One morning, a single ray of sunlight piercing through the lace curtain vividly drew ripples on the floor’s carpet,

Lilia shook off her seat and stood up upon hearing the inconsequential news that, after much debate, it was decided the coronation would precede the national marriage ceremony.

Whether it’s the coronation, the national marriage ceremony, or a funeral, let any of them happen first.

It’s none of my concern.
Lilia began to reenter social circles.

Gaining people’s interest was too easy.

All she had to do was tell them what they wanted to hear.

Especially gaining men’s interest was even easier.

She just had to be unpredictable. Predictability lowered the tension, and when the tension dropped, so did their enthusiasm.
Lilia treated them kindly as if she had a fondness for them, but then suddenly distanced herself, acting aloof. Some days she promptly responded to letters, and other days she wouldn’t reply even after receiving five letters.

The more the men grew frustrated by her fickle behavior, the more the piles of marriage proposals and gifts in her room increased.

The packages and love letters from her followers, filling up the table, momentarily soothed her empty heart.
But soon a moment came when that too was not enough to fill her.

She had to find a new method. And she quickly found it.

“It’s all because of you that Kain left. You treated Kain so poorly that he left.”

Whenever her mother blamed her own ruin on Liz, saying it was because Liz acted stiffly and coldly toward the Duke, Lilia subtly agreed with that opinion.

“You can’t deny that my sister has that tendency, can you?”

“Right? You think the same, don’t you? I’m not making it up, am I?”
“Yes, Mother, you’re absolutely right.”

Her mother reaffirmed that she was correct, then spoke to Lilia with affection.

“I will certainly find you a good match.”

“I’m fine, but shouldn’t my sister get married first?”

“Her? She’s missed her chance to marry. Maybe if there were a second-time job opening.”

Lilia couldn’t deny that her heart felt relieved now whenever her mother spoke ill of her sister.
The adoptive daughter who pushed out her own blood sister. She shattered the notion that blood is thicker than water. This reality approached her as a strange pride, and now that pride alone had become the pillar sustaining her life.

Lilia now had no reservations about rolling her eyes, twisting her mouth, and acting insincere in front of her sister.

With Kain gone, there was no one left to impress. The servants might find it strange for a moment, but if she met them separately and treated them well later, they would quickly forget any negative impression.
And above all, this is the just deserts caused by my sister’s wrongdoing. It was because Liz treated Kain so poorly that he left the house…

I wanted to get along well with my sister.

On a warm spring day when sprouts began to emerge from the barren grass.

Lady Berium felt a renewed desire to re-enter the social circles.

But to step out now, when she had nothing to show for it, would make her nothing but a laughingstock.

There was no hope for her eldest daughter. No, now she no longer considered herself to have an eldest daughter at all.
Lady Berium began to pin her hopes on her only daughter, Lilia.

“Lilia, youth is fleeting. So let’s not delay any longer and quickly arrange your marriage. If you delay, you’ll end up like your sister Liz.”

Lilia did not object.

She had already made up her mind to marry anyone who met the conditions, given the circumstances. It was a course of action identical to that of her sister Liz, whom she had mocked.
However, she and her sister Liz were different. While Liz was desperate for marriage, she herself could no longer love anyone. What did it matter if she married just anyone when she couldn’t love them?

Should she discreetly send a letter to Viscount Bert?

He was the best option, at least.

“The incident the other day was a misunderstanding. Dust got into my eyes, and I approached your face to blow it away; there were no other intentions…” Would he believe her if she said that?

Surprisingly, he was a man with a soft spot, so he might.
Lilia recalled the timid demeanor of Viscount Bert, who had ambiguously ended their relationship by silently walking away without asking any questions on the day she had attempted to kiss Kain. She allowed herself to hope.

Tinkle-Tinkle.

Passing by the vicinity, the servant Rena heard the bell and rushed to Lilia’s room.

“Do you need something, Miss?”

“Yes. Could you please bring me some paper and an envelope from the butler? I’ll be sending it to Viscount Bert, so make it something special.”

“…Yes, Miss.”
‘Before, she used to do these things herself, and now she naturally orders them done.’

Rena shook her head slightly as she left the room. Not long after, Monica burst in.

“Miss!”

“What’s the matter?”

Taken aback by the sudden intrusion, Lilia slightly furrowed her brow.

“That is… that is, right now Miss Liz… to Miss Liz…”

Monica’s panting and inability to continue her sentence further irritated Lilia.

“Can you calm down and speak properly? What about my sister?”

“A marriage proposal has arrived.”
For a moment, Lilia seemed disoriented, then she let out a small laugh.

“I thought…”

She had thought it was some big issue.

Well, it was understandable for everyone to be surprised, given that a marriage proposal had come in after a long time.

“From whom?”

How insignificant could he be?

“It’s from the Crown Prince.”

“……”

The smile disappeared from Lilia’s face.

Her emerald eyes wavered in confusion for an instant before another voice interjected.

“Now, it’s His Majesty the Emperor.”

It was Mirabel. A triumphant smile spread across her face as she leaned against the door frame.