The Fake Princess's Soul Contract Duke

Chapter 9: The Troublesome Day Has Begun

"Mary, tell me, is there no other way I can't come?."

Mary shook her head softly, "I'm sorry once again, miss, but it doesn't seem to exist. Today is so important, I'm sure you already know that."

Alianora nodded slowly. He should have known from the beginning, no matter what happened he would not be able to avoid today. He knew that, and that was what made his inner being extremely burdened this time around.

Alianora sighed heavily as she stood with her arms outstretched, waiting for Mary to finish putting on her corset.

"Mary, if you want to take my place there."

"No way, miss."

"Haha.you have absolutely no sense of humor, Mary." replied Alianora with a dry laugh.

If only you knew Mary.

If today, your young lady will meet three little gibberish who will disturb her ignorantly, and make her dizzy.

Today is going to be a tiring day for the body of Alianora, that's for sure.

Facing those little ones, it takes a rational mind.

That's why Alianora spent the whole day yesterday putting together a plan to face three boys tomorrow.

Heh, the mighty Goddess Alianora was actually preparing to face three snot boys.

Alianora scratched her head as she muttered to herself, "Huh, you troublesome base."

Mary, "....."

All this body's fault.

If it wasn't for this strange body, he wouldn't have been preoccupied until like this.

After all, what exactly caused his body to be as it is today?

Was this kid poisoned by something?

No, there could not be such a powerful poison until it could make one's body completely empty of mana, and also the effect would not be long.

If not, is this child.in the curse?

“Haa...”, Alianora exhales a long time.

Mary, who could no longer bear to hear her nonanya sigh repeatedly, finally spoke up. “Is there anything that bothers your mind, miss?”

Alianora raised her head to look at Mary.

“Oh, no, Mary. I'm just a little lazy.”

Lazy begins this exciting but exhausting life.

“Nona, I know you don't like shows like this, but if I may say, this show has its bright side as well. There will be many young misses or young masters of this royal famous noble family. Maybe you can have a chance to get acquainted with them.” said Mary who was justifying Alianora shoes.

Alianora shook her head.

Of course he already knew that, but from the past until now, socializing was not his hobby. Even though it was for information, Alianora chose to avoid it.

"Forget, Mary. That's totally useless to me now."

Maybe later, if he had made it to Aethergarde first.

Perhaps there was no other way, Alianora indeed had to face this troublesome day with.

Alianora sighed again, then stood up to look at her final appearance in front of the mirror.

Light blue dress with a slight white accent that is only decorated with a few small gemstones here and there that slightly fade. A simple headdress, just a dark blue ribbon, and also small heels with matching colors that are quite worn.

When compared to the dresses and accessories Estelle showed her last night, she now looks more like wearing a garbage bag.

Heh, what irony.

A duke's daughter who can't afford new clothes until she has to be pitied by her own half-brother.

Fortunately Alianora rejected Estelle's sneaky offer yesterday, otherwise Thalia's pride would have been trampled on as well.

Not only beautiful trinkets and expensive dresses, even the attention, love, and affection of the people around her, only for her adopted sister, Estelle.

While Thalia, just being a discarded doll. Yet he still wanted to also submit to those who did not care about him.

Alianora who witnessed it head-on, could not help but feel annoyed.

"You know miss? You are so stupid" said Alianora as she pointed to herself in front of the mirror.

Mary's standing in the corner, "...."

Geck. Geck. Geck.

"Sister? Are you done yet? Me, dad, and mom are waiting for you."

Ho, of course.

Without waiting for a long time, Alianora moved closer to the door of her room, and opened it.

Look at the pretty and cute face of a little girl who is shorter than him. Her long blonde hair was adorned with various kinds of luxurious hair jewelry. The clean white dress that was knee-length, looked fitting on her small body, and the pearls on the bottom of the dress, added gracefully to her appearance.

