《I Was Proposed to by an Unknown Duke After My Sister Stole My Fiancé》


 CH 1

    Shall I tell you the story of a pitiful woman?


    This woman had a fianc¨¦. He was a handsome man from a very prestigious family. Although he was somewhat easily swayed, the woman liked that about him.


    As he was the third son, both families agreed to their engagement with the promise that he would marry into the woman''s family to support them. They had been together for eight years since the woman was ten years old.


    Yes, that means she dedicated the most enjoyable and beautiful time of her life to him. Ha ha, do you know how important that time is for a young lady?


    Well, never mind. They were supposed to get married soon.


    However, despite all this...


    The man betrayed her terribly.


    He slept with the woman''s little sister.


    Oh, that''s not a word a lady would say, is it? Please ignore it as drunken nonsense. Besides, it''s the younger sister who is not acting like a lady.


    ...Ahem, let''s get back to the story.


    From a young age, the younger sister had always been jealous of the woman. As a result, the woman had suffered countless times. Just thinking about it... Hmm, should we stop this story?


    However, the woman had no idea that her sister had such hobby of stealing men. And when she confronted her sister, what do you think she said?


    "I''ve always wanted to take him away from you, big sister."


    "Well, then why now? Isn''t that obvious?"


    "Because it''ll be even more satisfying to see your face in despair."


    It''s insane, isn''t it!


    I really doubted if I was related to such a person. Oh, this isn''t my story, by the way.


    But if that was all, the woman could still endure it. The younger sister had no inheritance rights, and the man had no territory as the third son. So, if they got married, they would become commoners and never appear in her sight again.


    However, even so!


    The man suggested they should get married as planned and proposed to marry her as if nothing had happened!


    "I didn''t mean any harm. I just went out with her because Olivia insisted, but I really do love you."


    I felt like pushing him down the stairs. Of course, this is just a story about an acquaintance.


    The woman''s parents supported the man''s family, even though the woman wanted nothing to do with him and to ban him from ever coming back. They thought that the family was more important than their daughter, apparently, and they feared that if their daughter didn''t get married, their family would collapse.


    Well, I can understand that the servants would also be left without a job and rendered homeless if the family collapsed, but even so, they could have been a little more considerate and reprimanded the younger sister.


    The woman''s younger sister must have known that this was going to happen. It was all part of her plan.


    She brought the happy and ecstatic older sister crashing down to the ground, fulfilled her own desires without taking any responsibility, and reveled in superiority. It''s a despicable act even the devil would cry at.


    Don''t you think so?


    Even the most popular romance novels nowadays are not this pathetic.


    In the luxurious and gorgeous dance hall of the mansion, I stood on the dark balcony with a glass of wine in my hand, trying to escape my swirling and murky emotions by attending the ball. However, the sight of other people''s happy faces made me feel sick.


    A man next to me approached and spoke to me as I drank alone in my misery. I couldn''t see his face very well, whether it was due to the darkness outside or my drunken state, but his silver hair shone like the moon, catching my attention.


    "That''s right, don''t you think? It''s not really funny to cry, is it?"


    "Oh, you were talking about an acquaintance, weren''t you?"


    "Yes, it was an acquaintance. I just felt sorry for her."


    "Haha, let''s just say that''s what it was then."


    I didn''t know the name of the man who calmly listened to my story. It was bothersome for a noblewoman to drink alone in a corner, so why did he approach me? We didn''t follow any etiquette, and we didn''t even introduce ourselves.


    "By the way, do you still have feelings for that man?"


    "Of course not. I''d rather send him and my sister to hell."


    "I see, that''s good then."


    "Huh? What do you mean? Don''t tell me you''re cheating too!"


    "Absolutely not! I am single-minded. I still love only one woman."


    If that was the case, then what was this situation? However, I was at my limit and just wanted someone to listen to me. So, I pretended that I didn''t hear what didn''t concern me.


    "I loved a woman who was engaged to someone else. I decided to watch over her since she seemed happy."


    "I hope your sister learns from your way of thinking."


    I had no room to spare to entertain stories that didn''t interest me anymore. I had listened enough and decided that it was pointless to stay here any longer.


    But as I got up to leave, the man spoke up again.


    "But she''s suffering right now."


    Maybe I drank too much. The moment I stood up, I felt dizzy, and my legs gave out from under me.


    "That''s why I''ll stop withdrawing and go pick her up."


    As my consciousness faded, I felt terrible envy for the woman the man spoke of.

 CH 2

    As I was about to fall unconscious, I remembered that I was outside and hurriedly sat back down. I felt a chill as I realized that I had unknowingly thought of something outrageous.


    "Are you okay? I think you should refrain from drinking any more alcohol tonight," he said


    As I still held my dizzy head, a glass of water was handed to me.


    "Oh, thank you."


    "But really, what a terrible person you are. I listened to yours but you leave when it comes to my story."


    "I''m sorry."


    "I''m sorry. I said something mean when you were feeling weak."


    I heard a small laugh from beside me. It seemed like the man really wasn''t bothered.


    "It irritated me a little. You can''t talk about love in front of a heartbroken woman. You''re not popular with women, are you?"


    "Unfortunately, I''m quite popular, actually."


    Was he trying to pick a fight with me? I wished I could clear my head by pouring a glass of water over this man''s head.


    "Oh, really? That''s good then. Your love will soon come true."


    "Please pretend to be interested, at least a little bit."


    "You''re popular, right? You''ve been pulling back until now, so if you really try, you''ll easily win over your unhappy current partner."


    "Do you really think so?"


    "You''re surprisingly troublesome..."


    At this point, I wondered if I was being comforted or harassed.


    While thinking that I should leave from here even now, I drank the water.


    "I fell in love at first sight, actually. But at that time, she already had a fianc¨¦, so I never really talked to her."


    "Well, if that''s the case, first of all, meet her and start talking. I don''t know how much you''re known for your reputation with women, but few women trust a man who suddenly approaches them, especially if he''s known for playing around."


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    "Oh, no, I don''t have such a reputation, and I''m not playing around or anything."


    "That''s not true. If you''re somewhat popular among women, you''re definitely being talked about behind your back. Approach her with the assumption that she knows about it."


    "...You''re feeling better now."


    "Yes, thanks to you."


    I was inadvertently too friendly and gave kind advice.


    I could tell that the man was dissatisfied. He was unexpectedly easy to get along with, but it was probably because he was drunk that he felt that way.


    "Well, now that you''ve given me some good advice, let''s get back to the story."


    "Huh? You''re still trying to hurt my feelings, aren''t you? You really are popular, aren''t you?"


    "That''s outrageous."


    Saying so, the man paused for a moment, then handed me a new glass. He was a thoughtful person, even if he didn''t realize that he himself had become absent-minded.


    "Please introduce me to your parents."


    I sobered up instantly. I scrutinized the meaning of the words, examined them, and mulled them over. What came out of my mouth was a simple "Huh?".


    I mean, I didn''t understand. Didn''t this guy know that conversations needed coherence?


    Then he said, "If you don''t do this, you will have to marry that guy. You will have to live under the same roof with your sister, and you won''t be able to talk back to the gossip about you in social circles.


    "Why are you suddenly throwing reality in my face? And one thing at a time, too. Do you hold a grudge against me?"


    "You will have to endure a lifetime of humiliation, while your sister will find a new partner at some point. Perhaps she will even become the first wife of some other family."


    "Please don''t say ominous things! It''s unsettling because it''s so plausible."


    Imagining the butler''s concerned eyes, my sister''s triumphant face, and my fianc¨¦''s attempts to please me, I almost cried at the misery of it all. It was a delusion that was all too realistic.


