USML 01

Chapter 01

“This is a letter sent from the House of Duke Dustin to the House of Count Phaed.”

So it had finally come.

I set down my teacup and fixed my gaze on the paper envelope in the count’s hand.

Everyone of direct bloodline in the Phaed family was gathered here—my father, the count; my older sister, Sherry; my older brother, Dave; and me.

The reason for this family meeting was the letter that had arrived that morning, addressed to Count Phaed from Duke Dustin’s household.

When the count slit open the red velvet envelope with a letter knife, the emblem of a falcon gripping a sword split cleanly in two.

I watched him read the letter, then slowly turned my head away.

Surely, at last night’s armistice celebration banquet, Sherry and the male lead had fallen for each other. If the story followed the original plot, this letter would be the male lead’s proposal to Sherry, and my remaining role would be to stand at a distance and bless their happiness.

I bit down on my cheek and waited to hear the count’s excited voice.

But something was strange.

All I could hear was the sound of heavy breathing—there was no voice.

The count’s lips moved soundlessly as he stared at the proposal as if trying to bore a hole through it with his eyes.

Well, I couldn’t say I didn’t understand. Anyone would be shocked if their beloved daughter received a proposal so suddenly.

“Father?”

Light brown hair appeared in my field of vision, drifting in like a fallen leaf. Sherry stepped closer and placed a hand on the count’s shoulder.

“What does it say? Why do you look so surprised?”

Her gaze dropped lightly onto the letter.

Her pale lavender eyes—dreamlike, as if a single drop of water had fallen into purple paint—moved quickly as she read.

“Th-this can’t be…”

Sherry suddenly covered her mouth, her eyelashes trembling. Moments later, she swayed as though the entire mansion had shaken.

“Sherry, what is it?”

Dave Phaed—our infamous sister-con—leapt to his feet and rushed over. Given how he usually acted like he might faint over her every small gesture, this was hardly excessive.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and read the letter over her back.

“What in the…?”

Dave repeatedly adjusted his glasses, as if doubting what he’d just read. Eventually, he even took them off and rubbed his eyes with his hand.

At that moment, the count—his face drained of color—looked straight at me, his eyes filled with disbelief.

The gazes of the count, Sherry, and Dave flicked back and forth between the letter and me before colliding in midair.

Then, all at once, their eyes settled on me.

“Vanessa Phaed.”

“Yes.”

“The proposal is—”

Yeah. I know. I nodded calmly, replying as if I already knew everything.

“It’s for my sister, right?”

“It’s for you.”

I blinked several times at the unexpected answer, staring blankly at the count.

Normally, I would never meet his eyes and would’ve lowered my head immediately—but not this time.

…Excuse me? Say that again.

I briefly wondered if Donna had accidentally damaged my eardrums while putting on my earrings that morning. Surely this world had ENT doctors too?

Lost in pointless thoughts, I let out a hollow laugh.

“Father, you said the proposal is for my sister?”

“No. It’s for you.”

“…Me? As in me? Your daughter Vanessa?”

The count groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. My desperate denial must have sounded like wordplay.

Turning fully toward me—seated far from the others—he pointed straight at me with his index finger.

“No. You. Vanessa Phaed.”

Vanessa Phaed.

Vanessa Phaed.

Vanessa Phaed.

His lips moved slowly, his voice splintering into echoes.

Buzz. Buzz.

Like a mosquito, his precise tone warped and reverberated back to me.

“…This is absolute nonsense.”

Something had gone very, very wrong.

* * *

That evening, after receiving the proposal, I couldn’t sleep. I spent the night drinking wine alone, killing time.

“What’s that?”

Turning my gaze absently, I noticed a scrap of paper wedged in the window frame.

I walked over, picked it up, and unfolded it.

Inside was familiar, neatly written Imperial script.

[Wait.]

So this was what it felt like.

Getting a “You up?” message from an ex at dawn.

A friend I’d been close to in my previous life once said this:

If you still have feelings, you’ll be glad to hear from them.
If not, they’re just bored and lonely—so you should curse them out and block them.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t do that.

“Evan Dustin… I truly hoped you’d live forgetting the past.”

I bit my lip, thinking of a plan that had already gone down the drain.

Just hours ago, I’d sworn to myself:

When Evan and Sherry get married, I’ll empty my allowance, lay down carpets, scatter flower petals, and cheer for their love. If even that doesn’t convey my sincerity, I’ll sing at their wedding.

That was the plan.

…And yet.

“This is ridiculous.”

The male lead, Evan Dustin, had proposed—to me instead of my sister.

