Chapter 30: Siblings Worse Than Strangers

Chapter 30: Siblings Worse Than Strangers

‘Just like before, I can hire the mercenaries from the Dark Guild one by one. They wouldn’t hesitate to kill people for money, would they? Other than causing chaos within the capital…’

As I thought about how the timing of the showdown would only move up slightly, the uneasiness eased a bit. I’ve succeeded once before. There’s no reason I can’t do it again.

But the problem was what came afterward.

‘I’m uneasy because I don’t know Morgana’s whereabouts. Getting rid of her is the best way to remove the biggest obstacle. But how?’

Back then, it was easy to devise a plan since they stayed together at the Duke’s estate. Now, it seems she’s even left the monastery, making her difficult to find.

‘Judging by her sudden appearance at the palace… Could she have become someone’s mistress? But her attire wasn’t extravagant enough for that. And now that I’ve assumed the title of a noblewoman, I can’t just openly search for Morgana. It would raise too many suspicions.’

After being taken to the Grand Temple of the Supreme Deity, the silk robe meant for infants had never been returned to her. Duchess Klein had taken it, claiming she couldn’t bear to look at it without tearing up at the thought of her baby daughter. Dott didn’t dare argue and kept her mouth shut.

The ruby pendant that I couldn’t recover also bothers me, but finding out what Morgana is up to and where she is comes first. That… that girl suspects me of taking the silk robe! If she tells Mother Superior Beryl and daughter about it, it’ll cause problems. Alright then…

‘I need to closely monitor the monastery’s movements. Separately, I must ensure that no one here spreads rumors. If word gets out that I was identified as the Duke’s daughter because of the silk robe, it’ll be a disaster.’

Dott put on her most pitiful expression.

“Um, you know I stayed at the Grace Monastery, right?”

“I was actually planning to send some useful supplies there to prepare for winter. Oh, Dorothea – no, Tiana. I can call you by your name, can’t I?”

“Of course, you can. Please call me that often.”

Duchess Klein smiled warmly, pleased with how affectionate her long-lost daughter was.

“You were missing for so long. We must repay the monastery that cared for you during that time. Ah, I regret all those years I scolded His Excellency for occasionally traveling that far. I should’ve accompanied him.”

“I wasn’t there for long… I wandered around here and there, and the monastery was the last place to take me in.”

“Oh, my goodness!”

Carefully choosing her words, Dott tested the waters. The Duchess’s eyes filled with sorrowful tears.

My daughter, wandering aimlessly with no memory. How tragic!

Sensing the opportunity, Dott heaped lies upon lies, without even moistening her lips.

“That’s why… Even though I had belongings like the silk robe, I’m afraid there will be rumors that they didn’t bother searching for me.”

Though the Duchess’s expression darkened, she still defended the monastery.

“They probably didn’t have the means with so many children to care for.”

Of course, Dott wouldn’t let her off that easily.

“What worries me more is that people might start whispering about my past, calling me a beggar when I arrived at the monastery. I don’t mind them knowing I’m the Duke’s daughter, but I’d rather not have them digging into every detail.”

“Who would dare say such things about you?”

As the Duchess’s expression grew grim, Dott seized the chance to slander the monastery further.

“I wasn’t exactly the cherished or beloved student there. I had to spend hours sweeping and cleaning with a broom just to get Mother Superior to acknowledge me.”

“They dared to neglect you? A Mother Superior who only spoke to you after you blistered your hands from cleaning? Are they out of their minds?”

The Duchess shouted furiously, her voice booming like thunder. Dott flinched.

When she’s on my side, she’s utterly reliable. But if she ever finds out about all this… I’m doomed.

“T-that’s not what I meant…”

“I can’t forgive them! I won’t stand for it! How dare they treat my precious daughter this way? Prepare the carriage immediately! I’ll go and teach them a lesson myself!”

“Please wait! I don’t hold any grudges against the monastery, Duchess. After all, they did take me in when I had nowhere else to go. Please calm down and don’t hold them accountable.”

“Duchess? You should call me ‘Mother’ now. Alright, fine. I’ll cancel the delivery of winter supplies.”

“I only hope no unnecessary rumors spread and that we maintain a healthy distance, just as we are now.”

Half-lies and half-truths, Dott played the part of a distressed victim, and the Duchess reluctantly calmed down.

“I’ll make sure His Excellency avoids visiting there from now on. Once their funding is cut, they’ll regret it and come crawling to you on their knees! Not that you’ll forgive them. Those wretched fools!”

Before that happens, their heads will roll. Mother, you just wait.

Without hesitation, Dott entertained her wicked thoughts and sniffled into the Duchess’s embrace.

Now was the time for the final blow.

“M, Mother…”

“Yes, my dear. Oh, my… To think that I sent you to the temple right after birth and never got to hold you until now.”

“Thank you for finding me, Mother.”

“Those who disrespected you when you returned as an Eina will all be dealt with soon. You’ll live peacefully in my arms and later marry into an excellent family as a distinguished lady.”