    "That''s why my presence is necessary."


    "Um, I''m sorry, but I don''t understand what you''re talking about..."


    "Hehe, I have a good idea. Will you ride along?"


    The man''s voice sounded terribly amused. I felt like I was being taken advantage of by him, and a chill ran down my spine. The man chuckled softly, perhaps he could see through my shuddering thoughts.


    "If you don''t trust me, feel free to refuse. Well, in that case, you''ll be heading straight for an unhappy future with nothing to resist. It''s a good thing you have the guts to choose this thorny path yourself. I respect that."


    "No, by all means, please tell me your wonderful ideas."


    Without time to think, I changed my attitude and the man nodded in satisfaction.


    "Well, neither of us will lose out on this one."


    I drank down the newly offered water in one gulp, determined to take full advantage of the situation.

 CH 3

    The next morning, I felt a sharp pain in my head when I tried to get up. I was convinced that this was the hangover I had heard so much about, but at the same time, I was acutely aware that yesterday''s events were not a dream.


    Apparently, I was taken home by a man named Ilvis yesterday. I had drunk too much and had apparently passed out, as I had no memory of the events after that.


    However, I still remembered Ilvis''s proposal very clearly, and I was very impressed with myself for having such a convenient mind.


    ...


    "Let''s take advantage of today''s events," he said.


    Yes, he definitely said that.


    "First, I''ll take you, in your drunken state, to the Count''s house. Your parents will be worried about you and will surely come to check on you."


    "I think they will be more concerned about whether their unmarried daughter has done something wrong than about my well-being," I replied.


    In this country, basically, only the eldest child can inherit the family estate. Therefore, my parents don''t care much about what my sister does, but they are careful to ensure that I don''t make any mistakes.


    If I were to return home with a man just before my wedding, they would undoubtedly go into a frenzy and investigate our relationship.


    "That''s why I''m doing this. When your parents ask me, I''ll act as if I''m interested in you. Of course, I won''t say it outright, since you have a fianc¨¦."


    "Ha-ha, I see."


    "Then your parents will definitely ask you about it, so please act as if you''re not completely uninterested. Do you have enough time until the wedding?"


    "Yes. Given the recent turmoil, it should be about three months away."


    Since noble marriages usually took a long time, there would probably be more time to spare.


    "That''s good. Let''s go out frequently for the first month."


    "Eh?"


    "In the second month, when the time is right, tell your parents that you''re considering marrying me. Oh, and don''t forget to say that your fianc¨¦ and your sister are in love, and to please let them get married instead."


    "No, you see..."


    "Noble marriages are contracts. The invitations have probably already been sent out, so if the marriage is suddenly canceled, you will probably be in trouble. But there won''t be any problem if your sister marries in your place."


    "There will be nothing but problems. Can you hear me?"


    "I wonder what''s wrong?"


    Ilvis, who had been talking as if reading from a script, looked at me curiously when I spoke up.


    "I''m sure you''re making it sound easy, but he''s still the third son of a Marquis family. He has a status."


    "Yes, I know. I can handle that much."


    He spoke with the confidence of someone talking about the hardness of a diamond. He was so calm and composed that I was the one who felt bewildered when I spoke up.


    "I-I see. But I don''t think my sister would agree. She prioritizes herself above all else, and besides, our parents wouldn''t approve of it."


    "Judging from what you''ve told me, your parents are typical nobles who choose honor over love. I won''t dismiss this idea so easily. In that case, your sister, who is just a noble daughter, cannot oppose them, can she?"


    "That''s true, but..."


    The situation was not that simple, and why were we discussing this on the assumption that my parents would agree?


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    This plan was based on the premise that my parents respected Ilvis. I wanted to point out that there was no reason for my parents to respect him, but I felt the pressure from Ilvis to not delve too deeply into this. I ended up biting my tongue, but he seemed to be able to handle it somehow.


    "Well, in any case, I can only trust you. But is that okay with you?"


    "...What do you mean by ''okay''?"


    It was infuriating how he just tilts his head like that.


    "Do you have someone you like? Even if you haven''t declared it publicly, there will be rumors, you know?"


    "I see. ...That''s just what I need to cover my tracks."


    The expression on Ilvis''s face, which had been filled with wonder, suddenly changed. He looked like a hunter considering how to capture his prey, and muttered something under his breath.


    His eyes, which I saw for the first time, were ice blue and slightly narrowed. A chill ran down my spine and I couldn''t help but speak up, but he immediately put on a soft smile.


    "I''m sorry, I couldn''t hear you over the noise in the hall. Could you repeat what you said?"


    "You said that I''m already rumored to be a playboy, right?"


    "Are you perhaps bothered by it?"


    ...Was it just my imagination?


    "No way. Well, if you''re still bothered by it, please give me some advice on how to become close to a girlfriend. I''ve never been close to a woman before."


    "You seem quite bothered by it."


    "More importantly, what do you think? It''s not a bad deal, right?"


    "More importantly than that..."


    But it was indeed not a bad idea.


    "You can escape from marriage. I can become closer to her. There''s nothing to prevent you, the one who can inherit the earldom, from getting married."


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    To be honest, it was almost too good to be true. I couldn''t see him clearly in the darkness, but I could tell that the man in front of me had a handsome appearance. It was frustrating, but it was probably true that Ilvis was popular with women.


    That was why it remained a mystery to me why he was going so far for a stranger like me. Maybe he was trying to trick me, thinking that a woman who lost her fianc¨¦ to her younger sister was an easy target.


    "As I said earlier, if you don''t trust me, you don''t have to agree. Well, I think it''s a strange hobby to deliberately cause yourself suffering. I couldn''t possibly do it myself."


    "By all means, I would appreciate your cooperation."


    In the first place, I don''t have the option to refuse. I''ll think about this man after I break off my engagement. There''s no way I can become any more unhappy than this.


    At my sudden change of attitude, Ilvis smiled heartily and said, "I''ll see you tomorrow."

 CH 4

    As I was reminiscing about yesterday''s events, the door to my room was forcefully flung open.


    "Amalia! What did you mean by that yesterday? Give me a satisfactory explanation!" My mother yelled, storming in, with her face contorted with anger.


    My mother was more concerned with appearances than anything else, even when inside the house, she acted like a noblewoman. In fact, when she heard about the antics of my sister and her fianc¨¦, she didn''t even change her expression and told me, "If you''re going to get married, just pretend you didn''t see anything."


    That''s why it was surprising to see my mother appear so easily distraught. Although it was a little frustrating, it was a bit of a relief.


    "Good morning, Mother. And what might you be referring to as ''that'' from yesterday?" I asked, with a puzzled expression, ignoring the sharp pain in my head. I pretended to press my temples to hide the smile that was about to creep up at my mother''s irked expression.


    "You''re not going to try and talk your way out of this! You haven''t forgotten that you made a scene at the party yesterday, have you?"


    "A scene? I only remember having a few drinks," I replied truthfully, despite having had several drinks. In reality, I had fallen asleep in the carriage on the way back, so I had no idea what Ilvis had said to my family.


    I didn''t think I would deviate too much from the "plan", but it would be bad if any details slipped out.


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    "A few drinks? Don''t be ridiculous! You were acting so shamefully..."


    "I''m sorry, but I really don''t remember," I apologized.


    "If you don''t remember, I''ll tell you! Despite being engaged to William, you went to the party alone!"


    What was so fun about going to a party with a fianc¨¦ who slept with your sister?


