I Became the Regretful Male Lead's Sister (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14

My marriage to Nathaniel proceeded smoothly, regardless of my wishes.

Since both sides had already met, they claimed no formal introduction was needed, and everything moved forward rapidly.

Soon, all sorts of gifts began pouring into the house.

“But this is my wedding—why are you all deciding things so arbitrarily!”

“It’s too late to back out now.”

In response to my protest, Father tossed me today’s newspaper.

On the front page, in bold letters, was the announcement of my engagement to Nathaniel.

[According to our investigation, the two have long nurtured feelings for each other but intended to give up due to familial marriage arrangements. However, upon hearing this, the courage of the young Duke Winters…]

“What nonsense is this!”

The article made it seem as if Nathaniel and I had shared a love for the ages—it was utterly absurd.

They were practically writing a novel.

“I must contact this newspaper immediately! All of this is a lie!”

“Your scandal needs to be big enough to overshadow Her Imperial Highness’s.”

“So you’re saying I actually have to go through with this marriage?”

“Exactly! Who told you to let just any man into your bedroom!”

It wasn’t even a man when he came in!

He was just a small, cute baby dragon!

Seeing me stand there, flabbergasted and speechless from injustice, Father drove the final nail in.

“Don’t even think about running away. One such rogue is more than enough.”

Then he glared at Maximilian, who had been sipping tea beside him.

Maximilian flinched, quickly looked away as if he didn’t know anything, and quietly slipped out of the room.

I was absolutely furious.

How on earth did things end up like this?

There was only one way to resolve this situation.

“I should contact Nathaniel.”

He’d surely find a way to fix it.

I quickly sent Nathaniel a message asking to meet privately.

Not long after, I received a reply from Nathaniel.

He accepted readily, which left me oddly uneasy.

“He wouldn’t be planning to kill me to cancel this engagement, would he?”

Feeling inexplicably anxious, I brought along a family knight and headed to our meeting place.

I’d expected a gloomy, abandoned house, but surprisingly, it was a charming café with a lovely greenhouse attached.

When I opened the door and entered, as expected, he hadn’t arrived yet.

I sat at a suitable spot, ordered a drink, and waited for Nathaniel.

“He’s a bit late.”

While gazing out the window, I stood up at the sound of the door opening.

“Your Highness.”

I hoped my voice hadn’t trembled.

I greeted him as calmly as possible. Nathaniel, still wearing his usual blank expression, raised his hand to acknowledge my greeting.

Still, I felt relieved just that he’d accepted my greeting.

At least he wouldn’t kill me.

“What’s that?”

His expression turned grim as he saw the knight standing behind me.

I quickly had to come up with an appropriate explanation.

“Father is very worried about me. More precisely, he’s afraid I might run away.”

“Oh.”

Nathaniel nodded as if he understood.

Though I wasn’t particularly pleased, I decided to accept it.

This was all Maximilian’s fault.

I told the knight to wait by the door and sat back down.

“What did you call me for?”

He got straight to the point—just like him.

I smiled gently and asked him.

“I wanted to know if Your Highness truly wishes to go through with this marriage. If you dislike it…”

“I don’t really care either way.”

His unexpected answer nearly made me curse out loud.

You don’t care? Why not!

But being the social adept I was, I smiled gracefully and asked for his reasoning.

“Marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime decision—are you saying it’s fine to decide so carelessly?”

“You’re acting as if I’m completely thoughtless.”

“Hahaha, of course not.”

Sharp fellow.

More precisely, you see me as a clueless little dragon, don’t you?

“The secret the noble lady knows is something I can’t control.”

“You mean transforming into a baby dragon?”

At my reply, he frowned slightly, his fine brows furrowing.

Sensing he was displeased, I quietly closed my mouth.

“Yes. Anyway, I don’t want anyone else to see me in that form.”

“Uh… okay…”

“What’s with that answer?”

