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Chapter 1
Abellin had carelessly twisted up her pink hair and, as usual, was indulging in her hobby with a towering pile of romance novels stacked beside her.
“That crazy bastard of an ex-husband… If he were standing in front of me, I’d slap him across the face. How dare he treat our girl like that… Ughhh.”
Lately, she had been completely obsessed with regret romances featuring heroines who divorced cheating husbands and started new lives.
“Whew. I need something to soothe my weary body and soul.”
With a thud, Abellin closed the book and reached for another.
This time, it was a childcare novel where the protagonist received endless love and adoration from everyone.
“A tyrant big brother who fills in the sea just to create an island for his little sister… As expected, nothing beats ridiculous displays of affection backed by absolute power.”
She flipped through the pages for a while before tossing the book onto the table.
Completely lacking the grace expected of a count’s daughter, she sprawled across the sofa when the bedroom door suddenly flew open without so much as a knock.
The culprit frowned the moment he saw her, as though he’d witnessed something he never wanted to see.
“Oh, come on.”
“Don’t you know how to knock? Ever heard of manners?”
The shameless offender who had apparently eaten his manners for breakfast was none other than Ares, her twin younger brother, born exactly five minutes after her.
Like Abellin, Ares had pink hair.
He stared at his lazily lounging sister with an expression colder than ice before speaking.
“What kind of posture is that?”
“And you dare barge into your older sister’s room?”
“…Forget it. Father wants you.”
At Ares’s words, Abellin immediately shot upright.
“Me? Why?”
“No idea. Maybe he found out you bought another pile of weird books.”
“Honestly. I’ve told you a thousand times these aren’t weird books—they enrich my dry, empty life…”
“Go tell Father that. I delivered the message, so I’m leaving.”
Ares turned around and waved teasingly before walking away.
Abellin glared at her brother’s retreating back for a moment before getting up and leaving her room.
Knock. Knock.
When she reached Count Herrols’ study and knocked, a stern voice came from inside.
“Who is it?”
“Your adorable daughter.”
“…Who?”
The stern voice instantly filled with confusion.
As expected, only childcare novels have fathers who react happily to hearing that.
Feeling slightly bitter at the reminder that reality was different from fiction, Abellin spoke again.
“It’s me. Abellin.”
“…Come in.”
She carefully opened the door and stepped inside.
Count Herrols set down the documents he’d been reading.
Unlike Abellin and Ares, whose hair was pink, the Count’s hair burned a vivid crimson.
Only his green eyes matched those of his twins.
“What on earth happened to your hair?”
Abellin casually touched the messy bun she’d thrown together.
“I’m not going anywhere anyway.”
“No, you are. That’s why I called you.”
“Huh? I thought I was here to get scolded over my books.”
“Books?”
The Count tilted his head, genuinely puzzled.
That brat Ares tricked me.
She’d been nervous the entire way over, convinced her father had discovered all the novels she’d secretly bought with her allowance.
Silently cursing the sibling who happened to share her family register, she waited for the Count to continue.
“Books…? You actually read books?”
His astonishment only made Abellin feel worse.
The Count was always busy with affairs of the imperial court and barely paid attention to his children.
After Countess Herrols’ health worsened following the birth of the twins, she’d spent years away recuperating.
The Count buried himself even deeper in work after that.
As a result, the twins had grown up receiving almost no affection from either parent.
Occasionally, the Count would toss them a bit of attention as though checking whether they were still alive.
Even then, Ares—who excelled at everything—always ended up receiving it instead.
While Abellin needed repeated practice to master anything, Ares perfected everything on the first try.
As he grew older, even his face worked overtime, making him one of the top three most handsome men in the Empire.
Overshadowed by such a brilliant younger brother, Abellin had long since grown used to a life where no one expected anything from her.
So she simply spent her days reading novels.
“I can read.”
“Ahem. I know that… I was just surprised to hear you mention books. That’s admirable.”
The Count’s idea of “books” and the books Abellin actually read were worlds apart, but she didn’t bother correcting him.
Praise is praise.
It was only about the third compliment she’d ever received in her life.
Her father was almost never home, and whenever he did praise someone, it was always Ares.
Since she’d long since stopped expecting anything, she simply smiled gently.
“So… why did you call me?”
“A marriage proposal has come for you.”
“…What?”
It was the last thing she’d expected.
