Chapter 26
Translator: Knife
Editor: yuki_shuchi
Proofreader: AngeAngela
* * *
Liarte wasn’t very good with people.
On second thought, however, Hestel did a lot of unnatural things from the get-go.
It has been like that since she fell into the fountain this morning.
‘She could drown.’
Ordinary people, when they fell into the water, were afraid or struggled to get out.
It was not strange to be afraid because the fountain was unexpectedly deep.
‘But she felt like a person who was waiting for my reaction.’
Even after saving her, Hestel first expressed her intention to pay her back rather than saying she was scared.
The purpose may have been to make an acquaintance with Liarte.
“Princess!”
Hestel ran after Liarte, who ignored her.
Even though she walked fast, it was hard to catch up with her.
At that moment, Liarte slowly looked back.
‘Did she call me princess?’
The person who asked her suddenly used the title princess, not Lady.
‘Hestel Leaven’
She must have said her name like that in the morning.
Liarte remembered, but it was a name she had never heard of before. It was the same even when she thought of the events before she regressed.
“Tell me, Young Lady.”
It was important that it be better to keep a distance from Hestel because she could be dangerous even if she was not an important person.
However, it seemed necessary to listen from the inside.
Hestel, who had been dazed by this clear voice, came to her senses.
‘Don’t you know who I am?’
It was the first thought that came to her mind when Liarte ignored her.
Hestel’s style of painting, known to the public, was technical and lined.
She was known to be a painter of the red painting who used rich colors.
Even the leading aristocrats didn’t ignore her.
Even the Duke of Haron was trying to impress Hestel.
Hestel thought, not knowing that she was Duke Haron’s chess piece.
“I- I’m sorry.”
She forced out her tears and said it with wide eyes.
“I might have offended you, but I came because the Princess saved my life.”
If she pretended to cry here, Liarte might be backed into a corner.
Hestel, who didn’t know how powerful Water Awakeners were, thought easily.
At the time of Elheim’s existence, the nobles even said, “If you avoid the Awakeners of Water without a single tear, you will be lucky for a lifetime.”
‘It can’t be helped.’
She had to humiliate Liarte, but she couldn’t attack because she had to look good.
“I made it clear that I don’t need reciprocation.”
“If you know who I am, you’ll change your mind too!”
Hestel intended to say that she was the owner of the red painting.
Liarte, of course, didn’t know about the red painting situation.
This was because she was busy with the coming-of-age ceremony, so she didn’t have time to check out the painting contest.
Now her skills were better than at the time of the competition, so she didn’t feel the need to find the result of the paintings she submitted.
“And now that I am out of Elheim, I am not a princess.”
She was right.
Hestel realized that she made a mistake when she was not liked enough to become a friend.
“I said something that hurt your feelings…”
It was at that moment that Hestel tried to hang on again with a pitiful look on her face.
Water crept up from the floor.
Hestel widened her eyes at the unbelievable sight.
Water coming out of the empty floor.
Only Hestel could see through the transparent water.
Suddenly, she noticed that her feet were not moving.
No matter how hard she walked, it was impossible.
She couldn’t see Liarte anymore.
Hestel looked at her in a strange way.
The water held her shoes.
She couldn’t follow Liarte anymore.
Even if she tried to escape, resistance was impossible.
‘Is this the power of water?’
Even Liarte, who used her powers, didn’t seem to have much trouble.
‘This is why His Highness, the Crown Prince, coveted her.’
Putting aside the feeling that their appearance was unpleasant because of the subtle similarities, this was the case when looking at the facts.
“You- Young Lady?”
Hestel wept.
It was a way to stimulate compassion but it wasn’t a very good choice.
When leaving Elheim, the blood relatives that Liarte had rooted with screamed, grieved, and even howled.
It was more like Hestel.
It was after Liarte saw that her crying was fake.
At that time, the eyes of the people in the ballroom gathered in silence.
At first, Hestel thought that the nobles looked at her.
It was a very short time, but she wondered if people would look at the former Princess Elheim because Hestel was a genius painter.
But the thrilling illusion didn’t last long.
“Liarte, what is this?”
As soon as Birce’s men arrived, Hestel was mesmerized.
Their armor shone with platinum and silver in the light of the ballroom.
