Chapter 20: 20

I inadvertently grabbed Benny’s hand, and Benny pushed my shoulder violently in surprise like a beast whose tail was stepped on.

The boy stared at me with his mouth shut. It was as if he was wary that I might hold his hand again.

Suddenly, the strong showers wet his face, which was distorted like a vigilant wild dog.

The escorts’ mouths were opened, it was a situation where there was no room for action.

Among them, Nike’s expression was the most impressive.

As if in disbelief, he opened his eyes wide and shouted.

“You, youuuu! What are you doing to the princess? This won’t do. I’ll tell the duke immediately and disqualify him…!”

“Nike, shut up!”

I hurriedly stopped his words and got up.

‘Honestly, Benny deserves to be angry.’ 

It was because of the princess’ pitiful sympathy that led him to participate in a terrifying gladiator match.

I was thinking in my head what to say to Benny, but he didn’t even look at me and went straight into the carriage.

‘What?’

It was frustrating. He’s my only hope, I can’t let it go wrong!

“Wait a minute!”

I grabbed Benny’s handcuffs instead of his hand. He didn’t look back, but he didn’t turn away again.

‘What should I say?’ 

Apologizing for being sorry would only look pretentious.

I finally took out my handkerchief, without saying anything.

Then I climbed on the carriage’s footrest and wiped Benny’s face that was wet from the rain. The white handkerchief was soaked in damp dirt.

It was an apology for the unannounced capture.

I thought Benny might push me again, but he just froze like a stone statue.

Nike’s lamentation came from behind Aicher, as he had never experienced this before.

“Princess! Why…?!”

I could see Nike touching his forehead as if he was going to faint.

But to me, the slave boy in front of me was more important than the servant of the duke.

‘My life is at stake.’

After thoroughly wiping the water away, I placed the handkerchief in Benny’s hand.

Unlike before, he accepted what I had given him. Although his expression was still grim.

I looked into his eyes and whispered cautiously.

“You will win. Really.”

“…Why?”

Benny’s tone became sharp at once.

“Why do you trust me so much?”

“……”

I licked my lips and spit out a stupid reply.

“Because… you’re the only one for me.”

It was a random statement I once heard, but it wasn’t wrong.

I don’t want to die, and you’re the only one who can free me from fate.

Benny was silent for a while. Perhaps he wondered what kind of crazy this was. 

Unable to stand it any further, Nike pushed Benny’s shoulder, shoving him into the carriage.

“You’re alive thanks to the princess!”

Benny’s muttering to himself was heard through the closing carriage door.

“…I didn’t know you’re a princess.”

The door was closed. Benny left in the carriage. We won’t be able to meet for a while. 

All the way back, I was busy trying to calm Nike down as he kept saying he had to inform the duke of the atrocities of that ruthless bastard. 

The rain-soaked dress became heavier and heavier, and I felt sluggish as well.

Then, through the mist, a familiar silhouette appeared. Vivid blond hair and red eyes. 

I didn’t know since when he was there. 

My third brother, Michael, was laughing at me.

***

It had been a week since I became the fake daughter of the mad duke.

For the first few days in Bauner Castle, I had nightmares every night.

At first, I was chased by Lily, who was asking to return to her family.

As I ran away like crazy, someone approached and blocked my way. When I looked up, Alan, Pedro, and Hugo looked down at me coldly.

They scolded me, the fake daughter, and mercilessly plucked out the liar’s tongue.

Every time I woke up screaming, tears welled up and flowed all over my face.

Alan and the brothers heard my screams and ran to my room even while I was sleeping.

They asked me if I had a nightmare and kindly handed me petal tea.

It’s said that not only does it smell good, but the petals themselves have a calming magic.

As the days went by, the interest in me grew, rather than diminished, perhaps they were worried that I could hardly adapt to the duchy.

I hung on to the princess act as if I was running away from guilt and fear.

I had never been loved, but acted like a loved child.

I ate dinner with a smile, dressed up from head to toe, smiled whenever I made eye contact with my family, and fortunately, it was easy to be a good kid in the Duke’s Castle.

There was no need to covet other people’s bread due to hunger.

And there wouldn’t be any beatings for no reason while I walked by, and being kicked to the ground until my stomach was boiling. 

Two weeks passed like that. As no one doubted me, my fears of being revealed gradually disappeared.

Nightmares also gradually reduced. 

3 weeks had passed.

Suddenly, my cheeks became plump like cream puffs.

I was surprised, even myself, that weight can be gained so quickly. 

A month had passed.

As the arduous winter passed and the warm spring arrived, the whole castle was excited with preparations for the carnival.

Conversely, the more excited the employees were, the more worried I became.

I hadn’t gotten permission from Alan to go to the gladiator fight yet.

As the day went on, I became more concerned with Michael. Every time I begged Alan to take me to the gladiator fight, Michael occasionally yawned bitterly, as if the whole scene was a skit.

Every time he did that, the words he said ran around in my head.

