CH prologue 5

When I heard of it, I couldn’t help but think that it was some kind of a joke or a dream.

I wondered if I had been drugged or if it was a punishment game, but I feared that no one could grasp the true intentions of the awe-inspiring man above the clouds.

“It is an honor, but why is it ――… I mean, why is it Risha?”

Regarding this question, I had a feeling that…the manly figure in front of me crooked his lips as if he was mocking him.

“Then who would have satisfied you, Count Verdigo?”

Despite being a younger man, the Duke’s language was that of a superior. The way he tediously crossed his legs and questioned my father, who had trouble comprehending what he was saying, was, by all means, arrogant. What was more, he behaved as if it were a matter of course.

Perhaps the next time he spoke, he’d say that incompetence was a problem.

“It is, of course, my eldest daughter and the heir to the Count’s family, Agnesto! No matter what, Agnesto is one of the most beautiful women in the kingdom. She’s been receiving a lot of engagement offers that it’s becoming troublesome. In comparison, my second daughter, Risha, is just as you see. She doesn’t have the looks that’s worthy of the Duke of Lindbeld!”

Indeed, my half-sister, Agnesto, was objectively beautiful.

After all, she looked exactly like my stepmother when she was younger, when she ensnared my father.

That for sure gave a few points to think about. I did not miss the Duke’s eyes, glancing at my stepmother.

“I can see her semblance to her mother. I’m sure that ・・・when her mother was younger, she must have attracted a lot of male attention.”

The sarcasm was strong.

In fact, my stepmother got married later in life and enjoyed a life of depravity, so she was now quite plump.

This was how my half-sister, who was identical to my stepmother, would look like in the future! However, if the Duke really were to choose based on looks, would he pick me now that I was right in front of him?

At the very least, a decent man would consider it a little.

To be honest, where had my former beauty gone? I couldn’t help but wonder.

“Anyhow, I’ve told you, Count, that I am of ancient lineage and that there is no mystery to my marriage. Noblemen ―― Moreover, high-ranking nobles give a certain priority to lineage. In that case, isn’t it natural to want to bring in a better bloodline? I’m sorry but I don’t want to associate with someone whose roots I don’t even know where they originated.”

Said the Duke of Lindbeld. He was just fed up with my father’s incomprehension.

And then, the eyes of my half-sister, who got bluntly told that she had never been considered as a marriage partner because of her bad blood, moistened as she stared at Duke Lindbeld.

“T-That’s a terrible thing to say! I’m an aristocrat, and I’m well-educated. It has never occurred to me that the Duke of Lindbeld was someone who only looked at pedigrees like this…You should have at least waited until you got a solid picture of my abilities! I am capable of supporting my husband well!”

I thought to myself, Weren’t you reminded just now not to butt in?

To put it mildly, it was very rude for a mere girl to interfere in a discussion between two heads of the family.

The Duke of Lindbeld was clearly offended.

My half-sister, who had only known that men would stand by her side whenever she cried, must have thought that if she showed her tears, she could make the Duke of Lindbeld surrender as well.

However, the Duke was not the kind of person who could be defeated by the usual tricks of women.

“Count, can you get rid of this impertinent being at once? Aren’t you being a little too indulgent?”

“My apologies once more!”

“Also, I would very much like to speak with Miss Risha alone, if that’s all right. Of course, it’s inappropriate for an unmarried man and woman to be alone together, so I hope you would leave the mansion’s steward behind.”

He said hope, but it was substantially an order.

Apparently, he decided that talking to my family would not help in the progress of the negotiation.

An ill-judged father, an insensitive stepmother, and an impertinent half-sister.

I was sure the Duke of Lindbeld had never negotiated with other people who were this awful.

Most people were very perceptive and read the Duke of Lindbergh’s airs and moods to get around, so I didn’t think he’s ever been this frustrated.

I felt kinda sorry for him.

My father, stepmother, and half-sister didn’t seem convinced, but they reluctantly left the room, and all that remained was our steward.

When the three of us were alone, Duke Lindbergh didn’t hide his irritation and blurted out what he wanted to say.