33 Extra Long Chapter : I have a very complex family (1)

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My Sisters

After the storm ended, we went back to Augustine's summer estate to rest.

We will be leaving Ester Lake as soon as Prince Leon and Father are well enough to travel the long journey. However, from the looks of the secret training that I just so happen to see this morning, the day to return home will be soon.

While I feel much better now (better than those two above, I dare say), everyone insisted that I stay in bed until further notice, which is an absolute pain for me.

So while I have time on my hands, I've decided to fully make use of it and settle a few things on my checklist.

The first thing on my list is to hide my scar.

"Ok, I think that looks pretty good. Thanks, Nina, I don't know what I do without you."

Ivy looks at the mirror and carefully checks if the scar was hidden well.

"Are you sure with this Young Ms?"

Nina felt worried about Ivy's reputation if anyone were to find out about her scar.

"Well, you heard what the doctor said. It's not going to heal in a week, and it's probably going to stay there forever, so we might as well try to learn how to live with it."

While Ivy continues to check herself in the mirror, when she saw Nina's reflection frowning with concerns, she turns back and comforts her.

"Don't worry, Nina. It's just a scar."

"Young ms, how could you say that?! A scar to a fair young lady like yourself, it's like a fatal wound! What would the people in society think about you now?"

Nina started crying, and Ivy patted her head to comfort her.

"I do not care how others think of me. I only care about the people who love me for me, and one of them is you, Nina. Scar or no scar, you will always still be with me, right?"

"Of course, Young Ms., I will serve you as long as I live!"

Nina wiped off her tears immediately and declared her loyalty.

Though indeed, Ivy didn't care how people view her, she is still afraid that it might cause trouble to her friends and family, mainly if it's that witch rumor is ever spread as foretold in the novel.

"The fringe seems to hide the scar pretty well, but because of my curly hair, there is still a possibility of it showing when I move my head around."

Looking at her scar made Ivy let out a deep sigh.

This scar is quite troublesome indeed. At first, I thought I could just avoid all the social events since I don't frequently go to them anyway, so there wouldn't be any suspicion. Still, I promise the Prince that I stay in the palace until his coming of age ceremony, so I'll have to be extra careful since there will be many more eyes around me.

Thinking about how much trouble that would be for her made her let out a deep, deep sigh again.

She even felt a little bit regretful for not thinking it well enough before agreeing to the Prince's request, but she wouldn't dare to imagine what the Prince would do to her if she ever to say if she wants to back out from her promise now.

"---sigh, what should I do about this?"

While Ivy ruffled her hair in frustration, four fair maidens came to solve her hair problems.

"IVY!" x4

Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, and Gracie's sudden appearance gave Ivy a jump.

"What are you all doing here together?"

Ivy gave them an awkward smile, sensing trouble behind their sudden visit.

"The girls and I have been thinking about a few hair solutions for you to help you hide your scar." Gracie smiled, and she glances back at the girls.

And without a moment's hesitation, they pulled Ivy over to the bed, then they surrounded her and started messing with her hair.

"Wait! Wait! What are you planning to do ?"

"Don't worry! Just trust us."

Kim laughs while the rest continue to tousle around her hair.

After they've finished, they place a mirror in front of Ivy and say, "Tadaa!!"

When Ivy saw herself in the mirror, her eyes widen.

They braided her hair into a crown, leaving her bangs in front.

"Wow, I love it. It helps secure my bangs!"

"Well, that's not all. Khloe also picked out something for you."

Then Kourtney combs my bangs to the side of the scar, and Khloe helped pin it in place with a golden brass hairpin that is shaped like an Ivy leaf.

"Do you like it?" Khloe asked while Ivy was memorized with the beautiful hairpin.

Then Ivy just turned to Khloe and nodded excitedly.

"I'm happy that you chose such a wonderful hairpin for me. Thank you Khloe, I love it. Thank you, everyone. I'm grateful to have you as my friends."

