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Chapter : 21
“Sis? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Finally, as his gaze, icy as the polar glaciers, turned toward me, I squeezed my eyes shut.
My temples had begun to throb.
“How dare he barge into a place with guests!”
Disciplining him for such rude behavior should come first, but the alarm bells ringing constantly in my head were growing louder and louder, so I forced myself to welcome Luak.
“Yes, come in. My Luak.”
“Sis, who is this?”
In a low voice, Luak asked again about the Duke, and I answered.
“This is the Duke of Rikesis. He’s the one who will uphold our family’s tradition.”
Family tradition.
“You know our family tradition, right?”
I had clearly told Luak that before. However, it was a rather meaningful code, so I cautiously glanced at the Duke.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to assign any special meaning to it.
“Prince Luak? Wow, a genius swordsman!”
Although he might be curious about what “our family tradition” meant, the Duke was only excitedly imagining Luak’s title, his eyes sparkling.
Phew.
Feeling slightly relieved, I turned my gaze back to Luak.
“Ah, family tradition.”
Luak seemed to understand my intention immediately. With a face resembling mine, he smiled faintly and murmured in a small voice:
“Disgusting mistress aspirant.”
…Scratch that “he understands my intention.”
Th-This guy…!
Just as I was about to stand up in shock, Luak moved first and approached the Duke.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Duke of Rikesis.”
He placed his left hand over his chest and bowed.
“An… honor…!”
“I am Prince Luak von Haim of the Haim family.”
The Duke seemed flustered by such overly formal greeting, and seeing that, I let out a small sigh of relief.
He’s showing proper etiquette, so it seems he has no intention of getting close to the Duke.
Honestly, I was nervous. Luak knew about my initial revenge plan.
“Sis wants to take revenge herself, does that mean… she’s planning to take a mistress?!”
“Yes, but it wouldn’t be a real mistress. More like letting her have some gain and pretend to act like one…”
At that time, I thought the Duke would be a cold-blooded man!
If word got out that I intended to propose a mistress contract to the Duke, it would be the absolute end.
However, it was too soon to feel relieved.
Luak doesn’t seem to be favorable toward the Duke.
It was just an instinct.
“Luah.”
Just as I was about to command Luak to calm down,
“But Duke of Rikesis, how long do you intend to keep holding my sister’s hand?”
…Luak’s provocation was faster, and I went pale and shouted:
“Luak! How dare you be rude to the Duke!”
“No, he keeps holding your hand. Isn’t that rude?”
“You…!”
I grit my teeth.
If this keeps up, I won’t be able to take revenge on the Crown Prince!
Imagining my younger brother picking fights with every man I meet, my future seemed hopeless.
…I definitely need to seize the upper hand.
“…Luak.”
Perhaps because I called him “Luak” instead of “Luak,” he flinched.
Just as I was about to show my anger properly,
“No, it’s my fault. I apologize.”
The Duke immediately let go of my hand. His eyes were red.
“I empathized with the painful heart of Her Highness the Crown Princess and lost my composure for a moment.”
“Duke…”
“Please forgive my rudeness.”
He slumped his shoulders. My heart ached along with him.
What am I doing to such a kind person…
I couldn’t bear to see the Duke in sorrow any longer! So I gently lifted the Duke’s fallen hand and held it again.
“No, I understand your sincerity, Duke.”
Even my father, who had been watching, spoke a few words as he saw our hands clasped together.
“Th-That’s… Duke. Don’t worry; I was not displeased.”
But someone else had to butt in…
“Still, it seems like he’s intentionally trying to flirt with you, sis. Disgusting, ugh…”
Now openly provoking me?!
As expected, my angry father’s harsh voice rang out.
“Luak! What nonsense have you been spouting since earlier?!”
I quickly stood and pulled Luak along.
“Apologize at once.”
Luak pressed his lips into a line and stayed silent.
But when I pinched his side, he finally bowed to the Duke.
“I’m sorry, Duke.”
“Duke, may I take a moment to educate my younger brother?”
“Oh, no. If that’s the case, I’ll join as well…”
“No. The Duke must talk to me! Isn’t he concerned about his Rikesis subjects?”
My father tried to hold the Duke back, but the Duke kept glancing at Luak.
“Still, Prince Luak’s feelings…”
Apparently, he was worried that Luak was being scolded because of him.
He really is a kind person.
I had no desire to make the Duke uncomfortable.
“It’s fine, Duke. It’s just a sibling conversation.”
To prove it, I spoke kindly to Luak.
“Luak, would you like to step into the sitting room and talk with me for a bit?”
Of course, I still pinched his side.
“Yes, okay.”
Luak’s answer was obedient.
I maintained a smile and took him to the sitting room.
After we sat across from each other at the table, I spoke directly.
“Luak, you promised not to interfere with my revenge.”
Luak muttered with a dark expression, as if he had never agreed.
“I did promise, I guess.”
Oh, “I guess”? What’s that supposed to mean?
Already, I was getting a headache. I pressed my brows together and continued.
“You promised. So why are you picking a fight with the Duke? Don’t you think about how it will put me in trouble?”
“We don’t necessarily need to use that Duke for revenge, do we?”
For a moment, Luak’s voice turned grim, and I flinched.
“I still think having an affair is wrong. Might as well just kill the Crown Prince, I guess.”
“……”
“Why not just assassinate the Crown Prince? Along with that mistress girl.”
Saying that, Luak looked at me with an even stranger gaze, and I gritted my teeth with a smile.
No wonder he’s like a righteous murderer from a novel…
Thinking back, Luak had never approved of my counter-adultery plan from the start.
So how had I tried to persuade him?
I need to be more forceful.
“You’re joking, right, Luak?”
“Half serious, half not, sis.”
“…Then what do you want me to do?”
“First, that Duke we just saw is not good. His gaze is too lecherous.”
Where he saw lechery in those pure eyes…
I sighed heavily.
“You don’t like any of the men around me, do you?”
“Nope. They all have creepy eyes, that’s why.”
“Then tell me who you like. Which man would suit your sister best? Can you introduce a man according to your standards?”
“…What?”
Luak froze at my words.
“What…!”
He couldn’t say anything more, and I smiled faintly.
“Of course, he also has to meet my standards.”
I arrogantly lifted my chin and said:
“Luak, your sister has high standards. I only deal with men with ranks comparable to the Crown Prince. Do you have such a man among your friends?”
As expected, Luak’s face flushed with anger.
“There’s no such guy in the academy!”
“Right, probably not. But Cardmael Rikesis, he is the Duke of the North and possesses outstanding martial skills. Especially, his purity is such that betrayal is unthinkable. He will never forget a promise or suddenly change his mind.”
“…!”
“But Luak, look at yourself. What about you?”
Feeling my reproachful gaze, Luak bit his lip.
Then he started to speak.
“Sis, if I were to…”
“…?”
“….”
…What?
Why did he suddenly stop mid-sentence?
