To be precise, the “real Dalia.”

That meant Mari was the blood relative of my great-uncle.

“The body I met as Dalia is actually Masa’s.”

Masa had lived pretending to be Mari, as her sister wished, and Dalia’s “Korean soul” must have possessed that body.

“No wonder. Mari’s body is too weak to be Dalia.”

There was no way she could use powerful Gaho in that body.

I said to Mari,

“First, let’s go to your home.”

“......”

Mari glared at me.

She didn’t want to go, but she couldn’t jump off the cliff in front of me either, so she seemed conflicted.

“You really are a good kid.”

“I said I’m not.”

“You can’t die in front of me.”

“...What?”

“Because you’d feel guilty. That’s why you can’t die in front of me.”

“What are you talking about?”

Even with a cold expression, it was obvious she was all bluff.

She pushed me away and patted her waist, glancing at me sideways.

Mari snapped her head away and started walking toward the cabin.

I quickly approached and supported her.

“What are you doing!”

“It’s hard to walk. Your legs go numb, right?”

“......”

“You can’t bring a wheelchair. We don’t know what you’d do while someone goes to get it.”

Though I doubted she could die because she’d feel guilty, I wasn’t about to let my guard down.

I put Mari’s arm around my neck and walked, and she looked at me with a strange expression.

“...You’re really a weird kid.”

“Everyone says that!”

“Not a compliment.”

“Everyone says that.”

Mari looked at me in disbelief.

We walked together to the cabin, chatting quietly.

Mostly, I talked and she yelled at me for being noisy.

“You and Masa share the same bed?”

“......”

“So you’re not twins. How old are you two?”

“Masa’s nine. I’m ten.”

“Mari, you’re small, and Masa’s taller than most kids your age, so you might look like twins.”

“I’m not that small!”

Mari snapped angrily, but I wasn’t intimidated.

“Still, it was bad to tell Aquila your sister’s feelings without permission this morning.”

“Because of you!”

“Why me?”

“Aquila kept looking at you. And you’re really pretty... forget it.”

Ah.

If she died, Masa would only have Aquila. She was anxious that maybe Aquila would like me instead.

Those arrogant looks were not for Masa but for me.

She probably wanted to tell me not to even dream of Aquila.

Anyway, she’s clueless.

“Mari, you like Aquila too.”

“...No.”

Of course not.

She couldn’t take her eyes off Aquila.

By the time we talked, we had already arrived at the cabin.

I laid Mari on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

“Masa will come late. She’s cleaning up after the ceremony, and there aren’t many workers, so it’ll be late.”

“......”

“Don’t think nonsense. Stay calm. If you have any more useless thoughts, I’ll tell Masa everything. That you died because you didn’t want your sister to suffer.”

“You—!”

“You don’t want that, right? So live. Death can’t be a reason for family. Your choice is very selfish.”

“......”

“Masa will guess why you died even if I don’t tell her. And she’ll be much more miserable than when you were alive.”

I smiled gently and pressed Mari down as she jumped up.

“I’ll find a way so Masa won’t have to suffer.”

“...Why do you treat us so well?”

“Because I have a wicked plan.”

“What plan?”

“Mari, your legs go numb, right? I’ll bring you a warm towel. Where is it?”

“...Bathroom.”

I found the towel in the bathroom.

I thought about boiling water but saw a bowl of warm water beside it.

It was warm water.

It was wrapped in several layers of cloth and covered well to keep warm.

‘Masa prepared this.’

Maybe she worried Mari’s legs would hurt while she was gone.

Since it’s hard for a sick sister to boil water alone, Masa always prepared it before leaving.

‘Such good sisters.’

Though they share a bed, they’re completely different from the Astra second generation who try to kill each other.

I soaked the towel in the warm water and returned.

I carefully laid it over Mari’s pale, numb legs.

Mari stared at me.

“Mom said nobles have ten snakes inside, so don’t trust easily.”

So she wouldn’t trust me?

I smiled.

“Mom was never wrong. Remember that.”

“You’re really a weird kid.”

“I know.”

