Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: I Want Permission
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Sudden apology. Richi, Ariete, everyone stares at Marie in confusion.
Because she's the lady of a duke family, no less. Was she scared and apologizing for coveting the fiancé of someone like that? No. At least, that wasn't why Marie was apologizing.
‘I'm so sorry…!’
To Richi, who'd suddenly learned of her feelings without a clue. And to this woman Ariete, who'd come to know her amid talk of a joyous engagement.
She was sorry. She had nothing to say, even if she had ten mouths. She was mortified, to the point of madness.
But at the same time, she felt like she couldn't bear it if she didn't say something like this.
"Um, I'm Marie! I, uh... that is...!"
"Hold on."
The one who recovered from the bewilderment first wasn't Richi, but Ariete. She grabbed Marie's shoulder and suddenly started dragging her off somewhere.
When Richi asked where they were going, she just said, "Richi, you stay put."
"...There."
Once they were finally alone, Ariete looked down at Marie, who was a head shorter than her.
"Marie, right?"
"Yes! Yep!"
"I've already heard all about you from Richi. He says you're not his blood sister, but he treated you like a little sister. But you... you like that man, Richi."
"...Yes."
"Not just fondness or gratitude—you see him as a man, romantically."
"Yes..."
Marie's voice grew quieter and quieter. The more they talked, the more pathetic she felt about herself.
Thinking about it, wasn't this all her own stubbornness? Asking him to look at her properly when he'd shown no interest at all. Forcing this discomfort on him during what should have been the most thrilling time of his life.
It was all her fault. She was awful. She shouldn't be doing this, so why had she come all the way here?
"Being vague isn't fair to either of us, so let's make this clear. For starters, I like Richi. I have no intention of giving him up—not even a little. And obviously, I don't want to share him with anyone."
"I-I understand!"
"At the same time, I'm annoyed. Why did you have to show up at a time like this, Marie? Even if you are Enter's sister."
"That too... I understand..."
Ariete let out a sigh, crossed her arms, and spoke again.
"So, now you. Your turn, Marie."
"Yes?"
"Tell me your story. Why Richi? Why are you standing in front of me like this?"
Marie thought for a moment, then slowly began to lay out her answer.
"At first... he was just a kind big brother. I'd lost my parents, had no real family... The count and countess who took me in, Enter, and Richi too—they were all so precious to me. Especially since my health was so poor, I couldn't even go anywhere properly..."
She still remembered how he'd smiled brightly, saying having a little sister was his dream.
That was when she'd first felt her heart pounding like mad because of his smile.
And after that, the way he kept looking after her so warmly had made her harbor these fantasies all on her own.
Marie slowly unfolded her story to Ariete, in a clear tone.
"L-Lady Ariete. Please, I'm begging you."
"..."
"I have no intention of taking your place. I won't be greedy. Take the engagement, the marriage—everything. Even if you tell me to be your subordinate."
"..."
"So, just once a month. If you could permit him to see me that much...?"
"Marie."
"Please. If I can just hear that, then from now on, I won't say anything more, won't want anything more..."
"Marie."
With a slightly stern tone, Ariete grabbed Marie's shoulders.
"Do you realize you're saying something incredibly foolish right now?"
"Ah, aaa..."
Oh. She had no intention of giving permission. Of course. That was only natural. Who would want to hear another woman's story in the middle of engagement talks?
It was all her fault. For confessing her feelings too late, for hiding them away out of shame—
"I'm sorry, Lady Ariete. I'm so sorry..."
"Enough with the apologies. Have you heard Richi's answer?"
"...Yes?"
"You suddenly confessed your feelings to him—did you hear what he said? You're not coming to me like this without even asking the man himself, right? Without hearing the party's opinion?"
She's right. Everything she said was right. She'd completely forgotten the most important thing.
Richi's reaction and answer after hearing her feelings. She'd overlooked it entirely.
"Th-That..."
Snap!—
"Eek!"
A sharp, burning pain hit her forehead. Marie clutched it in a hurry.
It hurt. But thanks to it, her mind cleared right up. Her muddy thoughts felt a bit organized now.
"If you like Richi, you hear his answer first—not mine."
"B-But... there's talk of an engagement with you, Lady Ariete..."
