How To Get Revenge On My Sister Who Stole My Husband - Chapter 42

“Let’s talk in more detail once we’re in the carriage.”

“Alright.”

As we boarded the carriage one after another, it slowly began to move. I addressed the Duke, who was looking out the window with his arms folded.

“Was there anyone following the Prince and me? How were Duke Yusten and Danae’s movements?”

“Well, they did. Those two apparently stayed in the mansion the whole time.”

“Did you properly compensate the fisherman? I gave you gold coins for that.”

“Yes.”

The Duke answered my questions with a brusque attitude. I frowned slightly. He seemed somewhat uncomfortable now, and even a bit angry. I asked him directly.

“Duke, are you perhaps angry with me? If so, please tell me honestly.”

The Duke shook his head and replied.

“No. Why would I be angry with you?”

“Then why have you been acting like this since earlier? You don’t make eye contact while talking, and you give short answers to my questions.”

“…”

“Don’t deny it again.”

I said, staring straight at his profile. At those words, the Duke’s brow furrowed. He moved his lips silently as if unsure what to say, then spoke.

“…Was it necessary to be that kind to Prince Justin?”

“What?”

“The Prince’s ears turned red looking at you. Not just once or twice, but several times. What if the Prince falls for you and ruins the plan?”

At those words, I opened my mouth in surprise. His words were so unexpected that I was bewildered and dumbfounded. I let out a dry laugh and said.

“The Prince falling for me? What nonsense are you saying? That’s impossible!”

This time, the Duke let out a dry laugh and countered.

“Why are you so sure it’s nonsense?”

“Because it is! As I explained when I told you about this plan, I’m far from his ideal type. My personality also doesn’t match the type of woman the Prince wants!”

“…You really don’t know anything about a man’s heart.”

“What do you mean by that?”

I raised my voice slightly, bristling at his words. The Duke sighed deeply and said.

“What man wouldn’t be swayed when a beautiful and intelligent woman like you acts kindly towards him? Isn’t it obvious when you think about it?”

“…What?”

I asked back with wide eyes. My mind went blank at his completely unexpected words. The Duke clicked his tongue briefly and turned his head away. The tips of his ears were faintly red as he bit his lower lip. My cheeks also flushed hot seeing him like that.

Just then, the carriage came to a stop. The Duke opened the carriage door and said.

“…I apologize if my attitude displeased you. I went a bit too far.”

“…No, it’s alright.”

“Take care going in. I’ll send a letter later.”

“Okay.”

I answered his words with a dazed face as I got out of the carriage. Soon the carriage departed. I followed the departing carriage with my eyes, then quickly came to my senses and turned away.

‘How foolish! This isn’t the time for this.’

Right, this wasn’t the time for me to be like this. I shouldn’t attach meaning to compliments the Duke threw out without much thought and his minor actions. To him, I was just someone necessary to enthrone the Princess and reveal the disgraceful death of his mother, and I also only needed him for my revenge. So he just scolded me because he was worried my actions might ruin the plan. That’s all it was. That’s all it should be.

I slapped my cheeks hard with my palms to pull myself together.

[This is the timeline separator]

Returning to the annex, I headed straight to the main building’s office without even taking time to change my dress.

Duke Yusten was overjoyed at my report that I had successfully improved Prince Justin’s mood and escorted him back to the Imperial Palace. He said he would buy me jewels if this matter went well. I replied that I didn’t want such things before leaving the main building.

I handed gold coins to the Duchy’s messenger, instructing him to use them to pay for the sword that Prince Justin liked and the clothes I had ordered for him. I also didn’t forget to order that those items be delivered to the Prince as quickly as possible.

And the next day.

After finishing a light lunch, I took a walk in the annex garden for the first time in a while. That’s when Annie came running towards me, calling out with a letter in her hand.

“My lady! Huff, huff! My lady!”

I pointed to Annie’s hand with my eyes and said.

“Is that a letter for me?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Annie handed me the letter, panting heavily. I sat down on a bench in a corner of the garden and opened the letter.

[Come to the palace as soon as you see this letter. I’ll be waiting.]

The sender was Princess Ella. I immediately crumpled the letter into a small ball and put it in my bosom before standing up.

