I Was a Substitute - Chapter 10

 

“Is there anything else you desire?”

 

“No.”

 

I said nonchalantly and climbed into the carriage. I couldn’t take my eyes off the window until we were completely out of the capital.

 

Tiodurop Mansion was the second largest and most majestic building in the capital after the Imperial Castle, but I didn’t feel like looking at it.

 

It was just a natural gaze, until it disappeared from my field of vision altogether.

 

“Did you know that there was a party yesterday to announce the successor of the Tiodurop family?”

 

“Yes, I heard about it.”

 

“Is that all you have to say about it?”

 

“I don’t think I need to say anything.”

 

I replied, still looking out the window.

 

Blush and I didn’t share our emotions from the beginning, and we were not close enough to share our grief.

 

“Recently it has been discovered that the rumors of Duke Tiodurop have been due to his daughter and all attention went to her.”

 

“…”

 

“Isn’t that unfair?”

 

“…I don’t regret it.”

 

“Really?”

 

“In any case, it’s true that I’ve lived under the protection of the Duke of Tiodurop, and enjoyed a lot of things. But, I think I’ve already paid for it.”

 

If I didn’t think that way, I wouldn’t be able to handle the disappointment.

 

I swallowed my innermost thoughts and lowered my eyes.

 

I couldn’t tell if it was anger or sorrow that filled my heart, but I felt only bitter.

 

They ( The Tiodurop family) were happy that the obstruction ( MC) was gone, but I couldn’t seem to cut them out of my life completely.

 

“You’re incredibly rational.”

 

“Because if I didn’t, I would be stepped on.”

 

I closed my eyes tightly, hiding my emotions.

 

Now was not the time to be emotional. It was time to be strong and rational.

 

“From what I can see, you don’t seem like someone that can be stepped on easily.”

 

“Well, you don’t know much about me.”

 

“I’ve heard of the accomplishments of the Young Lady Tiodurop.”

 

“…”

 

“A real lady of the house who had recently appeared couldn’t have made such accomplishments, so of course it had to be the person who filled the position.”

 

I wanted to keep looking the other way, but I couldn’t give up the persistent look on his face.

 

I declared abandonment in my mind and turned away.

 

I could see the languid smile on the man’s face as if he had won the victory.

 

“I might have made achievements for the real one.”

 

“Your reaction was too nonchalant for that.”

 

“Are you trying to probe me?”

 

“It’s a measure of value. I wonder if what I bought was really a diamond?”

 

The smile on his face deepened a bit more.

 

That fact was a bit surprising.

 

“So are you satisfied?”

 

“To be honest,  a lot.”

 

“…”

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“I didn’t think you’d say that.”

 

“Now that we’re in the same boat, there’s no need to be too cautious.”

 

Blush nodded lightly, as if it was obvious.

 

However, I had not yet loosened my bandages enough to feel comfortable with the situation.

 

“There’s something that bothers me more than anything.”

 

“What’s bothering you?”

 

“You.” Blush said.

 

There was an indescribable arrogance from his expression.

 

“What is it about me that bothers you?” I asked.

 

“There are a lot of things, but let’s start with the power you have over Pezzan.”

 

I didn’t know there were so many things about me that bothered him.

 

He said he didn’t want me when we first met, and now he started changing his attitude.

 

I narrowed my eyes and stared at him.

 

“It’s better to hide my strength until I have what I want.”

 

“Then I guess I’ll do the same.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“If you give me what I want, I’ll tell you my story.”

 

I smiled arrogantly as Blush did.

 

Our marriage has already been approved.

 

There was no need to antagonize Blush, but that didn’t mean I would do everything he wanted.

 

“What is it you want?”

 

“A title.”

 

“Title?”

 

“I am your wife, Grand Duchess of Mona Chareuteu. Please treat me accordingly.”

 

“Treat you?”

 

Blush’s brows narrowed.

 

“What I asked for is all the rights and obligations your wife has, and you and your wife have a duty to respect each other,” I said.

 

“What is the matter with how I treat you?”

 

“When you call me, don’t sound like you call a lowly person. If Your Highness is kind to me, others will be, too.”

 

“Why should I do that?”

 

“Because I am your wife and you are my husband.

 

I stared straight into his red eyes.

 

“What if I can’t?”

 

“It’s fine then.”

