Chapter 31

Translated by XyeHeart Edited by XyeHeart

Selina asked, moaning, near the end of class.

“How did things go with Princess Juliana?”

“She’s a delightful sister.”

“And you said you couldn’t clearly remember?”

“Okay, I’m sorry, I don’t remember. However… I don’t believe she thinks badly of me.”

“This is an imperial family that has harmed the Grand Duchess. She’s being cautious, which isn’t a bad thing.”

Selina was one of the few people who knew the Emperor was after Meriel’s life. Meriel’s chin clenched as she heard Selina’s discreet plea.

She was cautious, as Selina pointed out, and she was a cautious opponent, but her attitude toward her was really genuine.

Emotions can be kept hidden, but what comes out is difficult to conceal. It was the ‘enemy’ that comes from those who spit from behind while smiling. She couldn’t feel anything for Juliana. However, Selina, who is unaware that she has the ability to sense other people’s emotions, stated solemnly.

“She is a little-known princess to you. She is very intelligent, so please keep an eye out for what she is thinking.”

“Okay.”

“Spend as little time as possible alone.”

“Ah, I forgot we were supposed to have tea together after class.”

“……”

With a dissatisfied expression, Selina raised her glasses. Meriel gave an awkward smile and closed her book. Her class had come to an end.

“Isn’t it in the Grand Duke’s palace? Don’t be alarmed, she’s not a bad person. You, Selina, should relax.”

“Be careful”

It was a subtle hint that having tea with her cousin was something to be wary of, but Meriel nodded quietly.

Despite the fact that she is her cousin, she thought it was reasonable to claim that she was vigilant because her brother, the crown prince, attempted to murder her.

Meriel went to the greenhouse to have tea with Juliana. The weather was pleasant, but Juliana complained about the pollen in the garden and requested that we meet there.

‘Aren’t there flowers in the greenhouse as well…?’

She wasn’t sure what was going on, but she didn’t care.

The tea table was beautifully set with adorable tea utensils. There were sweets she’d never seen before, as well as scents she’d never smelled before. Everything was new to her.

“Oh my goodness! You’re already here.”

Juliana got out of her seat and greeted her. Meriel sat in the chair across from her, guided by her. She smiled as she poured her distinctively scented tea into her small teacup.

“I used to drink this tea when I was in Alvin.”

“The scent is one-of-a-kind.”

“It’s spicy at first, but it finishes sweet.”

Meriel took a sip from her teacup.

As she spoke, the savory aroma filled her mouth, and she tasted the sweetness as it passed down her throat.

“Aren’t you concerned?”

“What?”

“What if I poisoned the tea?”

The tea she drank made its way down her throat. Meriel put down the teacup with her keen senses. She smiled softly, resting both hands on her chin.

“You shouldn’t have drank it first if you’re going to do that.” Meriel said and sighed.

“What?”

Juliana cocked her chin. Meriel smirked and raised her finger to point to Juliana’s teacup.

“When I walked into the greenhouse, you already had a cup of tea. You only poured tea for me and did not pour it into your own teacup. If you only did that to someone’s teacup who had just walked into a greenhouse that smelled exactly like the tea, it means you’ve already been drinking it.”

“……”

“As proof, the contents of your tea cup have been reduced by half.”

“Oh.”

“Even if you put poison in the teacup, I don’t think you’re the type to hurt me in such a public place.”

Meriel took another sip from her teacup. Juliana’s eyes were wide open as she looked down at her own teacup. Meriel was correct, but she only drank a small amount.

“Perhaps I could have made this much tea.”

“It appears unlikely that someone who likes to bring tea directly from Alvin will overfill a cup.”

“Oh my goodness.”

Juliana gave a hearty clap. She clapped her hands vigorously and burst out laughing, her face surprised.

“The rumors are unbelievable, but our Meriel was incredibly wise.”

“It’s just a hunch.”

“How fantastic! You were already intelligent when you were younger, but you are now more than perfect.”

She gave a nostalgic smile. It was like a smile for something she had lost.

Meriel could believe she didn’t feel hostile toward her because of her logic. She didn’t feel hostile even now.

