CH 1

“Did you hear that? The Imperial Newspaper of Economic Affairs recently updated the list of “10 businessmen who control the Empire”, and…!”

The heroine of the novel is my sister, Lilika. That was an unchanging fact.

But at this moment, when everyone in the ballroom was paying attention to me, I felt like I was the protagonist.

‘I didn’t really want to reveal it at this moment, but it’s a bit surprising.’

A few days ago, my business, which I had been hiding due to fear of it being harmed by my image as a villainess, was revealed.

It was my great dramatic reversal, as I was known only as ‘the only stain in the duchy’, or ‘an idiot who can’t even keep up with her younger sister’.

“Since she was expelled from the Primrose duchy, she probably didn’t run her business using the family’s power.”

“That’s right, and compared to before, the Primrose family is…”

“Maybe the Newspaper of Economic Affairs is wrong? For example, maybe they took a bribe from Lady Primrose. Ah, let’s not do this and ask her ourselves!”

“Yes, if she lies, it will be revealed right away!”

In my memory, the nobles of the social world were always stubborn.

They either looked at me, Lilika’s older sister, disapprovingly, using harsh words that they believed were advice to me, or they didn’t care about me at all because they were looking at Lilika.

Nevertheless, I guess they were too curious about my business for grace and honor to weigh heavily on their minds.

Seeing how quickly they were rushing towards me, maybe they weren’t satisfied with chattering among themselves.

“Hm, ahem. Lady Primrose. It’s been a long time.”

However, unlike their momentum at first, they couldn’t talk to me right away, and seemed to remember the words and actions they had been directing at me all this time.

‘Isn’t it unthinkable to talk to me first like this?’

I could see that they were pushing Lady Barmin, who had a point of contact with me, forward, even if they knew she was embarrassed.

At the very least, she only saw me a few times at Lilika’s social gatherings, and she didn’t talk much to me because she was only smiling at the kind Lilika.

“Ahem. Lady Primrose. How have you been?”

“As you can see.”

“Ahaha… That’s a relief. I was worried because I hadn’t seen you for a while.”

Even though it was difficult to pretend to be close all of a sudden, Lady Barmin continued to talk, firmly.

“Well, it’s really great to see you after a long time. You’re dressed up so gorgeously… Huh?”

When the others poked her sides because she was only asking about my regards, Lady Barmin’s eyes suddenly opened wide.

“Dear heavens, are the diamonds on this necklace perhaps the ones that were mined recently in the Jenibe Mine?”

Her words were filled with sincerity for the first time.

When Lady Barmin raised her voice, those next to her also began to intervene by looking closely at the necklace I was wearing.

“It’s made with not just one of those precious diamonds, but with several of them? That’s unbelievable! Are they real diamonds and not a similar gem?”

I nodded without answering, and the faces of the people changed dramatically.

“Diamonds of such high quality would only be handled by the Imperial Merchant Guild. Besides, a piece of jewelry of this quality has never been put up for sale…”

“Wait. You know “Yunette”, which was in a partnership with the Imperial Merchant Guild? Is it true that Lady Primrose is the owner?”

“If you’re asking me if I established it myself, then that’s correct.”

Hearing my casual answer, a few of them gasped. They looked back at each other and opened their eyes wide as if they couldn’t believe it.

“How did the Lady… I thought you weren’t knowledgeable about businesses…”

“No, I had a lot of interest. It was a dream I had since childhood.”

I calmly opened my mouth.

The reason why I could say things that I would not have been able to say in the past due to my inferiority complex was probably because I left the people I was obsessed with and achieved great success.

“Maybe you didn’t know because you didn’t have any interest other than the fact that I am Lilika’s older sister.”

I didn’t mean to be so sarcastic, but the people I wasn’t even close with seemed to be bothered by what I said.

“That…”

“Hm, ahem…”

I smiled kindly at them, who were at a loss, but as a vicious villainess and not a friendly protagonist, I did not say that it was fine.

I didn’t want to claim that the treatment I had received before was wrongful.

‘Would these people have been interested if I had not achieved amazing success in my business and been talked about in all kinds of media?’

Probably not.

The protagonist’s older sister.