The night I met Benny, I turned to Michael for help to find the necklace.

When I asked him to tell me the shortcut one more time with a soft smile, he cynically raised one corner of his mouth.

“You’re trying so hard. You’re just here yesterday, and yet pretending to be a good kid.”

Michael didn’t help me. In the end, I couldn’t find the necklace.

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At some point, a boy with red eyes appeared in the dream.

***

The morning birds’ chirping tickled my ears.

Again, having trouble sleeping at night, I dug into a white sheet with dreary nightmares.

A blanket full of feathers on a cold early spring day was the most seductive.

“It’s cute.”

Then someone near the bed whispered like a bird.

“Shh, don’t wake her up. She must have been tired.”

Another voice whispered in a silence.

“Isn’t this all because brother overworked Lily last night? How many times did you dance to the waltz?”

“Lily liked it too.” 

“She must have adjusted it to you.”

“Be quiet, both of you. before I kick you out.”

Another familiar voice added. 

Strange, they couldn’t be here at this hour.

I gently pulled my head out of the blanket. Then I saw three men looking at me with expressions full of anticipation.

Baang! As soon as our eyes met, Pedro set off fireworks as if he was waiting.

“Welcome home, Lily!”

Pedro’s voice was so louder than the firecracker that the drowsiness went away.

‘Welcome, what do you mean?’

As I opened my mouth, stunned, Hugo came over and removed the decorations that had fallen on my head.

“Brother, Lily was scared. You’re insensitive anyway.”

Hugo shook his head as if he was bored and wet a towel in the wash water and wiped my face.

The scent of lavender petals floating in the water permeated my cheeks.

I just woke up and asked.

“…What happened?”

It had already been a month since I came to this castle. 

Am I still dreaming?

Pedro grinned and snuggled me up.

He picked me up, rode me on his shoulders, and opened the terrace door, whether Hugo had noticed or not.

Baang, baang.

Petals of five different colors poured over my head.

As if firecracker magic was under way, every time the petals grazed each other, they burst into tiny pieces.

Pedro’s applause drove away the rest of my drowsiness.

“Ta-da, you’re surprised, right? It’s a welcome party for you! Applause!”

Spring flowers bloomed in the garden.

Pastel-toned fresh flowers overflowed, and it was like a huge bouquet of flowers.

Like it was prepared, there was a banquet hall in the middle of the flower garden.

Bright sunlight sprinkled a huge fountain with twinkling lights, and each tightly built banquet arch was full of flowers.

In the black Bauner Castle, only Lily’s flower garden seemed like a fantasy world that was far from the world.

‘Until yesterday, only new buds were sprouting…’

“Originally, we were going to prepare for one more year, but we just decided to open it before the carnival.”

Alan smiled kindly and looked up at me.

“I just wanted to show you how fun a banquet at the castle is.”

It was like he was waiting to hear me saying, ‘It’s so cool. I don’t have to go to see a gladiator match.’

I left out the words and clapped.

“Wow, that’s great. It’s amazing! Thank you very much!”

Pedro laughed at my strong reaction.

“Hehehe, I brought all those arches.”

Then Alan coughed heavily.

“The entirety of the welcome party was all planned by dad, Lily.”

“Come on, it’s all my men who carry the luggage and stand guard.”

“The festival management committee of the Bauner family belongs to me. In other words, it can be said that this welcome party was led by me from start to finish.”

Even Hugo, who had been silent, intervened. 

Did the committee even intervene in hosting a welcome party?

“Don’t you know that this castle belongs to me?” 

“I am the commander of the knights guarding the castle, father.”

“Neither father nor brother wrote down a budget management form…”

They fought again, and in the end, I came forward and changed the topic.

“Dad, brothers, where is brother Michael?”

Rather than worrying about Michael, I was more concerned about what he was doing.

Dad and the two brothers stopped talking and looked at each other.

I wondered, just in case, but it was still true. 

All three of them didn’t seem to know where the third child was.

‘It seems like everyone is ignoring Michael, but I have nothing to say…’

“I’m here.” 

At that moment, a shrill voice was heard from behind.

The family looked back at once. 

Standing in the doorway was Michael, stylishly dressed in a banquet suit. The red vest and black jacket went well with the ruby ​​eyes.

Pedro approached him while hugging me, with a hint of admiration.

“What’s the matter, Michael? You’re all dressed up.”

“It’s a welcome party for my beloved sister, and of course I should congratulate her.”

‘You’re good at saying things you don’t even mean.’

Michael made eye contact with me and raised the corners of his mouth.

Again. The smile I saw in the rain.

What the hell are you thinking? Do you just want to make fun of me?

While hugging Pedro’s neck and avoiding his gaze, a threatening mood approached from behind Michael. 

Even Alan was startled and unconsciously prepared for battle.

“Master Pedro, are you… without washing your hands, you’re touching the young lady right now with the hands that set off the firecrackers?”

Every time I see Verney, I think about it, maybe that person is the Demon King?

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