The Troublemaker Daughter of the Grand Duke Wants To Live Alone

“You look like a pretty fairy from a fairy tale!”

Carol couldn’t stop admiring me in my dress.

The white dress, designed with the motif of a fairy from a fairy tale, had sparkling flower patterns crafted with crystals and pearls.

It looked so expensive that I felt a bit burdened, but I ended up wearing it due to both Bonita’s persuasion and her threats that I needed to wear something of this level to the party where my fiancée’s mother was invited.

“Thanks to you, dresses like this will probably become popular for a while.”

Bonita, who was meticulously arranging white flowers in my hair, found a satisfactory position and agreed with Carol’s words by applauding.

The two liked my appearance, so they were generous in their assessment. So I had to listen to their compliments with a grain of salt.

But maybe it’s true… I look pretty today, don’t I?

I felt better as I turned my head this way and that in front of the mirror to examine my face. Bonita’s skills were undeniable, and Carol had also improved greatly.

I heard that Carol’s younger siblings became the sacrificial lambs for her to hone her skills in dressing me up.

So because of me, they became the prettiest and most handsome kids in the neighborhood, and Carol smiled brightly saying it was all thanks to me.

“Mary, let’s go down.”

My father came to pick me up. He looked at me once, then held my waist and lifted me up and spun me around. I couldn’t help but laugh at his sudden action.

“You look more beautiful than anyone else today.”

I picked up a small box and nodded. If I looked beautiful in my father’s eyes, that was enough. Today is an important day.

As I appeared at the outdoor party venue, people gathered in groups of three or five and chatted. When I appeared, they applauded.

It was quite embarrassing, even though I wasn’t the main character today.

After exchanging greetings with people, I headed towards Astina, who had a look that matched her eye color well today.

“You look so beautiful today, Mary.”

“Tell me something new.”

Astina elegantly twisted her sparkling blonde hair. She looked like Cinderella from a fairy tale I had read in my past life.

She was the princess who had stepped out of a fairy tale… Thinking back to Carol and Bonita’s compliments earlier, I felt even more embarrassed.

We were talking about Astina’s drink she held in her when her gaze wandered somewhere else, not towards me.

I followed Astina’s gaze and saw Theodore at the other end.

Ah, what should I do?

I want to help, but no matter how much I think about it, it seems like crossing the line. Last time, Astina intentionally hid it because she was afraid I would come forward and help them.

No, but Astina is too precious for me. Even though Theodore is my brother, Astina is such a nice and wonderful girl.

And that feeling disappeared as soon as I saw the eyes of a girl in love.

That look was more brilliant and beautiful than any jewelry on our bodies, and it was precious.

“Astina, wait a minute.”

“Huh? Where are you going?”

I pulled Astina’s wrist. She looked bewildered and froze when she realized that I was heading towards Theodore.

“Why are you here again? Oh, Astina is here too?”

Without saying a word, Theodore asked me “why are you here again?” as soon as he saw me. But when he saw Astina behind me, he smiled warmly. Is it okay to discriminate against people like this?

“It’s been a while.”

Astina greeted Theodore with a bright voice, making my worries about how to make the two talk seem pointless.

Then she brought up the topic of the drink in Theodore’s hand. Now it’s time for me to slip away unnoticed…

“Sister, Demimore has arrived.”

“Oh, Rex.”

Just in time, Rex ran up to me and informed me of Demimore’s arrival. Maybe that means Freezia has also arrived. I took a deep breath.

When I first wished to invite Freezia to the Grand Duchy, I didn’t think the Emperor would grant my wish so easily… But he did. He was more than happy to grant my wish.

The party was to be as small as possible, held outdoors, and filled with flowers that Princess Freezia liked. The condition was that only people approved by the Emperor could attend.

Isn’t it easier than I thought?

“Mary!”

Freezia, wearing a yellow dress that suited her name, ran up to me. Her light footsteps were so cheerful that it made people feel good.

“Thank you so much. This is my first time attending such a party.”

“I’m grateful that you came all the way here.”

Freezia went around the party venue with an excited expression. Suddenly, my father came up to greet her.

Freezia seems much happier and more innocent than I thought. I was glad that I had remembered the flowers she liked.

“You know, Mary.”

“Ackk!”

I was watching Freezia, who was actively interacting with people, with a content heart, but suddenly someone whispered my name from behind, making me jump in surprise.

Demimore looked at me with even more surprise.

“Surprised? Sorry.”

“Oh, no. But why?”

“Oh, because there’s one more guest.”

“Guest?”

When I asked, Demimore smiled and raised his index finger, pointing to his back. I looked behind Demimore and ran towards that person.

“Princess Lausanne!”

“Mary, long time no see!”

Lausanne hugged me as I ran towards her, dropping the box she was holding in her arms.

