She was usually an inconspicuous sister.

Unlike other young ladies, she seemed a bit lacking, only interested in eating.

Worried that she might end up unable to marry and become a burden, Lucienne happened to learn that the Canoloup ducal family was looking for a 6-month term marriage partner.

Thinking that for a 6-month bride, they might not be too picky about looks or refinement, Lucienne persuaded Penelope.

“Lucy, no matter what, sending Mer to such a place is a bit…”

Unlike the usually perfect Lucienne, Mercian was a rather lacking daughter, but she was still Penelope’s own child, so Penelope hesitated at Lucienne’s proposal.

Sending her to marry a man with only 6 months left to live…

Although the Empire was quite lenient about remarriage for noble ladies, Lucienne was certain that Mercian would not be able to remarry.

“Mother, think about it. If she marries the duke and happens to have a child after 6 months, half of the ducal family’s assets would belong to Mer. Wouldn’t that help her remarry later? Besides, it’s clearly stated that the child’s upbringing will be entrusted to the ducal family, so it’s actually the best possible condition for Mer.”

Half of the ducal family’s assets if she has a child?

According to rumors, the Canoloup ducal family was one of the wealthiest families apart from the imperial palace.

Didn’t they have more than three or four jewel mines?

Even if she received just one of those…

Without further ado, Penelope submitted the marriage proposal to the ducal family based on Lucienne’s suggestion.

In truth, while Lucienne had provoked Penelope to submit the proposal to the ducal family, she didn’t actually think the duke would choose Mercian.

But unexpectedly, the ducal family chose Mercian, and then came with the marriage contract along with enormous jewels and dresses as wedding gifts.

Marrying a terminally ill duke, and such an incredible dowry and gifts.

Lucienne thought all those gifts should be hers.

If she hadn’t made that suggestion, Mercian would never have dared to bear the title of duchess in her lifetime.

She thought Mercian should naturally give these to her.

On the day she received the gifts, for the first time in her life, Mercian seemed useful, and even appeared pretty to her eyes, which had always found her bothersome.

Even as she heard Mercian’s outburst telling her to marry the duke instead, Lucienne was in a good mood.

She was certain that she would be the most strikingly beautiful at the ball two months later, and that the crown prince would surely fall for her.

But on the day they went to see Mercian’s wedding dress.

Entering one of the empire’s top boutiques and freely choosing dresses, Lucienne became upset seeing the madam’s different attitude towards her and Mercian.

Is she treating her like a duchess just because she’s going to be one for 6 months?

Moreover, the dress given to Mercian by the ducal family was on a completely different level from the ones Lucienne had spent hours choosing.

Even when worn by the fat and ugly Mercian, it looked elegant and pretty – if she had worn it, the crown prince probably wouldn’t have been able to look anywhere else.

Lucienne, who had been happily choosing dresses, couldn’t take her eyes off the three dresses Mercian received, forgetting about the ones she had chosen.

For a 6-month term duchess to receive such treatment and dresses that ordinary nobles couldn’t even touch.

If I were to become the crown princess…

That day at the boutique, Lucienne decided that no matter what, she must become the crown princess.

And as if by magic, her thoughts came true.

On the wedding day, she thought Mercian wouldn’t outshine her no matter what, but contrary to her expectations, Mercian looked so beautiful that she felt jealous.

In anger, she tried to ruin Mercian’s wedding dress but failed, and when she tried to embarrass the servants, she was almost thrown out as a spy. Lucienne felt her pride hurt to the point of madness seeing Clea, who had escorted her to the banquet hall, leave without a word of apology.

Even though I’m just a viscount’s daughter, I’m still the sister of their future mistress.

To treat me like this…

And Mercian looking down on her as if she were a real duchess…

“My lady, is something troubling you?”

Seeing the man approaching her as she couldn’t contain her anger in front of the banquet hall, Lucienne forgot she had been angry and stared at him.

His shimmering golden hair seemed to shine and flow more beautifully than that of most young ladies, and his face, smiling gently at her, looked as perfect as a sculpture.

So this is the crown prince I’ve only heard about.

Seeing the golden hair symbolizing the imperial family, Lucienne realized the man speaking to her was Crown Prince Daimond and stared at him blankly for a moment.

“…”

“My lady?”

“Ah, I’m so sorry. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

“Hahaha, it’s quite alright.”

Pretending not to know he was the crown prince while putting on a shy expression, Lucienne saw Daimond extend his hand and say:

“My lady? Would you grant me the honor of escorting you to the banquet hall?”

“Your Highness, were you here?”

Just as Lucienne was about to take Daimond’s outstretched hand, an older man urgently approached Daimond.

“Your… Your Highness? Oh my! I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince. I am Lucienne of the Beanomann viscounty.”

At the man’s words, Lucienne bowed her head as if she had just realized, and Daimond took both her hands, raising her up with a smile as he said:

“Ah, no. It was my fault for not introducing myself to you earlier, my lady. By the way, Beanomann viscounty… Oh my, you must be the sister of today’s new duchess.”

“Your Highness, do you perhaps know me?”

“Of course. I’ve heard many rumors about you, my lady. I heard you were the most beautiful lady in the empire, but seeing you in person, I realize all the rumors I heard were false.”

“Pardon?”

Is he saying I’m ugly?