 

“…”

 

I just stared at the man with a smile on my face.

 

It was just a moment, but I could see the quiver in Blush’s eyes.

 

I smiled quickly and placed my hands on my lap.

 

“If you respect me and treat me as I deserve, then so will I. But if you don’t, I’m just as good.”

 

We were a married couple with equal rights and duties to spare.

 

He was no longer someone who was above me.

 

We were equally in marriage.

 

With a deep sigh, Blush fell silent.

 

I turned my gaze to the window. Now that we were completely out of the capital, all I could see was a vast, endless plain.

 

‘Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever been this far out before.’

 

My father wanted my presence to be inconspicuous, so I spent most of my time only at the mansion.

 

Today was the first time I was out of the capital, as well as the Tiodurop mansion.

 

When I realized this, I felt rather subtle.

 

Of course, that feeling quickly disappeared by the unexpected voice.

 

“Madam.”

 

“What?”

 

“Isn’t this what you wanted me to call you? Madam.”

 

“Ah….”

 

When I heard his voice, I turned back to look to make sure that he was the one I knew, and I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw his face.

 

The frowning man was giving off an intense feeling that he blatantly didn’t want to do it, but when he did, his voice was natural.

 

To be a little more honest, the voice itself was so good that if I hadn’t even seen the expression on his face, my heart might have leapt.

 

“…… Why are you laughing?”

 

“It suits you well.”

 

“You don’t say.”

 

Blush’s face crinkled .

 

“It is the virtue of a gentleman to respect a lady.”

 

I couldn’t help but laugh as I swept a strand of my hair behind my ear.

 

“You’re much better now than you were then.”

 

“Do you like this….?”

 

“It may be awkward at first, but with a little care, it will soon become natural. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

 

“Don’t talk about it, just say what I want to know.”

 

Instead of answering, I made a sign of zipping my lips. Then, Blush’s face distorted again.

 

“···· I’d like you to tell me.”

 

I thought he would get mad, but he didn’t so I smiled. Somehow, the man in front of me seemed to have a pretty cute side.

 

“My power is not that great.”

 

“If it were real magic, it would be amazing.”

 

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but my power isn’t magic. “

 

“It isn’t?”

 

Blush touched his chin in disappointment.

 

“Like all old families, the Tiodurop family has a famous legend.”

 

“You mean the fairy blood?”

 

Every old family had at least one legend, but in Tiodurop’s case, there were so many legends related to fairies that the emblem symbolizing the family was made in the form of fairy wings.

 

“Yes, that’s right. My power is fairy-related.”

 

“Isn’t the power of fairies only given to the Tiodurop’s bloodline?”

 

Blush stared at me.

 

I didn’t have to hear the rest of the sentence to know what he meant.

 

“It’s a power that not even the Tiodurop has, to be exact. Ancient power is a power that’s only a legend now.”

 

I wasn’t sure if any special power really existed, but now the legends were just tools to increase the authority of the family rather than the truth.

 

“That’s even stranger. Then how does my wife have this power?”

 

“The little girl always wanted to be the best, and was very proud of herself for being a Tiodurop.”

 

“…”

 

“I read an old book in the mansion. I thought that things like ancient powers were just a myth, but I was secretly hoping for something magical, like a child.”

 

Tiodurop was my pride and joy, and I wanted to have its power.

 

I thought if the power of fairies came back in my generation, I would be my father’s proud daughter.

 

However, my father was not the least bit pleased with my success.

 

Rather, he was very angry with me.

 

That was the first time.

 

My father, who had always patted me on the head with praise no matter what I did, blamed me for what I had done.

 

The memory that surfaced made my hands reflexively tighten.

 

Hot breath streamed out between my lips.

 

At that time, I didn’t know why my father was so angry with me.

 

I just screamed and begged for forgiveness, saying I would never use this power again because I didn’t want him to hate me.

 

But now I knew that my father was angry with me and forbade me to use my power for the same reason.

 

“He thought I was a thief who stole his family’s power.”

 

I looked down helplessly.

 

Would my father still be angry if the real Charlotte had the fairy powers?

 

I asked myself a question, but no one answered. Actually, I didn’t need to hear the answer.

 

It was only for a moment, but I still remembered the angry look on my father’s face.

 

I didn’t know what he was thinking at that moment, but one thing was for sure.

 

It was not the way a father would look at his daughter.