I Don’t Trust My Twin Sister - Chapter 8

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2nd Chapter

Even though I said it was no matter, to spend a hundred thousand gold was quite a burden. Of course, this wasn’t enough to stagger the family, when I had calculated the sum the final amount was only a slight disadvantage.

Still, I had hope that paying the amount that was equal to the kingdom’s budget for one year would bring me good results.

Even though I had a successful business I could ultimately bind my foot in an investment that may have no results. Knowing this I had worked to progress my businesses.

“Laura.”

I turned my head toward the affectionate voice of Grandfather who entered the room. I thanked Grandfather as he handed an envelope and with a paper knife cut the end of the envelope.

Dear Lady Laurencia

It was beautifully handwritten. I didn’t have to particularly look to see who the sender was. The only person who would notify me in the form of a letter and not a report was Ian.

About a week ago I had met up with him for the contract. Together we went to a bank and I had issued for a hundred thousand gold coins to go to Ian. But it didn’t stop there, I had requested help for him from a few personal business acquaintances.

Simple Ian. The image of him continuously offering this thanks towards my offer came to mind. However, I’m the one that’s grateful. What Ian doesn’t know is that the people I had sent to help him are my spies.

The people sent to the Veridian duchy are incredibly smart and are good at working in the business world so because of this Ian had become more comfortable. Because of this, he was able to write me a letter about everyday matters.

“It looks like the letter contains good news.”

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“Pardon?”

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I lifted my head toward Grandfather who was smiling cheerfully.

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“Lately, every time you see a letter from Archduke Veridian you smile.”

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“Is that so? I also…”

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With a low laugh, I picked the letter once more.

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“Truthfully I was quite worried. Because even though you hate parties you accepted the Archduke Veridian’s party invitation. I was concerned that you may run into a problem in an unfamiliar place.”

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“Jeez, I’m not a child anymore. Next month is my coming of age ceremony. Soon I will be an adult.”

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I said cheerfully and Grandfather laughed loudly as softly patted my head. I gently looked up toward the figure of Grandfather.

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“Yes, that’s true. You’re all grown up. Without me knowing you grew up and met up with a match and fell in love.”

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“…love?”

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I stared at my deeply moved grandfather strangely.

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“Is that not it? Is the letter coming in every day, not a love letter?”

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“How can that be? It’s just something like a report.”

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“Laura, there’s no person that smiles like you do as they look at a report.”

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Was it wrong for me to laugh? It’s natural for one to laugh when work goes as planned. I was laughing that all the things that I was working on step by step will magnificently change the future, to see this as falling in love…

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“Still that’s not it. You know how that person is.”

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“Mmmm… That’s certainly true.”

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“Naturally, because of those rumours, I am more fond of him.”

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The truth was that the public knew that Archduke Veridian was a h.o.m.os.e.xual. If the rumor wasn’t true the duchy, no even Ian would come out to dispell it. However, he stayed quiet. Due to this, the public confirmed the rumors as true.

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“In love with a h.o.m.os.e.xual man… Naru would laugh. Right, Naru?

The shepherd dog that had been deeply sleeping next to me p.r.i.c.ked its ears and looked up at me. Although Naru is frightening in appearance its actions were incredibly cute as it happily and softly wagged its tail as I pet it. Cute thing.

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“Still, don’t take that rumor to heart.”

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“Jeez, Grandfather. That’s just something I think as true…”

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“The things we think are true can also be false, don’t you remember me saying that before?”

Grandfather was always strict when it came to education. His teachings were based on gaining experience and knowledge in order for me to convey myself in the best way possible.

“That the greatest lie hides the greatest truth, right?”

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“It’s a relief you remember.”

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My eyes left Grandfather who sat down after approaching the desk with a smile and I stared silently at the envelope that sat on top of the desk. The greatest lie…

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These are the words worshiped by businessmen. Believably lie to hide the truth in order for others to believe the lie as the truth.

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If that’s the case how did the rumor that he’s h.o.m.os.e.xual come to be?

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“…”

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I don’t understand. Although our religion is flexible it is sinful to be h.o.m.os.e.xual. There is no reason for this rumor to be.

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There is only one solution. Ian likes men.

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“There’s nothing else it could be.”

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“Did you say something?”

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“No, I didn’t say anything.”

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With a smile, I dismissed my words, and as I was about to look back at my work Grandfather’s words had stopped me.

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“I had purchased the abandoned mine that Laura had mentioned previously and had it examined. It was abandoned too early. There were still ores found deep within the mine.”

Before I had returned to the past, a story had circulated. Forty years ago the mine that dried up the Nox Mountain Range mines were believed only to be an iron mine.

The owner of the mine in the Nox Mountain Range had mined out all the iron and abandoned it. However that mine wasn’t an iron mine, but a diamond mine located on the mountain range.

In this kingdom, there were only two diamond mines so the price of the newly found diamond mine grew exponentially. The two families of the owner of the mines and the discoverer of the diamond fought until blood was shed, this had become big news.

As of now, no one is aware that this is a diamond mine. So immediately purchasing the mine and having excavations would bring great profit.

A hundred thousand gold? This figure would become laughable. A diamond mine is equal to a million, no two million. That way I was able to give that man a hundred thousand gold without hesitation.

After I had come home from going to the bank with Ian, Grandfather asked why I spend the large sum of money. It was an important topic because it was a large sum.

The Aztane family had always but living frugally as a priority. The previous family heads had educated their successors to not be frivolous with their wealth as garnering the jealous eyes of people would bring the family to ruin.

So it wasn’t surprising to be questioned about my spending. I had prepared my speech in advance. ‘Despite the Archduke Veridian and his military protecting the kingdom they had been refused funds by the imperial family. Due to this an incredible amount to debt was acc.u.mulated. For me to sponsor him was my calling’

Grandfather had always been fond of the word ‘calling’. As I expected, Grandfather didn’t question me any further.

