CH 8

In fact, if you look at the reality calmly, Lizelotte’s second marriage is bound to be an arranged marriage with conditions. Can that really be called a new happiness?

‘Above all, it’s unlikely that the person who proposes to Stepmother at this point, just after the loss of her husband, has a pure heart.’

There must be a different heart. At the very least, he must be someone who has his eyes on Dieren’s wealth and power.

But really, if only one, in a hundred, in a thousand. Yes, let’s call it pure love.

Even so, love lasts for two years. In other words, even if Lizelotte remarries after finding someone she loves, she will be happy for up to two years at the most.

Maybe even shorter than that. Kardiel never trusted the hearts of people, especially the integrity of noble men. It was the only thing he learned from his father.

So even if you think about it again and again, this is right. That Lizelotte’s second marriage must be prevented at all costs.

‘Only me and my younger siblings can protect Stepmother in a genuine sense.’

Kardiel’s blue eyes lit up.

“Chelsian, listen to me from now on.”

“Uh, uh-huh?”

Chelsian, who blinked his big eyes anxiously, looked up at Kardiel. Kardiel’s blue eyes were as sharp as a cold, forged blade.

“Stepmother has cared for us children like her own real children thus far. She took risks to protect us.”

“R-right. She did.”

The past decade simultaneously passed through the brothers’ minds.

Terrible years under the control of the demon, the Duke of Dieren.

What is clear is that the reason why the children of Dieren are alive and well today is all thanks to their stepmother, Lizelotte.

“So now it’s our turn to protect our stepmother.”

“Yeah. Of course!”

Nod. The little head moved up and down solemnly. Even the small fists were clenched.

Even though eleven years old is not very young, Chelsian’s behavior somehow makes him feel much younger than his peers. Should it be said that it’s an innocent feeling?

In any case, the brothers who exchanged glances like that soon remembered what they had to do.

“Brother! Let’s have a strategy meeting right now. You said a new teacher was coming today. So, let’s call Sister Euphie now…!”

“Chelsian. I’m sure I said not to run in the hallway…”

“Right! Hnng.”

The Princess of Dieren is a beautiful fourteen-year-old girl with cherry blossom-colored curly hair and amber eyes that resembles her late biological mother.

Clear pale skin, long eyelashes that look like flapping wings when blinking.

On top of that, the unique blank-looking expression stimulated maternal instinct, and the defenseless smile sometimes shown was so innocent that it made the hearts of all men and women flutter.

Therefore, whoever sees this girl, Euphemina Sichel Dieren, for the first time, recalls the same impression without a single error.

‘The history of the capital’s social world will be rewritten from the day the Princess of Dieren makes her debut.’

A beautiful girl who simply attracts the attention of anyone.

What made Princess Euphemina even more endearing was the small spot on her left cheek.

A clear and small charming dot that stretches horizontally with the shape of the eyes whenever the girl smiles softly.

That insignificant error seems to play a role in keeping anyone from daring to take their eyes off the girl’s face.

…That is what other people think.

Her brothers knew the girl’s true nature all too well.

“Euphemina, you were also in the greenhouse.”

“Sister Euphie. Let’s have a strategy meeting!”

After finishing his talk with Chelsian, Kardiel headed to the greenhouse leading from the back door of the mansion to find his second sibling, Euphemina. It was because they had to strategize about what would happen from today.

And Euphemina was found in the corner of the greenhouse, as expected. It was clear that she ran as soon as dawn broke again today. Seeing the hem of her dress and her gloves covered with mud.

“…Euphemina?”

“Sister?”

However, Euphemina did not turn her head even though her name was called several times for some reason. Looking at it, it seemed that she was extremely focused on something.

Oh, right. Come to think of it, he remembered that the teacher gave her a special daily assignment. It was to write a plant observation journal.

‘But it’s not the movement of recording or observing plants.’

Euphemina was crouching on the floor, stretching out her thumb and pressing down on the floor.

At a constant speed, repeatedly, press press press press.

He couldn’t figure out what on earth she was doing, but somehow Kardiel had a bad feeling.

