Chapter 26

"Please wait, Lord Leonhardt!!"

Priscilla, who had dashed out of the theater, emerged onto the main street and looked around. Spotting her destination, the carriage stand, she sprinted over with all her might. Fortunately, an empty carriage was just approaching.

"Move aside!! I'm getting in this carriage!!"

"Hey, what are you doing?!"

"Hey, don't cut in front of me!!"

Pushing aside the people waiting, Priscilla opened the carriage door.

"Wow, what a fine lady. But I'm afraid you'll have to wait your turn—"

"I'm in a hurry!! I'm from a noble family!!"

"……Ah, a noble lady, I see."

"If you want a fare, I'll give you this!! Is this enough?! Get the carriage moving!!"

Priscilla pulled a ring from her finger and threw it at the driver. The sapphire-encrusted ring was a valuable piece given to her by Topac. At the moment, such a gift from her fiancé meant nothing to Priscilla.

"……Alright, where are we headed?"

The driver, reluctantly, took the reins. Priscilla, who had discarded a ring worth more than a commoner's annual living expenses and issued orders unilaterally, was deemed too troublesome to refuse.

"To the Guenberg Manor on 8th Street!! Hurry up!!"

"Alright, alright, I understand. I can't accept that ring, so please prepare the fare in cash."

The horse neighed, and the wheels began to roll over the cobblestones. Priscilla left the scene, leaving behind only the bad reputation of the Guenberg family, known for their spoiled and capricious daughter.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

"Why?! Why won't you let me in?!"

"Miss Priscilla, please forgive us. It's by the master's orders……"

Priscilla, having stepped out of the carriage, was arguing with the servants at the entrance of her own home. As she raised her hand in frustration at the uncooperative servants—

"You, step aside. I'll let Priscilla through."

"Lady……"

At the command of the lady of the house, the servants, though hesitant, cleared the way.

"Thank you, Mother!! I love you!!"

"Hehe, for my dear Priscilla."

Mother affectionately stroked Priscilla's head. She had silver hair like Priscilla and looked as youthful as a girl, despite being a mother of two.

"As her mother, I can tell. Priscilla, you are in love with Prince Leonhardt, aren't you?"

"……Yes. I know it's a forbidden love, given my engagement to Topac……"

Priscilla, looking down demurely, was met with a gentle smile from her mother.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, Priscilla. The heart that falls in love is the most precious of all. And Topac, he abandoned you at the ball, didn't he? I think your judgment in choosing the prince over him is sound."

"Mother……"

"The prince is handsome and a perfect match for you, my lovely girl."

———I can't bear the thought of such a wonderful person being with Cordelia.

A small whisper fell, and her mother's lips twisted.

"Mother, did you say something?"

"……No, nothing. It's not something you need to worry about."

Mother's hand gently combed through Priscilla's silver hair.

"My dear, dear Priscilla. I want you to remain as innocent and pure as you are, my beloved daughter."

"Yes, Mother."

Priscilla nodded with a smile. She loved her mother, who always loved her and granted most of her wishes. That's why Priscilla, following her mother's wishes, expressed her feelings freely without restraint.

"I want you to always remain pure, Priscilla. You mustn't become like the logical and uncharming Cordelia or the cruel grandmother."

"Yes, I won't become like my sister or grandmother."

Priscilla had been raised with the constant reminder from her mother not to be like her paternal grandmother.

Priscilla's father had once been engaged to someone other than her mother. But it was just a marriage of convenience. When her father, then a viscount's daughter, met her mother, he fell deeply in love at first sight. Her mother also deeply loved him, and they overcame the opposition to become the Countess.

"……The grandmother favored her original fiancée and was very harsh on me. Seeing Cordelia reminds me of the grandmother who used to yell at me……. She looks and acts just like the late grandmother……. That's why you, Priscilla, are the only daughter I have."

Priscilla had heard her mother's lament countless times. She nodded in form and ran to the parlor where Leonhardt was.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

"———Lord Leonhardt!! Are you here?!"

"Priscilla?!"

As soon as she entered the room, Priscilla ran to Leonhardt, but Cordelia quickly stopped her.

"Priscilla, what about the play? What about Topac?"

"I left to see the prince!"

"……I said you can't meet the prince until you learn proper etiquette, didn't I?"

