Chapter 31 of the side story. Love, that’s
2022.11.29.
Pacifica had no regrets for her younger brother, Lisandro.
I didn’t choose my own personal situation that was determined from birth. Above all, his younger brother, Lisandro, was too thoughtless to have any regrets.
However, isn’t it absurd if we are not even given a chance to compete fairly?
All human beings have their own beliefs that cannot be broken, and that was only the ‘position in the family’ for Pacifica.
To be on the same level for competition. That was all she wanted.
There was a time when Pacifica, who ran into Lisandro after finishing her education when she was very young, asked a question.
“Rit. Aren’t you resentful of me trying to take your place?”
Lisandro, who opened her eyes wide at the sudden question, answered with a tilt of her head.
“I don’t think this is my place.”
“…”
“Everyone says that I will be the successor, but there is nothing wrong with my sister. Also, my sister wants to be the successor.”
“yes.”
Pacifica nodded calmly. Lisandro sighed and glanced down at the class book.
“And I actually want to become a knight rather than inherit the family.”
“Looks like it.”
“Even so, I have my own reasons for not actively rejecting it, sister. I don’t want to be hated by adults.”
Everyone has their own circumstances. Just as Pacifica did not give up on her successor, Lisandro did not want to disappoint others’ expectations of him.
It would make my sister feel more comfortable if she first threw herself out saying that she would not become the successor… but
Lisandro didn’t have the courage to do that.
“I’m sorry, sister.”
“It’s nothing for you to apologize for.”
“I’m sorry though, sister.”
“…Go get something to eat.”
“huh!”
As Pacifica carelessly turned away, Lisandro smiled and followed her.
***
Pasifica and Lisandro’s father, Duke Donovan, was a typically conservative, old-fashioned man.
A man who is hung up on honor, who thinks that only the venerable family that has been passed down from generation to generation is his everything.
His wife, the Duchess Donovan, thought no differently. Even her mother disapproved of Pacifica’s studies.
Pacifica, who was reading a book, looked at the door that opened without warning. The duchess, perfectly dressed from head to toe, called her daughter.
“Pasifica. Stop reading and help prepare for the tea party next week.”
“yes. All right.”
“I can’t find anything really cute.”
The Duchess looked down at her daughter and sighed deeply.
When everyone was awake, all family members watched her, so the only time she could do anything was when everyone was asleep.
Relying on the magic tool’s light, Pasifika taught herself subjects to inherit the family.
Seeing over your shoulder what Lisandro was learning helped a lot.
Since childhood, Pacifica’s life has always been a lonely struggle.
With a face without a smile and a hard tone that was not like a girl, not only peers but also adults found Pacifica difficult.
The only one who spoke without hesitation was his younger brother, Lisandro.
One day when I thought I would live like that forever, a variable came without notice.
***
“Lady Donovan. This is how I see you today.”
The smiley face was pretty.
Pacifica stared at Cyana’s calm face.
It was an existence that made me admire again every time I saw it. Lovely features, soft language, courtesy and kindness that are naturally ingrained in the body and considerate of others.
Her appearance and atmosphere made it hard to believe that she was the daughter of the cool-headed Marquis of Gardenia.
The feelings I had when we first met continued even after we had met for quite some time.
The only difference was the girl’s attitude.
‘You must have heard my rumors.’
Pacifica herself knew that people were talking all kinds of things about her.
But is it really okay?
He thought it was because he didn’t know much about the first time Sianna spoke to him with a smile.
So I thought I’d keep my distance soon.
On the contrary, Ciana, on the contrary, participated in every social event that Pacifica attended and stayed attached to it without leaving for a moment.
Pacifica greeted me in a rather bleak tone.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too!”
This girl is probably the only one who sincerely accepts formal greetings and smiles broadly.
The more the encounter continued, the more I realized it.
Rather, it was a feeling that I couldn’t know when I didn’t know anything, but after I knew how bright the light was, I could never go back to my previous life.
‘Was I lonely?’
This feeling of wanting to find her first, talk to her, and keep looking at her smiling face.
As Pacifica prepared to go out, Lisandro, who had been visiting her out of habit, asked.
