Fakes Don’t Want To Be Real

FAKES DON’T WANT TO BE REAL~ 109 ~ “I’ll pay you ten times the cost of the tree, plus transportation and care. Along with our trespassing, I also will bear responsibility for it.”“One would think you were only doing this because you had money. You have a knack for making people feel dirty.”“I’m sorry if I offended you.”“Don’t apologize.” Verndia’s brow furrowed in annoyance. “Yes, it’s a flowering tree, and even if you could make it up to me in money, how would you feel about the princess who lost it?” Verndia glared fiercely at Eric, his eyes were oozing annoyance. “Tell me what you want, and I will proceed as much as I could.” Eric responded calmly and Verndia’s eyes fell on Psychke then shook his head. “Is there anything else you need?”“Just let me know later and I’ll repay you.” Don’t take no for an answer, the two men urged with their eyes. The two men looked at her as if saying that they will never take a ‘No’ for an answer. Pressured by their eyes, she nodded her head while Verndia sneered at Lillian’s condescending demeanor. “One would think you were a spokesperson for Silkisia.” Eric lowered his eyes but said nothing. He was so expressionless that it was hard to imagine him as someone who had been sending signals to Verndia beforehand. “Let’s call it a day. Put it back the way it was. Get out of here now.” With that threatening statement, Verndia led Psychke away. After being left alone, Eric dabbed the sweat on his forehead with his sleeve. It was not even that hot he felt his back damp with his sweats. It felt as if these sweats were the predicament that he must not do something as such like this ever again.If it weren’t for Princess Glorielle, he wouldn’t have gone this far. “Be, because of me…” Lillian, who was shivering, regained her composure. Moved by Eric’s embrace, she squeezed out a sincere tear. “It seems your relation with him had plummeted down…” Lestir and Ruan clashed all the time, but what had just happened was not what I would call a clash. Given that Verndia’s aversion to tampering with what belongs to her, there was nothing to be said for declaring Ruan an enemy family.Eric spoke casually. “No, it won’t be a problem.”“But.”“I can see what you’re worried about. But there’s a big cause if we fall out.” He said lazily, in a way that suggested he wasn’t the least bit worried about Verndia’s anger. “I know this must have frightened you, so why don’t you go inside and get some rest.” Eric led Lillian out of the garden.Lillian leaned against him, pretending to sprain her foot, and clutching the hem of her skirt. ‘After all, as my father said, I must hold out to Ruan.’ It is not often that a nobleman is not afraid of Verndia. It is not an usual occurrence that a nobleman wasn’t afraid of Verndia and to the Silkisia, Ruan was even friendly. According to her father, he owe him a great debt so there was no way Ruan would rattle them out.Seeing him help her in this situation proves him right.And now he’s an aide to Psychke. ‘He told me that he’s working for Psychke because there’s no one else who can match his skills, despite the fact that there are different factions and internal opposition. He’s a great guy.’ She have to cajole him somehow and make him mine. When she finished her calculations, Lillian smiled shyly. “Count. If you don’t mind, I’d like to repay you for today’s help. Would you mind if I ask when are you available?” * * “With who is Lillian hanging out with?” Sometime later, after returning from capturing a demon that had appeared near the manor, Psychke was dumbfounded by the unexpected question.Miya, who was attending to her, crossed her arms and snorted. “Count Ruan!”“So, these two seemed to be dating?”“Yes. But how can that be?” Miya was indignant. “He’s the aide of you, Princess. He even knew what the relationship between the princess and the current Silkisia is like!”“I would think so, too.” Ruan was also in a bad relationship with the current Silkisia.She doesn’t know if Lillian was dating him, but she was pretty sure she’s not in love with his personality, so she draw the line at that.It probably about Ruan’s deal with Verndia or what else. “More than that, why do you say they’re dating?”“Well, more than one person has seen them together late at night! And about that flowering tree in the greenhouse, Ruan says he’s paid for it, tenfold at that.”“I see.” She wasn’t surprised; I’d heard Eric say he’d compensate them himself so she was nonchalant of the situation. Miya, on the other hand, was frustrated. “Doesn’t it slow frustrate you, Princess?”