The problem came next.

“Lize, we have something important to talk about, right?”

As soon as we entered the room, Felicia and Silke rushed towards me.

“……”

“Lize.”

“I have nothing to talk about.”

“What? Hey, stop right there!”

Sensing danger, I tried to escape, but the two sisters chased after me. Their faces were the picture of horror. Especially Felicia, who had just made up with me a few minutes ago, was now running at me like she wanted to kill me.

“Don’t follow me! I didn’t receive anything!”

“Don’t lie! We know you have a box behind you!”

“That’s right!”

I tried to hide the box in my arms, but it was useless. They must have been watching me and Yurik, as they already knew about the box’s existence. Though I was running away, the two sisters had longer arms and more developed bodies than me.

Suddenly, someone appeared in front of me and snatched my box. Swel looked at me with a panting face and opened the box before I could stop him. This is bad!

“Don’t look! There’s gunpowder inside!”

“What nonsense… Aah!”

Even though I lied, when Swel tried to look at the contents of the box, I threw myself at him.

“Lize, Swel!”

With Bernard’s scream, Swel and I tumbled to the floor.

Though my body ached, I protected the box. I snatched the box from Swel and put it in my arms so no one could take it. Swel, feeling more betrayed by my desperate action, was indignant.

“Hey, Lize! You, you, what kind of relationship do you have with that guy? Huh?”

“We’re friends!”

“That doesn’t seem right. His eyes looked very strange. As if he would give up his soul for you! And gunpowder in the box, it looked more like there were roses and a ring inside!”

That’s correct.

As I became extremely wary, Felicia grabbed Swel’s shoulder.

“Swel, let’s stop. Lize clearly doesn’t like this. And surely Yurik Penton wouldn’t give Lize roses and a ring? Even if they’re close, they’re from the Marsen and Penton families. And that proud Yurik wouldn’t give rings and flowers to someone he likes, no matter how much he cares for them.”

Wrong. There were a ring and roses inside the box.

“…Sister was trying to snatch the box too.”

“What? I wouldn’t do such a barbaric thing.”

Swel, who suddenly became the only bad guy, spoke as if he felt wronged. I was also puzzled by Felicia’s suddenly changed attitude.

“Lize, I won’t snatch or steal the box. I won’t try to forcefully look inside. Instead, will you tell me how you became close with Yurik? That story that’s like a play? Without leaving out even the smallest detail. Hmm?”

“Like a play?”

Swel reacted to Felicia’s words. Felicia clasped her hands together and smiled shyly.

“Think about it, Swel. The play we went to see last year. It was about a daughter and son from families that didn’t get along, secretly falling in love while hiding from the adults. Do you remember how beautiful and touching that process was? It almost ended in tragedy, but in the end, they shared a perfect love.”

“Why are you suddenly talking about that story?”

“Stupid Swel! Aren’t you surprised that such a play-like story is happening in real life? And it’s involving my sibling!”

As soon as Felicia finished speaking, Swel’s eyes turned towards me. It was a look asking if Yurik and I had that kind of relationship. Before I could refute, Felicia approached me.

“Lize, answer my questions with just yes or no.”

“……”

If I don’t answer, it seems like there will be a big aftermath.

“Don’t worry. I won’t ask sensitive questions. First, was your first meeting with Yurik not good?”

“…Yes.”

“And then you became close due to some incident?”

“Yes.”

“Do Roger and Yurik know each other?”

“Yes.”

“Then is the relationship between Roger and Yurik quite bad? Don’t they try to compete out of jealousy?”

“…I’m not sure, but I think that’s right.”

I had also watched that play depicting the romance of noble men and women. It was more memorable because the story seemed familiar. The play was about a daughter and son from rival families.

The first meeting of the two wasn’t fateful or friendly. It was natural since their families didn’t get along. Their feelings started to change at their third meeting, but there were many obstacles, not just their families but also the childhood friend who had a crush on the female lead.

“How can it be so similar to the play? Lize, by the way, I’m someone who likes romantic love, so I won’t try to separate your love. Maybe my role is close to ‘Lata’? Swel is probably closer to the role of ‘Porta’.”

Lata is the helper who assists the female lead’s love. And Porta is the female lead’s brother who is two years older, close to being the villain who interferes with his sister’s love.

Felicia was immersed in that play and the reality that resembled it. She showed her willingness to prevent all future crises and trials as if she had become the character Lata.

“Hey, Lize. Where are you going?”

I tried to slip away quietly, but Swel caught me.

“I’m just going to my room for a moment.”

“Lize. Like sister said, you’re really not in that kind of relationship with Yurik, right?”

“No, I’m not. Even if I was, don’t worry.”

“…?”

“Reality isn’t a play, you know.”

With those final words, I returned to my room and pondered where to hide the box.

‘I guess this is the only place?’

