CPBF 51

Chapter: 51

“Are you Mona White?”

If I ask Lapore that, then whether she likes it or not, she’ll have no choice but to open the door to the dungeon where Artractio is hidden for us.

Then, once we get our hands on Artractio, our chances of survival will increase several hundredfold.

It does feel a bit guilt-inducing, taking away the only weapon the Crown Prince has to stand against the Emperor… but when the Crown Prince needs it, I can just destroy the Emperor’s Brilliantes for him instead.

I came to this conclusion during my short vacation.

My mind had been in turmoil because of the endless, chaotic commotion.

But having people who protected and cared for me gave me some peace of mind, and I had more free time than when I was in the Knights’ Order.

Thanks to that, I was able to have many conversations with my sister.

We vowed to definitely obtain Artractio, survive, and return to our original world.

In response to my words, my sister simply smiled quietly… but that was enough to convey her feelings.

“Commander. The Captain of the Imperial Guard and the new knight, Sir Heather, request an audience.”

“…Let them in.”

Lapore’s secretary grasped the doorknob, which had been replaced with a wooden one after the previous crystal door was shattered.

My sister and I looked at each other at the same time.

There were no words, but she was surely thinking about the vow we made at this moment as well.

Soon the door opened, and we entered.

As soon as the secretary left, we shouted simultaneously at Lapore, who was looking at us with an annoyed expression, asking why we had come.

“You’re Mona White!”

“…”

But nothing happened.

Perplexed, I started shouting wildly.

“You are Mona White! Um… Lapore Isdan is actually Mona White! Mona White’s true identity is Lapore Isdan! Umm… Open Sesame! Ah, why isn’t it working?”

“Do you think it would?”

Lapore clicked her tongue mockingly and looked at me with a disdainful expression.

That look became especially pronounced when I shouted, “Open Sesame!”

Ah, I know the last one was a bit off!

Embarrassed, I shut my mouth tight, my face flushed. My sister asked the question I was curious about instead.

“…Why isn’t it working?”

“Do you think I didn’t anticipate you two pulling something like this? I already took precautions. I changed the condition. It’s been set to react only to men.”

“What? Was that even possible?”

“Of course. It was a rule I set up myself.”

My sister, who had originally created the character ‘Mona White,’ also stiffened, her expression hardening as if she hadn’t expected this situation.

Right. If we twist the original work, then naturally the characters within it change too.

Especially so for Mona White. She knows our identities.

“Wait, you said you made it react only to men? I am a man!”

“You’re only a man on the outside; on the inside, you’re a woman, Baek Mina-ssi.”

In response to my sister’s words, Lapore laughed leisurely and then poured wine into a glass… wait, that’s not wine.

It was a fruit wine named ‘John Mastang – Melon Flavor’.

Holding the translucent light green liquid in her mouth, she looked strangely out of place.

Maybe she’s discovered a new taste preference since the Foundation Day Festival.

“Do you want some too? I’m sure our tastes are the same.”

Feeling my gaze, Lapore chuckled and held out the glass.

I absentmindedly reached for it but then suddenly came to my senses and put on a stern face.

“Have I lost my mind? There might be poison in it.”

“I don’t resort to such dirty tricks.”

“That’s a joke. Was trying to assassinate me last time a clean trick?”

“It was clean. I tried to deal with you purely through skill, with no other help. In the end, I just lost cleanly.”

Admitting her defeat so neatly… she’s pretty cool.

Maybe she really is like me after all!

“Well, if you don’t want it, I can’t force you. It’s a shame I have to enjoy this delicious drink all by myself.”

Even as she said that, Lapore casually took another sip of the fruit wine.

Then, with an immensely satisfied smile, she exhaled.

“Mmm- It really is John Mastang.”

The way that brand name sounds a bit… it’s probably just my imagination, right?

“Hmm, yeah. I think that’s best.”

Lapore put down her glass and nodded her head. What is she planning to do now?

“Baek Mona. I’ll challenge you again. This time, in a fair fight.”

Lapore, who had been sitting in her chair, leaped over the desk, closing the distance in an instant and drawing her sword.

My sister hid me behind her and grabbed her bird-shaped earring.

The earring was a magical tool my sister had made; when you channel mana into it, it transforms into a large bird and attacks the opponent.

“Go ahead and try if you think you can block even my magic with just Lapore Isdan’s swordsmanship.”

“Did you think a fair fight meant a cheap 2-on-1?”

“You tried to kill me with assassination, a cheap trick too!”

When I shouted from behind my sister, Lapore’s gaze turned fiercer. She ground her teeth and yelled.

“Move aside. That’s my spot!”

