Thank you, Astarria for editing this chapter.
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I’ve always hated kind-hearted protagonists.
How can people who’ve been abused since childhood like Cinderella, or neglected by parents who are busy working, or raised in disastrously broken families, still be so kind and lovable?
Only those who have received love can give it. There’s no fantasy more unrealistic than that.
And the ones who were pampered, growing up in happy, loving families? They’re even worse—totally insufferable.
In conclusion, I’m sure I’ll absolutely hate the original story’s heroine, my half-sister, when I meet her soon.
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“Your Highness, um… have you given up on the final plan?”
I nodded vaguely, still lying in bed and enjoying my leisurely day.
“……”
Mary said nothing. I must have looked pathetic for giving up after just two days, not even lasting the usual three that people manage when trying something.
“Oh well, it’s for the best. To be honest, that plan wasn’t very good for your reputation, was it?”
She threw in some flattery, a bit late I must add. Which I responded to with a snort before burying my face in the pillow.
“I can’t help it. It’s not sincere, so my acting lacks soul.”
“What? What lacks soul?”
“My acting.”
To me, Evandel was someone I really wished would just go away. If I could put on an act of being obsessively attached to someone like that, then I should be auditioning for a theater company right now instead of lounging around like this.
“So… does this mean you’re giving up on the divorce?”
For some reason, she asked that in a slightly brighter tone. However, I wasn’t interested enough to wonder what she was expecting, so I didn’t bother asking.
“As if. Of course, I’m going through with it.”
Instead, I crushed her expectations. After all, it wasn’t nice to give people false hope.
“A benefactor will come soon to take care of everything.”
It’s just that the situation wasn’t going to be pretty.
I pressed my face into the pillow, grumbling in frustration. Honestly, it would look much better if I left on my own instead of getting kicked out.
Well, I could use that as an opportunity to demand a larger settlement. If I divorce amicably, wouldn’t they give me a couple of houses, maybe a villa or two?
On the brighter side, it would be a good chance to gain independence from both my lousy husband and the imperial palace.
Mary, unable to comprehend my ahead-of-time words, asked in confusion;
“A benefactor you say?”
I tried to explain by reusing the term she had brought up earlier.
“You said it yourself. In situations like this, we need a charming love suitor.”
I don’t know exactly when, but if I wait long enough, won’t she eventually show up? I thought to myself, hopeful.
“Haha, as if. What a joke.”
But Mary burst into laughter, denying it outright.
Why does everyone in this house take my words as a joke?
“No matter who you send, it won’t work on His Excellency. If it were going to, there would’ve been rumors by now. But all there is are rumors that he’s impotent… Gasp!”
“……Is there really a rumor like that?” I asked, surprised.
That was something I had thrown out just to provoke him the other day. No wonder he reacted so out of character.
“It’s not like it’s true!” Mary quickly responded.
“How do you know whether it’s true or not?”
“T-That’s…”
Though she was usually quick on her feet, Mary seemed at a loss this time, looking like she was about to cry. I chuckled at her funny reaction, and Mary, realizing I was making fun of her, narrowed her eyes at me.
“You’re too much, your Highness!”
“I’ll give you a performance bonus this month.”
“…..”
At those words, her sharp eyes quickly softened into crescent moons. Honestly, Mary was someone perfectly suited for capitalism. I shook my head at her endearing cunning.
“Even though I didn’t succeed with the divorce, you still put in a lot of effort.”
“Your Highness, you are truly generous!”
“…Come on, be honest with me. If someone offered you more money than I do, you’d immediately go running to them, wouldn’t you?”
At my reasonable suspicion, Mary’s mouth dropped open in shock, as if I had just accused her of betraying a comrade.
“How could you say that!”
“…Are you denying it?”
“Absolutely! Besides, who could possibly offer more than Your Highness… No, wait, that’s not what I wanted to say! Don’t look at me like that! I’m completely loyal to Your Highness.”
“…..”
It felt like she let her true thoughts slip for a moment there, but I decided to let it slide this time. Yeah, honestly, being motivated by profit is more reliable than some laughable sense of loyalty.
“Before you even think of betraying me, at least ask if I can match the other person’s offer. You never know, I might throw in double the money.”
“Oh stop it, Your Highness!”
As I was passing time with Mary, chatting about this and that, there was a sudden knock on the door, followed by the butler’s voice.
“Your Highness, the Marquis urgently wishes to speak with you.”
“What?”
The Marquis has never sought me out before. What’s gotten into him to suddenly want to talk in the middle of the day?
“Can’t it wait? I really don’t want to deal with this right now.”
If I were already dressed to go out, I would be curious about the matter and would step outside, but now, half-lounging on the bed in comfortable pajamas, this unexpected request felt nothing but bothersome.
But then an unexpected voice suddenly cut in.
“If it’s too much trouble for you to move, I’ll come in.”
This voice….
The door swung open. Startled, I hurriedly sat up and tried to fix my disheveled hair. Mary, who had been picking up items scattered on the floor, hurriedly left the room as well.
