Chapter 4
“Is that really your type of woman?”
“But she’s kind too. Especially, she really dotes on her little sister.”
“That sounds just like me.”
Lily, lying with her head on her lap, really was adorable.
“What about you?”
“Me?”
“What do you like so much about the Duke of Cromford?”
“Hmm, good question.”
She clearly remembered the entire plot, but maybe because she had been forced awake by the shock, her memories from her past life and those of Pricia were completely jumbled together.
Because of that, she couldn’t quite remember the exact moment she started liking him.
“He’s just cool, I guess. Anyway, no one would like someone like me.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Huh?”
Matthew’s face had suddenly taken on a serious expression.
Pricia swallowed nervously at the strange tension he was creating.
What was he about to say? Just as she was about to ask, the carriage came to a stop.
“Young Lady, we’ve arrived at the estate.”
While chatting, they had somehow already reached home.
She wanted to ask more, but it was late, and she had to send Matthew on his way.
“I’ll walk you to your room.”
“That’s alright. Lily, get up!”
No matter how close they were like family, Lily had already made her debut and was a proper lady now.
To avoid even the slightest misunderstanding, Pricia firmly drew a line.
“Thanks for today. Get home safe.”
“Pricia.”
“Mmm, sister…”
“Come on, get up and walk properly.”
Lily was undeniably cute, but maybe because she was the youngest, once she started acting spoiled, it never ended.
Pricia gave Matthew a proper send-off and left her drowsy sister in the hands of the maids.
“Everyone worked hard today. Take the whole morning off tomorrow.”
Since their parents were practically nonexistent, her older sister Rose had taken over the actual running of the family.
As for the household management and estate upkeep, that was all Pricia’s responsibility.
“Young Lady.”
“Where’s my sister?”
Mileva, Rose’s old nanny and head maid of House Deblanc, glanced at Rose’s still-lit room.
Given the late hour and the fact that she had locked herself in, something must’ve happened at the palace.
“She seems quite upset.”
“Really?”
What kind of monsters lived in the imperial palace that they could upset someone as strong-willed as Rose?
After checking that the sleep-dazed Lily had settled in, Pricia headed straight to the kitchen.
“There are still some of those left, right?”
“Of course. Here they are.”
She packed cookies filled with nuts and warmed some milk in a pan.
Then she added plenty of honey from the Deblanc estate and poured it into Rose’s favorite cup.
“You should get some rest too, Mileva.”
“Please take good care of her, Young Lady.”
After sending the staff to rest, Pricia gently knocked on Rose’s door.
“Not even the night’s darkness can hide your light. O beautiful maiden, please open this door.”
Reciting a sonnet by Alster—the favorite author of all three sisters—she waited, and soon enough, there was movement from inside.
A moment later, Rose opened the door and faced Pricia.
“When did you get home?”
“Not too long ago.”
Her eyes were red. She must’ve been crying.
Rose was always strong, but even someone like her needed a day to cry in secret.
Sensing this was one of those days, Pricia had prepared her sister’s favorite snack and came to lend an ear.
“How was the ball?”
“Fine. Matthew was with me, so nothing happened.”
Though she had left her jeweled cream-colored shoes in front of the Duke of Cromford, that alone wouldn’t be enough for him to track her down.
“These were supposed to be for tomorrow, but don’t tell Lily.”
“She’d go crazy if she found out.”
Rose devoured the cookies and then gulped down the warm honey milk in one go before she began to speak about what happened.
“They picked a fight over the title.”
“A fight?”
“The law about marriage obligations only applies to marquesses and above. But they always pick on me like I’m easy prey.”
In the noble hierarchy—duke, marquess, earl, viscount, baron—only those at marquess rank or higher are required to marry to inherit their title.
That meant Rose, who would inherit the countship of House Deblanc, shouldn’t be subject to that rule at all.
“So that’s why you were mad?”
“More like the Marquis of Gondaire tried to push his son on me again.”
After some coaxing, Rose finally revealed the real reason she was upset.
The Marquis of Gondaire, a high-ranking noble who practically grovelled at the emperor’s feet, pointed out the low marriage rate among young nobles and used Rose as bait.