In stark contrast to her more servant-girl-like appearance, this step-sister looked more like an angel descending from heaven.

"Estelle's."

Ohh, his name just came out of Alianora's lips, before it could be corrected.

The smile on Estelle's face shrunk slightly, but a second later her face again showed off a sweet smile as usual.

"...The sister? Wow, your sister is so beautiful!"

Estelle clasped Alianora's hands.

Alianora looked at him for a moment expressionlessly. Her blue silver eyes briefly displayed an inexplicable cold aura, making Estelle's body feathers stand up.

However, like an illusion, the look on Alianora's face suddenly sparkled while returning Estelle's smile.

"Hm, you too. The dress you're wearing is good."

"Yes, brother! Dad's dress is always good! Of course it is suitable to be used to welcome a very important day for my sister! Uh! By the way, big brother too, no matter what you wear, you still look beautiful!"

Aha, yes I already know. You guys were obviously chatting him up with ria yesterday in front of me, did you forget?

“Haha, of course.”Alianora returned Thalia's simple smile.

You sly little boy.

Alianora still did not understand what Estelle's plan was, but all she knew, this brat really had an ugly and two-faced nature. It looks sweet on the outside but inside, he's very rotten.

“Kakak..?”

Alianora looked at the dark blue bead of Estelle who looked back at her with a meaningful gaze.

“Ya..?”, replied Alianora gently.

“Is sister okay? Today brother...slightly different...”.

Alianora replied with a natural smile.

“Hm, what do you mean Elle? What's different? Isn't it that I've always been like this?”, Alianora said quickly but in as calm a tone as possible.

Estelle still showed a probing look towards him.

Inwardly, Alianora could only frown.

No, no, how can anyone believe that one's soul can be switched? Calm down first me!

Yes, there is no way this boy knows.

Like bringing back Aianora to reality, Estelle nimblely, embracing Alianora's arm while smiling sweetly at her.

“Have it, maybe it was just my feeling. Of course, no matter what happens, brother is still brother. Right?”

‘My stupid brother will forever be stupid’, yes you are absolutely right little lady. Continue to believe this until the end of your life.

As long as he was not the real Thalia, Alianora would not be willing to submit to those people like Thalia.

He will remain true to the contract, but that does not mean that he should truly love them as Thalia

If they wanted to ignore him, then he would not pay any heed to them either.

If they wanted to be two-faced in front of him, then he would be more hypocritical than that.

And if they dare, harm this body. He won't hesitate either.

As long as they don't die, right? Heh, that doesn't sound bad either.

To cover up the cold smile that had begun to be etched on her delicate face, Alianora immediately coated it with the warmest smile she could.

“Uh-huh, then, let's go. Don't make me and mom wait."

Alianora pulls Estelle's hand, and together they walk out.

*****

Clot! Clot! Clot!

The view of the capital city of the Angris Kingdom, Aghrian, on a clear morning, turned out to be so beautiful.

The shining morning sun had begun to blister but that did not stop the people of the city to walk around, doing various activities of their own.

Unlike Sheridan City which tends to be crowded by foreigners, considering Sheridan City is a port city, Aghrian City itself is more crowded by local residents.

Since entering the gate earlier, Alianora has seen a magnificent expanse of the city, spacious, and residents who use typical clothes of the Kingdom of Agris.

In addition, as today was the day of baptism for the children of nobles, many chariots of luxury with symbols of noble families of different classes, were carved, throng the streets leading to the capital's holy cathedral, where the event is conducted.

Including the horse carriage he was currently riding.

The jet-black chariot with shiny gold carvings with 2 crossed golden keys, the Duke Sheridan family crest, is beautifully engraved on the door.

Alianora looked at the colorful carriage passing by them one by one lazily.

