The Stand-In Villainess's Contract Marriage: I Was Divorced After a Year, But For Some Reason, My Ex-Husband Seems to Be Looking for Me - Chapter 1

When they entered the venue, the gathered crowd’s gazes all turned toward them simultaneously.

The sheer number of those gazes made Liana falter and come to a sudden stop.

This was the party venue at Viscount Hoard’s residence, where the engagement of the viscount’s third son was being celebrated.

The Hoard family had extensive connections due to the fact that both the viscount and his wife were employed at the royal castle, so many people had gathered to celebrate their son’s engagement.

It was no surprise that attention was drawn when a woman who had recently been the subject of much gossip appeared.

She could hear murmurs, wondering if the rumors were true.

Unsurprisingly, there wasn’t a single warm gaze or word directed her way.

She had steeled herself for this moment, yet felt herself waver slightly.

But if she were ‘Liana the Villainess,’ such stares wouldn’t bother her.

Liana raised her head and looked straight ahead.

Though she couldn’t see her from here, her older sister, Esrie, the fiancée of Viscount Hoard’s third son, should be present in this venue.

For years, her sister had been called a ‘villainess’ due to certain circumstances.

And now, in her sister’s place, Liana was to become ‘Liana the Villainess’ from tonight.

She knew that once she stepped further in, there would be no turning back.

Liana had to become someone else and play the role of a woman unlike her true self.

It was terrifying, just a little.

But her hesitation only lasted a moment.

Liana smiled dazzlingly, as if making a declaration of war toward the onlookers.

Her beautiful, glossy silver hair, fair skin, and deep blue eyes.

Her striking beauty, accentuated by an ostentatiously extravagant dress.

She would probably stand out more than the two stars of tonight’s celebration.

The gazes fixed on Liana were far from friendly.

But she couldn’t let that bother her.

She mustn’t let that bother her.

Tonight, Liana was ‘Liana the Villainess.’

Her sister had once borne that title.

Unlike her sister, who had gone to great lengths to cover herself in thick makeup to appear glamorous, Liana only had to apply makeup that slightly resembled her sister’s to achieve the desired effect.

Who knew that her mother’s flamboyant looks would come in handy in a place like this?

To ensure no one realized that this was a different ‘Liana,’ Liana had to behave even more alluringly and villainously.

Though this was Liana’s first time attending such a party, the weight of this role rested heavily on her shoulders. But everything was for her sister’s happiness.

(“After everything my sister has endured, she’s finally about to find happiness. So I have to do my best.”)

Resolving herself, she smiled at a man who had been glancing her way.

His cheeks flushed immediately, and he hastily averted his gaze.

Ignoring the scornful look from his female partner, Liana continued further into the hall.

Liana was the second daughter of the Earl of Karota.

Her family consisted of just her older sister, Esrie, who was five years her senior. Their parents had both passed away in a carriage accident five years ago.

It had happened on an autumn day.

The mansion had been thrown into chaos.

Her sister’s pale, trembling face.

She still clearly remembered the coldness of the wind that day.

Losing both parents and being left behind as two sisters aged sixteen and eleven was a tragedy in itself.

Yet, their misfortune didn’t end there.

As fate would have it, their parents had just embarked on a new business venture and had borrowed a substantial sum of money to do so.

Without their parents, the business was doomed to fail. The two young sisters could do nothing, and the venture collapsed immediately.

All that was left to them was an old mansion passed down through generations, and an enormous amount of debt.

Their family’s estate in the countryside was placed under royal care since the sisters were too young to manage it. The land would be returned to Esrie, the heir, once she married, provided certain conditions were met.

Though Esrie had been attending a noble academy in the capital, she quit after less than a year and returned to the mansion where Liana was waiting.

As expected, the academy for nobility had high tuition fees.

But since they had already paid for her first year upon enrollment, Esrie could have attended until her second year.

“But we won’t be able to afford next year’s tuition anyway. I might as well quit now.”

Her sister had said this with a resigned expression.

Even one year of education might have helped improve their future situation.

But the tragedy that had befallen the Earl of Karota family had become a hot topic in noble society. Esrie, being of a gentle disposition, couldn’t bear the curious gazes of those around her.

They had a few relatives, but upon learning of their parents’ enormous debt, all of them, while apologizing for being unable to help, quickly distanced themselves.

Had it not been for the debt, perhaps one of them would have lent Esrie the money for her tuition.

However, their parents, in their enthusiasm for expanding their business, had borrowed a sum so large it shocked anyone who heard it.

“Even if Father and Mother were still alive, if the business had failed, I would’ve had to quit the academy anyway.”

Her sister often said this as if to convince herself.

At twenty-one, Esrie was far more aware of the difficulties of business than Liana, who had only been eleven at the time.

After returning to the mansion, Esrie tried to work to repay their debts and cover living expenses.

However, there were few jobs available for someone who had spent her life as a noblewoman.

Though Esrie was kind, gentle, and serious, she wasn’t particularly skilled with her hands.

For a time, they managed by selling their mother’s heirloom jewelry and some art pieces from the mansion to pay off their parents’ debts and cover living costs.

But within a year, those resources were depleted. With no money to pay their servants, most of them left.

All that remained were the butler, who had served their parents, and a single maid.

The two remained by their side out of loyalty to their late parents, even when they could no longer be paid a decent wage.

But the day would come when they might struggle even to afford food.

It was at that point that the Earl of Tweed stepped in to help the sisters.