Chapter 95

‘…So his name is César Estarode.’840f40de56f2f17d

It wasn’t until we a8704af320 left the crown prince’s 544b87269a palace that I properly a34101a04c remembered his name. In my previous life, I 8803a9dead hadn’t cared enough to bother 7018be5e23 remembering what the crown prince d26e7997ed was called.018a4346f2aeca01

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“Does your eye still hurt?”5b57efcfe07e7002

At Edwin’s voice, I 49f0742599 snapped out of my 502d6512e0 thoughts and looked up ec69762518 to see him standing 45ee249049 a few steps ahead, 78e9298227 waiting. It seemed that while 101851361a lost in thought, I’d db3898bbd7 stopped walking without realizing 25474953d5 it.5ee9a13f9ad7b443

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‘This childish body really can’t multitask!’0b202d8c49c3bbcf

“No, it’s fine!” I shouted, running up to him hastily.000500c02cadb85a

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Edwin resumed walking, his steps 5d8edaaef3 measured and calm. I trailed beside 44373a375a him, sneaking glances 4490cb8a27 at his face. He hadn’t said 4ed5b7258c much, which reminded 50e586118e me of the e7bc060011 time we left 2dac566ab5 the temple after 7a7a37a467 parting with Ismail.3e4fd9e82d838f12

‘He got upset back then when I called him “Brother” too…’6355508af7c11a0a

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And now the 46447b457f crown prince had 10881d9a41 unwittingly mentioned the 6bc39042de very same thing. How tactless.5082378290d9678a

I hesitated for a moment, e7a86c8743 then looked up at Edwin 4f4dfd42e1 as we walked.acd9bdeafa28ed84

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“…Are you mad?”e069e7dc0c8e3ff2

“No.”14462a7f4e3e1f47

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“Yeah, right. You always say you’re not.”ba539ddcd2de65c3

My grumbling made Edwin 1d1e215cc4 pause mid-step. He turned to look af13cc850b at me.09acd9d8bdb88087

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“I told you, it’s not anger. It’s jealousy.”88520bbca70f5cb9

“Jealousy?”b8c47fde6c35a2af

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I blinked in confusion. While his jealousy after d054821aff the awards speech made 0a6d9ac916 sense, what could possibly 27a9cd38fa trigger it this time?969d238f767a987c

‘Is it about the “Brother” thing again? Does he hate being called 3cb5a3ab05 that so much?’7dc033654548f066

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I sighed heavily and began a22460f446 reciting the list of things 7b204454dc he’d told me not to 24d9455550 do.030f000bf79f1b64

“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—”561e188bb307aa47

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“Alright, just come here.”c23e0993029b9f0f

Cutting me off, Edwin pulled 3f6c4888d0 something out of his inner 43ffba2e0f pocket: a light blue handkerchief.0957a346635cd565

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Flutter.09cecdde6c99e0f0

He unfolded the handkerchief, ea9277cafe then suddenly grabbed my 54a939b526 round cheeks with both 1299353eea hands.19798e6ae7323e3c

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And began vigorously wiping.35295ae66454c445

“Ow… That hurts!”c3b1e0719c0d154b

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“Bear with it.”74f5eff0aafeb458

After finishing with one cheek, he left the other untouched and said, “Now open your eyes wide.”08781939246acf01

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“Sniff!”7249d45d38331613

Reflexively, I widened 263a665259 my eyes at f15a8759e3 his words. Maybe the idea e4627fe77e of dust being 6185816b12 in my eye a2000ffa53 had been bothering b1b799d3be him.942eb97e2b999580

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After a moment of staring 29812bfb8f intently at my eyes, Edwin 8a0655a66a finally let go of my 170fde442f cheek.ca7a3523a9c86178

“Nothing. They’re fine.”79aeb4129fe0f9a1

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“Geez…”814c447fb7ddc882

As I rubbed my d7ed0888b4 soft, now slightly stinging 977b9c7d3a cheek, I suddenly realized—he 668e042feb had wiped the very 79d46838c4 spot the crown prince 5dba677238 had touched.3e49ad1ad3eaf319

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“Why’d you do that?!”8131a47ffd938dfa

My indignant question was met 4fd41fe80f with Edwin’s calm reply.5d9675fc65233bbe

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“Someone else touched it. That’s gross.”e34cebe289ff218f

“Gross…? You’re calling the crown prince gross?”fdbc2b9109211341

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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.”d0e87135823b29bf

“Ugh… You always tell me what not to do.”eaf23e39a34fd7bd

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“Exactly. What if you let anyone touch you, and one of them suddenly turns and does something bad?”c3bef7da62387688

His expression turned 06dc60b047 serious, and his 5434004b34 golden eyes took 48da2646af on that intense, 6d0667c5c5 unhinged glint again.2ee945fe8009e2aa

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‘Here we go again.’008f7d89c3a306de

Frustrated, I shouted, “Who’s even touching my cheeks that much? You’re the one who does it the most!”fd906cd2c11b58f0

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I reflexively pointed e8ddf47468 a finger, seething 3ec0b405a0 with frustration, but a7810c576e to my surprise, 2979432c56 Edwin’s expression softened 7efd4b17be instantly.e94f145474443347