    Besides, part of the reason I went to the party yesterday was to escape reality. I could drink in a corner without drawing attention to myself because I was alone, but if I brought my fianc¨¦, he would be a prime target. Although rumors hadn''t spread yet, the social scene was sensitive to scandals.


    "Drinking so much wine and passing out like that, really, how shameless can you be? And on top of that, you bothered the Duke!"


    "Excuse me, what did you say?"


    Did I mishear her due to my headache? It felt like my mother just said something outrageous.


    "You have a fianc¨¦! It''s unthinkable for you to seduce the Duke! Oh, William has finally said that he''ll marry you, but you''re doing this at a time like this¡­ There is no way that the duke, who is famous for his misogyny, would take you as a partner!"


    My mother''s hysteria did not stop.


    I wanted to say many things, such as "Is it okay for the younger sister to sleep with her older sister''s fianc¨¦?" or "Why do you assume that I seduced him?", but I couldn''t organize my thoughts.


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    (Seduced... the Duke? That Duke?)


    There were four Dukes in this country, but with the exception of one, they were all middle-aged men or women who had families. Moreover, didn''t my mother say "famous misogynist?"


    (The misogynistic Duke who is still unmarried... there''s no doubt about it.)


    Even I, who was blinded by my engagement, knew who that famous person was.


    But why would such a person come up in this situation? I had no memory of interacting with him while conscious, so if there was a possibility, it must have been after I fell asleep.


    But I fell asleep in the carriage.


    Although the Duke could stop another carriage, I didn''t think he would do such a thing just to bring me home since we didn''t have any acquaintances. However, there was even less possibility of my mother lying.


    ...Not acquainted with each other?


    Come to think of it, the Duke''s name was __________.


    "If William doesn''t marry you, this house would be gone!"


    I was shaken so vigorously that I was overwhelmed by nausea. My thoughts were interrupted, and I pushed my mother''s hand away, waiting for my headache to subside.


    I was about to remember something, but I was disturbed.


    "Amalia! What are you doing? What kind of attitude is that?"


    "Madam! The Duke has arrived!"

 CH 5

    After that, my mother quickly got into action. Despite the confusion, she gave instructions and soon proceeded to prepare for the arrival of the Duke who would come here shortly.


    Meanwhile, I was being groomed by skilled maids. My face in the mirror was in terrible shape due to the effects of the hangover and recent stress; my chestnut hair was damaged like hay as a result of neglect; and dark circles hung beneath my emerald-green eyes.


    Until yesterday, I didn''t care how I looked, but today I felt miserable and ashamed of my disheveled appearance in the mirror. Perhaps the prospect of hope had given more room in my heart, seeing that I could afford to feel this way.


    So I ordered the maids to do the makeup carefully and choose my favorite dress. It was not that I wanted to be liked by the Duke or show off. I just wanted to like myself a little more.


    I didn''t think that putting on makeup could completely cover up my bad complexion, but it would be better than doing nothing.


    I managed to get myself ready and took a breath when I heard a yellow scream coming from the gate. Without delay, the butler came to me.


    He said, "My lady, the Duke of Lambert has arrived. When you''re ready, please greet him."


    "I''ll go now."


    I thought the Duke had already arrived, but it seemed that the panicked maids had mistaken the advance envoy for the Duke


    Thinking that he had been kept waiting for a long time, I hurried down the stairs to the hall at a brisk pace to greet him, taking the curtsy of a lady. I couldn''t see my sister, but her late return was not unusual.


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    "It''s been a while, Countess Rosebery, I''m sorry for visiting at such a time."


    "N-no! I am rather flattered!"


    The Duke who showed up was very stunning.


    His blue and white formal wear suited his silver hair well, and his ice-blue eyes, like the sky, were sweetly narrowed.


    ...I couldn''t help but think that a young man who looked like he had come straight out of a fairy tale couldn''t possibly be misogynistic. There must have been something in his past.


    As I was staring at the Duke, admiring him, our eyes met. I quickly averted my gaze, but something felt strange.


    (Despite seeing the Duke up close for the first time, why do I have a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu...?)


    Wanting to clarify my unease, I looked back at the Duke.


    "I came today because I have something I want to talk to Miss Amalia about. I won''t hurt her, so please allow me a moment alone with her."


    My always calm mother had been completely enchanted by the Duke''s face and had permitted without hesitation. Then, pushing me, who was slow to react, into the reception room, she hastily went elsewhere.


    By the time I regained my senses, the Duke had already relaxed with a suspicious smile on his face.


    "You are looking at me so passionately," he said. "I feel like I''m going to melt."


    "Oh, no, that''s not it."


    "Hehe, have you fallen for me?"


    "I admit that you have a good appearance, Your Grace, but... have we met somewhere before?"


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    With those words, the Duke froze. After a long silence, he smiled very nicely at me, who was puzzled if he had said something rude.


    "I''m going to make use of what happened today."


    "Huh?"


    "You can escape from marriage. I can become closer to her. There''s nothing to prevent you, the one who can inherit the earldom, from getting married."


    "That, that can''t be."


    "As I said earlier, if you don''t trust me, you don''t have to agree. Well, I think it''s a strange hobby to deliberately cause yourself suffering. I couldn''t possibly do it myself."


    "Hold on, are you lying...?"


    "I''ll see you tomorrow."


    It was a promise made between me and Ilvis. The Duke, who repeated it word for word, made me feel like he was quite similar to him...


    "May I ask for your name, Your Grace...?"


    "Hahaha. I didn''t expect that a lady from the earl''s family wouldn''t know the name and face of a nobleman, especially a Duke."


    "I''m very sorry..."


    "I am Ilvis. Ilvis Lambert, Amalia Rosebery-san."


    He called out my full name as if to chastise me for not remembering him. Rather than being surprised or happy, I felt uncomfortable with the majesty emanating from Ilvis'' radiant smile.

 CH 6

    "By the way, I''ve been wondering since earlier, but were you acting differently from yesterday?"


    "Well¡­ Um, I was drunk yesterday."


    Memories of yesterday''s rudeness flashed through my mind.


    (Wait, didn''t I say something about not being interested in someone like him because it would be troublesome?)


    Moreover, I remembered giving presumptuous advice to the duke. If he was angry with me now that I was sober, I wouldn''t be surprised. But when I looked at Ilvis, he unexpectedly had a lonely expression on his face.


    "That''s why you were unusually friendly yesterday..."


    "I''m truly sorry... Please forgive my drunken rambling and just let it go with a broad mind."


    "Oh, I''m sorry for misunderstanding. I''m not blaming you, Miss Amalia. It was my fault for not introducing myself properly."


    Even the maids in my house seemed to know who Ilvis was, so he must be really famous. I also heard the rumors that "Duke Lambert is a misogynist," but until recently, I had been completely focused on my engagement, so I had no interest in anything else.


    (...I really loved him, though.)


    I remembered something unpleasant.


    "In that case, I would like to be treated the same way as last night."


    "How did you come to that conclusion?! Did you say something while I was lost in thought?"


    "Were you thinking about something while I was talking? That hurts, so please stop using honorific language."


    "Why would I do that!? There''s no way I could do that to the duke!"


    "It''s no ruder than what you just said."


    I dug my own grave, and Ilvis was now pushing me harder than ever. This situation was causing me even more distress and humiliation.


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    I could choose not to say anything, but then Ilvis would likely interpret it to suit his own convenience.


    "In all seriousness, if we act distant in any way, it will arouse suspicion. Miss Amalia has a fiance, and I, unfortunately, am rumored to dislike women. Despite that, we''re attracted to each other, so it would be strange if there was no corresponding heat, right?"


    "Y-yes, I suppose."


