Chapter 1

### Serial Version, Start!

**Karma.**

**Yes, this is karma.**

"Th-Th-That's not it, Nicole! This...!"

With his golden hair, which reached his shoulders, dampened and clinging to his skin, the prince hurriedly rushed over, almost completely naked.

He is my fiancé.

My fiancé, whom I was supposed to marry tomorrow.

In the prince's bed, there was a red-haired step-sister, partially hidden but with her shoulders and the valley between her breasts prominently visible. She was sitting up, looking rather languid, and fixing her disheveled hair.

---After the deed.

"Your Highness, please take responsibility and marry your step-sister."

"‘Eh?’"

The step-sister, with her head and lower body still loose, had a smile that seemed to say, "Lucky me!" The prince, with his youthful blue eyes wavering, asked me what I was going to do.

---Isn't it obvious?

I will make him take responsibility. To the king.

---

◆◆◆◆◆

As the eldest daughter of the Duke's family in the Kingdom of Gilva, I was entrusted with a great responsibility from the moment I was born.

That responsibility was to become the wife of the prince, who had not even been born yet.

Even though the Duke's family is not of royal blood, we have always held important positions in the country. By the agreement between my grandfather and the late king, I was to become the prince's wife.

The prince was born seventeen years ago, when I was ten years old.

He was a precious and important existence for the country, born at the cost of the queen's life.

Since he was born, I had always felt like he was my little brother. The prince looked up to me like an older sister.

While I didn't have intense feelings for him, I thought we could become a respectful and harmonious couple after marriage.

Looking back, the prince might have seen me more as a mother figure.

As a child, he would hug me without any reservations, with a gentle smile.

Five years ago, in the winter, a life-changing event occurred.

My mother passed away in a carriage accident. Six months later, my father brought home a new wife.

The new wife, with her red hair, was a former maid who had worked in our household.

I vaguely remember her disappearing at some point when I was young, but I'm not sure.

The new wife had a very adorable daughter, who would become my step-sister.

"Please take care of me, step-sister."

My step-sister, who was fourteen, looked shy and fidgeted with her red hair. She seemed quite young for her age.

At the time, I only thought she was cute, but a few months later, her true nature became apparent.

She always wanted what others had, especially my dresses and jewelry.

My father said that because she had a difficult childhood, we should give her everything she wanted. He also said that her mother, my step-mother, had suffered a lot, so he wanted to fulfill all her wishes.

My father seemed to be infatuated with my step-mother.

---

◇◇◇◇◇

When my step-sister made her debut at her first ball, she had no acquaintances, so the first dance was with the prince, as she wished. My father had asked the king for this favor.

From then on, my step-sister began to pursue the prince.

Although the prince seemed to keep his distance, it wasn't clear.

---

◇◇◇◇◇

"So, will you take responsibility?"

"Miss Nicole"

I visited the king's private chambers and explained the situation.

Last night, there was a pre-wedding dinner between our families, and everyone from our household was staying at the castle.

My step-sister and the prince might have thought it was a good opportunity.

It was late, and the king was probably sleeping, but I didn't care.

I sat down on the sofa, tousling my wavy golden hair, which was cut neatly around my ears, and let out a deep sigh.

"…I'm sorry. Ask for anything you want."

The king, a man in his prime at thirty-eight, exuded a powerful charisma.

To be honest, I was tired of being the prince's babysitter.

My only hope was that when the prince grew up, he would become as manly as the king.

That hope has been crushed, and now I will be labeled as the "lady who was abandoned for love."

Isn't it time for me to live my life as I please?

"Then, please make me your wife."

"---!?"