Chapter translated by Gon.
Etisha was not afraid of losing her reputation. She was already humiliated by her family and had no honor to protect. However, it was another matter for Duke Kaiyen.
So, she took a step back.
“If the Duke is uncomfortable with people gossiping about us, we can start with an engagement announcement.”
“…….”
“You’ll need time to explain things to your…… mistress, too. I understand.”
“Miss Etisha.”
Kaiyen approached her, who had stepped back.
He still had her hand in his, the one with a ring on the ring finger.
“I thought I told you that you were now a Windell.”
“…….”
“You are now the Duchess of Windell. It is more than acceptable for you to decide how you wish to announce your marriage.”
With those words, Kaiyen released her hand, and Etisha gave another glance to the ring on her finger.
It was Windell’s family ring.
“……Thank you so much, Duke.”
She was grateful that the Duke was willing to respect her wishes.
Rumor had it that he was a ruthless, brutal war hero–with a frighteningly cold personality–but the man standing in front of her right now was nothing of the sort.
‘He is being so kind to me. Is it because I’m the one who’s going to be the Duchess, even if it’s just in name only?
Etisha sighed inwardly.
‘No, it’s probably because I’m as good as dead. It’s pity…….’
Truthfully, whether it’s politeness, or sympathy for the fake wife, it didn’t matter to Etisha.
She already got everything she wanted. She didn’t need to understand Kaiyen’s heart.
‘The duke’s heart is his mistress’s problem. I just need to be invisible like air until I die.’
“Well then, why don’t we announce our marriage in two days?” Elisha proposed with determination.
“It will be the last day……. Alright, let’s do that.”
Etisha bowed before slipping out of the balcony while the Duke remained there alone.
And just like that, the negotiations were over.
* * *
Every aristocrat’s eyes were glued on Etisha, who had returned to the party.
“Look who finally showed up.”
“What were they talking about in private? I thought they were talking about the bride…….”
“You don’t think young Lady Heinz is going to marry Duke Windell, do you?”
I could clearly hear the whispers of the young ladies covering their mouths with their fans.
At this point, it was as if they were asking me to listen.
“Of course not, unless you’re a Heinz young lady, and Miss Etisha is a bit…….”
“Ah, yes, I see, I must have made a mistake. By the way, the youngest lady Heinz is a bit late for the party today. It’s the first day of the festival, is she perhaps coming?”
“Yes, it’s a bit strange. Miss Larienne, who never misses a party is absent, while Miss Etisha, who always stays home, is here instead. I wonder what’s going on.”
The young ladies were whispering among themselves while glancing at Etisha.
They all wanted to know where Larienne was.
They were correct. Larienne was a social butterfly.
She had a villainous smile, committed horrible acts without a care in the world, and was childish.
‘And yet everyone loves her.’
Larienne had gorgeous red hair that attracted attention.
Etisha believed that her arrogance came from her pretty appearance.
‘My hair, on the other hand, is a boring pale pink color.
Etisha’s hair color was actually a beautiful pink color. However, when she was put next to Larienne, her hair looked dead compared to her step-sister’s.
She was barely visible.
Her stepmother, Dorothea, and even her father, Viscount Heinz, had made fun of her hair.
“Your sister has gorgeous hair, so she needs to wear dresses and jewelry that matches her hair. On the other hand, your hair is quite dull. Fancy dresses and jewelries won’t suit you.”
Thinking about it now, it sounded funny.
‘Who cares about hair. I’m going to die anyway, so I don’t need any extravagant dresses or jewels.’
Etisha shook her head silently.
But then, the main door to the party hall suddenly swung open and a trumpet sounded, announcing someone’s arrival.
“The Honorable Larienne Heinz!”
Although Larienne came from a low ranked noble family, she was a social celebrity.
“Last month, she burned the countess’s tea table, and last year, she tore down the prince’s favorite painting.
There was only one reason for her extraordinary behavior.
Larienne was a rascal, a rascal who knew no bounds.
She’d been that way since childhood, and it hadn’t changed as an adult. If she liked something, she had to have it, and if she didn’t like something, she had to smash it.
At first, people criticized her behavior, but with time, they just accepted it.
Nowadays, people merely sighed, saying that she was Larienne Heinz after, brushing over whatever she did, and looking forward to what she was about to do next.
“If I did that, I’d probably be stoned to death…..
