On my way home, in the carriage I had prepared in a mad dash, all I could think about was making Sasha Alfred’s ‘one and only.’

…Still, deep in my heart, I’ve been vaguely suspecting this. Turns out it was the truth.

I knew it, he isn’t the type to live off the Gessel family’s wealth…

I burst out laughing.

I recalled the day we first met. I was eight years old at the time. Back then, I secretly looked down on Alfred, thinking that he had nothing more than the succession rights and good looks. I told him, I was rich, so don’t hold back. I thought all it would take to wrap him around my little finger was to flash a stack of bills.

The sheer irony. I, who only have money, am the real joke, and I never even realized it…

Money used to be the source of my pride. I, who didn’t have any special qualities, was able to become his fiancée through the power of money. I didn’t care about what anyone else said.

I was unfazed because I was rich.

I finally had a taste of my own medicine. I don’t have the right to cry about it.

With a hard lump in my chest, I finally arrived back at the mansion.

When my parents came all the way to the front door to hear about my day, I dismissed them with a wave of my hand, saying, “I’m tired.”

I asked Liz, who greeted me with concern, to prepare some medicinal tea and bath.

As I ascended the stairs, I glanced at Liz with a smile, and after taking a breath, she followed suit.

Ton, ton, ton, ton…

When I passed by the small drawing room next to the stairs, I felt a rough vibration coming from the floor.

There was a thumping, and for some reason, the door was ajar. I peeked in and saw Kyle sitting on a chair, rapidly tapping his legs.

He seemed to be announcing his presence, but since I had no reason to call out to him, I walked away, only to be stopped by him.

“Oi! Y-you sure came home late! What were you up to!?”

Kyle stood up violently. The chair scraped against the floor, and the creaking made me frown.

“Haa?”

Despite the fact that he was way taller, I snorted and gave Kyle my typical condescending look.

“I’m under no obligation to answer. Besides, I’m tired. Don’t talk to me.”

After saying that, I sighed deeply.

He was the one who interrupted me. I should’ve just hurried along to my room. But somehow, I couldn’t leave Kyle alone.

A growl escaped my lips.

“What? Are you worried about me or something?”

I sneered, intending to make fun of him.

“Why would I?” He swiftly replied, and went on.

“As the next head of the Gessel family, I was just a tiny bit worried about potential controversies. It seems that you chased His Highness Alfred around today, too. In the end, you returned without being able to meet him, right? You’re late because you were dawdling in the royal castle, right?”

Kyle’s cheeks were as red as a tomato. He was steaming like never before. Although, it didn’t seem like he was trying to obtain information to divulge to Duke Ruston and the others…

Still, why is he acting so strange?

Kyle puckered his lips even more, asking, ‘Am I mistaken?’

Then, he went on.

“—Anyway, that was selfish of him, to suddenly change the schedule like that. S-stepsister, too. I’ve been thinking about it—no, I only say this as the successor of the Gessel family, but isn’t it about time for a change of pace? I have a lot of other things on my mind!”

Aah, I suddenly regained my strength.

I thought so and blinked.

Kyle would turn eighteen in four months. No doubt that once he acquired his title, he would be more than eager to kick out his step-parents and stepsister, who had been causing him nonstop trouble.

‘Leave it to me!’ I felt like saying that. I would handle it just fine.

As long as Kyle didn’t commit the grave sin of familicide, I didn’t care what form of revenge he might exact upon us.

Once he kicked us out once and for all, I’d support my scum parents. With fortune telling, hair tonic, and beauty, we could survive no matter what country we were exiled to.

I had lived a life where it was my way or the highway and did whatever suited my fancy, but I’m glad I took advantage of my wealth to learn multiple languages!

While doing a fist pump in my heart, I smiled dubiously.

“Ohoho, don’t be so cocky. That’s what is called sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong. I’ll stay the way I am and continue to trudge on my desired path. Just focus on what you need to do.”

“W-what I need to do?”

Ignoring Kyle, who seemed a bit perplexed, I gave him a wave and went straight to my room.

---

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***T/N: I’ve grown to love the health tips in this book. It’s just so wholesome.

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