Her eyes were filled with sadness.

“I have no recollection of my childhood; can you tell me about it?”

“Well…”

She smiled and erased her expression as if she had never made such a look.

“It was insignificant. It’s just that we got along remarkably well.”

“Is there anything I should know that I don’t?”

“Is that even possible?”

Meriel was well aware that lying with a smile on her face was surprisingly simple. She’s spent a long time making a fool of herself with her own smile. So she could see that Juliana’s happy face was a ruse to conceal the truth.

“I see…”

“In any case, I’m very curious. How did the idea of marrying the Grand Duke come to you?”

“Oh, that’s…”

Meriel decided to act as if she had been duped by Juliana’s lies. She didn’t want to hear the truth from her that even Klaus hadn’t told her yet, and she, above all, knew from her past that she didn’t remember Craig being involved.

Meriel reacted instinctively by avoiding the truth. The feeling of not wanting to know outweighed the desire to know.

It terrified her that she couldn’t sense any emotion from Craig.

“How long has it been?”

“What?”

“His Majesty was after you.”

Meriel recalled hiding in his bedroom from the moment she discovered the secret. What would Juliana’s reaction be if she said these things?

“It was from the start,” she revealed.

“What?”

“Just before I turned into a fool. From that point forward.”

“……”

“Before sister went to the academy.”

Juliana’s face became solemn. What she didn’t realize was that she had been smiling all day and that her expression had changed.

“How come you didn’t tell me?”

“Did I really have to tell you?” Meriel tilted her head.

Meriel’s recollection of her was hazy. She wouldn’t have been close enough to say her father was attempting to murder her.

Meriel had no such recollections of her.

She had her accident put on hold at the time due to her shock that Meriel had lost her parents and that her uncle was to blame. Besides, she barely survived and attempted suicide, so what could a young Meriel do? Should she go to her uncle’s daughter and beg her to spare her life? Obviously, the answer was no.

Juliana distorted her expression by biting her nails. It was a habit, like Diana’s, but she didn’t appear anxious or nervous.

It was time to think deeply when she bit her nails.

‘Hmm…? How did I become aware of that habit?’

Juliana opened her mouth again as Meriel tilted her head.

“Did it hurt?” Juliana spoke as if she was in pain.

“It wasn’t painful at all.”

“Why?”

“Because I was a fool.”

She had never felt pain or sorrow until she took over Meriel’s body. When someone criticized and teased her, she just laughed. After that she became Meriel and she herself did not suffer either.

Even though she was a fool, she had a warm place to sleep and the food was properly prepared.

It was sufficient for her, despite the fact that it was not a proper meal for a princess. Because her life as Doyeon was harsher and more miserable than Meriel’s as an idiot.

As a result, she was unconcerned. Such a life did not make Meriel feel sorry for herself.

But she said it more to Juliana than to herself.

“Meriel.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Tears streamed from her large eyes and landed in the teacup. The pace of the scene seemed unusually slow. Weeping her tears felt strangely familiar to her.

‘Is there anything else?’

Meriel felt her chest tightening and tightening. Her head was spinning and her chest was tense.

Juliana was obviously crying, but she had picked up on Meriel’s strangeness.

“I, what’s the matter…why are you crying…?”

“I’m sorry, Meriel.”

“What?”

“I should’ve stayed by your side. I…… I should have kept you.”

Juliana rose from her seat, approached Meriel, and grabbed her hand. Juliana, who was kneeling in front of her, buried her face in her lap.

Juliana cried for a long time, and she kept repeating how sorry she was. She tried to turn her head quickly to find out what was making her cry so hard, but there was no answer. No, there was only one possible answer. The past memory that was purposefully erased.

She didn’t want to know just now, but Meriel’s head was throbbing.

She yanked her hand away from her tight grip on her. Juliana’s shoulder was awkwardly patted. Then she sobbed even harder for Meriel.

‘What the hell is the truth that I’m not aware of?’

It was perplexing. Juliana’s presence in her was a disaster for her. She was full of things her mind couldn’t fathom.

X♥X

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