“I’m sorry. I was looking for you because you disappeared, and I didn’t expect you to hear something like this. I’ll apologize on their behalf. They seem to be overprotective of me because I’ve been acting childish.”

I could easily picture Tanashia, like a puppy with her ears dropped, from her voice alone.

There was no reason for me not to come out since she had found out I was here.

When I slid open the powder room door, I saw Tanashia standing there with a dispirited expression, just as I’d expected.

“It’s not exactly a mistake, you don’t have to apologize.”

Considering how the original Tanashia had continuously tormented Tanashia, I could somewhat understand the maids’ point of view.

Tanashia shook her head vehemently, saying, “No, I’m really sorry. And… thank you.”

I caught sight of the bandage in her hand at her words of gratitude. Thankfully, it looked like the doctor had treated her wound well.

“There’s no need for that. I don’t really care, so you shouldn’t either.”

“How can you say that. I’ll make sure this never happens again. If I hurt your feelings, please forgive me.”

Tanashia’s sincerity was so palpable that I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

“I really don’t care, you know. More importantly, why were you practicing your abilities alone? You should’ve at least taken the maids with you.”

“Well… At first, they found it interesting and fun, but watching it repeat for hours… they’d get tired…”

“For hours? You practiced that long?”

“Yes. The Academic Festival is coming up soon.”

The Academic Festival.

In the novel ‘The Beloved Holy Lady’, it was a regular event where those with special abilities would gather every few years to share their achievements and improve their skills.

It wasn’t a smallscale event only held in the Arwen Empire, but a large meeting where people from surrounding countries also attended.

As far as I knew, Tanashia was always recognized as the top prodigy at the festival, the most improved talent in a short period of time.

Reminded of that part of the novel, I was looking at Tanashia when she seemed to mistake my gaze and spoke with a flustered expression.

“I mean, I’m not trying to brag or anything, I just wanted to tell you that I’ve been busy…”

“I see.”

For some reason, seeing Tanashia scrambling to explain herself today made her look rather pitiful.

Many, including the original Tanashia and Leyana, were envious of Tanashia, but they didn’t know about the effort she had put in to maintain her position.

The world was cruel to those at the top. Or perhaps the gaze towards those at the top was stricter?

Yes, Tanashia received a lot of praise for her exceptional abilities, but on the other side, there were also many who were waiting for her downfall.

Just as Leyana had tried to humiliate Tanashia by setting off firecrackers at the royal ball, she had been the target of malice, along with garnering a lot of attention.

In fact, even I, her twin, was hated by her.

“You must be tired.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, always trying to maintain your position.”

When the second place becomes the first, they receive applause. But there was nothing for those who managed to stay in the first place. All they got was the expectation that they would stay there.

I couldn’t help but pat Tanashia’s head, thinking about the young girl’s hardship.

At that, Tanashia looked up at me with wide, blue eyes.

“Um, sis, are you…patting my head?”

“Yes. You’re doing a good job.”

“Wow─!”

Tanashia let out an exclamation and looked up at me with her sparkling eyes. I couldn’t help but smile at her cute expression.

I really didn’t want to get deeply involved with Noxia, but it was hard not to be moved when such a cute girl approached, wagging her tail.

“First, change the glass you were practicing with earlier to something that won’t break easily. What if you get hurt again?”

“Okay, I will.”

“Bring a maid with you when you practice, just in case. If that’s too much, tell me where you are so I can check on you every now and then.”

“Ah, that should work.”

“And take the day off today.”

At the last remark, Noxia was momentarily unable to respond. It seemed she still wanted to practice her ability to manipulate water, even though it was raining and she had hurt her hand.

I stopped stroking her hair and flicked Noxia’s forehead with my finger.

“Ouch! That hurts.”

“Listen to me. Rest today, continue tomorrow.”

Noxia was weak when I emphasized that I was her sister. I didn’t want to know, but I had naturally realized it and couldn’t help it.

“Ah, okay. I’ll rest today.”

“Pushing yourself too hard isn’t good either. You need to know how to take care of your condition.”

Despite my scolding words, Noxia laughed gleefully. What was so funny?

I thought that seeing her often would make me care for her. My heart seemed to be softening due to the familiarity that Noxia subtly expressed.

After letting the injured Noxia rest, I returned to my room later than planned.

Although it was a bit late for dinner, I ate without skipping it since Askan was waiting.

I habitually picked out the carrots on the plate and sank deep into thought.

‘……Why? I keep feeling like I’ve missed something.’

I had a nagging feeling after meeting Noxia. It felt like I had forgotten something important.

It was at that moment, lost in my thoughts.

Askan, who was sitting opposite me, opened his mouth as if he had been watching me.

“Do you dislike carrots?”

“Ah, right. I don’t eat carrots.”

I was a picky eater with a typical childlike taste. I wouldn’t mind if the carrots were completely chopped and mixed in, but if I saw them, I wouldn’t eat them and I picked them all out.

“You should tell the chef.”

“Well, there’s no need to do that. I can just pick them out.”

Although I said so, in reality, I did not ask the chef because I was afraid that my different taste from the original Tanashia would be discovered.

Who would suspect that I had possessed Tanashia’s body?

I was cautious and chose to pick them out rather than tell the chef to remove the carrots.

Askan, who had been staring at me, spoke in a soft voice.

“Give it to me.”

“What?”

“The carrot. I will eat it instead.”

“Really? Do you like carrots?”

“I don’t particularly like them, but I don’t dislike them either.”

“Okay. Well, that’s good for me.”

I passed the plate I had been picking carrots from to Askan.

Askan not only took the carrots I picked out, but also picked out all the remaining carrots in the food with a new fork and returned the plate to me.

‘Oh, that’s convenient.’

I put the food, now devoid of carrots, into my mouth with a satisfied face.

Askan watched me for a moment, then ate the carrots.

We started eating quietly again, when something crossed my mind.

‘Come to think of it, an academic festival?’

The content of the novel, which had been forgotten like it was shrouded in fog, suddenly came to mind.

Clang!

When I suddenly dropped the fork I was holding, Askan, who was sitting opposite me, looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Miss?”

“Oh my God! I completely forgot.”

Noxia and Rohel.

The encounter that began at the royal ball was continued at the academic festival.

I hadn’t remembered it immediately because it came out as a past recollection in the original, but the two had an event where they met again at the academic festival.

Moreover, was a novel with a reverse harem keyword.

The submain lead, who will fall for Noxia in the future, also appeared at the academic festival.

‘……What should I do?’

Now it’s unknown how the plot will unfold as the original is twisted.

It was unpredictable what would happen when Noxia and Rohel, who now hated each other, met again at the academic festival.

‘This is……’

Can I just leave it like this?