Chapter 26
“I had a strange feeling I’d end up with bruises that day, so I stubbornly told Mini I’d go to bed without washing. For reference, Mini is my maid—and it’s not that I hate bathing.”
“……”
“No misunderstandings, please.”
I continued,
“And also, this one…”
And so, I explained the stories behind the bruises on my body. In great detail—pointing out the time and place.
There was a reason I went into such specifics.
In the novel, when Ainshel saw the bruises on Ishar’s body and asked, ‘What are all these bruises on you?’, Ishar couldn’t give a proper answer.
Because he couldn’t reveal that he had been abused. It was a stain born from his own shame.
So, unlike Ishar, I wanted to act differently.
That my bruises had a different story than his.
That he shouldn’t project his past onto me.
That I was not being abused.
Before long, I finished explaining.
Because I had spoken so much in one go, my breath grew a little ragged, and I ended up panting lightly.
Then Hernan’s hand quietly came over and gently stroked my back.
Like he was soothing a child, his touch was endlessly gentle.
When I looked at him, he nodded—as if to say he believed everything I had said.
This time, I looked at Ishar.
His face was faintly furrowed. He looked like he didn’t quite like something.
Ishar was rather stubborn, and it seemed he couldn’t immediately accept that his assumptions were wrong.
So I gave him a pointed remark.
“Please don’t project your past onto someone else’s circumstances.”
Since most nobles already knew Ishar had been abused, I figured it was fine to say that.
“Prince Ishar. I am not being abused. Do you understand now?”
Ishar spoke with lingering reluctance.
“But your marriage…”
The one who cut him off was Hernan.
“Ishar. I’d appreciate it if you stopped misunderstanding. Your assumptions are starting to become unpleasant.”
I leaned my body against Hernan’s arm.
To show that I wasn’t being forced into this marriage.
His arm was as firm as a tree deeply rooted in the ground. I wondered if there was even a single soft part in this man’s body.
“……”
Ishar silently stared at us. His gaze felt strangely wistful.
I also explained how close Rike and I were.
That we often slept together, that I liked hugging her, that she cried whenever I was sick…
And in the end, Rike wrapped it up.
“Rinzel is more precious to me than my own life.”
With a deeply moved expression, I shouted,
“So cool! That’s my sister!”
Ishar, who had been listening quietly, finally gave in.
“…Alright. I misunderstood.”
“You won’t think I’m being abused anymore, right?”
“Well… mostly.”
Even to the end, Ishar didn’t fully concede. I just hoped he wouldn’t show that stubbornness to Rike.
Still, it was clear that about 90% of his misunderstanding had been cleared up.
The remaining 10% could be resolved little by little.
After all, once I married Hernan, we’d inevitably run into him from time to time.
That was when Hernan spoke again.
“Then instead of Lady Rike, I… ahem.”
He coughed awkwardly.
Instead of Rike?
“…Don’t tell me you want me to hug you?”
It wasn’t like he meant he’d cry for me in her place.
Hernan replied in a small voice,
“…Yes.”
Out of everything I had said, he seemed to have fixated on the part where I said I liked hugging Rike.
Not the abuse, not the bruises—but that.
“Pfft.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I was serious.”
Hernan’s straight brows twitched. He clearly didn’t like my laughter.
“I’ll do it.”
It was almost like a promise.
“I want you to know that only you are allowed to hug me.”
A handsome man giving me exclusive rights—how intoxicating. I felt my cheeks heat up slightly.
“Hey, remember that the two of you aren’t the only ones here.”
It was Ishar, watching us, speaking with a hint of complaint.
True to someone who liked Ishar, Rike also chimed in.
“That’s right, Rinzel. And why did you mention that I cry? That’s embarrassing…”
She really was embarrassed—her cheeks were as flushed as mine.
We talked a little longer.
Nothing particularly serious.
Ishar complained about how Hernan kept copying his outfits, and Hernan questioned what was wrong with that.