Lucienne looked at Daimond with a confused expression at his words.

“You’re not just the most beautiful in the empire, but in the whole world. Even goddesses must be less beautiful than you. I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you since the moment you entered this ducal residence, my lady.”

As Daimond kissed her hand and gave her a sultry gaze, Lucienne knew in that moment.

That her dream could soon come true…

Indeed, I must have shone brighter and been more outstanding than Mercian.

Moreover, she who had been full of curiosity about how great the duke was, felt completely elated, her remaining unease disappearing entirely upon seeing the duke entering hand in hand with Mercian.

Yes, if it’s marrying a duke like that, I, your kind sister, will forgive you this once.

You may be standing before all these nobles as a duchess now, but that’s only for 6 months.

But don’t forget.

The fact that you can be a duchess even for 6 months is all thanks to me.

Throughout the wedding ceremony, Lucienne felt Daimond’s gaze fixed on her by her side, but she pretended not to notice until the end, applauding with all her might while tearing up as if sincerely congratulating Mercian’s marriage.

As Lucienne was about to leave after the wedding, Daimond called out to stop her.

And Daimond began to speak to Lucienne as if asking for some kind of help.

.

.

.

After returning home, Penelope looked around the empty house and said to Lucienne, who was telling an unbelievable story:

“What on earth happened?”

Throughout the journey home from the reception, Penelope had questioned Lucienne, but Lucienne just smiled silently, clutching her fan tightly.

It was fortunate enough to meet the crown prince, but to learn such an enormous secret!

Surely, God must be guiding me to become the crown princess.

By the way, to think that the duke who was said to be dying soon was plotting such a thing, if she could just persuade Mercian well, she was certain she could become the crown princess.

“My goodness, is it true? That the duke is plotting rebellion!”

“Shh! Mother, this is a secret only we should know.”

“But if it’s really as you say, shouldn’t we divorce Mer? If the consequences fall on us later.”

“Oh mother, of course we should divorce Mer, but not now. If Mer stays in the ducal family, she can know better than anyone what the duke is plotting, and we can’t miss such an opportunity, can we?”

“That’s true, but I’m not sure. Of course, I don’t mean I don’t believe His Highness the Crown Prince’s words, but everyone knows the ducal family has been loyal to the imperial family for generations, so rebellion…”

“Mother, you know too. That the duke is supporting Prince Harman. So he probably wants to eliminate the crown prince.”

Penelope nodded at Mercian’s words and replied.

“Yes, that could be the case. But Lucy, there’s another problem here.”

“What problem?”

“Well, actually I met with Mer briefly earlier…”

“Mother! We need to soothe Mer well, how could you hurt her feelings like that? She’s already narrow-minded and selfish… If she doesn’t cooperate with our plan, His Highness the Crown Prince will reject my request, and our family could be ruined!”

Lucienne scolded Penelope and went into her room with her fan.

Sigh. I was in such a good mood until just now…

Returning to her room, Lucienne muttered irritably but then smiled as she suddenly looked at the fan in her hand.

Lucienne hugged tightly to her chest the fan Daimond had given her as an apology for having to leave the wedding ceremony in a hurry.

Yes, now is not the time for me to be like this.

I need to quickly find out what the duke is plotting before my stupid sister Mercian causes trouble by trying to help the soon-to-die duke.

But no matter how stupid she is, she hates me, so she won’t tell me such information.

Lucienne tapped the fan lightly with one hand, unable to sleep late into the night as she was lost in thought.

The next day.

“Mother, I’m going out for a while.”

Without answering Penelope’s question about where she was going, Lucienne left the viscounty and headed straight for the Canoloup ducal residence.

“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible.”

Thinking she could meet Mercian right away if she went to the ducal residence, Lucienne frowned at the guard knights blocking her entry.

“What do you mean! I am the duchess’s sister, why can’t I enter?”

“We apologize, my lady, but to enter the ducal residence, you must make an appointment in advance. As the duke is currently unwell, in order to prevent just anyone from entering and leaving the residence…”

“Just anyone? Last time and now too. Do you really not know who I am? How dare you block the duchess’s sister. Do you think I’ll let you get away with this?”

Having been treated as “just anyone” not once but twice, Lucienne lost her temper and shouted.

“What’s all this commotion?”

Seeing Edward who had come out of the ducal residence due to the noisy situation, the guard knights pointed at Lucienne and said:

“She claims to be the duchess’s sister.”

“Ah…”

Edward approached Lucienne, who was standing there fuming with anger.

“My lady, we met briefly yesterday. Have you come to see the duchess today?”

“That’s right.”

Edward, who had heard about what happened before the wedding from Clea, didn’t want to let her meet Mercian.

However, since she was still her sister, it was awkward to send her away on his own, so he gestured to the guard knights and approached Lucienne, bowing his head as he spoke:

“I deeply apologize, my lady. Since our duke has been unwell, we have a policy of not letting anyone into the residence without an appointment. It seems we have been rude to you. My lady, please follow me.”

Lucienne’s anger subsided at Edward’s attitude, recognizing her and bowing politely, and she nodded arrogantly as she followed Edward into the ducal residence.

“My lady, please wait here for a moment. I will bring the duchess.”

Edward bowed and left the reception room, and Lucienne looked around as she took a seat.