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Chapter – 06
“Wouldn’t it be better to stay a few more days? We haven’t even properly celebrated the adoption yet.”
“It’s not like she’s going somewhere she’ll never return from. Why make such a fuss? So, what do you say? Leaving right away with me.”
As if he had already concluded that talking with the priestesses would not lead to the outcome he wanted, Marquis Colin shifted his gaze to me.
“Alright!”
“Rubié! Still… shouldn’t something like this be discussed with the temple?”
“But I really want to leave quickly.”
“If we delay this any longer, I’ll start looking ridiculous. From my position, it almost feels like you’re making such a big deal because you think I might harm the child once I take her.”
Marquis Colin bluntly expressed his discomfort toward the priestesses. Only then did the priestesses awkwardly smile and nod.
“She is simply a child we’ve grown very fond of. It can’t be helped. Since the child also seems to want it, you may take her today.”
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
After that, I immediately picked up a small bag and got into Marquis Colin’s carriage.
Before long, we finally arrived at the Colin estate. As soon as the carriage door opened, he stepped out first and proudly pointed toward his mansion. I, whose small body made it hard to get down without help from the coachman, finally climbed down and stuck close beside him.
“So this is where I’m going to live?”
“Yes. This will be your home from now on.”
“Wow…”
The Marquis’s mansion was said to rival the imperial palace in grandeur. And just as the rumors said, the Colin estate was exactly that. In fact, it resembled the palace so much that it felt almost unsettling.
Even the layout of the estate—and even the flowers—felt like they had been copied.
‘Anyone would think this was the imperial palace.’
I had already disliked Marquis Colin, but now I disliked him even more. Of all things to imitate, he chose the imperial palace. Having once entered the palace as an imperial princess and lived there until the day I died as the “Ruby jewel,” I felt sick to my stomach.
But unaware of my feelings, Marquis Colin smiled proudly.
“Isn’t it beautiful? The second most beautiful place in the Empire after the palace.”
“I’ve never been to the palace, but I think this place is more beautiful! Wow.”
“Right?”
He nodded with a satisfied smile.
“So I’m really getting the biggest doll and the best room?”
“Yes. Everything has been prepared.”
Marquis Colin, as if determined to appear kind, held out his hand to me. I took it and smiled along with him. At that moment, two children approached us.
With their bright red hair and light pink eyes, it was obvious they were Marquis Colin’s children.
“Kids, you’ve been waiting. First, let me introduce you. This child will be living with us from today. Her name is Ruby.”
“Rubié!”
“Yes… Rubié. This is my son, Lucel, and my daughter, Andasia.”
The Marquis’s children. They were not ordinary children.
Lucel Colin, who would become a foolish troublemaker causing chaos everywhere, and Andasia Colin, who would later become the shining star of high society and bring upheaval in many ways. Not only did they resemble their father in appearance, but they had also inherited his personality exactly. These two would become quite useful “troublemakers” for me in the future.
As soon as they were introduced, I walked straight toward them. Being twins, they had an absurd amount of pride. What irritated me even more was that I was slightly shorter than both of them. We were supposed to be the same age, but I was still a bit shorter than Andasia.
Still, I wasn’t the type to be intimidated by something like that. I put on a fake smile and greeted them.
“Hello.”
“Pfft. ‘Hello’? Does she think she’s in a position to talk to us?”
“How old are you two?”
“Where do you think you’re talking informally without even knowing our status?”
Lucel immediately tried to dominate me, curling his lip in contempt. But I completely ignored him.
“We’re going to be living as siblings from now on, so we should sort things out first. I’m eight years old.”
The twins, unable to tolerate being ignored, tensed up instantly. Without giving them even a second, I turned my gaze to Marquis Colin.
“Your Grace. Are they so stupid they can’t even say their own age? That’s something kids usually learn by age three. Are they under three?”
I decided to ignore them first. For that day. For the future moment when they would inevitably explode in frustration.
“Oh, no. They’re just shy around strangers.”
Marquis Colin tried his best to present his children in a good light. But the twins didn’t care about his efforts at all and continued to look down on me.
Well, this reaction was exactly as expected. In fact, I found it amusing, so I smiled brightly.
“Oh! Maybe I’m just too special, so you feel pressured? Don’t worry. You may not know since you don’t have special abilities, but for me it’s as natural as breathing. So don’t feel burdened.”
At my shameless words, Lucel and Andasia both turned red. Though they didn’t look that similar as twins, at this moment their expressions were identical—both glaring at me in ugly frustration. So they really were twins after all.
‘Kids really are predictable. They must’ve already decided to ignore me completely before even meeting me.’
Since they were already ignoring me, the situation unfolded exactly as expected. Knowing their personalities made everything obvious. So I pushed them even harder. As expected, they couldn’t hold back for long.
“What special? You’re just some kid bought from the temple.”
“Do you even know your place?”
Yes, that’s more like it. For a moment I thought I’d come to the wrong house because they were being too quiet.
“But I chose the Marquis myself. He almost didn’t get selected by me.”
“Pfft. So what? You were still bought with money.”
“Ohhh, I get it now! You’re acting like this because you’re younger than me, right? You don’t want to call me older sister? I understand. Orphans are like that too. But you still need to use proper titles. We’re going to live together, after all.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! We’re eight too! We’re twins, so we’re the same age!”
“Really? Then what month were you born?”
This was the biggest debate among children of this age—who was older when they were the same age. Normally, parents would stop it here, but Marquis Colin just watched silently.
The twins, realizing that responding to me only made things worse, turned to me at the same time.
“Father! She keeps saying weird things.”
“Your Grace, am I the one saying strange things?”
At Lucel’s words, Marquis Colin gently smiled and patted my head.
“She isn’t saying anything strange, Lucel. Ruby is just trying to get along with you. You should respond kindly.”
“Why should we be nice to her!”
“You’re being silly. She’s family. Family should treat each other well. So tell me, what month were you born?”
Lucel, still fuming, turned to Andasia.
“Lucel. There’s no need to answer her.”
“Our father told us to get along with you, but I have no intention of getting along with someone like you who doesn’t even know their parents.”
“Andasia! That’s too harsh. Ruby, please understand.”
“Father!”
“Dad!”
In an attempt to appear more mature, Andasia even straightened her posture and insisted on calling him “Father” rather than a childish term.
“Enough. It’s not good to see family fighting on the first day.”
“It’s fine, Your Grace. They’re just jealous of me. Lucel and Andasia were only born into a good family—they don’t have anything else. But I have special power. Please don’t be too harsh on them. It’s natural for kids their age to be jealous.”
“Hey, that’s—!”
“And in the end, the reason you can’t say your birthday is because you were born around December, right?”
“No, we weren’t! We were born in November!”
In the end, Lucel blurted out the truth in frustration.
“Lucel!”
“…Ah.”
Andasia hurriedly tried to stop him, but it was already too late.
“November, huh. So you really are little kids. I was born in March.”
