I Don't Trust My Twin Sister Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

Marquis Acpencia, Barrett. The young marquis that was the head of his family was also my fiance.

The power and money the marquis held, along with their military strength made it so that they one of the top five families, to the point that if there were no dukes they would be the most powerful in the kingdom.

People were shocked that the eldest daughter of the Aztane family had this engagement. With combined power, honor, and money of the two families the line on the rule of keeping everything in the family was broken and became incredibly powerful. This was truly shocking engagement.

All the more Marquis Acpencia was famous as a skilled and ambitious person. With a good head on his shoulders and the ability to read people's emotions, he helped me greatly when making contracts. He was able to make contracts well and had impeccable management skills.

He was tall and attractive. A man full of elegance and manners was sought after by many n.o.blewomen but it was all in vain.

So I was surprised when the Marquis of Acpencia presented me with an engagement ring. After all, I only met him once at his birthday party when I was 18 years old.

I  relied on his skills and mannerisms. For when my grandfather suddenly pa.s.sed away I was still unprepared to be the head of the family, but because he was by my side I still had strength.

When I became an adult I was prepared to marry him. However, he wanted to wait. He pushed off our marriage date for 11 years.

I was naive. No, I was a fool. Without me realizing anything, he planned to stab me in the back.

Not only did Barrett have s.e.xual relations with my sister he also used her to buy up all my properties for cheap. It took him five years to take away everything I had. During that time I worked endlessly to try to save everything.

At that time I saw a sliver of Erusia true nature. At that time I suspected that Barrett was having an affair with her.

Despite my suspicions about Erusia, I did not completely believe them. Because even though this place is my home, this place is also her home. Even if she sold everything away I would’ve turned a blind eye as long as she had protected this home. However…

“Thank you for inviting me here today, Miss Laurencia. Please accept this.”

I took the rose he presented to me. This was a blue rose made with magic that I saw in newspapers.

This lovely rose desired by many women for its beauty. It was an incredibly expensive rose.

“Because I don’t know much about a woman’s heart, after worrying about what to get you I had picked this flower. I thought the most beautiful flower would suit Lady Laurencia… regrettably, this flower can’t compare to your beauty.”

There was a time I believed he was romantic. With a soft smile, he would tell me sweet words of protection. Those sweet words made me blind and deaf.

“Marquis Acpencia, do you not have a gift for me? I’m saddened that you only care about my granddaughter.”

“Haha, of course, I brought a gift for Viscount Aztane. Here is a fedora that has been trendy at the capital as of late. Since the Viscount is always so smartly dressed, I thought this would suit you..”

“Isn’t this too youthful for my image?”

“Isn’t the Viscount still youthful?”

After hearing those words, I watched Grandfather smile widely and put on the hat.

It was a familiar sight. The blue rose in my hands, the fedora Grandfather wore, and soon the red rose that will be given to my younger sister.

“I have prepared a rose for Lady Erusia as well. A gift that would suit the lady that is like a budding flower.”

At the sight of Erusia’s body squirm with shyness as she accepted the rose, I could feel my once calm insides start to churn.

Seeing them looking at each other and exchanging words, the memories that I didn’t want resurfacing played repeatedly. From the sight of the two kissing to the scene of them indulging on each other's bodies. I felt nauseous.

“Urk…”

“Laura?”

Immediately I felt my insides burn as the acid in my stomach rose up. Grandfather had a look of concern at the sight of me who had suddenly started retching. The shocked faces of the two people behind Grandfather made me feel even more nauseous.

“U...Urk…!”

I covered my mouth as I hurried to the bathroom. Grandfather called out after me but I didn’t have time to heed him. After coughing and retching inside the bathroom, my body lacked the strength to respond.

“Laura! Laura!”

I rinsed my mouth and washed my sickly face with water after I told Grandfather who was knocking on the door and calling my name, that I was alright. The cold water cleared my complicated and unfocused mind.

However, the voices of those two filled with lies and hypocrisy interfered with my mentality.

“Older sister, are you alright!?!”

“Lady Laurencia, are you feeling alright?

They followed me all the way here with concerned words that only made me see that they had no manners. What are they doing? Because they followed me despite my current state, I knew their true nature, their true image confirmed in my mind.

“...alright. I’m feeling alright.”

As I let out a weak voice, the voices of the two people behind me came out again.

My head was buzzing. I didn’t want to hear them anymore. The voice of those two belonged to the ones that took everything from me.

I opened the door with tired eyes. Seeing Grandfather’s warm expression at the sight of me filled me with strength as I faced Erusia and Marquis Acpencia.

‘Disgusting’

I don’t even want to eat sitting at the same table as those two. No, I won’t even be able to eat. I would throw up everything I ate.

“Grandfather, I suddenly don’t feel well. May I be excused first?”

“Of course, hurry and go. Tell Marsha to get you some medicine.”

I didn’t need medicine but I didn’t have the energy to respond. I struggled to laugh as I pa.s.sed the three people. As I began climbing up the stairs, Erusia followed me. Grabbing my hand as she asked with a concerned face.

“Older sister, are you sure you’re feeling alright?”

“Of course. Don’t worry about me and eat well, Erusia.”

I turned away after blankly looking at my manipulative younger sister. Despicable b.i.t.c.h.

I fell asleep as soon as I laid down on my bed. By the time I woke up the room was under a deep darkness. I wondered if they were still eating as I could hear noisy voices coming from downstairs.

Seeing the door open, I rose up from bed.

