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Huh? Their hearts are pounding?

Did that blondie do something just now?? He did look pretty smug just now.

Damn it! He’s even messing with the maids!! I won’t forgive him!!

Lian’s brother suddenly grabs my shoulders, forcing me to face him. “Lian! You shouldn’t make such a cute face at a lowly escort! Nope, nuh uh! It’s too dangerous!”

“What?”

I want to comment that the dangerous one is him, but I manage to resist the urge.

I remember sitting one seat apart from him. So when did he move to the seat beside me? Wah, too scary!

“You shouldn’t lower your guard just because he is your escort! You and that guy’s social statuses are completely different. He isn’t even qualified to be your friend. It’s better for you not to get too close to him. After all, Lian is from the noble Owen family, as well as my important little brother. Do you understand?”

I suck in a breath.

…Did I really lower my guard just now?

If so, then that isn’t good.

I may have gotten a little too relaxed recently. Now that Lian’s major scenes are all done, most of the time, I don’t need to put on an act anymore.

Because of that, bits of “my” personality may have shone through.

I can’t have them suspicious. I have to act like the original Lian. Have to continue acting in front of everyone.

Focus. Don’t forget my initial goals. Stay firm.

“I-I understand even without you telling me, brother. I hired him because he’s just the strongest one in this place. That’s all.”

Lian’s brother bobs his head several times as if relieved.

“That’s good. Then that means you don’t need this, right?” he says, before immediately snatching the small flower from my breast pocket.

“Ah!”

I reach out to try and get it back, but Lian’s brother pins me down on my seat.

Pinching the small flower between two fingers with distaste, he dramatically sticks his hand out the window and throws it.

Even though Alfred especially gave it to me…

Damn it! Stupid older brother! Perverted older brother! Simply the worst! What gives you the right to steal and throw away other people’s things?! A knight should come and drag you away!

I rain curses on Lian’s brother inwardly. He’s still sitting next to me.

Once I’ve finished my mission, I will definitely leave that controlling house!

I’ll throw away my identity as “Lian,” and return to my real identity. As “Nao Osaka!”

By then, I’ll finally be free! I’ll definitely show you!

But should I use my real name, “Nao Osaka,” in this world? Nao sounds like the onomatopoeia for cat cries in this world…

Let’s just change my name while I’m at it! I’m turning over a new leaf, after all.

Should I go with “Naol?” …Sounds weird. How about “Naor?” No, that gives off the vibe of a “brand name.” I want a name that sounds valiant. Like Adventurer Gorgon. Ah, how about “Naorgon?” But that sounds like the name of some weak monster. Not very fitting for a human like me… Hmm.

Well… I can take my time with this matter.

Anyway, I will endure until then!

Even with these two sly characters, Lian’s father and brother, trying to sound each other’s intentions and scheming against each other!

After pumping myself up, I move one seat away from Lian’s brother, even placing my bag between us to act as a barrier.

After the sun has started to set, we finally arrive in the mansion of Lian’s grandfather.

This mansion was originally used as a villa.

However, when Lian’s grandfather moved here, he made considerable expansions and renovations to it. It’s even larger than the lord’s residence where Lian lives. To put it simply, it looks just like a castle.

The walls are built from white stone, with many large windows, some of which are stained glass colored with elegant art.

On top of the large dome roof sits a silver statue of a long-necked bird, its large wings fully spread.

And their front yard is simply huge

. The entrance can’t even be seen from the gate. We pass through the front yard, admiring the magnificent sight. The fountain, the trimmed hedges, and the bright colors of the shrubbery and flowers.

Soon, we arrive at the wide and long entrance, where a multitude of formally dressed people are getting off their carriages. Very akin to what you’d see in the bus terminals in front of train stations.

Even though this is only a birthday party, the celebrant is a count, who is also the former head of the Violette family. It’s obviously much more upscale than your average birthday party.

The party is going to be held in this luxurious, extravagant castle. All attendees must also wear formal attire. Not to mention, these attendees are practically considered celebrities, their statuses high enough that ordinary people would shrink back when facing them.

…Plus, there’s also an allotted time for dancing. The so-called “ball.”

A pretty common trope in movies set in medieval Europe.

