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nChapter 19.

nTranslator: Gold

nWhich relationship is more distant, a relationship with a stranger or a relationship with a senior?

nArtizea thought about this every time she had a chance to have a conversation with Lawrence.

nHer relationship with Miraila was like a relationship between strangers. And her relationship with Lawrence was like a relationship with a senior.

nFrom childhood, the relationship between the two had been formed by Artizea’s one-sided desire.

nBy the time Artizea began to understand the world, Lawrence was already the happiest and highest status child in the Empire.

nHe still knew nothing about issues such as illegitimate children, inheritance or succession. He also didn’t care about the people around him.

nEven once, he sat on the Emperor’s lap and played a joke on him by taking away his crown.

nIn Artizea’s eyes, Lawrence was the most enviable person in the world.

nShe did not yet know the difference between her and her brother. So, she thought that if her brother was loved, it was as if she was loved too.

nAnd she loved Lawrence like her mother did.

n「If your brother’s doing well, you’ll do well too.」

nBack then, she really believed in those words.

nEven when she grew up, she kept using those words as a guide in her life.

nShe convinced herself of it, justifying it with the fact that being the sister of the next Emperor would be beneficial. And that because they were related by blood, she had to make Lawrence the next Emperor anyway to survive.

nBut it wasn’t the same. As a little girl, she genuinely believed in those words.

nShe thought that love was mutual.

nHowever, Lawrence never cared for Artizea.

nNow that she thought about it, it was only natural. Why would he care about her?

nMiraila’s love and attention was only for her son. Besides, she didn’t teach him to be a real older brother either.

nIn childhood, Lawrence acted like Artizea didn’t exist. As they grew older, they sometimes ate or drank tea together, but only had formal conversations.

nThe times Miraila would beat Artizea, he would calmly observe.

nOccasionally, he would offer her words of comfort while she cried.

n「Mother doesn’t do it because she hates you.」

n‘What would it be like if I were a stranger?’

nWhile she was thinking about it, Artizea went to see Lawrence.

nAfter Cedric left, Lawrence sent for her and she didn’t have time to change her clothes.

nArtizea adjusted the dress she was about to take off, then with her hair pulled up in a hairnet and slippers, she headed to Lawrence’s study.

nLawrence was impatient, so she had to rush.

n“Welcome, Tia.”

nLawrence greeted her coldly. More than angry with Artizea, he didn’t seem to be in a very good mood.

nArtizea greeted him politely and asked him,

n“Is something wrong?”

n“I heard you went out with the Grand Duke Evron.”

n“Ah, yes. You probably heard it from the butler. We met at Count Enda’s estate, and then went for a little walk together.”

nA family that really cared about an 18-year-old girl would have to question the fact that she went out alone with a strange man without saying where she was going.

nHowever, Lawrence didn’t care what Artizea did with her personal life.

nHe wasn’t cautious of her either. The current Lawrence, did not know the true face of Artizea.

nThe incident with Countess Eunice, the reason she had been considered ‘something useful’ in her past life, had not developed in the same way this time.

nInstead of being used as a tool to carry out schemes, this time she could be used as a tool in a marriage of convenience.

nAlthough she thought and planned to do so, Artizea got goosebumps from Lawrence’s soulless look at her.

nShe smiled bitterly in her mind.

nIn the past, 18-year-old Artizea would jump for joy when Lawrence looked at her that way.

nShe thought she was being praised. She felt she was being useful.

nBut now she had a different idea.

n‘If one looks at one’s subordinates in that way, one will not get their loyalty.’

nUnless one was a slow person and unable to read people’s expressions, who would be loyal to someone who doesn’t value one?

nThere are many reasons why a person follows someone. Money, power, hope, relationships and many more.

nLawrence had almost all of them.

nMost of his followers sought to become worthy subjects of the next Emperor and receive rewards for it.

nAlso the enemies of the Grand Duke Roygar, supported Lawrence, with the purpose of preventing the Grand Duke Roygar from becoming the Emperor.

nOf course, in a sense, they expected something in return.

nOnly a few people followed him without expecting something in return.

nHowever, they did not do it for him, those were people loyal to Emperor Gregor, who understood the Emperor’s wishes and took care of his favorite son.

n‘Even me.’

nArtizea had been no exception.

nShe also expected something in return. She expected the love of her family.

nBut, for someone to become a true monarch, more than that was needed.

nIt was necessary to have at least some loyal subjects, who were willing to give their lives selflessly. Only they could act in critical moments without regard to consequences.

nAnd such loyalty could not be obtained by those who considered others merely a tool.

nIn case one wanted to share one’s true feelings, one should at least hide one’s contempt for the other person.