“Not really….”“Do you want me to go over and grab her by the hair?”“No.”“Sounds like a good idea.” As if on cue, Verndia, who had been standing by the door, and was listening quietly, interrupted. “I’d also like a piece of Princess Lillian’s hair.”“Don’t say that, even in jest.”“I’m not joking.”“Do you really want me to get it?”Miya asked sternly, “Just say the word!” Psychke shook her head. “No thanks.”“The princess is too good.” He waved his hand, asking for a moment of privacy so Miya obediently stormed out.Psychke waited until her footsteps were out of earshot before she lowered her voice. “Wasn’t that what the Duke told for him to do so?”“No, he’s not one to follow orders just because I say so. Though I can see why he would.” The cornered mouse bites the cat. She was guessing he was here to keep an eye on Lillian to make sure she doesn’t harm Psychke. “I hope you know where that necklace is, Princess.” Verndia’s eyes lit up at the news. “I think I’ve found out why the princess’s body get smaller.”“Really?” Psychke asked, pleased to hear it. Neither the Duke nor she had slept properly for weeks, thanks to those strange dreams. Somehow, could they get some sleep now? “Yes. And I think I’ve figured out how to fix it.”“That’s good.” Just a little longer and this will be over, Psychke thought happily. But then she was interrupted by the next question. “Do you happen to like ghosts, Princess?” * *Just when he thought that Psychke’s strange behavior stemmed from breaking the taboo of ‘Silkisians’ must not come to the North, Verndia had been going in and out of the library, which was only open to Lestir’s householders.He flipped through the records of previous Lestirs to see if the same phenomenon had occurred in the past. “I should have looked for the invitation first.” He skimmed backward, starting with the most recent Lestir. But no one had invited Silkisia to the North. Or, more accurately, they hadn’t even tried to.Then, when she turned to the page with the invitation, he felt sick. “It was the first Lestir who told us not to bring Silkisia to the North, no matter what.”“Why would he say that?” The first Lestir had gotten along well with Silkisia. Legend has it that even though he married someone else, he couldn’t forget the woman in Silkisia, so he made her a ring. Even the first Evergreen, whom Lestir met through Widnix, said he regretted it. “They say the first Emperor placed a curse on Silkisia.”“A curse?”“Yes. They say he cursed her so she wouldn’t go to the north even after she became Empress.” Verndia frowned. “According to the records, Silkisia became strange at some point after coming to the north: she didn’t recognize people, she talked to herself, and she was afraid of the snow that falls all year round in the north.”“…….”“It got so bad that Lestir, who had seen worse of her, eventually drove her away. He demanded her not to return again.”“…….”“Apparently he thought the Emperor would lift the curse if he didn’t see her, so he stuck to the north and never went to see Silkisia, which was stupid.” Psychke’s expression darkened. He remembered the myth that the first Silkisia died wandering in the snow while distracted. “Anyway, it seems to me that the Emperor’s curse passed through his blood to his offspring.” Verndia raised an eyebrow. “And over the years it seems to have been reduced to a simple phobia of snow.”“And my out-of-body experience.”“That’s the problem.” Verndia frowned. “In the records, it is said that Silkisia, who came to the North, spoke of meeting with the Emperor every night.”“You don’t mean to tell me that her spirit left her body and met the first emperor?”“I think so.”“So,…., the man who calls to me at night…”“Most likely the Emperor.” Chills, goosebumps swirled in her mind and body. The idea of an encounter with a ghost from hundreds of years ago was enough to bring tears to her eyes. Verndia smirked at the emotion of fear transmitted through the ring. “Are you afraid of ghosts?”“Yes.”“I didn’t know that. I didn’t realize you could catch demons and still be afraid of the intangible.”“I’m afraid of ghosts because I can’t catch them, that’s why.”“Aha.” Verndia nodded because it made sense. Then he squeezed her hand and asked softly. “Do you want me to hold you?”“Is that possible?”“Sure. Whatever can I do for you?” He smiled confidently and moved. They pressed their faces together, close enough to feel each other’s breaths. “Kiss me and I’ll hold you.” Then he closed his eyes, ready for what’s about to happen. (TN: Acck, my hearrttuu! But how about more than kiss….? Hehe.)