n

n

nIt’s been almost half a year since I’ve been with Hikan.

nDalia still continued her desperate love attack against Hikan. She was still a little, a little bit scared, but……he hasn’t been as sharp on her as he used to be since what happened in his study.

nBut recently, she also has a concern.

nShe had no more ideas.

nShe has to keep showing off her image as the kind, innocent and foolish younger sister, but her lack of imagination now hit the limit.

nShe secretly went to the butler.

n“What do I do to make my brother happy?”

nThe butler looked at her pitifully and squatted down in front of her.

n“Even now, Miss Dalia is doing well enough.”

n……I think I bought the butler’s delicate heart.

n

n

nDalia gave up asking him more questions.

nThis time, Dalia visited the Duchess Blueport. She greeted Dalia with a warm smile.

n“What should you do for your brother?”

nDalia nodded eagerly. The Duchess was pleased with her response.

n“This is much better than asking how to create a secret fund like last time, Dalia.”

n“……Hehe.”

nDalia laughed, gently scratching the back of her head. Duchess Blueport pondered for a moment and spoke to the servant.

n“Bring me a pen and some paper.”

nDuchess Blueport wrote Dalia a document and gave it to her. Then she explained to Dalia, whose eyes were wide open.

nIn order for Hikan to become a real Duke of Pesteros, the approval of another transcendent was required. Another transcendent who will prove that he’s not crazy and has a sound mind

nThat’s what Duchess Blueport has done for Dalia now.

n“N-no!”

nDalia stopped her in surprise.

nKnowing the future, she knew that Hikan would never be able to think straight, even for a joke. That could have put the Duchess in a difficult situation for her approval.

n“It’s all right. It’s a formality and it doesn’t mean much.”

nDuchess Blueport smiled and handed out the documents to Dalia.

n“I hope this will make your relationship with your brother better.”

nIn fact, it was not necessary to get along, but Dalia was about to cry because she was really grateful for the Duchess’s heart for thinking of her.

nHowever, it took some courage to return home and give it to Hikan.

nSuddenly using her brain for no reason, what if he gets suspicious?

nShe held it out to Hikan, hesitating.

n“Brother! I did a good job, didn’t I? The Duchess of Blueport is an old friend of mine…”

n“I was approved by His Majesty the Emperor yesterday. I don’t need this.”

n“……”

nCome to think of it, Hikan was close to the emperor in the original book. Of course, since the emperor is also a transcendent, he could have made a document that would confirm him as a duke.

nDalia was really depressed.

n“…… I’m sorry. I thought you’d like it…..”

nHikan, who looked at it, coldly snatched the paper out of her hand.

n“But this might be useful for something else. Get out of here.”

nWhat is that useful thing?

nDalia was worried that Hikan might be trying to use the Duchess’s signature for other dangerous things.

nIt’s not a guarantee, is it?

nBut it didn’t seem like the family had no money.

nIn addition, the butler once told her that Pesteros did not need the signature of another head of the family for most things except for the recognition of the transcendent.

n‘So where are you going to use it then?’

nDalia became anxious and peeked through the door gap looking at Hikan doing the paperwork.

n‘Huk’

nHe was staring at the papers, chewing his lips so gently that she wondered if he was okay.

nPeople might think that you didn’t ask for it, but forced it to take it.

nThen he sighed and threw the document on the back of the book.

nStill, for some reason, she was anxious, and when Hikan was not there, she went into the library and secretly took the documents given by the Duchess Blueport back.

nStrangely, Hikan seemed unaware that the Duchess’s documents were missing. If so, she doesn’t know why he asked for it from the beginning.

n* * *

nContrary to the Duchess Blueport’s wishes, Hikan remained indifferent to Dalia after that.

nBut maybe it’s because Hikan hasn’t done anything to her or anyone else yet. Dalia felt a little less afraid of Hikan.

nWhile in a daze with her own thought, Dalia’s door suddenly burst open.

n“Kyaa!”

n“……It’s me.”

nThe tiger appeared when he was spoken of, and it was Hikan. (*t

/n: it’s a korean saying that means when you talk about someone, he(she) will appear.)

nIt was the first time he had visited her room. Dalia looked at Hikan with her eyes wide open.

n“What’s the matter, brother?”

nHikan spoke expressionless as usual.

n“His Majesty the Emperor has approved the request for an audience.”

nHe was the last gateway for Hikan to become a Duke.

nInstead of the previous Duke, the Emperor leads him to the title of the Duke. For that reason, it seemed that the application for a meeting a few days ago had finally been approved.

nThat’s a good thing, but were we even in a relationship close enough to talk about that? Dalia blinked quickly, bewildered.

n“……Congratulations?”

nDid he feel Dalia’s eyes saying, ‘Did you come to tell me that?’? Hikan added:

n“He asked you to come with me. Imperial Palace, 12 o’clock the day after tomorrow. Get ready.”

n“M-me too?”

n“Yes.”

nIt’s Hikan who will get a title, then why her too?

nBut Hikan was urging her to answer with his eyes. She nodded her head without realizing it.

nHikan left the room as soon as he heard the answer he wanted. She really hated it whenever he did that.

n‘Go out and fall down, fall down.’

nDalia prayed hard, but nothing happened as usual.

nAnyway, it was the Emperor’s order.

nShe called her nanny and said she was going to the Imperial Palace the day after tomorrow. The nanny was startled and made a fuss about buying a dress.

nTwo days later.

nDalia wore a pink lace dress to go to the Imperial Palace.