Although I was taught by Grandfather who is good at accepting and refusing requests depending on the situation, I was not. With this though I let out a sigh.

“Anyways are the preparations going well? I’m talking about the party the Aztane’s are hosting to the public next week.”

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“No. What party are you talking about all of a sudden?”

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“It’s not all of a sudden. Didn’t we speak about it before?”

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Why is there a party every day for this person? Just hosting one party costs a lot of money!

Grandfather looked at me while cheerfully laughing. What could it be?

“It’s Erusia and your coming-of-age celebration.”

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“Ah…”

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Goodness, that’s right. The coming-of-age celebration was around this time. Because I had seen it as a minor event I only had dim memories about it. To others it may be an important event embedded into their consciousness, yet to me the dates where I got business contracts signed were more deeply embedded.

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“This week we will be going to the Aztane castle. Although it will be for a quick visit, don’t you have to specially prepare an outfit because Laura will the main character of this event?”

The attire for a coming-of-age ceremony was different than the traditional dress. A one-piece dress that was a mix of yellow and black that gave off pleasantly plain feeling. An ordinary outfit that is pleasantly plain. However, I had the utmost hatred for this dress.

“Because people won’t be about to differentiate Laura and Erusia I had the outfits prepared differently. What I’m saying is that Erusia will be dressed in yellow, and Laura will be dressed in black.

Erusia and I wore dresses with the same design but different colors to most of the parties we had attended. In order to strongly show the difference, we had contrasted by wearing a dark color and a bright color.

For the sake of my sickly sister, I had picked the clothes that were slightly darker in color.

Although it didn’t matter normally, a coming-of-age celebration is a different matter. Different from the traditional dress that is voluminous and went to the ankle the coming-of-age celebration dress is long and slimming. Wearing this dress kind of dress in a dark color would make one look like a priest or someone attending a funeral.

In the past when I had worn the dress in black for the coming-of-age celebration people spoke about how I look depressing and dismaying. On the other hand, Erusia was seen as a sickly but beautiful girl.

I didn’t dislike it at that time. There was no need to fuss over yielding the yellow dress to my younger sister that was always bedridden. That was my thought process then. And even though I had heard them talking about me being depressing and dismaying I didn’t care, because beside me was someone who told me loved me. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d Barrett.

I was an idiot. Truly an idiot. Now that I think about it, the first time Barrett had come to the mansion he and Erusia probably slept together without me knowing. Although I can’t confirm this as true.

If it were the past I would’ve said it was fine with a smile. For my younger sister, I would have yielded. Only because I was born 3 minutes earlier.

However, this is not the case now.

“Grandfather.”

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“Yes, Laura?”

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Although it was painful to say as Grandfather looked at me with a smile thinking I would yield like always. But there was no choice. I don’t like what I don’t like.

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“I’m sorry but I also want to wear something bright this time.”

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“…”

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I’m sorry Grandfather. It may be unbearable but I no longer want to yield. I don’t want to hear that I’m depressing or dismaying because of my younger sister.

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“Is that so?”

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With a heavy voice, Grandfather tilted his head. He must be worrying quite a bit. Because unlike now I had usually yielded.

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“Alright. Then Eruisa in yellow, and Laura in black and yellow. I will instruct them to add more yellow into the design. Would that be alright?”

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I smiled and nodded as Grandfather wisely explained so I would understand.

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Perhaps I had been stubborn in vain… but there’s nothing else I can do. I didn’t want to look uglier than Erusia.

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“Coming-of-age celebration?”

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Ian wriggled his eyebrows as he looked at the report. Ian heard the hinted word spoken by the person Laurencia had sent.

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“When is it?”

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“Next, next week, it will be hosted in the Aztane castle. Did you not receive an invitation”

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It’s here somewhere. The butler gathers all the party invitations somewhere. This was due to his preference. The butler would report once a week, Ian would listen as the butler listed out the parties and would select the ones of importance.

The b.u.t.ter had probably dismissed Laurencia’s invitation as he didn’t know about the agreement made between Ian and Laurencia.

“I didn’t receive anything.”

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“That… is that so. That’s odd. She should’ve already sent it.”

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The man Laurencia had sent scratched his cheek and stealthily ran away.

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Ian lifted his head and looked out the window. The image of the daring girl with black hair who had conversed with him confidently not long ago came to mind.

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She was unlike the other n.o.ble ladies, this young girl changed her face from happily smiling to suddenly being serious as she pressed Ian into a deal. Although he had suddenly signed a weird contract, he was grateful for the matter. Now he would be able to put the rumor to rest.

However, is it right to not invite your partner who is also your future fiance to your coming-of-age celebration? Although a coming-of-age celebration isn’t seen important, it’s still an important occasion. And to this occasion, you don’t invite your future marriage partner?

Ian let out a quick laugh. Since that time he sent  more than 5 letters but with no response, and this time he had heard about the coming-of-age celebration from someone else. Instead, she sent a representative to convey her words, he would have preferred a handwritten letter. Although it had been his fault because he had lost the invitation, he would have liked to hear an invitation from the representative.

He called the butler to inform him that he would be attending the coming-of-age celebration with a forced laugh. A light flashed in his eyes…

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h.e.l.lo everyone. As you guys would’ve noticed that at the top of this chapter it says 2nd chapter. And that is because this is indeed the start of the second chapter and what I have been translating are parts of a chapter. I will continue labeling parts I have translated as chapters rather than something like chapter 1 part 3, because later on the next chapters start in the middle of parts and I don’t want to cause confusion. Thank you guys all for reading ^^.

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