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308. Siblings Ep – The Sedge Broom

At that time, Lean was inside the mansion.

He was watching Ksenia getting ready, but it seemed like she would never finish. Ksenia kept giving orders to the handmaidens, repeatedly wiping off and reapplying her makeup. Unable to bear it any longer, Lean forced a smile and said,

“Why do you keep wiping off something pretty?”

Ksenia, sitting upright at the dressing table, turned her head in annoyance. In fact, she looked fine as she was but…

“I’m sorry. Please wait just a little longer. I think it would look good with some shading here; what do you think?”

“Sure. Just a moment.”

The handmaiden replied patiently. Lean thought it would take a while longer and sat by the window.

Today, Ksenia was wearing a bright red dress. The color was so intense that it required a skilled touch to pull off.

Especially since it didn’t match her wavy black hair at all. Ksenia had no choice but to twist her hair and put on a red flower headband.

On top of that, she had long dangling earrings and a lace necklace that beautifully enveloped her neck… The reason for Ksenia’s exaggerated getup was heavily influenced by Reriana’s looks.

She couldn’t win if she blended in.

She had resolved to highlight her own extravagant image.

Lean thought it was already more than enough for her to be pretty, but he kept his mouth shut.

The engagement was nearing, and he was also dressed up in excitement. His blonde hair, mixed with blue, created a stark contrast against his dark black suit.

While waiting and feeling bored, Lean fiddled with the engagement ring in his hand. A promise of marriage. Unable to hold back, he slipped the ring onto Ksenia’s finger as she busily adorned herself.

Ksenia’s face flushed.

“You’re being hasty…”

“Am I the only one in a hurry?”

“I prefer to wait and enjoy delicious things.”

“Not me.”

Lean leaned in and kissed Ksenia. The handmaidens gasped, “Oh my!” As soon as their lips parted, Ksenia rolled her eyes.

“Move away. You’re being a distraction.”

However, it didn’t seem like she was completely against it. Lean raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, indicating he wouldn’t bother her anymore, and returned to the window.

Only the sound of Ksenia prepping her makeup could be heard again. The preparing woman and the prepared man. A silent tension teased the two.

Soon that man,

finally this woman,

would be engaged. It was the moment when they all felt shy in their hearts. Without a thought, Lean turned his head to look out the window and froze.

The younger sister that Katrina said she would bring was crossing the banquet hall. If that had been all there was to it, it would have been fine, but it happened that…

‘Why is she going that way?’

His sister was approaching Marquis Benard Tatian. She said something to him, and the ceremony, which had been filled with melodic tunes, fell into silence.

Lean jumped up and ran. Leaving a startled Ksenia behind.

*

“Of course, Princess Reriana de Yeriel.”

A bomb dropped in the ceremony hall.

It could only be taken seriously when it came from the likes of Marquis Benard Tatian, the top noble of the Belita Kingdom. The nobles froze, stopping all their actions.

Princess.

That was not a title you could give just anyone.

Among the noble women referred to as “princess,” it was a title reserved only for the daughter of a queen who had not yet married.

Thus, currently, only two people on the entire continent could be called princesses: Princess Chloe de Tatalia of the Belita Kingdom and the newborn daughter of King Arista de Klaus from the Asran Kingdom.

But a princess? From the Yeriel family?

Such a possibility meant…

That Marquis Benard Tatian had accurately pointed out Reriana de Yeriel’s true identity. Those gathered in the banquet hall instantly recognized Reriana. They realized she was alive.

While everyone was in shock, Reriana was also taken aback.

A princess? Me?

But it didn’t feel unfamiliar. It was just that the boundaries between dream and reality had collapsed. Even in her bewilderment, she sparkled her eyes and asked again,

“Am I a princess?”

“…Did you not know?”

“No. But now I do know who I am. Who are you?”

“I am called Benard Tatian.”

“Oh! You are the Marquis of the Belita Kingdom! I’ve always wanted to meet you… Ah, no. Please forget what I just said. What’s going on? This is really confusing. Anyway… nice to meet you. I’m Reriana.”

She chose something to say seemingly at random since she didn’t know what standard to use. Marquis Tatian recoiled in shock.

[ Reriana de Isadora ]

[ Final Class: Princess ]

The atmosphere flipped in an instant.

The naïve princess that had previously existed vanished without a trace, and in front of the marquis stood an elegant princess.

With perfect etiquette, she greeted him beautifully, and the marquis, caught off guard, greeted her in return. It was hard for him to believe he had acted in such a manner.

Nevertheless, the soft yet elevated dignity compelled the marquis to bow his head.

It felt like meeting a queen.

“Who is the person beside you? May I get an introduction?”

While Benard was in confusion, Count Peter raised his hand and shrugged.

“No, I am not someone worthy of introductions to a princess. I am Gustave Peter, a count… and this is my wife, Edlyn Peter.”

Had he not intended to hide his status? Was it acceptable for the princess to expose herself? Thinking so, Gustave tried to smooth over the situation, but this too was in vain.

“Oh! You are the parents of Ksenia! Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you from my brother.”

“…Brother?”

“Yes! My older brother.”

Edlyn’s eyes widened in surprise. The brother of Reriana de Yeriel, who was reported dead, was… Lean de Yeriel. Only then did it all fall into place.

Now it made sense why their husband didn’t reject the ‘commoner’ that his daughter brought along! This gentleman must have known something!