Perhaps their wedding would now be held in some distant future.

* * *

“Are you sure you’ll be all right on your own?”

“I’ll be fine, Sister.”

“Living alone at a villa… What if something happens—”

“You’re worrying over nothing.”

“I’ll come visit whenever I have time.”

“You don’t really need to—”

I forced an awkward smile and gently pulled my hand free from Sherry’s grasp. She pouted, clearly displeased.

“I wanted to go with you too…”

Please. You’re busy. If you came along, all my effort pretending to be frail for the past ten years would go to waste.

“Do you have enough luggage? You’re not missing anything?”

Sherry kept checking the bags the coachman was loading, worried about her youngest sister going away for the first time.

The butler approached her with a warm smile.

“I will personally see to everything, my lady.”

Stopped by the butler, Sherry reluctantly stepped back.

“Miss Vanessa, it is time to depart.”

Donna, my personal maid, approached and bowed.

At once, the mansion’s servants poured out as if on cue, forming an oval line and bowing deeply.

It was overwhelming, but I accepted their farewell in silence, thinking this might be the first and last time I’d see such a sight.

After some time, a man with dark brown hair and eyes appeared between the bowed servants.

Count Phaed.

A handsome man in his late forties with broad shoulders and a solid build—young enough to be mistaken for someone in his thirties.

“Father.”

Perhaps he heard my soft murmur.

His gaze met mine for an instant, then fell away.

I stood still, watching him approach.

The Phaed family ran a major trade guild, with the count as guild master and Dave as vice-master.

The Count Phaed I had come to know was exactly like the one in the novel—devoted to his business, caring toward his family, responsible and strong-willed.

A foolish man, too, who spent years tormenting himself with guilt over his lost daughter—Vanessa.

“This is right.”

I nodded to myself.

Yes. Leaving them like this is better—for me and for them.

No. Not better.

Right.

While I sorted through my thoughts, Sherry searched the crowd of servants for someone.

Failing to find him, she frowned and turned to the butler.

“Butler, where’s Dave?”

The butler wore an awkward smile.

“Master Dave has been away from the estate since yesterday.”

“What?!”

Sherry’s eyes widened in shock.

“How could he skip seeing off his youngest sister on her very first trip away?!”

She ground her teeth, her fury completely unfiltered.

“Just wait until he comes back.”

Judging by her growl, Dave was in for an all-night lecture.

“Vanessa, Dave must be very busy with the guild.”

Sherry fidgeted, glancing at me to see if I might be disappointed.

I patted her shoulder.

You can’t be disappointed if you never expect anything.

I smiled awkwardly and withdrew my hand.

“Miss Vanessa, everything is ready.”

The butler bowed.

I took one last, detached look at the mansion I’d lived in for ten years—and at the servants bowing before me.

Since this was goodbye, I recalled imperial etiquette and offered the greeting I’d practiced the night before.

“Thank you for taking care of me all this time.”

The count froze, clutching the hem of his coat like a child caught off guard.

Sherry pulled my hands into her arms, her expression aching.

“What do you mean, ‘taking care of you’? We’re family, Vanessa.”

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked up at me.

When I said I’d stay at a villa in Sentra, a village in the western region, Sherry had nearly panicked. She’d even insisted on going in Donna’s place.

She tried until the very last day to persuade me to stay.

Just like now.

“I really should go.”

“No, no!”

I firmly pulled my hand free. Sherry reached helplessly into the air as I stepped away.

She looked devastated—but strangely, I felt lighter than ever.

“I’m leaving now.”

Turning away, I boarded the carriage with the butler’s help.

Leaning back against the hard wall, I exhaled.

Outside the window, a round, acorn-like head popped into view and disappeared repeatedly.

“Va-ne-ssa!”

Sherry was hopping in place, trying to see my face.

I smiled at her cuteness—but it didn’t last.

I was finally alone.

I shut my eyes tightly, feeling the tension drain from my body.

“Vanessa! I’ll come visit, I swear! Tomorrow—no, very soon!”

Please don’t.

As the carriage began to move, I narrowed my eyes and looked away.

This place, too, was goodbye now.

My gaze drifted to the left side of the second floor of the Phaed mansion—my room.

Had the window been left open?

I could see the curtains billowing.

“…Wait.”

My eyes widened as I noticed a familiar silhouette behind them.

The figure was staring straight at me.

“Dave?”

Why are you there—

I swallowed the words I couldn’t say, feeling Dave’s gaze remain fixed on me, growing clearer as the distance between us increased.