“…I’ve always analyzed the equipment of warriors I respect. Since you’re known for dressing well, Ishar, isn’t it only natural that I analyze you?”
It was the first time I realized Hernan could speak so eloquently.
And his reasoning made perfect sense.
Ishar was stubborn, but weak to flattery.
At Hernan’s words, which sounded almost admiring, Ishar’s shoulders rose by about three centimeters.
With a crooked smile, he spoke in a more relaxed tone.
“Well, if you put it like that, I’ll forgive you for taking my clothes today.”
Hernan smirked, as if he found his older brother adorable.
Rike and I shared small stories about life at the duke’s estate.
Like how beautiful the garden she tended was, or how often I tripped.
I praised Rike a lot, hoping her charms would appeal to Ishar.
I occasionally glanced at him to check his reaction, but something strange happened.
Every time I looked at him, our eyes met.
As if he had been watching me all along.
Whenever our gazes tangled, Ishar would pout or shoot me a sharp look.
He seemed… sulky.
I couldn’t figure out why.
Of course, that didn’t mean I felt like comforting him.
We weren’t close enough for that.
On the other hand, if Hernan looked down, I would’ve tried to cheer him up.
We stayed at the café for about an hour.
Being able to talk happily without worrying about falling ill—it made me realize just how wonderful such a thing was.
The first to leave was Ishar.
“I should head back to the palace. I have documents to review.”
My backside had also started to ache from sitting.
“Prince Ishar. You won’t have any strange misunderstandings anymore, right?”
I asked one last time to confirm.
He nodded once.
“Good. Then since we’ve said everything we wanted to today, I suppose it’s fine to wrap things up here.”
Rike added,
“Rinzel, do you want to head back first with Prince Hernan?”
“Why?”
“I… have somewhere to stop by while I’m out.”
“Where?”
“A herbal shop I sometimes visit. I want to see if there are any good ingredients for you—and maybe pick something for Father as well.”
How could this girl go even a day without thinking about me?
I proudly said to Ishar,
“Prince Ishar, did you see? We’re such a close pair of sisters.”
Ishar only scoffed.
Still, the fact that he didn’t argue felt meaningful enough.
“Anyway, I’ll be going. Rike, Lady Rinzel—see you next time.”
“I’ll take my leave as well.”
Hernan and I said our goodbyes.
As Ishar and Rike left side by side, I briefly hoped they might have a secret rendezvous.
Now, what should Hernan and I do?
I looked out through the café’s glass wall.
It was still bright outside. The sun showed no signs of setting.
Maybe that’s why it felt a bit disappointing to part ways with him so soon.
“Prince Hernan, do you have anything to do today?”
He answered,
“No. I have nothing to do today.”
“Then… shall we spend a bit more time together?”
He nodded readily.
“By the way, Rinzel.”
“Yes?”
“There’s something I’m grateful to you for.”
What could Hernan possibly be grateful to me for?
“It’s been a long time since I spoke comfortably with my brother.”
He let out a breath.
“We used to be close when we were young, but after the civil war broke out, I ended up living on the frontier. We rarely saw each other.”
“……”
“They say distance makes the heart grow distant. We drifted apart naturally.”
I nodded to show I was listening.
In the original story, Hernan and Ishar didn’t get along well. On top of that, both men loved the same woman.
The brothers, who became rivals, eventually grew so distant that their relationship couldn’t be repaired.
There were even parts where they fought physically.
I wanted to save Rike, of course—but if possible, I also wanted the two brothers to get along.
There was nothing sadder than blood-related siblings becoming enemies.
Since I was going to marry Hernan, maybe this time, they wouldn’t fight over love.
While I was thinking that, Hernan continued.
“It might sound silly, but even arguing over clothes with him was fun.”
“Your Highness…”
“Thank you. The situation you created seems to have had a good effect on me.”
I hoped their relationship would continue to improve—no matter how much time passed.
“If you’re grateful, won’t you give me something in return?”
“In return?”
“I’m not asking for anything big.”
I subtly leaned my left cheek closer to his face.
