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 5

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“Are you okay, sister?”

Despite my concern, when I asked, my sister nodded vigorously, assuring me she was fine.

“I was treated very well. I even met Najé’s brother, and he told me to look after his younger brother.”

Her white cheeks were slightly flushed as she spoke with a hint of excitement.

She was truly happy now.

And she was about to become even happier.

Thinking that way, the fact that Najé disliked me seemed trivial.

“Najé was also worried about you. He said I need to find a good place to marry into.”

“Eh?”

I was thinking the same, but I was taken aback by her unexpected words and couldn’t help but voice my surprise.

“…My place?”

“Yes. Because you are a glamorous beauty, I’m sure many would like to dress you up and take you out.”

My sister innocently said that, but I sensed malice in Najé’s words.

It sounded as if he was trying to get rid of me before his marriage with my sister was even confirmed.

Moreover, the idea of dressing me up and taking me out felt more like treating me as a mistress rather than a wife.

I instinctively turned my gaze toward the window, staring at my reflection in the glass.

As sisters, we looked similar, but our atmospheres were completely different.

Unlike my pure and modest sister, I often had a more flamboyant impression.

Besides, since I had been making dresses for my sister, I was currently wearing one that had belonged to the late Count Tweed’s daughter.

(I must seem like a sister who makes her sister suffer while she herself enjoys dressing flamboyantly and going out… Perhaps that’s how I appeared.)

If that’s the case, I could understand the disdainful glances directed my way.

But was it really okay to entrust my precious sister to a man who would judge her based on appearances and treat her that way? I pondered.

However, I only received those disdainful looks at first.

After that, he cleverly concealed those feelings.

What’s more, my sister, saddened by my misunderstandings, revealing her past to Najé would be the worst outcome.

And above all, my sister loved Najé.

(There’s nothing I can do about it…)

Even if my sister got married, I had thought I would stay at the Karota family estate for a few years to help her.

I had planned to enter a convent after confirming with my own eyes that my sister was happy.

Although my parents’ debt would likely be repaid in a few years, I had no savings or assets whatsoever.

Returning the title and territory required money for management.

If I inherited the title, I would have to participate in society.

For that, I needed dresses and accessories, as well as maintenance costs for both the mansion in the royal capital and the estate.

Rather than spending money on my marriage, it should be used for the future of the Karota family and the estate.

If things were to continue like this, perhaps it would be better to leave home quickly.

I intended to do just that after witnessing my sister’s wedding with Najé.

However, one day, when my sister was invited to Najé’s residence as usual, she returned home looking exhausted.

“Sister?”

I thought it would be better not to show my face.

So, when the carriage from Count Hord arrived, I didn’t go out to greet them and hurriedly rushed down the stairs to my sister, who had sat down on the entrance floor.

“What happened?”

My sister didn’t answer and simply shook her head like a small child.

She was stifling her sobs.

(Sister…)

I had to do something.

I needed to protect her, so I gently helped my sister stand up from the floor and sat her on the sofa in the reception room.

I sat beside her and continued to stroke her back until she calmed down.

“…What happened? Did someone say something at the House of Hord?”

When her tears finally stopped, I quietly asked.

“No. Najé said he liked me… He proposed to me. I was so happy that I felt like I was in a dream.”

Finally, Najé had proposed to my sister.

I had thought it was about time, but hearing it from her made my heart swell with joy.

But why was my sister crying when the person she loved had proposed to her?

Her tears seemed so painful; they didn’t appear to be tears of joy.

Gently stroking her back, I urged her to tell me more about the situation.

“Well, he said he would report it to my parents. Previously, Lady Hord had said she would welcome the engagement, so I thought they would bless it. But…”

“Did they oppose it?”

When I asked, my sister shook her head.

“No. They were happy.”

I thought that was probably the case.

Najé was the third son of the House of Hord.

He worked as a civil servant in the royal castle and had never planned to get married. Nevertheless, as parents, they surely wished for him to marry and be happy.

Even though my sister came from the nearly ruined Karota family after the loss of their parents, the repayment of debts necessary for inheriting the title was almost complete.

All that remained was to have the territory returned and work towards its development. As Najé was employed as a civil servant in the royal castle, I believed he would make a good lord.

Above all, Najé and my sister, Esrie, loved each other.

If there was any obstacle, it would probably be my presence, but I thought that could be resolved if I left home.

There should be no problems.

So what could have made my sister grieve to this extent?