Chapter 7: Let’s Get Along Well

During dinner time.

Just as the perfectly cooked beef cutlet was about to reveal its tender interior with white steam at the tip of Mrs. Berium’s knife—

“I won’t go on any more blind dates.”

Lise’s sudden declaration made the lady’s knife stop dead in its tracks.

“You won’t go on blind dates? Does that mean you won’t get married?”

Her mother asked with wide eyes. Lise shook her head and replied.

“I don’t mean I won’t get married, just that I won’t go on blind dates. For now.”

“Why? The really good catches are all that’s left now.”

Her mother said disappointedly. Mirabel, standing in one corner, looked even more disappointed.

Still, Lise didn’t change her mind.

“I’ll take a break and meet people later. Right now, I don’t want to meet anyone.”

‘It doesn’t seem like I’d be able to meet anyone anyway.’

Lise thought as she rubbed her throbbing temples.

“How strange.”

Her mother said, tilting her head.

“Why did both of them cancel consecutively like that? It’s as if someone planned it.”

At those words, Lise let out a bitter laugh and retorted.

“Who would do such a thing? It’s not like selecting the crown princess, just a marriage for some noble lady. If someone did that, they’d really have nothing better to do.”

Clang—

At the sudden loud metallic sound, she turned to see Cain had just dropped a silver tray on the floor.

‘Why is he making mistakes he never used to make…’

She sent him a look that said ‘be more careful’ and turned her attention back to her mother.

Her mother continued the interrupted conversation.

“Crown princess selection, indeed. There isn’t even a crown prince. Though an archduke’s wife selection might be possible.”

“Archduke’s wife? Ah…”

As soon as she asked, she remembered.

Archduke Montaner, the late emperor’s half-brother who became regent after the emperor died and the heir disappeared. Come to think of it, he was unmarried.

“Why hasn’t he married at his age?”

“His age? He’s only forty.”

“Isn’t forty old enough to have married twice?”

At least in this world’s standards.

“Well, he probably didn’t find anyone to his liking. Besides, that man had quite high standards. He was quite popular in social circles. Everyone was so desperate to be his dance partner…”

“You too, Mother?”

It was just a casual remark, but there was no answer.

From that reaction, it seemed to be true.

Anyway, forty years old. She knew the current crown prince was born when the childless emperor was over fifty. If the emperor were still alive, he’d be close to seventy, and his brother is now forty. He is young indeed.

“Still, that man, for being born a bastard, grew up quite loved. His brother, the late emperor, cherished him enough to make him his right hand. Unlike someone else.”

“There seems to be some barb in your words.”

When Lise narrowed her eyes and retorted, her mother immediately admitted it without trying to hide anything.

“You should be nicer to your sister from now on too. She’s your only blood relative, so don’t treat her so coldly.”

“Actually, I was going to…”

But before she could say that, the person in question appeared.

“Sister is already being good to me. Don’t worry too much, Mother.”

Lilia entered with a gentle smile.

Lise felt the atmosphere become bright and cheerful just from her appearance.

Was it because she was the female protagonist?

Or was it because she herself possessed so much?

Tall stature and slender figure, light steps as if dancing, and gracefully fluttering long, delicate arms. And above all—

A smile that made anyone who saw it feel good.

‘I can’t compete with that.’

Lise swallowed a bitter smile.

But she didn’t feel the intense jealousy she used to.

Rather, once she accepted the inevitable gap, her heart felt more at ease.

Now she could like her…

“Oh my!”

“…?”

“I’m sorry, Sister. I shouldn’t sit across from you. You don’t like that…”

“…”

Was it still too early?

Judging by how this flustered, helpless appearance seemed oddly contrived.

“What’s wrong with it? Just sit down.”

Her mother smiled warmly at Lilia and then spoke to Lise reproachfully.

“From now on, Lilia will eat with us too. She’s been part of our household for almost a year, yet she’s been eating alone. That’s too much, isn’t it? No objections?”

“None.”

Lise answered briefly and simply.

“Thank you… Sister.”

Lilia said carefully as she sat down, speaking to Lise. There was a faint tremor in her voice.

“You’re eighteen this year, aren’t you?”

Her mother asked while cutting the beef cutlet into small pieces.

“I’m nineteen, Mother.”

“Ah, I see. You’re only one year younger than Lise. Sorry, dear, for not knowing your age even though I’m like a mother to you.”

“Not at all. It’s impressive that you got it approximately right.”

At Lilia’s warm words, her mother seemed pleased. Watching her mother’s face bloom with a smile she’d never shown her, Lise wondered why those two seemed more like mother and daughter when she was the real daughter.

She thought that perhaps this was why Lise in the book had been even more harsh to the female protagonist.