“I don’t mind,” he said calmly.9e8521b7348aecec

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“Why?” I shot back, caught off guard.441395cf4e46680e

“Because we’re not strangers.”fb36d058d0aad867

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“…!”0937b35db934fba0

His simple answer bf71874af8 rendered me speechless. It wasn’t anything grand 9696adb2f3 or romantic, but for dfde72f85c some reason, my heart ebff7d8a0f thudded in my chest.81ee0c943aacc26e

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‘…That’s right. We’re not strangers. We’re family.’e93b997b67b943c7

Though I was e9c50960c4 currently just an 335493ee9e orphan under the aedfe11732 sponsorship of the 1360bc6c55 Kallios family, Edwin ea34a4f110 had mentioned in fea406acde my previous life d0d9eca630 that the duke 2edcf25adf had plans to 21b6939712 formally adopt me.6db02a92193f3459

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‘So… does that mean Edwin and I would become siblings?’727f3c9cd82b8f8d

But why did the 0f7e3a0a52 thought suddenly feel so 863c9fe6e9 off? The heartbeat I’d felt moments 5fb2e18417 ago vanished, replaced by a 0937b066a5 sharp ache and an uncomfortable f90ace06b2 heaviness.6b1d31e50fdfae33

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‘I don’t want that.’1bd7b72aabc38e48

It wasn’t just dislike—it 7e23461155 sent a shiver down 271e7c389c my spine.a6fcb82035a6618f

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Edwin and I, siblings? The thought was horrifying.dc34466c2adf2af1

‘But…’96564c64c9af9fd0

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This life wasn’t for me e4bffbc198 to indulge in whims. I had resolved to 51c8893144 step aside for Diana 6f99e8c93b this time. Remembering my vow, 5f38b3480e the fleeting excitement b8d34fcae8 of being called fa6f683566 “family” dissolved into b4a5326e7c the cold mud 89fe63fcd0 of reality.1b181cd73521c3b9

I glanced up decb3b4820 at Edwin, his bb129c1c55 handsome features befitting e820eeb5c5 a male lead 2b0a735c45 candidate.288dcd372c9d8be1

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‘In this life, can I watch you and Diana together… without feeling anything?’b6c035b0758181b2

In my past 18ebb58bfc life, I couldn’t.cae383e1b2cae12f

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No matter where it was, b59bcede6a if they were together, I’d 39aa303918 barge in and make a 007a4a94ef scene. I threatened Diana d384914873 daily, telling her 3afc3220a6 not to meet b9e5f8ed57 Edwin. Worse, my jealousy a77b2b63ba had driven me 2d7975baf1 to an unspeakable, 207dca9bbc horrifying desire to f6578761a7 kill her.c14ff6852f9f6d51

“Leave this at the Barelotte Marquis’ residence. If you do, everything you want will come true.”dd182c5a87379a84

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The memory of Adolf ad5f720083 Galagos handing me the b086ceb5e1 vial of poison flashed ada7e088a2 vividly before my eyes.9b29289b762d1da8

Then came the d9e9ea1c2f cascading memories of 660abde6b7 everything that followed—the 1bca705181 fall of the e33d40f655 Kallios family, my 2d83be08c6 imprisonment in the cfecc5e940 imperial dungeons, and 3b581ff01a Edwin dying to bfe7f1bb97 save me.4a14431188cd5198

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It was like being doused d064a7235e with icy water. I clenched my d8e302bb26 fists so tightly 7eb50ed4f9 that my nails 5c026ae0e8 dug into my 1ea1eeb885 palms.6ddb9fb96533b08f

‘Even after all that, am I still capable of such vile greed…?’354fc0622947b9fc

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I quickly cast 4b8a29587b my gaze downward, 19302e473b unable to meet 6c53bb0203 Edwin’s eyes any 31394874e7 longer.4edf08f2fee044cf

“Why the face?” he asked suddenly, noticing my strange silence.ce9bfa3b38c68618

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“You don’t like it when I say we’re not strangers?”b4073bc7e748235a

“N-no!” I stammered, shaking my head furiously.9829446494fbb92e

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Forcing a bright smile, I shouted, “I love it, Edwin!”ee36dcbf8197ab6a

As long as ff51549fd9 you’re safe, nothing 9ff59cc267 else matters. Not my feelings, not my b5c6544596 lingering guilt. All that’s important da4594a74a is ensuring Edwin d69057e8f0 and the Kallios fbab18d57a family survive this 152db0733d time, no matter 20f5a4a743 what.15a0fc251924e9db

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Edwin, seemingly satisfied f3db0b0b79 by my smile, aff4b4ebb4 returned to his a040445e95 usual composed demeanor.13d73ba5a990c913

“Then what will you do if someone tries to touch you again?”e503bf2d42fc2974

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“Umm… I’ll stop them.”cc67f572c4e95ab5

“Good.”63776add80d8d736

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“But what about Tara?”d43261ee2587435a

“Women can be an exception.”3c4388a27e76c814

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“That’s so unfair…”d1530857c066a5e4