Who would have thought that I, a villainess, would get the attention of so many people?

It was none of my business to feel sorry for those who showed signs of frustration while saying they would have gotten close to me if they knew this would happen.

“In any case, congratulations on your success.”

“Who knew Lady Primrose would be so successful? Hahaha.”

My expression did not change even as they tried to lighten the awkward mood somehow.

Then, a lady with aquamarine hair skillfully intervened among the people. It was a familiar face.

“Sister, it’s been a long time!”

“Lilika.”

“Oh, your younger sister is here.”

The people quickly gave way to Lilika with relieved faces. Even though she hadn’t done anything, I could feel the dreary mood starting to abate just from her appearance.

“Lady Primrose, I mean, Lady Lilika…”

They’re calling Lilika by her name because I’m here. In the past, Lady Primrose meant Lilika without a doubt, so it was a remarkable change.

Noticing it, Lilika’s brows frowned lightly, then relaxed again. It was a great performance. Skillfully changing her expression, Lilika looked at me with the most pitiful gaze in the world.

“Why haven’t you contacted me? Even though you left the family because you did something wrong, I…”

Lilika’s eyes started tearing up, but my heart cooled. Her words were secretly pointing out that I had left because I did something wrong.

“Come to think of it, Lady Yuria Primrose once…”

Thanks to that, people seemed to recall what rumors were circulating when I left the family.

This way, it might expose every single thing that was forgotten because of my great success.

“I’m glad you look good, though. Dear heavens, you even sold the ‘Ruby of Radietta’ you got from Father. I wondered if you were going to cut off relationships with the Primrose duchy because you sold the family’s jewelry.”

Lilika laughed softly in a trembling voice. But I replied indifferently.

“That’s correct. The fact that I drew a line with the Duke.”

“What? The Duke? Are you perhaps… talking about Father?”

There was a commotion inside the hall. Lilika’s friendly expression turned into shock.

“That’s too much, Sister! Even if you were scolded, how can you address Father as ‘Duke’?”

“Well. I only did as he said, that I should never think of myself as his daughter again.”

“How can you say that? No, from saying that you sold the item that Father carefully selected and gifted you… I can’t understand. I can’t say something like that to my father who raised me.”

Lilika shook her head, her thin body trembling.

It was a peculiar gesture, as if I was a vicious villain who had committed a crime.

“You’re still the same as ever. Even if you succeeded, nothing changed. Both before and now, you’re always drawing a line with our family.”

It was you who drew the line first.

‘Lilika, who is loved despite being an illegitimate child, and me, who is the daughter of his legal wife but is vicious. That’s how our family was divided.’

I tried to open my mouth and answer, but someone showed up first and intervened between Lilika and me.

Lilika, who was always at the center, was pushed back. Few people could do this to her, the protagonist of the novel.

“F-Father?”

“Lilika, can you step back for a moment?”

Duke Primrose.

My father, who was infinitely proud of me when I was a child.

As he was a tall person who covered Lilika in an instant, even I, who was wearing high heels, had no choice but to look up.

‘He’s still the same.’

I thought a little. I wondered if he would have become haggard while I was gone, because he was worried about his daughter. I wondered if there were any sleepless nights.

However, Duke Primrose was as bulky as ever, and his expression looked cold. Even in front of his biological daughter, whom he met after a long time, there was not a single speck of paternal love in his expression.

“You’re calling ‘duke’ to your own father. Are you satisfied with speaking in such a way until the end?”

“…”

“But nothing will change if you complain. A family relationship can’t be broken even if you don’t like it.”

Family.

‘How can you say that so easily in front of me?’

If he remembered the past, at least he shouldn’t have come out in front of me like this.

Since Lilika came to the family, I had been nothing more than a villain to Duke Primrose, not a biological daughter, who tormented his dear child.

“F-Father!”

“From this moment on, you are no longer a Primrose.”

How could he say such a thing to me? How could he be so cold-hearted?

But the surprising appearances didn’t end with him.

Lilika heard another voice behind her.

“B-Brother? Why…”

“Ah.”

Even the man I used to call my brother came to me, putting Lilika aside.

Then, he reached out his hand to me.

