First Meeting 2

At Yuria’s words, Theodore laughed as if amused.

“Your reaction is interesting, but for now, go inside and rest. I’ll talk to the visitors, so focus on recovering your strength.”

“Hmm, no. This time I’d like to stay.”

Yuria declined Theodore’s suggestion and answered that she would remain here.

“It probably won’t be very interesting.”

“Whether it’s interesting or not isn’t important. The assassins targeted me too, right? It’s my business as well, and I feel uncomfortable always relying too much on Young Lord Theodore, so I’m not okay with that.”

“Alright. Do as you wish.”

Theodore decided to respect Yuria’s decision.

‘They’re here.’

And the person coming toward this place gradually came into view.

The person who appeared was a girl wearing an elegant-looking dress, accompanied by one maid.

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The very pretty girl with long black hair and blue eyes was only fourteen, but already showed the qualities of how beautiful a woman she would grow to be.

Yuria slightly parted her lips with a surprised expression and barely suppressed an exclamation that was about to burst forth.

She couldn’t help but be surprised because looking at the girl’s face reminded her of someone.

“Ah.”

Unlike Yuria who suppressed her exclamation, the girl, upon seeing Theodore’s face, let out a slight gasp with a momentarily blank face and slightly parted lips. However, she quickly realized her rudeness and hurriedly bowed her head, revealing her identity.

“I am Reina Artin, the young lady of House Artin.”

She was indeed Reina Artin, the young lady of House Artin.

Recalling that she was William’s biological sister, Yuria instinctively looked at Theodore.

‘That means…’

If she was William’s sister, then she was also the sister of Theodore, who was almost certainly William’s twin.

Whatever Theodore’s identity was, to Yuria, Theodore Skyroad was just Theodore Skyroad. But she had no idea how he would feel about Reina Artin, the only person from House Artin who wasn’t a perpetrator against him.

Though Reina’s hair color differed from that of the Duchess of Artin, Ceres, who had bluish blonde hair, her features closely resembled hers. At the same time, there were also slight similarities mixed in that seemed to prove she was a sibling to Theodore and William.

“I am Theodore Skyroad, the heir of House Skyroad.”

“I am Yuria Arsein, the young lady of House Arsein.”

Though Reina was much younger, since she had introduced herself as the young lady of a ducal house, both Theodore and Yuria also responded with proper courtesy.

“I’m sorry for visiting suddenly. I came to apologize for the wrongs that our House Artin has committed against both of you, and if it’s rude, I’ll apologize again.”

Reina started with an apology as soon as she greeted them.

Yuria could tell from her apologetic demeanor that her character was certainly different from her brother William, who was the worst among delinquents.

And her appearance also looked somewhat tired and weary, likely indicating considerable stress.

Thinking about it, with a brother like William, it was difficult to imagine how much stress she would be under just from his existence.

“Originally, I was going to deliver an apology letter, but given that what my brother did this time is absolutely unacceptable, I came personally to request forgiveness.”

“I see.”

Theodore answered briefly.

If it had been just a matter of harassment toward Yuria, they might have settled it with an apology letter. But what William had done this time was sending assassins, which was far beyond what could be settled with just an apology letter.

Yuria’s family, House Arsein, would not let this matter slide either, so even with William’s reputation as the Chosen One, House Artin would have a headache trying to resolve it.

‘But for such a young child to come out…’

The age of Reina Artin, the young lady of House Artin, was reportedly only 14. At 14, she was even younger than Lilia, her sister, or Judith, Theodore’s sister, the young lady of House Skyroad.

Perhaps because she had a younger sister of a similar age whom she cherished?

Yuria Arsein despised and detested William Artin as a human being.

She couldn’t even imagine being subjected to the kind of harassment he directed at her, and he had even planned to kidnap and rape her. She didn’t even consider him a person.

But she thought that Reina Artin was simply suffering because she was born as the sister of William Artin, and she bore no guilt.

Similarly, Theodore Artin was William Artin’s twin brother, but what fault did he have to receive such treatment that he eventually couldn’t bear it and ran away?

‘She’s pitiful.’

Reina’s appearance, stressed and tired, evoked sympathy.

Was it because she was just a young child, neither strong nor exceptional like Theodore Skyroad?

Yuria felt that Reina was such a pitiful child that she wanted to hug her, and she was angry at the very situation where she was apologizing.

‘The one who should apologize is William himself.’

Yuria couldn’t understand why the young sister Reina had to come and apologize instead, and she became even more angry at William.

“I know that what my brother did is a terrible act that cannot be forgiven by my apology. But I still offer my sincere apologies to both Young Lord Skyroad and Lady Arsein.”

At this point, Reina made an unexpected move. She knelt down despite her dress skirt getting dirty.

“Young lady!”

Seeing the maid who had been quietly standing with her call out in surprise, it seemed this wasn’t pre-planned. Nevertheless, Reina was sincerely apologizing, even bowing her head.

“As the young lady of House Artin, I once again offer my sincere apologies to both of you who are the victims.”

Yuria couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

She even bit her lip slightly.

She loved her family, and especially cherished and loved her younger sister Lilia.

Although she knew her sister harbored jealousy toward her regarding Theodore, she still loved her sister more than her own life.

