“That, Lady Lireania?”
My voice calling her again trembled. It wasn’t just my voice; my whole body was shaking.
“Oh gosh! What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, it’s not that…”
The trembling intensified, reaching my chin at a rapid pace.
Startled, Lireania stood up abruptly. “I’ll call a doctor.”
“No, wait, I have something to say.”
I did my best to hold back the trembling of my chin. Lireania frowned worriedly and sat back down.
“Did you receive an invitation to this imperial ball?”
“No. It seems that since I’m not formally registered in the baron’s family, the invitation didn’t reach me.”
That’s right. If you’re not someone’s partner, you can’t attend the ball at the imperial palace.
“That’s why, this time, it should be you, Lady Lireania, who goes with my brother.”
“No, I can’t do that.”
Lireania spoke with a benevolent expression. It was similar to the face of my deceased mother. The expression every mother makes while reading a fairy tale to her daughter in front of the fireplace during winter.
“You two have always been together, haven’t you?”
To her, this was a matter of course. Indeed, even before I became an adult, Serhen always took me as his partner to balls. He had never taken anyone else. But that was also because he didn’t attend balls often. This would be his first ball since dating Lireania.
“Well, cough, so this time, Lady Lireania should go.”
“Why?”
My head started to throb again. Was I dreaming because of the fever?
“Because you’re a couple about to be married.”
Hot breath poured out of my mouth.
Lireania looked at me with concern and changed the cold towel again. She also offered me warm water to relieve the chills I was feeling.
“That’s why it’s better if Lady Ariel goes with Lord Serhen. After Lord Serhen and I get married, it will be hard for you two to be together again. This is your last chance.”
Why is this woman always so kind-hearted?
Since Serhen kept me so close, many young ladies disliked me. Because of them, I relied more on Serhen. It was a vicious cycle. Although I wasn’t bullied in society due to being one of the few high-ranking noble ladies, there was subtle exclusion. The me in the book seemed to have had it worse than I do now.
The one person who always approached me kindly was Lireania. The person who was kind to me without any ulterior motives. The sister I didn’t want to lose and wanted to protect.
“Don’t you want to be partnered with my older brother?” I asked, trembling, wondering if she was being so generous because she loved Serhen less.
Lireania made a stern face. “No. From now on, I won’t let anyone take Lord Serhen’s side, not even you, Lady Ariel.”
Before I knew it, I hugged her tightly.
I like her so much. How wonderful that such a person will become my sister-in-law.
“I’ll make sure you’re happy.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. It was because the ending of the novel filled my mind through the feverish heat.
[“Lord Serhen, I love you.” The woman with unfocused eyes reached out to Kasion as if pleading to be hugged.
Kasion looked at her and smiled sadly. Lireania then fell asleep peacefully in his arms, dreaming sweet dreams.]
An ending meant only for Kasion. I absolutely didn’t want to create such a tragedy. I couldn’t let such a kind and wise woman end up like that. I felt a surge of resentment toward Kasion and the fate in this novel, and I nearly burst into tears.
I bit my lip to keep from alarming Lireania. Then my chin started trembling again.
“Me too. I also want to make both Lady Ariel and Lord Serhen happy.” She patted my back as if she were already my real sister. As I briefly entrusted myself to that warm touch, the trembling in my chin subsided as the chill faded a little.
Lireania laid me back down. She wiped my forehead with a wet towel and took care of me. Re-soaking the towel as it quickly became hot from my fever, she placed it back on my head. There was no sign of annoyance on her face as she personally did things the maids could have done.
How truly grateful I was.
“Um, Lady Lireania, then will you not attend this ball? Since you didn’t get an invitation, you can’t go alone.” I asked while she sat down to catch her breath.
“It doesn’t really matter if I don’t go. If someone else invites me, I might follow.”
My shoulders stiffened. As expected. If I went to the ball with Serhen, Kasion would surely seize the opportunity to be with Lireania. I had to stop it. If I couldn’t get Lireania to do that, I’d have to move Serhen, and if that didn’t work too, I would have to stop Kasion myself.
My eyes darted around nervously. Fortunately, Lireania didn’t notice that.
“But Lady Ariel, what kind of person is the duke?”
Why is she suddenly interested in him? Is she thinking of making him her partner?
