Chapter 2

It's because she figured out how to get her parents' attention. If she acted capriciously, even if they didn't do it out of kindness, they would look at her... they would only focus on "Amarillis."

Once she realized this, it was just a matter of repeating it.

"Father and Mother only dote on Lucibel, and they ignore me..."

A casual remark spread quickly.

To prevent any more bad rumors from spreading, the Duke and Duchess of Linovelta began to listen to Amarillis's words as if they were amusing.

That's how she honed her social skills.

Lucibel started to cling to her, but Amarillis ignored her out of jealousy.

She might have wanted to pretend Lucibel didn't exist.

When called by those innocent eyes, she wanted to kick her away.

She wanted to grab that slender neck and snap it.

(If only you weren't here, things would be better.)

That's how she felt.

As Amarillis became more and more difficult to handle, the Duke and Duchess of Linovelta, who had grown accustomed to it, began to treat her coldly again. They still doted on Lucibel and Lucibel, seeing their parents' attitude, started to mock Amarillis.

She didn't know what they said behind her back, but she caught snippets like, "Don't get caught by someone as nasty as Lucibel" and "If only that girl weren't here..."

Amarillis hated this "family" with a passion.

(...If only they would just abandon me.)

Once she entered society, her natural beauty and the strict education she received, ironically, made her captivate men one after another.

(I'll catch a suitor from a higher position than them and destroy that family.)

That was the only thing driving Amarillis.

She showed no mercy to anyone who got in her way.

Even the young ladies who came to the Linovelta household with their parents, who were also her parents, were no exception. In such cases, she would rely on the young men who were infatuated with her, and the problem would be quickly resolved.

It didn't matter if they were someone else's fiancée.

When a young lady, whose fiancé she had taken, cried and demanded the return of her fiancé, Amarillis would say, "It's just that you lack charm," and the young lady would cry and leave.

Once she had no more use for a young man, she would discard him immediately.

Amarillis never said she wanted to marry them.

Yet, they would misinterpret her intentions and pursue her.

"I have no more use for you," she would say, and she would move on to a new young man to deal with the angry one.

Before she knew it, she was known in society as:

"The Wicked Lillis" "The Greedy Lillis" "The Night Demon"

Even such dishonorable names became her weapons, and Amarillis shone at balls, parties, and tea parties.

Her beauty caught the attention of the prime minister and ministers around the king, and they proposed a betrothal between Amarillis and the second prince.

However, some opposed it because Amarillis was an adopted daughter of the Linovelta household and had come from an orphanage.

Harvey, the second prince of the country, was honest and serious, and he had a good reputation among those around him.

It was known that he was uncomfortable with flashy young ladies who were the center of attention in society, like Amarillis.

Harvey was not swayed by appearance and did not respond to seduction.

Amarillis thought he was a boring man.

But she didn't need to win Harvey's favor.

All she needed was for someone with power to support her.

(Now I can take revenge on them...!)

Her wish finally came true, and she managed to become engaged to Harvey with great effort.