CHAPTER 04…………………………..
I couldn’t quite remember what the relationship between Shevert, the eldest son of the Keraise family, and his youngest brother had been like in the original story.
I had just assumed—they were brothers, so he must’ve cared about him at least a little.
But… maybe that wasn’t the case.
“Broooother!”
Crimu came running toward his brother on his short legs, tears flying everywhere.
He seemed to have already forgotten that he’d just spat on me a moment ago.
That little brat…!
Shevert, who had been watching Crimu approach, took a few steps toward me.
From what I remembered, Shevert wasn’t yet an adult either—probably around seventeen.
But his body was already that of a grown man—tall and well-built enough to rival the duke himself.
“H-hello.”
Without realizing it, I greeted him awkwardly and instantly wanted to crawl into a hole.
Who says ‘hello’ in a situation like this?
But I couldn’t help it.
Shevert Keraise was the infamous “mouth of ruin,” a cruel and merciless beast.
Standing before him in person made my legs tremble.
Thank goodness for the long dress that hid it.
His expression wasn’t pleasant either—it looked like he’d bitten into something sour.
As the distance between us closed, my eyes widened.
Exactly the same!
He looked just like the Duke of Keraise—same blue hair that marked the family, the same cold, emotionless eyes, and that chilling aura.
Even his brusque way of speaking was the same.
“So it’s you. From Delve or Delba, wherever—thrown out from there.”
Ugh, I wasn’t thrown out! I was sold!
I almost snapped back but stopped myself.
Being sold was somehow even more humiliating.
“I’m Marianne of the Delve Count family, sir—uh, I mean… yes, hello.”
Should I speak formally or casually?
I got all confused.
“Huuuuh… sniff.”
Then suddenly, Crimu forced out another round of sobs and sucked in his snot noisily.
That little rat!
Anyone could tell those tears were fake, but to an older brother who adored his sibling, it would look different.
“Marianne, did you hit my brother?”
“What? N-no! Of course not!”
“Then why was Crimu crying?”
“I was just taking a walk in the garden when Crimu came over and—!”
I raised my voice in protest, feeling utterly wronged.
The hem of my skirt, still damp from Crimu’s spit, had already dried—no proof left.
Shevert rested a hand on Crimu’s tiny head, pressing it lightly.
“The nanny’s been looking for you.”
“Brother…”
“Go on, Crimu.”
“B-but…”
Crimu’s lip jutted out further at Shevert’s firm tone, looking even more pitiful.
Then, reluctantly, he turned to leave.
Watching that little blue-haired head bob away filled me with frustration.
I didn’t make him cry!
“And you.”
Shevert’s voice cut through the quiet garden as he stepped closer.
One step, then another—until he was close enough that I could reach him if I tried.
“W-what is it?”
I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze—he was that tall.
He naturally ended up looking down on me, literally and figuratively.
Humiliating.
As if the class difference weren’t enough, even his height overpowered me.
Why was thirteen-year-old Marianne’s growth so slow?
“Let me warn you. Don’t ever appear before me again.”
“……!”
A chilling threat.
His red eyes pierced through me like blades.
Instinctively, I shrank back, watching blankly as he turned and walked away.
‘We intend to make you my eldest son’s fiancée.’
Something warm fell down my cheek—tears.
It wasn’t just fear. It was the crushing realization that I was utterly alone in this strange place.
And that man was supposed to be my future fiancé.
I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and looked around.
“Ah!”
A few of the Keraise maids and servants who had been standing by quickly averted their gazes when our eyes met.
That made my chest tighten even more.
After that day, a rumor spread through the Keraise estate—
that “Lady Marianne from the Delve family bullied young Crimu and was punished harshly by the eldest son, Shevert.”
I overheard it by chance while taking a walk behind the mansion after skipping dinner.
I couldn’t even bring myself to deny it.
I just went back to my room and hid under the blanket all night.
Even if I spoke the truth, who here would believe me?
This was their territory.
And I was nothing but an outsider.
✦ ✦ ✦
The Duke of Keraise had one strange rule—
everyone must attend breakfast together.
So from my second day in this mansion, I had to drag myself there every morning.
Clink, clatter.
Only the sound of cutlery touching plates filled the long table.
No one spoke.
The Duke ate with perfect posture, face expressionless.
Just like in the novel, he wasn’t only indifferent to me, but to his own children as well.
Even though he must’ve heard the rumor about me and Crimu, he didn’t say a word of warning.
Is he watching me…?
