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Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.
 
 
I thought there would be no hostility, resentment, or desire for vengeance if we didn’t forge any connection.
 
Hanella thought that if she showed no interest in Tarotte, he would never approach her, and her life would be different than it had been in the past.
 
But things didn’t go her way since Tarotte and Rosearin already had long planned to use her as their perfect shield.
 
Fortunately, Hanella was quick to figure out what they were truly up to. 
 
The very next day.
 \nHanella went to a boutique scouring for a new dress to wear at her coming-of-age ceremony.
 
Hanella, who came with her maid Belle, was combing through the dresses shown by the designer.
 
Since I was a child, shopping for jewelry and dresses has been a hobby of mine; that’s why I am looking forward to this day with eager anticipation.
 
She was about to relish her time at the boutique when Rosearin Ezie Thearin arrived and pretended to be acquainted with her.
 \n“Oh, Lady Hanella”
 
It was a welcoming face, but those lips hidden beneath a fan were unmistakably lifted with a cold smile. And such things will never go unheeded under Hanella’s gaze.
 
They first met during a tea party hosted by the second wife of the Marquis Meren, and from a certain moment, Rosearin displayed an excessive familiarity with Hanella.
 
Now that I think about it, this must have happened before the coming-of-age ceremony.
 
“Oh my, did Lady Hanella also come to buy a dress for her coming of age ceremony?”
 \nBranz Andelle, the count’s second daughter who came in with Rosearin, began to laud her stepbrother Tarrote right away. 
 
”
Yes”
 
Hanella retorted sarcastically before passing between Branz and Rosearin and began selecting a dress. If it had been her in the past, she would have chatted and made friends with them. But now it’s different. As the sole daughter to the ducal household of Hayden’s Darkness, she knew she had no reason to show courtesy to a mere counts’ daughter. 
 
Rosearin and Branz were confused and embarrassed by Hanella’s sudden coldness, who was trying to get close to her by acting as if they had long been friends. Nevertheless, they continued the conversation as if nothing had happened. 
 
“Oh, come to think of it, Tarotte will also attend the coming-of-age ceremony, right? I wonder if he has time since he was in charge of imperial duty at a very young age.”
 
“It’s my coming-of-age ceremony, so of course, he will come.”
 
‘It’s not only because it’s your coming-of-age, but because it’s also the coming-of-age ceremony of the imperial princess, her highness. Naturally, he had to attend.’
 
“Oh, then I will be able to see the real Tarotte Thearin on that day! By the way, have you heard the rumours about him, Miss Hanella? Sir Tarotte, the older brother of Ms. Rosearin, is said to be a magnificent⁠—”
 
“⁠—young man with an extraordinarily handsome face and a brilliant mind.”
 
Hanaella said, interrupting Branz.
 
Branz and Rosearrin exchanged glances for a moment, then looked at Hanaella.
 
“Oh my! You heard the rumour!”
 
“That’s overrated.”
 
At Rosearin’s words, Branz made a fuss.
 
“Hey, it’s already been rumoured. Sir Tarotte Thearin is a man with abilities worth more than a count, an outstanding appearance that no one in the empire can match, and the demeanour of a gentleman that any lady would covet. How lucky would be the woman who will get to marry him, don’t you think?”
 
Then she looked into Hanella’s eyes.
 
‘Hah, look at this
 it was basically like this before too. Branz was a wingman, and Rosearin acted all shy but would never deny the praises his stepbrother got. So was this all part of their plan? To make me look forward to Tarotte, whom I have yet to meet, and say nice and dreamy things about him, to make me fall in love with the rumour and eventually to the real person, Tarotte
 no way
 was it
’
 
When Hanaella stared at Rosearin, Rosearin then smiled awkwardly and said to Branz.
 
“There are so many exaggerated rumours circulating. But not because he’s my brother, but because Taro is really a kind and compassionate man, and he’s without a doubt a good brother to me.”
 
‘Taro
.’
 
