, as if she didn’t expect the three of us would return together.
They didn’t consider me as their family. However, as the boys did earlier, since my position had changed, acting carelessly will only fuel the disturbing rumors.
In the end, this act is choking me. I needed a level of intimacy where they wouldn’t feel the need to get rid of Theresa. Also, the wounds they suffered caused me to feel uncomfortable. That was all.
I greeted them with courtesy first. “I’m back, Stepmother.”
She paused for a moment at my polite greeting and then smiled softly. “Yes. Welcome back.”
Giuseppe watched my actions with a sullen face and snorted. “Hmph. Pretending to be nice all of a sudden.”
I clasped my fingers at Giuseppe, who spoke hatefully.
“Ugh! Why are you holding my hand again?”
“Because there might be people spreading rumors about us here too.”
“… I can’t help it. I have no choice but to hold it.”
Then the servants widened their eyes as they had witnessed a strange sight. Roseanne said, “Oh my,” and covered her mouth as she looked at us with surprised eyes. With that kind of ripple effect, the rumors about me kicking them out because of our bad relationship would have subsided.
“I’ll escort you to the second floor, Little Gentleman.”
“I’m not a kid. And I will be taller than you half a year later, you idiot. Can’t you tell just by looking at our father’s height?”
Giuseppe had a temper but didn’t let go of my hand until we reached the room.
Shake, shake. The hand that held him moved as if it were shaking in the spring breeze.
* * *
Theresa’s dressing room was almost full. Unopened jewelry and shoes were piled up like a mountain.
I’ll just wear something suitable.
But Roseanne and the maids seemed to think differently.
“…What are all of these?”
I got up late, came down to the hall to get some snacks, and froze. Dozens of mannequins stood in the hall, each dressing in dazzling clothes. I thought there was a fashion show for a moment.
Roseanne said as if she was happy when she found me, “You woke up. I was about to call you even if you didn’t. You have to pick out the clothes and accessories to wear to the Sun Palace tomorrow.”
Eloise, who had a grudge against my school uniform, looked ecstatic at the boutique staff setting jewelry on the table with velvet. “Finally, Lady is going to wear proper clothes, not the boring school uniforms!”
I said with a panicked look. “I have a lot of dresses, so it’s okay not to have to buy new ones.”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Materialism’ has sponsored 10,000 coins.]
[Please! Just! Take! It!]
[The Constellations strongly agree.]
Shopping for clothes was a cruel task for me, who adhered to Steve Jobs’s fashion of black tops and jeans all week. But I guess people usually like things like this.
Dressing paper dolls and dressing sticker dolls have been popular since ancient times. Even in mobile games, dressing-up games have been consistently released.
Right. This is a dressing-up game. Just think of it as a game where you die if you don’t dress properly. I thanked Rosanne after enough self-brainwashing.
“Thank you for your care.”
“Since you were invited to the Sun Palace for the first time in your life, no matter how much you prepare, it won’t be enough. I wonder if you have clothes to wear on your mind.”
If it had been Theresa, none of this would have caught her eyes, but they were all too flashy for me. If anyone sees it, they’ll think I’m aiming for the position of empress, right?
Just as the product sightseeing was about to be completed, Raul came down the hall dressed in loose clothes as if drawn by the commotion. “It’s been noisy since morning.”
Libby also appeared after hearing the news. “Wow! What’s all this?”
Finally, Giuseppe trudged along, scanning the whole view of the hall with pathetic eyes. “Did you make a fuss again? Please stop calling the boutique staff to our house. Aren’t you tired of shopping?”
“But it’s Stepmother who called them.”
“…It’s okay to call it once in a while.”
After that, they settled down on the prepared sofa and stared at me.
“Excuse me… Why are you all sitting here?”
“Aren’t you picking out clothes to wear for having an audience with His Majesty? Of course, I, your father, should watch it.”
“I shouldn’t miss it too!”
“I’m afraid you’ll ruin our family. It’s annoying, but I will hold back.”
“Uum, I see…”
I was embarrassed and ashamed to suddenly find myself in a situation where I was choosing clothes to wear in front of the whole family. I’ll have to pick one and finish it quickly. I picked out the clothes that were closest to me.
“I’ll take this one.”
I just wanted to pick and finish it quickly, but it was impossible.
“It’s too plain. It won’t even satisfy His Majesty’s eyes.”
“Then with this…”
“Um, since it’s spring, wouldn’t it be better to be a little brighter? In contrast to Sister’s dark hair.”
“Or this…”
“You look like a fat orange.”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Professional Trainer’ has sponsored 10,000 coins.]
[First on the left, the second row from the back to the right, first on the right, and fourth, don’t even think of choosing them.]
“…”
What on earth do you want me to do?
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