n

n

n“……What is this?”

nThere are frowns in the middle of Hikan’s forehead. His steps toward her also stopped.

n“To, to comfort you…”

n“……”

n“Are, are you alright brother?”

n“Y, you must be sad that father passed away…”

nDalia stuttered.

nAn anecdote in the book I read in my previous life crossed my mind.

nA spy infiltrated the enemy troops and tried to kill an enemy he met, but instead, the enemy gave him the bread he had left, and the spy returned without being able to kill him.

nIt is an anecdote that shows how good humanity is.

n

n

n‘Humanity! Something that Hikan doesn’t have! What Hikan thinks is the most stupid thing! How is it!’

nJudging from his reaction, she changed her judgement.

n“…..Ha.”

nHikan laughed as if dumbfounded. Then he grabs the bread in her hand.

n‘……Do you want to throw and crush it on the floor!’

nThen the plan is a success.

nDon’t pay attention to me!

nDalia bit her lips and put her hands together, looking forward earnestly.

nSeeing this, Hikan’s expression became ambiguous. He held the crumpled bread in his hand and turned around.

n“……The funeral is tomorrow.”

nLeaving only those words.

n‘……? Did I succeed?’

nHikan left.

nDalia finally relaxed. At the same time, however, it occurred to me that I should run away from this house as soon as possible and get ready to start a new life.

nShe turned her head in astonishment as she faced the nanny who suddenly hugged her.

nDalia had memories of her previous life. That era was a much more sophisticated and complex world than it is now.

nOf course, she knew how much process and money it would take to abandon the status of a noble lady and live with a new identity.

n‘I need money.’

nThere is a limit to saving money from dresses or jewelry.

nUnless the family is extremely poor, which noble family would wear the dress that others used to wear?

nIt is unknown how much it is if the jewels are reworked and sold again, but their value is bound to decrease.

nAnd what’s left is, I know the secrets of the male lead and what’s going to happen to this world. It is up to Dalia on how to use that information.

n‘But it’s impossible to do anything with such a young body anyway.’

nShe’s only 13 years old.

nWhatever I do, obviously, 100% I will be ignored or cheated. I had to stick to this mansion until I saved enough money.

nSo what can she do now? To consistently look naive to my brother and plan for the future.

nFor now, she decided to concentrate on Hikan. And focus on tomorrow’s funeral.

n* * *

nThe coffin descended slowly into the pit that had been dug beforehand. Above it, Hikan was the first to sprinkle soil.

nNext was Dalia. There were no tears.

n“Oh, my poor lady…….”

nThe nanny kept wiping her tears with a handkerchief beside Dalia.

nShe seemed to be concerned about what Hikan did yesterday.

n“I’m fine, nanny.”

nInstead, Dalia clasped the nanny’s hand tightly.

nThe nanny shed tears again, as if Dalia’s serene appearance was remarkable. The nanny was the only person Dalia could trust in this mansion.

n‘Shall I ask the nanny if she knows anyone who can make fake identity?’

nIt’s obvious, she will fall ill.

nShe endured for the nanny’s mental health. I could hear the voices of the relatives behind me.

n“……. The successor is still only 16 years old…….”

n“……As expected, one of us…”

n“……then Julio…”

n“…… No. How can I take such a big position……”

nJulio is the cousin of the late Duke Pesteros, who recently stood out for his success in the logistics business.

nEven so, it was funny that they were yielding among themselves, even though they already count the chickens before they are hatched. (*t

/n: means that they are getting ahead of themselves. They already discussing about the position when there’s no decision about it yet)

nAs they said, the Duke passed away so early, leaving his position vacant.

nOriginally, Hikan was supposed to take the position, but it is absurd for a 16-year-old to become a duke. A proxy is needed until he is eighteen, legally able to inherit the title.

nAccording to the law, it was right for one of them to become a proxy.

nBut according to what she heard from the conversation between her nanny and the maid, these relatives were people who would take advantage of their positions as soon as they became the duke.

nHikan, a higher-ranking member than her, can’t be unaware of it. Maybe he’s already trying to get the duke title.

nDalia glanced at Hikan.

nHikan was staring at the coffin, which was being buried in the soil.

nIs he really sad, or is it acting? Not even Dalia could know that.

n‘We’re supposed to hold hands at times like this.’

nIf it’s a naive sister.

