Chapter 57
“Count, I have a request. Could I speak with my sister alone? Just once, before the wedding, so we can have a private talk as sisters.”
With tear-filled eyes and her hands clasped together, Rachel looked pitiful—like an abandoned saint.
It was the same tearful act she had perfected in my past life.
One drop of her tears was enough to make her look like the victim, while I was painted as the heartless villain.
Back then, I hadn’t realized it. Even I had been fooled by her tears.
As expected, the Count looked flustered when he saw her crying.
When he hesitated, Rachel’s sobbing grew louder.
“…Fine. But make it quick,” he said mechanically before stepping out of the room.
A silence lingered before Rachel finally spoke.
“…Sister, have you been well?”
“More or less. How about you?”
“…”
Rachel’s head stayed lowered, her face pale—no longer just pale, but ghostly white.
“…You can see it yourself. I’m finished.”
Her thin shoulders trembled. She covered her face and sobbed, then suddenly looked up.
“How could I be fine when I’m engaged to such an ugly man?!”
Even during her crying acts, her lips had always been composed—but now they twisted in genuine disgust.
Those tears were real… not for anyone else, but for herself.
“This is what you chose, Rachel. Don’t whine about it—take responsibility for your choices. Just like when you played with my fiancé and earned the title of ‘the Empire’s most despicable woman.’”
“…!”
She must have expected comfort from me. Her lips trembled.
“…S-Sister!”
Rachel suddenly stood, then dropped to her knees.
“…I’m sorry. I’ll apologize.”
I smiled faintly and picked at my ear.
“What was that? Did I hear a dog barking?”
Rachel’s face turned red as she jumped to her feet. She met my gaze, clenched her jaw, and then lowered her eyes.
“…Believe it or not, I’m serious. I never loved that idiot Alex… Fine, honestly, I never loved him at all. I was blinded by money—never love.”
“Really? And now you’re truly apologizing?”
She nodded rapidly.
I smiled sweetly, stepped forward, and stomped hard on her foot.
“Ow! What are you doing? That hurts!”
“That’s when you apologize—when you’ve hurt someone physically. Not for stealing someone else’s man.”
Her hands trembled as they clutched her skirt.
When neither tears nor apology worked, she lifted her chin in defiance.
“Fine! I knew you’d never accept my apology. Then do this—whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it. Just stop this marriage with Count Herbert!”
Ah, there it was.
Finally showing her true colors, she continued,
“…That lunatic Alex threatened me. He told me to pay back every coin he’d spent on me—and if I didn’t…”
Her eyes darted nervously.
“…he’d find a way to kill me. You’re the only one who can help me. If you pay my debt to Alex, I’ll…”
“From what I saw, Count Herbert seems to like you. You won’t find another man like him. You two are perfect—like a pair of cockroaches.”
I smiled brightly, making her snap.
“Would you want to live with that hideous man?! If this is because you still have feelings for Alex, just take him! Go back to him instead of wasting time with that dying Crown Prince! If I step aside, maybe Alex will—”
Slap!
Her head snapped to the side. Her eyes widened in shock.
“Crown Prince Claude is not someone to be compared to trash like Alex. And Count Herbert should be grateful to have someone like you. So, live quietly—before I throw you in prison for attempted murder of a royal.”
Rachel collapsed into a chair, stunned.
“I hear the Count’s mistresses are incredibly vicious. Four of them, in fact. That’s why his ex-wives ran away in less than a month, right?”
As I sweetly spelled out her grim future, her face went deathly pale.
Shaking, she opened the door and left, slamming it hard behind her.
[Claude: “If you want, we can have her punished for attempted royal murder right now.”]
[Me: “Not yet. She has Brefni backing her. The Emperor could reduce her sentence. Just prison isn’t enough.”]
I clenched my fists.
I didn’t just want Rachel to live quietly.
Knowing her, she’d strike from the shadows like a snake.
So hurry up, Rachel.
Just like you sent me to hell in my past life…
This time, I’ll throw you into the fire.
***
“It’s just a dinner… but this dress feels too…”
…revealing.
I looked down at my low neckline. Anna spoke brightly,
“Since it’s your first dinner together after the wedding, I chose something more feminine. What do you think?”
Her round brown eyes were full of expectation.
“…It’s pretty, but I don’t think it’s for me.”
“Covering up such a beautiful figure is a waste! And purple like this is so rare these days.”
I had to admit—it did make my waist look nice. But still, dining alone with the Crown Prince in something so tight felt awkward.
“I don’t think I can wear this. I’ll just change into something—”
Before I could finish, there was a knock and the door opened.
“Are you ready?”
Claude stood in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame. His dark hair was slightly damp, and he wore only a thin shirt on his upper body.
Seeing him like this for the first time felt strangely unfamiliar.
He walked toward me—his steps measured, his posture perfect, his gaze steady.
“Your Highness, I’m sorry. She’s not ready yet,” Anna said with a bow.
Claude tilted his head toward me, his red eyes scanning my face, hands, and dress. His gaze was so focused I thought he might burn a hole through me.
“You look ready to me.”
“No… I was just about to change into something more modest.”
His eyebrow twitched.
“You look perfect as you are. No need to change. You may go,” he said to Anna.
Anna left, and Claude added, “It’s your first time in the banquet hall. I’ll take you there myself.”
As he moved to open the door, I quickly stepped in his way.
“Forgive me, Your Highness, but this dress is a bit too much for me. Please, go ahead. I’ll change and follow.”
He narrowed his eyes slightly, one brow lifting.
“Modest doesn’t suit you.”
He countered my words easily, his gaze hot and unyielding.
Then, with a faint smirk, he stepped closer and began unbuttoning his shirt.
