CH 11

Chapter 11: Stepsister and Former Fiancée Side

Olivia has been in the royal capital for almost a year and a half.

summer evening.

at a local bakery with a good reputation, located just outside Daregas’s town center.

The lady storekeeper was sweeping the floor.

(Let’s finish cleaning up and head home.)

She quickly cleans up and sweeps before leaving the bakery.

She had just locked the door and was about to leave when…

“Excuse me.”

She was called out from behind.

When she turned around, three young women were standing there.

They were all dressed elegantly and lavishly.

“Please excuse me. Can you tell me when the magic tool store over there opens?”

One of the women points diagonally across the street to Carter’s Great Magic Tools Store.

The door is slammed shut, and the interior is dark and silent.

The lady sighed bitterly.

“It’s been closed for quite some time. According to rumors, the owner’s daughter is getting married, and they don’t have time to open the store.”

“Oh! Then, by any chance, Olivia-san?

“Not Olivia, apparently it’s her stepsister.”

“I see.” The woman looks disappointed.

She had purchased a pair of Olivia’s earrings and was so pleased with them that she returned with a friend to buy them again.

“Thank you very much.”

“No, no. I apologize for not being able to assist you.”

They express gratitude to one another.

The lady shopkeeper sees them off leaves.

Then she exhales deeply.

“…I still can’t believe it. I wonder what’s going on.”

Approximately two and a half years ago.

The Carter’s Great Magic Tools Store’s owner and his wife died in quick succession.

Fortunately, their daughter Olivia is a great magic tool maker.

When she was younger, Jack, an older employee, assisted her, and the two worked together to run the store.

But a month or two later, the ownership changes abruptly and without warning.

The new owner was a pompous man who claimed to be Olivia’s father’s brother, and the atmosphere in the store became increasingly depressing.

Olivia gradually stopped smiling, and Jack began to look exhausted.

When the lady shopkeeper noticed that things were clearly not going well, she became worried.

She kept bringing them bread from the store and asking if they were all right.

Olivia claims that she has no time to rest because her uncle is constantly trying to get her to do jobs for the aristocrats.

Eventually, Jack retired due to overwork.

A few months later, Olivia suddenly disappeared, and rumors circulated that she had stolen her stepsister’s designs.

The lady shopkeeper was very upset.

“Oh my goodness! This can’t be right!”

Olivia, who worked so hard and so diligently, would never do something like that.

Furthermore, Henry, the lord’s son, is said to have broken off the engagement.

“The poor thing. Of course she was hurt.”

You wanted to console her, but she was no longer there.

When she asked her stepsister, Catherine, who had come to the store instead, about Olivia, she replied with a scowl that belied her lovely face.

“I do the designs, and my sister will never return!”

However, she only went to the store on a regular basis for about six months.

At some point, the number of customers decreased, the store closed often, and lately it was no longer open.

The lady shopkeeper looked worriedly at Carter’s Great Magic Tools Store, which was already looking a little run down.

“I hope you’re doing well, Olivia…”

***

Meanwhile

in a coffee shop on Daregas’ main street.

Catherine and Olivia’s ex-fiancé, Henry, were having tea.

A year after the engagement was broken off, they became engaged at the insistence of Viscount Bergor.

They have now sent out wedding invitations and are in the midst of wedding preparations.

Normally, this would be a busy but happy time, but Henry had a bad complexion.

“When are you going to reopen the store, Catherine?”

Catherine apologized to Henry, who had a frown on his face.

“I apologize. With all of the wedding preparations and studying, I simply haven’t had the time to go to the store…”

“Can’t you just come in once a week? My father has inquired. “When are you going to reopen your store?”

Catherine’s face tightens at the mention of Viscount Bergor’s name, and Henry looks at her with concern.

“Is there something wrong with you, Catherine? Have you been doing the designs you said you liked lately?”

Catherine had always carried a small sketchbook with her and seemed to draw something every now and then.

She hasn’t been seen drawing or even looking in her sketchbook in a while.

Catherine looked down at the ground for a moment, then up at Henry with her green eyes moist.

“… Actually, something is going through my head, and I can’t concentrate on the design any longer…”

Henry was taken aback.

He had no idea she had such a problem because she was always smiling.

“What exactly is it? What’s on your mind?”

“…It’s about my stepsister.”

Henry frowned at the sound of Catherine’s fading voice.

“Olivia is no longer in town. She won’t be bullied anymore, will she?”

“No,. I know it’s not how it’s supposed to be, but I’d like her to be at my wedding.”

Henry’s eyes widened as he heard the unexpected words.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes—I’m serious. Because I feel sorry for my stepsister.

“…Well, maybe that’s true, but I believe she deserves what she gets.”

“I think so too. But even if we were stepsisters, I’m worried about her.”

Henry thought as he looked at Catherine, who was holding her eyes sadly.

(That’s very kind of Catherine.

She has most likely been heartbroken for a long time.

I’ve heard that design is all about imagination.

Maybe this kind of thing bothers her.

I really don’t want to see Olivia’s face, but it’s for Catherine’s sake. I have no choice.)

Henry gives a hesitant nod.

“…Alright. I understand. I don’t like it, but I’ll talk to my father about it—He seems to care about Olivia, so I doubt he’ll say no.”

“Thank you very much!”

Catherine shakes Henry’s hand with a big smile on her face.

Henry felt better after having his hand held, and he mentally praised himself.

(I’m a good person for forgiving that horrible woman and even inviting her to my wedding. )

As a result, he didn’t notice.

Catherine’s lips were twisted in the cruelest way possible.