Chapter 40

Chapter 40

And, true to her words, Olivia came to my room that evening.

“You didn’t have your family’s support, and even you’re sick.”

After sitting in a chair in my room, she raised her chin and spoke proudly. Her smooth legs were sensually twisted, visible through her open skirt.

‘What a totally gorgeous aunt… can I wear heels at that age, too? How did she take care of her health? She looks amazing…’

Looking at her, I thought wistfully.

“It creates an opportunity for others to come and try to bite you.”

At that, Lisa and I, who were standing in front of her, were frozen after hearing her words.

“Make your makeup a little darker. Raise your eyes up more.”

“M-Miss L-Laria’s… T-that makeup doesn’t look good…”

Lisa stuttered nervously while looking away from Olivia’s glare.

“Who do you think would put on makeup to look good? She’s already married!” She immediately cut off Lisa’s stammering words.

“Do you want her to look like Matilda?”

‘What do you mean, Matilda…?’

…Eventually, I became a mini Olivia, imitating her looks.

“Tsk…”

She smirked, although it seemed that she didn’t particularly like the look.

“You can’t do anything right because you look like a pitiful little thing.”

‘Well, I actually am… The heroine’s husband’s late ex-wife was a pitiful side character among all side characters.’

“What are you doing now?”

Olivia yelled angrily.

“Follow me right away!”

“…Yes?”

“What do you mean a pitiful thing? Are you done talking? How beautiful does auntie think she is?’ Come on! Say it”

Both embarrassed, Lisa and I peered at each other, not knowing what to do.

“Thinking about all the wicked things they did to Matilda! I still can’t sleep properly because of them!”

After her words, Olivia threw away her embroidered fan as she couldn’t calm her anger.

“Everyone’s eyes went wide when they heard the rumors that she was sick. She wanted to be Duchess Icard! Even got pregnant with Evan with that body…”

Her red eyes seemed to draw tears slightly.

“As doctors warned, there were many wicked women who wished for her to die in childbirth…”

I knew I had been mistaken. She didn’t come running to the Duchy because she disliked me. It was because she heard Evan’s wife was sick, so she came because Olivia remembered the situation with Matilda.

“When I think of how she laughed at them without being able to curse them just once, my stomach churns even now!”

I glanced at Olivia quietly.

“Wicked kid.”

She couldn’t get over the hatred she felt inside, she could only mutter angrily.

“Sitting with her kind, gentle face, he just gave her affection and ended up being stabbed in the back.”

‘I see…’

She was also one of the Icard’s people living under Matilda’s shadow. Somehow, my thoughts got a little mixed up.

“All because of that naive child, the Icard’s Duchy was destroyed!”

I guess that’s why she said that he had been hit in the back of his head earlier and that nothing good happened to Duke Icard…

“I never thought she would leave the world before this old woman…”

“Auntie…”

“That’s because she was weak, so she died early,” Olivia concluded her point with her overwhelming bloodshot eyes.

“If you chew up all the wicked things like me, you live a uselessly long life. Of course, it’s not true, it’s useless.”

In the end, Lisa quietly turned her head and wiped away her tears. She must be thinking of Matilda, too. At that moment, I thought how fortunate it was that Evan was still in the academy sword contest.

“So, don’t be like Matilda and live a long life. You should be ill-tempered like me, chew their words, and live a long life.”

Her logic was a mess.

“Ah…”

I knew she saw Matilda while looking at me.

“Now, copy me. Come on!”

Lisa eventually pulled out her handkerchief and blew her nose. Instead of following her reckless words, I approached Olivia calmly and held her hand.

“Auntie.” I smiled at her a little.

“Mother never regretted not cursing at those evil things who treated her carelessly.”

“What?”

“I’m sure auntie had already said it all on her behalf already.”

“…That’s true.”

“If you had someone like auntie next to you, would you remember those mean words?”

“Mm…”

Frowns were visible between her brows after hearing me.

“Even speaking pretty words, like Matilda…”

“So, auntie needs to live longer and take my side.”

“Are you saying you’re going to use me?”

‘Ah… I got caught.’

“So, that’s why Kallaudin falls for you completely.”

‘As expected of someone with a good sense…’

“But auntie is so cool.”

Nevertheless, I sincerely mean what I just said since I have long admired this rich evil woman. Even if my praises to Father and son weren’t that sincere, there was no reason to not sincerely price Auntie.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of if someone like auntie is on my side.”

“Sweet words for the ear are bad for the body, child.”

[ T/N: It’s pretty obvious I think, but means that useless flattering does no good to the one hearing it. ]

‘Oh, she caught me flattering her and lying openly?!’

Looking at me frozen, Olivia continued to speak softly.

“But at my age, I’m tired of looking for only good things for my body. So, try a bit harder.”

For a few days, Olivia tried many different styles on me, although it all failed miserably… Lisa even sometimes sighed and murmured quietly, ‘Miss Laria doesn’t look good on this.’

Still, she couldn’t do anything since it was Olivia’s orders.

“There is nothing I can do about it.”

Olivia said with determination.

“Just be someone who just laughs in the front, and plays tricks behind their backs.”

…That’s already me!

“In every single aspect, you act like Matilda. You won’t be able to raise yourself this way.”

Agreeing with her words, Lisa nodded slightly on the side as well.