The immediate fire was extinguished, but it was quite unpleasant to have my leisure interrupted. I glared fiercely at the uninvited guest who had arrived without warning; my sharp tone reflecting my mood.
“What the hell? What’s with all this commotion?”
But Evandel, instead of answering, turned around as soon as he saw my attire. His flustered demeanor was unlike him, like someone who was easily embarrassed.
I sneered at his reaction, which was completely different from when he barged in, unannounced.
“Are you flustered by my outfit?”
Was this really enough to shock him? Anyone would think I was naked. I could just throw a shawl over this and it would be good enough to go out.
“I’d appreciate it if you could please get dressed…”
“You seem to have forgotten; we’re a married couple. Can’t you handle seeing me in my pajamas?”
When I brought Tony over last time, I was practically in my underwear, and he didn’t even bat an eye then.
I heard a soft sigh, then he slowly turned towards me. He hadn’t even taken off his coat, making it look like he’d rushed right over as soon as he got home.
What could be so urgent that he needed to tell me right away?
As I furrowed my brow, going over the possibilities in my mind, he finally opened his mouth;
“A letter has arrived from the palace.”
“And?”
The moment I heard the word “palace,” I began to have a vague sense of what was happening. Suddenly, Evandel came to sit on the edge of the bed before tightly grasping my hand.
“Your Highness.”
His voice was filled with emotions.
It was hard to tell if I was imagining it, but his face was filled with an unknown sense of anticipation. Moreover, his usually cold gaze had softened like flower buds welcoming spring.
Startled by the unfamiliar warmth spreading through my hand, I dazedly stared at him.
What is with this attitude? Why is he suddenly holding my hand?
“They say you have a younger sister, Your Highness.”
“……”
“A younger sister, Your Highness. Although, she’s not much younger than you.”
At those words, a chilling shiver ran down my spine. It was ironic that I was hearing such news just after hinting at the arrival of the heroine to Mary.
What really puzzled me, however, was Evandel’s attitude. Why was he so happy to share this with me?
…Could it be that he has already met her and has fallen for her?
“So?”
“……”
A small crack appeared on his face, which had held a gentle smile. Unconsciously, he slowly let go of the hand he had been gripping.
“She is your younger sister. Aren’t you happy…?”
“What?”
I let out a scoff at the absurd question.
Happy? Was he out of his mind?
“I already have two worthless siblings. What difference does it make if this one is a girl?”
“Still, she is just like you…”
Ah, I see.
He seems to think that a new family member not entangled in the chaotic royal family drama will help the already decayed emotional state of Attila. After all, he is inseparable from his younger brother. This man has forgotten the immutable truth that not everyone is like him.
“Evandel.”
I let out a light sigh as I gazed at him, making sure to look at him with a hint of pity.
“Is that why you rushed here?”
“……”
“To tell me the result of my father’s infidelity?”
“……Yes.”
His brightly shining eyes instantly dimmed like a candle extinguished by a splash of water. He looked as if he had been profoundly shocked by my cynical words.
“Don’t you think we’re too old for fairy tales now?”
“……”
Evandel remained silent for a long time.
His hand, which had completely let go of mine, fell onto the sheets like a withering leaf. He was looking down at the floor with an expression as if he had just received bad news. Soon, a gloomy and self-deprecating voice emerged from him;
“I… must have been mistaken. As you said, your Highness, you’ve grown up.”
“……”
“Still, since the emperor’s command has been given, we need to visit the palace as soon as possible. I plan to leave the day after tomorrow, so please be ready.”
With that, he left the room without waiting for my response.
The sudden silence that filled the room after the door closed was bitter. The ending was so different from the atmosphere when he arrived that it left me feeling unsettled.
Wasn’t it strange to expect that I would welcome a half-sister born from my father’s affair?
Who was the one with the ridiculous hope, and why was he acting like a victim?
Besides, it’s not like this got anything to do with me.
[If Dexter Crest had been a girl, I would have at least acknowledged him.]
[What?]
[You never know. If he was a girl, he might not have resembled the Emperor.]
“Ah….”
A fragment of a past scene suddenly pierced my mind sharply.
I couldn’t exactly pinpoint how long ago it was, but it seemed like it was a good ten years ago, and I was left utterly dumbfounded.
“Seriously, you’ve remembered that all this time?” I mumbled.
It was just meaningless nonsense Attila had casually blurted out back then. How foolish.
“The female lead is here, huh…”
I had wanted to avoid it so much, yet the time to confront her had finally come.
“Yeah, the sooner, the better.”
They say strike while the iron is hot; if I have to see her anyway, it would be better to get it over with quickly.
“I’m finally going to get my divorce.”
Though it was an unexpected turn of events, the shock wasn’t as great as I had anticipated. At this point, I thought; let it come; I have nothing more to lose.
…If I had known what kind of person she was, I probably wouldn’t have been so complacent.
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