Chapter 75. Testing And Trial, Part XVI

Translator: Khan

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

Isis’s expression who said “that’s a good thing” was not a reassuring face at all. On the contrary, it said, “If you have something to say, you can say it.” Mielle answered without delay because she had intended to carry on the following words even if Isis did not stick to her generous attitude.

“Nevertheless, I get lonely sometimes.”

“… Oh, my God, I’ll have to scold him for making such a lovely Mielle lonely.”

“No! I just feel that way alone. Rather, I didn’t help Oscar who has worked so hard.”

Feeling like a real scolding, Mielle rushed to make an excuse for Oscar. Of course, even though she knew Isis would never do so, she deliberately shook her head, blushing her face, as what Isis wanted from Mielle was such behavior and speech tone.

Isis wanted the image that she was smart but would not come forward, and sometimes complained but obedient. In addition, she had to keep an infinitely low stance to the really influential person of the family of Duke Frederick. There was nothing she could do to get engaged to Oscar, and Mielle did it very easily because Isis was the only one who could connect her with Oscar.

Isis smiled contentedly. “Don’t worry, Mielle. Oscar will surely be engaged with you.”

“… will it really be?”

“Yes, of course, if I think so, it will be done.”

Even if Oscar was the successor to the duke, he was just a doll who listened to Isis, who had real power. Aside from the royal family, she was the eldest daughter of the most powerful family, and her unique cleverness and cunning earned the enthusiastic support of the Aristocratic Party.

Therefore, no one could disobey her whose engagement with the Crown Prince was in progress. Even more so, her younger brother, Oscar, would be.

“The rumor is just a rumor.”

‘Did she also hear the rumor about Aria?’ But it would have been a useless rumor that would do no good. Anyways, with one word from Isis, Oscar would go to Mielle.

“Finally, Oscar is here. Shall we talk about the back story when he sits down?”

“… Yes!”

In Mielle’s eyes towards Isis, there was boundless trust. Oscar, who discovered Isis, came by her side with a big step.

“Have you had lunch, Oscar?”

“… Lady Mielle is with you.”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

“…”

Oscar gave no answer to Isis, who had not said a word or two about Mielle’s visit.

“Please sit down, Oscar. You’d better have some tea and rest.”

He sat next to Mielle without a word because he dared not to sit next to her sister. Mielle blushed and glanced at Oscar. She didn’t even get a proper greeting, but she looked good whatever he did.

“I haven’t seen you in a long time, Mr. Oscar.”

“How have you been?”

“Your face is very bad.”

“I think it’s the last moment of the semester.”

“I wish I could take care of you, besides… I’m sorry I couldn’t do that.”

“… it’s okay. You don’t have to do it.”

Isis clicked her tongue to Oscar, who still talked bluntly without knowing a woman’s heart.

“Oscar, aren’t you being too blunt on your fiancé whom you’ve met in a long time?”

Oscar’s and Mielle’s reactions were very different when they were told about the word “fiancé”.

“Sister, not yet… we are not engaged.”

“You’ll do it as soon as Lady Mielle becomes an adult. It’s a matter of time, isn’t it?”

Mielle wrapped her palms around his cheeks. The hot cheeks looked as hot as the sun. And Oscar was unable to answer that question again this time. It wasn’t the promised future, but it was true that it was becoming a fait accompli to some extent.

“Lady Mielle, Oscar is blunt, but please understand him. That’s the way he’s always been. I am his elder sister, but I can’t help it.”

“No! It’s okay. Never mind.”

Mielle was happy just sitting side by side with Oscar. ‘Isn’t this even the mansion of the Duke of Frederick now?’ It felt as if time had passed, and she had married him and enjoyed the tea time at the mansion of the duke.

She really hoped so. Perhaps with the help of Princess Isis, the possibility grew big, but she was desperate because of the slightest sense of anxiety, Aria.

“White color is matched well to you, so I’m sure your dress is beautiful.”

“Oh my God… would it be?

“Sure. I’ll have to prepare a golden rose wreath.”

Still years away, Isis replaced her blunt brother. With her active help, they could maintain a more sunny atmosphere than the roses in the garden, even though Oscar otherwise did not participate in the conversation.

Since then, Mielle, who had been smiling all the time, has returned with her very satisfied face, and Isis, who has returned to the garden after seeing her off, threw away her smiling face and scolded Oscar,

“Oscar, how many times do I have to tell you to understand?”

“… sister.”

“The Roscent family would be helpful in many ways, so I used to say that you have to stay close.”

The hands that touched her hair looked very rough.

“Once again, don’t neglect your relationship with Lady Mielle. In the Empire, there is no family that has more money than the Roscent family. I’m sure you know that what our family needs most now is the money of the family of Count Roscent.”

Oscar could not readily answer his sister Isis. He just awkwardly touched the cup he held in his hand.

“Why don’t you answer?”

“It’s not like that.”

“So?”

“That’s…”

His lost eyes swayed from side to side. Isis laughed at the sight as if she was struck dumb in embarrassment in the face of her brother’s poor appearance.

“Don’t tell me, is the rumor true?”

“… the rumor?”

“The rumor that you have been interested in the prostitute’s daughter.”

The prostitute’s daughter. She didn’t give her name, but Oscar realized what she was referring to was Aria. Not because he had treated Aria as the daughter of a prostitute like Isis, but he just noticed it right away because he had been continuously thinking about her in recent months.

“… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“She got the last name of the Roscent family by remarriage, but I could never allow the girl. How can you be interested in such a dirty girl? You would rather have a declaration to live alone.”

“…”

“Oscar, the origin doesn’t go anywhere. What if she resembles her mother and seduces a man with vulgar words and acts? I’m sure she’ll betray you.”

“…”

“And I don’t want the blood of a prostitute mixed into our family.”

It wasn’t wrong. No matter how much she washed her identity, it was true that Aria was the daughter of a prostitute, and it was also true that she bewitched a man with that magnificent beauty.

But why? Every time his sister uttered bad words about Aria, he felt uncomfortable and heartbroken. It was as if the dagger, which pierced Aria who was not here, was penetrating his heart.

‘Why? Why on earth?’

Aria, who had always come to his mind, had teased him with a bright smile or sometimes with a captivating look, she had afflicted him.

His heart had ached at the time, but it had been a little different now. If it had been the kind of pain that had made him feel bearable, or sometimes his mood had been felt somewhat better uncontrollably, now it was so painful as if his heart were pierced by a dagger.

‘She’s not the girl who’s going to hear such insults…’

Contrary to rumors, Aria was very pure, beautiful, and fascinating. Nor did she bother Mielle. Rather, drawing and ostracizing lines because of her origin seemed like Cain and Mielle.

‘Whatever she used to be, isn’t she now the lady of the Roscent family?’

The aristocratic ladies also rose in status to their husbands when married. What is the difference between Mielle who would marry him and be a duchess, and Aria who became a lady of the family of Count Roscent from the common people, with her mother’s marriage?

‘If… if Lady Aria hadn’t come from the common people… No, if she were an ordinary commoner…’

If she were, maybe… he wondered if Aria, not Mielle, could be by his side. He came up with a face of Aria, assuming that it could not be achieved. Her long, voluminous eyelashes crept down, her eyes glancing at himself, and a charming smile came to his mind. She’s such a beautiful girl…