“He said, ‘Can a woman really inherit a title? Your father’s still alive, so it’s better to pass the title to a son-in-law.’ Can you believe that?”
They hadn’t always been on bad terms. The Marquis of Gondaire had once been impressed by capable Rose and, a few years ago, had marked her as a potential daughter-in-law.
—”The Deblanc family has no sons anyway. Why not marry her to my second son and have him inherit the title?”
He called it a proposal, but it was just a sneaky ploy to place his untitled son in the seat of the Deblanc Count.
“Eventually, everyone will see how amazing you are, Sister.”
It wasn’t flattery—she meant it.
Rose had been managing the estate on behalf of their useless parents brilliantly.
Since Rose had taken control, House Deblanc’s finances had improved drastically—unlike their father, who nearly ruined the family with every move.
Even losing the jeweled shoes hadn’t fazed her, because her capable sister had worked so hard to earn them.
“We need to be ready in case the royal family sends a marriage proposal for Lily.”
The crown prince was 18—two years younger than Lily. It wouldn’t be strange for a proposal to come.
Of course, if a better match appeared, they’d wait, but Rose was prepared to seize any opportunity for her sister’s happiness.
“That must’ve been rough.”
“Yeah. It really was.”
Rose bore the heavy burden of supporting their family alone.
And the only one who knew the weight of that sacrifice was Pricia.
“Cheer up, Sister.”
When Pricia gently patted her on the back, Rose hugged her tightly with tears in her eyes.
“Let’s just send Lily off and live together, just the two of us.”
“Really? You mean that?”
“Of course. You think I can’t take care of just you for life?”
Leaning her head on Pricia’s shoulder, Rose sank into thought.
“Come to think of it, the Duke of Cromford must be in a tough spot now too.”
At the sudden mention of his name, Pricia nearly hiccupped.
Trying to act normal, she asked casually,
“What about him?”
“I heard if he doesn’t marry within two months, he’ll lose his title.”
Two months wasn’t even enough time to properly prepare for a wedding.
Whoever the bride might be, it had nothing to do with House Deblanc.
“Whoever it is, it’s none of our business.”
With a scoff, Pricia turned her nose up in mock indifference.
“Yeah, whoever it is!”
Whoever becomes the Duke of Cromford’s wife, it really had nothing to do with them.
Rose laughed heartily, her mouth dusted with cookie crumbs.
Hearing the noise, Lily—clutching her pillow—wandered into the room.
“Sis, what are you doing?”
“You’re awake?”
Still rubbing her sleepy eyes, Lily spotted the empty cookie plate and screamed.
“What?! You two ate without me?!”
“She’s like a food radar, I swear.”
“Rose, you traitor!!”
The two bickering sisters kept at it until they all collapsed onto the bed.
The three of them barely fit anymore, now that they were all grown up—but Rose’s bed still smelled like warm sunshine.
“Should we just all sleep here tonight?”
“Can we?”
“Why not. Pricia, you sleep in the middle.”
Someone might roll off the bed during the night, but if it was Rose’s wish, it had to be done.
Lying between her older and younger sister, Pricia silently prayed:
May we continue to live in peace like this.
But life never goes as planned.
* * *
The next morning, Rose was back to her usual self.
“Young Lady Pricia, you’re truly amazing.”
According to Mileva, Rose had come home the night before muttering nonsense with dark circles under her eyes.
Seeing her so lively again today, the magic Pricia performed last night must’ve worked wonders.
“I’m just glad she’s feeling better.”
With renewed spirit, Rose left early for a noble successors’ meeting.
Lily, who had gone to bed late, woke up late and began preparing to visit a friend’s house.
“I’ll go alone today.”
“Are you sure you’re okay going without me?”
“What am I, a kid? They said they’d send a carriage, so don’t worry.”
The Countess of Blado, who had married in from abroad, was very fond of Lily.
Normally Pricia would accompany her as a guardian, but Lily repeatedly waved her off.
“I’m really fine now. You don’t have to worry.”
Remembering Lily’s condition when she first regained consciousness, Pricia couldn’t help but still feel a little uneasy.