    "Therefore, we shouldn''t give off any sense of distance in even the smallest action. Do you disagree?"


    "That''s true, I think¡­?"


    I nodded involuntarily as Ilvis said it so seriously. He was certainly not wrong, but I couldn''t help feeling oddly dissatisfied


    "Then let''s start by addressing each other informally."


    "Why are you making more demands so casually?"


    "Should we call each other by our titles as lovers then?"


    Even though I was sitting and he was taller, he looked up at me with upturned eyes. It was a gesture that suited him well, and it was envy-inducing that he had such a handsome face.


    "Uh¡­ okay, okay, I understand! But it''s difficult to call someone by their first name all of a sudden, so please let me use an honorific at least."


    "Well¡­ alright. It''s better to gradually close the distance, right?"


    I breathed a sigh of relief as Ilvis finally backed off. I felt a sense of familiarity with him after yesterday''s conversation, and I had been calling him by his first name in my head, but I didn''t have the courage to say it out loud.


    Come to think of it, why was Ilvis so willing to help me?


    He said he wanted advice on love last night, but I don''t think he needs advice from me. Even if he did, it didn''t seem to be in his best interest. The stakes weren''t balanced.


    "Why are you being so cooperative, Ilvis-sama? I''m indebted to you, but you don''t seem to gain anything from this."


    "Well, I wonder about that."


    Ilvis responded to my question with a smile. I was mesmerized by his smile and forgot to speak, causing him to deepen his smile even more.


    "By the way..."


    "Yes?"


    "You seem to look at my face often. Does it suit your taste?"


    As he said that, Ilvis leaned forward a little and peered at me from below. I''d had enough of the handsome overload, and my eyes hurt.


    "Of course it does! I mean, it''s just too wonderful!"


    "Even compared to your fianc¨¦?"


    "It''s presumptuous to compare you both! Besides, he''s not even close!"


    Ilvis had been looking at me intently while closing the distance between us, but he seemed satisfied with my response and left with a radiant smile.


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    My fianc¨¦ was decent-looking for a nobleman, but Ilvis, on the other hand, was much more perfect than any painting or sculpture.


    There was still a huge gap between their looks, like heaven and earth, but their personalities were so different that they couldn''t be compared.


    "Well, that''s good to hear."


    Ilvis seemed happy about my response, but the topic had completely changed.

 CH 7

    Ilvis cleared his throat to change the awkward atmosphere. "For now, please allow me to call you Amalia."


    "Having Ilvis-sama call me by my name feels¡­ a little strange."


    "You''ll get used to it soon enough."


    Perhaps because I had only been called by my fianc¨¦ up until now, hearing my name in Ilvis''s dignified baritone made it sound particularly special. I wondered if the rumors of his misogny were true, though his current appearance didn''t support that idea.


    "Now that we''re both a bit more relaxed," Ilvis said, "shall we get down to business?"


    "Huh? Ilvis-sama was nervous too?"


    "Well, I thought it might be better to have a talk before we were questioned by your parents."


    Ignoring the issue at hand, I remarked, "Well, that''s refreshing. You''re really good at playing it cool. But you''re right, we should discuss this."


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    "Isn''t that so? That''s why I came here so early... I forgot that there was a possibility of you getting a hangover, though."


    Saying so, Ilvis lowered his eyebrows, looking apologetic. ...Perhaps he would be misunderstood by women for doing things like this?


    "It''s my own fault for drinking too much. And Ilvis-sama, you properly sent me home. I have no complaints, only gratitude.


    "If anything, I wish you could just stop pushing your ideas on me. That would be great. Do you think you can get your way with just your looks? Your thinking might not be completely wrong, but I don''t like it."


    Ilvis chuckled and said, "It makes me feel better to hear you say that."


    "What''s your plan then?" I asked him. "You may be able to silence my parents temporarily with your status as a duke, but I don''t think they will believe that we love each other without any evidence."


    "That''s true," Ilvis replied. "So, let''s go on a lot of dates."


    "Stop dumbing yourself down like that!" I exclaimed. Because of the serious look on his face, I had unintentionally nodded.


    "I think simple solutions are often the most effective," he countered. "Think about it. Even if we claim to love each other, would your parents believe us if we''ve barely met?"


    "They wouldn''t," I admitted, "but if we go on too many dates, rumors will spread, and it''ll be a big deal!"


    Yesterday I thought he was half-joking. After all, I never expected him to do this much for a woman he had just met.


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    Ilvis seemed to think otherwise. "Actually, it would be more convenient if things got a little out of hand. I didn''t think you were so slow on the uptake, Amalia."


    "Why are you exasperated with me now¡­?"


    "Listen," he said, "I''ll handle the complicated stuff. You just focus on getting along with me."


    "That''s¡­"


    "For now, please try to deceive your parents no matter what they ask. I was planning to tell you more details, but it''s okay now. First, let''s get along well."


    Just when I thought that the distance had been shortened again, he grabbed my hand as if not to let me go. Then, without even having time to be surprised, I yelled at him so quickly that he let out a big sigh.


    As for me, I was completely taken aback.


    "Oh... I beg your pardon."


    After talking for a while and calming down, Ilvis seemed to realize that we were very close to each other. He quickly moved away from me, but the air between us was a little awkward.


    "I was going to go out with you right after this, but I decided not to. You seem to be hiding it, but you don''t look well."


    "Was it that obvious?"


    "No, I just noticed it earlier... I''m sorry for suddenly approaching you like that. I must have made you feel uncomfortable."


    Now that he mentioned it, I was only surprised and didn''t really feel uncomfortable. Do handsome guys always have an advantage even in situations like this?


    "No, I didn''t feel uncomfortable at all. But it''s true that I''m not feeling well, as Ilvis-sama has said."


    My nausea had subsided considering, but my headache showed no signs of abating. If I went out in this condition, not only would I not be able to enjoy anything, but I would probably cause trouble for Ilvis.


    "I see! I understand. I will visit you again tomorrow, so I will take my leave now."


    "Okay. But please let me see you off."


    Even though he had been refused an outing, Ilvis seemed a little happy.


    Well, I didn''t really mind since it was better than parting in that awkward atmosphere, so I didn''t pay much attention to it.

 CH 8

    As I was about to get up to see off Ilvis, I was hit with a mild case of vertigo.


    "I beg your pardon for this. Lady, please take my hand."


    My feet wouldn''t support me, so I sat down, holding my temple. Was he offering his hand to help me up?


    "Thank you, but what was it? That line."


    "Oh, didn''t you like it? I thought women were fond of this kind of thing."


    "I guess it depends on the situation and the person."


    "Do you like it?"


    "It depends on the situation and the person. By the way, that one was a no."


    "That''s harsh."


    Ilvis shrugged his shoulders and didn''t seem disappointed at all. Since there was no reason to refuse, I decided to accept his kindness.


    Come to think of it, I had never held hands with my fianc¨¦ except when he escorted me to a party.


    I had been continuing this childish relationship even at this age because I didn''t want to trouble my weak-willed fianc¨¦.


    It had been since childhood that I had had such a relaxed exchange with someone of the opposite sex, but I never imagined two days ago that it would be with someone I had just met and not my fianc¨¦.


    "I never thought a day would come when I would be escorted by a guest in my own mansion."


    "That''s because Amalia wasn''t blessed with a good person. If a charming woman like you were the one in question, any decent man wouldn''t be able to leave you alone."


    "...Are you saying that my fianc¨¦ is not decent?"


    "I''m sorry, did it sound like that?"


    "How audacious. You''re being very blunt."


