I’d Rather Abandon Than Be Abandoned

### Marie, Claudia’s Maid

Marie was one of the minor villains in the original work.

She was assigned to harass Naila under Claudia’s orders.

Watching her now, a new thought crossed my mind.

‘It’s strange, isn’t it? When I played the game as Naila, Marie seemed incredibly vile…’

But now, as Claudia, she didn’t seem vile at all.

She was just a cute, ordinary girl with brown hair tied in braids.

“You should hurry before Sir Luke scolds you! He tends to come out quickly!”

Marie urged, bouncing on her feet.

It seemed that my brother, Luke, and Naila had already arrived at the location.

I had spent too long staring at the mirror.

“Yes, I’ll be down soon.”

When I responded with a light smile, Marie’s cheeks turned red for no reason.

It was clear, even at a glance, that she liked Claudia very much.

After all, hadn’t she done all sorts of things to Naila under Claudia’s orders?

It would have been difficult to do that without considerable loyalty.

‘I must make sure not to give Marie any bad tasks this time.’

I couldn’t turn someone who was so devoted to me into a villain.

Of course, I also planned to make friends with everyone this time, without acting like a villain.

So I wouldn’t meet a fitting end as an evil woman later on.

‘My first goal is to survive.’

That’s why I had prepared this tea party.

A tea party was essential to get closer to my estranged younger siblings.

But if I were late, I might incur their resentment instead.

I hurried to the garden, clutching the hem of my dress.

“Have you been waiting long?”

When I arrived and greeted them, Luke and Naila looked at me simultaneously.

I ignored Luke’s piercing gaze and took my seat.

Unfortunately, I was seated apart from them.

Luke, despite being my brother, was glued to Naila’s side.

I tried to recall a conversation between Claudia and Luke.

[Claudia, stop harassing Naila. It’s disgraceful.]

[Disgraceful? What do you mean? Did she badmouth me to you?]

[Naila has done nothing wrong. She never spoke ill of you.]

With a composed face, he delivered his sharp words.

[You isolated yourself, not Naila.]

[Brother…]

[If I see you troubling Naila again, I won’t spare you, even if you are my sister.]

After that, he became a dependable brother protecting Naila… I remembered reading that part.

In other words, Luke was set up to despise Claudia due to her misdeeds.

And my memory was correct. He was glaring at me with intensity.

His gaze didn’t match the sweet treats in front of us.

‘Glaring at your own sister. We have the same eye and hair color, yet…’

Seeing a relative with a face so similar to mine showing such hostility made me feel rather bitter.

It seemed I needed to make him an ally too.

“Don’t glare at me. I’m sorry for being late. Well, actually, I came out on time.”

Checking the clock tower in the mansion, I saw that I wasn’t late.

They had just arrived too early.

Luke scoffed at my apology.

“Sorry? You’re apologizing in front of Naila, something you haven’t done in a month… Did you hit your head?”

A month ago… That was when I first came to this world, and I wasn’t in my right mind.

‘Where am I? Who are you?’ I kept saying things like that.

Now I was pretending to be Claudia, accepting my situation.

Yet, Luke often mentioned that time and doubted my sanity.

“I didn’t hit my head. What’s wrong with apologizing? And I told you, I was just groggy a month ago.”

“Not interested, so what’s your scheme?”

“Scheme?”

“You don’t even like dining face-to-face with Naila, so there must be a reason you called us.”

Luke’s eyes were full of deep mistrust as he looked at me.

“Once I hear it, we’re both leaving. We only came out of curiosity. This foolish tea party holds no interest.”

I had planned to win Luke over.

But seeing his attitude now, I doubted if it was possible.

‘What should I do…? He’s such a pain. He might just get in the way of making Naila an ally…’

After some thought, I sighed deeply.

Then I relaxed back in my chair.

“How about you go back first, brother?”

“What?”

“If this tea party is so foolish, there’s no need to stay.”

The original Claudia wanted to take Luke back from Naila.

