The storybook. I want to read it, but I can’t. What should I do?

Merche gently tapped the edge of the folded letter on the table.

It’s a difficult situation.

It was the first gift Christine gave me, saying I must read it, but unfortunately, I completely lost it during that carriage raid a year ago.

I vaguely remember the storybook’s miserable state, crushed under the broken carriage debris.

I desperately wanted to collect the wreckage and restore it, but it was realistically impossible as it was torn and trampled.

In the first place, it’s nothing short of a miracle that Merche survived such an accident, let alone the storybook.

After much contemplation, I picked up the pen first.

I started with talking about the weather, then brought up the book.

You’ve started reading a difficult book on your own.

The more I think about it, the more remarkable and amazing you are, and my words gradually grow longer. It couldn’t be helped.

Although it’s been almost half a year, the fact that Christine’s eyes have been completely healed is still a miracle that fills my heart with joy.

Before I knew it, a smile had spread across Merche’s lips again.

[……As the weather has gotten cold, dress warmly.

And Christine. I’m really sorry, but I lost the storybook you gave me in an accident when I left Lupinus. If you have the same one, could you send it along with your next reply?

I’m sorry for carelessly losing the first gift you gave me.]

I apologized countless times as I concluded the long letter.

The thickness of the letter, almost the size of a book, made Mrs. Martin raise her eyebrows, trying not to look surprised.

“Young lady. You have a visitor. May I escort them in?”

Mrs. Martin spoke after patiently waiting for her mistress to finish what she was doing.

Then she discreetly gauged her reaction.

The emotion that settled on that fair and soft face, like a certain color……

The lake-like blue eyes, calm enough to float a boat on, met Mrs. Martin’s gaze as she raised her head, always tranquil.

Even though they had faced each other countless times, hundreds and thousands of times.

Mrs. Martin unknowingly parted her lips, unable to exhale.

Her mistress, who didn’t smile, was terrifyingly beautiful.

Like a monster that only exists in imagination. A face that shook the mind to the point of being frightening, making it hard to discern if one was breathing properly.

“Yes. Please escort them in.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Merche thought the visitor would naturally be the Ardor heir.

Because he was the one who proposed the engagement to her.

However, contrary to expectations, the person who stepped in, treading on the red carpet, was a woman with white hair tied up high.

“……?”

As soon as their eyes met, the other person stopped right there and slowly, visibly wavered, as if some emotion was passing through, with a process that felt slow and distinct.

It was all too familiar to Merche. Without urging, she simply looked at her, and fortunately, it didn’t take long before the other person spoke a stiff greeting.

“……I have committed a discourtesy. Thank you for allowing my visit. I am Huana Ardor.”

It was a great discourtesy for a visitor to remain silent without saying anything.

Despite being unable to hide her embarrassment at the fact that she had committed such a discourtesy, Huana never lowered her raised chin.

To someone like you. I cannot bow my head to someone whose origin I don’t even know.

The fiercely raised eyes carefully swept down the terrifyingly beautiful woman.

“You’re from a branch family of Venenum?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“From what I’ve heard, you’re not originally from here. It hasn’t even been a year since you were registered.”

A branch family of Venenum? Don’t make me laugh. Huana scoffed inwardly.

If you ask anyone passing by, they wouldn’t say that woman is of Venenum’s bloodline.

That’s how strangely out of place Merche was here.

It was as if she alone stood out.

It was like a person with only one head among people who had two heads each.

Huana ostentatiously leaned back on the sofa and folded her arms. A woman who might not even be a noble.

There’s no need to engage in a tedious argument with such a person.

After roughly sizing up the woman, she didn’t seem to have a strong impression.

“I’ll get straight to the point to save time. We would like you to consider the engagement letter Fabio sent as void and cancel it.”

Engagement letter, cancellation. A string of words that are not easy to ignore.

Merche blinked slowly as she stared at Huana.

“Is that Lord Fabio’s intention?”

“……How unpleasant. You’re doubting me now, aren’t you?”

Huana’s body swayed as if she was about to get up from her seat at any moment. Her hair, tied up high, also shook along with her.

“Listen, Miss Merche. It seems you’re desperate to get involved with our Ardor family, but stop it while I’m asking nicely.”

“…….”

“Faction? Engagement? In the first place, Lupinus or Sano would bring more benefits and superior profits than Venenum, so give up on that foolish expectation. This engagement will never happen.”

