Chapter 3

"I'm going to step outside for a bit."

After seeing everyone off as they headed to the evening gathering, I decided to go for a walk to clear my mind.

"Then, let me get your shoes."

Elly quickly brought out the old shoes hidden in the servants' room. After all, just wrapping my feet in cloth for a walk outside could lead to stepping on something and getting hurt. So, whenever I wanted to go out, I would borrow the old shoes that Elly used to wear. To make sure they wouldn't be taken by Lillian, I had them hidden in the servants' room.

"Please be careful."

"I won't go too far."

I waved to Elly and left the house.

The reason I can look at my parents and sister with a detached eye is thanks to the servants who taught me that their behavior was abnormal. Thanks to them, I've become stronger.

Everyone in society knows how I am treated. Of course, it's bound to come out. Lillian wears the brooches and hair accessories sent to me as birthday gifts from families we are acquainted with, and she goes to tea parties with them. Moreover, the only topic Lillian talks about is how she is being bullied by her older sister. At first, the young ladies found it amusing, but they soon grew tired of Lillian, who only talked about this every time they met, and began to keep their distance.

At some point, a kind marchioness, concerned about me, proposed a betrothal to her eldest son. But Lillian, screaming that it was unfair for her older sister to get engaged, caused a commotion, and my parents tried to arrange the engagement with Lillian instead.

To replace my betrothal with my younger sister's, and to try to arrange my sister's engagement before mine, was already an extremely inappropriate act for a noble. But at the meeting between the two families, my parents made the worst possible mistake.

Naturally, the conscientious marquess, a nobleman, did not accept such an outrageous proposal. He clearly stated that if it wasn't Adele, there would be no engagement. In response, my father became angry, saying, "The Duke's family is offering to form an alliance."

Thirty years ago, it might have been possible for a higher-ranking family to force an unwanted engagement on a lower-ranking family, but such barbaric behavior is no longer tolerated today.

Moreover, the Duke and his wife, who are known for abusing their eldest daughter, are no match for the Marquess and his wife, who are well-respected and have many friends. The only advantage we have is our title, but they are a prestigious marquess family with a longer history than ours. I'd like to grab them by the shoulders and shake them, asking if they really thought they could win.

Our family's reputation is so bad that my mother and sister no longer receive invitations to tea parties. Even after they stopped coming, I still received invitations, but they would take my invitations and go in my place, so I stopped receiving them too. Now, I'm occasionally called as entertainment for bored ladies. They return home, oblivious to the fact that they have been made a laughingstock, proudly spreading praise for my sister and insults about me.

For one thing, they claim I'm "frail" as an excuse for not bringing me, yet they don't realize the contradiction in Lillian accusing me of "having my dress stolen," "being hit," "being pushed down the stairs," and "being bullied." A young lady so frail that she can't attend tea parties can't possibly bully a younger sister who is so energetic and healthy.

I sighed as I walked down the cobblestone street.

Elly says she will come with me if I leave the house. She sometimes sneaks out to see the city, so she can imagine what life is like for commoners. I remember the day I decided to run away from home, sitting in an empty room with only a bed and a desk, thinking that if I couldn't wear the clothes I was wearing, I would run away.

I've reached my limit. With the clothes and my heart.

As I was about to solidify my resolve to run away, a carriage passed by.

"Excuse me."

"Yes?"

For some reason, the carriage stopped right next to me, and a beautiful young lady peered out from inside.