How To Get Revenge On My Sister Who Stole My Husband - Chapter 81

‘How could I stand by and watch such a beautiful and wise lady marry the pathetic son of Duke Klein? I’d rather be criticized for using the princess’s power to interfere with the marriage of two young nobles.’

Fortunately, such worries were alleviated when Elliot honestly told her that he loved her.

The two are clearly a suitable match for each other, and will admirably fill each other’s deficiencies. Also, their union will be of great help to her reign in the future.

The princess firmly believed this as she forcibly pulled down the corners of her mouth that kept rising. She was truly looking forward to what was to come.

* * *

Upon returning to the mansion, I immediately took a bath and changed into a new dress.

While having tea with the crown princess and engaging in meaningless conversation, her butterflies flew around, dropping plenty of excrement on my body as well. I grumbled inwardly as I thoroughly washed every part of my body. I couldn’t fathom what kind of butterflies scattered excrement like pollen as they flew about.

But on the other hand, I was fortunate to be able to decline the tea and cookies offered by the crown princess with that excuse. As I was thinking about this, suddenly an afterimage from that time flashed through my mind.

‘Come to think of it, those butterflies, their wing colors seemed to be fading gradually. Is it my imagination?’

I tilted my head. The excrement on my body was unpleasant enough, but now that I think about it, the words and actions of the crown princess, who alternately looked at me and the butterfly while uttering strange words, felt quite suspicious.

Unable to find an answer and left with only an uneasy feeling, I was drying my wet hair after changing into a new dress when I heard the butler’s voice from outside the door.

“Miss Christine, I have a message for you.”

“What is it, Elder Butler?”

Annie responded on my behalf as she greeted him.

“The master has asked me to bring you to the main building.”

“Ah, but the young lady is still getting ready… Could you wait a little?”

“Will it take long?”

The butler asked impatiently. I touched my hair that was still being styled, then turned my head towards the door where the butler was standing and replied.

“I don’t think it will take too long. Sorry, but could you wait just a bit longer?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Soon after finishing my preparations, I headed to the main building with the butler. As I opened the door to the reception room and entered, the Duke, with a pale complexion, greeted me.

“Oh, Christine! I’ve been waiting. Come, sit here quickly.”

I sat in the chair opposite him, giving a polite smile towards the Duke who was welcoming me with exaggerated enthusiasm.

“You called for me, Uncle? Did something happen at the noble council meeting?”

“No, not that, I heard that the Crown Princess sent a carriage for you this morning. What did she say to you?”

I knew he would ask about that. Trying to suppress the smile that was spreading unconsciously, I answered his question.

“She said she would like me to marry Young Duke Leonard soon. She mentioned that it doesn’t look good for the engagement period to be too long.”

“…So? What did you say?”

The Duke asked pressingly, with an expression of clear dismay on his face.

‘If I say I’ll marry Leonard, it would be quite troublesome for the Duke. If I take Plima Castle through marriage, the Duke will no longer be able to interfere with the property of that castle.’

Now that the territory’s income has been cut in half, losing Plima Castle, which harvests the most wheat among the territories, would probably result in a tremendous loss. In that case, he might have to dispose of jewels or the townhouse in the capital to maintain the territory.

Because in this empire, if one loses their territory, they also lose the title bestowed upon that territory.

That was absolutely unacceptable for the Duke, who was full of ambition to become the emperor’s regent and take this empire into his own hands to shake it up.

Holding back the urge to mock his transparent intentions, I said to him.

“I’m sorry, but I told her that I can’t marry Leonard yet. If I get married, you and Danae will face great difficulties in many ways, so how could I force a marriage just for my own benefit?”

“Oh, Christine. Thank you so much for saying that. As expected, I have no one but you.”

The Duke exclaimed with great emotion, grasping my hand tightly.

‘You mean you have no one else to use but me.’

I squeezed his hand once before quickly pulling it away. Honestly, I didn’t want even the tip of my finger to touch the enemy of my father.

Unaware of my true feelings, the Duke spoke in an affectionate voice.

“Come to think of it, it’s almost your birthday, Christine.”

“Ah, that’s right. I had forgotten with all the recent events.”