“sister. You don’t have to go to a party today, do you?”
It was. The reason Pasifika attended social events was to maintain friendship with the Donovan family’s vassals and other family heads in order to solidify the succession.
There was not a single person on the attendance list today to care about.
I knew the contradiction myself, but I was too shy to say it out loud.
“Come.”
Leaving those words behind, Pacifica left the mansion as if to evade. Pacifica was lost in thought as she climbed into the carriage and headed for the party.
She had no choice but to admit it.
In fact, there was one person on the attendance list that I was concerned about.
Cyana Gardenia.
Just meeting that one person was enough reason to go out.
In this way, the existence of Cyana was deeply imprinted in Pacifica’s life.
.
.
.
Some time later, Pacifica heard the news that Cyana was leaving for Gardenia.
I was going to send my regards in a letter, but when I came to my senses for some reason, I was in the drawing room of the Gardenia Mansion.
Although it must have been a sudden visit, Siana greeted her with a bright smile.
Perhaps the truth of what he said he had been sick for, his sickly-colored face was rather pale.
“Then may you rest in peace.”
All Pacifica could do was pray for peace.
I said goodbye, so I had to go back now, but my steps didn’t fall.
After a while, Shiana hesitated and called her.
“Lady Donovan.”
“yes.”
“May I call you by my first name next time we meet?”
It was a topic she had never thought about, so Pacifica didn’t answer right away.
name.
Parents were the only people who called Pacifica by name. So she didn’t like my name that much.
However, I wondered what kind of resonance it would sound if Siana sang it.
“yes.”
Pacifica replied, looking forward to the day we will meet again.
After a while, the wagon with Cyana riding departed for the Gardenia territory. Watching the wagon leaving from a distance, Pasifika whispered softly.
“…Siana.”
It was a name as pretty as its heart.
***
Within months, the competition for succession to the Donovan family intensified. In particular, the situation entered a new phase when Duke Donovan’s chronic illness worsened and he became ill.
Duke Donovan, who was lying on the bed, called for his unruly daughter.
“Pasifica. I can’t wait to see you ruin this family.”
“…what do you think?”
“All women are emotional. You will make a mistake in a crucial situation!”
“But it seems to be my father who is emotional right now, not me.”
“Sounds funny! Never before has the head of the Donovan family been a woman!”
Pasifika replied quietly to the words that she shouted in anger with a voice boiling with phlegm.
in a low but clear tone.
“Then I will be the first.”
Duke Donovan, who raised his head in anger, was momentarily overwhelmed.
In the shapely eyes of Pacifica.
It wasn’t the look in my biological father’s eyes. It was the eyes of a beast watching the silence that needed to be slain.
‘It gets eaten.’
What the hell did I grow up with? Even the father who gave birth to you is a monster looking at you.
My whole body started to tremble with physiological fear. Duke Donovan, who gripped the blanket to avoid revealing his fearful feelings, let out a roar.
“Pacifica Donovan!”
must stop!
I couldn’t let this ungrateful daughter take away this family that I had devoted everything to.
The hitherto defensive Duke Donovan did everything in his power to stop Pacifica, even in his weakness.
The retainers of the family, who had turned to Pacifica’s side at Duke Donovan’s outrage, began to betray one by one.
***
All of Pacifica’s limbs were broken.
When the forces that had been embraced since the age when they could speak out disappeared in an instant, Pasifika’s position in the family deteriorated.
“His Excellency the Duke said that starting this month, the young lady’s money will be collected.”
“i get it.”
Duke Donovan’s behavior, which even collected the money he had to pay, was rude, but Pasifika endured.
‘The financial part doesn’t matter.’
In the meantime, I have invested in various businesses under an anonymous name without the knowledge of others, so there was no shortage of funds.
However, it was a big problem for the forces that supported him to disappear.
As the momentum of Pacifica weakened, Duke Donovan, who wanted to be at this time, came to propose marriage talks to all families first.
“Would you like to see this dress, dear? It was made with the fabric that my father found hard for you.”
“yes.”
“What is the reaction? Pacifica. You will meet the Count tomorrow, so practice smiling at least.”
