Chapter 2

Today, I have posted two chapters.

Thank you for reporting the typos; I have made the corrections.

"Father, what happened?"

Edith cautiously peeked out from the window of the annex, and her stepfather shouted loudly at her.

"Anyway, get out of there quickly! As soon as possible, go to the main house and change your clothes. Understand?"

"Y-yes..."

Confused by her stepfather's incomprehensible words, Edith furrowed her brow. Just a moment ago, Daria had told her not to get anywhere near the main house. What could have happened?

When Edith turned to look at Daria, the woman, who had been agitated just moments ago, now had a face as white as paper and was screaming at Edith.

"Edith, obey Father's words! I've already had my maid waiting for you in the main house, so everything will be ready as soon as you get there."

"Umm, yes...?"

Still not grasping the situation, Edith nodded and decided to follow the words of her stepfather and stepsister. In the past, whenever she had defied them, it never ended well.

"Mother is currently entertaining Lord Lionel and his father. We can't keep the guests waiting, so please hurry."

"..."

With a desperate expression, Daria dragged Edith from the annex to the main house. There, Edith was quickly changed into a dress and had makeup applied by Daria's maid. Normally, Edith would receive sarcastic remarks from Daria's maid, but today, even that didn't happen.

"This is a matter of life and death for the Oakridge family."

The maid, likely under pressure from her mistress Daria, worked swiftly. Edith found herself standing in front of a large mirror, wearing a relatively modest purple taffeta dress among Daria's more extravagant ones, and with a full face of makeup.

"Sure enough, even a stable boy can be dressed up."

Daria sighed in relief. However, to Edith, wearing a dress made for her voluptuous and striking stepsister, and with makeup she rarely wore, made her feel even more out of place and uncomfortable.

"... Um, Sister. What exactly is going on here?"

"You will be engaged to Lord Lionel."

Edith's eyes widened in shock as she stared at Daria, blinking several times.

"Didn't you say that the proposal for an engagement with Lord Lionel was for you?"

"... That, well, the situation has changed."

Daria averted her eyes from Edith awkwardly but quickly returned to her usual haughty attitude and looked back at Edith.

"You are marrying into a higher social status; be grateful. Absolutely do not break the engagement with him. As I said, he is the eldest son of the Grandville family. This engagement is essential for the Oakridge family."

"... I still don't fully understand the current situation, but are you saying that I will meet Lord Lionel in your place?"

"Well, yes. If you understand that much, can you hurry up and go?"

As Edith hurried to the parlor where Lionel was waiting, her mind was in turmoil.

(... Such a high-ranking person, and I, raised as a commoner, absolutely don't match. Even if it's to clear the debt, this will only cause trouble for the other party. I must politely decline...)

Edith knocked on the door of the parlor and, upon hearing a response from inside, gently opened the door. Her eyes met those of a young man in a wheelchair, and she gasped softly at the sight of him.