nThe light gray hair was braided in several braids, tied up, and fixed with ribbon pins.

nRibbon? It’s a style she will never try even if she died in her previous life, but the 13-years old Dalia, is cute and lovely no matter what she did.

nA clear sea-colored pupil, same as Hikan, stared at Dalia in the mirror.

n“You’ll be a real beauty when you grow up.”

nThe nanny said, gently sweeping Dalia’s cheek. Dalia thought of the ordinary appearance of her previous life and nodded in agreement. This is a face full of potential.

n‘The question is whether I can survive until then.’

nHikan had already come out in front of the carriage and was waiting for her. It was a little unexpected that he waited without getting on the carriage.

nShe gave a beautiful smile.

n“Thank you.”

nOf course you won’t hold my hand, will you?

nDalia took the coachman’s hand and climbed up. Then Hikan looked at her for a moment and followed her into the carriage.

n“So, why did I get called too, brother?”

nBut instead of answering, Hikan looked out the window all the way. Her hands were full of strength when she grabbed the handle in case something bad happened.

nDalia seemed to have heard an ominous thud from the handle.

nWhy did I feel bad again?

nShe grumbled inside and looked out of the window like Hikan.

nThey arrived at the Imperial Palace shortly. When getting off, the Hikan who was near the door got off first. She got off holding the coachman’s hand as she did when she got on.

n……For some reason, it seemed that Hikan took one step back. Is he also nervous about being at the Imperial Palace?

n“……Follow me quickly, Dalia.”

nHis lowered voice seemed to reflect his discomfort. So, the two entered the Imperial Palace along the path guided by the imperial staff.

n“You’re here.”

nThe Emperor, who has his back turned, turned slowly.

nAlexandro Duncan Michelio II, the current emperor.

nHe’s a young emperor, just in his mid to late 30s. With a beautiful appearance with blond hair and red eyes, he is also a transcendent who appeared in the original.

nHe is not one of the male leads because he loved the empress very much and is old.

nHis ability is to read a person’s emotions through physical contact.

nAt the same time, he can read out the kindness or malice he or she harbors.

nNaturally, politics doesn’t work for him. Even in the work, he appears as a person who can’t guess the inside out. He was one of the characters who maintained his rationality until his death because of his excellent self-control.

nDalia greets the Emperor using the imperial court etiquette she learned from her tutor.

nThe Emperor’s eyes sparkled with interest.

n“Yes, I’ve seen a lot on one side……and I’ve never seen this side before. Miss Dalia Pesteros?” (*t

/n: not sure about this one)

n“It’s an honor, Your Majesty.”

n“Don’t be so formal. Isn’t Miss Dalia also a Pesteros? Of course I thought you deserved to come to the Pesteros’s ceremony, so I called for you.”

nSuch a gracious talk.

nDalia smiled lightly and lowered her knees slightly. The Emperor laughed while watching her.

n“Yes, how’s your one and only brother? Does he treat you well?”

nHer gaze inadvertently reached Hikan.

nHe wasn’t even looking at her in the first place. Things that have happened have passed through her head. A lot has happened in four months.

n‘I can’t say I’m not a bad person here……’

nDalia forced a smile.

n“Yes, he’s good. Since he’s really my one and only brother……I rely on him a lot.”

n“Hmm. Maybe because you don’t know fear. He’s not exactly the right person to rely on.”

n“……”

nHikan stood silently. The back of Dalia’s head suddenly itches for no reason.

n“Well, it’s a blessing to have a cute younger sister anyway. My siblings won’t be able to put up with it.”

nPerhaps not expecting an answer, the Emperor smiled and called Hikan closer.

nHikan quietly went closer.

nThe Emperor handed him a document bearing the imperial seal, which seemed to have been prepared by his aide. And without sincerity, without even putting his hand on, Hikan was blessed on his shoulders and forehead.

n“Now, you are the Duke of Pesteros.”

n“Thank you.”

n“I’m behind in my work, so let’s get it done quickly. And our Miss Dalia? You come here, too.”

n“Ye-yes.”

nDalia went and stood awkwardly in front of the Emperor. The emperor smiled, held his chin, and looked at Dalia with a smile.

n“How did you come to be loved by such a cute and lovely sister, Hikan?”

n“……You flatter me.”

nDalia withdrew slightly.

nThe Emperor smiled involuntarily.

n“Others may not know, but the life of the transcendent is originally solitary and lonely. Miss Dalia must have been comforting Hikan’s heart unknowingly.”

n“Your Majesty.”

nThe sound of Hikan clenching his teeth can be heard from behind. But the emperor smiled and said,

n“Such a thing, I feel it, too.

n“……It’s a delusion, Your Majesty.”

nHikan refuted right away.

n“Well. Let’s just see.”

nDalia only looked at the emperor, not understanding what their conversation meant. She just thought that he was saying something similar to what the Duchess Blueport once said.

nThe Emperor smiled and extended his hand as if asking Dalia to shake hands.

n

n

n“Thank you for coming far, despite my whim, Miss Dalia.”

nThe Emperor always shakes hands when the audience is finished.

nIt is said that it is to create a light atmosphere instead of formality, but in reality it is to read the other’s feelings through this.

nShe can’t refuse the Emperor’s handshake.

nDalia had nothing to lose, so she held his hand together.

nShe held the hand lightly and shook it. It was time to let go of the hands naturally.

n“……”

nBut no matter how long she waited, the Emperor’s hand did not leave her.

nTaken aback, she looked slowly up at the Emperor.

nThe Emperor was looking down at his hand as if he could not believe it.

n