    As the two of us calmly conversed and headed toward the entrance, my mother, who had apparently been waiting, came into view. I was worried she might have overheard our conversation, but if she had, she wouldn''t have been as calm as this, and there was no way my calm fa?ade would give it away.


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    "Mother, Ilvis-sama is leaving."


    "I apologize for causing a disturbance when Amalia is not feeling well."


    Thanks to my deliberate rephrasing, she quickly noticed that our way of addressing each other had changed. My mother, who frowned easily, understood this plainly and spoke rudely to Ilvis.


    "Well, thank you for your concern. But Amalia is the kind of person who is good at taking care of herself, so you didn''t have to hold back?"


    I could feel the strength in Ilvis'' hand as he pulled me towards him.


    "I cannot allow such rudeness to the important young lady of the Earl''s family. Even you, madam, if I were to do something wrong, would intend to distance Amalia, wouldn''t you?"


    If we were to make a mistake in any way, my mother would immediately use it as an excuse to distance me from Ilvis, while ostensibly blaming me.


    Ilvis seemed to understand this as well, and while wearing an archaic smile, his eyes were not laughing.


    Under the pressure of his smile, my mother came to her senses and quickly made amends.


    "The Count would be delighted to have such concern for Amalia. Thank you."


    "Hahaha. So that''s how it is. Then, I will come visit again tomorrow. Is that okay?"


    "Eh, yes! Of course!"


    If Ilvis were to press her further, my mother, who had let slip a mistake, could not deny it.


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    Ilvis was satisfied with her quick response and easily released my mother, showing a gentle smile that was quite different from before.


    "I''ll come at a slightly later time tomorrow, so please rest well tonight."


    "I understand. Thank you for your concern."


    Ilvis seemed to want to say something to me, who had returned to my stiff demeanor, but unfortunately, I couldn''t back down.


    If I made a mistake here, not only would my mother criticize me, but I was also afraid of what would come next if I made her any grumpier.


    I''ll do my best to act more like a lover from tomorrow, but for today, I''d like to be excused.


    "Goodness, only you can control me like this. Well, it''s the first day, and I guess I can say the results are good."


    Ilvis had been staring at me for a while, but when he realized that I had no intention of giving in, he gave up, albeit reluctantly.


    "Thank you for seeing me off. I''ll take my leave now."


    Whether it was good or bad timing, just as Ilvis was about to leave, a terrible, high-pitched voice came from the entrance, blocking his way.


    "A splendid carriage has stopped in front of our house, and who should it be but the Duke of Lambert!"


    It was my sister who had returned.

 CH 9

    I''ve always had mixed feelings about my younger sister since I was a child.


    But ever since she cuckolded my fianc¨¦, I''ve been filled with miserable feelings that I want to die every time I see her.


    "I''m really sorry, big sister. But I''ve always, always wanted him!


    "William took my hand, but I know that you love him, big sister.


    "I want to keep getting along with William, but I won''t take him away from you, sister! So, so you''ll forgive me, won''t you?"


    I couldn''t forget her high-pitched voice that oozed an overwhelming sense of superiority. My face twisted in contempt, and a nauseating feeling swirled inside me. I couldn''t understand anything my sister was saying.


    Did she seduce and steal my fianc¨¦, even though she knew I liked him? And now she was begging for forgiveness with the lips that seduced someone else''s fianc¨¦? Give me a break!


    But what made me even more frustrated was that I couldn''t say anything back.


    (Not take him away from big sister? Of course, that''s right.)


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    My sister only had an interest in other people''s things. I recently found out that this fetish applied to humans too. The more someone treasured something, the more they wanted it.


    In other words, for my sister, what was more important than anything else was that I had feelings for my fianc¨¦.


    She wanted him because he was "my fianc¨¦e," and I was sure she would lose interest in him the moment he became hers.


    It was a feeling I couldn''t understand at all.


    "My name is Olivia Rosebery! Um, you''re Duke Ilvis Lambert, right?"


    My sister, whom I hadn''t seen properly in a long time, seemed to be in better health than before. She must have felt good seeing me so beaten down.


    "Oh, you''re back from your morning walk, Olivia."


    My sister looked as if she had just returned from outside. In fact, she had just arrived, but my mother quickly made up an excuse before my sister could say anything strange.


    Well, for a young lady with no fianc¨¦, returning home in the morning would be nothing but scandalous. If that was the case, I really wanted them to handle the matter with my fianc¨¦ urgently.


    With a cold feeling, I averted my gaze, thinking that my sister would probably follow this advice. But then, I saw something unbelievable.


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    "I never thought I would be able to meet you, Duke, in my own home! What a wonderful day it is today!"


    "Oli...via..."


    I couldn''t even utter the words, "You''re lying." They were stuck in my throat.


    Her hungry, animalistic gaze was fixed on Ilvis, and she was blatantly fawning over him. Her dress already boldly revealing her cleavage, she emphasized it even more by drawing closer to him. Her voice, already annoyingly high-pitched, became so high that I wanted to cover my ears.


    I felt my cheeks twitch with disgust.


    My sister, who had so adamantly declared that she wanted a fianc¨¦ as much as I did, now seemed to have set her sights on Ilvis. She was still smiling sweetly, but perhaps she was already making plans to win him over. No, there was no doubt about it.


    Her scrutinizing gaze, like she was judging him, revealed her true intentions.


    Ugh, it was so creepy.


    I felt a wave of apology and disgust wash over me, and I wanted nothing more than to faint right then and there.


    Honestly, I wanted to run away, but I was the one who had involved Ilvis. I couldn''t be so irresponsible.

 CH 10

    HomeI Was Proposed to by an Unknown Duke After My Sister Stole My Fianc¨¦I WAS PROPOSED TO BY AN UNKNOWN DUKE AFTER MY SISTER STOLE MY FIANC¨¦ - CHAPTER 10


    Lazy_AuthorApril 09, 2023


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    I felt my already weak physical condition worsening due to stress.


    I thought I should silence my sister before she blurted out something irreversible, but my entire body stiffened, and I couldn''t make a sound. Despite this, my gaze remained fixed on the two of them, and I was sick and tired of hoping that I would be able to do something about it. I became unbearably frustrated with myself for relying on Ilvis.


    My sister''s appeal seemed never-ending, as though I didn''t even exist.


    "Hehehe~ This is the first time I''ve talked to you so closely, Duke. You''re really wonderful! I feel like I''m falling for you."


    "Thank you."


    "Your voice is so charming too~! What should I do? My heart is racing."


    "You must be tired from our walk. Why don''t you rest?"


    I couldn''t believe that these were the words of the woman who took away her sister''s fiance just a little while ago. I thought she didn''t feel the slightest bit of guilt, but she seemed like a completely different person who had no memory of her actions.


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    My sister, who didn''t seem to notice that she was being treated carelessly, continued to say unbearable things.


    Mother coughed up a lungful of air.


    She must not want to incur Ilvis'' displeasure; her eyes seemed to be urging me to do something quickly.


    However, before I could make up my mind, Ilvis noticed and smiled gently at me, as if to say that everything was okay. My sister, who mistook this for a smile directed at her, screamed in a high-pitched voice, but her voice did not make me stiffen again.


    "Is Lord Lambert about to leave now? I happened to hear that just now, but are you free after this? I''ll be happy to accompany you in my sister''s stead!"


    With that, my sister wiggled her body and tried to get closer to Ilvis. Of course, Ilvis maintained a distance with an arctic smile.


    (As if such a coincidence would happen.)


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    My persistent sister must know about the Duke''s carriage, and when she noticed it parked in the yard, she must have planned to get closer to it. And while she was waiting for the right moment, she must have overheard our conversation.