At last, I’m getting closer to reclaiming my glorious past.

Emboldened, Dott continued to shower the Duchess with sweet words.

“I don’t even want to think about marriage. I’m just… overjoyed to have finally found my true family, the parents and loved ones I’ve always dreamed of.”

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

Recognized as a noblewoman by sheer chance, Dott basked in her newfound luxury. With her lessons as Eina halted, she had little to do. Winter seemed to slow the arrival of invitations to the Duke’s estate, and the Duchess declined all of them anyway.

Even the visits from Orleans Duchy and the Marquisate of Hwiante had ceased after their initial check-ins. Likely because they were pressured to attend the royal winter ball, where her formal introduction as Lady Tiana Marietta Klein would occur.

You better come.

‘Ugh…’

If there was one thing that bothered her, it was the fact that Maurice Klein showed neither affection nor satisfaction toward the so-called ‘Lady Klein’ unlike before.

Duke Klein, though not as doting as the Duchess, seemed to be compensating for the guilt of losing his daughter in her childhood. He lavished her with an abundance of luxuries – dresses, ribbons, sweet confections, and jewels.

However, she pushed aside the dark, musty-smelling cocoa he offered, finding it utterly distasteful. Compared to the Duke’s efforts, Maurice’s attitude was far worse – so much so that there was no comparison.

The real problem was that their relationship had already been strained even before she approached him to broach the subject of her difficulties with Kassel. Now, he was almost completely expressionless whenever he saw her.

The Duchess, unable to bear the sight of the siblings treating each other like strangers, finally scolded him outright.

“Maurice, Tiana is your sister! How can you treat her so coldly? You’ll scare her!”

“Yes.”

His response was indifferent to the point of freezing the room.

“‘Yes’? Tiana endured so much hardship before reuniting with us! If it weren’t for His Excellency receiving a divine revelation from the Supreme  Deity, suggesting we first train an Eina, we wouldn’t even be here!”

“…”

“Why don’t you cherish her as part of the family? Are you not interested in our affairs at all?”

“Mother, it’s fine. Please don’t be so harsh…”

Dott felt a sense of grim satisfaction, perhaps because of all she had endured in the past. The thought of Maurice, reduced to nothing more than a stringless kite, struck her as truly amusing. Displaced by the sudden return of the heir apparent, any remaining advantages he once had as the second son would now be completely taken by his newly found younger sister.

Should I just let it happen?

Dott hesitated briefly but knew she couldn’t allow the Duchess to become too agitated. If by some chance the fallout reached the Grace Monastery…

‘If her scolding leads to someone bringing up the silk robe, that’ll be a problem. What if the Mother Superior Beryl and her daughter reveal it belonged to Morgana? Ugh, look at me, graciously offering leniency left and right.’

There was another inconvenience now that things had changed.

Back then, starting from the very bottom, she had enough time to meticulously plan and execute her schemes. She had even managed to save up the allowances given by the Duke and Duchess, using it to preemptively hire the Dark Guild to burn down her old countryside home.

Now, although the Duke gave her a generous allowance, she had no time to leave the estate. The Duchess constantly hovered nearby, tearfully talking about her precious daughter whenever the chance arose.

Even when the Duchess wasn’t around, the estate was teeming with servants. It was nearly impossible to leave unnoticed, and even if she did manage to get out, spies were everywhere.

Before, she had already established connections with the Dark Guild, completing a task for them and establishing a secure method of communication using codes.

‘Ugh, I desperately need time to move freely, but it’s driving me crazy. I can’t even suggest going back to the monastery briefly after speaking poorly about it. What now? It’ll take some time to cultivate new allies from scratch.’

Dott had essentially trapped herself in her own web of lies, with no easy way out. Just as her thoughts ventured into even shadier territory, the Duchess erupted in anger.

“That’s enough! Maurice, if you can’t come to your senses, leave this family! You’re well into adulthood now, so go out and fend for yourself!”

“Understood.”

With a cold glare, Maurice turned and began to walk out of the house. His departure, sudden and unplanned, left everyone stunned.

“Ma… Maurice!”

Dott extended her hand as if to stop him, but Maurice didn’t even hesitate. He strode away without looking back. The Duchess, breathing heavily, lamented loudly.

“How could this happen! Kassel is too busy to even come home since he was appointed as the new captain of the knights, and Maurice, who’s here day and night, can’t even be bothered to care for his only sister!”

“Mother, please don’t be too hard on him. I’ve been so focused on my lessons as Eina that I haven’t had enough time to bond with Maurice properly. When he comes back later, I’ll try harder.”

Where else could he go? He’ll probably sneak back in by nightfall.

Dott smirked inwardly. Maurice Klein had always been a coward, and she could already predict his next moves.

“Oh, my sweet, loving daughter. How can your heart be so pure? You’re truly an angel.”

The Duchess gently caressed Dott’s cheek with a hand as soft as a bird’s wing.

……

(T/N: Dott is truly tragic – tragically stupid. How could she trap herself in her own web of lies *shakes head*)