Chapter 26 - 26

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When I arrived at the Imperial Palace, this time I met my brother Roxidian in a large reception room.

It's called a reception room, but it looked more like a fitting room, full of clothes racks.

"You're here."

Roxidian looked at me, slightly frowned, and tilted his head.

"I sent Noah to tell you to come quickly, so why are you so late?"

Well, because I came by carriage? But he seemed to let it go, as if it wasn't important.

The tyrant gestured, and soon someone opened the door and entered, bowing deeply.

"I greet the noble Countess. I am Veveche, the Imperial Family's clothing designer."

Instead of answering the greeting, I tilted my head. Why did a designer suddenly appear?

"Why did you call me?"

"You'll be attending the upcoming Imperial banquet, won't you?"

Ah, that banquet where Grandfather said he'd announce the marriage date? I had forgotten but now remembered. I frowned deeply. My mood turned foul again.

"I'm telling you to have your banquet dress made here today. He said."

"What do you mean, start designing today?"

According to Charlize's memory, high-ranking nobles here custom-order dresses for banquets.

Of course, since there are trends in this world as well, they sometimes choose one from a catalog and modify it to their taste.

Charlize was the type to have one custom-made specifically for her.

"What are you talking about? I have plenty of exclusive designers for the ducal house."

And true to her nature as a spendthrift villainess, Charlize had over five designers, whereas other noble families might have one or two.

There were even plenty who said they would only create for Charlize, so why here specifically? I frowned, but Roxidian's expression was unmoved.

"Are those people the same as being part of the Imperial Family? The Imperial Family gathers only the best talents."

At his words that Imperial designers couldn't even compare to yours, I got annoyed.

Charlize's body also had the habit of getting annoyed when belittled.

"Hurry up and get measured."

"...I don't want to? Why do you even care about something like this?"

Then Roxidian retorted with a shameless expression, as if to say 'What are you talking about'.

"You are the Emperor's sister before being the Altsbeit Countess. Do you think I'd let you make a fool of me with your appearance? Absolutely not."

...You're caring about that now?

I have no memory of you ever caring about your sister's clothes in Charlize's memory?

"Besides, even more so now. You made a promise with me, didn't you?"

"...So that's why you're concerned?"

That makes no sense.

Committing atrocities is committing atrocities; what does it matter what I wear?

But this brother, for some reason, stubbornly insisted I do as I was told. Annoyed, I put my hand on my necklace, but.

"You've already borrowed money, haven't you? Must I call you like this, debtor?"

He brought up the money shamelessly, so I raised the white flag.

Right, it's my fault for borrowing.

Eventually, after the squabble, we agreed to take my measurements, and I obediently received assistance from the designer's assistants.

While my measurements were being taken, for some reason, Roxidian kept chattering at me from beyond the curtain.

It was enough to make my ears sore.

"Your dresses are always just skimpy pieces of fabric. Aren't you cold? Get a proper one this time. Got it?"

"What's it to you? Whatever I wear."

"The problem is that it makes those idiots' eyes pop out. Huh?"

Ah, I heard the Imperial Family cleaned up several messes Charlize caused.

Is he telling me to stop causing trouble?

But didn't you tell me to commit more villainy this time?

At his contradictory words, I frowned.

"So, do you want me to commit atrocities like usual, or not?"

"I said do it!"

Then say it so I can understand from the beginning. I grumbled inwardly and held some fabric against me.

"Let me ask you one thing. Does my causing trouble include not attending the Imperial banquet at all?"

"Is that considered an atrocity?"

"...Tch."

"Why?"

"Nothing."

I want to prevent the marriage announcement. Isn't there a way?

"Hey, you're not trying to skip it just to chase after that Lemut bastard's tail, are you? How long do you plan to keep trailing that rotten guy?"

"Mind your own business."

"You're not just anyone, you're my business."

You are just anyone. I tried to retort, but stopped. I realized I was speaking to this brother too informally.

The tone of the conversation felt similar to how I talked with Yoon Ji-hoon. Honestly, I did feel comfortable.

When I felt confused and fell silent for a moment, he seemed to find it strange and started picking a fight again. I quickly forgot my strange feeling and, without realizing, got annoyed and snapped back.