Shevert, the duke’s miniature, barely glanced at Crimu now and then, and exchanged no words with his father.
The air was suffocating.
If it was going to be like this, why insist on eating together at all?
The funny thing was, even four-year-old Crimu acted unusually proper during breakfast—like a tiny little Keraise man.
Oh, really?
I shot him a sharp glare.
He puffed up his marshmallow-like cheeks and stuck out his tongue.
Then I suddenly felt a cold gaze and turned slightly—
my eyes met the Duke’s.
“…The soup is… delicious.”
“That’s meat, not soup.”
Shevert’s sarcastic voice cut through the silence.
Right. I had just eaten a piece of meat and said the soup is good.
“Haha… ha.”
I forced a laugh as the Keraise men looked at me oddly.
So awkward.
The Duke left without a word.
Shevert wiped his mouth and left with Crimu.
…All gone.
I sighed quietly, staring at the half-eaten meal before me.
How pathetic.
The huge table full of untouched food, the servants waiting for me to finish so they could clean up…
and me, sitting there all alone.
I shoved a piece of cold meat into my mouth.
There was no taste, but I chewed and swallowed anyway.
It was all I could do.
✦ ✦ ✦
From that day on, Crimu behaved the same way whenever he saw me—
either spitting foam or swinging his tiny fists in the air.
This house was full of men, generation after generation.
In such a gloomy environment, it was natural that a four-year-old might find me strange and unfamiliar.
I tried to understand with generosity but…!
Still, was that any reason to hate me that much?!
He even sneaked into my room once and took one of my precious wooden branches.
The butler explained,
“Young Master Crimu is simply very curious.”
But I was furious.
I’d brought that branch all the way here myself!
When I tried to get it back, they said it had already been thrown into the river.
Fine. He’s still a kid. I’ll let it slide… this once.
I sighed and looked out the window.
The sun was setting over the garden below.
There were fewer guards than usual.
The duke had taken most of the knights into the nearby forest.
“So, the duke’s gone… and the eldest and youngest are out.”
Right now, both Shevert and Crimu were keeping their distance from me.
I wanted to fix that, but pushing too hard might make things worse.
For now, I’d leave them be.
My next target was the second son.
“Ron Keraise.”
In the original story, the secondary male lead was Shevert.
Ron, the second son, was just a supporting character—but even crueler than his brother.
The thing is, the brothers didn’t meet until adulthood—
because Ron went missing as a child.
“I can’t remember the details, though…”
It was a brief early-arc episode in the novel.
Shevert reminisced about his lost younger brother—maybe two or three sentences at most.
“The Duchess collapsed and eventually died afterward.”
Even after searching the forest and the entire empire, Ron was never found.
Years had passed, and the family had all but given up.
“I can’t remember anything… not even the name of the place he disappeared.”
If only I knew, I could find him myself—
earn the Duke’s trust, and gain control over this house full of men.
Maybe I could even reform the twisted second son and prevent the future catastrophe.
After all, it was Ron’s madness that caused countless deaths later.
So hard… so hard.
In the original, Ron never even made eye contact with Marianne.
Then again, as Shevert’s fiancée, there was no reason they would.
Where could he be…?
“Uwaaaah…”
Then I heard faint sobbing from outside my room.
…Crimu again?
At first, I thought it was just my imagination—I’d heard that crying so often.
“Ugh, I’m getting Crimu trauma…”
But the next sound—weak, pained whimpers—snapped my attention.
“…What’s that?”
It was a fragile, trembling moan.
I pressed my ear against the door to listen more closely.
The crying was louder now.
Quietly, I opened the door.
Most of the guards who usually patrolled at night were gone—only one remained.
Probably because the duke hadn’t returned yet.
I gave the guard a casual shrug, pretending it was nothing.
He nodded impassively and walked down the opposite corridor.
“Phew…”
I exhaled softly and walked toward the room where the crying came from—Crimu’s room.
I remembered this was the same place he had run out of, crying, the first time we met.
But then—click.
The door suddenly opened.
It was the nanny.
Her face froze when she saw me standing there.
“Oh… Lady Marianne.”
Her eyes flickered nervously.
She tried to act calm, but the corners of her mouth trembled.
Then she forced a smile.
“Didn’t you go to dinner?”
“Oh, I was on my way but got lost.”
“Oh dear, you’re still not used to the layout. I’ll show you the way.”
“Sure. But… where’s Crimu?”
At that, the nanny froze—
then quickly shut the door tight behind her.
