When That Door Opens - Chapter 26
“If we do that, those damned people will keep complaining. ‘Why hasn’t Astel been born yet? Did the royal family hide Astel? Is the royal family lacking, and has the deity abandoned Schultz?'”
Roman shrugged.
“Astel has been born, so do I still have to put up with that noise?”
“You don’t have to. Please, just give the order, and I’ll cut out all their tongues.”
“Why are you so violent? If you really want to cut them, do it later. There’s no need for me to be covered in filth. Astel will take care of it for us.”
Roman grinned. The royal family’s solution to Astel’s birth was to make the newborn Astel a puppet of the royal family.
“I’ll make Astel completely mine. Let Astel cut out their tongues. So, stop obsessing over the throne. With the deity’s representative obeying me, what does a mere title matter?”
“Your will shall become the deity’s will. But beware of Astel’s betrayal.”
“People might betray you, but effort never will. If you put in the work, you’ll eventually be rewarded. If we raise it well, we can make sure they only know me… Wait a minute. What’s that sound?”
Roman, who had been smiling slyly, quickly pulled back the blanket. There, between the legs of the deceased mother, was an unexpected sight—a newborn baby. Roman grimaced at the sight of the baby, who had been born from the dead mother and could barely cry.
“Twins?”
“I’ll check.”
“Hah. Two Astels? This is quite the surprise.”
Roman’s plan was based on the assumption that there was only one Astel. This sudden variable was extremely unpleasant.
“There are no markings.”
“No markings?”
“Yes, both hands are clean.”
Roman narrowed his eyes as he inspected the baby’s hands.
“They’re the same gender.”
“Shall I kill it?”
“Of course. No, wait. No.”
Roman alternated his gaze between the two babies. Despite being newborns, it was evident they had identical faces.
Roman’s smile grew.
“A fake that looks just like Astel. This could be quite useful.”
* * *
After Astel was born, Roman ascended to the throne. As soon as the coronation ceremony ended, a nurse brought Astel, wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Roman placed Astel on the throne, knelt on one knee, removed the golden crown he had just worn, placed it beside Astel, and bowed his forehead to the ground. The courtiers also bowed in unison.
Roman spoke.
“I pay my respects to the true ruler of Schultz. I pledge all the royal authority to you until my dying day.”
With Astel’s appearance, he immediately relinquished all power upon his ascension. Seeing Roman’s complete loyalty to Astel, the people were satisfied. Finally, the deity had come to them. Schultz would prosper. Roman, as foretold, would serve Astel well.
Everyone believed this.
Even after Astel’s death, that belief remained.
* * *
I learned all this from Roman himself after my sister died.
Roman never intended for my sister to live long.
There was a fatal flaw in his plan to raise Astel as a puppet. If my sister betrayed him, Roman would be helpless. The people would follow Astel’s commands instead of a puppet royal family.
So, Roman decided to use me. To create a puppet who would never betray him, he decided to make me the fake Astel instead of my sister. He raised me in secret, then killed my sister when an opportunity arose. He tattooed Astel’s unique mark on my hand. Without anyone noticing the truth, the Astel had changed. My sister and I were twins, after all.
* * *
“Lady Astel, Grand Duke Roman has arrived.”
“Let him in.”
I quickly adjusted my clothes. My fingers trembled slightly with fear, but I steeled myself.
Before becoming Astel, I lived confined in a small house. Aside from Roman and a mute maid, I met no one. I didn’t even know I had a sister.
During that time, Roman completely controlled my mind. As a child, I didn’t dare to defy his will.
The day I became the fake Astel, Roman revealed all the past to me. He boasted about killing my family and my sister.
It was not a confession but an eerie warning. If I displeased him, he would ruin my life as well.
Ironically, after succumbing to his threats and becoming Astel, I finally learned what it meant to live as a human being.