“Everyone would love it—why hide it so insistently?”

Everyone was already obsessed with finding traces of a dragon in Nathaniel; if they learned he truly became one, they’d probably make pilgrimages to the capital.

“I don’t like that at all.”

Nathaniel grimaced, clearly repulsed.

It was a genuinely heartfelt expression—like the one I’d make if I locked eyes with a flying cockroach.

“Well, I suppose you could think that way.”

He stared into my eyes for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

“Do you have any idea how tiresome it is for people to constantly look at me, expecting miracles?”

“My family’s expectations of me are so ordinary that I wouldn’t know.”

At my reply, his eyebrows twitched.

I shut my mouth.

Why does this mouth of mine keep running off like this?

“Even now, people are this bothersome. If they found out I turn into a dragon… they might even stuff my corpse after I die.”

That was entirely plausible.

People in this world held an almost fanatical belief in dragons.

Even in the original story, when Nathaniel left the empire in dragon form at the ending, it was described as causing despair, seen as an omen of doom.

“That does sound plausible.”

“But I can’t keep this secret my whole life—not especially from the person I marry.”

“Oh, so you mean…”

I had a strange feeling the conclusion was heading in an odd direction.

“If we do marry, I’d like you to cooperate with me actively.”

“Uh… yes, of course.”

“Then I’ll trust you to do so.”

Is that all you have to say?

“Wait! Doesn’t Your Highness dislike this marriage?”

“I already said—I don’t care.”

Having said his piece, Nathaniel stood up and brushed off his clothes briskly.

“But you’ll have to do your utmost to keep my secret. I’m bringing you in because I thought it’d be convenient to have someone on my side in the palace.”

In short, I was no different from an aide whose sole purpose was to guard his secret.

“B—but what if it gets exposed?”

“Your life as a noble lady would become very uninteresting.”

His red eyes, colder than usual, fixed on me.

He’ll kill me.

Those eyes definitely meant he’d kill me without a second thought!

I nodded shakily.

Seemingly satisfied with my answer, Nathaniel gave a faint smile and turned away.

“See you at the wedding, then.”

With those words, he left the café.

All my strength drained away.

Somehow, though he called me a collaborator, it felt more like he was bringing me in to keep watch over me.

But if I refused this marriage too, the imperial family would surely retaliate severely.

It might have been a romantic escape for Maximilian, but to the Emperor, it was nothing short of an insult to the imperial house!

“I’m doomed.”

I was clearly stuck—there was no way out of this marriage.

The Emperor summoned the Empress and Anais to resolve the most pressing matter.

After her daughter’s wedding ended in disaster, she’d locked herself in her room, crying for days.

Every day, she demanded Maximilian’s head and had even been caught trying to send assassins to the Duke’s household.

For the Emperor, persuading such an Empress was the greatest challenge.

“You called for us, Your Majesty?”

Having already heard rumors of Nathaniel and Jaina’s engagement through the media, she glared at the Emperor with sharp eyes.

Even the Emperor flinched under her overwhelming presence.

“Haha, Millia. And Anais. Please sit over here.”

The Emperor forced a smile and guided them to a sunlit seat by the window.

That seat had been reserved only for the late Empress.

“I assume you both know why I’ve summoned you—to discuss Nathaniel and Jaina’s marriage.”

“I cannot approve of this marriage! To ally with the family that humiliated my daughter! Your Majesty, this is truly too much!”

The Empress spoke in a firm voice.

Even if the marriage had proceeded without love, this was going too far.

Anais would live her whole life in disgrace, yet they wanted to give a fresh start to that family’s daughter.

She absolutely could not permit it.

“I know how hurt you must be. I, too, am pained that Anais’s marriage ended this way. But we are not merely nobles—we are members of the imperial family.”

“Your Majesty!”

“As a member of the imperial house, I don’t believe Anais lacks the awareness to endure something like this.”

