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Chapter 154: The one who had been stealing my brother's happiness.
In the end, it was close to dinner time when Marguerite was found sulking in the greenhouse..
The two of them managed to coax the sullen Marguerite into compliance and led her to the dining hall.
Though Marguerite had been sulking, the moment she set foot in the dining hall, her expression lit up.
“Father!”
There, at the head of the table, sat the master of the house himself—Duke Vérité.
Seeing him unchanged from her former world, Ortansia's heart gave a loud thud.
‘Father…’
He wore a gentle smile as he called out to the rushing Marguerite.
“My dear daughter, you're full of life again today, aren't you?”
“Because I got to see Father! I heard you were away on business today, so why are you here?”
“Work finished unusually early. Naturally, I should share supper with my dear family.”
“Yay! I love you, Father!”
Seeing Marguerite clinging tightly to her father, Ortansia's chest tightened.
‘For the present Father, his “daughter” is not me, but Marguerite…’
There was no awkwardness between them.
... Ortansia understood it all too well now.
Marguerite was different from Ortansia; she was the “true” daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Vérité.
Ortansia, taken in without any blood connection, was ultimately a fake duchess's daughter.
...This was how things are supposed to be.
“Now, Marguerite. How improper. You are of an age now, you ought to show more restraint.”
The Duchess, seated beside the Duke, frowned at Marguerite's giggling excitement.
But even to her, the Duke smiled magnanimously.
“It's all right, Catherine. We're all members of the Verité household here. Marguerite must occasionally feel like acting like a child.”
“Really, you're always far too indulgent.”
“It's simply because she's such a dear daughter.”
Nothing in the Duke and Duchess of Verité's exchange suggested discord.
One might even say they appeared perfectly harmonious.
Standing discreetly in the corner of the room, Ortansia felt a distinct chill run through her limbs, an unpleasant sensation.
‘This place is completely different from my original world…’
Ortansia cast a desperate glance towards Gérard, who was seated opposite the Duke and Duchess.
He wore that familiar, inscrutable expression she knew so well, observing the interactions between his parents and sister.
That expression, which usually made her uneasy, was a comfort to her now.
“Now then, we mustn't let the conversation keep us from the meal, lest it grow cold. Marguerite, take your place. It is time to begin our supper.”
“Yes, Father.”
Prompted by her father, Marguerite obediently took her place beside Gérard.
Naturally, Marguerite became the centre of attention as the dinner commenced.
“Father, listen! I'm going to attend the concert the Count of Charment is hosting! The Countess is famously stylish, So I need a new dress!”
“Now, Marguerite. You only had one made recently.”
“Oh, Mother! I only wore that dress to the last soirée! It would be dreadful if people heard I was wearing the same dress again!”
“Eh, Marguerite is quite the fashionista. ...Which brand do you have in mind?”
“Sorsière, of course! I'll have a dress specially customised just for me!”
“Very well, I shall arrange it.”
“Yay! Thank you, Father!”
The Duke gazed fondly at Marguerite, who was skipping about happily, then turned his attention to Gérard.
“Gérard, how are things with your work lately?”
“No particular major issues have arisen. The situation remains stable.”
“Now then, Brother, does the Black Eagle Order not hold public drills like the other knightly orders? My friends say they'd like to see one.”
“Such things do not exist.”
“Eh!? Can't you arrange something using your authority, Brother?”
“Marguerite, do not trouble Gérard. While we are proud of the honourable work Gérard undertakes, we worry he might sustain serious injury…”
“I would never make such a blunder.”
Though Gerard spoke little, he responded properly when family addressed him.
...To the Duke, to the Duchess, to Marguerite.
It was clear their relationship was harmonious.
Watching this scene from the corner of the room, Ortansia could no longer pretend not to notice.
It was like a picture-perfect, ideal family stood before her eyes.
Gérard and Father's happiness lay right here.
‘...How presumptuous of me to wish to find happiness for my brother.’
It felt as though the tender part of her heart had been shattered into a thousand pieces by shards of glass.
...Truthfully, such happiness should have existed in her original world too.
The one who shattered it.
The very cause that robbed Gérard and Father of their happiness was—
‘My existence, and mother's ‘
As the blissful scene before her symbolised, there had been a path where the Duke and Duchess of Vérité's relationship need not have soured.
...Had only the Duke of Vérité never met Bernadette, the tavern singer.
Had they not welcomed a fake daughter like Ortansia, a genuine daughter beloved by all would have been born.
Ortansia wished for Gérard's happiness more than anyone.
But…
‘It was I who stole my brother's happiness…’
Confronted with this harsh reality, Ortansia's mind went completely blank.
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