“…Darling. Shall we chat for just a moment?”

“W-well, right now is a bit difficult…”

“Excuse me.”

While smiling, Edlyn was extremely angry. You’re lying to me? It was just that she hadn’t yelled at him yet, but Gustave was almost dragged away in such a state.

As a son-in-law, Count Peter couldn’t escape, since nobles would say, “A Lady and an angry wife are like wild animals; the only way is to avoid them.”

The nobles who remained were filled with buzzing excitement, along with Marquis Benard Tatian and the princess.

“Eh? They left.” ─ Suddenly saying something nonsensical, Reriana cleared her throat!

“Besides, Marquis, are you going to leave me standing here?”

“No, please have a seat here…”

Before he could finish his sentence, she sat down, taking the marquis’s side, crossing her legs alluringly and grabbing his goblet, but…

[ Lena de Yeriel ]

[ Final Class: High-Class Attendant ]

‘Huh? Isn’t this a bit rude?’

It didn’t seem like proper behavior for talking to an older gentleman. Reriana put the goblet back down, considering the elders of the Rauno family.

She was confused about where the dream ended and reality began and asked,

“You’re saying I’m a princess… and you are a great marquis. Then can you grant me just one favor?”

“…That would depend on what the favor is.”

Benard replied, still in confusion. Revealing the identity of the princess to the entire world was, of course, to corner Lean de Yeriel into a difficult position.

No reason existed for him to hide it, so he planned to watch how Lean would respond and determine his treatment, but the princess proved as bizarre as the prince.

A naïve princess,

a high-born queen,

and now a lady adorned with sensuality had suddenly returned to her innocence. Benard felt dizzy as he read her deeper thoughts. The next words were just as absurd.

“Just give me that house.”

What in the world… my head feels like it’s going to explode.

“Why?”

“Because I need it.”

‘What kind of trick is this?’ ─ he wondered, but the princess seemed completely unfazed.

Things were getting annoying.

With a headache, the marquis replied brusquely.

“Why should I give a house to a princess? If you’re going to say something so useless…”

“You would gain something from it, wouldn’t you?”

Same voice, but the tone was completely different. Benard, who had turned his head due to the headache, glanced back at the princess and groaned.

The atmosphere flipped again.

The lady, who had seemed so innocent, suddenly crushed the air. In her eyes, the wrath of a tyrant flickered, and her graceful neck lost its charm. Arrogant authority enveloped her.

Simultaneously, the intense scent of nobility wafted through the air, and Benard quickly realized the identity of that smell.

A duke. The scent of someone who was both noble and of royal blood. He was left dumbstruck.

[ Lena Yeriel ]

[ Final Class: Duke of Yeriel ]

“Marquis Benard Tatian. There is something you can gain, right?”

Reriana pointed her finger and asked again as if to say, “Is your head only this good?” The marquis, intoxicated by the same regal scent, replied.

“Is it the Conrad Kingdom?”

“Ding ding ding! Hahaha! That’s reasonably cheap, right?”

Reriana burst out laughing heartily. Losing her guard, the dream began to engulf her.

I will regain the throne.

I will borrow the foolish marquis’s power to reconcile my kingdom, bringing closure to my brother’s untimely death. My brother wanted to reclaim his lineage, so I, I must…

Reriana Yeriel.

Her little head flooded with the strategies, schemes, rhetoric, and political theory she had desperately learned in the past.

As she pondered how to exploit this foolish marquis, she heard, “Reriana!!” It was her brother’s voice, one she could never forget even in her dreams.

Brother, I’ve really waited a long time.

Even my escort knight Jenia hasn’t come back, and I’ve been…

“Reriana!”

“Huh?”

It was the incessant echo of her brother’s voice. Reriana, not wanting to fall for it again, didn’t turn around but was startled when a hand grabbed her. Is this a dream… or not? No, it must be a dream?

“What are you doing right now?!”

She felt like she was going to be scolded. Reriana quickly summoned another dream.

[ Lena de Yeriel ]

[ Final Class: Actress ]

“Yeah. Brother, are you here? Just a second. Brother, I just figured something out…”

Still pretending to be her innocent younger self, she whispered as if she had discovered something good.

– “I’m the princess of the Conrad Kingdom. Looking at this uncle, I think he can help us. Just look at him! He definitely looks like he could handle things well. At least, he seems like he could manage money excellently, don’t you think?”

“……Ha.”

Yet, it was impossible to hide the golden glint in her eyes.

Hailing from the ancient Acaian Empire, the awakened blood of royalty made Lean sigh as he watched his sister see the marquis merely as a money manager.

It was fine that their identities were revealed. I can manage somehow.

However, at this rate, Reriana’s life—and the life of the sister I hoped for—would be ruined. The sister who was trying to deceive even her brother was not coping well with her own abilities.

The long sedge broom.

Struggling, it was hard to tell if Reriana was wielding the broom or if the broom was wielding her.

That was definitely not a happy life.

– “What do you think? Brother, isn’t it a good idea? You did well too. If you marry Ksenia, you might also get Count Peter’s help.”

Reriana’s smile widened. She was trying to latch onto her brother’s praise. Until now, Minseo and Leo had allowed almost anything as long as it was what their younger sister wanted…

“I must have raised you wrong.”

Lean placed his hand on Reriana’s shoulder and scolded her. Startled, his younger sister hiccupped, and Lean looked directly into the eyes of his troublemaking sister, like a parent.