It wasn’t the face of a father thinking of his daughter—it was the face of an Emperor.

Anais, sensing this, lowered her head.

But the Empress paid no mind.

This marriage was entirely for her son Henry, not for Anais.

“What does that have to do with this marriage! I mean, we simply cannot ally with such an absurd family…”

“Empress, right now I speak not as Anais’s father but as Emperor, giving an order to the Imperial Princess. This is not a suggestion or a request.”

“Your Majesty!”

Desperate to change his mind, the Empress clung to him with a pleading expression.

“Don’t you feel pity for my daughter? Anais never asked for anything in her life—how can you treat her so harshly?”

“I, too, feel sorry for Anais. But this is unavoidable if Nathaniel is to stand firmly as Emperor.”

His sharp gaze fixed on the Empress.

It was as if he knew exactly what schemes she and Henry were plotting behind the scenes.

The Empress bit her lip tightly.

“If Anais truly understands her duty as Imperial Princess, she will accept this matter.”

The Emperor urged Anais to make her decision. Avoiding his gaze, Anais spoke slowly.

“I’m fine with it, Mother.”

“Anais!”

“It’s all because I couldn’t hold onto Lord Maximilian’s heart. I don’t mind if Brother Nathaniel and Lady Jaina marry—in fact, I hope they’ll be happy.”

The Emperor carefully restrained his joy at Anais’s calm words.

How could such a gentle child be born to the Empress? It was astonishing.

“Yes, yes. Anais truly embodies the blood of the imperial line. I shall find you an excellent husband.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

He wanted to reward Anais.

He resolved to ask what she desired and give her gifts.

“Oh, and if there’s anything you want, just tell me, alright?”

“No, thank you, Your Majesty.”

Anais forced a smile, hiding her bitterness.

After all, this marriage wasn’t something she’d wanted, and she didn’t resent her father for not knowing that.

Yet, she couldn’t help the hollow feeling deep in her heart.

Back in her own palace, the Empress hurled the fan she’d been holding forcefully onto the floor.

Still unsatisfied, she stomped on it with her shoes and shouted.

“Does that even make sense!”

The Empress was furious beyond measure.

That brat from the Winters ducal house had kicked away a fully prepared meal table, and now the Emperor was setting another one—and Nathaniel was about to eat from it.

“You—you wretched thing!”

Her anger then turned toward Anais.

Anais instinctively stepped back, but Millia was much faster.

The Empress struck Anais hard across the cheek.

“You foolish girl! Useless to me my whole life!”

“M-Mother…”

“Don’t you dare call me Mother! Not only can’t you help your younger brother’s future, but you’re throwing ashes on it?”

Snorting in anger, she grabbed a nearby vase and hurled it at Anais.

Seeing Anais narrowly dodge it, the Empress grew even angrier and threw everything within reach at her.

“Damn it! Do you think acting sweet will make you a saint!”

Anais squeezed her eyes shut.

Since this was happening in the Empress’s own quarters, no one would come to her aid.

She only prayed for this hell to end.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Y-Your Imperial Highness…”

“What is it! Didn’t I say not to let anyone in?”

“W-well… His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince has come to visit.”

Surprised by the unexpected guest, the Empress’s eyes widened.

Nathaniel had come to the Empress’s palace without even being summoned.

“Tell him to wait a moment! And call the maids!”

The Empress frantically straightened her clothes and redid her hair.

Millia shouted at Anais, who stood behind with her head bowed.

“What are you still doing here? Do you intend to show that face to the Crown Prince?”

“Oh, right. I’ll leave right away.”

At Millia’s sharp rebuke, Anais quietly stepped out into the corridor.

“At least I didn’t get hit too much—that’s something.”

Muttering to herself, Anais headed toward the back gate.

As she hurried down the nearly deserted, shadowy corridor, she bumped into someone.

“Ah, ow!”

“Are you alright?”

When she looked up, to her surprise, it was Nathaniel.