Chapter 11
Having read the original work hundreds of times, I could recall the name of the De Blanc family appearing only twice.
Once, in awe of Rose De Blanc, who rose to the position of family head as a woman and built a major business empire.
And once again, when the novel mentioned Lily De Blanc while talking about the most beautiful women in the world.
So, tucked in between those two figures, someone like Frisia De Blanc—who, to put it harshly, was less useful than a sack of barley dumped in a corner—was practically nonexistent.
“I assumed His Highness already had someone promised for marriage.”
“If that were the case, I wouldn’t be going through this troublesome ordeal, would I?”
Realizing that a few clumsy words wouldn’t let her escape easily, Frisia cut straight to the point.
“I heard you’re having trouble with your title situation. Then… how about we just pretend to be married?”
“And deceive the history of Cromford like that?”
At his infinitely serious tone, she rolled her eyes repeatedly.
She had intended to suggest a loveless contract marriage, but judging by his attitude, that clearly wouldn’t fly.
“Why did you choose me for this proposal?”
“Didn’t your sister tell you?”
“You met Lily?”
Was her beautiful, precious little sister about to fall into the devil’s hands?
Her heart raced, half-afraid he’d say it was love at first sight, but thankfully, he didn’t seem too interested.
“I did meet her. But why I chose you… you’d better hear that directly from your sister.”
The more they talked, the more confusion and dread doubled. But one thing was becoming very clear: he had no intention of backing out of this marriage.
Frisia clutched her throbbing head and faced reality.
Judging from the timeline so far, there was still a bit of time left before the original story began.
“I want to save Rose.”
“A tearful sacrifice, I see.”
His mocking words stung, but she was in no position to complain now.
As she chewed her lip nervously, he stared at her intently and asked, almost offhandedly:
“Or… is there already a man you have feelings for?”
“Of course not…”
Too late, she realized she’d fallen for a leading question.
Before she could say anything more, he rose from his seat and walked to the window.
“Marquis Gondre made the most logical decision as a father. The easiest way to give his inadequate son a proper status… is through marriage.”
Stay calm. Don’t panic. Don’t show weakness.
“There’s no reason it has to be my sister.”
“Just like there’s no reason it has to be you?”
Though he deliberately provoked her with sharp words, his gaze remained fixed beyond the capital’s darkened skyline.
Just when she was about to burst from anxiety, he turned back toward her and gave a sly smile.
“Well, this isn’t a bad outcome either.”
“What do you mean…?”
“It means… I’ll play along, just as you wish.”
Somehow, his tone had shifted to formal speech. Oddly, his respectful words felt even more threatening, but still, she felt like she’d crossed at least one mountain.
“It’s late. Have them prepare a bedroom for our guest.”
“I appreciate the offer, but… I’d like to go home.”
If Rose found out she had sneaked out, there would be hell to pay.
Still, to deal with Marquis Gondre, she desperately needed this villain’s help more than ever.
“I’ll handle the marquis myself. But… I may need a bit of your cooperation.”
“I’ll do whatever I can.”
The moment their eyes met, an unspoken agreement formed between them.
Because she returned home late at night, she inevitably overslept the next morning.
She had planned to talk to Rose about the duke, but Rose had already left for the trading company early.
“You even skipped breakfast.”
“Her head’s probably a mess too.”
Even if the duke helped, they needed to put out the immediate fires first. Frisia started by reviewing the list of assets she could liquidate quickly.
“Where have you been?!”
Just then, Lily stormed in, eyes blazing with anger.
Despite her fuming younger sister’s interrogation, Frisia shrugged nonchalantly.
“Lily, I heard you met the Duke of Cromford behind my back?”
Even though Lily was the world’s most beautiful woman, she was still her little sister. And she would never beat her big sister.
At Frisia’s casual jab, Lily fidgeted, rolling her eyes and avoiding her gaze.
“I just…!”
While fumbling for excuses, Lily kept glancing at Frisia, gauging her reaction. Smiling, Frisia patted her sister’s head and suddenly recalled the duke’s words from the previous day.
“So why did the duke propose to me?”
“He said it was love at first sight.”
