Chapter 14

Thank you very much for the bookmark and the rating. I'm really, really happy.

Today is the official tea party hosted by the royal family.

I am attending with my older sister.

Rumors say it's also a gathering to find a partner for the First Prince. But it has nothing to do with me.

By the way, my older sister has become kinder recently. When I told her that, she replied, "I wish you would say I have become enlightened."

Enlightened.

I didn't ask why.

A voice in my heart told me not to.

Enlightened Katariina, my older sister, is as perfect a young lady as ever today. Her beautiful appearance, her graceful manners.

As she walked beside me, she smiled and said, "The First Prince wanted to see you that day, but I pushed him away and ran, didn't I?"

"No, I didn't run. Prince Alexander pulled my arm forcefully..."

"Lies! We were in on it, and it was found out."

"Oh. Prince Alexander is a bad actor, isn't he?"

"You too!"

Eek.

"Well, I'll forgive you because the book you gave me was quite interesting."

"Was it 'The Secret Love of the Prince and the Maid' or 'The Hot Love of the Ice General'?"

"Ah! You here!"

We were on a small bridge over the pond, so no one could hear, but my older sister turned bright red.

She's so cute.

Just then, I heard running footsteps from behind. Before I could turn around, I was pushed from behind.

Splash!

Into the pond.

This is the cliché pond fall for the villainous young lady.

In the usual story, it's a fake pond fall, but I was genuinely pushed in.

"Oh, how careless of me."

When I opened my eyes and pushed the hair off my face, I saw an unknown young lady and my older sister in the pond a little ahead.

"Huh? Why?"

Katariina, my older sister, was holding the arm of the unknown lady, who was still attached to her hair.

"This lady tried to push Marianna and run away. I grabbed her arm and pulled her down with me."

She's strong. Enlightened people are strong.

She didn't fall by momentum.

After that, we were taken away by the ladies-in-waiting who came running. We used the bath and changed clothes.

The unknown young lady was taken to another room.

Of course, we had to leave the tea party and go home. As I was smiling a little at escaping the difficult tea party, Prince Alexander came running just as the carriage was about to leave.

When I was about to say, "We're fine," my older sister stuck her head out of the window first and reported firmly, "Please rest assured. The Prince's Marianna is fine, and I have taken revenge."

Huh?

The Prince's?

Did she say the Prince's?

Prince Alexander was confused, "O-oh, I see. Well done."

"My apologies, older sister, it's all my fault."

As I apologized, my older sister, still facing forward, said firmly, "Anyone who harms my sister is my enemy."

Oh, oh, are you trying to kill me?

My heart was pierced by my older sister, who looked younger with her hair down. I was critically injured.

"That person has been told by her parents from a young age to be chosen by Prince Alexander. It was well-known among our classmates.

She might have come to believe it herself. That's why she had to do something like this."

"Oh, I see..."

"Poor thing. The Prince is looking at you, yet she tried to belittle you."

"Older sister?"

"And so am I. I wanted to be pampered by my parents but couldn't, and I resented them. I envied your talent. You did nothing wrong."

"Older sister..."

My eyes started to sting.

My nose started to tingle.

I couldn't say that she knew I was hurt, as it would hurt her more, so I gripped my hands tightly.

"Once I acknowledged my true feelings, my heart became much lighter. I can't move forward unless I accept my ugly self, and I absolutely don't want to stay ugly.

So, next time, if there's a child at the Marie farm who likes embroidery, please let me know. Then I can be of help."

"Older sister!"

I was overwhelmed by a flood of hot tears. I didn't know humans could produce so many tears.

The next day, my older sister started to actively engage with the children at the farm.

And she turned out to have unexpected talent.

"Marianna, you're not being a bit too lenient with the prices for eggs and goat's milk? Checking market prices is essential."

My older sister was very good with numbers.

She found a child at the farm who was good with numbers and taught them how to keep accounts.

"I will teach you to make a living with calculations, so work hard," she encouraged the boy.

She also said,

"We should add value to the farm's products."

She worked with the head chef to create fragrant baked goods using the farm's eggs and herbs.

She even tasted the delicious baked goods with the children.

The other day, she said with a bright smile,

"Marianna, business is unexpectedly fun!"

Her eyes sparkled.

"I feel like I've opened a new door."

Oh, by the way, Prince Alexander gave us a large bag of buckwheat seeds imported from a neighboring country.

It was so much that two adult men had to unload it from the carriage.

I was flailing.

I had always wanted buckwheat seeds, which I knew from books.

Drought-resistant buckwheat.

Even if a dry summer comes, the people won't starve!

"Prince Alexander! Thank you so much! I'm so happy!"

When I looked up at him with a full heart, he smiled and said,

"My father said, 'That's not a proper get-well gift; sweets or flowers would be better.' But I thought you would be happier with this."

When he smiled, his eyes, like black jewels, narrowed slightly, and I was a bit mesmerized, but I didn't say anything.