<Chapter 8>
If you look at reality coldly, Lieselotte’s remarriage can only be a political marriage based on conditions.
Could that really be called new happiness?
‘Above all, there’s no way someone proposing to a woman who hasn’t even been widowed for long could have pure intentions.’
There had to be some ulterior motive.
At the very least, they’d be after the Dayern family’s wealth or power.
But even if—by some miracle, conceding a hundred, a thousand times—it were pure love…
Love only lasts two years.
In other words, even if Lieselotte were to fall in love and remarry, she would be happy for at most two years.
Perhaps even less.
Cardiel never trusted people’s hearts—especially the integrity of noblemen. That was the only thing he had learned from his father.
So no matter how many times he thought about it, the conclusion remained the same.
They had to stop Lieselotte’s remarriage, no matter what.
‘The only ones who can truly protect Stepmother… are me and my siblings.’
A strange light flickered in Cardiel’s blue eyes.
“Chersion, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”
“Y-Yeah?”
Chersion blinked his large, uneasy eyes as he looked up at him.
Cardiel’s blue gaze was as sharp as a finely honed blade.
“Stepmother has always cherished us more than her own children. She even risked her life to protect us.”
“R-Right. She did.”
At the same time, the past ten years flashed through the siblings’ minds.
Those dreadful years under the rule of the devil known as the Duke of Dayern.
One thing was certain—the only reason the Dayern siblings were alive and well today was thanks to their stepmother, Lieselotte.
“So now, it’s our turn to protect her.”
“Yeah! Of course!”
Nod. The small head moved resolutely up and down, and his tiny fists clenched tightly.
Even though he was eleven—not exactly a young age—Chersion’s behavior somehow felt much younger than his peers.
Innocent, perhaps.
Anyway, after exchanging glances, the siblings quickly realized what they needed to do.
“Brother! Let’s have a strategy meeting right now. The new tutor is coming today too, right? So let’s call Sister Yupi as well—!”
“Chersion. I clearly told you not to run in the hallway…”
“Ah! Riiight! Waaah…”
The daughter of the Dayern family was a beautiful fourteen-year-old girl, with cherry-blossom-colored curly hair resembling her late mother and amber eyes.
Her skin was flawlessly pale and translucent, and her long eyelashes fluttered like wings when she blinked.
Her naturally absent-minded expression stirred protective instincts, while her occasional unguarded smile was so innocent it made anyone’s heart flutter, regardless of gender.
Thus, anyone who saw this girl—Euphemina Sichel Dayern—for the first time would inevitably think the same thing:
‘From the day the Dayern young lady debuts, the history of high society in the capital will be rewritten.’
A beauty who could charm anyone.
What made Lady Euphemina even more lovable was the small mark on her left cheek.
Whenever she smiled, it stretched slightly along with her eyes—a small but distinct beauty mark.
That tiny imperfection made it impossible for anyone to look away from her face.
…That was how others saw her.
Her siblings, however, knew her true nature all too well.
“Euphemina, so you were in the greenhouse after all.”
“Yupi noonaaa, let’s have a strategy meeting!”
After finishing his talk with Chersion, Cardiel headed to the greenhouse connected to the back door of the mansion to find his second sibling, Euphemina. They needed to plan for what was about to happen today.
And as expected, Euphemina was in a corner of the greenhouse.
Judging by the muddy hem of her dress and her gloves, she must have come running here at dawn again.
“…Euphemina?”
“Noona?”
But strangely, even though they called her name several times, she didn’t turn her head.
Looking closer, she seemed to be intensely focused on something.
Ah, right. Now that he thought about it, her tutor had given her a daily assignment—to keep a plant observation journal.
‘But she’s not observing or recording anything.’
Euphemina was crouched on the ground, pressing her thumb firmly against the floor.
At a steady pace, over and over.
Press. Press. Press. Press.
He couldn’t tell what she was doing, but for some reason, Cardiel felt uneasy.
“Noonaaa, we’re here!”
“Wait, Chersion.”
Just as Chersion was about to run toward her, Cardiel grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.
Chersion looked up at him in confusion.
But Cardiel ignored him, focusing only on Euphemina as he slowly approached her.
‘Ah.’
It was only when he got closer that he realized what she was doing.
With her usual blank expression, she was moving her thumb tirelessly…
Killing a line of ants.
One by one.
Making sure none of them escaped.
Press. Press. Press. Press. Press…
“Stop it, Euphemina.”
“Mm.”
She finally reacted—but didn’t stop moving her finger.
Even for someone as cold as Cardiel, the sight was enough to send chills down his spine.
“I said stop!”
“B-Brother!”
In the end, Cardiel grabbed her wrist roughly and pulled her up. Euphemina blinked in confusion.
For a moment, her face almost twisted into something frightening—but upon seeing Cardiel, she returned to a gentle smile.
“When did you get here, Brother Kar? Chel is here too? Good morning.”
“…Hah.”
Good morning, my foot.
That pure smile, as if she had no idea what was happening or why he was angry.
Cardiel looked back and forth between her vacant expression and the blackened mass of crushed insect corpses stuck to her gloved thumb.
But what was the point of scolding her?
If he could have corrected her incomprehensible behavior, he would have done so long ago.
“Anyway… my wrist hurts, Brother.”
“….”
Cardiel eventually gave up reprimanding her and let go of her wrist.
Though he still had other things to say.
“Change those filthy clothes and your gloves, Euphemina. There’s a problem.”
“Clothes? Why—… Eek!”
Euphemina tilted her head, then suddenly let out a sharp scream.
Cardiel had already expected that reaction and had covered his ears a beat earlier.
“My dress is so dirty. And my gloves… Why? Who did this?”
“You did, Euphemina. You were sitting on a pile of dirt—what did you expect?”
“It’s filthy, disgusting. I’ll have to throw this away, won’t I? It’s been a while since I wore something that isn’t black…”
Her voice sounded sorrowful.
Yet the way she ripped off her gloves and threw them onto the muddy ground was merciless, her expression like she was shaking off something repulsive.
That’s right—Lady Euphemina was a germaphobe. Everyone in Dayern knew that.
“N-Noonaaa!”
“Wait. Don’t start taking off your dress here, Euphemina.”
“There are soooo many people in the house right now!”
The brothers hurriedly stopped her from stripping her clothes off.
No matter what, seeing their sister in her undergarments was… not something they wanted.
Fortunately, Euphemina was easily distracted by a more interesting topic than changing clothes.
“Why are there people? Visitors aren’t allowed.”
“That was until yesterday, Noona!”
“I guess… maybe. But who came? And why?”
Well.
Before answering, Cardiel let out a short sigh.
“…I told you yesterday, Euphemina. Starting today, people from all over the continent might come to propose to Stepmother.”
“Ah.”
Only then did she remember what he had been repeating like a nag for days.
Her expression returned to its usual dazed look.
She blinked a few times, tilting her head side to side, then spoke.
“I have a good idea.”
Her pretty face smiled innocently—though no one could guess what she was thinking.
“If the people who propose die, then they can’t marry Mom, right?”
Both brothers were rendered speechless at the same time.
“Ahem, I am the son of a count. Unlike those who merely sent insincere proposals and gifts, I have been waiting since dawn to personally propose to the Duchess. So even if she is busy, surely you can at least announce my presence?”
“As I have already stated, my lady has a full schedule today and cannot personally receive any suitors. There will be no exceptions, even for the son of a count.”
“Hmph, butler! Is there truly no way? Here—this is just a small token of my sincerity…”