“Are you awake?”

Grandfather came into the room and asked with worry in his eyes.

He sat down at the end of the bed and looked at me after placing medicine and a cup of water on the side table.

A subtle smell of pie. Grandfather faintly smelled of his favorite apple pie that Ms. Marsha baked.

This scent soothed me. The sight of my grandfather’s eyes had released all the pressure that was in my heart.

“Sorry, I came in without permission thinking you were asleep.”

“... Grandfather doesn’t ever have to worry about that.”

His manners are impeccable.

“The Marquis of Acpencia was very worried about you Laura. As he was leaving he kept telling us to take care of you”

So the loud noise from earlier was from that b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

“Because Laura wasn’t there it felt a little lacking, but because Erusia was I was happy.  Of course, if Laura was there it would’ve been better.”

I also looked forward to eating with Grandfather whom I haven’t seen for 10 years, however, I didn’t want to share a table with those two people.

“Laura.”

Grandfather smiled warmly and called me softly as I drank a sip of water from the water cup.

“Marquis Acpencia had told me something privately.”

“What was it?”

I tilted my head after placing the cup on the side table.

“The Marquis wants to privately get closer to you Laura. Most people are aware of your relationship with him, how do you feel about announcing it publically?”

“...”

My face became hard. Even though I didn’t dine with them, this event still. In the past, I was incredibly happy with this engagement. However, that is not the case now.

“Grandfather, I…”

“I know. I don’t want to control your life. I told the Marquis to get Laura’s permission before asking for mine.”

My admirable and warm grandfather. Oh-oh, my warm-hearted grandfather who always thought of me.

“I see that man as favorable… I’m not sure about you. What do you think?”

In the past Grandfather’s response to the union of Barrett and me was favorable. He had thought that marrying the kingdom’s most wonderful man would bring me happiness. And back then I had liked him as well.

“He’s nothing to me.”

Now I don’t want to be tied with him. Wonderful man? That’s just what the people who didn’t truly know him said.

He’s trash. Trash that would have an affair with his fiance’s younger twin sister. Plus he was the person along with my younger sister who disgraced my family’s honor. Because I know this now, I can’t go down the same path.

“Really? I had thought that that person would suit you, but if that’s how you feel there’s nothing we can do.”

Feeling the warmth from Grandfather’s words and glad he didn’t lecture me for rejecting the proposal, I smiled. Grandfather glanced that the bag of medicine.

“However the Marquis of Acpencia is not someone who gives up after failing. You need to be aware of this. He’s an ambitious person.”

An ambitious and capable man. Grandfather had an accurate understanding of that man. I forced a painful smile.

“I am aware.”

It was a horrible experience.

“Oh, an invitation came today. What do you want to do with it?”

“An invitation?”

Invitation? What invitation? I recalled that this was the party Barret and I and announced our engagement after his proposal after pondering for a while. Clearly…

“It’s an invitation for the party of Archduke Veridian. Will you reject it this time too?”

It was the party of Archduke Veridian, the head of a military family famous for being flighty and h.o.m.os.e.xual.

I  wanted to reject the invitation like I normally did because I wasn’t in the right set of mind and my body felt weak, but I suddenly had a great idea. Surely Marquis Acpencia will attend this party.

“No. I’ll go.”

I beamed a smile.

The kingdom of Lilurus. Located on the southern region, Lilurus is a powerful kingdom known for grain farming, large fields, and a powerful military presence. The richest in the region and the main exporter of crops to neighboring kingdoms.

With an incredible amount of money, the kingdom had funded military along with additional military replacement personal as well as many businesses and factories to become an incredibly developed kingdom.

In the Lilurus Kingdom’s 600-year-old history there have been two archdukes loyal to the royal family.

One of them was Archduke Veridian. Located on the west side, possessing many lands and fields, the Veridian family had always procured the captain of the royal guard.

The other was the family of Archduke Safeldric. Located on the north side, theirs was a family that controlled many businesses.

The two had protected the Lilurus kingdom so well no one could attack. However, that was not the case lately, the reason being that the situation with Archduke Veridian had become strange.

Truthfully Archduke Ian, the current head of the Veridian family is an outstanding person. As far as I know, there are dozens of stories that praise his reputation. When he was 15 years old, before his social debut, he beheaded the captain of enemy troops and tens of thousands of stories saying that at the age of 18 he had gotten offers to be the captain of the royal guard.

However, apart from his ability, the evaluation of Ian’s personality was rather poor. Typically, the stories I heard about him revolved around the fact he’s both h.o.m.os.e.xual and prodigal person.

Truthfully, the case of an aristocrat being frivolous was not that severe, especially due to the amount of wealth the Archduke possessed. However, it was a taboo to be a h.o.m.os.e.xual in the perspectives of religious people.

“So the man that is said to be like this…”

While sitting on the chair and drinking some yellow colored wine that I didn’t know the name of, I observed the host. That man is a h.o.m.os.e.xual? I don’t believe it. No, rather if he was gay it was a waste for women.

With broad shoulders and firm upper body supported by long legs, he stood above the other men. You could catch a glimpse of his heroic and magnanimous image as he interacted with people with a refreshing smile.

TN: h.e.l.lo everybody! I realize that the comment section has a 10 comment cap so I've created a discord where you can discuss the novel, contact us, and where we'll post live updates. The discord link is on the front page, I'll ask Hana to post a link box thing here. Sorry Hana I'm not tech savvy.