“Are you telling me to become engaged to the crown prince?”

“That’s right! You sure understand words well.”

Cessenia barely contained her laughter at the absurdity of it all. There had never been such a thing in the past.

Even if her sister was upset, the marquis never came to Cessenia to vent, and there was certainly never a case where he would curse Elzé in front of Cessenia.

So, it seemed strange, and was this the purpose of his visit?

“Do you really desire a connection with the royal family to that extent?”

“Yes.”

“If you desire it that much, you should ask my sister to do it.”

“What if your sister refuses?”

Cessenia, who had tried to keep a composed expression in front of the marquis all day, suddenly felt anger welling up.

“If my sister doesn’t like it, do I have to do it instead? Father, am I an alternative for when my sister doesn’t like something? Was I born as an existence to replace what my sister dislikes?”

It used to be that the marquis would have gotten angry at such words, but now he awkwardly smiled, seeming apologetic to his own daughter.

“That’s… that’s just words…”

“I won’t live like that anymore. I am me. I am not someone’s substitute.”

“I understand. But… I hope you consider it. Your sister is so stubborn… I’m just suggesting you think about it.”

It was a rather quick surrender. Elzé was also easily given up on, which surprised her. For some reason, the marquis was finding it difficult to pray for his two daughters, unlike in the past.

‘Why did he change like this?’

Ironically, his past behavior was better. That shameless discrimination and shameless begging.

“Then leave.”

“You said I looked like someone else. But Father, you also seem like a different person.”

“Huh? Are you talking about me?”

“Yes. A person who was always confident in any situation suddenly seems strangely lacking in confidence.”

“Hehe. Is that so? Come to think of it, I’ve been feeling a bit strange lately. It’s a feeling like I shouldn’t go out recklessly. So, that’s how it looked.”

‘Has he always talked to Elzé like this?’

Affectionate and gentle. Words and a voice she had never heard in her lifetime. It made Cessenia’s feelings even more unpleasant. It felt like the antagonist was now pretending to be good.

“Then take a break. I must have said something unnecessary as I was cornered.”

“Father.”

“Yeah?”

Cessenia called out to the marquis who had stood up from the sofa.

“If you wish, I will go in her place.”

“Really? Well, you should react like that so I have a face to show the crown prince. Thank you. Thank you.”

Without any hesitation, and without suspicious thoughts about the sudden change in Cessenia, he hastily accepted her proposal.

“But there is one condition.”

“Condition?”

“Please keep it a secret from my sister.”

The marquis’s complexion stiffened at the unexpected request.

“Why do you want me to keep it a secret?”
“Recently, you haven’t been getting along with my sister. So, I just want to give this as a gift. Still, I want us to get along well like before.”

It was a lie. However, Cessenia also knew that Marquis would readily accept this awkward lie. Regardless of how nonsensical her words were, Marquis would always do things according to her wishes. That’s how desperate Marquis was.

The marriage with the royal family, including him, the Marquis of Vestel, had been a long-standing wish.

“Hehe. You thought well. Yes, families should get along. Anyway, keep it a secret, as you said.”

In the process of revenge, it was something that had to be gone through anyway. From before talking to Elzé, Cessenia had already thought she would be engaged to him.

Her revenge included Helbert, who would become the crown prince or even the emperor.

“Yes. Please.”

“Alright. But what if you change your mind?”

“As for my sister… Does she really not want to be engaged to the crown prince? I’m worried that her feelings might change.”

“Yes. She said she won’t do it even if she dies. So, don’t worry. She must be sure of her feelings.”

“Yes. Because Father wants it. I have always been a daughter who did as Father wished. I will be engaged to the crown prince.”

“Alright. Then, at the national banquet, escort the crown prince…”

Cessenia hastily shook her head.

“No. We agreed to keep it a secret, so escorting him at that event would be a bit much.”

“But…”

“I don’t need an escort. I don’t want to receive an escort from anyone.”

Regretfully, Marquis seemed to have lost his appetite.

“So, keep it a secret until the day I tell my sister.”

“Understood.”

“No matter what happens, it’s a promise. If you happen to speak before the day I want you to, I might not be able to keep this agreement.”

“Are you threatening me?”

Watching Cessenia go too far, Marquis scowled deeply. It seemed that now that she had achieved what she wanted, her original character was coming out.

“I’m just emphasizing the need to keep it a secret.”

“…Understood. No matter what happens, I’ll definitely keep it a secret.”

“Yes.”