Chapter 54

I stroked Giuseppe's head and asked the boys.

"Are you friends with our Giuseppe?"

"Ah, well..."

"Friends shouldn't fight. You should get along nicely."

"Yes, yes."

I snapped my fingers like Oswald.

Snap!

The magical force controlling the boys disappeared.

As soon as Giuseppe could move, he swatted away my hand that had been nervously stroking his head.

I ignored it, grabbed Giuseppe's hand as if to show everyone, and waved my other hand at the boys.

"Then, everyone, be careful on your way. Let's go, Giuseppe."

"What, what are you doing?!"

"Why? I just want to hold my dear brother's hand."

My shameless words made Giuseppe's face turn bright red.

"Shut up! What's your game? Why are you doing this?"

I leaned down and whispered in Giuseppe's ear.

"Shouldn't your followers behind you be more careful with their words if our relationship looks good?"

"…!"

"Let's go. It's almost time for dinner. Revi, come here."

"Yes!"

Revi, quick to catch on, smiled and grabbed Giuseppe's other hand.

Giuseppe, though calmer than before, still glared at me suspiciously.

"Do you think I'll support you as the successor just because you helped me? You can never become Duke Squire. You're too stupid."

"Right. You're absolutely right."

"Ugh…! Do I look like I'm joking?"

I shrugged.

"I never wanted to be a duke anyway?"

Giuseppe growled as he tried to shake off my hand with all his might.

"Then why were you so anxious about not being able to drive me and our mother away?"

Revi remained silent, thinking it wasn't her place to interfere.

'What should I say?'

It wasn't something I did, but it was a burden I had to bear to live as Teresa.

"I'm sorry."

Giuseppe's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting an apology from me.

"It was hard to accept you and your stepmother. I felt like I would be alone."

I extended my hand to Giuseppe, seeking forgiveness.

"From now on, no one can drive you and your stepmother out of the dukedom. Of course, Revi too. I swear it on my life."

It was a very simple vow.

I just needed to behave myself.

I had no desire for the family's power and even less interest in the title.

I just wanted to stay out of the mainstream safely.

Did he see through my sincerity?

Giuseppe, still with a stern expression, huffed and grabbed my hand again.

"I haven't forgiven you yet."

"Okay."

"I'm just pretending to be close because the idiots behind us are watching. Don't get the wrong idea."

"Got it."

Giuseppe, though he spoke harshly, held my hand quite calmly.

He occasionally glanced back, aware of the boys who were still staring at us in shock, and the nobles who were giggling and then looking surprised.

"Hmph."

Giuseppe, seemingly in a better mood, unconsciously shook the hand he was holding.

Ding!

[Throne 'Madmania' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[Why am I watching this heartwarming scene? I don't like this kind of thing.]

Ding!

[Throne 'Betting on Teresa's Life' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[Well, I'm just too into Teresa...]

The carriage carrying us stopped at the grand and magnificent Squire Duke's mansion, where servants were waiting at the entrance.

The housekeeper, Miranda, greeted us with a smile.

"Oh, how did all three of you come together?"

"We met on the way."

At that moment, Rozanne appeared.

She also seemed surprised to see us together.

I didn't consider them family.

However, now that my position had changed, acting distant would only fuel rumors.

'It's just a way to strangle me.'

I needed a level of intimacy to prevent thoughts of eliminating Teresa.

Additionally, their pain made me feel uncomfortable. That was all.

I greeted them first with a bow.

"I'm back, stepmother."

She paused at my polite greeting and then smiled softly.

"Good. Come in."

Giuseppe watched my actions with a sullen face and then snorted.

"Hmph. Suddenly acting nice."

I interlocked my fingers with Giuseppe, who spoke spitefully.

"Ugh! Why are you holding my hand again?"

"There might be someone here spreading rumors about us."

"…There's no choice. I'm holding your hand out of necessity."

The servants' eyes widened as if they had witnessed a strange scene.

Rozanne also covered her mouth in surprise and looked at us with wide eyes.

With this much impact, rumors about our relationship deteriorating and someone being driven away would likely die down.

"I'll escort you to the second floor, young gentleman."

"I'm not a kid. And in half a year, I'll be taller than you, you fool. Can't you see from my father's height?"

Giuseppe, though he was being stubborn, didn't let go of my hand until we reached his room.

Swing, swing.

Our clasped hands moved as if swayed by the spring breeze.

* * *

Teresa's dressing room was packed to the brim.

Unopened jewelry and shoes were piled up like mountains.

'I'll just pick something appropriate.'

However, Rozanne and the maids seemed to have different ideas.

"…What is all this?"

I had come down to the lobby, thinking I would grab a snack and go to the library, but I froze.

The lobby was filled with dozens of mannequins, each dressed in dazzling outfits.

For a moment, I thought a fashion show was taking place.

Rozanne, spotting me, called out as if it was a good thing.

"You're up. I was just about to call you. We need to choose the dress and accessories for the Sun Palace tomorrow."

Elowise, who had a grudge against the school uniform, looked at the boutique staff setting up jewels on a velvet table with a dreamy expression.

"Finally, you'll be wearing proper clothes instead of that boring school uniform!"

I said, looking flustered.

"I have plenty of dresses. We don't need to buy new ones."

Ding!

[Throne 'Materialism' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[Please! Just! Take! It!]

[The thrones strongly agree.]

For someone who had been wearing black tops and blue jeans all week, like Steve Jobs, shopping for clothes was a cruel task.

'But I guess most people would like this.'

It's not for nothing that dressing paper dolls and sticker dolls has been a consistent trend.

Even in mobile games, dress-up games are consistently released.

Yes, this is a dress-up game.

Think of it as a game where you die if you don't dress properly.

After sufficient self-hypnosis, I thanked Rozanne.

"Thank you for your attention."

"Since you're the first noble to be invited to the Sun Palace, no amount of preparation is too much. I hope you find something you like."

If it were Teresa, none of these would have been satisfactory, but to me, they all seemed overly flashy.

'Anyone would think I'm aiming for the empress position.'

Just as the product setup was finishing, Raoul, in casual attire, came down to the lobby, perhaps drawn by the commotion.

"It's noisy this early in the morning."

Revi also appeared, having heard the news.

"Wow! What is all this?"

Finally, Giuseppe walked in, scanning the lobby with a disdainful look.

"Are you causing a commotion again? Please stop calling boutique staff to the house. Aren't you tired of shopping?"

"Stepmother called them?"

"…It's about time."

With that, they each took a seat on the prepared sofa and stared at me.

"Um… Why are you all sitting here?"

"Aren't we choosing the outfit you'll wear to meet His Majesty? Of course, I, as your father, need to see it."

"I want to see it too!"

"I'm just watching to make sure you don't embarrass our family."

"Uh, okay…"

Suddenly, I had to choose my outfit in front of the whole family, which was embarrassing and awkward.

'I need to choose quickly and get this over with.'

I picked out a dress that looked decent from the closest ones.

"I'll take this one."

I wanted to choose quickly and be done with it, but that was impossible.

"That's too plain. It won't meet His Majesty's standards."

"Then this one…"

"Hmm. Since it's spring, something more vibrant might be better, to contrast with your black hair."

"Or this one…"

"Looks like a fat orange."

Ding!

[Throne 'Pro Coach' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[Don't choose the first one on the left, the first one from the right in the second row from the back, or the fourth one.]

"…"

What am I supposed to do?