There’s a saying that the true joy of the founding festival blooms on the last night.

A grand night festival illuminated the imperial palace.

Nobles, each beautifully adorned for the final day, gathered.

The unofficial protagonists of the splendid banquet were the duke and duchess.

People let out sighs of admiration as they gazed at the two who matched like a beautiful painting.

‘They say the duke actually noticed the duchess’s talents before anyone else and fell for her? My, knowing that makes it even more romantic.’

‘By the way, for the aria she performed at the founding festival, how much should I offer to have her perform at my ball as well?’

Ariana Heigenberg was by far the most popular topic among the imperial nobles.

Her founding festival stage had instantly captivated the audience.

There were rumors that even the emperor was greatly pleased and commended her.

The genius artist who appeared like a comet was even a woman, and had been the protagonist of a hot scandal that had shaken the empire not long ago.

The nobles eagerly watched each other’s reactions, vying to be the first to speak to the duke and duchess.

It was around then that an uninvited guest appeared in the midst of the lively banquet.

A man walked into the banquet hall with a slightly stumbling gait.

“…Ariana.”

The nobles who recognized the man, Edward Lopez, immediately frowned.

“Oh my. Isn’t that Count Lopez?”

“No, I hear he’s not even a count anymore. They say he sold off his title.”

“Oh my, how vulgar to do such a thing… Wait. Does that mean he’s a commoner now? How did he even get into the imperial palace?”

Edward gritted his teeth as he heard the blatant whispers.

“There’s a rumor that Duchess Heigenberg has taken over Count Lopez’s position… Of course, it must be a false rumor, right?”

The shocking news Adolf had blurted out was true.

The Lopez count title that Edward had sold off had indeed been transferred to Ariana.

From the moment he learned this, Edward had persistently tried to contact Ariana.

But he had been blocked by that terrifying duke every time.

In the end, he was barely able to get permission to enter the imperial palace under the pretext of seeing Ariana in person to ask for forgiveness.

“Ariana, you’ve protected our family name.”

Enduring the harsh gazes around him, especially Dante’s piercing stare, Edward swallowed hard and continued speaking.

“Yes. Of course you wouldn’t let our family title fall into the hands of some other rascal.”

His voice, trying to sound affectionate, sounded very awkward.

It was only natural. After all, it was a voice he had never used towards Ariana since she was born.

Watching Edward’s twitching lips with disgust and humiliation, Ariana smiled faintly.

“Well. That doesn’t seem like something the person who sold off the title should be saying.”

“I was tricked by a terrible loan shark!”

Edward cried out in an aggrieved voice.

“If I couldn’t pay back the money right away, even by doing that, he would have harmed me. It was a choice I had no other option but to make!”

Ariana held back a bitter laugh.

‘Your habit of blaming others hasn’t changed at all.’

How could he remain exactly the same?

“I was wrong, Ariana.”

Edward said in a dejected voice.

“There’s so much I couldn’t do for you. I’ve only just realized that now. When I belatedly reflected on what your position must have been like… I regret so much.”

Edward swallowed hard and looked at Ariana cautiously.

“Couldn’t you give me one more chance, Ariana? We’re family by blood. Ties of blood are never easily severed.”

Ariana slowly turned her head to look at Elena standing behind Edward.

As their eyes met, Elena smiled awkwardly.

“Elder sister…”

Just as Elena’s lips moved as if to speak, Ariana spoke first.

“I heard your apology well, elder brother.”

Just as Edward’s expression was about to brighten, Ariana tilted her head slightly.

“But I wonder why you’re doing this now. You’re not thinking that since I’ve reclaimed the Lopez title, you can get the family back if you just sweet-talk me well enough, are you?”

Elena’s expression froze in an awkward smile.

Ariana smiled slightly as she looked at Edward’s contorted face.

“Surely not. I believe you’re not that naive.”

A vein bulged on Edward’s temple.

Paying no heed, Ariana continued speaking.