“You two look so much alike.”

“So, that means I’ll need to give you some lessons. All right, listen up. Let’s start with language interpretation first.”

“Language interpretation?”

She gazed at me and spoke sharply.

“Let’s say you’ve been told, ‘I think the Lady got married very well. I’m still sorry the Duke because of the dowry.’”

Her red eyes flashed, and I swallowed dry saliva. No, I couldn’t help feeling the pressure surrounding her…

“If you hear this it means, ‘I heard your family went bankrupt, so you got married without a dowry?’ Do you understand?”

“Yes, madam.”

“Now then, interpret this. ‘You must have a hard time socializing in the Capital since you can’t leave the mansion that much due to your health. The news might be quite slow for you, right?’”

I then replied immediately with my hands together.

“It means ‘I know you don’t know anything about the world, so don’t even think about doing anything useless and just lay flat.’”

“You’re very smart.”

Olivia asked similar questions after that, and I answered appropriately every time.

“You’re talented.” Eventually, she smiled proudly and nodded.

“I should have given Matilda a customary class like this.”

I felt very sorry for Matilda. Because she was a really nice and kind person, there was no way she would have learned these negative phrases as quickly as I did.

“You’re not going to be in the Capital at all, are you?”

“She would only go whenever there are important events,” Lisa answered politely.

“Once she feels much better, of course, she should do outdoor activities. Of course, she has improved a lot already.”

Olivia nodded.

“Then, each time, I’ll have to go up to the Capital and teach you myself. Now, let’s have dinner.”

And so, I stayed by her side until our last dinner together. After dinner, I glanced and offered my shortcake dish to her.

“Would you like mine, auntie?”

With the obvious rate at which the dessert plate went empty, anyone could tell how much Olivia loved the shortcake. Probably because both the Duke and Evan loved sweets, her taste had also developed to it, too. That’s why sweets broke the first barrier between us.

“At this age, are you trying to say I’m crazy about sweets?”

In addition, it seemed that, for some reason, all of them didn’t want to admit their sweet tooth.

“No. I apologize for my manners… It’s just because I don’t really enjoy sweets.”

“No need for courtesy. However, we shouldn’t waste food, so I’ll eat it.” She then haughtily pulled my dessert plate towards her side.

“You.”

She spoke while pointing her big fork towards me.

“I quite like you. But you know what?”

“Yes…?”

“It’s hard for me to believe you because of the very fact that you enjoy Kallaudin’s nasty jokes. It’s very uncomfortable.”

Those who suck up to their boss excessively will perish because of it…

As expected, I wasn’t the only one who knew that the response to his humor was an excellent indication to figure whether I was being genuine or not. Laughing at his jokes definitely was a winning piece for the likes of me.

Olivia then spoke in a low tone, as if she was getting ready to show her flippers.

“You said you think of Evan often.”

It seemed that she remembered me mentioning Evan when we found Mr. Rollade’s books.

“I know it was a political marriage you didn’t expect, but is Evan an all right husband?”

I nodded right away.

“Of course. I sincerely want to get along with him very well.”

“You want to get along… Very well.”

She nodded slowly after hearing my sudden response. After thinking for a moment, Olivia opened her mouth again.

“It’s still hard to really like a thirteen years old kid.”

“Well, that’s…”

“Normally, noble young ladies of your age would fancy more mature-looking men. So did I.”

I was going to say it wasn’t like that out of courtesy, but the question that followed startled me.

“Some of Evan’s angles do look fine, though. Which aspect of him do you like the most?”

‘Like the most…?’

I was lost in thoughts. Evan had many traits. He graduated with the highest honor from the academy, the winner of the sword competition, and he was a bit old-fashioned. He had a good appearance and was the heir of the Icard Duchy.

However, a very unexpected remark came out of my mouth instead.

“…Cute.”

It was something other people wouldn’t be able to relate to at all.

To others, the word cute was the exact opposite of Evan. His expression hardened almost every day, and he didn’t laugh all that much. Objectively, he resembled Duke Icard, but for a child of that age, he may seem somewhat creepy.

Realizing what I had said, I felt slight regret. Having such a deep affection for the Icard household, Olivia wouldn’t like such a light answer about the sole heir of the great Duchy, right?

“Really?”

As expected, Olivia’s tone was slightly surprised by my answer. She didn’t say a word until she emptied the dessert plate.

‘As expected, I told the truth for no reason. I should have just praised Duke Icard.’

However, as I was about to correct my words, an unexpected remark fell.

“You’ll end up liking Evan.”

“…Pardon?”

“Objectively, when a person who’s not cute at all, looks cute to you, then it’s game over for you.”

She smirked as though she was enjoying this and continued.

“I can rest my mind at ease. No matter what happens, I think you’ll eventually choose Evan no matter what.”

“.…”

I went silent at her unexpected words.

‘No, I will not. In the end, I will only make choices for myself.’

Evan was not sick, had a lot of money, and had a solid status. If I ended up making a choice for Evan at any critical time, it would literally be like a mouse thinking for a cat.

“This is just an old woman’s insight. The only thing I’ve improved with age is my senses. People said that even hypocrisy often becomes sincere when repeated.”

It was a prophecy that was utterly out of reach with my true feelings. Though, strangely enough, it felt as if it was digging inside me.

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