Chapter 82
Briden, desperate to repay the kindness somehow, spoke quickly.
“I’ll give you all the money we have.”
“Don’t need it.”
“It’s not dirty money! We sold items that originally belonged to Duke Skya, things we recovered from the ruins of the patronage estate.”
“Asili doesn’t need money.”
“Then… what should we give you?”
Because Asil had saved Lilibet—and even healed her eyes—Briden couldn’t stand the thought of giving nothing in return.
Even Duke Skya, their own father, had only taken them from the slums because he had something to gain.
There was no way a total stranger like Asil would have helped them without some hidden reason.
And even if she had, if they just kept taking and never gave anything back, one day she might change her mind—say she didn’t need useless friends, just like Duke Skya had done.
But Asil simply said,
“I really don’t need anything.”
She planted her hands firmly on her hips.
“Friends are supposed to help each other. That’s just what friends do.”
“……”
“When Asili has a hard time later, that’s when you and the lady can help me. That’ll be enough.”
Her words struck something deep inside Briden, who finally couldn’t hold back his tears any longer.
Lilibet’s voice trembled.
“But… we’re twins… and illegitimate… If we become friends, it’ll only cause trouble for you, my lady…”
“Things like that don’t matter when it comes to being friends.”
“……Heuuuuu…”
Overwhelmed, Lilibet burst into sobs, and Briden rubbed at his own eyes with his sleeve.
Then—
Growl—
A loud rumble echoed from someone’s stomach.
Briden’s face turned crimson as he clutched his belly.
“Wait here.”
Remembering what her father had once taught her, Asil pulled on the small bell-cord to call a servant.
Before long, warm steam rose from bowls of soup and freshly baked bread—simple, comforting dishes brought in on a tray.
“Wow…”
Briden and Lilibet’s mouths watered. They hadn’t eaten properly since being locked in that cellar.
“If you eat too fast, your stomach will hurt, so take it slow.”
Asil remembered the deer-woman from her neighborhood who once fainted clutching her belly after breaking her diet with a rushed meal.
At her gentle advice, the twins began to eat slowly.
If anyone were to ask them, What’s the best thing you’ve ever eaten in your life? they would have answered—this meal right now.
With tears in her eyes, Lilibet took a huge bite of bread.
“I’ve never tasted anything this good before…”
“If you cry while you eat, you’ll choke, you know.”
Briden stood up to wipe her tears—
—and something slipped from his pocket and hit the floor with a soft clink.
“Oppa, you dropped this.”
Asil bent down to pick it up, but froze mid-motion.
Wait a second—this pendant…! It was identical to the half-pendant Count Feyrunt had shown her!
He said if I ever meet a child with the other half, I should bring them to him!
Could it be that the twins—the boy and the girl in front of her—were the very ones the Count was looking for?
But then again, the twins Lady Ailpecia had brought before had pendants too, and yet she’d said they weren’t the ones…
“Ah, thanks.”
Briden had noticed his fallen pendant and picked it up.
Asil immediately asked, curiosity bright in her eyes.
“What’s that? Is it yours, oppa?”
“Yeah. It was my mother’s.”
“……! Your and milady’s mother… passed away?!”
What?! The Duchess of Skya was dead? She’d never heard that!
Asil’s eyes went wide in shock, and Lilibet quickly explained.
“The Duchess of Skya isn’t our mother. We’re… illegitimate.”
“What’s ‘illegitimate’ mean?”
“‘Illegitimate means… children born to parents who weren’t married to each other.”
Lilibet gave a faint smile. “You didn’t know that word, huh?”
She glanced nervously at Asil, afraid that learning they were illegitimate might make her disappointed in them.
But Asil’s surprise was over something entirely different.
So the Duchess wasn’t their real mother…
Then—could these two really be the twins Count Feyrunt had been searching for?
I’ll have to take them to him myself, she thought firmly.
If she brought them to the Count’s estate directly, she couldn’t risk Duke Skya noticing.
She’d just have to go get the twins herself.
With resolve shining in her eyes, Asil pointed at Briden’s pocket and said firmly—
“Someone’s been looking for that. I’ll bring him here tomorrow.”