She thought that the nobles’ red eyes were very beautiful.
At that moment, she felt that it was a red that she had seen from somewhere, but she couldn’t tell its identity because of her sight.
‘Angel.’
In an instant, the messenger of God came down and crashed into the illusion of her talking to herself.
She knew Birce’s appearances well, but she only saw them from afar.
Liarte looked back at Hestel.
“This is the person I met.”
If she describes Hestel as a nuisance, all three of Birce would not leave her alone.
But Michael didn’t seem to believe it.
“Is that so?”
Hestel swallowed her breath because of Michael, who came close and looked down at her.
It was her first time seeing such a beautiful person.
She looked at the two men alternately as her legs relaxed and she sat down.
“Are you okay?”
Birce’s owner held out his hand.
Carmen laughed as she hesitated.
“Take it. It’s fine.”
Hestel’s hands were firm and manly.
She blushed involuntarily.
“Go away, Young Lady.”
Liarte’s cold words brought her mind back to reality as if she had been splashed with cold water.
Hestel was a self-proclaimed Young Lady.
It meant that no matter how good she was at painting, her status was very different from what it actually was.
Oddly enough, there was a sudden feeling of antipathy.
‘Why?’
A feeling of inferiority flowed from the depths of her heart.
‘Why isn’t it working for me?’
It was a feeling she felt because she was an impersonator who had nothing unique about her.
From the first time she saw her, she didn’t like that Liarte’s appearance was similar to hers.
Furthermore, they were similar in age.
The other one was surrounded by the people of Birce, while Hestel was just here.
‘It’s unfair.’
‘I’m just the same as you.’
‘No.’
Hestel was actually thinking that she was better than Liarte.
The imagination of Hestel entering this place filled her head.
The friendly and beautiful people of Birce, with lots of wealth and power.
A big event that was held only for her.
Her dreamy gaze was directed at Birce’s men.
Without knowing what Carmen had just said, Hestel was just having a silly little fantasy.
* * *
“Why did you seduce the Young Lady?”
As Hestel moved away, Liarte asked Carmen in a whisper.
Carmen smiled widely with his eyes and spoke in a sly tone.
“It’s just that the spy came over on her own.”
“Liarte, only my father would do such a thing.”
Michael withdrew his foot and just pretended.
“She must be a spy anyway. After shaking hands, it seems like you didn’t learn about poisons and weapons separately, Lili.”
Carmen concluded his speech deftly.
As she stopped Hestel, who was coming after her, Liarte found out why Carmen and Aaron were not seen in the ballroom.
They were watching Hestel.
“She’s been after you since earlier. You shouldn’t have let her step behind you and follow you.”
Aaron said worriedly.
“Let’s capture and torture her. This won’t make you feel at ease.”
“Shall I capture her now, Lili?”
“It’s my coming-of-age ceremony, so don’t shed some blood unless it’s inevitable or necessary.”
Aaron and Carmen felt sorry for Liarte’s calm nagging.
It was very simple to capture Hestel.
You just have to smile.
With the illusion that followed, it was none of their business.
The three of them were only willing to dig behind Hestel, who had already followed Liarte.
“Why didn’t you just capture her, Lili? It’s okay to lock her up underground. No one will know.”
Not learning about poisons or weapons meant she was an awakener.
“Even though she’s weak, I’m worried because she looks like an awakener.”
Hestel would not know that Liarte had saved her.
Of course, it wasn’t because she liked Hestel.
It was just that it was her coming-of-age ceremony, and Birce’s family didn’t want any blood on their hands that day.
Even more, if it was because of Liarte.
Michael, who was briefly lost in thought, asked Carmen.
“Doesn’t she look like she’s going to cause some accident someday?”
“You’ve seen it right, son.”
Carmen nodded in affirmation.
Liarte hardly understood this conversation between the two.
“It’s such a waste.”
Carmen’s eyes followed Hestel with a thick look.
‘Catch her before Liarte sees her and put her in jail.’
It was such a pity that the thought came so late.
Meanwhile, Hestel, unaware of the thoughts of the people of Birce, was shaking with joy in her little dream.
‘If I take that position right away…’
Without even knowing that it was just a stupid imagination.
***
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