“...I don’t trust you.”

“Alright, alright. You’re smart.”

“......”

I stayed by her side until the sun set and stars came out.

When Masa was about to return, I left the sisters’ cabin.

“Erilot.”

It was Han Ji-hyuk.

Thanks to prior communication, he was waiting at the foot of the mountain.

I nodded.

“Yes. Did you pack? We’re heading straight to Astra.”

“Give me a Gaho stone of . You know how scared I was when I thought wild animals might appear again?”

“That’s why I told you to bring an offensive magic tool.”

And I only have one Gaho stone of , so how could I give it to him?

Han Ji-hyuk held an offensive magic tool and nervously glanced around dozens of times every minute.

He said with a tense face,

“You almost died today. Aren’t you scared?”

“Masa goes up and down the mountain often. If wild animals kept appearing, how would that little girl avoid them? So meeting bears is very rare.”

“What about the sisters?”

“The bloodline of our great-uncle is probably Mari.”

“So? Will you tell your great-uncle?”

“No.”

What was he talking about?

When I looked at him dumbfounded, Han Ji-hyuk frowned.

“You found her but won’t tell?”

“Think about it. Who’s the most likely second generation to be my enemy?”

“Well...”

“Great-uncle Grimier is the most likely.”

He ruined my life and benefited the most.

After all, Grimier became the Duke Astra.

“But you’re going to hand over the body that might become Dalia to the enemy?”

“...”

“That’s like giving a nuclear bomb to the villain. Besides...”

“Why?”

“Mari has no Gaho.”

“What?! She’s a noble!”

“I don’t know if it’s because she’s like me, a half-blood, or if she just doesn’t know what her Gaho is, but anyway, she doesn’t have any.”

“Then...”

“If she goes into Astra like this, she’ll just be eaten alive by the second and third generations.”

The incompetent Mari has no chance of surviving in Astra.

‘The situation is different from when I was three.’

Back then, I was the daughter of the powerless second son.

If I didn’t stand out, I could survive...

‘But Mari is the eldest son’s daughter.’

Grimier, the great-uncle, was a powerful second generation who could easily become the next duke if he had an heir.

With such a powerful great-uncle’s heir, the other second generations wouldn’t leave her alone.

“The risk of assassination is too high. Or they might use Masa to break Mari’s mind.”

Mari would be protected by the great-uncle Grimier...

‘But Masa probably won’t get his attention.’

“It’s dangerous to come to Astra for the safety of those sisters.”

“That’s right...”

“They need a safe place to live. We have to prepare a house near Hwangdo where I can frequently visit.”

“Do you really have to do all that? You’re talking about a body that might become Dalia... your enemy.”

I smiled wryly and looked at Han Ji-hyuk.

“Exactly why I have to go.”

“What?”

“What if none of those girls become Dalia?”

It’s unlikely Dalia possessed Mari’s body.

She probably died.

‘Besides, Mari’s body is too weak.’

Then Dalia must have possessed Masa’s body.

“If Mari exists, Masa wouldn’t live pretending to be Mari, and the Dalia possessing Masa’s body wouldn’t be considered Astra blood. Then?”

“...The biggest enemy wouldn’t appear, so your life would go smoothly?”

“Exactly!”

Han Ji-hyuk and I chuckled looking at each other.

“We changed even the sisters’ names so Grimier great-uncle would never find them.”

“Yes.”

We returned to the carriage together.

Just as the wheels started to roll, the communication stone vibrated.

‘It’s Conrad’s code.’

I closed the side window linked to the driver’s seat and connected the communication.

“Yes.”

[There’s a serious matter, young lady!]

“What is it?”

[Bastina, Silvan, and Hernan have formed an alliance.]

“An alliance?”

[If Miss Selene becomes a Wonhwa, they intend to send {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Bastina to Hwangdo to support her, so they are rallying their vassals.]

I stiffened.

Astra had several laws to control rebellious offspring.

One of them was this:

Among Astra’s blood relatives except the Duke, only two second generation may settle in Hwangdo.

