I Don't Trust My Twin Sister

“Well, isn’t it famous? Actually, it’s not because of the Marquis of Alpensia that it’s famous, but purely because of Lady Lawrence. The recent actions of the Ajstain family have given people a lot of inspiration and surprise. Even before that, Ajstain was considered the richest family. It was one of the top places. I couldn’t measure how much it was, so everyone thought it was appropriate…”

“It’s amazing. It’s amazing to use almost 100,000 gold coins for welfare projects, and besides, the overwhelming financial power shown at the coming-of-age ceremony was something no one could surpass.”

In addition, we paid off the debts of the Principality of Berdian, which had suffered for 10 years. The funds used by the Ajstain family in less than half a year far exceeded 200,000 gold coins. It was a figure that even Duke Sapeldrick, who was responsible for planning the empire’s budget, could not easily surpass.

“Yes. In fact, people around me criticize the Ajstain family a lot. Don’t you know?”

“It’s human psychology to try to put down people who are more famous and better than themselves.”

“Yes. But I’m rather grateful. In fact, I couldn’t approach to solve the increasing number of refugees, displaced people, and starvation that were flowing into the Empire, because the budget was limited. But the Ajstain family stepped up without any conditions. It’s not enough for the Empire to bow down to say thank you for doing such welfare work. But do you know what agenda was brought up at the council of elders held by the crown prince not too long ago?”

At the time, Ian was absent from the meeting due to other matters. He bent down and pricked up his ears. Anything about Lawrence mattered.

“It is the tax investigation of the Ajstain family and the confiscation of some of their assets.”

“On what basis do you conduct a tax audit and confiscate assets?”

“Well, people with pens say the same thing. I heard strange things such as paying less taxes, embezzling somewhere, or selling important goods of the country. But as you know, the Ajstain family are nobles, but they do not participate in politics, and their main income is mining. Sanchito, who pays the most taxes to the country, also belongs to Ajstain.”

Ian laughed. If there was already fair data, there was nothing to be afraid of.

“Yeah, that’s a ridiculous name. However, the prince ordered a tax investigation on the Ajstain family as if the ridiculous false accusations were true. It was canceled once due to strong resistance from the people, but it will be held again soon.”

“I don’t think it would be useless at all.”

Viscount Ajstain or Lawrence, whom Ian knew, was a thorough and fair person. They were fed up with fraud and lies. He didn’t think that they were illegally making fortunes. At least Ian believed the two of them, and he didn’t think Lawrence would act so carelessly.

“Well, you have to look at it to know. Everyone says that. Is there anyone who doesn’t come out with dust?”

The word dust made him laugh for some reason. He remembered what Laurencia had said while paying 100,000 gold coins as a down payment. She said, holding her chin up as if she was trying to look as proud as possible with her now-ripening green apple-like face.

“That’s just the dust of the Viscount Ajstain.”

At the time, he thought it was a bluff, but when it got to this point, he wondered if it was really true. Well, he wouldn’t know unless he saw it himself.

“Anyway, if you are planning to marry Lady Lawrence, there will be many obstacles. Once the Ajstain family finances the Duchy of Berdian, the imperial family will no longer have the means to pressure the duchy.”

“I’m going to do it, but who’s going to stop me?”

“Well, I can guess your stubbornness just by looking at that damn bastard.”

“If my father hears it, he will go wild again.”

“Ha! It’s nothing to say to a guy who gave up his title to his son because he had a headache and went into hiding.”

Bale snorted. Ian also grinned and nodded his head to agree with him, but the door burst open and someone jumped in and hugged Bale.

“Aaaaagh! Dad!”

It was Nerdica. She burst into tears when she appeared after breaking the dignified atmosphere of a serious conversation. Bewildered by her sudden weeping Nerdica in her own arms, Bale hurriedly opened his mouth.

“Why, why, Nerdica?”

“Oh, Dad…”

Bale raised his eyes sharply at the figure of the weeping Nerdica. Who made his daughter cry? Then Nerdica stretched out her finger and pointed at the person walking through the door.

“Oh, you’re here.”

Lawrence greeted her gracefully with his soft voice. Bale lowered his grim eyes, grasped the situation, and sighed. Just by looking at it, he could guess what was going on. However, he couldn’t just leave his first child crying for the mansion to leave. Moderately soothing, Bale waved his hand as if not to mind, opening the door opposite him and taking his daughter away.

Ian replied with a shrug of her shoulders, then looked at Lawence.

“Why is she like that?”

“Hmm…”

As if organizing an expression in her head, she placed her finger on her chin, narrowed her brow slightly, and then smiled.

“I stroked it a few times, but it must have hurt too much?”

“…what?”

Embarrassed, Ian’s mouth opened slightly. He always thought she was a woman who never embarrassed herself. But for Lawrence, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. She looked back at the situation she had just had.

* * *

It was right after I told Nerdica, who had cursed the family at a low level, that I had kissed Ian twice. Nerdica blushed and started screaming at me, then she opened her mouth to say something. She was so reckless that I couldn’t even understand what she was saying. She was reputed to be highly cultured. I genuinely admired how the eldest daughter of the Sapeldrick family could be so violent and ignorant. All the saliva that didn’t go down her throat flew out of her throat, probably because Nerdica spoke her words so quickly. I gently turned my head, thinking that my face would get wet after all that talk face-to-face.