“Is there anything you want? Tell me anything. I’ll do whatever I can for you.”

I answered as if I had been waiting for this.

“Well then, would you hold a modest birthday party for me?”

“…A party?”

“Yes. You and I, as well as the knights and servants, have been through a lot recently due to various incidents in our family. We haven’t had much to laugh about. I’d like to share good wine and delicious food with those who always work hard for our family. If we show them such grace and strengthen our bonds, wouldn’t it reduce the number of those who dare to deceive our family and sell information to our political opponents?”

The Duke was very impressed.

“How did you come up with such an idea! If I asked other ladies, they would at most ask for jewels, dresses, or more servants! I’m truly amazed by your kind heart and wisdom!”

“You flatter me, Uncle.”

“…Tsk, if only Danae had even a quarter of your qualities. I’ve spoiled that child too much.”

“Instead, Danae is more honest and innocent compared to me. That’s good enough, isn’t it?”

I humbly said, praising Danae without meaning it. The Duke seemed to quite like my words, nodding slightly.

“Well, that’s true. It’s no use for a lady to be too smart, it only makes her own life painful. A lady just needs to be virtuous enough to support her husband.”

“…”

“Of, of course, I’m not talking about you. I mean Danae.”

“I know, Uncle.”

I forcibly twisted the corners of my mouth upwards.

I felt nauseated by his words that naturally belittled and disparaged women, while he used me to gain power. Meanwhile, the Duke said to me.

“You must be quite tired after visiting the palace. Go back and rest now, Christine. I’ll throw you a wonderful birthday party, just as you wish.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

I bowed my head to him in greeting before leaving the reception room. Then the Duke called the butler inside. It was obvious what he would say to the butler.

‘The Duke doesn’t have enough money on hand to throw a party right now.’

Probably, the Duke will instruct the butler to immediately send letters to noble friends to see if there’s anyone who can lend money. I thought as I looked at the closed reception room door.

‘Don’t worry, Uncle. I’ll lend you that money.’

But I’ll collect hefty interest, of course.

I headed towards the annex with a meaningful smile.

* * *

A few hours later.

Danae sat in front of her dressing table with dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. Around her were many pieces of parchment, crumpled after writing just a few sentences, as she wrote a letter to Leonard. The maids frowned as they picked up the bundles of parchment with sentences scattered here and there, saying she wanted to see him just once or blaming Leonard for not replying. With one of these parchments, a resident living outside the castle could buy enough food to survive for a day. The servants felt a bit irritated seeing their mistress carelessly discarding these precious items when rumors were rife that they might have difficulty paying the servants’ wages.

“Young lady! Young lady!”

At that moment, the bedroom door burst open and Emma entered, panting. Danae turned to look at her with sharp eyes.

“What is it? Why?”

“A maid working in the main building said that just now, the master called for Miss Christine and they had a private conversation!”

“What?”

At those words, Danae frowned and sent all the other maids out except for Emma.

“Tell me in detail. Why did Father call for my sister?”

“Well… It’s almost Miss Christine’s birthday, right? So the master asked her what she would like, they say.”

“What? He refused to pay for my cosmetics and dress bills, but he’s willing to give my sister a birthday present?”

Danae exclaimed as if dumbfounded, then abruptly stood up from her chair.

“So? What did my sister say?”

“…They say she asked for a modest birthday party. She said she wanted to share delicious food with the knights and servants.”

“Ha! Really now. Pretending to be kind! In reality, she just wants to wear a pretty dress and receive gifts from the guests!”

Danae snorted after hearing Emma’s words.

Christine was always like this. She pretended to care for others while busy looking after her own interests. People praised her sister as benevolent when they saw her like this, while they criticized her for being selfish when she honestly stated what she wanted. That pretentious behavior was so disgusting, it made her want to vomit.

‘You tell me to wear old dresses, but you’re not only giving my sister new dresses but also making her the main character of a party? Who do you think will stand for that?’

For Danae, a party where she wasn’t the main character was absolutely unacceptable. Especially if it was held in her father’s mansion, which would become hers in the future.

She threw the quill pen she was holding in her hand irritably. Emma tried to stop her as she strode towards the door.