CH 34

The Marquis and Pierre wondered how Blanche had been. But Blanche did not say anything.

Even though Segolene already left her seat in consideration of the Marquette family.

She didn’t have the slightest desire to share the recent events of her life with these people. From the moment she tried to commit s*ic*de, her family was dead to her.

So, instead of telling her own story, Blanche asked about Marquis’ plans. That was when she found out about Mariette’s secret.

Mariette was pregnant with the Third Prince’s child.

The Marquis let out a heavy sigh as if the ground was going to sink beneath him.

“That Third Prince b*stard, he played with our Mariette.”

“….”

“Moreover, His Majesty said that the Prince would not be held responsible even though they knew that our Mariette was pregnant. Not only that. The Third Prince is getting married to his fiancée this spring!”

Blanche nodded her head with an indifferent expression.

“That is why Mariette will be marrying Count Juan. The Count doesn’t even know that Mariette is pregnant.”

“Okay.”

The Marquis was very upset that Blanche didn’t seem concerned about Mariette, her own sister. However, he could not scold the daughter whom he had not seen in a long time.

Blanche sarcastically asked the hesitant Marquis.

“Have you prepared the pigeon eggs and poison?”

Not everyone is recognized as a couple just because they got married. The marriage will be recognized by everyone only if there are traces of the first night on the bed the morning after. Therefore, pigeon eggs were always prepared by brides who weren’t pure.

You just need to poke a hole in the pigeon egg using a needle, empty its contents, and then fill it with animal blood. It can then be used to replicate the traces of the first night.

The Marquis, who had a dark expression, nodded his head.

“Mariette has the pigeon egg, and the poison is still with me. I will give it to her before I leave after the reception.”

“I see.”

The Marquis became frustrated at his daughter’s dull reaction.

‘I can’t help it! Now that Mariette will be someone’s wife rather than my daughter, I’ll need Blanche! Oh! But everyone knows Blanche is already dead.’

The Marquis could not just let his second daughter go. Blanche, who had been cured of her disability, was an existence that would raise his status after giving up his first daughter to an old man.

So the Marquis fretted and pondered on how to reverse Blanche’s death in society.

Blanche asked the Marquis, who was staring blankly at her.

“Did you want to say something?”

Deep creases formed on the Marquis’ forehead. After a long pause, he acted like he was concerned for Blanche instead of speaking the truth.

“You’d better put on your makeup before Mariette comes back.”

“Yes I will. No matter what, I can’t reveal my identity to Mariette. If that happens, there will be a disturbance at the wedding.”

[System/ There’s something that the Marquis couldn’t say to you.]

Blanche could immediately guess what he couldn’t say.

While she hated him to the core, in the end, Blanche was his biological daughter.

She struggled to calm her boiling anger as she sat in front of Mariette’s dressing table.

Looking at Blanche disguised as Irene, the Marquis became even more anxious.

Pierre, who saw this, proposed to his younger sister on behalf of the Marquis.

“Blanche. When the reception is over, why don’t we go home together?”

Blanche sharply refused.

“No. I have a place I need to go.”

“Where are you going?”

As she finished putting on the burn disguise, she got up from the dressing table and looked at the two.

Blanche declared.

“Father. Brother. I have a new family. So I’m no longer a person from the Marquis. Besides, Blanche Marquette is already dead, right? Give up. I will never go back home.”

After a moment of surprise, the Marquis raised his voice.

“A new family? Are you saying you’ve already gotten married in such a short time? I refuse to accept this, Blanche! You got married without my permission!”

“No matter what my reasons are, I don’t want to be used by someone who sold his first daughter to a loan shark.”

The Marquis’ face turned pale at Blanche’s gaze. It was as if ice had been dumped on him without warning.

Pierre was also surprised by Blanche’s words and actions.

“Blanche! How could you say such a thing to father?”

She asked calmly.

“Why? Was I wrong?”

“You!”

Then, a knock interrupted the quarrel between the siblings. Moments later, Mariette opened the door, accompanied by a maid pulling a trolley.

Mariette, who knocked on her own unlike her usual self, seemed to be more relaxed than before.

“Dad, you’re here too? Huh? Did Segolene leave? How wonderful. The number of teacups somehow fits the number of people. Oh, brother Pierre. I’m sorry for what I said earlier. Was I too much?”

Pierre glanced at Blanche who had gone back to being ‘Irene’, then put his hands together and bowed his head.

“No. Mariette. I’m glad that you feel better now.”

