While I was surrounded by people and greeting them, I had a new awakening.
The obvious fact that I was no longer the First Princess Elona.
Now people no longer treated me as a 'gloomy and insignificant first Princess'.
They greeted me, smiled, and nodded.
I'd be lying if I said it wasn't confusing.
But it wasn't an unpleasant feeling.
Rather, I felt relieved.
I felt as if I had shed the shell of my shabby past and been reborn as a new being.
So, I wanted to enjoy that refreshing feeling for as long as possible.
"Congratulations on your wedding!"
The moment my forgotten twin sister appeared before my eyes and hugged me, I came to my senses.
Yeah, now wasn't the time to be happy.
While the real Letie was here, I had to keep my nerves on edge and thoroughly carry on with the play.
I started to act as Letie in joy while hugging my sister who came into my arms.
"Elona! Thank you for coming. I've been so busy that I'm only just now getting to greet you properly. Are you enjoying the banquet?"
As I said that, she smiled awkwardly, and Letie smiled back.
"Of course! It's a wonderful banquet. There's nothing that isn't wonderful. The most wonderful of all, of course, is you, the main character of the day, and the Grand Duchess."
I tried to pretend to be Letie and spoke to her in a cheerful tone.
Letie didn't try to pretend to be me at all.
Letie said in a bright voice as if she had no intention of putting on a proper show.
"I'm really surprised. You showed up dressed so nicely. And His Highness the Grand Duke..."
Letie paused for a moment and then looked toward Kishian.
"I didn't know he was such a cool person."
Letie's gaze lingered on Kishian for a little... no, quite a while.
For some reason, I felt a little uncomfortable with the way her gaze lingered for a long time, examining each and every one of them.
"Thank you, Elona. But where is Duke Herssen?"
Letie's partner was that man.
Even though I told her not to, she didn't listen to me and insisted on attending with that man, causing me a headache.
But I wondered where the man who had been so kind had been left behind.
Letie answered my question with a slightly sheepish expression.
"He just went to get some champagne. How are you, Your Highness?"
Letie, who had vaguely answered my question about the Duke of Herssen, turned her attention back to Kishian.
I looked at Letie for a moment as if thinking about something, then answered.
"Of course, I couldn't be happier."
"Really? Hmm."
Why on earth is that?
After hearing Kishian's answer that he was happy, Letie remained silent for a while.
Isn't it natural for a newlywed to be happy?
Still, as if she had heard the wrong answer, Letie just drooled for a while.
As the silence grew longer, the strange sense of uneasiness building up in my chest also grew bigger.
It was then that words came out of Letie's mouth that further aggravated my anxiety.
"Can I stay up north for a few days?"
"...Yes?"
It was such a perplexing request that I couldn't respond properly for a moment.
After barely coming to my senses, I shook my head firmly toward Letie.
"That's difficult."
"...Why?"
"Because our father will be worried."
Actually, it didn't matter whether my father was worried or not.
What I was really worried about was our lives.
Letie, who was already clumsy at acting, was sure to make a mistake if she stayed here for several days.
So, if Kishian were to realize the whole truth, it was terrifying to even imagine.
But Letie shook her head as if she wasn't afraid of that situation.
"Father won't be too worried. I'm staying at my sister's mansion, of all places."
"..."
"Huh? Why not? I'm curious about how you're doing, and I haven't been up north much, so I'd like to take a look around..."
I'm risking my life to deceive Kisshian.
I got really angry when she threw a tantrum and insisted on staying here for such a trivial reason.
So, the moment I took a deep breath to cool down, a large hand grabbed my shoulder.
Kishian, who had been holding my shoulder, soon answered Letie.
"Is there anything wrong with that? You can stay as long as you want."
I glanced at Kishian, unable to hide my embarrassment.
He, not knowing what was in my mind, just had a gentle smile on his face as if he had drawn it.
"Can I not give you a guest room for my beloved wife's beloved sister?"
Is this also part of his effort to make me the main character?
Or is this just a prank to tease me?
In any case, since he, the Grand Duke, had already given his permission for Letie first, it seemed difficult to oppose him right away.
'I'll have to call Kishian aside later and convince him. Letie can never stay here.'
While I was thinking like that, Letie answered Kishian.
"Thank you, Your Highness. You are truly kind."
For some reason, even though she had received permission to do as she wished, a somewhat dark smile appeared on Letie's face.
***
As the night grew later, the party grew more and more heated.
Guests, intoxicated by champagne, happily swayed to the music or huddled together to chat.
Taking advantage of the moment when the mood became relaxed, I quietly took Kishian out to a corner of the garden.
"Thank you for listening to my sister's request earlier. I really appreciate it... but actually, you didn't have to do that."
After hearing what I said, Kishian looked at me in silence for a moment, then suddenly asked me a rather sharp question.
"I guess the relationship between the sisters isn't that good?"
"..."
After hearing his words, I looked back on my relationship with Letie.
My twin sister, Letie.
It's not that I hate that kid.
But it was also true that it was a little uncomfortable.
Because she was born bright and cheerful, as if she was born in a bright light. She always monopolized my share of love.
And above all...
'You always wanted to take what I had.'
Why is it? Letie has always coveted what I own.
When I was little, she wanted my doll, when I got a little older, she wanted my jewelry and later even my friends.
So I once asked her. Why do you keep wanting what I have?
To this, Letie replied:
"I don't know either. But what you have always seems better than minе."
After hearing that answer, I couldn't help but become even more confused.
As a Princess loved by everyone. Letie always took better things than me.
After Letie took it, only what was left was given to me.
But why do I have such a hard time coveting those small, simple things that were barely given to me?
"...It's not that we don't get along. I was just worried that you might feel uncomfortable."
When Kishian asked if the relationship between the sisters was not good, I lied.
I didn't want to talk about Letie and my somewhat delicate and uncomfortable relationship.
This was an obvious weakness, so I didn't want to reveal it to anyone else, even to Kishian.
Kishian chuckled after hearing my answer.
"Don't worry. It's not that uncomfortable."
"That's good, but still..."
"More than anything, I don't like it."
You don't like it?
I waited for him to speak, a little bewildered as to what had offended him.
After that, I heard something rather unexpected.
"I really don't like the way you look so intimidated."
"What do you mean, I'm feeling intimidated?"
"Did you think I didn't know?"
As he asked that, he took a half step closer to me.
I unconsciously tried to take a step back, but before I could, his large hand grabbed my shoulder and stopped me.
"How do you feel in front of your sisters?"
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