Chapter 20
After a deep embrace with her sister, Irene’s eyes sparkled. She pulled Ebony’s arm into her chest and linked arms with her.
“How was Evgenia?”
“It was fun. I made lots of good memories with Leon.”
Ebony replied nonchalantly and turned her body in the opposite direction, naturally loosening their linked arms.
“You had fun even though I wasn’t there?”
But Irene, moving in sync with her, grabbed Ebony’s other arm and linked them again.
As Ebony glared at her shameless sister, she suddenly noticed a familiar dress. Irene was wearing the gown that Ebony had received as a gift from the Evgenian Empire.
Sensing Ebony’s gaze, Irene followed her line of sight. Realizing that her sister was looking at her dress, she smiled brightly.
“I borrowed your dress for a bit. I’m your sister, so that’s okay, right?”
She spoke as if sharing things between family was natural, though she had never once shared any of the countless accessories and dresses she had received over the years.
“How does it look? Doesn’t it suit me well?”
Irene twirled in place, causing the red skirt to flare out gracefully like a blooming flower.
Her eyes sparkled with expectation, as if she was waiting for praise.
“Yes, it suits you well.”
“Even better than on you?”
“Yes, even better than on me.”
“See! I told you something this glamorous looks better on me.”
Satisfied, Irene spun around once more.
How childish.
Ebony barely suppressed a smirk as she watched the scene unfold.
“Then do you want to keep wearing it from now on?”
“Really?”
“Yes, I’m kind of tired of it.”
Of course, childishness was best met with more childishness.
“…You’re tired of it?”
“Yes.”
Ebony smiled innocently and added,
“Besides, Leon was kind enough to prepare some gifts for me. I can wear those instead.”
Of course, the real giver was Diego, not Leon. But she didn’t feel the need to mention that.
Ebony carefully watched Irene’s reaction. The light smile on her sister’s face quickly darkened.
Irene, struggling to control her expression, soon regained her composure as if nothing had happened.
“You really shouldn’t bother Leon like that! He’s too kind to show it, but I’m sure he must have been really troubled.”
“I was very careful. I think it’s fine. You don’t have to worry.”
“…Why?”
“Because he actually cares about me more than I thought.”
Ebony smiled playfully, continuing her little game.
“I didn’t know, but he often sent letters to me. He never got a reply because he never received my letters in the first place.”
“Oh my, really?”
“Isn’t that strange? We both wrote letters, but neither of us received one. That’s suspicious, don’t you think?”
Irene, who had stopped walking, tilted her head without a change in expression.
“You’re right. That is strange. Shouldn’t we fire the estate’s courier?”
“I don’t think it was the courier’s mistake. Leon is sure that someone deliberately intercepted our letters.”
“That’s quite a leap. Why would anyone go through so much trouble?”
“Well, maybe someone wanted to create a rift between us.”
“…”
“Leon said that if he finds out who did it, he will punish them severely. He seemed really angry.”
Ebony touched her cheek as if troubled, then stole a glance at Irene.
Her sister’s expression stiffened like someone with something to hide.
An awkward silence settled in as Irene’s usual chatter suddenly dwindled.
Then, as if trying to change the subject, she hurried ahead and blocked Ebony’s path.
“Let’s stop with such scary stories and talk about something else! Did you see Diego? I heard you went all the way to the north! Father wouldn’t tell me any details.”
Thanks to Leon’s discretion, their family had no idea that Ebony had recklessly sought out Diego on her own.
“I met him once. I didn’t recognize him at first, but as soon as I saw him, I knew. He was just as exceptional as you said.”
“Right? Ah, just thinking about him makes me dizzy…!”
Irene placed a hand on her forehead dramatically, pretending to swoon.
“Did you mention me to him?”
“Of course.”
“What did he say? Did he remember me?”
In truth, Ebony hadn’t mentioned Irene at all.
For a moment, she considered how to answer.
Even if she had brought up Irene, Diego wouldn’t have remembered her.
He would have simply looked mildly annoyed and asked, “Is this someone I should know?”
Telling Irene the truth would certainly hurt her.
Watching her despair would be satisfying, but…
“Yes, he remembered you.”
A better idea came to mind.
“He seemed to think quite highly of you, especially for someone who never replied to your letters.”
“He thought highly of me? Not as an annoying pest?”
“Of course. He even mentioned wanting to meet you properly next time.”
“No way!”
Giving her false hope.
Building up her world, only to shatter it later.
“That must mean my letters had an effect! He must have been moved by them!”
“Seems like it. Why not write more letters? Maybe now he’ll finally reply.”
“You’re right!”
Irene suddenly let out an excited gasp.
“I need to get some high-quality parchment and a new fountain pen! And perfume! You’ll come with me, right, Ebony?”
“Of course. How could I not help with your love?”
Ebony smiled sweetly as she watched her sister’s delighted face.
She looked so endearing.
So much so that Ebony wanted to break her completely.
The fifteen days at Leon’s estate had passed in the blink of an eye, but the ten days at the Dominique estate felt unbearably slow.
During this tedious time, Ebony made plans for her next meeting with Diego.
Although they had already signed the contract and would meet again at the wedding in a few months, she didn’t want to just wait idly.
The worst-case scenario was that he might back out of the contract.
There were heavy penalties for breaking the agreement, but Diego was unpredictable. He might just pay the fine and walk away.
‘Worrying too much is pointless.’
Ebony shook off her thoughts.
Rather than waste time overthinking, it was better to take action.
She recalled her shopping trip with Irene a few days ago.
Her sister had bought an extravagant crystal-encrusted fountain pen, the finest lambskin parchment, and a scented candle infused with fresh floral fragrance—all for writing letters to Diego.
‘She must have finished writing by now.’
Ebony turned toward Amy, who was standing by the door.
“What has my sister been up to?”
She was testing Amy, who had promised to act as a double agent.
“She’s been writing a letter to His Excellency Magnus of Evgenia every day. But she keeps rewriting it, saying it’s not perfect.”
It seemed Amy was doing her job well, carefully monitoring Irene.
“And the other task I gave you?”
“She’s been too preoccupied with the letter to focus on anything else.”
Ebony had expected Irene to plot some sort of revenge, but it seemed her obsession with Diego had consumed her entirely.
Turning back toward the table, Ebony gave a new order.
“When my sister finishes her letter, bring it to me.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I mean, give it to me instead of the courier.”
Ebony watched Amy’s reflection in the mirror. The girl hesitated, uncertain.
But the moment their eyes met in the glass, Amy quickly nodded.
“Yes, understood.”