"Engagement is one thing. This is another. You have to settle the one that needs settling first, or nothing gets done."
Ariete gently stroked Marie's head. She was lacking. Still so very lacking. She'd said her health wasn't great.
But her nature was incredibly kind. Ariete could feel it. That pure desperation in her floundering.
Suddenly, she wondered what it would be like to have a little sister. She'd been the youngest from birth. She had no idea what a sibling like that would be like. Would it really be nice? Would it be someone who bickered with her but ultimately took her side?
"Obviously, I'll have an engagement ceremony with Richi, and someday we'll marry."
"Yes, yep."
"If you want to have a proper talk in front of me like that, convince Richi first. Make him see you not as a little sister, but as a woman. Only then can we talk or negotiate from something closer to an even footing, Marie. Got it?"
She wasn't sure what was happening. Even so, Marie nodded frantically.
One thing was clear: Ariete wasn't coldly cutting her off. That alone was enough for Marie. It felt like a lifeline had been thrown down.
"Thank you, thank you, Lady Ariete."
"Ah, stop. That's enough."
Ariete's face twisted in clear dissatisfaction.
Then she lightly hugged Marie and gave her a warm smile.
"Drop the 'Lady.' Call me 'sister.'"
"Yes?! N-No way! How could I dare call someone from a duke family—!"
"Should I tell Richi I absolutely can't accept this person named Marie?"
"Ah, no!"
Then call me sister quick. Quick. This is my first condition. No, my top condition. Under Ariete's pressure, Marie glanced around and parted her lips.
"...S-Sister..."
"Once more."
"Sister..."
"Once more!"
"Sister. Sister!"
At Marie's cry, Ariete hugged her lightly, as if to say that was good enough. It felt like she'd suddenly gained a little sister—not bad at all. She'd always wished for one as a kid.
Of course, she wasn't entirely thrilled. A slight discomfort was inevitable.
What woman in the world would welcome another girl appearing for her man? Especially right when they were getting close—and of all people, one he'd known since she was a little girl!
‘No helping it, Richi. Guess I'll have to push up the engagement date big time. You suddenly brought another girl in front of me, so I can be a little unreasonable, right?’
Ah, better keep this from Father for a while.
With that thought, Ariete took her newly acquired little sister back to Richi.
What the hell is going on? I'm going crazy, seriously losing it! What do I do? Should I follow Ariete and Marie now?
This is insane. How did things end up like this? It's all my fault from the past. I should've treated her just okay, not too well—then this mess wouldn't have happened. How do I even...
"Richi oppa."
"Marie?!"
Marie was back, at least. But Ariete still wasn't. What on earth had they talked about?
"Oppa. I... have something to tell you. You know... it was from that day."
That day?
"Eight years ago. Right when winter was turning to spring. When I was really sick."
"Eight years ago..."
He vaguely remembered. Marie had been gravely ill back then. Enter had said she'd come close to death several times. Her already frail health had gotten even worse from the illness.
As someone not family, he'd only been able to visit once her condition had improved a bit.
"Back then... I was half-delirious in bed... and you told me. Just get better. If I recovered and we could go back to holding hands on walks, reading books together like before... you'd be on my side forever. Not blood family, but you'd be that reliable for me."
Honestly... he didn't remember that far. He'd been so shocked, wondering if she might actually die, and so worried. He'd probably blurted out anything in his panic.
"I held on because of those words. The count, the countess, Enter oppa, everyone at Prize—they were all wonderful, but Richi oppa was the best. From the first moment we met until now."
"..."
"I won't force you. I'm sorry instead. For liking you all one-sided like this and saying it now. Call me a bad little sister if you want. But it's okay. Because I can say it now."
Marie's words sped up. It was heartbreaking to see her pause to catch her breath, it must be so hard for her.
"I'll head back now."
"Marie."
"I'll study harder and definitely enter the academy next year. See you then."
"..."
"P-Please don't hate me too much. I'll think it over again, and think about Sister Ariete too."
Marie bowed her head and hurried off, saying Enter was waiting.
I watched her go, then felt like I had to say this, so I opened my mouth.
"Marie!"
"Y-Yes?"
"When you get home, message me. Let me know you arrived safe. Got it?"
Marie smiled. Seeing that smile made me feel, just a little, relieved.