nDalia knew she would stick to her purpose.

nIn the original work, he regarded good and warm-hearted people as foolish and tactless humans.

nDalia should also look that way to increase the success rate of escape. The purpose is to lower his vigilance as much as possible.

nDalia carefully approached Hikan’s side and held his hand. Hikan’s hands were cold. Perhaps Hikan feels her hands warm.

n“Brother”

n“……”

n“Are you alright?”

n“……Don’t be childish, Dalia.”

nHikan spat out coldly.

nBut he didn’t bother to take out his hand. It was clear that Dalia was regarded as a nuisance to the point where it was annoying to shake off her hand.

n“Young master, my lady, I have something to tell you.”

nThat voice is the voice of one of the relatives that Dalia had just heard.

nHikan briefly said, “Ha.” He groaned, and turned back, violently shrugging off her hand.

nDalia followed suit.

n“What do you want to say?”

nHikan’s cold atmosphere scared everyone, regardless of age.

nThe relative, whose name he couldn’t even remember, barely managed to speak by keeping his distance.

n“I’ve been talking to the family lawyer, and I think we’ll need a family proxy until you grow up enough. As a result of our consultation…”

n“Why do you guys discuss our family affairs among yourselves? Are you a Pesteros?”

nHikan cut him off sharply.

nThe relative flinched. He hit the mark. He didn’t expect that he’d get this kind of criticism from a sixteen-year-old.

n‘But Hikan is a transcendent.’

nEven if the only successor is sixteen, it’s a different story if he is a transcendent. They were much clever and more ruthless than ordinary people, and they did not need guardians or proxy.

nOf course, other Duke families, who maintain a smooth relationship with the relatives, set up a proxy for courtesy.

nBut the next Duke of Pesteros is a transcendent. He’s also the ultimate villain.

nThe relatives must have known that he is a transcendent, but they are still complacent.

n“Bu, but young master! Isn’t the lady still young? I don’t know about Young Master Hikan, but Young Lady Dalia needs protection. Adult’s protection.”

nThe other relatives also did not retreat easily.

nShe could feel Hikan glancing into Dalia’s face. Dalia felt a cold sweat coming from her back. She can’t believe they’re using her like this.

nThis is a bad sign. As I said earlier, Hikan is a person who could get rid of her from the world anytime if she is being a nuisance.

nIt may be annoying to be so sweet, but you won’t hate it enough to kill me. There was a knack for slipping before it came to such a state. (*t

/n: sorry I also didn’t understand this part)

nHowever, if I continue being a hindrance to Hikan like this…

n‘Are you going to get rid of me?’

nNo way.

nHe’s still sixteen, and he’s not crazy. Still, it is much better to remove the cause of the problem.

nDalia quickly grabbed Hikan’s hem and hid behind him.

nHikan seemed somewhat dumbfounded, but now is not the time to nitpick about it.

n“I don’t like anyone else coming to my family other than my brother.”

n“But my lady…”

n“My brother is my guardian.”

nAbout to cry, she said firmly.

nThe eyes of Hikan and all relatives turned to Dalia at the same time. Dalia said, wiping away her tears with her deadly acting.

n“I don’t know your name or your face. You didn’t even show your face once when father was still alive, so shamelessly…”

nAt the same time, their expressions subtly changed. Hikan looked happy when the relative’s face became distorted. It was fortunate though.

n“And now it’s my father’s funeral. Can’t you tell the time and the place?”

nWhen she welled up with tears again and spoke with a trembling voice, the relatives left, taken aback.

n

n

nIt was Dalia’s victory.

n‘Huu, this is a load off my mind’

nThey’ll come back soon, but for now, one crisis has passed.

nDalia looked up at Hikan with an expression that said, ‘I did a good job, right?’ But contrary to what she expected, his expression seemed bitter.

n“Dalia”

n“Now it’s really just the two of us.”

nI couldn’t understand why you repeated what I said yesterday. Do you mean that soon it will be only one?

nBut without a moment for Dalia to read his face, he called the nanny and immediately entrusted her with him, and returned to the mansion.

nTranslator Note: And…..ladies and gentlemen…this is the moment!!! Your plan backfired Dalia btw, this chapter is really hard to translate I lost a few braincells from translating this chapter ( ╥ω╥ ). I’m still not sure when I will upload next chapter..probably on Friday?anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

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