There are people in the world who don’t hate the same mistakes. Larienne was just like that.
When she winked with a playful and pleasant expression, everyone was drawn into Larienne.
Moreover,Larienne was pretty. Not just moderately pretty, but truly, really, crazily pretty.
Even Etisha, who was being constantly bullied by her, had often found herself falling for Larienne.
‘Even today…… She looks gorgeous.’
Larienne walked through the wide open door, and the way she stomped on the floor was a sign that she was very angry.
Scanning the party hall, she nonchalantly ignored the eyes that fell upon her, and the crowd of nobles who tried to start a conversation with her.
After a short while, she spotted Etisha.
“Tisha!” She shouted, her voice echoing throughout the hall.
If any other young lady had done this at a party, she would have been labeled as ill-mannered, but like I said,Larienne was an exception.
And after the social butterfly, shouted her sister’s nickname, all eyes immediately turned to Etisha.
Everyone was staring at them in excitement.
“Etisha Heinz! You! You can’t just take my party invitations!”
“Sister Lari.”
“Because of you, I’m late for the national foundation party! It’s the first day. What are you going to do? Take responsibility!” Larienne insiste.
Invitations were sent out on a family-by-family basis, so technically, Larienne wasn’t alone. Etisha had merely come with an invitation from the Heinz family.
Etisha pursed her lips, then retorted.
“I came with an invitation from the Heinz family, I didn’t take yours, sister.”
But as usual, logic didn’t work with Larienne.
“Everything that belongs to the Heinz family belongs to me!” The girl yelled, roughly grabbing Etisha’s arm, her nails digging into her skin painfully.
“Etisha, you belong to Heinz, so you’re mine too. Why haven’t you realized that yet?” She asked, glaring at Etisha.
‘If you like something, you have to have it, and if you don’t like it, you have to smash it. That’s your nature.’
Etisha tried to pull her arm free, but Larienne grabbed her wrist, and squeezed it.
“Let go of me, sister,” she said.
But refusing to let her go, Larienne’s grip tightened like a noose.
“You’re mine. You have to listen to me. I told you to never come out of your room again. Why did you come to the founding festival that you didn’t even have an interest in and after I told you to stay in your room and wait for me?”
“…….”
“I bring you toys and sing to you every day to keep you from getting bored, so what’s the problem? Is it because we don’t play with dolls anymore, huh?” Larienne continue.
Etisha was fed up.
The toys Larienne used to bring were the ones she didn’t want anymore. Larienne had never bought anything with her own money, but only received things from others, and once she grew tired of them, she would bring them to Etisha.
And the songs? Hearing Larienne sing was a literal nightmare.
Singing used to be Etisha’s favorite pastime. She was good at it while Larienne was not.
It was the only thing she was the one to be good at, and Larienne had made sure to ruin that for her.
Finally, playing with dolls……
“How can we play with dolls? We can’t. I don’t know when you’re going to have an accident. Isn’t it scary?”
Etisha literally became Larienne’s doll every time they’d play. She would brush Etisha’s hair, dress her, do her makeup, and play with her body.
She would dress Etisha to the fullest but never let anyone else see her.
Etisha had tried to show it to their parents once, and Larienne chopped her hair off.
After this happened, Larienne would splash water on Etisha’s face after she was done playing ‘dolls’ with her, messing up her hair and make-up so that no one could see it.
“Your condition is scaring me. I want you to go back to the mansion right now, and stay put!” Larienne snapped, clawing at Etisha’s arm.
Her breathing was ragged as if she was going crazy.
“Tisha, do what I tell you to do. Go back! What are you doing standing there like an idiot?”
Usually, at this point, Etisha would have listened to Larienne.
She would have listened because she was docile, timid, weak-minded, and didn’t like public confrontation.
But Etisha had changed…
“No. I’m not going back,” Etisha stated before grabbing Larienne’s arm and pulling it away.
Her own arm was slightly painful, but she didn’t mind. She had been hit by Larienne many times before.
“I’m going to enjoy the party. If you don’t want to see me, I suggest You go home.”
“W..what?”
“Didn’t you hear that? Go back. I’ll attend every day. Not only today but until the founding day festival is over. It’s up to me to decide whether I go home or not.”
Then, Etisha waved her off, and turned around.
She really, really needed to stop looking at Larienne’s beautiful face
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