Without any greeting or explanation, with a face that looked like that of Duke Primrose.

“…”

I didn’t take his hand, I just looked at him. Only then did a short explanation follow, as if it was inevitable.

“It would be better to have your first dance of the ball with your family.”

Nothing more than that. He was so kind to Lilika, but to me, he was blunt and cold.

“You should take Lilika instead of me. As it always has been.”

I spoke in a flat voice. It was as if he was going to pretend we were friendly siblings now that it had come to this.

“That’s right, I may look ridiculous for suddenly doing something like this.”

I sneered at him, telling him to take care of his half-sister Lilika, whom he always took care of first instead of me, his biological sister, but the son of Duke Primrose answered without wavering.

“But I don’t know either. Why I came to you instead of Lilika.”

The words that Duke Primrose’s heir had spoken to me in the past flashed through my mind.

“Why are you always acting sensitive towards Lilika? Why do you only disappoint me?”

“B-Brother. But…”

“I don’t want to hear you calling me brother ever again. You’re not Lilika’s sister, either.”

Even though I, who had been lost in thought for a moment, didn’t give him much of an answer, Duke Primrose’s heir didn’t withdraw his hand.

‘No matter what I said, he never cared. It’s still the same.’

Then, another man appeared in front of me.

It was the only person who could intervene in a place where Duke Primrose and his son were.

“Lady Primrose.”

Count Marcel Vieira.

My first love, and once, my fiancé.

I couldn’t believe he was standing in front of me instead of following Lilika around.

Like this, all three men who caused me great pain had gathered.

‘I didn’t expect to see these people in one place.’

And then, another hand came up to me.

Although it would be understandable to be nervous in this place, Count Vieira opened his mouth with a noble expression, as usual.

“I am asking you to give me the honor of a dance.”

Although they weren’t the person concerned, Duke Primrose and his son became furious.

“How can you ask Yuria to dance when you unilaterally notified her that you had broken off your engagement?”

“It’s not an occasion to meddle in before the family.”

Count Vieira did not back down immediately, even though the two people had threatening expressions.

“I know it’s my fault for misunderstanding Lady Primrose. However, Lady Primrose and I were distant because I left the capital quite a lot. Unlike the two of you.”

As he said that, his voice, which had been soft until just now, became sharp.

“And you said you were a family, but I don’t think the two people who always sided with each other and kicked her out of the family deserve to criticize me.”

“You’re impertinent, Marcel Vieira!”

“You even courted Lilika in front of Yuria, you have no conscience!”

Suddenly, the three men appeared to be biting each other. I let out a sneer.

‘My father, my brother, and even my ex-fiancé. I decided to hand it all over to Lilika, but they’re coming to me…’

I couldn’t believe they were reaching out to me now.

It was ridiculous that the love I had hoped for only came true after giving up.

Besides, the way they believed that I would be willing to hold their hands was nothing short of arrogant to the end.

“Lady Primrose. Is it hard to give me just one chance?”

“I have no intention to dance with you.”

And I also added,

“Ah, it’s the same for Duke Primrose and his son.”

“Yuria!”

“I’m sorry, but I already have a partner.”

After brightening for a moment by my refusal of Count Vieira, the complexions of Duke Primrose and his son cooled down again.

“A partner? What do you…”

It was amazing that they never thought I would have a partner.

That was why they were asking me to dance first, while still pretending to be merciful.

‘But I really have one. A partner.’

I wasn’t lying.

Just then, I saw the man I had been waiting for walking our way with his long legs.

“Is that person going to Lady Primrose?”

“Could he be the partner that Lady Primrose spoke of…?”

I could hear the people gossiping around me, as if they had never expected it.

“Unbelievable.”

The bold expressions of the three men standing in front of me had long since crumbled.

“Yuria. I’m sorry for being late.”

I reached out to him as he cut through the crowd with a presence that could not be ignored.

“No, you were only late because of what I asked.”

I held his arm and leaned my body towards him, as if to show off that we had a good relationship.

And enjoying everyone’s astonished gaze, I smiled brighter than ever.

“Do you see? I’m going to dance with ‘this person’, so don’t bother me anymore and get out of my way.”