“…You don’t mean the Duke of Skya, do you?”
“No.”
Even the last time she’d met him, and after seeing his son Dylan as well, Asil had thought the Count of Feyrunt seemed like a genuinely good person.
He’d never harm oppa or the Lady. I can be sure of that.
Asil puffed out her chest with confidence.
At that, Lilibet, who had been quietly listening, tilted her head and cut in.
“But why do you call my brother ‘oppa,’ yet you call me ‘Lady’?”
“Because you’re a lady.”
“Then call me unni too! And, um…”
Lilibet glanced at Asil hesitantly.
“If you don’t mind… could I call you Asilian?”
She had learned what the word illegitimate child meant, yet Asil didn’t seem to dislike them at all. Encouraged, Lilibet gathered her courage to ask.
She’d always envied the noble girls who called one another by name so easily.
She’d longed for that kind of closeness — for even one person she could address with the same warmth.
It had always felt like too much of a luxury to even dream of… but Asil, who had approached her so openly and without hesitation, made her think maybe — just maybe — it wasn’t impossible.
“No.”
…So it was impossible after all.
Lilibet forced a small, brittle smile, trying to hide the sting of disappointment.
But then Asil’s next words made her eyes widen in surprise.
“Call me Asil.”
“Asili?”
“No, Asil.”
“That’s what I said — Asili.”
“Nooo, Asil!”
“…Asili?”
“Ugh!”
Why couldn’t she get it right?!
Asil stomped her foot in frustration.
Bryden, who had been watching with mild amusement, decided to take a guess.
“You mean she should call you Asil?”
“Mm! Asil!”
“So your name ends up sounding like Duke Monlepe’s divine beast, huh? But how does Asil become Asil—mmph.”
Before he could finish teasing, Lilibet clapped a hand over his mouth.
“Then, can I call you Asil from now on?”
“Mm.”
“And me? Can I?”
“No. You can’t, oppa.”
Even with her mouth covered, Briden heard it perfectly.
He’d made fun of her pronunciation, and she had no intention of forgiving that.
Pouting, Asil turned her head sharply to the side.
Bryden and Lilibet couldn’t help laughing — bright, genuine laughter that hadn’t come easily to them in a long while.
The next day, Asil set out alone for the Feyrunt Count’s estate.
Along the way, a few of the Duke of Skya’s knights stopped her carriage, saying they had to check something. But they didn’t suspect anything, and she was soon allowed to continue on.
So they must have realized that unni and oppa are missing.
Good thing I came alone today. I’ll have to remind them to stay cautious from now on.
Before long, Asil arrived at the Count’s residence.
Even though she hadn’t sent word ahead, Count Feyrunt welcomed her warmly, showing not the slightest sign of displeasure.
“What brings our little lady all the way here?”
“I found the friends you’ve been looking for.”
Asil pointed to his chest — where the pendant rested.
“They have one exactly like that.”
At her words, the Count’s face suddenly twisted, as though he were swallowing down a surge of anger.
Why’s he making that face?
Puzzled, Asil watched him while his eldest son, Bastian, who had been observing the exchange, spoke carefully.
“Did His Highness the Crown Prince send you, by any chance?”
“No. Asil came alone.”
Bastian’s expression softened, relief washing over his features.
Letting out a quiet sigh, he explained gently,
“The truth is, His Highness has been sending fake twins carrying false pendants. Father’s been furious over it. And because of all the rumors twisting the story, Mother even came to believe he’d already found the children…”
“Where are these children, then?”
The Count cut in, his tone tight.
He didn’t truly expect much — it would likely be another false lead — but a small, stubborn hope still clung to him.
“They’re at Asil’s house.”
“And why didn’t you bring them here?”
“Because we can’t risk being seen. It’d be better if you came with Asil instead.”
“…Risk being seen?”
The odd phrasing made the Count frown, a crease forming between his brows.
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Ps: In Korean, adding -이 (i) to a name is a casual, intimate way to address someone younger or close (like <Asil-i> a cute, friendly version of Asil).
I would like to suggest to you some of the novels that I translate:
The Ruffian and the Mad Warrior Get Married
Pieces of Broken Glass Shoes
