Chapter 1

"What's this..."

I, who find my joy in reading, one day realized something.

The girls born to a second wife often play the role of the villain, tormenting the serious and reserved older sister.

This is the story of my revival and success, as a girl born to a second wife, who was misunderstood and hated by the people around me as a villainous lady.

---

I am Marianne, the second daughter of the Randfuria family.

I have soft, wavy blonde hair and blue eyes.

I love reading so much that ever since I learned to read at the age of three, I have been absolutely passionate about books.

I quickly finished reading children's picture books.

I devoured adventure stories for boys and girls, princess tales, fantasy novels, detective stories, and even scary stories for adults.

And then I realized.

In the novels that are beloved by women, the stepdaughter or the girl born to a second wife after marriage often plays the role of the villain.

Usually, the younger sister steals the older sister's love interest.

Sometimes, she even bullies the kind older sister along with her mother.

No, isn't that a prejudice?

After all, the one being born can't choose their position!

---

My father lost his first wife to illness and thought a new mother was necessary for my young sister.

People around him also thought a young wife was needed for my father.

My father seemed to have hesitated, but he decided that he needed a mother who could take care of his only daughter and give her love in his place, as he was busy with work.

My father, who was introduced to my mother, the daughter of a poor baron, by a certain countess who liked to help, fell in love with her at first sight, surprisingly. He proposed passionately, remarried, and I, Marianne, was born.

At the age of six, I am disliked by my older sister, who is quiet and serious. I like my sister, though.

It's painful.

It's painful even to say it.

But I won't lose.

I will overcome the challenge fate has given me, the fate that says, "The second daughter is cunning, innocent, and oblivious, and ruins her sister's happiness!"

Just watch, you goddess of fate!

I clenched my fists and vowed, while my older sister, who is five years older and eleven years old, looked at me calmly.

Katarina, my older sister with black hair and black eyes, has the same features as her late mother.

She is serious and rarely smiles.

According to what I heard from the head maid, she was strictly disciplined as the first child by both my father and her late mother.

I think it's a "first child thing."

Parents often have high expectations for their first child and tend to scold more than praise.

My sister's standard of action is firmly set on whether she will be scolded or not.

She is always mindful of adults.

She prioritizes "how she will be perceived" over what she wants to do.

On the other hand, as the second child, my father raised me more leniently (or perhaps carelessly).

He said, "As long as she doesn't get hurt, it's fine," and "I'm not too particular about her future husband's status, so a moderate lady education is enough."

My mother, who was the daughter of a poor baron, couldn't forget her life where she had to do everything from sewing to cooking and cleaning. Even when the maids tried to stop her, she would smile and say, "It's okay, it's fine," and do all the housework, making me help her too.

Thanks to that, I can do everything like a commoner.

From my sister's perspective, who was thoroughly disciplined as a lady, my mother and I must seem vulgar, and she looks at us with a weary expression. But the joy of sneaking a bite of a freshly baked pie or the ingenuity of sewing a small lace motif onto a torn dress to avoid wasting it makes each day a little happier. Hehe.

---

One day, during dinner, my father said,

"Starting next week, Marianne will attend the academy, so Katarina, you should teach her about the school."

Silence.

My sister, who was delicately cutting her fish pie, sighed softly while staring at her knife.

"Katarina, why don't you respond if you heard me!"

"...Yes, Father."

It's awkward.

"Father, the academy is just a short walk away, so I can walk there by myself."

"What are you saying? We have a carriage. Katarina, you will go with her by carriage. It is your duty as an older sister to take care of your younger sister."

"Yes, Father."

My sister kept her head down, her face dark. She must be bothered by this.

I would rather walk and chat with Misha from the merchant's house, Lala from the dress shop, and Sara from the government office. Although we take different courses, I didn't really want to go to the academic course, which is only for nobles.

Well, complaining won't change anything. I can play with those girls after school.

"Big sister, please take care of me!"

When I said that, Katarina's expressionless face only lifted the corners of her mouth slightly and she said,

"I will do my best to teach you."

Her eyes are scary.

Her eyes are scary, big sister.

My mother, who seems to be concerned about my eleven-year-old sister, looked a bit uneasy and said,

"I'm sorry to trouble you, Katarina."

I think it's a bit strange for a twenty-eight-year-old to be concerned about an eleven-year-old.

Anyway, I'll do my best not to be a bother to my big sister tomorrow.