    "I''m sorry, but I have work to do after this."


    "Huh? But earlier you said you were going out with my sister...?"


    "Yes. But my schedule has changed for tomorrow, so I have to finish it today."


    Realizing that there was no way to win, my sister reluctantly backed down. However, her gaze was fixed on me with a hateful look, and I could tell that she would pounce on me as soon as Ilvis was out of sight.


    "Come on! The Duke-sama said so, and it would be bad to keep him any longer. Let''s see you off, lady-like, shall we?"


    As soon as my younger sister fell silent, my mother ended the conversation as if it were the perfect opportunity.


    The determination not to allow any objections was palpable.


    "I see. As Amalia''s condition seems to be worsening, it''s fine to say goodbye here."


    "Thank you for your consideration. Well then, until next time."


    "Yes, let''s meet again tomorrow. Take care of yourself."


    After quickly bidding farewell, Ilvis finally headed towards the entrance.


    "Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention one thing."


    However, Ilvis stopped in his tracks and turned to his sister with a daunting smile.


    "You can''t replace Amalia, my lady."


    I couldn''t help but gulp in surprise.


    I don''t know if it was my sister''s glare, or if it was me who heard it up close. It could be both, or maybe it was just my hallucination due to my mental exhaustion.


    But¡­


    It was certain that those words saved me.

 CH 11

    "Your Grace, I heard you refer to older sister as ''Amalia''."


    I was in a daze even after Ilvis disappeared, but my sister''s words snapped me out of it.


    She glared straight at me, her voice low enough to crawl on the ground. Her emerald green eyes, just like mine, were filled with flames of jealousy and seemed ready to burn me alive.


    I used to be afraid of my sister''s eyes like this. Whenever my sister looked at me like that, I would be terrified of what she would take from me next.


    But strangely enough, I didn''t feel any of those emotions now.


    "Sister seemed to be depressed lately... I understand now, you pretended to be depressed and got comforted by His Grace! I can''t believe it... how shameful, even though you have a fiance!"


    Shelving all her own deeds, my sister ranted her misplaced thoughts at the top of her voice. Didn''t she realize that the servants were looking at her with disgust?


    (You were the one who cuckolded that fiance, weren''t you?)


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    Perhaps for my younger sister, it may be worse for the fianc¨¦e to talk to another man while she was engaged than sleeping with her sister''s fianc¨¦. In addition, there may also be resentment towards not being able to obtain what she wanted. Either way, it was not a normal way of thinking.


    "Rumors should never be trusted! After all, His Grace looks so kind! His Grace must be misunderstood by everyone because he is shy. Yes, that must be it! Therefore, he is being deceived by greedy women like you."


    "You''re calling me greedy even though you''re glaring at me..."


    "What are you talking about, Sister? After all, I couldn''t be as humble and kind as I am, just like my selfish sister, right? He got angry for me."


    This is a morbidly positive thinking.


    It seemed that my sister''s head had a function of converting what she was told into something convenient for her.


    Seeing me speechless with disgust, my sister, who thought she had hit the mark, once again became very proud of herself.


    "I knew it! Oh, His Grace is such a poor man! If I don''t free him...!"


    With these words, my sister, who was chattering at a fast pace, ran off to her room without even looking at me. I wanted to sigh in relief, as if the storm had passed, but before that, my mother, who had been indifferent until now, let out a big sigh.


    "Ah... what a fuss this morning! Amalia and Olivia, please don''t trouble your parents so much."


    Perhaps it was because I had disrupted our plans for today, but my mother''s mood had worsened than it was in the morning. She gave a stern look in the direction where my younger sister had disappeared and then glared at me with furrowed brows.


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    "We were supposed to relax at the salon today¡­ this is the worst!"


    Once she started, my mother didn''t stop complaining about anything and everything that bothered her.


    "And you, Amalia, of all people! How could you bring Duke Lambert to the house when you already have a fianc¨¦? It''s beyond comprehension!"


    Even when my sister stole my fianc¨¦, she didn''t get this angry. It was because if anything happened to me, the engagement would be anulled.


    That was why my mother had always prioritized my fianc¨¦. I wondered if money and prestige were that important...


    "Mother, that''s not-"


    "Enough! I don''t want to hear it now. Leave it for later."


    My agitated mother wouldn''t let me say anything further and went somewhere else like my sister.


    Well, I guess it was better than being asked all kinds of questions. It was not like my mother had ever listened to me anyway.

 CH 12

    Dragging my exhausted body, I somehow managed to make it to my room. The maids prepared everything for me, and now I was lying in bed unable to move. The pounding headache prevented me from sleeping, and I just lay in the bed in a daze until the waves of pain passed. When you felt sick, you could only think of bad things.


    (Why do I have to go through this?)


    The words that had been told to me every time something happened when I was young kept circling in my head.


    "Amalia. You will marry the third son of the Worcester Marquis and inherit the family."


    The heir of the Rosebery Earl''s family. A mere existence to bear children and continue the family line.


    That was my role.


    I couldn''t endure the pressure from studying and my parents, so I rebelled by running away from home when I was young. But every time I did, I was punished, and the amount of studying and training only increased.


    And if I didn''t finish the task assigned to me that day, I would be punished again.


    Unlike me, who was strictly disciplined, my sister grew up very freely. My parents didn''t have any interest in a daughter who couldn''t inherit the family, so they gave her whatever she wanted and abolished all her training if she resisted.


    Even if my sister wanted something that belonged to me, my parents would blame me, saying, "You''re the older sister, so be patient." At first, I resisted and got angry, but my parents would look at me coldly, so I stopped resisting, afraid of being abandoned.


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    My parents were very kind only on the day when I was praised by my tutor or the day when my engagement was decided.


    Since my fianc¨¦ didn''t say anything, I quickly fell in love with him.


    So I thought that getting married and inheriting the family was my only path.


    Swallow, endure, suppress. It was better to not oppose anyone to be happy.


    That''s what I thought.


    "But no one can replace you, Amalia."


    Ilvis respected me as a matter of course.


    He even acted as my lover and cooperated in breaking off the engagement without any benefit. I was so grateful to him.


    ¡ªThanks to that, I remembered that there was something wrong with this family.


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    (I had resigned myself to being helped...)


    When my mother made a mistake, I had to warn her.


    When my sister used a flirtatious gaze at Ilvis, I had to stop her.


    When I was unfairly criticized, I had to be angry.


    (Originally, Ilvis and I were only in a relationship until my engagement was broken off. If things continued like this, even if I managed to escape this time, there would be another chance.)


    I had been deceiving myself, thinking that I was happy in a fake place because it was easier to give up on fighting. But once I became aware of the discomfort, an emptiness and anger that I couldn''t ignore began to linger in my heart.


    Suddenly, all the things that had been done to me flashed before my eyes, and I thought, "Why do I have to endure this? I''ll drag them all to hell with me!"


    I didn''t blame the servants or the citizens I had to protect. But why did I have to be the sacrifice?


    I was tired of being stolen from, taken for granted, and forced to endure injustice.


    "I no longer have a duty to serve this family, since they treated me like trash."


    I won''t forgive my sister, my parents, or my fianc¨¦.


    I''ll make them pay for the time I''ve dedicated to them.


    I was not a puppet of convenience to be manipulated as they pleased.


    My head still hurt, but I felt good. Thanks to the clarity in my heart, I could finally sleep.


    The deadline was three months.


    I had to successfully get revenge and be free before the wedding date was set.


    Judging from my sister''s behavior, she was likely to do something tomorrow. I needed to be well-rested and prepared to face her.