Courtesy of Lowendal’s patient and thorough teachings since young, my dancing skills are passable enough that I won’t embarrass myself in the public.

Even so, I don’t like dancing. Most especially when in front of people. I absolutely hate it. So I want to somehow find a way to avoid it

For a commoner like me, this party is just a nightmare.

I’m going to have to recheck the book of social etiquette I got from Lowendal later on…

When we get off the carriage, the butler of Lian’s grandfather is waiting in front of the entrance to greet us.

Elderly and with a gentle countenance. His droopy eyes make him look like he has a perpetual smile on his face. However, his behavior and aura are impeccable. I mean, look at his dark brown hair. Perfectly slicked back, with not a strand of hair out of place. Not even the occasional gusts of wind manage to ruin his hairdo. Amazing.

“Welcome, Owen-sama. Master has been eagerly waiting for your arrival. You must be tired from your long carriage trip, yes? Let me guide you to your room, so that you can take a rest,” says the butler, before bowing at a perfect ninety degrees, an affable smile still firmly plastered on his face.

“Oh my. Isn’t that Lian-chan over there?”

…Oh boy. Here she comes!!!

I manage to swallow the scream threatening to jump out of my throat.

The person I don’t want to see the most. What bad luck.

Really. I can’t comprehend why this world would create someone like her. This being that’s so filled with mischief and malice.

“Luzé…” I call out, begrudgingly turning to the direction of her voice.

And there I catch sight of a girl in a lilac dress, her features akin to those of a doll. Wavy silver hair, white skin, and slightly slanted ice-blue eyes.

Although she is beautiful, with her cocky look and cheeky smile, she doesn’t give off a good impression.

Yes, she’s like a female version of Lian.

Even her personality is the same.

Her cruel mischief can already be seen in how she intentionally doesn’t use “kun” but chan.” When we met for the first time, she told me that I look like a girl with my white skin, slender waist, and long lashes. Now that I think about it, those words seem familiar. Like I’ve heard them before…

Ah! That’s right! Didn’t Lian say a similar line to Alfred too?!

I see… Things make more sense now. Because Lian holds a deep hatred for the people who tell him that, he says the same thing to Alfred. Though, finding out about this now doesn’t really matter anymore.

Luzé and I went to the same local school. But fortunately, she is one grade higher than me, so there aren’t many chances for us to meet.

Luzé is Lian’s grandfather’s granddaughter. Specifically, the daughter of the sister of Lian’s mother, thereby making her my cousin.

I don’t know whether her circumstances hold close semblance to Lian’s, but she likes to compete with me in one way or another.

One of the root causes is her parents’ tendency to compare her to me. No one should ever say “If Lian can do it, why can’t you?” or anything of the sort to their own children. That’s the worst thing you can say to them.

Because after repeated comparisons, the result is this twisted kind of girl. I really want to put some sense into her parents.

Ruzé flashes me a condescending smile, before whirling around, gracefully holding the hem of her dress with both hands as she greets Lian’s father, mother, and brother. She is especially attentive to Lian’s brother. If we were to judge by looks alone, Lian’s brother is top notch. Too bad he’s a pervert on the inside.

Then someone pats my shoulder. “…Lian,” they whisper, just loud enough for only me to hear.

When I twist my head to the side, I see Alfred standing next to me.

“Alfred?”

“Sorry. Seems like all the escorts have to attend the security meeting there.” He points his thumb toward some direction. “So I won’t be able to stay by your side for a while.”

“Ah, is that so?”

I shift my gaze to where Alfred’s pointing. There are some escorts of this mansion and ours gathering and talking from a short distance.

I see. The staff here have to inform the escorts about the evacuation routes in case of emergencies.

“Got it. Come to my room when the meeting’s over. You should be able to find it after asking the guard.”

“Roger that.”

Out of nowhere, someone I did not expect says, “Hmm… So it’s true that Lian-chan hired that Fram, huh.”

I jolt in surprise. “Woah…”

When did you arrive?!

Luzé looks up at Alfred, a slight blush on her cheeks.

“Hmm? For a lowly penniless child, his appearance is pretty good.”

New character! But it seems like her personality is a bit… uh? Uh???