MHKBO 08

Chapter 08

But at the sound of Mir’s quick voice, I turned my head slightly—and saw her eyes welling up with tears.

“I made her cry.”

A wave of guilt surged through me in an instant.

It was just a dress. I shouldn’t have been greedy for something so far beyond my place.

If it looked beautiful to me, then it must have been something Mir cherished deeply.

“I’m sorry.”

I whispered so softly that only Mir could hear.

If the Grand Duchess heard me, she would probably say there was no need to apologize—that if I liked the dress, I should simply wear it.

And then I immediately walked toward the dress I had originally noticed.

A simple gray dress. Plain, with nothing but a small brooch at the chest.

“I… like this one. I’ll wear this.”

“Are you sure? There are far more beautiful dresses than that.”

Despite the Grand Duchess’s gentle objection, I shook my head.

“It’s okay. I… felt drawn to it the moment I saw it.”

“Sister, it suits you so well.”

Mir’s voice was much brighter now, filled with praise.

Even though it was the same words, hearing them from her made them feel like the highest compliment, and I found myself oddly happy.

“Thank you, Mir, for letting me borrow a dress.”

“It’s nothing.”

The tear stains on Mir’s face had already disappeared.

When she smiled, she was even more beautiful. A small dimple on her right cheek was especially charming.

I changed clothes with the help of a maid.

It was my first time being dressed by someone else, so I felt awkward at first, but the maid’s gentle voice and careful hands gradually calmed me.

Among Mir’s dozen or so maids, three had been assigned to assist me temporarily, and the girl beside me was the kindest of them all.

She looked about four or five years older than me.

“Um… may I ask your name?”

“Oh my, young lady. You’re a noble now, you shouldn’t speak politely to someone like me. Please speak casually. My name is Mary.”

Even after her kind explanation, I couldn’t bring myself to speak informally at first.

After swallowing my hesitation several times, I finally managed to speak.

“…Okay, Mary. I wanted to ask you something.”

“Please, ask anything.”

“Who exactly lives in the House of Toman?”

“Oh, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, and Lady Mir. And you haven’t met him yet, but Young Master Mirc is also here.”

Mir and Mirc.

After repeating their names in my mind a few times, I noticed something.

“Are Mir and Mirc twins?”

“Yes, that’s right. But Young Master Mirc was born later, so he’s the younger twin.”

“I see.”

A sense of unease crept into me.

If they were twins, then Mir and Mirc must share a strong bond.

Where did I fit in, suddenly inserted as an “unknown illegitimate older sister”?

My guess turned out to be correct.

The moment I entered the dining hall after the simple preparations, I realized it immediately.

“That’s her, right? The older sister?”

“Yes.”

Even though they were whispering, the hall was so large that I could still hear it clearly.

“Mir, Mirc. Mind your manners during meals. And Mirc, greet her properly.”

The Grand Duke spoke as he entered.

Even though he addressed Mirc, I instinctively understood something.

I am the lowest here.

So I had no choice but to greet them first.

“Hello, Mirc. I’m Tearina. Nice to meet you. Let’s get along.”

“Hello, Sister Tearina. I’m Mirc.”

His greeting was slightly longer than Mir’s, but I could tell—he didn’t truly welcome me.

A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

Mockery.

But it couldn’t be helped. Being disliked was nothing new.

I had endured worse.

And honestly, it didn’t hurt as much as it should have.

Still… I want to go back. To where I used to be.

Even if it meant eating thin soup in ragged clothes.

After dinner, I thought I might ask again.

But that thought vanished the moment the dishes arrived.

“Is this… a dream?”

The table was filled with every kind of delicacy imaginable.

For a moment, I thought this might be a welcome feast for me, but—

No one else seemed surprised.

Not even pleased.

Only I was.

How embarrassing.

Not because I lacked manners.

Not because I ate too much.

But because…

I felt ashamed of myself for even considering staying here because of something like this.

After dinner, the Grand Duchess called me aside.

“I’m worried about you, Tea. How was the meal? Was anything uncomfortable?”

“It was… really delicious. Thank you… Mother.”

The word felt heavy in my mouth.

She smiled warmly.

“We may need etiquette lessons for you.”

It was not rejection—it was acceptance.

They were acknowledging me as part of the family.

If it had been someone else, they might have been happy.

A sudden rise in status, nothing less.

But not me.

My hands trembled.

Their affection felt… frightening.

“I… yes. Thank you, Mother.”

“Good girl, Tea.”

At the next dinner, I quietly observed everyone.

The Grand Duke, the Grand Duchess, Mir, and Mirc—all perfect.

It wasn’t something taught. It felt natural to them.

Perhaps etiquette really was something you were born with.

And so was ability.

Yes… abilities.

I was certain now.

Abilities were inherited.

The first time I came here, I had been shocked by their abilities.

As expected of a noble lineage—everyone here possessed Dark-affinity abilities.

Especially Mirc.

His ability was terrifying.

Even without direct fire, he could make someone feel as if they were burning alive.

I became afraid of when that ability might one day be directed at me.

The Grand Duke could mind-control someone if they held eye contact for more than five seconds.

The Grand Duchess could create a separate dimension.

Mir could temporarily disable one of a person’s five senses.

Why they weren’t punished or restrained was soon clear to me.

High nobles were exempt from the prison system.

Power truly ruled everything.

Even the servants had useful Light abilities.

Compared to them, I felt… inadequate.

As if I didn’t belong.

No matter how much I tried to attach the Toman name to myself, I could never truly become one of them.

I kept telling myself:

Be perfect. Be obedient. Don’t shame them.

So I studied. I trained. I endured etiquette lessons.

I became what they wanted.

But it was never enough.

At some point, I realized I had no place to return to.

When I asked about Solipa, they told me it was dangerous.

When I asked about my friends, they said the base had been destroyed.

Gone.

Everything was gone.

Even the white dress Setsu had bought for me… was thrown away.

“I’m sorry, young lady. The Grand Duchess ordered it discarded.”

I couldn’t say anything.

If I forgot everything…

Would I forget Setsu too?

I had nothing left to hold onto.

And so I kept staying.

I trained myself into perfection.

I learned manners until my head hurt.

I endured humiliation, envy, and fear.

Because I had nowhere else to go.

And then one day, at a banquet—

I was humiliated again.

Mir used her ability to block my hearing.

I couldn’t hear anything.

I stood there, smiling awkwardly, while others looked at me strangely.

Later, the Grand Duke asked if I was unwell.

I lied.

“No, I’m fine. Just… not feeling well.”

They believed me.

They always did.

And I smiled.

Because if I stayed quiet and endured everything…

Then this family would remain peaceful.

Everyone would be happy.

That was enough.

I told myself that every day.

But sometimes…

I still cried.