I opened the bottom drawer. When I pushed the inside of the drawer, a wooden panel rotated sideways, revealing a new space.

It was a mechanism I had created to hide books or items from Isabel. I planned to keep the ring safely stored without wearing it.

When I become an adult and things become awkward or distant with Yurik, that ring will remind me of him. It will become a precious memento, so I should cherish it.

‘A play…’

I admit there are similarities, but reality is different from a play.

Unlike plays where happiness reaches its peak and trials have a visible end, reality is a life with happiness that has a visible end and continuous misfortunes that reach their peak.

Father and Rodney, who had gone to the company, returned to the mansion before dinner.

“Father, you’re back?”

The siblings came out to the entrance to greet them, but excited Father ignored this and passed by, talking with Rodney. Instead, Rodney, who greeted the siblings with a nod, stopped walking.

“By the way, Father. I have something to say.”

“Oh? Then let’s go to the study……”

“No. It’s something I want to say to everyone. Could you all sit on the sofa?”

At Rodney’s suggestion, Father’s smile quickly faded. Father looked at the family gathered at the entrance and his expression hardened, probably remembering the previous situation.

He had already shown signs of discomfort, sensing the unusual atmosphere.

“First of all, it’s nothing major. Father, I’m not sure if you know this, but in the Empire, they select one outstanding student from each prestigious school. And they give that student the Empire’s emblem and the role of temporary diplomat, allowing them to travel around the continent for a year to study. I heard there’s such a system.”

“Of course I know about it, it’s famous. It’s not just studying abroad, but staying in the royal palaces of each country to study. It’s very difficult to be selected. Just look at the people who have received this in the past, like the current Grand Duke Mond and the wealthy Duke Cell……”

Father stopped mid-sentence and looked at Rodney.

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to try for it?”

“No. I wasn’t planning to, but I’ve been recommended this time. I’ll probably go next year.”

At Rodney’s words, a smile gradually appeared on Father’s face. Even Isabel, who had been quiet, seemed quite surprised as her eyes widened.

“What? Really? Why are you only telling me this important news now!”

“It’s still far until next year. It’s almost certain, but I was hesitant to bring it up in case something went wrong.”

“You’ve done really well! Really well! As expected of my son, Rodney! You’re going to become a great person! You’ll make the Marsen family very prosperous and turn us into the best family in the Empire! This won’t do, I must tell your grandfather this news right away. Your grandfather will be so happy too, Rodney!”

Father was so happy that his mouth seemed about to split from smiling. He moved excitedly, saying he should pour some wine right away. I was as happy as Father, but I also felt worried. Was this the reason he called us here?

Is there nothing else to say?

“More than that, Father, I have something else to say.”

“Alright. Say anything! Anything!”

Father sat back down and looked at Rodney’s face. Rodney’s face gradually became serious, and tension, which was rare to see on his face, appeared. Now he’s going to bring up that topic.

“Father. I want to become a great person, just as you said. Someone who influences this Empire. For that, I’m studying hard and putting in effort.”

“Of course, you’re my son after all! That’s how it should be! I want you to do that too! And you will become a great person!”

“But there’s one obstacle.”

Rodney’s voice was low.

“An obstacle? Who on earth? Or what is it? Tell me everything. I’ll solve it all for you.”

“That’s right. Father can solve it.”

“Yes, tell me right now, Rodney.”

“The Marsen family.”

“…What?”

Father stopped moving. My heart sank at Rodney’s words. What did he just say?

Rodney looked at Father with a careful and resolute gaze, as if it wasn’t a joke.

“The Marsen family and you, Father.”

“…Rodney?”

“So I want Mother and you to divorce. That’s why I came to the mansion.”

…Did he take some strange medicine?

Rodney casually uttered terrifying words. Otherwise, he couldn’t have said those things so naturally.

“Rodney.”

“Mother, I know everything. I……”

“Rodney.”

“……”

“You want to divorce Father, right? And there are many reasons for divorce too. I’ll help you too, Mother. So please separate from Father. Leave the Marsen family and go to the Pollong family.”

“Rodney.”

Rodney gently took Isabel’s hand and carefully brought up the topic. Even Isabel, who hadn’t expected this situation, only called Rodney’s name.

I didn’t want this either. I wanted the lively mansion and the permeating sense of happiness like yesterday or this morning. I thought that with Rodney here, it could last for a long time.

“Rodney. What is all this nonsense!”

Father’s voice rose.

“It’s exactly as I said, Father. Divorce Mother. You go your way, and Mother goes hers. You didn’t marry out of love in the first place, did you?”

“You, you, you, what on earth!”

“And I will give up the Marsen name and take the Pollong family name.”

“…What?”

“Of course, not just me, but Bernard, Felicia, Swel and Silke, and even Lize will all take the Pollong family name.”