~Chapter 1~
Aveline tied up her pink hair carelessly and, as always, stacked a pile of romance novels around her as she enjoyed her hobby.
“That crazy ex-husband… If he was in front of me, I’d slap him right now. How dare he treat my sister like that… Ugh.”
These days, she was obsessed with stories where the female lead gets a divorce from her cheating husband and starts a new life.
“Sigh. I need something to comfort my tired heart.”
With a loud snap, Aveline closed her book and reached for another one.
This time, she picked up a child-rearing novel where everyone in the world dotes on the main character.
“A tyrant brother who fills the sea to make an island for his younger sibling… Power really is the best for showing off.”
Aveline flipped through the book for a while, then threw it onto the table.
She sprawled out on the sofa, acting nothing like a count’s daughter, when suddenly the door burst open without a knock.
The culprit frowned as soon as he saw Aveline.
“Ugh, seriously.”
“Don’t you know how to knock? Don’t you know any manners?”
The person with no manners was none other than Aveline’s twin brother, Ares, who was born five minutes after her.
Ares, with the same pink hair as Aveline, looked at his sister lying so lazily, then spoke with a cold look.
“What’s with that posture?”
“How dare you open your sister’s door like that?”
“…Forget it. Dad wants to see you.”
Aveline quickly sat up at Ares’s words.
“Me? Why?”
“Don’t know. Maybe he found out you bought another bunch of weird books.”
“Ugh, I told you these aren’t weird books. They make my boring life better—”
“Tell that to Dad. I gave the message, so I’m leaving.”
Ares turned away, waving his hand teasingly. Aveline glared at his back, then left the room.
Knock, knock.
She knocked on the door to Count Herald’s office. Inside, a strict voice called out.
“Who is it?”
“It’s your adorable daughter.”
“…Who?”
The strict voice sounded surprised.
‘Guess that kind of response only happens in novels.’
Aveline felt a bit bitter, realizing reality is different from stories.
“It’s me, Aveline.”
“…Come in.”
Carefully, she entered. The Count, unlike his children, had fiery red hair but the same green eyes.
“What’s with your hair?”
Aveline touched her messy hair.
“I’m not going out anyway.”
“No. You have to go out. That’s why I called you.”
“Huh? I thought you called me because of the books.”
“Books?”
The Count looked confused.
‘Ares, you tricked me!’
She had been so nervous, thinking her father found out about the books she bought in secret!
Aveline cursed her sibling in her head and waited for her father’s next words.
“Books… You really read books?”
He sounded genuinely surprised, and Aveline felt her mood drop.
The Count was always busy with court work and barely paid attention to his children. Their mother had been sick and away since giving birth, so the twins hardly received love from either parent. Even when their father showed interest, it was always in Ares, who did everything perfectly.
Aveline, used to no one expecting anything from her, just spent her time reading.
“I know how to read.”
“Ahem. I know that… I was just surprised you read books. Good for you.”
There was a big difference between the books Aveline read and what the Count imagined, but she didn’t bother to explain.
‘Praise is still praise.’
Her father rarely praised her. Those few times, it was always for Ares.
She decided to just take it positively.
“So why did you call me?”
“You’ve received a marriage proposal.”
“What?”
Aveline was so shocked she couldn’t close her mouth, but the Count kept talking.
“You’re already twenty. It’s normal to have a fiancé.”
“…Who is it?”
Aveline, never having thought about this, asked carefully.
“Baron Bertha. He’s the second son of Marquis Nor, so the match isn’t bad.”
Marquis Nor was a famous noble on the Emperor’s side, so it wasn’t a bad proposal. Still, there was a problem.
“…He’s an illegitimate son.”
Baron Bertha was the marquis’s child with a mistress.
“That’s not a problem.”
“He’s also well over thirty.”
“Aveline. This is a chance to get closer to Marquis Nor. Don’t ruin it.”
‘But you’re sacrificing me for it…’
Aveline wanted to say that out loud but couldn’t.
“Prove your worth to me.”
Aveline had nothing to say after hearing that and left the office.
Following her father’s orders, Aveline dressed up and went to get in the carriage. Suddenly, a familiar pink-haired figure rushed toward her.
“Hey! Are you really going to the meeting?”
“Tsk. Sis.”
“Hey, sis! Are you really going?”
Ares was breathing hard like he ran to catch her. Aveline just nodded.
“Dad told me to.”
“Are you stupid? You should say no! Even if he’s the marquis’s son, he’s an illegitimate child, and he’s way older! Don’t you have any pride?”
Aveline stopped as she was getting in the carriage and looked at her angry brother.
She expected him to make fun of her, but instead, he seemed really upset, which surprised her.
“Are you worried about me?”
“Don’t joke around. Just go back inside. I’ll talk to Dad—”
“Must be nice.”
“What?”
Ares looked shocked at her words. Aveline looked at him calmly and spoke.
“You’re sure Dad will listen if you talk, aren’t you?”
“What are you saying…”
“He told me to prove my worth.”
Ares tried to argue, but Aveline stopped him with her hand.
“It’s the first time Dad expected something from me. Don’t ruin it.”
“Hey! Have you even heard the rumors about that guy? He’s known for being wild! What are you—!”
“Shh. I’m going. Let’s go.”
Aveline quickly got into the carriage and gave the signal to the coachman.
“Hey! Wait, sis!”
She heard Ares shouting behind her, but she ignored him and leaned back in the carriage.
“I’m already tired.”
It had been so long since she went outside. Wearing such a fancy dress made her feel even more exhausted.
She twisted her neatly brushed hair as she waited to arrive.
She remembered how Ares yelled at the end but shook her head. He probably thought she wanted to do this.
“Are you stupid? You should say no!”
She bit her lip, thinking of her younger twin’s easy words. He didn’t understand that only he could say things like that to their father.
While silently complaining about her brother, the carriage slowed and stopped.
“We’ve arrived, miss.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Aveline had arrived at the biggest restaurant in the capital. It had only private rooms, so nobles often used it for dates, meetings, or matchmaking.
“Welcome, my lady. It’s an honor to serve you. May I check your reservation?”
“Baron Bertha.”
“Ah… The baron is already waiting. Please follow me.”
The staff’s expression changed at the name, but Aveline didn’t care.
She just wanted to finish quickly and go home to read her novel.
‘I need to finish my child-rearing story.’
She wanted to vicariously enjoy a main character who got endless affection for just breathing.
“This way, please.”
The staff stopped in front of a door but hesitated to open it.