Perjalanan dari wilayah Sheridan ke Aghrian tidak begitu jauh, tetapi bagi Alianora untuk duduk dalam diam tanpa melakukan apa-apa selama sekitar 2 jam, ditambah lagi harus terus berakting sebagai boneka layaknya putri bangsawan,  itu sudah menguras hampir sebagian energinya. Apalagi dia harus berbagi kursi dengan anggota keluarga Duke Sheridan yang memperlakukannya seperti udara tipis, rasanya dia mau pulang dan tidur saja.

“Ah, I can't wait to see the capital's Cathedral! Daddy's! Daddy's! Tell me again what the cathedral looks like? Is it different from the church in Sheridan?”, asked Estelle who was sitting right next to Alianora, excitedly.

The cold face of Kalisto who was in front of Alianora, this time painted a small sincere smile.

“Hm, Elle, haven't you told me this before?”

“Ah, repeat dad! I want to hear again! Hehe.”

“Haha, alright, alright. If my little angel wants to hear it again, then dad will tell it up to a hundred times.”, Alianora rolled her eyeballs.

From beside Kalisto, Annabeth fell asleep elegantly, opened her amethyst eyes, and gently stroked Estelle's blonde hair.

“Elle, baby, if you like the cathedral very much, from now on we go to pray in the cathedral only, hm?”

Estelle's face was instantly radiant, “Wah, really?! Yay!”

All those sights were seen by Alianora from the end of her eyes, with a look of disdain.

Do they not feel disgusted by their own behavior?

Since he already felt like he was going to vomit, he immediately turned his gaze quickly towards the window.

These people really....

He can only shake his head.

“Thalia.”

That heavy, expressionless voice was none other than Kalisto.

Almost Alianora forgot to put on Thalia's mask, and answered Kalisto with limited, ‘hah?’, but fortunately he managed to pull himself in time.

“Uh, yes, dad?”

Kalisto's light blue bead implied a chill that was no longer surprising to Alianora. The man narrowed his eyes.

“Make sure you won't do anything later.”

Alianora's eyebrows are somewhat linked.

Ha! When have I ever been a troublemaker?

But Alianora also realized, that in Thalia's first life, because she did not have magic and her identity was only an adopted child, the other noble daughters were reluctant to associate with her and tended to demean her. Plus its timid, unconfident, timid, and innocent nature, it doesn't help her at all, it only makes things worse. Instead, Kalisto often locked Thalia in her room, not allowed out for several weeks.

Realizing that, Alianora realized that at this time, exactly a year before now, Thalia had done ‘problem’ at a birthday event of a Marquess daughter.

Thanks to that, Kalisto was furious with him and had banned him from leaving the house.

While forcing a faint smile, Alianora turned her gaze to look into Kalisto's cold blue eyes. “Sure father.”

After saying that, Alianora immediately threw her face towards the window, and looked back at the crowded street. His smile had completely disappeared.

Ah, it felt like he wanted to slap her in the face back then, so sick of it.

Seeing her acting earlier made her want to spit out the salad she had eaten.

On the other hand, Kalisto was stunned as she continued to stare at Thalia with a complicated expression.

Was this boy's blue bead, which was in harmony with him always looking at him that way?

Brave and sure.

Not scared or sad.

Hm?

Scared and sad?

Is it really like that?

Highlight Thalia's eyes as she knew them.Such as there was nothing that didn't match what she remembered.

Not that, the last time Thalia looked at him, many years ago, when....

...when else did that happen?

Where'd he see her?

In her blue eyes, she still looked at Thalia's sweet-smiling shadow while looking into her eyes confidently. The shadow overlapped with another blurred shadow that was the same Thalia, holding the hem of her skirt with a trembling body, and the direction of the eyes that dared not look at it.

Instantly Kalisto shook her head slowly and also blinked her eyes, trying to cast away the strange shadow.

“Dad?” Estelle pulled the collar of her father's shirt gently.

Kalisto blinked her eyes, as soon as the shadow disappeared, and she looked back at Estelle. “Ah, Elle, where were we…? Oh yes, painting in the cathedral..”.