nLawrence did neither. In that sense, Roygar was much better.

nArtizea could not help but smile.

nLawrence spoke, without even imagining what she was thinking.

n“I would have liked you to invite him home.”

n“I have heard that he is in a military camp outside the capital. It is difficult to cross the forest paths when the sun sets completely, so I thought it would be better if he returned as soon as possible.”

n“I see.”

nLawrence seemed to think for a moment.

n“Are you going to meet him again?”

n“…Can’t I?”

nArtizea deliberately asked carefully.

nFrom Lawrence’s attitude, it seemed that someone had already advised him on the benefits of a marriage of convenience between her and Cedric.

nLawrence disliked Cedric. However, probably because of the benefits he could get, he had wanted to invite him home.

nLawrence shook his head.

n“There’s nothing you can’t do. You’re 18 now.”

n“Thank you, brother. ”

n“You should invite him home next time. Grand Duke Evron rarely stays in the capital, and even when he stays, he doesn’t usually attend social events, so we haven’t had a chance to get acquainted.”

n“Yes, brother.”

nLawrence nodded his head when Artizea responded obediently. Then, he gestured for her to leave.

nArtizea said cautiously.

n“Before I leave, I have a favor to ask you, brother.”

n“Tell me.”

nLawrence spoke with indifference.

n“I would like to hire some servants and maids. To take care of me personally. It’s a little uncomfortable for me to be away from home, since I only have one person at the moment.”

n“One?”

n“Yes.”

nFor the first time, Lawrence showed a puzzled face.

nArtizea smiled.

nLawrence was not related to that, so it was not strange that he did not know.

n“I will talk to my mother.”

n“Do you need our mother’s help for this? Besides, brother, you know… her too. Our mother is busy.”

nLawrence understood perfectly what she meant by Miraila being ‘busy’. And he nodded his head.

n“You are right. Take care of it yourself. And if my mother says anything, let me know.”

n“Yes. Thank you, brother.”

n“Don’t worry, it’s my duty as a older brother.”

nAlthough the resources of the Marquisate Rosan were used to hire the employees, Lawrence had spoken without shame, as if he were being condescending.

n“Argh!”

nAt that moment, Miraila could be heard screaming in the distance.

nArtizea was startled. Seeing this, Lawrence said coldly.

n“She is hysterical. It’s not a day or two thing. You don’t need to concern yourself with that.”

n“All right.”

n“It wouldn’t be convenient if Grand Duke Evron noticed a bruise on your face or somewhere else.”

n“I understand…”

nAfter that, Artizea retired.

nShe then went to Miraila’s room.

nMiraila kept screaming loudly, unable to control her anger. One could also hear the sound of something breaking and the wailing of a maid being beaten.

nMiraila would occasionally get angry in this way, beating people and destroying the rooms.

nIn the past, Artizea tried to calm Miraila in these moments.

nThe anger was not good for health. She wanted to hug Miraila. She thought that by doing so, Miraila would calm down a bit. However, the only thing she got was for Miraila to beat her worse than usual.

nArtizea stopped for a moment in front of the door.

nThe other maids looked at Artizea, holding their breath.

nOnce Artizea entered the room, Miraila would direct your attention to her and she would not see anyone else.

nTherefore, the maids begged wholeheartedly for this to happen.

nHowever, Artizea turned around.

nA maid stopped her.

n“Miss, aren’t you going in?”

n“Do you think I should go in and be beaten instead?”

n“Oh, no, I didn’t mean that…”

n“You better get that girl out of there before the situation gets worse.”

n“B-But, miss. If I do that…”

n“You’re not the only maid here, right? If you all take the beating, your injuries won’t be as serious. I will cover the medical expenses and give you generous compensation. I will even let you take a break from your work until you recover. After that, tell that girl to come and see me.”

nThe maids gulped. This time, they knew that Artizea would not be the scapegoat.

nArtizea suddenly remembered what Cedric had told her in the past.

n「Miraila is dead. I heard that she was still scolding Lawrence on the subject of women.」

nWas Miraila resentful of Lawrence when she died?

nHad she ever imagined that Lawrence would kill her? Did she still love him despite his actions?

nOr had she simply turned a blind eye to reality until the end?

nHad she repented at the time of her death, even a little, having mistreated Artizea?

nArtizea had tried to protect her to the end. Had she regretted losing that shield?

nOr had she even considered it?

nNow it was irrelevant that she still thought about it. That was in the past.

nArtizea again turned around and left.

nEven in blood relations, as between mother and daughter, there were limits. Besides, Miraila had never taken her hand before.

nArtizea now realized that she could really leave her mother.

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