Currently, two families had moved to Hwangdo.

Great-uncle Grimier.

And my father.

Grimier was acting for grandfather in Hwangdo, so he would not be excluded.

So.

‘It means we have to go back to Astra.’

“So? What exactly do they demand?”

[Bastina intends to enter your Second Count’s Manor.]

They can’t live in other districts.

Taking Grimier great-uncle’s place is rebellion against grandfather.

‘So they want our house in District 1.’

Only the great nobles can live in District 1, so Bastina believes if she takes our house, grandfather will make her a great noble.

‘We’ve finally settled in Hwangdo, and now they want to take everything?’

I laughed bitterly.

Bastina, accompanied by vassals, confronted Duke Astra in the conference hall.

“If Selene becomes Wonhwa, she will need parental support, Father.”

Silvan and Hernan supported her opinion.

“Why would Brother Daymond need to be in Hwangdo? He doesn’t have any special reason like the eldest brother.”

“Yes, if we consider the important position of Wonhwa, it’s reasonable for Sister Bastina to go to Hwangdo.”

Conrad frowned at their words.

‘They’ve gone mad because Daymond’s influence is growing in Hwangdo.’

They even allied to prevent Daymond from getting closer to the duke’s position.

Bastina wasn’t a very capable second generation.

She was the duke’s daughter who had fallen out of favor due to various scandals.

They figured it was better to push Bastina forward than to let Daymond settle.

She even brought a crowd of her vassals.

Silvan and Hernan smirked.

‘Bringing down Bastina won’t be hard.’

‘Bastina has countless weaknesses.’

Bastina lowered her eyebrows and stared at Duke Astra.

“I know I upset Father with my mistakes.”

“......”

“Seeing our Selene with such great abilities but unable to do anything because of me, her mother, broke my heart...”

“......”

“If you give me one more chance, I won’t disappoint you.”

Bastina poked her husband’s side with her elbow.

Mistro, the second son of Marquis Carlinro and Bastina’s husband, jerked his head up.

“Yes! Yes, father-in-law! My father also promised to fully support Selene.”

Silvan burst out laughing.

“Marquis Carlinro is head of the Hwangdo Guard. Their family has had strong influence in the imperial army for generations, so we can expect great help.”

Hernan quickly added,

“With Carlinro’s support, Selene can not only become the Western Wonhwa but also aim for the Central Knights.”

Even the vassals were making a fuss.

The third generation present were watching Daymond’s three brothers carefully.

Joshua spoke up.

“This is ridiculous.”

“Joshua! How dare you interrupt the adults’ conversation, such disrespect!”

Silvan snapped, but Joshua didn’t back down.

“The Second Count’s Manor was bought with my father’s money.”

“Do you think it’s regrettable to give up the manor for the family? How can you belittle your father’s loyalty?”

Rishimund also agreed with Joshua.

“Besides, it’s not confirmed that Selene will become Wonhwa. It’s premature for Aunt Bastina to go to Hwangdo—”

“Hey!”

Hernan shouted.

Balzac’s face flushed red and pale.

‘These idiots are crazy.’

Should I overturn this?

His eyes flashed beast-like, but Joshua quickly grabbed his brother’s wrist.

“Stay calm.”

“But...!”

Then the meeting room door opened, and Erilot appeared.

“Grandfather.”

The girl bowed her head and smiled brightly at her grandfather.

“Sorry for interrupting the meeting.”

“What is it?”

“I have something urgent to say. I heard you were discussing the Wonhwa matter.”

Erilot looked directly at Duke Astra and said,

“Grandfather, I want to participate in the Reserve Wonhwa battle.”

“...What?”

Erilot kneeled and glanced around.

“I will become the Western Wonhwa and bring you a thousand years of honor.”

‘Did you think you could just watch Selene become Wonhwa?’

She wouldn’t lose the Second Count’s Manor so easily.

At Erilot’s words, Bastina suddenly stood up.

“Nonsense!”

She shouted as if screaming, but the hall was silent.

The duke tapped the table slowly with his fingers, staring at his bold granddaughter.