Mariette gave a meaningful smile and pointed her chin at Blanche.

“Irene. You still haven’t put away the broken teacup. What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m sorry, Miss.”

Blanche left the room with the broken tea cup after politely apologizing.

He may not have made it obvious, but the Marquis’ eyes chased Blanche. Mariette did not miss a single moment of this.

After Blanche had completely disappeared, Mariette sat down at the table.

The maid started preparing the tea in front of them.

Mariette had a relaxed smile which she couldn’t even do until recently.

“What were you talking about while I was away?”

“Nothing.”

“Pierre is right, Mariette. There’s no need to tell you such frivolous chatter.”

Mariette snorted.

“Huh. But where did Segolene go? Seeing that Irene still has that face, she shouldn’t be tired from using her divine powers.”

Again, Pierre answered first.

“Segolene was tired from the long journey and went to rest.”

Mariette smirked.

“So, were you able to spend a cozy time with the family?”

Mariette’s words sounded like Irene was family.

As if she knew Irene was Blanche.

Pierre filled in as the Marquis’ became silent.

“No way. What good things could we have talked about without you?”

“Well. If you say so. It’s not like it’s a story I should know about right?”

Her words were meaningful in many ways.

The Marquis felt a cold sweat run down his back.

* * *

After tea time, Mariette made Blanche work until late at night. She also made her sleep on a bench in her bedroom.

Under Giacomo’s orders, a maid was sent looking for Irene.

Early morning came and there was only one day left until Mariette’s wedding.

When Blanche opened her eyes, Mariette, who was in her pajamas, was standing at her side.

In one hand, she held the sticker that had covered Blanche’s face.

Mariette’s green eyes glistened as if they were drenched in oil.

A terrifying silence descended.

Blanche slowly got up from the bench. Even though her secret was revealed, she was not startled at all.

“Since when did you find out who I am?”

At her sister’s carefree reaction, Mariette’s eyes exuded malice. Her sharp voice attacked her twin sister.

“Is that important right now? Tell me, Blanche. What were you thinking?”

Mariette was convinced that Blanche had come to make fun of her.

Tsk

Blanche clicked her tongue at the unpleasant assumption.

“It’s not what you think.”

“It isn’t? Do you think I’m st*pid?”

“…”

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Shall I speak for you? It must have been funny that I was abandoned by the prince!”

Mariette blurted, her face red in anger.

Blanche’s eyebrows furrowed, feeling awkward at her twin sister’s appearance.

“I don’t think that.”

“Like hell you don’t!”

“I don’t. Mariette. Because I’m not interested in your life.”

Mariette stopped talking and her jaw was left hanging. She was engulfed in shock as if she had been struck on the back of her head.

She had never dreamt that Blanche would be this apathetic to her.

It was natural. Before Blanche attempted s*ic*de, she had always admired and loved her twin sister Mariette.

After a while of being rendered speechless, Mariette’s face hardened.

It was because Blanche snatched the sticker and put it back on her face.

Blanche walked towards the door and Mariette, who could barely open her mouth, caught her and asked.

“… Where are you going?”

“I’m going back to my room. Huh. Did you think you could still treat me like a maid after you found out who I was?”

Mariette pursed her lips clearly dissatisfied.

“Why are you so shameless? Are you doing this because you don’t know what will happen if I reveal your identity now?”

“Why? What will happen? Will your wedding suddenly stop? Will the groom who is older than father want me instead of you, the most beautiful woman on the continent?”

“We are twins!”

At her maddening cry, she desperately held Blanche. The corners of Mariette’s eyes lit up.

“We look the same. Don’t we?”

“…”

“The Countess’ seat was originally yours, Blanche! You ran away, so that’s why I’m here in the first place!”

“No. The position as Countess was yours from the beginning. Did you forget, Mariette? The Count had always wanted you as his wife.”

Blanche scoffed then glanced at her sister’s stomach.

“Wake up, Mariette. You’ll start showing soon. Are you saying you’re not going to get married now?”

[T/N: The baby bump.]

Blanche ripped Mariette’s hands off of her, which were clasping her tightly. She calmly watched her twin sister who looked as if she had become the heroine of some tragic story.

‘I’m not going to do anything that I won’t benefit from.’

Blanche set this as her life’s rule after remembering her past.

Blanche’s face was stone-cold. But Mariette couldn’t give up her life like this.

Something cold and blunt hit Blanche as she reached for the doorknob.