‘I can’t let her apologize anymore when it’s not even her fault.’

This level of apology was enough, especially when she wasn’t even the person involved.

Thinking this, as Yuria was about to step forward to stop her, Theodore’s arm blocked her way.

“Young Lord Theodore?”

When Yuria, slightly bewildered by his arm blocking her way, looked at him, Theodore shook his head slightly.

And before Yuria could say anything, he approached Reina slightly and offered her his hand.

“Please rise, Lady Artin.”

There was no emotion in Theodore’s voice. Since it was the first time he had spoken with such an emotionless voice, Yuria felt strange.

She had never known that he, who was always so arrogant and self-confident, could speak in such an emotionless voice.

‘He wasn’t like this even when meeting the Duke and Duchess of Artin.’

Considering that his emotions were discernible both in front of William Artin and the Duke and Duchess of Artin, Theodore’s current state was probably something that even he himself couldn’t properly define.

“It is not Lady Artin’s fault, so there is no need to apologize like this.”

But one thing was clear.

Theodore, like Yuria herself, thought that there was no reason for Reina to apologize to this extent when she wasn’t even the person directly involved.

“Y-Young Lord Skyroad?”

“William Artin’s fault is not your fault. And parents’ faults are not their children’s faults. You don’t need to apologize. And excuse me for a moment.”

After saying this, Theodore took Reina’s hand, helped her up, and then began to dust off the dirt on her knees with his own hand.

“Y-Young Lord. Th-this…”

Reina, perhaps having never received such treatment before, looked surprised and flustered. Seeing this, Yuria felt relieved that Theodore was treating her kindly.

“I agree with Young Lord Theodore. It’s not Lady Artin’s fault. This is William Artin’s fault, his wrongdoing.”

Yuria also spoke to Reina with a gentle smile. Staring blankly at her smile, Reina called her with a trembling voice.

“L-Lady Arsein…”

Was it because she didn’t expect to receive such comfort in return? Reina’s eyes were trembling pitifully.

Seeing this, Yuria felt extremely sorry for her.

How much emotional suffering must she have endured for her to show such a shaken appearance just by being comforted?

‘That’s too much.’

Yuria found it even more impossible to forgive William Artin.

Having a younger sister of a similar age to Reina and cherishing her, her contempt and hatred toward William grew even more.

---

“It is not Lady Artin’s fault, so there is no need to apologize like this.”

Reina was surprised by these words from Theodore and opened her eyes slightly wider. At his gesture of not just refusing her apology but saying it wasn’t her fault, she couldn’t grasp what he was feeling at all.

“Y-Young Lord Skyroad?”

“William Artin’s fault is not your fault. And parents’ faults are not their children’s faults. You don’t need to apologize. And excuse me for a moment.”

After saying this, Theodore took Reina’s hand and helped her stand up. Then he began to show consideration by dusting off the dirt on her knees with his own hand.

“Y-Young Lord. Th-this…”

For many young girls, having such a handsome man show such consideration would be a romantic dream. But Reina was feeling something completely different from ordinary girls.

‘If I had a proper brother… would it feel like this?’

As she had heard, Theodore Skyroad’s appearance was truly surprisingly similar to her brother William Artin.

In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they were at the level of twins.

Because of this, Reina wondered what it would be like if he really was Theodore Artin.

She thought it would be nice if someone who could treat her so kindly was actually her real brother.

But given what her mother Ceres had done, Reina didn’t mention this out loud.

She was just surprised and bewildered.

“I agree with Young Lord Theodore. It’s not Lady Artin’s fault. This is William Artin’s fault, his wrongdoing.”

At that moment, Yuria Arsein spoke with a gentle smile.

‘She’s beautiful…’

Looking at her smiling face, Reina thought that someone already beautiful looked even more beautiful.

She also thought that it was because this person was so beautiful that William brother had become blinded by desire and committed such a crazy act, and she felt bitter about how angry Theodore must be at William’s atrocity toward such a beautiful fiancée.

‘If it weren’t for such an incident, could we have had a good first meeting?’

With such thoughts, Reina called her with a trembling voice.

She felt her emotions intensify as she thought about how wonderful it would be if these people were her real brother and his fiancée, alongside recalling her own emotional hardships.

But she forcibly held back the tears that were about to flow.

She couldn’t be so rude to people she was meeting for the first time.

“L-Lady Arsein…”

And Yuria approached, gently took her hand, and said:

“It’s okay to cry if you want to. You seem to be going through a lot emotionally, and if you have any difficulties or need warm words of comfort, feel free to visit anytime. Lady Artin will always be welcome.”

“Ah, ah.”

Reina was speechless.

How kind!

The first phrase that came to Reina’s mind was this.

“Lady Artin, as Lady Yuria said, you are welcome to visit anytime.”

At Theodore’s following words, Reina finally realized that tears were flowing down her face.

“Y-young lady.”

And the maid, who had suddenly become sidelined, was at a loss for what to do and hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe Reina’s tears. However, Theodore’s actions were faster.

He took out a handkerchief from his spatial storage and gently wiped away the tears flowing down Reina’s face.

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Yes, it’s not your fault.

Reina Artin.

My blood sister.

You’ve done nothing wrong.

Just as I did nothing wrong.