Chapter 1

"Only you get to wear such a beautiful dress, that's so unfair! Give it to me!"

I had more or less expected this, but I still looked at my sister with a dispirited gaze as she predictably started her usual tirade.

I am Adel, the eldest daughter of the Fezandic Duke's family.

My younger sister, Lillian, who is two years younger, takes anything of mine with the words "unfair" and "give it to me."

Our parents dote on Lillian and fulfill all her wishes, so anything given to me becomes hers the next moment.

It’s a pattern: birthday presents and other gifts are handed to me, only to be passed to Lillian right after I unwrap them.

Is there any point in going through me? Why not just give them directly to Lillian? It’s really puzzling.

However, in the usual pattern, my parents would chime in with, "As the older sister, you should give it to your younger sister," but tonight, I thought they might put up a bit of a fight.

After all, tonight is my debutante ball, and what Lillian wants is my white dress.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event where a noble lady, who has turned sixteen by spring, attends her first ball and receives words from His Majesty the King.

Noble daughters must attend unless there is a very special reason.

"Lillian, today is Adel's debutante ball. So, ... "

"I don’t care! It’s so unfair that only you get to! I want your dress! It’s so mean not to give it to me! I hate Father and Mother too!"

It’s unfair, you say? When my dress was being made, they made one for Lillian too, and not just one, but two. Has she forgotten?

"However, I can’t let you skip the debutante ball..."

"Father! I have an idea! I’ll go to the debutante ball in place of Sister!"

...Finally, she’s gone completely crazy.

Lillian is only fourteen and not old enough to attend the ball.

Besides, it’s impossible for a younger sister to replace an older sister at such an event.

"Right. Adel is frail and can’t attend the ball."

"Lillian is so thoughtful of her sister. His Majesty will understand her noble intentions."

My parents were just as crazy.

There’s no way that logic holds up.

"Got it, Sister! Give me the dress quickly!"

...After living like this for over ten years, I’ve moved past anger and hatred to a point where I only feel pity.

I looked at my parents with cold eyes, then started taking off my dress right there.

My parents were shocked when I suddenly appeared in my undergarments, but I ignored them and threw the dress at Lillian, took off my shoes, and left the room.

I could hear her screaming behind me, but I didn’t want to listen anymore.

One of the maids, who had been waiting nearby, quietly followed me.