    Since I had never talked back to her, my sister would probably have a puzzled expression on her face.


    Ah, it seemed like I would have a good dream.

 CH 13

    The following day, I woke up refreshed.


    My body, which had been as heavy as lead the day before, now felt light as a feather. It had been a while since I had woken up feeling so refreshed.


    The soft light filtered through the curtains, and I felt relieved to see that it was a sunny day. It seemed that I had been sleeping since yesterday afternoon until now.


    Perhaps I had been sleeping too soundly to notice, or maybe no one had called me, but because I had slept through dinner time last night, I was now feeling extremely hungry.


    (Well, Mother was in a bad mood, so she probably didn''t bother to call me.)


    In the past, I would have tried to please my mother to avoid being disliked, but I had decided to stop living that way.


    Ilvis had said he would come later than he did yesterday, so I had plenty of time.


    I called the maid with a handbell, told her about today''s schedule, and had her help me get dressed. As I watched the maids pick out dresses for me to wear outside, I found something unpleasant.


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    "Emma, dispose of that green and navy dress. Oh, and those other two that Mira is holding now."


    "Eh!? B-but, these dresses are all gifts from William-sama..."


    None of those dresses were of colors suitable for a young lady to wear, and all of them were given to me by my fianc¨¦ as birthday presents. Some obviously didn''t suit my style, so he probably just sent me whatever was in fashion.


    "That''s right. Besides, you all know better than anyone that they don''t suit me at all, right?"


    "..."


    "..."


    The maids averted their eyes and fell silent all at once. That attitude was the best proof of all.


    When I received dresses from my fiance, I was excited and wanted to wear them to the party. They were the ones who had tried their best to stop me from doing so. I had doubted their decision at the time, but now I want to thank them with all my heart.


    If I had worn that dress to the party, I would have undoubtedly become the laughingstock of high society. Love clouds one''s judgment, after all.


    "Well, if you''re really hesitant to throw them away... How about sending them to Olivia? She likes to show off her body, doesn''t she? William-sama would be pleased if Olivia wore them."


    I couldn''t understand my family, but I had a good relationship with the staff.


    I had developed trust with them by taking care of the maid who had been hit with a teacup and nursing the gardener who had been punished.


    I didn''t want to see young boys and girls of my age living with painful wounds.


    My mother and sister would punish them for small things, but they were indifferent to what happened afterward. Those two probably didn''t even remember the face of a single servant.


    So that''s why nothing had been discovered until now.


    "That''s certainly a good idea!"


    "Olivia-sama has a lot of outfits, so I don''t think she knows everything. I''ll sneakily put it in later."


    The efficient maids immediately understood what I wanted to say and quickly gathered the dresses given by my fianc¨¦.


    As there were only six dresses, the task was quickly completed. The two of them happily started preparing again after choosing their outfits.


    "But seriously, what kind of change in mindset is this? I never thought I would hear such words from Amalia-sama!"


    "What are you talking about, Emma? It''s no doubt thanks to Duke Lambert. Didn''t you see how he was yesterday?"


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    "Indeed! He''s completely different from William! I couldn''t say it before, but I didn''t think that spineless guy could make the young lady happy!"


    Emma proceeded with the preparations efficiently, though she was visibly expressing her anger. Each time she spoke, I regretted why I had ever liked him for real.


    Wait, did he occasionally look at my sister from before? I really wanted to get more details about that.


    "Anyway, have you seen Lady Olivia''s face?"


    "Olivia''s face?"


    "The young lady was sound asleep yesterday, so you probably don''t know, but she was causing a big commotion after the duke left."


    "All the servants were chasing after her, so they couldn''t even deliver her dinner."


    I see, so that''s why no one tried to wake me up. According to the story, there was no one to stop her during the daytime because Mother wasn''t there.


    All the furnishings in the room that Ilvis and I used were apparently smashed to pieces. I wonder how she went on a rampage like that.


    "Come to think of it, she calmed down after going wild and then went out somewhere."


    "She got on a carriage with the family crest, so she might have gone to some nobleman''s mansion."


    "To a nobleman''s mansion? Without any prior notice?"


    Even Ilvis, a duke, sent a letter to his servant before coming. It was strange for my sister to make such a breach of etiquette to visit someone''s house without prior notice.


    "She came back before dinner, which is unusual, and seemed quite satisfied."


    "She spent all night choosing a dress, so maybe she''s going out with some young man."


    My sister? At this timing...?


    Certainly, that was not an unnatural action for my usual sister.


    However, there was no way my sister would go somewhere when she knew Ilvis was coming. Especially after causing such a commotion last night.


    (She must be up to something.)


    With a bad premonition, I asked Emma and the others to speed up the preparations.

 CH 14

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    Being skilled maids, Emma and Mira quickly helped me get perfectly prepared and brought a mirror in front of me with satisfied smiles.


    Looking at myself in the mirror, I saw that I looked like a completely different person.


    The white fabric of the princess line had a generous skirt section of lime green embroidery. The collar and long sleeves were edged with white lace, and the subtle makeup looked just right.


    The tired face of the woman from yesterday was no longer there.


    "As expected, you put too much effort into it, didn''t you?"


    "What are you talking about! It''s your first date today! What''s the point if you don''t become the world''s best princess?"


    "That''s right. William-sama hated it when the young lady dressed too excessively, so let''s show him that the young lady is more beautiful than anyone else this time."


    My fianc¨¦ did not take kindly to me dressing up glamorously. He was especially strict with exposure, but since he slept with my sister, I really didn''t see the point.


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    "Sorry to keep you waiting! This is my masterpiece!"


    "Yes, thank you. I appreciate it."


    I felt uplifted by my appearance. I felt good to be dressed like a young lady of my age for the first time. Since I had been wearing only dark colors all my life, I was not used to the white dress and spun around in front of the mirror.


    I could see Emma and Mira smiling behind me in the mirror, making me a little uneasy.


    I couldn''t help but smile back at them from the mirror.


    "Anyway, let''s have breakfast for now!"


    "Hehe, that''s right."


    "I''ve prepared the young lady''s favorite breakfast this morning!"


    To escape from their gazes, I left the room at a quick pace. As I slowly descended the stairs, trying not to trip in my unfamiliar heels, I felt, for whatever reason, that the first floor was unusually noisy.


    (...Is everyone getting ready for breakfast?)


    The quality of our family''s meals changed dramatically depending on my mother''s mood. Since I couldn''t believe that my mother was in a good mood this morning, I expected the preparations to be progressing silently.


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    Peeking into the Great Hall where breakfast was being prepared, with suspicion, I saw someone sitting there who I couldn''t believe.


    "Ah... long time no see, Amalia. Um, how are you doing?"


    The person who weakly spoke while his eyes wandered was my fiance, William Worcester, whom I couldn''t forget in this short period of time. He was sitting at our family''s dining table for some reason. My fleeting feelings of fluffiness quickly disappeared, replaced by anger.


    I mean, I didn''t want him to be so apologetic. Of course, it would be awkward since he cheated on me, but if he even felt any sense of guilt, he shouldn''t have cheated in the first place.


    Since I couldn''t possibly just hit the third son of a Marquis, I forced a polite smile while suppressing my disgust.


    "Good morning. What business brings you here at this hour today?"


    "Well, actually... Olivia came by yesterday."


    My fiance stumbled over his words, avoiding my gaze by averting his dark brown eyes. I seriously considered grabbing his collar and slapping him for what he just said. What on earth did he mean by that?


    "I see. If you had business with Olivia today, then I have nothing to do with it, so I''ll take my leave."


