The Hero Proposed to Me

dress as my sister.”

“This year? You were supposed to wear the same dress as your mother this year.”

My mother, who was touching the hem of a dress, wrinkled her pretty forehead.
But, who can imagine that this beautiful woman is a married woman who gave birth to four children?

The Duchess of Valentine, Eveness Rose, has been considered one of the most beautiful women in the Greitanian Empire since her childhood as a Count’s daughter.

Her beautifully curved almond-shaped eyes and her nose that would put Audrey Hepburn{2} to shame, made the young Duke Valentine fall in love with her at first sight.

Ciel inherited the appearance of the most beautiful woman in the Empire.
The Duchess cherished her daughter, who looked exactly like her, as if she were her alter ego.
The Duke, too, almost died when he saw his only daughter who looked like his beloved wife.

Such blatant favoritism naturally led to the rest of the children being out of their parents’ sight.

In addition to Ciel, the ducal couple had many children.
Their eldest son, Theo, their second son, Isaac, and their third son, Louis.

Breaking everyone’s expectations, the Duke and his wife did not surrender Clara even after Ciel was born.
At least, the couple took care of Clara, who was treated on par with their other children.

The problem was the employees.
Having high pride in working for the historic Valentine’s House, they secretly bullied Clara, the adopted child, while avoiding the eyes of the Duchess.

To be exact, the so-called “old employees” centered on Mrs.
Lisbon, who is in charge of the Duchy’s housekeeping.

They regarded the fact that Clara, the daughter of a single Baroness, being adopted by the Duke and given the Valentine name, as a great honor.

I don’t understand their reasoning for going this far, but what’s certain is that they are eagerly waiting for a chance to kick Clara out of the Duke’s family.

Of course, they couldn’t even speak in front of me about the fact that my sister was an adoptee because I liked her so much.

“Then I’ll pick out your dress!”

I can’t just watch it happen.
Once I intervene here, one of the trials of the original heroine will disappear.

Ciel was the little queen of the Valentine family.
As long as Ciel likes and follows Clara, Mrs.
Lisbon cannot bully Clara.

The Duchess looked at Clara with a very sad face as Ciel followed her older sister rather than her mother and father.

“Clara, what the hell did you do to her for her to only follow you?”

“I like my sister the most in the world!”

“No, Mother.
Ciel loves her mother so much.
Don’t you think so?

“Yes, you’re right!”

If Clara didn’t poke her in the side like this{3}, she wouldn’t hear a word of love from her beloved daughter.
So the Duchess sighed deeply and patted Clara on the head.

“She’s my daughter, but she’s a strange child.
Clara, I’m glad to hear what you said, but you always work hard.”

“No, Mother.
I’m glad I could be of help.”

The more arbitrary I was, the more the Duchess realized the importance of Clara.
What a beautiful scene this was.

When the Duchess shows favour towards Clara, Mrs.
Lisbon also serves Clara in a seemingly polite manner.

“There’s going to be a party in the afternoon.
I’ll get ready and go down soon.
Mrs.
Lisbon, please prepare for the two children to go to the party safely.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

What I learned, after coming into the novel directly, is that aristocratic wives do not take care of their own children themselves.

The Duchess was extremely busy right now.
She boasted a tremendous amount of work, starting with inviting guests and checking all the preparations one by one for the party, as well as taking charge of all sorts of household care.

Looking at my mother, who was overworked every day, I realized once again that not everyone can act as a Duchess.
My birthday is like a national holiday for Valentine’s princess.

Maybe it’s because I was a daughter born after a hundred years, but even the Emperor sent a lion to congratulate me on my birthday.

Power is the best.
I don’t know why I’d bother my sister, when I can enjoy this life with a golden spoon.
I deliberately tried to act as young as I could to cling to Clara’s waist.

“What kind of dress do you want to wear?”

“I like whatever dress our Ciel chooses.”

“Really?”

Why do you bother asking when you know I’m going to answer like this? Of course, listen to Mrs.
Lisbon.

Mrs.
Lisbon, who was tactless even when I gave her a direct hint, deliberately plotted to put Clara in a loose dress on my birthday last year.

The reason is that Clara should not stand out more than me, the main character.
How childish was this idea?

It’s not unreasonable for them to keep her in check, but thanks to the heroine buff, Clara is the so-called attractive type.

At first glance, she is not a beauty.
But, she had a fresh charm like a bursting nectar flower aura when she smiles.

It was not comparable to the Duchess and Ciel, who are the beauties of the century.
But the fact was that Clara stands out from the perspective of the general public, and that, itself seemed to be very undesirable.

Notes:

{1} Cute behaviour

{2} An actress known for her fashion and looks

{3} Encourage her