Indeed, Priscilla had burst into the room with unbecoming speed, ignoring all manners and running to Leonhardt. However, without a second thought for her rudeness, Priscilla pouted.

"Ugh, my sister is so mean!! That doesn't matter now, does it?!"

"Stop struggling!!"

Priscilla's flailing fingers grazed Cordelia's cheek—

"Enough of this."

"Lord Leonhardt?!"

Leonhardt grabbed Priscilla's arm and pulled her away from Cordelia. Touched by the prince she adored, Priscilla's eyes filled with affection.

"Lord Leonhardt, I'm so happy……. I wanted to see you……"

As she tried to embrace him, Leonhardt twisted his body to avoid her.

"Stop it. What do you want?"

"I just want to talk to Lord Leonhardt!!"

"Is it worth breaking your family's rules and ignoring etiquette for that?"

"Lord Leonhardt is more important to me than my sister's nagging. Can we talk together?"

Blushing and with moist eyes, Priscilla gazed up at Leonhardt. Men always granted her wishes when she looked at them like this, but—

"I refuse. I have nothing to say to you."

"……What?"

Priscilla's eyes widened in shock.

"……Did I hear you wrong? You can't mean you don't want to talk to me……"

"I mean exactly that. It's not a joke or a misunderstanding. It's my sincere feeling."

"……That's a lie. Why are you saying such cruel things?"

"Your attitude towards your sister and others is what's cruel."

"……!! Why are you blaming me?! You were supposed to help me at the ball, weren't you?!"

As Priscilla clung to Leonhardt, one of his attendants restrained her in a headlock.

"What are you doing?! Let me go!!"

"Then listen to me, Priscilla. I told you that day that I wanted to protect Cordelia. Helping you was just a side effect."

"……A side effect……? I'm just an afterthought to my sister……?"

"Yes. If you weren't Cordelia's sister, I wouldn't even bother talking to you. Unfortunately, I can't stand people like you."

"Liar!! Liar!! Why do you hate me so much—?!"

"Shut up, Priscilla!! You're being disrespectful in front of the prince!"

Her father forcefully covered Priscilla's mouth as she cried.

"Prince, please forgive her. I will discipline my daughter. Please, forgive Priscilla……"

"……I have no intention of making Cordelia a criminal's sister. As long as Priscilla stays away from me, it's enough."

"Thank you, Your Highness……!!"

Despite his pale face, Priscilla's father, along with a servant, dragged her out of the room. Cordelia, left behind, bowed to Leonhardt, feeling uncomfortable.

"Prince, I'm sorry. My sister's behavior was disgraceful……"

"Please stand up. You don't need to apologize. I know you're used to cleaning up after your sister……. But from now on, your father will support you. And of course, I will help you too."

With a slight tease, Leonhardt looked at the door where Priscilla had disappeared.

"……But after saying that, I think I'll leave for today. As long as I'm here, Priscilla's tantrums won't stop……"

"……Yes. It would help both my father and me if you did."

Cordelia nodded, but inside, she felt a sense of disappointment. She was sad that the time she could spend with Leonhardt had ended due to her sister's intrusion. As she pondered this—

"Can I visit you again, Cordelia? I have an idea to ensure we won't be interrupted next time."

Leonhardt made a proposal to Cordelia.

Thank you for reading.

I have corrected the typos and omissions.

I will respond to your comments in due course, so please look forward to it.

A little more about Cordelia's grandmother:

Cordelia's mother despises and belittles her mother-in-law, but this is from her perspective. In reality, the grandmother only asked her to take responsibility for becoming the Countess, which was a reasonable request, and there was no malicious treatment. The grandmother was a sensible person and did nothing particularly wrong, but she simply didn't get along with Cordelia's parents.

Cordelia's paternal grandparents were serious and proud nobles. However, they were too lenient with their only son and heir, leading to a failure in his education.

Cordelia's father loves his family but is overly indulgent and insensitive. Her mother is overly romantic and projects her hatred for her mother-in-law onto her daughter. Priscilla, on the other hand, is a spoiled daughter, embodying the worst traits of both parents.

Cordelia grew up to be serious, partly because she took her parents as negative examples and partly because she was raised by her grandmother.

Incidentally, in terms of appearance, Cordelia resembles her father or grandmother, while Priscilla, despite resembling her mother, has a strikingly beautiful face due to a genetic quirk.