Kasalyn’s birth mother had passed away due to a chronic illness when Kasalyn was very young, leaving only faint memories.
Despite the assured comfort and prestige, Kasalyn’s father, a professor at the royal academy, became somewhat indolent after her mother’s death, much like any other common nobleman.
“Kasalyn, say hello. She’s going to be your new mother.”
Returning from a brief research trip abroad, her father brought home a woman. To Kasalyn, there was only one mother, yet her father had replaced her with this new wife.
The woman was holding a young child in her arms. Her name was Rose.
“This child is a blessing born from our travel, under God’s grace. She’s now your sister, take good care of her.”
Kasalyn couldn’t help but resent her father for quickly trying to forget her late mother. However, she couldn’t entirely blame him.
Now the eldest daughter instead of the only child, Kasalyn strived to be a responsible big sister, despite her inexperience.
The new stepmother seemed to favor Rose but did not mistreat Kasalyn. It seemed they could at least be a not-so-bad family.
Until her father passed away due to a war injury.
“Kasalyn, you must elevate our family’s honor. Ensure your marriage to the king goes through. That way, our Rose can become a lady of a noble house.”
The stepmother didn’t act like an evil figure from a third-rate novel, but perhaps imposed a more painful burden of responsibility and duty on Kasalyn.
Rose’s ascent as a mere stepping stone.
Nothing more, nothing less.
“Congratulations. His Majesty has chosen Miss Rose Robon as the next queen.”
What did Rose think when the court official came to announce this? Kasalyn remembered feeling incredibly scared and anxious about her impending marriage.
Did Rose really not understand the weight and challenges of being a queen of a country?
“Ugh…”
Kasalyn, who had been sprawled over the desk, straightened her stiff back with a groan.
Squinting in the morning sunlight pouring through the window, she stretched and something fell from beneath her chair.
It was a blanket.
‘Did a maid come and cover me with it?’
She was grateful, whoever it was.
Quickly scanning the paper-laden desk, Kasalyn saw it was filled with writing – fortunately, she had completed Rose’s speech for the reading ceremony before falling asleep.
A moment of gratitude for her own hard work from the night before.
“Is anyone there?”
“Yes, Miss Kasalyn.”
“Could you take this to Her Majesty, the Queen? It’s for the reading ceremony. Tell her the preparation time was short so it might be imperfect and ask her to review it.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, and one more thing.”
The maid, about to leave the room, turned back at her call.
“Did you cover me with the blanket last night?”
“No, I didn’t…”
“Okay, thank you. You can go now.”
Kasalyn watched the maid leave, her head tilted in curiosity.
Then who could it have been?
Being sick was generally a hassle, but sometimes it had its perks. Rose, whose ankle was hardly in pain anymore, decided to enjoy the sympathetic attention and care she received a bit longer.
Especially since Chalen was far more affectionate when she lay pale and bedridden.
‘Being sick is actually good.’
Crunch.
As the maid peeled and brought her a sweet apple slice, Rose leisurely rolled around on the spacious bed.
“Your Majesty, Queen. Miss Kasalyn has sent a document for you. It’s related to the reading ceremony…”
“It’s finished!”
Rose sprang from the bed and snatched the paper from the maid. Her face brightened like spring sunshine as she saw the elegant handwriting densely filling the page.
‘Having Kasalyn as a maid was a brilliant choice indeed.’
I can keep asking her for such favors.
Humming a little tune, Rose began reading the manuscript. It was a continuous flow of complex sentences, interspersed with occasional foreign words. While she couldn’t fully grasp everything, it was sufficient for her needs.
The maid, observing Rose, relayed Kasalyn’s request for a thorough review. However, Rose nonchalantly shrugged, confident in Kasalyn’s capabilities.
“Kasalyn never makes mistakes, especially with such tasks. She must have written a perfect piece this time too.”
Rose left the room with light steps, contemplating getting a few more necklaces crafted before the ball. That’s when she heard a voice, deep as if scraping the ocean floor.
“Coincidence indeed.”
The person in the opposite corridor was none other than Emperor Parnes.
Overwhelmed by his presence, Rose tensed but managed her most beautiful smile.
“Your Majesty, it’s getting quite warm, isn’t it?”
Parnes lifted an eyebrow and lazily returned the smile, surprising Rose with this unexpectedly gentle response. She felt a sense of closeness with this imposing man.
‘He specifically asked me to read. He must regard me favorably,’ Kasalyn had said. Rose sensed a budding friendship with the emperor.
“Did you finish preparing for the reading? It must have been a tight schedule.”
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
