Episode 1
0. The Circumstances of Becoming Sister-in-Law’s Divorce Partner
The rose garden, the pride of the Lavantes Duke’s household.
In that place where countless roses bloomed in clusters, I sat face-to-face with the female protagonist of this world.
Gracefully pinned-up honey-gold hair and emerald-green eyes reminiscent of lush foliage.
And even her uniquely noble bearing.
‘How can someone be that pretty?’
As expected, she has the beauty worthy of being the female protagonist of a novel.
I was momentarily entranced, admiring the female lead’s beauty with a rapt expression, when a voice laced with icy chill sharply pierced my eardrums.
“So, why exactly did you ask to see me?”
The name of this stunning noblewoman glaring at me with a frigid gaze is Isabel von Lavantes.
Before marriage, she was Isabel of the Delaini Count’s family, and now she is the Duchess Lavantes.
Privately, she is also my sister-in-law.
In other words, this gorgeous female protagonist is my biological oppa’s wife.
And here the tragedy begins.
Because I……
was the hateful little sister-in-law who openly looked down on the female protagonist who married into this trashy, messed-up family, and who would eventually be married off like merchandise!
“……Miss?”
“Ah, sorry.”
I snapped out of my internal screaming and came back to my senses.
Our sister-in-law still wore a face cold as ice.
“So, what is your business?”
Well, even I wouldn’t be able to smile cheerfully in front of a sister-in-law who torments me every single day.
But being on the receiving end of that look from my ultimate bias is still heartbreaking, so I should probably get to the point.
“Don’t you have any thoughts of divorce?”
In that instant, Isabel’s eyes shook violently.
I rested my chin on my hand and flashed a beaming eye-smile.
“I’ll help you.”
Honestly, it’s a bit awkward for the younger sister to say this herself, but that guy is really no good.
So, unni, let’s just scrap that junk car already, okay?
I’ll support your fresh start with all my heart and resources.
Please make me your divorce partner!
* * *
< I’m Done Playing the Shadow. >
From the title alone, this romance-fantasy novel screamed “I’m a refreshing revenge story.” It was the web novel I enjoyed most in my previous life.
If I had known I’d end up possessing someone in it, I would’ve skipped novels altogether and just washed my feet and gone to bed……
Ha, let me wipe these tears for a second.
The story of the novel goes roughly like this.
The female protagonist, Isabel, enters into a marriage with the Lavantes Duke’s household, one of the empire’s most prestigious families.
But the problem is that the Lavantes Duke’s household is an utterly horrific, rock-bottom, trashy, messed-up family.
The husband’s affairs, neglect, and overbearing attitude.
On top of that, the mother-in-law’s grueling in-law torment and the sister-in-law’s subtle contempt.
Unable to endure all these hardships any longer, Isabel finally kicks the trash ex-husband to the curb in spectacular fashion.
After that, she meets the destined male protagonist and soars to success.
However, as everyone knows, without sweet potatoes, there can be no refreshing cider.
So who is that sweet potato?
Me.
It’s me.
Elodie von Lavantes.
The Lavantes duke’s daughter who reigns as the flower of high society, backed by the empire’s only ducal house.
A luxurious villainess possessing both beauty and wealth.
A commonplace villainous sister-in-law who lends a hand to Isabel’s in-law torment.
And even after the divorce, a personality-broken trash who can’t kick the habit and treats Isabel even more harshly.
Up to this point, Elodie’s situation seems pretty decent, but well.
If that were the case, I wouldn’t be lamenting like this, would I?
I clearly said it earlier.
The Lavantes Duke’s household is an “utterly horrific, rock-bottom, trashy, messed-up family.”
Elodie melted perfectly into this messed-up patriarchal family, fawning over her oppa like a tongue in the mouth.
But all her coquettish behavior was utterly useless.
The trashy nature of this family is starkly proven just by the scene where Elodie exits the story.
‘Y-You’re really going to marry me off to Marquis Bartsen?’
At her oppa’s announcement, the blood drained from Elodie’s face.
And for good reason—Marquis Bartsen was a man at least twenty years older than Elodie.
Though he was a member of the imperial family and wealthy with renown, he was in every way incompatible with the newly adult Elodie.
‘Please reconsider just once, I beg you……!’
Elodie clung desperately to her oppa, tears and snot streaming down her face, but it was no use.
Oppa coldly cast her aside.
‘I’ve fed you, clothed you, and raised you delicately—that should be enough. What more do you want?’
‘Oppa!’
‘You’ve been strutting around as a duke’s daughter; now it’s time to pay for it. Isn’t that right?’
There, Elodie realizes.
That her existence is nothing more than a flower raised delicately to be sold at the highest price.
Among the suitors vying to buy Elodie, the marquis offered the highest sum.
And that sum would go straight into oppa’s pocket.
But the realization came far too late.
In the end, Elodie is married off to Marquis Bartsen like merchandise and meets a suspicious death.
The public was told it was illness, but well.
Rumors quietly circulated that she had fallen victim to the marquis’s sadistic tendencies……
“No, this is just wrong!”
Lying on the bed, I couldn’t contain my anger any longer; I kicked off the blankets and shot upright.
If I were to fall in revenge to Isabel, fine, whatever.
But to be expendable like this just to highlight the horror of the Lavantes Duke’s household? No way!
Moreover, the kind Isabel hears the news of her wicked former sister-in-law’s death and feels genuinely sorry, even offering condolences…… Is she insane?!
‘I can’t just sit here and take this.’
I gritted my teeth hard.
My survival plan is this.
To escape that horrific ending, I ultimately have to become independent from the Lavantes Duke’s household.
But in the process, I need to make sure the ducal house can’t touch me recklessly.
Fundamentally, building my own influence to protect myself is the right path, but……
‘Still, wouldn’t it be great to use everything I can?’
That’s how I decided to support sister-in-law’s divorce with all my heart and resources.
By focusing every nerve of the ducal house solely on the divorce lawsuit, my own movements become even freer.
Our oppa, who strutted around as the Lavantes Duke, loses all face.
And my ultimate bias, sister-in-law, finally gets to scrap the junk car!
‘Perfect.’
It’s decided.
I clenched both fists tightly.
Female lead, I’ll take full responsibility and assist you to a successful divorce!
So after the divorce, please don’t forget my hard work, okay?