“…..Lady Huana, you do not wish for an alliance with Venenum.”

A chilling voice that contrasted with Huana’s highly agitated tone, enough to cool even the heat of the body.

Huana involuntarily flinched, her shoulders trembling.

“I understand your intention. What you just said was enough for me to comprehend your meaning.”

At first glance, it seemed like a positive response was forthcoming.

Huana’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, but the following words cast a dark shadow over them.

“However, I cannot determine the matter solely based on your intention. I will personally ask Lord Fabio about his intention.”

“…What did you say?”

Huana abruptly rose from her seat.

Her tightly clenched hands trembled, and her face flushed red as if she would pour out a fierce rebuke at any moment.

But the moment Merche raised her eyes.

The explicit mockery and criticism that had reached the tip of Huana’s tongue settled like sediment inside her. It had to be that way.

Those eerily blue eyes. That was all it took.

The frigid gaze pressed down on Huana like a cold blade.

Huana could only wait for the words to fall, gasping faintly like a corpse.

“Lady Huana, would you please leave now?”

This can’t be. This is absurd……, this can’t happen.

It felt as if all the skin on her body had risen sharply, and her vision grew hazy.

Huana desperately shrugged her shoulders and fled the suffocating space.

The waiting attendant followed behind her with puzzled eyes.

“Miss? Did something happen……”

“Send a letter to the family right now.”

“Pardon?”

“I said send a letter! Right now!”

The attendant startled and panicked at the screaming voice.

It can’t be, there’s no way. Why does it resemble that?

Huana staggered and barely leaned against the pillar in front of her. She had seen something unbelievable.

−Is this the painting?

−Yes. It is the only portrait depicting His Majesty, the first king. You can only see it here, in Ardor.

−But, this is also in the royal palace, isn’t it?

−No, Miss. That one is a fake, and this is the real one. What you are looking at is the only original.

That painting. The portrait that was said to depict the first king.

“Why…… Why is it, how……?”

Does it resemble Merche Venenum? Just like me and Fabio. Like twins born from the same womb, how can they look so identical?

Huana, who had completely sunk to the floor, managed to get up again.

Just as she was about to write a letter to the attendant who had rushed over with paper and pen.

At that moment, a strong grip seized Huana’s wrist.

“Ugh……!”

“Huana.”

“…Fa, Fabio? How did you get here?”

“Speak.”

Huana thrashed and pushed him away. But Fabio didn’t budge an inch from where he stood.

He spoke in a low growl.

“You. You saw something.”

Don’t try to deceive me. Tell me everything you saw.

The sibling who was born from the same womb and sometimes knew her better than Huana herself whispered.

Huana, who had been hesitating, finally opened her mouth in a thin voice.

[This is the timeline separator] [This is Fabio Ardor.

I would like to apologize on behalf of the discourtesy Huana committed today, and I request that you come to the west garden at sunset.]

The Ardor siblings are known for not beating around the bush.

Merche, who stepped into the west garden, let out a chuckle. What Carla had said before was true.

They are siblings who have no idea what an introduction is.

−You’re from a branch family of Venenum?

Merche briefly recalled the encounter with Huana.

The eyes that confidently asked if there was any way Merche could be from a branch family of Venenum. A bitter taste lingered in her mouth for no reason.

Even though she had decided not to mind such things anymore, she still couldn’t let it pass by faintly.

You still can’t blend in, can you?

No matter how much she thought about it, she didn’t fit in with Venenum.

To assert that she was Venenum just because she controlled snakes, Merche could also control wolves in Lupinus.

In the end, even that was nothing more than a pitiful number.

“…….”

An existence that is neither this nor that, simply ambiguous.

Merche, who couldn’t escape from that level and kept wandering around.

Foolish Merche, incomparably incompetent Merche.

It was sickening to the point of being tired. Just as she was loosely lowering her head with such a gloomy feeling.

“Lady Merche.”

The color was similar to Huana’s.

The pure white hair that remained after all the colors had faded away danced like waves.

Beautiful hair that made one want to reach out and grab it without thinking.

The eyes of a mysterious color penetrated Merche. Fabio Ardor.

Just as she was about to roll that name in her mouth, the other person politely greeted her.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Fabio of Ardor.”

“……I am Merche Venenum. But you already called my name.”