“Of course, I understand the feeling of trying to grasp at the last straw out of desperation, but…”

Ariana looked at the two of them in turn and spoke slowly.

“Since you’ve come all this way, I’ll tell you clearly.”

Her clear voice flowed out resolutely.

“You two are no longer Lopez, and you are no longer my family.”

Edward slowly opened his eyes wide.

Even though things had come to this, he had held a vague certainty deep down.

That if he lowered his head first, if he showed an affectionate attitude he had never shown Ariana before in his life, even if he repented his wrongs.

The certainty that Ariana would eventually, reluctantly, forgive him.

Because that was the Ariana Lopez that Edward had seen all his life.

Docile, extremely mindful of his moods, starved for affection.

But none of those descriptors fit the woman standing before Edward now.

“So don’t come looking for me again.”

Ariana said with a smooth smile, driving in the final nail.

“You’re not even in a position to speak to me carelessly anymore.”

Edward’s face flushed so dark it looked almost black.

Watching that disgraceful sight, the surrounding nobles each threw in a comment.

“My. Coming to ask for forgiveness just by wagging your tongue a bit. The siblings are equally shameless.”

“Come to think of it, that Elena woman also gave false testimony, didn’t she? She said Lucas tried to force himself on her, but it turns out they were just madly in love.”

“Did you see that article? Elena’s pharmacist testified that she always got prescriptions for drugs to help with pregnancy.”

“To commit adultery with her elder sister’s fiance wasn’t enough, she even tried to have a child with him. What on earth was she thinking?”

Everyone mocked the two of them.

Blatantly, without any hesitation.

As if watching the antics of monkeys in a cage rather than people.

Feeling all those gazes stabbing into her skin, Elena instinctively realized.

‘Ah. It’s really over now.’

The dream of becoming the flower of high society. The dream of soaring as a brilliant soprano.

All those ambitions had now burst like mere bubbles.

Where the bubbles had popped, only a damp and miserable reality remained.

“Ha… hahaha.”

Elena, who had burst into hysterical laughter, glared at Ariana with venom-filled eyes.

“Is it because the duke fell for me, and you harbored resentment towards me because of that, that you’re going this far?”

Elena laughed, half panting.

“This is really… too petty and childish. But you know what? Do you really think I’m the only bad one here, elder sister?”

Elena’s eyes flashed with an eerie light.

“If it wasn’t me, but some other girl who became your sister, do you really think anything would have been different? No, it would have been exactly the same!”

As her voice rose, the gazes around grew even sharper.

She knew. This was nothing but a futile struggle.

Knowing that, Elena still couldn’t stop herself from spewing out her bitterness. If she didn’t, she felt like her chest would burst from the sense of defeat and anger in this moment.

Elena spoke through gritted teeth.

“The reason I hated you was because of you, not me. You always subtly emphasized that I was of common birth and you were nobility. As if it was only natural for me to have an inferiority complex. You kept making me miserable like that!”

When Ariana had pointed out that her way of holding a fork was wrong when they were young.

When she had pretended to be kind and suggested Elena wear her clothes to a tea time gathering with other young ladies, saying the sleeves of Elena’s favorite dress were actually worn out.

Each time, Elena had felt a deep sense of humiliation.

She’s the same age as me. We have the same father. Why does she seem so different from me?

Jealousy bred resentment, and resentment soon became twisted hatred.

Recalling old memories, Elena took a deep breath and lowered her voice to a mutter.

“Isn’t that why the duke got tired of you and showed interest in me? Because you make people sick of you. You’re truly nauseating!”

Facing the venomous diatribe, Ariana slowly blinked.

‘Yes. Elena.’

Why wouldn’t I have had such thoughts too?

Even after turning back time, on deep nights such thoughts would seep in like nightmares, keeping me awake.

Was it because I was lacking that Lucas had an affair?

Was it because I was lacking that Edward hated me? Was it because I was lacking that all those things happened?

The countless worries had never yielded a clear answer.

But now, for once, I seemed to know a definite answer.

Ariana took a step closer to Elena.