A small laugh came from somewhere, and when I turned my head, one of the assistants was stifling a laugh, but as soon as our eyes met, their face turned pale.

"I-I'm sorry. I've committed a mortal sin! It's just that I thought you two look so much alike and have such a good relationship..."

Just then, the curtains were drawn as I put my clothes back on, so the tyrant also witnessed the kneeling assistant.

A questioning look came my way.

"Well, we're siblings, so we get along, why would it be bad? Get up."

"...I-I'm sorry."

"Forget it."

I let it slide. But for some reason, a strange gaze fixed on me.

Turning my head, the designers, assistants, Noah next to the tyrant, and even Roxidian himself wore similar expressions.

"...Are you planning to kill that assistant later? Or fire him?"

"What nonsense is that? Why would I?"

"I mean, it's not like you to not take revenge on anything that displeases you."

The tyrant rested his cheek on his hand, lounging in his chair.

Then he smirked.

"You used to absolutely hate it when people said you looked like me."

Ah, that would be upsetting.

Not all real-life siblings are like that, but the siblings I know really hate being told they look alike. Did Charlize hate it too? I also hated being asked 'Are you the female version of Yoon Ji-hoon?'

"I still hate it."

"But why aren't you having him dragged away?"

"Too much trouble."

When I gave an answer Charlize would likely give, Roxidian just hummed and let it go.

After measuring my lower body, it was time to measure my arms and shoulders.

There was no need for curtains here, so they measured me directly.

Not only the Imperial designer's assistants but also Imperial maids were mobilized to take my measurements.

It was easy to distinguish the assistants from the maids because their clothes were completely different.

"Countess, could you please raise your arm this way?"

I had just raised my arm and was looking down.

'Hmm?'

My eyes fell on the maid who was measuring my arm. More precisely, my gaze landed on the hairpin stuck in the maid's hair.

That hairpin... isn't it mine?

There's no way I wouldn't recognize it.

Charlize has numerous accessories, but I had my favorites, things that caught my eye, and I specifically chose this one to wear when I went to the Lemut territory.

I chose it with the earnest wish that my fiance would see me as at least a little prettier, so there's no way I'd forget.

Moreover, it was the pin that the young ladies at the tyrants' gathering kept admiring for its beauty, so I definitely wouldn't forget.

'This pin definitely...'

I gave this pin to a small child.

To the smallest, tiniest child among those who gave me the wild berries.

"Pirenn... ah, Pirenn is my little sister. Sh-she... lost the hairpin the Countess gave her... So she looked for it outside until night and c-caught a cold."

Could it be a coincidence that the hairpin that child supposedly lost is in an Imperial maid's hair?

I lowered my hand.

The assistants, maids, and even the designer, startled by my sudden action, all stared at me in surprise.

"C-Countess...? What is the matter?"

The designer cautiously asked, but I kept my gaze fixed on the maid with the pin and asked.

"You, where did you get that hairpin?"

Naturally, all eyes turned to the maid with the pin.

The maid's face instantly turned pale, and she broke out in a cold sweat, as if she hadn't expected such a question.

I could feel the tyrant watching with interest from a short distance away.

Ignoring him, I strode over. The maid plopped down.

"Why can't you answer? Didn't you hear my question?"

In the quiet room, only my approaching footsteps were heard.

The maid quickly changed her posture, kneeling and bowing her head deeply.

"I-I'm sorry! Countess! I don't know how this happened, but this hairpin was given to me by my lover!"

Lover? My face naturally frowned.

The maid, perhaps frightened, spilled the whole story.

I heard her boyfriend's name but didn't know who he was. Then one piece of information caught my ear clearly.

"...You're saying your lover is one of my escort knights?"

Specifically, the fact that this maid's lover was one of my escort knights.

I immediately had that escort knight summoned.

Roxidian watched all of this, resting his chin on his hand, spectating. I was too furious to pay him any mind.

Soon, the knight in question entered the fitting room.

He looked bewildered at first, but upon seeing me, his lover, and finally the hairpin in my hand, his face turned pale.

"I heard you gave her this hairpin?"

The knight's name was Martin.

As expected, a name not found in Charlize's memory.

But his face felt familiar.

"Why did you have my hairpin?"