I Am the Real One

Chapter 2

From that day on, everything changed for Keira.

The oracle had spoken. “There is only one elementalist in the next generation.” That wasn’t all.

The oracle said, “Disaster will be avoided only if we remember this.”

That meant…

The “fake” princess would bring disaster. One of them was an imposter who must be exposed and killed.

The tense cohabitation of the two princesses continued for some time. Cosette was the spitting image of the grand duke while Keira did not take after him at all, but the matter of looks was not sufficient grounds to write her off.

The power only daughters of Parvis could wield —whoever showed proof of her power would take the place as “the real one.” Only then would it come to light who was the true blood of the grand duke.

That being said, it was hard to ignore what one could see as clear as day: the resemblance between Cosette and the grand duke was irrefutable. If Ludwig were a woman, he would have looked just like her. The servants at the castle who were suspicious of Cosette at first found themselves disarmed at the sight of her face, not to mention, she had a winning, magnetic personality. There were few in the world who could remain cold toward a cheery, friendly person.

“Good morning!”

“Nice to meet you!”

“Thank you very much!”

“Hello, have you eaten?”

Cosette would greet others with a charming smile, and she was always the first to reach out to those around her. In many ways, she was the polar, warm opposite of the stoic Keira, who was raised to be dignified as the daughter of the grand duke. When Cosette smiled, her face framed by hair as pale as the moon, she lit up the room like the sun. Cosette charmed and disarmed the Parvis servants before long. Then she advanced to Keira.

Keira was taking a break after a round of sword training when she heard, “Hello, what are you up to?”

Cosette appeared with her characteristically sunny smile. Her maids were not with her for a change.

“Training. I’m just taking a break...” Keira said coldly and turned away, hoping she would leave her alone. But Cosette persisted.

“Hey, no need to be so icy! We’re the same age! I won’t bite. If anything, I hope we can be friends.”

“…….”

Friends? Don’t make me laugh. One of them was destined to be chased out of the grand dukedom or lose her head the moment the other showed proof that she was the true elementalist. Being “friends” was nonsense Keira wouldn’t dignify with a response.

“I don’t believe you are who you claim to be, and I certainly don’t see us being friends. Now, please leave so I can take my break in peace.”

Cosette gave Keira an innocent, puzzled look.

“Huh? Why not? Why can’t we be friends if we’re the same age?”

“Do you really need me to spell it out?”

“Is it because you’re not Father’s legitimate daughter?”

What? Keira stiffened. Who is calling whom illegitimate?

Cosette continued, unphased, in her innocent voice, “Oh, I don’t care about those things... It’s not your fault that you were the result of your mother’s adultery! It really doesn’t bother me. How could it be your fault? Your mother was the one in the wrong. So don’t let the guilt hold you back, okay?”

“…….”

This was the very definition of dumbfounding. My mother? Adultery? Keira’s late mother was the last person to deserve this insult. Blind with rage, Keira’s hand reached for her sword.

Swish!

“AH!” Cosette cried as she stumbled backward and fell to the ground.

“Speak ill of my mother one more time, and I will challenge you to a duel.”

The tip of the sword trembled as Keira pointed it at Cosette. Keira could take any insult directed aimed at her, but she would not stand anyone sullying her mother’s honor. She was ready to cut Cosette’s tongue right out of her mouth when…

“M’lady!”

Cosette’s cry had alerted a few maidservants, and a knight was quickly rushing to the sparring yard. They appeared to be Cosette’s personal maids and knight, and they were horrified by the sight of Cosette on the ground and Keira aiming her sword at her.

“Good heavens! What is going on?”

“Paula!” Cosette called tearfully. Paula was from a long line of servants who had served the Grand Dukedom Parvis. She was a woman of unparalleled loyalty and affection.

“M-m’lady, how...?”

She glanced uneasily at the two ladies, giving Keira a look that seemed to say, “Did you have to aim your sword at her?” Keira’s breath caught in her throat when she saw scorn in the eyes of a woman who had cared for her since infancy. To make things worse, heavy tears began to fall from Cosette’s eyes.

“I-I only... I only greeted her hoping we could be friends...”

“…….”

Keira was experiencing firsthand what it was to be truly dumbstruck. Cosette met Keira’s incredulous eyes and said, “I’m sorry. I should have known you were sensitive these days. But please believe me when I say that I think of you as my own sister even though we don’t share a drop of blood. I didn’t mean to antagonize you.”

“M’lady...”

The maids were moved. One helped Cosette up off the ground. Keira’s anger rose as Cosette played the part of the tragic damsel. Keira huffed in spite of herself,

“Hah!”

You want us to be friends, and yet you insult the memory of my mother?

Before Keira could demand an apology, Cosette’s knight gave her his arm and said, “Allow me to escort you to the doctor to make sure you are unharmed. We will be away, m’lady.”

“…….”

There was a hint of severity in the knight’s formal tone.

She gave herself a scare and fell down—what was there for the doctor to see?! But Keira was aware enough to know pointing this out would not work in her favor. She could not help but stand frozen as Paula led Cosette away.

Cosette glanced back before they turned the corner, flashing a sneer so ugly that Keira could hardly believe she had just moments ago uttered the words, I want us to be friends.

“You...!”

Keira clenched her jaw. Her fists trembled with fury. But little did she know that Cosette was just getting started.