Flower of Steel

Did he play with me again? I was about to brush his hand off my shoulder when his hand was suddenly lifted.

“Huh?”

Then I heard Rave’s dumbfounded voice while shocked by someone suddenly approaching him.

“Viscount Harsen! You shouldn’t touch my sister like that!”

Even Rave seemed shocked by Lumi’s quite hostile reaction. Jianne also seemed to be stunned and was bowing as he ran over to apologize. “Lumi! What are you doing? I apologize on behalf of my sister, Viscount.”

It was cute that Jianne was looking after his twin sister. Rave was shocked, then angry, but he wore a smile again and shook his head. “Hahaha! It’s quite alright. It’s good to see that Lady Illumina cares for her cousin.”

Responding to Rave’s kind voice, Lumi eased her expression and returned to normal. “Oh, of course, I care for her! I love Marina more than my sibling! I apologize for my rudeness just now, Viscount Harsen.”

“It’s fine. Anyway, you two are just alike. Although your tempers are quite different.”

With those words, the twins both frowned and glared at each other. They sure look alike. Lumi had her hair brushed down today, and she was so pretty even without heavy makeup. On the other hand, Jianne had his long hair cleanly tied up. If Jianne brushed his hair down and wore a dress, I wouldn’t know who was who. It was while I was thinking about these useless thoughts when someone coldly called out to Rave.

“Rave Graciel von Harsen. I suppose you have no more business here, so you better get going.”

Rave also turned distant at Rian’s cold voice. “I was about to do it without you telling me what to do, Droinel Adrian von Siccain.”

To see them like this, it wouldn’t be strange if both of them had some kind of multi-personality disorder. Rian is usually kind before he turns ice cold, while Rave is usually a clown before he becomes arrogant. Either way, it’s not normal.

“Bye, Marina!” announced Rave.

“Yes, goodbye.”

At my answer, Rave sent a kiss with his hand, got up in his family’s carriage, and left. Rian smiled brightly like the blazing sunlight of noon as if the face he showed Rave was a facade and offered me his hand. “Marin, let’s get you up on the carriage.”

As I got up while holding his hand, his eyes bowed as he smiled, “I have to use my carriage. I’ll see you soon.”

“Yes.”

Such hospitality did give my heart butterflies. How could I not be when a prince of a fairytale treats me so kindly? But in reality, the actual prince is a nutjob, who has some crazy love for a doll, and it made me sigh. Reality is cold when you have too high of an expectation. After Lumi and Jianne entered, the carriage door closed, and I saw a giant travel bag in the corner.

“What’s that?”

Lumi laughed at my question and casually answered, “It’s just some hats and accessories.”

I see! It’s quite common for noble ladies to bring multiple clothes to parties in case the dress gets ruined. In extreme cases, they even carry a dress around when they’re going out. But that looks like a sword. Why did she bring a sword here? I was getting curious when Lumi began to make a fuss.

“Sis, sis! So who is it?” Lumi’s voice was so energetic that my curiosity disappeared and directed my attention to her question.

“Huh? Who? What do you mean?”

“Oh, between the two princes! Who do you like? Didn’t you see them fighting over you just now?”

I was stunned by her words. They were fighting because they hated each other, not because of me. If what you’re saying is right, then the Crown Prince is in love with me and had to pick a fight on Rave? Nonsense. That romance novel just ruined her.

“Lumi, think about it. What you’re saying is the same as getting hyped up because someone just smiled at you.”

“Huh? But they were being so kind towards-”

That made me laugh bitterly. I, too, had thought there were feelings behind that kindness and shared that with my family after returning from the party. But…

“Oh gosh, Marina. Are you so naïve? Giving you a handkerchief because water splashed is simple manners! You’ll be ashamed if you say such a thing to someone.” My brother threw that at me in the face and told me to wake up.

“Rina. It is natural for gentlemen to be kind. You shouldn’t fall for those words… I mean, don’t get the wrong message from such kindness!” My father then told me it’s a gentleman’s way to be kind… Yes. That seemed to be true, so after that I tried my best not to get the wrong message about other people’s kindness toward me.

“It’s manners. Should they be unkind when I work with them together at the palace? We should learn to see the difference between a friendship between coworkers and a romantic relationship.”

At my words, Lumi sighed and pressed her forehead with her finger as she turned to Jianne.