    "Oh, wait a minute! What are you wearing?"


    Finally looking at me, my fiance forgot what he wanted to say and instead commented on my outfit. He had been weak and hesitant just moments ago, but now he was glaring at me with lifted eyes.


    Usually, I would turn pale and hurriedly change my clothes, trying to please him. But now, I realized that I no longer needed to cater to someone like him.


    Putting on a smile I thought was the best could offer, I gave him a small smile.

 CH 15

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    My fianc¨¦, thinking I would apologize as usual, was taken aback by just that.


    I endured the urge to raise the corners of my mouth by biting my lip. With a flick, I lightly picked up the hem of my skirt and spread it out a bit, showing it off to my fianc¨¦.


    "Oh, did you notice? This dress is really lovely, isn''t it? I like it a lot, but what do you think, William?"


    "Oh, yeah. That dress is... good, I think. But I don''t think it''s good to stand out so much."


    "It''s not good to stand out, is it? Why is that?"


    If he disliked revealing dresses, I could understand. I had always thought that my fianc¨¦ didn''t like flashy clothes on women, but I had never asked him the reason for fear of being rejected.


    So I was wondering why he had slept with my sister, who seemed to embody both flamboyance and exposure, but... from the way he had just spoken, I might have been mistaken.


    "Why don''t you understand something so obvious? Women who dress like that are either narcissistic or looking for men. Olivia is like that, isn''t she?"


    "Huh... What?"


    "So you, my fianc¨¦e, don''t need to dress up."


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    He shrugged his shoulders as if to say he didn''t understand why I couldn''t see that, but that was my line. I couldn''t understand a word he was saying.


    However, after patiently ruminating over my fianc¨¦''s words again and again, I noticed a slight discomfort.


    (Is he... perhaps hiding something behind his weak-willed facade?)


    When he told me he was cheating, I was too flustered to notice, but there was a serious contradiction between his words and actions.


    My fianc¨¦, perhaps not noticing that I was thinking hard about it, acted as if he was embarrassed.


    "Oh come on, you suddenly have an opinion for me... What''s wrong with your usual calm and obedient self?"


    I tried to ignore him, but I felt a twinge in his words that interrupted my train of thought. Let''s put my doubts to the test.


    "Always calm and obedient... Are you implying that I''m submissive and will do anything you say?"


    "W-What are you talking about!? Th-There''s no way I would possibly think that!!"


    I see.


    In other words, my fianc¨¦ had been restraining me all this time just to show that he was in a position of superiority to me. And that was all.


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    "You''re really flustered, aren''t you? You didn''t get this worked up even when you were caught sleeping with my sister. Is that because it hit the nail on the head?"


    The sight of my fianc¨¦ trying to explain himself by making things up was so pathetic that I couldn''t help but laugh. But above all, I found myself laughing at the fact that I had been so concerned about his behavior up until now.


    My fianc¨¦''s face turned red with anger at my attitude.


    "When Olivia came to me crying yesterday, saying that you were flirting with another man, I thought it was just a joke to get my attention. But I hadn''t seen your face for a while, so I thought it was a good opportunity to come and check on you."


    "I can''t believe you came all the way here this early in the morning."


    Why did my sister and my fianc¨¦ both put their actions on the shelf and talk about me like I was the bad one? How could they behave as though they were the victims? I wondered how I could possibly lower myself to behave like that.


    "Enough! But this makes it clear. If there was nothing going on, you wouldn''t be acting like this toward me!"


    "Yes, yes! That''s right. As expected of you, William-sama! Now you believe what I said, don''t you?"


    Just as my fianc¨¦ began to express his emotions without any prompt from someone else, my sister appeared, her high-pitched voice echoing throughout the mansion.

 CH 16

    My sister came running, more fired up than usual. With the deep V-neck and back, the upper part of her dress was already quite revealing, but with the tight-fitting white dress, she momentarily looked naked. I wondered where in the world she had the dress made.


    My sister had never dressed so badly before. I had to do something about her before Ilvis arrived. Despite my uneasiness, my sister pushed me aside and ran to her fianc¨¦. Surprisingly, my fianc¨¦ looked disgusted, but my sister paid no attention to it and pressed her chest against his arm.


    It seemed that my fianc¨¦''s scolding could not be heard in that state.


    "Um¡­ Olivia, could you move away a bit? Amalia is here too."


    "I am saddened, my dear," she said. "I am saddened that William-sama is so considerate of my sister, and yet you, elder sister, used your charms on other men!"


    "What? You only asked me to do something because you thought Amalia was acting strange!"


    "But, but, I thought you wouldn''t believe me if I suddenly said that!"


    "I believe in you. That''s why I want Amalia to answer honestly. What did you do when you went to the party alone?"


    My fianc¨¦, who had been trying to keep my sister away, suddenly became angry after hearing her story. He hugged my sister, who was on the verge of tears, and looked at me with an expression of disbelief.


    Why did I, a victim of infidelity, have to participate in such a farce? If they want to be tragic protagonists, I wish they would do it somewhere I can''t see them.


    (Well, I don''t want to show them such a fake drama anyway.)


    I already felt like I had shown Ilvis too much. I didn''t want to cross the lowest line anymore.


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    And since they said so much, I couldn''t be satisfied until I exposed their noses.


    "Before you condemn me, why don''t you reflect on your own words and actions first?"


    "W-what are you talking about...?"


    "Even if we set aside the infidelity issue, wasn''t William-sama with Olivia again yesterday, just the two of them?"


    That last part was a lie. I didn''t want to know what the two of them were talking about, nor was I interested.


    But since the two of them had never been strongly challenged by me, I put the sickle on them, reckoning they would show their weaknesses if shaken. Sure enough, my weak-willed fianc¨¦ slipped up first.


    "Oh no, th-that''s... right, Olivia said she had something she wanted to talk to me about in private! So I did nothing wrong!"


    "William-sama!?"


    My younger sister, who was sold off easily, quickly held back her tears and stared at my fianc¨¦. Did they really talk alone together? It hadn''t been that long since then, but they were alone together ¡ª the unfaithful partner with his mistress. Hmmm.


    "I meant it as a little joke... But you really were alone together. Ah, but you and him have a more intimate relationship than with me, don''t you? I didn''t think it through enough."


    "No, it''s not like that! Nothing happened yesterday, believe me!"


    "Yester-day. It''s not something that someone who was just accusing me so confidently can say, but okay. I''m not like William-sama, so I''ll trust you properly."


    My fianc¨¦, who had obviously been relieved, seemed unaware of the sarcasm. At this rate, he probably wouldn''t say anything for a while.


    "Then, is it correct to say that you are at fault, as William-sama said?"


    When I said that with a smile, my younger sister''s shoulders shook. But she quickly glared at me with malice.


    "W-what?! I didn''t say anything wrong!"


    "I see. So you really think that the fianc¨¦ who slept with my sister is concerned about me? I wonder what kind of person my sister is."


    "Of course! I''m a very nice person, unlike my sister."


    I meant to ridicule her, but it seemed she took it as a compliment. If the two of them couldn''t even understand sarcasm, it made me feel a bit foolish for engaging with them.


    "Oh well... That reminds me, I was going to tell you what I was doing at the party alone."


    To get out of this situation as quickly as possible, I decided to end the conversation. I was hungry, but not to the point of being unable to endure it.


    "I''m not obligated to tell you, but I don''t want to be suspected unnecessarily. I was-"


    "Amalia, you''re here."


    My words were interrupted by a pleasant tenor voice. When I turned around in surprise, there was Ilvis, with a perfect archaic smile pasted on his face.