“Sister, we’re here.”

“Wait a moment, Chelsian.”

It was when Chelsian, unable to see it, was about to run to Euphemina. Kardiel grabbed his brother by the shoulder and sent him behind himself.

Chelsian looked up at Kardiel with puzzled eyes. But Kardiel, focusing on Euphemina’s actions, ignored his younger brother’s gaze, slowly approaching her alone.

‘Ah.’

He couldn’t tell what his sister was doing until he got quite close.

Constantly moving her thumb with her signature blank expression…

She was killing a procession of ants.

One by one.

So that no ant escapes.

Press, press, press, press, press…

“Stop it, Euphemina.”

“Mmm.”

Only then did the girl react. But that doesn’t mean she stopped moving her fingers.

No matter how cold Kardiel’s personality was, it was a sight that was bound to give him goosebumps.

“I told you to stop!”

“Brother!”

Eventually Kardiel grabbed her wrist in a ferocious manner. Euphemina, who was forcibly lifted up, blinked in bewilderment for a moment.

She almost distorted her face for a moment, but when she saw Kardiel, she showed a soft smile again.

“When did you come, Brother Kar? Chelsea is there, too? Good morning.”

“Ha.”

What good morning.

A pure smile that seems to have no idea what’s going on out there or why in the world Kardiel is doing this.

Kardiel looked alternately at her fierce face and at the bodies of small insects pressed black on the thumb of her glove.

What is the use of one’s own reprimand? If he could correct his sister’s incomprehensible behavior, he would have done it earlier.

“By the way, my wrist hurts, Brother.”

“…”

Kardiel eventually gave up on the reproach and soon released her wrist. Instead, he’ll have to nag about something else.

“Change those dirty clothes and change your gloves, Euphemina. There’s a problem.”

“Clothes? Why clothes… kyaagh!”

Euphemina, who was tilting her head, suddenly spewed out a high sound. Kardiel had already known that she would react that way, so he had covered his ears a beat earlier.

“The dress is so dirty. Even my gloves… Why? Who did this?”

“It’s yourself, Euphemina. There’s no way you’ll be fine when you’ve been sitting on a pile of dirt.”

“It’s filthy, dirty. Should I throw away these clothes now? It’s been a while since I wore clothes that weren’t black…”

Euphemina spoke sadly. At the same time, the hand that took off the glove and threw it in the mud was ruthless, and the look on her face was as if she was shaking off a terrible bug.

Yes. Princess Euphemina had mysophobia. Anyone staying in Dieren knows this.

“S-Sister!”

“Wait. But don’t take off your dress right now, Euphemina.”

“A lot of people are coming to the house right now!”

And the brothers urgently prevented her from throwing off her clothes. No matter what, still, seeing their sister in her undergarments was a bit of unpleasant territory.

Fortunately, Euphemina was easily distracted by other topics to focus on, rather than changing her clothes.

“Why people? Visitors are banned.”

“Sister, that was until yesterday!”

“It seems so… Who’s here? Why are they here?”

Of course.

Before answering, Kardiel let out a short sigh.

“…I told you yesterday as well, Euphemina. Starting today, people from all over the continent may come to propose to Stepmother.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Euphemina’s expression return to her dull expression, remembering Kardiel’s repeated nagging-like words for several days.

She blinked for a moment, tilted her head from side to side, and then opened her mouth.

“I have a good idea.”

The pretty face, unknown what was being thought, smiled faintly.

“If the people who proposed die, won’t they be unable to marry Mother?”

Thanks to this, the brothers were at a loss for words at the same time.

“Ahem, I am the Count’s Young Lord. Unlike the masters, who only sent marriage proposals and gifts without sincerity, early in the morning! I’ve been waiting a long time to propose to the Duchess. So, no matter how busy the Duchess is, please tell her so that I can see her for a moment.”

“As I’ve already told you, the madam is busy today, so she cannot greet the marriage proposal group personally. This cannot be an exception, even if it is the Count’s Young Lord.”

“Oho, butler! Is there really no way? Hey. This appointment…”