Then I turned to Annie and said.

“Annie.”

“Yes, shall I call for a carriage?”

“…That’s right. Please do.”

“But first, you need to change into a new dress. You’ll wear a modest one today too, right?”

Annie asked with a grin. I nodded.

[This is the timeline separator]

After finishing my preparations for going out with Annie’s help, I headed to the Imperial Palace in the carriage she had prepared.

When I got out of the carriage upon arriving at the palace’s main gate, a middle-aged woman standing there approached me. It was Baroness Jelut, Princess Ella’s nanny and the head maid of the Princess’s palace. She bowed her head slightly to me in greeting and said.

“Follow me, Lady Yusten.”

I nodded and followed the Baroness. We passed through the palace’s main gate and central garden, then turned right in a large circle until the Princess’s palace came into view. The Baroness guided me to the reception room located on the first floor of that palace. As I stepped one foot through the open door, Princess Ella, who was drinking tea, brightened up and said to me.

“Lady Yusten! Welcome! You must have had a hard time coming here while avoiding your uncle’s eyes.”

“…You’re a bit late.”

But the Princess wasn’t alone there. I noticed the Duke sitting to her right. Seeing him reminded me of the conversation we had yesterday.

I awkwardly avoided the Duke’s gaze and said to the Princess.

“Lady Christine Sapiel Yusten greets Princess Ella.”

“…”

“I’m so glad you came. Come, sit here.”

The Duke frowned at my behavior, which Princess Ella didn’t notice as she pointed to her left, inviting me to sit. As I sat down as instructed, the Princess turned to me with a smiling face and said.

“You must have been very surprised to receive my letter saying ‘Come to the palace immediately’?”

“Not at all, Your Highness.”

“I’m sorry. I knew it would be rude to you, but I just couldn’t help myself. I was so eager to tell you about what happened last night!”

After that, Princess Ella let out a soft laugh. I smiled back at the Princess and said.

“You must have instructed the maid named Evelyn to serve the Prince and Princess at dinner last night, right?”

“Of course. I instructed that girl to bring the Prince’s aperitif. As you predicted, Prince Justin was startled and flinched when he saw that girl. But perhaps because I was in front of him, he seemed to try hard to hide such a reaction. Well, he did occasionally look at that girl with quite passionate gazes.”

“…I hope you weren’t upset by the Prince’s behavior?”

Remembering how the Princess had suffered because of their love in my past life, I cautiously asked. The Princess smiled and shook her head.

“Of course not! It’s better for me if he doesn’t have feelings for me. I must break off this arranged marriage for the sake of my dream.”

“That’s a relief. Even though you’re in talks of engagement, I was worried you might get hurt seeing someone look only at another person while you’re right in front of them.”

“Don’t worry about that. I wasn’t hurt at all. Rather, I’m grateful that Prince Justin and Evelyn fell in love at just the right time.”

The Princess said this while gently patting my shoulder. I continued speaking, genuinely relieved by her carefree attitude.

“Then now you should move according to the plan, Your Highness.”

“Right. I just need to summon that girl Evelyn here this evening, correct?”

“Yes. You must summon her in Baroness Jelut’s name, not yours. After that, the Baroness should harshly confront her. Saying something like, ‘How dare you deceive Her Highness and have an affair with her fiancé, I won’t let you get away with this.'”

“And I’ll make an excuse to call Prince Justin out for a walk, then lead him to overhear the Baroness confronting Evelyn. Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Since Prince Justin loves her, he’ll step in front of her to protect her from trouble. Then, Your Highness, you should suggest the solution to them as I told you.”

I finished speaking and looked at the Princess with a meaningful expression. Princess Ella nodded with satisfaction. Then the Duke, who had been silently listening to our conversation, spoke up.

“What if Prince Justin pretends not to know her? What will you do then?”

“What?”

“We can’t completely rule out the possibility that he might act cowardly like that. He doesn’t seem like the type of man who would be devoted enough to break off this arranged marriage for a woman he’s only known for a few days. For example, didn’t the Prince blush several times looking at you?”

At those words, I let out a short, dry laugh. While his point about the Prince possibly not acting that way was quite sharp, the words that followed left me dumbfounded. I immediately refuted his words.