If she had been drinking water, she would’ve spit it out right there.
Her nape tingled with disbelief, much like her sister’s own shocked expression.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s not that impossible, you know.”
“What?”
Unlike Frisia, who was stunned, Lily wore a serious face as she started listing reasons one by one.
“What’s wrong with you? If I were a man, I would’ve proposed to you before the duke did.”
“Well… I can’t say I dislike hearing that.”
Perhaps thanks to raising her with care, Lily had grown into the ultimate big-sister admirer.
After giving her adorable sister a tight hug, Frisia gently braided her strawberry-blonde hair.
“I can’t let Rose handle everything alone.”
Though Lily opened her mouth as if to say something, she remained silent in the end.
Straightening Lily’s dress collar, Frisia softly caressed her sister’s smooth, doll-like cheeks.
“I’m not as smart as Rose… and I’m not as pretty as you.”
“Sis…”
“But still… I’m glad there’s something I can do. It’s truly sad, just standing by doing nothing.”
Whenever the main character suffered at the hands of the villainous Duke of Cromford, she had cursed him countless times.
Even as a fan, watching the duke constantly feed the protagonist suffering like bitter medicine, she often thought she’d rather kill him herself.
It was the same back when she worked at a game company.
A department head parachuted in thanks to connections with the CEO, constantly ruining projects with strange decisions, while the team lead—who’d just had a second child—kept enduring the nonsense to provide for his family.
When people wondered how he managed to withstand such humiliation, he said:
“When you have something you want to protect… you can’t back down.”
“Milady, the Marquis of Gondre is here again!”
He hadn’t gone to Rose’s workplace but had intentionally come to the mansion to stir trouble. The intent was obvious.
Frisia quickly hid Lily and firmly tied up her hair.
Her past life’s memories weren’t just useful for knowing the original story’s flow.
“What business does the marquis have this early in the morning?”
“It’s none of your concern. Bring Lily here. Someone just offered a very high price for her.”
Although there was still a class system like nobility, the author, being a modern person, had created a legal system in this country that resembled modern commercial and civil law.
“I have no intention of taking on joint liability debt. Neither I nor Lily. We’ve already given up all inheritance.”
She hadn’t just been idly sitting at home.
Marquis Gondre had no way of knowing that handling difficult people was a basic survival skill she had perfected in modern life.
“Giving up your title? Are you insane?”
“The title belongs to my sister anyway. All rights and responsibilities of the De Blanc family fall directly to Rose De Blanc as the heir.”
Frisia’s clear and detailed rebuttal left him with no grounds to argue.
If he tried to use force, she’d have grounds to charge him with assault. She held her ground.
“So if you want a legal settlement, go right ahead.”
Facing an immovable Frisia, the marquis puffed himself up, putting on a show of bravado.
“Looks like you’re scheming something, but it’s already too late. Once my new law passes, De Blanc will lose its head and be left without a home!”
“A law…? No, don’t tell me…”
“Until now, unqualified people have been manipulating the family under the title of acting family head.”
He proudly laughed, declaring he’d pass an extreme law: to legally block any non-married noble from inheriting family leadership.
“Even the Duke of Cromford is about to lose his title. And you think a mere De Blanc can defy me?”
Watching him laugh, she suddenly realized the whole picture.
Why he had chosen her. Who his real target was.
No matter how much she resented Rose… she should never have let this man touch her.
That smiling man… the one who said he knew everything… His image flashed in her mind, sending a chill down her spine.
“Of all people…”
“What?”
“Nothing. Just thinking it might’ve been better if you hadn’t done that.”
Just moments ago, she wanted to punch him. But if her guess was correct, she wouldn’t need to lift a finger.
Because when the Duke of Cromford retaliated… there’d be no mercy.
Not for men, women, elders, or even children.
“Marquis! Sir! Something terrible has happened!”
His earlier bravado now looked pathetic as his servant came running in a panic, gasping for breath, whispering something urgently into the marquis’s ear.
“W-Who would dare do such a thing?!”
“This is no time to be standing around! We must hurry!”
It seemed… the Duke’s counterattack had already begun.