I had also sent an invitation to Lausanne, although I hadn’t been expecting her to attend since she had been away from the country for a long time. I was happier to see her face than anyone else’s.

To be honest, I was a little worried about sending the invitation.

Although Lausanne cares for Demimore and me, I wasn’t sure how comfortable she would feel at an event where Princess Freezia is also invited.

But seeing her bright smile, my worries disappeared.

“I’m so glad you came.”

“I didn’t want to disappoint you, so I rearranged my schedule to attend this party.”

Lausanne was already a cheerful person, but after traveling to various countries outside the palace and returning, her expressions and voice were filled with even more positive energy. She looked much healthier and happier.

Lausanne told us stories of the countries she had visited. As a good writer, her travelogues were also enjoyable.

Especially when she told the story of meeting a pickpocket, everyone’s attention was focused on us because of my laughter.

“Oh, this could be a bit….”

“What happened?”

While Lausanne was in the middle of telling his story, she hesitated for the first time. I was curious, but I didn’t rush her and waited patiently while sipping my drink.

“Sofia has returned.”

“Sofia?”

“She came back out of nowhere, which might sound like a lie, and I’m sorry for what I’m about to say, Mary, but I brought Sofia back to Britina again. It was my decision.”

“I see…”

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t leave Sofia there. She said she had lost her memory. I talked to her about my brother Cameron. Well, actually, she had forgotten about him too.”

Lausanne held my hand tightly and looked at me as if he was trying to read my mind. I didn’t know how to react, so I just kept my head down.

Then Demimore put his hand on my shoulder. When I looked up at him, he nodded slightly, as if he understood my feelings.

“I just couldn’t leave Sofia behind.”

“It’s all right. I’m really relieved that Sofia has returned. And thank you for taking care of her.”

“If it were you, Mary, I knew you would say that.”

I felt relieved when I heard that Sofia had returned.

Perhaps Seulbi had also returned to where she belonged. I felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from my chest. I let out a long sigh.

I deeply wished for Seulbi and Sofia to be happy where they belong.

“Oh, I had something to ask Gilbert. Wait a minute!”

As if she had said everything she needed to say, Lausanne awkwardly called Gilbert and disappeared.

They don’t even have any interaction, do they? Gilbert, who appeared out of nowhere when called by the princess, seemed flustered, as anyone would be in that situation.

But Lausanne took Gilbert away with her. It was obvious that they were staging some kind of drama to leave only me and Demimore behind.

“Demimore.”

“Yeah?”

But I was grateful for Lausanne’s ridiculous acting.

“Will you accept this?”

I handed Demimore the rectangular box I had picked up earlier.

Demimore looked puzzled as he checked it, then bit his lower lip and called out my name as if he were naming something.

“If I had mana, I would have given you a ring like the one you gave me back then. But they said it was impossible. So it’s just a ring…”

What I handed to Demimoore was a ring with a black diamond that resembled my eyes. It was the last gift Arsene gave me.

I took out the ring Demimore gave me at our previous engagement party and put it on my finger. Then I put the ring I gave Demimore on his finger.

“Thank you for everything, Demimore.”

“Mary…”

“I’m going on a long journey. Will you give me a chance to keep thanking you?”

It was an invitation to him to travel with me.

Demimore, who had been sighing and messing up his well-groomed hair, nodded at me with tears in his eyes.

At the same time, I heard a huge round of applause from behind us.

“I’m coming with you!”

Astina ran up to us and linked her arms with me. I also heard Rex saying he wanted to go with us.

I nodded my head at the two of them hanging in my arms. Well, it would be nice if we all went together.

“Mary, are you serious?”

Demimore, who was lost in thought, wrinkled his face when he heard my permission. His face was so funny that I burst out laughing and whispered in Demimore’s ear.

“I like you, Demimore.”

As soon as I said it out loud, I felt relieved.

Even though it was something that had been embarrassing to hear or say, when it finally took shape and came out of my mouth, it felt like my happiness had been doubled.

Demimore in front of me let out another sigh. It was longer and deeper than anyone else’s, but somehow I felt like I knew the happiness that was contained in that deep sigh.

“That’s cheating.”

Demimore hugged me with a slightly displeased expression, but his embrace was warm and made me happy.

No, everything was just blissful.

My family was behind me, in the embrace I was in, and Demi Moore’s family as well. Everyone was looking at us and loving us.

I looked up at the sky and thought.

Mom and Arsene must be watching us now too, right?

Before that thought could finish, shooting stars fell like a lie.

Everyone at the party looked at the spectacle with their mouths agape. I closed my eyes and prayed secretly.

Please make everyone who sees this happy. For a very, very long time.

<The end>

---

𝙷𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚘 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜!! 𝙸’𝚖 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕 “𝚃𝚑𝚎 T𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚛 𝙳𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙳𝚞𝚔𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎” 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎. Thank you so much for your support!!