She would act cute and sweet like a kitten when he appeared, despite bullying Naila.

It must have been shocking for him to see me change my attitude suddenly.

His trembling eyes showed his emotions clearly.

“…What?”

Though it was bothersome, I kindly repeated myself.

“I don’t care if you stay or go. If you’re bored, you can leave. I had something important to say, but I’ll just tell Naila.”

“What will you do to Naila if I leave?”

It was pathetic how he imagined a witch fighting over lovely Naila.

So I didn’t answer.

Partly because I had a mouthful of cake.

In the tense silence, he suddenly burst out laughing.

“Oh, I get it now. You’re afraid of losing the crown prince to Naila, right? Because he prefers her over you.”

“…”

“You’re hoping to beg kind-hearted Naila to yield, aren’t you?”

Hearing that, the core setting of the game came to mind.

‘Ah, right. Claudia and Naila are rivals for the crown prince’s love.’

Claudia had been destined to be the crown prince’s partner since childhood.

This was due to a promise the emperor had made to his loyal servant… Claudia’s father.

Luckily, Claudia didn’t reject her arranged marriage with the crown prince.

In fact, she loved him dearly.

The problem was that the crown prince loved Naila, not Claudia.

This naturally made Claudia and Naila rivals in love.

‘I guess Luke has every reason to suspect that. Everyone knows the crown prince loves Naila more. Claudia really did see Naila as a threat.’

Agreeing with him briefly, my mood soured again.

‘Still, what a filthy way to speak…’

Just as my anger was boiling, Luke started to irritate me again.

“No matter how much you pretend to be good, it’s too late. The wise crown prince sees through your vile nature. Even if Naila yields, his feelings won’t change…”

“I was going to ask him to break off our engagement.”

“…What?”

I had no intention of getting between a happy couple.

My goal was to maintain good relationships and naturally break off the engagement.

For the sake of survival.

‘Of course, it’s not like I can just end the engagement on my own.’

But since the crown prince also disliked me, it might be easier.

Luke, unaware of my deep thoughts, still looked blank.

But soon, suspicion returned to his eyes.

“What will you do after breaking the engagement?”

“I’ll go search for spirits. I don’t like clinging to a man who dislikes me.”

“Spirits? Have you lost your mind…? Even the empire’s best scholars and knights couldn’t find them. How do you plan to?”

This game had a fantasy element in its world.

Unicorns, dragons, pegasi, spirits, fairies, gods…

Such mythical beings existed.

They were hidden in mysterious places, but that was no problem for me.

Thanks to playing the game 200 times, I knew where the spirits appeared.

“That’s not your concern, brother.”

When I said that with a smile, his face hardened.

He might be regretting his previous behavior now that I wasn’t acting cutesy.

But I had no intention of treating him well.

‘I’ll keep treating Luke like this. The original Claudia pathetically sought affection from such a person… but I won’t.’

I planned to repay kindness with kindness.

And repay malice with greater malice.

Luke sneered.

“Fine. Do your best. If father allows your foolish plan.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. Just don’t run to father to tattle.”

I dismissed Luke and turned my head.

“And Naila, shall we walk if you’ve had enough snacks? I’ll tell you how to gather spirits.”

“Huh? Did you mean me?”

Naila looked startled.

She hadn’t expected me to speak to her.

Claudia rarely addressed her first, so it was understandable.

“Of course, I meant you. There’s only one Naila here. Come on, get up.”

“Oh…!”

Thinking a walk might ease the awkwardness, I stood her up.

Then I led her to the rose garden.

The high rose bushes enclosed the garden, making it perfect for a private conversation.

“Phew… It’s finally quiet.”

I sighed as we reached the rose garden.

Dealing with Luke had already worn me out.

I was glad he hadn’t followed us. It was worth provoking his pride to keep him away.

I turned to Naila.

“Shall we have a talk?”

I intended to strengthen our sisterly bond.

But Naila seemed to misunderstand my suggestion.

“Alright, go ahead. I came prepared.”