What is this? I don’t truly remember anything, but is it possible Charlize bullied people just for smiling, too?
“……D-Duchess-To-Be, at least I don’t think you’re a bad person—at least, not today.”
“That’s an honest assessment.”
A bad person, except for today. That’s very accurate. Because before today, it was all the real Charlize.
“A-are you angry?”
“No? What is there to be angry about? Being angry is a waste of energy, so why bother? More importantly, since we’re able to talk now, I’m curious how you ended up finding me. May I ask?”
Aria’s complexion wasn’t improving, and I felt as though I should either go out and summon the knights of the Remut family myself or wait for the mages I was anticipating to arrive quickly.
“……A-actually, it’s b-because I feel like it’s my fault that you’re here, Duchess-To-Be.”
“Ah. You mean fainting when you saw me a few days ago?”
I rubbed my arm gently and shook my head.
“There’s no need to think that way. Even if that hadn’t happened, Askin Remut would have found something to be angry about anyway. He hates me, after all.”
Aria’s eyes widened, and she opened her mouth. She was essentially admitting that it was a truth she couldn’t argue against.
“But I th-think my brother was even angrier this time because of me. Actually, this is the one time you didn’t do anything, Duchess-To-Be.”
“It’s okay. I understand. Just because I didn’t do anything this time doesn’t mean the things I did before are forgotten.”
That is precisely why I feel so aggrieved. How on earth am I supposed to settle the karma accumulated by this Charlize?
Well, I suppose the path to becoming a rich, unemployed person will be a difficult one.
“…….”
Aria stared at me with the same mysterious expression as before. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but the way she struggled, wrapped in her orange blanket up to her chin, made her look like a white rabbit surrounded by carrots. I secretly suppressed a laugh. The siblings are a pair of lookers—a handsome man and a beautiful woman.
“……This is the first time we’ve had a proper conversation, but I don’t think you’re a bad person at heart, Duchess-To-Be.”
I wondered what she was pondering so deeply. I couldn’t help but look surprised.
*…What is this? What is this purity, almost like a blank slate?*
Excuse me, how can you let your guard down so quickly just because I covered you with a blanket, spoke politely, and said a few nice things? You should think about what I’ve done!
I was dumbfounded, but I kept my mouth tightly shut. Yes, in fact, I am a different person. If this beauty views me favorably, that is a very good thing. But I have a conscience, so I couldn’t help but leave one remark.
“I’m not one to talk, but keep in mind the things I did before.”
*No, this person will probably protect her fiancé so he doesn’t get beaten up anywhere. Is this why the younger sister grew up so pure and naive? Like a flower in a greenhouse?*
*Sigh, she’s such a stunning beauty that I want to cherish her like a flower, but…….*
“If you let your guard down so easily, you’ll get hit hard somewhere.”
“I-if you say it like that, you don’t look any worse. Of course, I haven’t forgotten, but…….”
Fortunately, there were no signs of the wind stopping, but the rain was falling even harder. I thought about going out to call the knights if things didn’t work out, but at this rate, it felt like I wouldn’t be able to see an inch ahead. I said I didn’t care if I caught a cold, but I didn’t want to volunteer to suffer from body aches.
“……You don’t even keep a magic lamp on at night.”
“Ah, that’s b-because there’s no money in the castle…….”
Aria’s face turned bright red after saying that. She soon had a tearful look, so it seemed she wasn’t a lady entirely ignorant of the world.
“It’s because of me, too much money goes into me…….”
In any case, there was no way I could leave until the rain eased, so I had no choice but to wait for the downpour to let up or for the mages to arrive.
I brushed my hair back.
“Well, I don’t think your brother would want you to think that way.”
In the book, Duke Remut endured every one of Charlize’s cruelties.
Yet, the moment he finally snapped—the reason he joined hands with the female lead to kill his own fiancée—was none other than his younger sister.
Because the only family he cherished had perished at his fiancée’s hands.
“Aren’t you his only family? It seemed as if Duke Remut acted more like a parent to you.”
“…….”
“Though I say that, I’ve lost my parents, so I think I know how it feels.”
Both Charlize and I had lost our parents.