By the time I was thinking about something else for a moment, my voice gradually faded as she turned her head to her chin near Nerdica’s scream. When I turned her face back to see if it was over, Nerdica started whimpering and crying. Why was she crying all of a sudden? Personally, I just hated crying. Whether a man or a woman, a conversation using tears as a weapon led to not-so-fair conclusions. Has she met so many people who cried out for sympathy? Even Ercia often shed tears for her own ends. As a result, she naturally shed tears and did not like the person who appealed to her. She then heard her notoriety that she was a woman with no blood or tears at the door, but what? If I didn’t do that, I was the one who got eaten.

“Ho, hehe… I, I can’t do it without Ian!”

“It wasn’t like that.”

I couldn’t believe it when there’s a lot of gossip in the social world about a woman who was the only one who had an affair with another man. I laughed inwardly and replied bluntly. My heart, disturbed by uncomfortable stories about artificial respiration and coming-of-age partners, found stability in Nerdica’s cries. Memories of her in the past came to mind, and I was able to treat her more businesslikely.

“What, what?”

“No, that’s another word.”

Talk about 8 years later. After replying bluntly, I rested my chin on my palm and looked at the tearful woman. What was so sad? I questioned the way she moaned, saying that it had to be Ian. There were many men in the world. It was clear that her mate was breathing somewhere. Even worms live well without extinction because she loved him, and it was strange that Nerdica, who has all four limbs and has a strong family, was strangled by her Ian.

Although Ian was quite handsome, he wasn’t extremely handsome. If you look around carefully, there was a better man than Ian. In other words, if you’re only looking at his face, you don’t have to be him. Then power? Well, the power Ian hold in his hands was extraordinary. The position of head of the Duchy of Berdian was never easy to obtain. Even if she had a bad appearance, it was a place where marriage of convenience lined up. I scratched my chin lightly and organized my thoughts with a troubled expression before slowly opening my mouth.

“Okay. I’ll give you one reason why you can’t marry Ian.”

Nerdica hardened her face in quick succession. Crying must have been acting. I tutted my tongue into her and spread my fingers.

“First, even though it hasn’t been officially announced yet, Ian and I have announced our futures in front of everyone else. It has no legal effect, but it has public confidence. Maybe if they step in and split the two of us and it works out with Ian. Duke Safeldrick will not approve of the marriage.”

Actually, it was a lie. Duke Safeldrick could not defeat Nerdica. If it was his daughter’s request, it would be a nobleman to fetch water from the underworld and feed her, but that marriage would be a big deal, but Nerdika’s judgment was clouded, and her eyes trembled. I like that it’s simple. she chuckled.

“Second, you cannot marry Ian for any reason, provided that you are designated as the heir. Either you abdicate the position of heir to the ducal family, or Ian must abdicate the title. But will Ian give up the Berdian Duchy? No way. Besides, would the imperial family want the two ducal families to continue? It’s a huge concentration of power, and of course you lose the imperial family and the provincial government. Married under these circumstances? Absolutely impossible. In order to do that, you have to give up your power…”

She shook his tail and grinned. It’s easy to understand when you see her flinching in front of her rival. I shrugged and continued.

“You don’t want to give up, do you?”

“Of course. I am the eldest daughter. The next Lord of this family.”

I smiled. If she was greedy, she was a woman who would never fall behind. There was no way that Nerdica would give up the title that was one of the three most powerful in the Empire. I nodded and folded my last fingers.

“And finally, Ian didn’t fall for you.”

The expression in Nerdica, who had been listening to the words in front of her obediently, was momentarily crumpled.

“Why? On what basis?”

“What is the basis? You are watching.”

“Ha?”

“What’s the evidence of that?”

I smiled and pointed my finger at me. Nerdika crumpled her face and leaned in front of me.

“…it’s you?”

I felt it earlier, but her words were very short. She’s older than me and I’m a cultured person, so I tried to get over it, but it bothered me a little. Besides she, were we friends? But that’s not what’s important right now, so I put aside my anger and answered softly.

“Yes. I am the basis for that.”

I got up from my chair and made my own elegant pose. It’s because I was hit by life, hit by people, hit by work, and my body got hurt a lot. When I was young, I was pretty too. The words people say about Ersia as being beautiful apply to me as well. In addition, in this life, I paid a lot of attention to beauty in order not to age quickly.

“Ian is crazy about me, so he won’t fall for you.”

“Cra, crazy? Ian?”

“Yes. So give up.”

I smirked with the best smile I could ever see and exuberantly spoke her last words.

“Ian is mine.”

This was the end.

* * *

Soon after, it collapsed, and eventually, following Nerdica as she ran out of the night, she found a room with Ian and the Duke of Safeldrick. It looked so disgusting that he was fine when he ran and then burst into tears right away, but what can we do? It’s not like you don’t know that she’s a woman who’s lived like that, so you should understand.

I looked around the room while Bale briefly disappeared with her daughter to clear up the confusion. I saw papers strewn about on the table. While I was rolling my eyes to check what the contents were, if not in detail, Ian’s eyes met.