My heart pounded. I wanted to scream at her to beware because he was a future criminal. But right now, he’s just a war hero. I couldn’t insult someone who hadn’t done anything yet.
When I kept my mouth shut, Lireania continued. “Since your family is close with him, Lady Ariel must know him well.”
“Yes, that’s right. Since he’s my brother’s only friend, I know him better than others.”
Is this my chance? I can’t outright slander him, so I’ll try to be subtle…
“My brother says he might get dragged back to war again.”
“That’s not his fault, is it?”
This won’t work.
“Unlike my brother, he’s sensitive and has a bad temper. Just look at his appearance. He already has scary slit eyes, but because he built up his muscles, he looks even more like a bandit…”
Was that too much? Lireania’s face darkened a little.
“Do you dislike him?”
I had to seize this opportunity.
“…Yes. I really dislike him. He scares me, and I just don’t like him.”
“Oh dear, what should we do?”
I silently cheered at Lireania’s reaction.
“Then we’ll have to find another way.”
I was so relieved. She was willing to give up for my sake.
“He’ll have to suffer some hardship too, hoho.”
Kasion would be fine without Lireania as his partner; plenty of people were likely lining up for the chance.
* * *
Two days later, I was feeling much better, though my mind was in turmoil and chaos. The reason was because of Serhen.
“You’re telling me to go to the ball with Lireania? What about you?”
I’ll take care of Kasion. I wanted to say that, but given Serhen’s recent mood, I felt it was best not to.
“Well, I’ve not been feeling well lately…”
It wasn’t a lie. Since that day, I hadn’t been sleeping well, plagued by nightmares hinting at Serhen and Lireania’s misfortune.
“It’s my last chance to partner with you at a ball…” Serhen looked disappointed.
I understood how he felt. I didn’t want to miss my last chance to go to a ball with my beloved brother either. But I had no choice. According to my impregnable plan, this was something I had to give up.
I spoke up boldly. “On the other hand, it’s also the first chance for you and Lady Lireania to share a dance.”
This event was significant in the novel. It was something Kasion frequently recalled in the later part of the story. As I vividly remembered the novel’s ending, I knew I had to prevent this event.
“Just seeing you and Lady Lireania enter the imperial palace as partners will make me so happy that my heart might burst.”
“We can’t have your heart bursting.”
Serhen’s serious face almost made me laugh. Why is my brother, who’s older than me, so adorable?
I stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheek with a ‘mwah.’ “It’s my wish.”
It was a magic word. Whenever I pouted, it always worked.
“Just make sure not to do anything that might upset Lady Lireania even a little.”
Serhen’s lifelong partner wouldn’t be me but Lireania.
“So, you’re going to ask Lady Lireania today?”
“Today?”
“Yes. The blue roses in the garden have fully bloomed.”
Yes. If my memory serves me right, today was the day Kasion would make his move. The day he would ask Lireania to be his partner,
“So, how about gathering a bouquet of roses as a symbol of becoming the hostess of the marquisate? Wouldn’t that be so touching?”
“Yes, Lireania would love that.”
“Right?”
Seeing me jump for joy, Serhen placed his hand on my head. “Thank you for yielding to Lireania.”
“No! It’s not yielding; it was her place to begin with.”
“But what about you? Are you not planning to go to the ball?”
No, I was definitely going. Even if I had to go alone. I had to go and keep a close eye on Kasion’s actions.
“I can go alone… or with one of the family’s knights if anyone’s available.”
Serhen seemed to dislike both options slightly. “If you’re not feeling well, I’d rather you not go at all.”
It was better to reassure him for now.
“Yes, that would make me feel better.”
As soon as Serhen finished speaking, I called for Selvia. “Tell the maids to make my brother look as dashing as possible. He should look even better than when he goes to a ball. Make it so that even passing noblewomen can’t help but gape!”
The maids loved dressing up Serhen, so they would do a good job.
“Selvia, you’re coming with me.”
“Huh? Why? Can’t I help dress up the marquis?”
“You have something better to watch.”
“Something better?” Selvia’s eyes widened with curiosity.
I gave my maid a wide smile. “Yes. My brilliant performance.”
It was time for me to stand as an impregnable wall to drive Kasion away for the sake of my brother and my new sister-in-law.
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