Ethella followed Olivia down the stairs of the Grand Duke's residence.
The workers they encountered bowed their heads to Olivia.
Every time their steps stopped, the sound of Ethella and Olivia's shoe heels could be clearly heard.
Is it because of the sound of our heels moving past each other so carefully? Or is it because of this ambiguous distance from my older sister?
Ethella measured the distance between her and Olivia with her eyes.
Just three steps.
It was an ambiguous distance—impossible to reach if she simply stretched out her hand.
If she stretched out her arms as hard as she could, she'd be able to catch her older sister walking ahead of her.
Ethella bit her lip.
Her fingernails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists.
I can't tell what expression Olivia—who walks so gracefully and uprightly—is wearing right now. We were obviously sitting close just a moment ago. Where did we go astray?
Ethella lowered her head sullenly, recalling what had happened.
She'd been nestled with Olivia when she'd suddenly realized she was thirsty and coughed dryly, so she'd stepped away and taken a sip of the cold tea.
And when their eyes met, they'd both blushed and smiled a little.
Perhaps I was harboring vain hopes. Now that my sister has forgiven me, I can see her again. Perhaps. Let's hope for a little more.
But a knock and the blunt words of the visiting butler had thrown Ethella back to reality.
"The Young Duke of Madeleine has come to the front gate."
Conrad had come looking for Ethella.
Above her racing thoughts, concerns about Veronica and Sally rose.
If my brother knows, Father will also know.
Although she'd made up her mind, she couldn't help but feel scared.
Ethella unconsciously looked at her sister.
In times like this, if I were the older sister, what would I say?
The moment she lifted her head and saw Olivia's face, Ethella had to cover her mouth.
Olivia had said—with a face that tried to seem fine—
"I guess you should go now, right?"
But Ethella had seen Olivia's composure disappear in an instant.
Though she was filled with very difficult emotions, Ethella was able to identify several expressions.
The faint smile that said I knew it would be like this was resignation.
Ah, now that I think about it—it's because of that face. My foolish what-ifs were swept away in an instant. My sister will never go back to Madeleine.
Ethella could not bear to finish the thought.
The moment she did, she felt like her sister would go away forever.
---
At that moment, Conrad gritted his teeth and glared at Grand Duke Vikander.
To be precise—at the carriage moving away toward the inside of the Grand Duke's residence.
The face of Grand Duke Vikander, who had just left in the carriage, was before his eyes.
A face that smiled innocently and looked at him with disdain.
It wasn't even funny.
Conrad recalled the Grand Duke's first words when he'd suddenly appeared.
"Should I file a formal complaint against the Madeleine family for continuing to occupy the front gate of my mansion?"
Conrad had simply been following Ethella, who was visiting Olivia.
He'd had no intention of running into Olivia.
Especially not the Grand Duke.
He'd just asked to quietly tell the guard at the gate that he'd arrived.
It was the Grand Duke who'd personally come to the gate.
"...I greet the great hero, His Highness the Grand Duke. I just came here to pick up my younger sister."
Conrad had politely stated his business.
"Younger sister? Who are you talking about?"
"Ethella Madeleine. I heard she entered the Grand Duke's residence earlier."
At that moment, the Grand Duke—who had been smiling sarcastically—laughed brilliantly.
To some, it might have been a laugh so beautiful it made them forget to breathe, but Conrad instinctively thought that laugh was poisonous.
At the same time, a heavy atmosphere weighed down on Conrad.
If I hadn't been standing strong from the moment I saw the Grand Duke, I would have stumbled violently.
The Grand Duke clicked his tongue softly, as if displeased that Conrad was standing upright.
"The Young Duke has good posture."
"I'll take it as a compliment."
Conrad pretended like nothing was wrong, but it was difficult to fully accept the raw intimidation.
I can't believe the Grand Duke—who has no influence over the political system—would act in such a way as to intimidate me, a member of the imperial faction.
It was not easy for Conrad's smart brain to understand.
Then Conrad laughed sarcastically.
If he's doing this just because of Olivia, the evaluation given to the Grand Duke has to be adjusted downward. He was honored as a war hero, but he's not very bright. Just about that much.
It was then that the violent mood disappeared, and the sound of the Grand Duke clicking his tongue could be heard loudly.
"Really—it seems like the Princess is the only one who doesn't miss out on luck at Madeleine."
"What—!"
Conrad shouted without realizing it.
However, the Grand Duke just rode the carriage into the depths of the residence, as if his business was done.
Conrad glared at the carriage with eyes overflowing with anger.
And finally, when the carriage with the Grand Duke had moved away like a dot, Conrad let out a sigh as if gritting his teeth.
"What does he know?"
Perhaps because of his title as a war hero, it's clear the Grand Duke is now obsessed with playing hero. By protecting Olivia, he probably feels like a hero again.
What kind of girl is Olivia?
It was a time when his angry breathing did not subside easily.
The gate of the palace-like mansion opened, and a carriage came out.
"Brother."
The carriage door opened, and an unfamiliar, cracked voice was heard.
It was Ethella.