Even after all this, does she still want to be my sister’s sibling?

To my sister, Lapore is probably just someone who threatens her ‘sister’s’ life.

Why can’t she accept that there’s no way my sister likes her?

“Sis. What do you think of me, that her personality ended up like that? She’s so stupid it’s beyond belief.”

“You’re doing some great self-reflection there, little sis.”

“What part of me looks stupid! Do you want to die, Baek Mina?”

“Do you two really have to put on such an affectionate display right in front of me?”

…Since when does this look like an affectionate display? It’s just an ordinary fight between real-life sisters.

“Seeing you come all the way here to rub it in my face, I guess I can assume you’re prepared to have your lives taken.”

It was instantaneous.

Lapore’s sword got a handspan closer, and at the same time, my sister’s earring grew large.

I quickly drew my sword as well.

Clang! A large silver swan suddenly blocked my view, then, with the sound of clashing against the sword, it was sent flying into the corner of the office.

Lapore glanced at my sister’s earring, which had shrunk back down.

“Did you really think something like that could be my opponent?”

To send that massive hunk of metal flying so easily.

As expected, she’s the strongest in this world in both magic and swordsmanship.

“With such cheap tricks, you can’t even scratch me.”

Lapore took another step forward.

But she didn’t get any closer than that.

“…Damn.”

Just getting one step closer, I could feel my mana being absorbed.

So now, even without physical contact, just getting close enough allows her to absorb mana?

“This is exactly why I want to kill you. If I don’t take it away, you’ll end up taking my place.”

What is she talking about? I have no intention of taking Lapore’s place.

It’s not like I’m Irilin; Lapore knows very well that she’s Lapore and I’m Baek Mona, even if we are doppelgangers.

“Go back.”

Lapore stepped back and approached the office window.

Then, suddenly, she opened the window and jumped out.

Startled, my sister and I looked down, but Lapore’s figure was already gone.

As we were walking back to my sister’s quarters, speculating about Lapore’s whereabouts, I sensed someone’s presence.

Actually, no. I’d been feeling this presence since we first went to Lapore’s office, but they hadn’t come close, so I’d been pretending not to notice.

Seeing them approach now, they must have decided to talk.

Soon, when they got close enough to be right behind me, I turned around and caught the finger that was trying to poke my back.

“…!”

Bin’s face came into view, eyes wide, frozen in surprise.

He stared blankly at his hand caught in mine, then lowered his gaze.

His neatly downward-pointing silver eyelashes fluttered slightly. Plus, his face was flushed.

Maybe he’s embarrassed about touching my hand.

I belatedly realized and tried to let go, but this time, Bin firmly grabbed my hand.

Then, he lifted his lowered gaze, looked me in the eye, and grinned.

“Did nothing special happen with the Commander today?”

He even asked calmly, as if he had no idea what was caught in his own hand.

Where did the person who was just embarrassed go?

“Wow. Watching my little sister’s love life unfold right before my eyes. What a truly educational and enjoyable time this is, you damn people.”

My sister muttered with a sour expression and then went straight into her quarters just ahead.

Hey, wait for me! You have to take me with you!

Is she really leaving me to fend for myself now?

“Si, Sis-! Wait!”

“I asked if nothing special happened.”

Bin spoke, turning my head, which had twisted towards the quarters, back to face him.

His touch was gentle, but the grip on my hand tightened.

“Uh, yeah.”

We almost dueled, and that Commander person jumped out the window and ran away.

But I can’t tell Bin that.

“Your face says something did happen.”

“…”

“Why are you on such bad terms with the Commander?”

“……Why were you following me in the first place?”

This time, I deflected the question.

At my typical tactic, Bin raised one eyebrow as if dumbfounded and let out a hollow laugh, but he still answered.

“To protect you. Since assigning official guards wasn’t approved, I had no choice but to protect you myself.”

“There’s no way Count Isnob Ardelen would intrude into a place crawling with knights.”

“There’s also the Commander, who’s a threat to you.”

Even without me telling him the details, he must know at least that Lapore attacked me before.

“About what happened between you and the Commander… you still don’t want to tell me?”

“Yeah.”

“Even later?”

“I told you. You wouldn’t gain anything good from hearing it.”

“It might not be good, but I still want to know.”

“…Still, no.”

I firmly shook my head and wriggled my fingers in his grasp. A signal to let go.

Bin smiled and slowly released my hand.

But maybe it’s my imagination, but as he pretended to let go, it felt like he was subtly stroking my hand, as if trying to feel its texture.

“I’m going in.”

“Go on in, it’s late.”

…Seeing his face grinning more brightly than usual, I guess it wasn’t my imagination.