“…”
“Ugh. I don’t know who he resembles.”
The Duchess went out after scanning Pacifica in disgust.
Pacifica looked down at the dress with nonchalant eyes.
He devoted his whole life to trying, but he ended up in a futile predicament.
Now that he had lost his power, he had no choice but to follow the Duke’s orders.
I should wear this beautiful dress that the duke gave me and smile as the duchess advised.
In this hopeless situation, someone’s face came to mind.
‘Siana.’
Are you doing well from a distance? I was suddenly curious.
***
Her fiancée, Count Catlu, was a stoic man.
He tried to lead the conversation naturally, but Pasifika’s attitude of short replies every time wiped him in a cold sweat.
“What are your hobbies, Lady Donovan?”
“It is reading.”
“Oh, reading. Even if it’s not, my sister read romance novels. What books do you like, Lady?”
“I am reading an article titled On the Diseases of Bordosism argued by Algor Chekhov.”
“oh. yes.”
Count Catulu was at a loss as to what answer to give.
It was because I couldn’t find a friendly conversation topic at all.
While the conversation was repeatedly interrupted, Pasifika left for a moment.
On the way back after washing her hands, she encountered an unexpected presence.
“Nice to meet you, princess.”
“Meet Your Majesty the Emperor.”
Esteban, who had just ascended the throne with the passing of the emperor, was staring at her while leaning against the wall.
The atmosphere of Esteban, who could not get rid of the habit of being the crown prince with all kinds of threatening modifiers, was quite dangerous.
“It’s the first time we’ve talked like this.”
“That’s right.”
“Is the author the princess’ fiancée?”
“yes.”
“Duke Donovan is busy leading his sick body for my daughter’s marriage.”
“That’s right.”
Esteban’s gaze lingered on Pacifica’s calm face for quite some time. Despite the rather blatant gaze, Pacifica’s expression did not change.
‘It’s as if he’s talking to someone else.’
It was an overly detached attitude.
In addition, there was no doubt that he was the right person Esteban was looking for.
Without hesitation, he got to the point.
“Princess. Would you like to hear Jim’s deal?”
“If I hear of a deal, do I have the right to refuse it?”
“You are indeed wise.”
The corners of Esteban’s mouth went up slightly. The determination to make a decision without losing your cool even in this situation where you unexpectedly met alone with the emperor.
“It’s okay to listen and leave. The decision is up to the princess.”
“Please Xiamen.”
Esteban opened his mouth after being prepared to be slapped on the cheek.
“I need someone to be the empress. Furthermore, someone who will give birth to an heir.”
However, the expected hand did not fly. But Pacifica, as usual, just asked with a nonchalant face.
“Why me?”
“I think the interests of the princess and I are surprisingly aligned.”
“Do I get anything?”
“According to what you hear. Well, if you don’t make a deal with Jim, you’ll be stuck marrying that idiot.”
“Are you like an idiot?”
“Anyway. But if you pay for your marriage with Jim, you can buy yourself time.”
Pacifica, not understanding the words, raised her head. The eyes of the two met.
“Isn’t marriage the same?”
“no. different. Jim is willing to divorce you if you give birth to an heir.”
divorce.
It was an unexpected trade condition. Realizing that Pacifica had been tempted by the terms of the deal, Esteban added an explanation.
“After becoming emperor, there are a lot of people who annoy me that I have to get married. I needed someone to give birth to a clean heir and divorce.”
Then, it was Pacifica Donovan that caught my eye.
“After you’ve had time to get divorced, you can do whatever you want after that.”
Pacifica was in no position to retreat. At this time, the emperor’s offer of a deal was tempting beyond measure.
Rather suspiciously.
“You won’t regret it. Maybe later, if His Majesty finds someone he likes—”
Esteban murmured softly before Pacifica could finish her words.
“Princess. You are a more emotional person than you look.”
Esteban kept his chin on his face and smiled brightly as if he had heard an interesting story.
“Well, is love really that important?”
It was easier than anything to despise a feeling he had never experienced.
“That would never come in my life.”
Esteban was confident that he would never love anyone.
arrogantly.
