A carriage pulled up at the front gate of the Esmond Duke’s residence.

The two men waiting in front of the main house suddenly became busy.

“Hyung, today is my turn.”

“Inma, your turn was yesterday. Today is my turn.”

A tall and mature-looking man intervened, trying to dissuade the two bickering younger brothers.

“Both of you, stop it. Today, the big brother will handle it.”

At that moment, the carriage came to a halt, making a crunching sound on the gravel.

Approaching gracefully, the elder brother opened the carriage door and extended his hand.

“Thank you, elder brother.”

A slender woman with light blond hair and sky-blue eyes shyly smiled as she took the big brother’s hand.

Her face was so pale it seemed fragile, and her legs were slender enough to appear as though they might collapse at any moment, leaving her elder brothers restless and anxious.

“Did tea time go well, René?”

“Yes, it was enjoyable.”

“Were there any bothersome people?”

“There were only women.”

While grabbing onto the big brother’s arm and heading towards the entrance, the other two brothers followed closely, bombarding René with questions without giving her a chance to rest.

René answered the questions sincerely, as it seemed that would prevent them from asking more.

At the mention of “only women,” the brothers seemed somewhat relieved, even the big brother.

“Our little sister is too delicate and pure, we must protect her.”

This belief had been passed down since the time when they took turns holding and comforting their still-baby sister.

If there was something that had changed as she grew up, it was that the subject of their vigilance had shifted from “everyone” to “every man.”

Concerns about their sister were only conveyed to the interested party after passing through the strict standards set by the three brothers. Consequently, everyone else was rejected outright.

Moreover, rejecting marriage for their sister wasn’t the only thing they did. The eldest, second eldest sons, and even the third who reached the marriageable age also couldn’t proceed beyond engagement, let alone marriage.

There were some matchmaking attempts, but nothing led to marriage, especially due to the scrutiny of the youngest brother.

With the current situation, they seemed content to spend their entire lives taking care of their sister.

“By the way, elder brothers.”

René suddenly stopped in front of the entrance.

“A while ago, there was a carriage in front of the mansion. Did anyone come to our house?”

The third brother standing behind her asked, “Did someone come?”

“Yeah, someone did. A friend of Mother’s. The daughter of her old friend.”

“Mother’s friend’s daughter?”

“The one with Claude Marquis, Evelyne.”

“Oh, not Countess Crondel’s daughter?”

“No, not her.”

The second brother spoke this time.

“Then the daughter of Duke Odenn? Odelin?”

“Not her either.”

The third brother chimed in again.

“I see… Then it must be Lady Evelyn of Viscount Langlire.”

“Unfortunately, it’s none of them.”

This time, the big brother spoke with a gentle tone.

“Not her?”

A slight crease appeared on René’s forehead as she walked through the entrance, heading towards the garden path.

“Who could it be then? Someone who came in such a luxurious carriage without even attaching a coat of arms?”
Moreover, there were also escorts. They were around the carriage and stationed around the main house.

Dressed in civilian attire to appear like servants, but René recognized that they were well-trained elite soldiers from a noble family.

René considered asking her big brother again but quickly changed her mind.

It would be faster to confirm with her own eyes rather than asking. Once she washed up and pretended to greet her mother…

“Young lady, we have been waiting for you.”

The butler welcomed René with a restrained smile.

René made a puzzled expression. “Waiting for me?”

“Yes, Madam instructed to escort you directly to the reception room upon your arrival.”

“Ah… but I need to wash up. There’s a lot of pine pollen on me.”

René brushed off her clothes, looking embarrassed.

However, her brothers reassured René.

“It’s okay, little one. You’re beautiful even without washing up.”

There was never a time when their sister didn’t look beautiful in their eyes.

“Okay, got it. I’ll go now.”

René said, not because she believed her brothers’ words, but because she wanted to find out who the guest was that required such a hurried greeting.

Knock-knock.

When she knocked, a voice of a dignified lady came from inside.

“Come in.”

“I’m here, Mom.”

René entered.

“Did you come?”

Madam Esmond, with a warm impression, smiled affectionately.

René tilted her head.

‘Her reaction is a bit different from usual.’

When René returned from going out, Madam Esmond used to hug her like a fluffy ball, speaking affectionately, unable to breathe.

‘Oh, our little puppy is back?’

There was another strange point.

‘Why is Mom’s friend’s daughter sitting in the guest seat?’