Without noticing the shock written all over her face, the Count continued.
“You’re already twenty years old. It wouldn’t be strange for you to have a fiancé.”
“…Who is it?”
Still bewildered, Abellin carefully asked.
“Baron Berta. He may only be a baron, but he’s also Marquis Nor’s second son. It’s not a bad match.”
Marquis Nor was one of the leading nobles of the Emperor’s faction—the recipient of the Emperor’s deepest trust and owner of immense wealth.
As her father said, it wasn’t a bad marriage on paper.
Although he wouldn’t inherit the marquisate as the second son, he still held a respectable place in noble society.
But that wasn’t the issue.
“…He’s illegitimate.”
Baron Berta was the son Marquis Nor had fathered with his mistress.
The Count cleared his throat.
“That isn’t much of a problem.”
“He’s also well into his thirties.”
“Abellin. This is an opportunity to forge closer ties with Marquis Nor. You mustn’t ruin such a valuable chance.”
When she protested, the Count deliberately adopted a stern tone.
But it’s my sacrifice you’re asking for.
She swallowed the words before they escaped her lips.
“Prove your worth to me.”
“…”
At those words, Abellin could say nothing.
She quietly left the study.
After finishing the preparations her father had ordered, Abellin was about to climb into the carriage when a familiar head of pink hair came running toward her.
“Hey! You’re really going to that blind date?”
“Ahem. It’s ‘older sister.'”
“Fine, Older Sister. Are you really going?”
Ares was breathing hard, as though he’d rushed over the moment he heard.
Abellin looked at her unusually agitated brother before nodding.
“Father told me to.”
“Are you an idiot? Just refuse! Even if he’s Marquis Nor’s son, he’s still illegitimate—and way older than you! Doesn’t your pride matter at all?”
Why is he so angry?
Abellin paused halfway into the carriage and stared at her fuming brother.
She’d expected him to laugh at her misfortune.
Seeing him genuinely furious on her behalf was… unexpected.
“Are you worried about me?”
“This isn’t the time for jokes. Just go back inside. I’ll talk to Father—”
“I’m jealous.”
“…What?”
Ares looked stunned.
Abellin gazed quietly at him before speaking.
“You really believe Father would listen if you talked to him.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He told me to prove my worth.”
Ares opened his mouth to argue again, but Abellin raised a hand to stop him.
“It’s the first time Father’s ever expected anything from me. I’m… kind of excited. Don’t ruin it.”
“Hey! Have you even heard the rumors about that guy? He’s famous for sleeping around! What are you saying—”
“Shh. Your older sister is leaving. Let’s go.”
Abellin quickly climbed into the carriage and signaled the coachman.
“Hey! No—Older Sister!”
She heard Ares shouting behind her, but buried herself deeper into the carriage seat and ignored him.
“I’m already tired.”
It had been ages since she’d left the estate.
Wearing such an elaborate dress made it even more exhausting.
She absentmindedly twirled a strand of her neatly brushed hair while waiting to arrive.
The image of Ares desperately trying to stop her flashed through her mind, but she shook her head.
It wasn’t as if she wanted to go.
“Are you an idiot? Just refuse!”
Recalling her brother’s carefree words, Abellin bit her lip.
What an idiot.
He didn’t even realize that being able to say something like that to Father was the difference between the two of them.
After silently cursing her younger brother to her heart’s content, the carriage gradually slowed before finally coming to a stop.
“We’ve arrived, my lady.”
“Thanks.”
The carriage had stopped in front of the capital’s largest restaurant.
The entire establishment consisted of private dining rooms, making it a popular place for noble couples, political gatherings, and people meeting for arranged marriages—like Abellin.
“Welcome, my lady. It is an honor to serve you. May I confirm your reservation?”
A staff member approached politely.
“Baron Berta.”
“Ah… The Baron has already arrived and is waiting for you. I’ll show you the way.”
The employee’s expression turned slightly strange upon hearing Baron Berta’s name, but Abellin paid it little attention.
She simply wanted to finish her obligation and return home so she could continue reading the childcare novel she’d left halfway through.
I need to finish that novel.
She wanted to experience a little vicarious satisfaction watching a protagonist who was showered with endless love and affection just for existing.
“Here we are.”
The employee stopped before one of the private rooms.
For some reason, however, they hesitated, unable to bring themselves to open the door.