Charlize at least had a brother—regardless of whether he was abusive or not—but my brother, Yoon Ji-Hoon, had died alongside our parents. That was the only difference.
“It must be different, having at least one parent alive compared to having only a brother.”
What would it have been like if Yoon Ji-Hoon were still here? Would that enemy-like brother of mine have tried to care for me, the way Duke Remut does? I think he might have. Still…….
“I suppose a brother can’t play every role.”
Aria hesitated, then nodded slightly.
“……You’re right. Ah! Not that my brother is a bad person.”
“I know.”
“I wish… my brother would rely on me, too…….”
Rely on her. I understood the sentiment, but wouldn’t those shoulders be far too frail to bear such a weight?
Your fiancé would probably just be grateful you’re still breathing. I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly and stood up.
“If you’re that worried about your brother, try to live even one day longer.”
I sat down heavily next to Aria.
“And I’m sorry, but it’s too cold to play the hero. I won’t take the blanket; I’ll just huddle in close. Susan, do you want to join us? The temperature is dropping.”
“Y-yes, Duchess-To-Be!”
Suddenly, we were packed together like sardines.
I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh at the absurdity of it all.
When I crinkled my eyes and turned my head, sensing a gaze, I found Aria staring right at me.
“Why?”
“Ah, I! Y-your hair is, i-it’s so pretty…….”
Oh. This? I lifted my slightly damp locks.
My hair had drooped in the humid air, but perhaps thanks to my usual care, it hadn’t lost its luster.
“Your color is pretty, too. Silver is such a precious shade.”
“I-I have a hard time with my hair tangling…….”
“Then why don’t you change your style? Like cutting it a little.”
It was bearable now that we were sharing the warmth of the blanket.
I turned toward Susan and had her fetch a comb immediately.
“If it’s alright with you, shall I show you how to brush it? If you brush it correctly, it will catch the light.”
“Ah…… I-I’m curious. If you don’t mind…….”
It wasn’t a memory of my own, but of Charlize’s.
The villainess had evidently taken great care of her appearance alongside her innate beauty. She was a vicious woman, but she possessed high pride.
With Aria’s permission, I grabbed a strand to start brushing, but to my surprise:
‘It’s a disaster.’
From afar, it looked like a lovely color, but up close, the effects of her illness were clear—it lacked strength, luster, and tangled at the slightest touch.
Worse, the damp air had turned my effort into a bird’s nest.
“……U-um, Duchess-To-Be……. S-shall I do it?”
“Hmm…….”
I had been far too confident with an expert sitting right there.
I nodded awkwardly and handed the comb to Susan, then explained the situation to Aria. Fortunately, Aria nodded readily.
She truly was a kind and gentle soul. Is it hard to grow close to someone like her? I wanted to.
It was just as we were switching spots, in the midst of a relatively harmonious and friendly conversation.
*Bang!*
The door was thrown open with a violent crash.
“Aria!”
*Whoosh—* Even over the roar of the downpour, his voice was coarse and loud enough to split the air.
I looked calmly at his broad shoulders, heaving with heavy breaths.
It was Askin.
His gaze darted rapidly, flickering from Aria to me, then back to Aria. He scanned us both, his once-beautiful face clouded by the most ferocious rage I had ever seen.
Wait, he’s misunderstood something.
“Did you just grab my sister by the hair?!”
No!
I jumped from my seat, burning with a sense of injustice. But perhaps because I had been shivering in the plummeting temperature, my legs gave out. I stumbled.
“My Lady!”
“My Lady!”
Fortunately, Susan lunged forward and caught me before I could hit the floor.
In that fleeting moment, Aria was already whisked away by her brother, hauled out of the carriage.
“Get down at once.”
“Oppa, Oppa, wait! Oppa!”
“Stay still.”
I bit my lip. How did it come to this?
Needing to set the record straight, I stepped quietly out of the carriage. I knew the scene looked damning, but I was determined to explain.
I reached out, intending only to catch the hem of his cloak and beg him to listen for a moment.
“Get off my estate! Now!”
But my hand was shoved away with brutal force. I lost my balance and hit the ground hard, a sharp sting of pain radiating through my backside.
What is this? What is happening?
‘I’m so frustrated……!’