“You couldn’t have a proper coming-of-age ceremony, could you? Flora… no, your mother was in mourning.”

Her mother, who had little affection for her husband, was also tolerant of his affairs. Rather, she was quite grateful that Lilia was the only hidden child he had. She thought he had more integrity than expected.

Though she wasn’t sure if this was something to be grateful for.

“It’s fine. What does it matter if I didn’t have a coming-of-age ceremony?”

“No, that won’t do. Our family has traditionally held grand coming-of-age ceremonies for our women. Lise had one too.”

It wasn’t even Mother who arranged it; Mirabel did most of it, didn’t she? Yet she acts as if she did it herself.

“Even if your birthday has passed, I’ll arrange something proper, if not grand.”

“You don’t need to…”

“Still, it’s only right.”

At her mother’s consideration, Lilia blushed and smiled shyly.

She’d heard that because her birth mother was frail, she hadn’t received proper care while growing up. Rumor had it that it was almost neglect. Perhaps that’s why Lilia looked genuinely moved by her mother’s consideration.

Once she cleared away the jealousy that had clouded her vision like fog, Lilia, who knew how to be genuinely grateful for something, looked truly beautiful and lovable. Was that why Cain fell in love with her too?

Lise glanced at Cain. She was curious about how he was looking at Lilia. But…

Gasp!

Their eyes met.

Why was he looking at me?

Had he already developed feelings for Lilia? Was he being wary because he was worried about what I might do to Lilia?

“I’ll send out invitations soon, so keep that in mind.”

“Yes, Mother. Thank you.”

“I should contact the dressmaker too. Mirabel!”

When her mother called, Mirabel approached. Displeasure was clearly written on her face. But her mother, unaware of this, gave Mirabel instructions.

“You know the dressmaker we commissioned for Lise’s blind date dress last time? Commission Lilia’s from the same dressmaker.”

“…”

Mirabel delayed her answer and looked at Lise. Lise blinked deeply.

‘Do as you’re told.’

Then Mirabel sighed imperceptibly and answered.

“Understood.”

After dinner, Lise was about to go up to her room with Mirabel’s support. Just as they reached the foot of the stairs leading from this floor to the third floor—

“Sister.”

At the voice calling her, Lise turned around. She looked at Lilia with an expression asking if she had something to say.

“Are you perhaps…”

Lilia said with hunched shoulders and a small, trembling voice.

“You’re not upset, are you? That someone like me would dare use the same dress shop as you…”

“No.”

At the unhesitating answer, Lilia looked at Lise with considerable surprise.

Well, in moments like this, Lise always used to spout harsh words or at least glare fiercely, so it was natural for Lilia to be surprised.

Lise thought she should make it clear this time.

Otherwise, this would continue in the future.

“You don’t need to think like that anymore.”

“…What?”

Lilia looked at Lise with round eyes.

“And I apologize for everything in the past. I’m sorry.”

This time Lilia’s eyes widened as if they might pop out. Not just because of the apology, but because Lise had smiled at her for the first time.

“I apologize for all the mean things I did to you. I don’t know if words can make up for it, but I was wrong. Let’s get along well.”

Though the serious bullying hadn’t even begun yet, the vivid descriptions of bullying from the original story remained so strongly that she felt she should kneel and beg for forgiveness.

But if she did that, this weak-hearted girl might faint.

Even now, with just this slight change in attitude, her face had turned pale as if she might collapse. This might be a new form of torture, judging by her expression.

“Miss, let’s go up now.”

Mirabel urged.

“Right. Got it.”

Lise climbed the stairs with difficulty, using Mirabel’s arm as support.

Lilia watched her sister’s retreating figure with indescribable emotions.

Usually, in such dramatic reconciliation scenes, one should feel warm inside, but Lilia didn’t.

Rather, she suddenly felt bad.

‘Why is Sister suddenly doing things she never did before? Why is she suddenly being nice? Then she overlaps with me. How annoying.’

Annoying?

Lilia was shocked by her own sudden thought.

‘What… what am I thinking? This is the kind of thought Sister would have. No, I can’t think like this.’

Lilia shook her head to dispel that wicked thought and turned to go back to her room.

But the next moment, Lilia froze without being able to take a step.

Because of Cain’s indifferent gaze watching her from about ten paces away.

‘He couldn’t have noticed my inner thoughts, could he?’

Warmth soon returned to his gaze, but still, Lilia felt strangely guilty.

---

“Mirabel, why did you do that earlier?”

“What? What did I do?”

“Why did you rush me on the landing?”

“…”

Since Mirabel had never done that before, Lise was puzzled. There must have been some reason for it.

“Actually… I find Miss Lilia unsettling.”