"No, Ivy!" Kim suddenly interrupts

"We are sisters now! You and Gracie too! So if you need anything, you can depend on us any time, ok!"

Ivy's eyes widen again, then slowly, she shed a tear.

"Wow, sisters," she said,

"I never had one before. I'm so happy to have so many in one day."

Even Gracie's tears fell when she saw Ivy's face.

For many years, they only have each other, and now there are five among them.

Inside Ivy's heart, she thought <I'm glad that I lived to see this day>

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My Uncle

"Uncle?!!!"

Suddenly I was bombed by the news that my Father delivered.

Before I got that unpleasant news, I was in my room thinking about solving the second thing on my checklist.

— helping Mr.Hensley rebuild the Inn.

Regardless of what happened, I still feel somewhat responsible for them. I felt that their house is destroyed because the Villainess is staying there. I don't know if this is part of the Author's plan, but I don't want to leave it like that.

Ivy then sat down at a table and took out some pen and paper to work out the numbers.

I do have some savings that I kept these couple of years from the Pretty Mirror's profit. However, even if I give it all away, I still don't have enough to help Mr.Hensley rebuild, plus they will need more funds to stock up and also sustain their living expenses as well since it may take a couple of weeks or even months before their business can be fully operational again.

Ivy let out a deeper sigh than before because she felt very severely responsible for the damage she caused others this time.

"---sigh, what should I do about this?"

While Ivy crumpled her papers out of frustration, her family came by to solve her problem.

"Hohoho, my dear. What's the matter?

The sudden familiar voice startled her, and she turns to see Mr.Omer, the Duke, the Duchess, and Peterson.

"What are you all doing here together with ... Peterson?"

Ivy raised a brow as she was surprised to see such a strange group combination.

But then, somehow rather than strange, she had a scary hunch, and so she asked.

"Do you know each other?"

"Know him? We grew up together. He's your uncle, don't you remember?" The Duke says while Ivy jaw's just dropped to the ground.

"Uncle?!! But there is no resemblance."

"Ivy, your grandfather adopted your father and your uncle when they were children. We introduce him before when you were five years old. I guess maybe because you were too little to remember."

"Ah. I see." Ivy just followed the flow and nodded because she knew she hadn't met him since she only came to this world when their child was eight years old.

"Yeah, that must be it."

"Hmph!" Mr.Omer folded his hands. "Ivy, there is no need to remember this useless idiot. He should have sacrifice himself to protect you."

Then Peterson gave a mean glare at Mr.Omer as if Mr.Omer has just hit a nerve.

"I see you are still as senile as ever, old man. If it weren't for me, everyone, including little missy here, would've died back there! You should bow and be grateful to me!"

"Bow down and Be Grateful?!!! Why you! Who do you think to spend all those years feeding you, training you, spending money on both of you! My daughter had to sacrifice her allowance to feed all of you!"

"Feed Us?! Feed Us????!!! We are the ones who are feeding you! Who do you think went to all those life-threatening missions, huh!!!! I lost count on how many times I almost died because of you?!!!"

Then while their shouts flew around the room, Ivy starts to raise her questions on their conversation.

"Uhm, life-threatening mission? I thought Grandpapa. You're just a normal merchant that sometimes sells information and maybe some mercenary work. Is there something else that I didn't know about ?"

Suddenly they stop and just stared at the curious Ivy. While Ivy was waiting for an answer, the Duke hit Peterson on the head.

Then the Duchess tried to break the silence by inviting everyone to the next room to sit and have tea together.

After the tea was poured, and while everyone was calmly sitting down sipping their cup of tea, Ivy brought up the topic that was left unexplained again.

"So?" she asked while she sips her tea. "Are you going to tell me?"

All four of them almost spit out their tea when they heard Ivy speak.

So when the Duke waves his hands at the servants and orders them to leave the room, the air became heavy as they began to tell Ivy their family history.

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