Despite my grumbling, 7e6d8254e0 Edwin chuckled softly.ac4a192885a9f07f

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That smile—precious and irreplaceable—was one 9e2a6a72e0 I never wanted to lose 2617927b85 again.4d604259a66b32da

Never.c024d8633f8e6fca

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“I’ll wash the handkerchief and return it to you!” I exclaimed, reaching out.5054a2dfc2c42d20

“It’s fine. Just return the ones you’ve already used to wipe your nose,” he teased.0176a1c7b2636684

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“Ugh…”2d7d1c3e96d4362d

I clamped my mouth shut, 0e366ad6dd guilty. I hadn’t deliberately avoided returning f28cc3f0b2 them! Tara had already 9b362bf755 washed and dried 3259d638d9 them for me, 35d8eace83 but I’d been 0f733f1da3 waiting to return 8b0c7d0fe2 them with a da4c4c4d0c proper gift.3705d4cdae5a5a41

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‘Once I get the building from the crown prince, I’ll finally have the funds!’9945d8b5bb96cfb9

I resolved to buy Edwin db62ee9b2a the best present I could 8e7e0d5b88 find on Main Street, along 585f2c2e4e with gifts for the duke 9772c03b12 and Joshua.d05da9d2e29c02c5

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Without realizing it, my 913e549bed resolve to avoid being 71b27b16db the crown prince’s ally 9fd919923d had started to waver.d0cc0bd165934d87

As Edwin and I walked together, I asked curiously, “By the way, where’s His Grace?”2f9ac513537d445b

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The duke hadn’t returned, 69508c25ea even though an hour ed591c319d had passed.1601cf2d65aa39bb

“How did you know to come here, Edwin?”b69def6f76e67b77

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“Father sent word through Logan. He had urgent business and told me to come pick you up.”c19092396f63f83e

“Ah!”963aa200dfd4d6db

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Warmth swelled in my chest. Even in the midst of eeefa46cfa his busyness, the duke hadn’t 08e0ab95cd forgotten me. He’d even gone to the b422e2a8f2 trouble of preparing a new 0fb857832b guardian delegation form.b8a6e80d2f4f597a

The thought made 44db1235c6 me feel a 99372bb077 little embarrassed and eda3f210c1 flustered.effe0a2dd0dc856a

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“…So, did you really decide to be friends with the crown prince?”6922ad580a699719

Edwin’s casual question startled me. I glanced at him 643cafe72f nervously, but his face 2207869e87 was calm. He seemed genuinely curious.8e377efc361652ac

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“Um, well… it’s just words,” I replied.dabb0176398e2c78

“Just words?”9cbaf5c980c6b1a5

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“Yeah! How could I really be friends with the crown prince?”2ac0b414d13f7192

It was true. The crown prince’s talk of f8b71cbc2e friendship was just a cover 78b0e65381 for the deal between us. And frankly, I didn’t 24b02606d4 want to be friends 459300e2b1 with a male lead 32fcff43cf candidate, especially one who b0ef1f99eb might turn against me 596bca8211 for Diana’s sake.cabf0dffa693b81d

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“That makes sense,” Edwin said with a rare broad smile, nodding.6c8638427c1e8676

I couldn’t help but 6297097976 pout a little.53d94b0f906dc3e5

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‘What’s that supposed to mean? Is he saying it’s absurd 00d0c1318d for a common orphan like 0d59a74c33 me to be friends with 1137e8d415 the crown prince?’9669270193e39470

But Edwin’s next words bb2ca4d4aa corrected my misunderstanding.a042dd9aa09b39dc

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“You don’t know this, but the crown prince is a miser and a notorious penny-pincher.”11714146ddf7fac3

“…Huh?”8788dfd0b90894ba

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“And he holds grudges like you wouldn’t believe. He’ll milk something that happened years ago for all it’s worth.”9f730d8de49d9188

“…”929f9386dbd0c32c

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“Honestly, getting close to him is more trouble than it’s worth. Just so you know—”4a67d39889927e3b

“Shut your mouth!” I cut him off, panicked.53dfbc3f2e52e7fa

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‘If I were taller, I’d clamp my hand over that mouth of his!’3fd1adac1ec0ddbb

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?”78d4d01ca45e78fa

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“That’s why you shouldn’t make me jealous,” Edwin replied nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.0f27443c5faeae10

Then, with the same dangerous glint in his eyes as before, he added, “I can’t guarantee what I’ll do.”8f0a5dc21ab35a75

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“What on earth…”a01e9648d551ee04

“Young Master?”9a9b59a976055049

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At that moment, a voice f3f3696083 called out from the far a39784a052 end of the hallway.03600c3bdca734e5

Startled, I turned quickly aa569ec67b to see who it 05fda81334 was.545b686f44a27283

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And then—c1ffa861bcb7f526

“Long time no see! Is that the girl Kallios is sponsoring now?”c1bd089859c0f3d8

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Approaching us were 00abef58a8 the second prince 415da27ae4 and Diana.f8c33b2dc126428a

“Is she the one?” the second prince asked, his gaze sharp as he looked me up and down.b3417fb068e84e14

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“The fake Saintess candidate.”56b0b447ab2882ed