Chapter 13 - 13

What is it? I don't recall anything specific, but did Charlize torment her even for laughing?

"...C-Countess, at least today, I don't think you're a bad person."

"That's an honest impression."

A bad person except for today. That's absolutely right.

Because before today, it was all the real Charlize.

"A-are you angry?"

"No? Why would I be angry? Actually, getting angry consumes energy, so why bother? More importantly, now that we can talk, I'm curious why you came to find me. May I ask?"

Aria's complexion wasn't improving, so it seems I should either go out and call a Lemut knight or wait for the mages to arrive soon.

"...W-well, actually, I thought it was my fault that the Countess was here."

"Ah. You mean fainting when you saw me the other day?"

I rubbed my arms and shook my head.

"You don't need to think that way. Even if it wasn't for that, the Duke of Lemut would have been angry about something anyway. He hates me."

Then Aria's eyes widened, and her lips parted.

It seemed she admitted that this was a truth she couldn't explain.

"But, this time, it seems my brother got angrier because of me. Actually, this time, the Countess didn't do anything wrong, didn't you?"

"It's okay. I understand. Just because I didn't do it this time doesn't mean everything I did before is forgotten."

That's why it's so unfair.

How on earth do I settle the karma that this Charlize accumulated?

Well, I expected the path to becoming a wealthy unemployed person to be rough, but...

"..."

Aria stared at me with the same subtle expression as before.

It was an unreadable expression, but seeing her covered in an orange blanket, struggling, made me think of a white rabbit wrapped in carrots, so I stifled a laugh.

The siblings are both handsome and beautiful.

"...This is our first proper conversation, but I don't think the Countess is such a bad person inside."

I wondered what she was thinking so hard about. I couldn't help but look somewhat surprised.

'...What is this, this pure, almost blank innocence?'

Hey, you, how can you let your guard down so quickly just because I covered you with a blanket, used honorifics, and said a few nice things? Think about what I've done!

I was dumbfounded, but my lips were tightly shut.

Right, actually, I'm a different person. It's a very good thing that this pretty beauty sees me in a good light.

But I have a conscience, so I had to say one thing.

"It's not my place to say, but think about what I did before."

No, this person will protect my fiance from getting beaten up.

Is this why the sister was raised pure and innocent? Like a greenhouse flower?

'Ugh, she's incredibly beautiful, wanting to cherish her like a flower, but...'

"If you open your heart so easily, you'll get severely hurt somewhere."

"The more you say that, the less I see you as bad. Of course, I haven't forgotten, but..."

Fortunately, the wind showed signs of dying down, but the rain fell harder.

I was thinking of going out to call a knight if it seemed really hopeless, but at this rate, you couldn't see a step ahead.

I said I don't mind catching a cold, but I don't want to suffer needlessly.

"...You didn't turn on a single magical light at night."

"Oh, that's because the castle doesn't have money..."

Aria said that and then blushed fiercely. She then made a sad face, seeming not completely naive about the ways of the world.

"It's because of me, too much money is spent on me..."

Anyway, since I can't leave until the rain stops a little, I have no choice but to wait for the rain to subside and leave, or wait patiently for the mages.

I brushed my hair back.

"Well, I don't think your brother would want you to think that way."

In the book, the Duke of Lemut endured all of Charlize's evil deeds.

But the reason he eventually exploded, joined hands with the female lead, and directly killed his fiancee was because of his younger sister.

Because his only, cherished, beloved family eventually died because of his fiancee.

"He's your only family, isn't he? I think the Duke of Lemut is like a parent to you."

"..."

"Well, I don't have parents either, so I think I know how it feels."

Both I and Charlize have lost all our parents.

Charlize has a brother, even if he might scold her, but my brother, Yoon Ji-hoon, died with our parents. That might be the difference.

"It's definitely different having only a brother versus having even one parent alive."

What if Yoon Ji-hoon was alive? Would that bastard of a brother have tried to take care of me, like the Duke of Lemut? Probably. But still...

"A brother can't do all the roles, after all."

Aria hesitated, then nodded slightly.

"...That's right. Ah! Not that my brother is bad."

"I know."

"I wish my brother would rely on me more..."

Rely. I understand the sentiment, but aren't your shoulders too slender for that, by any chance?

My fiance probably just appreciates you breathing. I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly and stood up.

"If you're so worried about your brother, try to live even one more day."

I plopped down next to Aria.

"And I'm sorry, but it's too cold. I won't steal your blanket. I'll just sit a little closer. Susan, you come here too? The temperature is dropping."

"Y-yes, Countess!"

We ended up huddled together.

For a moment, feeling a bit silly, I let out a small laugh.

When I opened my eyes, I felt a gaze. Turning my head, Aria was staring at me intently.

"Why?"

"Oh, it's just...! C-Countess, your hair is so beautiful..."

Ah. This? I lifted my slightly damp hair.

The straight hair was drooping in the humid air, but perhaps due to usual care, it still had shine even in this humidity.

"Your color is pretty too. Isn't silver a rare color?"

"My hair tangles so easily..."

"Then why don't you try changing your hairstyle? Like cutting it a bit."

Still, placing my body against the blanket makes it bearable.

I turned to Susan. I had her bring a comb shortly.

"If you want, I can show you how to brush? If you brush well, your hair will shine."

"Ah... I'm c-c-curious. If you don't mind..."

It was from Charlize's memory, not mine.

This villainess seemed to manage her natural beauty well. She was a wicked but prideful person.

With Aria's permission, I started brushing her hair. But then.

'It's very tangled.'

From afar, the hair looked like a pretty color, but up close, due to her illness, it had no shine, was weak, and tangled easily.

Moreover, perhaps affected by the humid air, the more I brushed, the more frizzy it became.

"...C-Countess... S-shall I do it?"

"Hmm..."

Was I too confident with an expert next to me?

Feeling sheepish, I nodded and handed the comb to Susan, explaining the situation to Aria. Fortunately, Aria said it was fine and nodded willingly.

Truly a kind and gentle young lady. Is it hard to get closer? I want to be friends.

And so, amidst friendly and cozy chatter, we were about to change seats.

Bang.

The door was suddenly thrown open roughly.

"Aria!"

Whoosh. Despite the loud rain, the voice was rough and loud, as if our eardrums would burst.

I quietly looked at the large, heaving shoulders.

It was Askin.

With a swift glance, he looked at Aria, then at me. He looked back and forth between us.

Soon, the greatest anger I had ever seen appeared on his beautiful face.

Wait, that person is misunderstanding...

"Were you just grabbing my sister by the hair?!"

No!

I jumped up in frustration.

But having trembled for so long in the cold, my body staggered.

"Young lady!"

"C-Countess!"

Thankfully, Susan caught me.

Meanwhile, Aria had been swept up by her brother and was already out of the carriage.

"Get out. Now."

"Brother, brother, wait! Brother!"

"You be quiet."

I bit my lip. Ah, how did it come to this?

First, I thought I should explain, so I obediently got off the carriage.

I thought it was a situation that could be misunderstood, and I fully understood, so I tried to explain.

I just reached out my hand to explain. Just to grab this man's sleeve and ask him to listen.

"Get out of my castle, now!"

But my hand was roughly pushed away, and soon pain shot through my backside.

What, what is it.

'It's unfair...!'