Chapter 15

"Actually, the king seems to be recommending that I marry the princess."

"Huh?"

Ralph getting married to the princess. The sudden and overly grand news left me unable to hide my surprise.

"Of course, I have no intention of doing so, but refusing will undoubtedly cause a rift. Moreover, it would also inconvenience my parents, so it might be impossible to refuse."

It seems that the third princess has taken a liking to him and is quite enthusiastic about it. If he were to refuse in such a situation, it would certainly cause a rift, as he said.

"That's why I want you, Lysette, to attend the party as my fiancée and help spread the word that I already have someone in my heart. Because I've been in love with a noblewoman for years, people seem to think I'm not interested in women, so it should spread quickly."

"…I see."

I understood what Ralph was saying. I owe him a lot, and if there's something I can do to help, I want to assist him. However, that role is too much for me to handle.

Moreover, if the news of our fake engagement spreads, it will undoubtedly have a significant impact on our future. Even those stepmothers wouldn't stay silent.

"Could I, perhaps, have a little time to think about it…?"

"Of course. I appreciate your consideration."

Ralph said this with a gentle smile.

◇◇◇

"I apologize for the delay in greeting you. It's my first time meeting you, I am Lysette Ashburton."

I nervously performed a clumsy curtsy, and the marquess and his wife immediately told me to "raise your head."

"Nice to meet you, Lysette. I've been looking forward to this."

"Yes, yes. Nice to meet you too."

A few days later, the marquess and his wife, who were in the territory, visited the mansion in the capital. After being dressed up by the maids, I immediately greeted them with Ralph and Nadia.

"You are a very beautiful lady. Well done, Ralph."

"Yes, Lady Lysette is the most beautiful in the world."

"She really is a wonderful person, Father."

Please, stop it. You're raising the bar for me too high. This brother and sister must be feeling too much gratitude, making me seem overly idealized.

Still, I thought they would be reluctant to have a mysterious countess's daughter staying with them, but they were surprisingly welcoming.

"We knew that Ralph and Nadia had been looking for you for a long time, so we're very happy."

"Yes, they both look very happy."

"Yes, more than anything."

Nadia said this and then gently entwined her arm with mine. The sweet scent that wafted from her made me flinch.

Seeing this, Ralph said in a low voice, "Don't touch Lady Lysette. I haven't even been allowed to touch her like that yet." What are they competing over?

"Haha, you two really like Lysette, don't you?"

"Of course."

The marquess and his wife looked at the two of them with a fond expression. They seemed to be very gentle people.

"I heard there's a serious situation. From now on, think of us as your real parents and rely on us."

"Thank you very much."

The words "think of us as your real parents" caught my attention. No matter how kind they are, would they normally say something like that?

"So, when are the two of you going to get engaged?"

"……?"

In the midst of this, I was asked an outrageous question and had to struggle to keep from making a strange sound as I looked back at the marquess's wife.

"Mother, Lady Lysette has just been through a dangerous situation. Let's talk about such matters when things have settled down."

"Oh, you're right. I'm sorry, I got carried away."

Nadia quickly came to my rescue, but I was confused. Why are they talking as if Ralph and I will get engaged in the future?

By the way, the matter of me attending the birthday party as Ralph's fiancée is still on hold. No matter how much I think about it, I don't want to.

In any case, when I bowed my head and said, "I'll be in your care for a while," the couple smiled and said, "Of course."

◇◇◇

"Lady Lysette seems serious about leaving this mansion in four months. What are you going to do about it?"

After seeing Lady Lysette to her room, I deeply sat on the sofa in my brother's room and asked him this.

My brother, sitting opposite me, was frighteningly expressionless, completely different from when he was in front of Lady Lysette. This is actually his normal state.

"…I don't know what to do."

"There's only one thing to do."

When I said this clearly, he looked up.

"Make Lady Lysette fall in love with you."

"…Me?"

"Who else?"

"Lady Lysette… with me…"

My brother's expression suggested that he had never even considered such a thing, and I sighed.

My brother is strange.

He is abnormally indifferent to human emotions and shows no interest in anyone except Lady Lysette, seeming to genuinely not care about anything else. The only exception is me.

"What do you intend to do if Lady Lysette falls in love with another man while you're being complacent?"

At that moment, there was a loud crack, and I saw that the arm of the chair my brother was sitting in had broken. I sighed again.

"This isn't the countryside. There are plenty of young, good-looking men. Lady Lysette is of marriageable age. It's only natural that she might fall in love with one of them."

"……"

"If she marries someone else, she won't have any reason to interact with you, a complete stranger and a man."

The chair groaned again.

"…Absolutely not."

Of course. After searching for her for so long and finally reuniting, it's impossible to let her be taken away by another man. Not for my brother, and not for me.

"Right? If that's the case, you need to make Lady Lysette fall in love with you and ensure she doesn't leave your side."

That way, I can stay by Lady Lysette's side forever. I can't keep her here on my own.

I've already persuaded my parents that if Lady Lysette has any shortcomings as the future marchioness, I will cover for her for the rest of my life. The only thing left is Lady Lysette's feelings.

I've heard a bit about Lady Lysette's situation from her, but I'm confident that my brother can handle it.

"Do you love Lady Lysette?"

"Yes."

My brother's eyes were filled with a clear passion when he said this.

"I've been in love with her all along."

…Whether my brother's feelings for her are love, affection, obsession, or something else, I don't know.

The intensity of his feelings for Lady Lysette is abnormal. It's excessive. Of course, I'm not one to talk.

"Fortunately, you have status, honor, and a handsome face. Please, try your hardest."

If you can keep Lady Lysette here, that's all I need.