Rosearin had always called Tarotte that way. Tarotte also called Rosearin Rose.
 
When I still had no idea about anything and their relationship, I was envious of the nickname that only them could call, so I called Tarotte Taro and Rosearin Rose as well.
 
At that time, the expressions on their faces were as if they were seeing an uninvited guest interfering between them.
 
No, it was the expression, ‘Did you dare call that name?’
 
“It would be really nice if I could get in touch with Miss Hanella.”
 
At Branz’s words, Hanella’s expression hardened in an instant.
 
Rosearin and Branz were appalled by Hanella’s blatantly changing expressions, and while staring at Branz with a sour look, Hanella said:
 
“If he’s such a good person, Lady Branz should meet him. Hearing those rumours didn’t really wake any interest in me.”
 
At Hanella’s unexpected remark, Branz glanced at Rosearin, and Rosearin stared at Hanella with a stiff expression.
 
This has made it clear. It was already planned even before we met.
 
Hanella’s fist clenched without realising it.
 
Rosearin fanned herself and pondered quickly if there was anything that Hanella would be interested in Tarotte.
 
“I’m sorry. Taro seemed to have a crush on Miss Hanella.”
 
At the words of Rosearin, Hanella’s fury rashly crept in, making it difficult for her to maintain her cold, apathetic expression.
 
‘Have a crush on me? The same person who sticks with you is now into me? Hah. If there’s indeed something he crushes on, it’s definitely not me but rather my family and knights.’
 
Hanella silently battled to hold her seething rage away, and Rosearin, who knew nothing about Hanella’s mind, scowled at Branz, beckoning for her assistance, causing Hanella to frown.
 
“Oh! Really? Does the great Count Tarotte really have a crush on Miss Hanella?”
 
“That’s right. When he first saw her at the Duke of Deliope’s birthday banquet last year, my brother started to keep asking me about Miss Hanella.”
 
‘At that time, I didn’t even know that Tarotte was there. So you guys have intended to use me since then?’ 
 
“How disappointing.”
 
Both Rosearin and Branz’s gazes were drawn to Hanella simultaneously. Hanella lifted the corner of her right lip with cold indifference. 
 
“So it is said that the great and gentle count asks his devoted sister about the person he has a crush on. His actions were quite unbefitting for a gentleman. As expected, I am also well aware that rumours tend to be exaggerated.”
 
At Hanella’s words, Rosearin’s expression turned with a doused of caution. While the embarrassed Branz stuttered, stammering that it wasn’t the case, Rosearin, on the other hand, swiftly regained her composure and covered her lips with a fan with a grin in her eyes.
 
“He’s a stupid brother when it comes to love.”
 
“Unpleasantly, it seems that I am the unwilling party involved in that stupid love.”
 
“

!”
 
“Please excuse me if I seem harsh, but such affection was neither Lady Rosearin’s responsibility but her beloved brother’s business.”
 
Flinch.
 
When the words ‘beloved brother’ came out of Hanaella’s mouth, Rosearin’s shoulders shuddered. Hanaella stared at her sharply then wedged herself.
 
“Unfortunately, I have absolutely no desire of having a relationship with the count.”
 
Of course, it wasn’t just ‘the count.’ The Thearin family, which produced saints and holy knights from generation to generation, is the only family connected to the Great Sanctuary. Even now, Count Thearin has a reputation comparable to that of a duke, and when compared to his family’s and Ariel’s wealth and prestige, they are certainly not lacking. The reason why Hanaella’s father agreed to wed her only beloved daughter to the eldest son of Count Thearin, a holy knight, was because of the power that Tarotte and his family hold.
 
To hear the grotesque name of that scoundrel several times and have to look at the face of that evil wretch makes my stomach twist in various ways. Tarotte isn’t the only one she doesn’t want to see, but the both of them and their family.
 
Hanella left the dressing room with her maid, Belle, thinking that only bad things would occur if she had stayed.
 
───※ ·❆· ※───
 
“What should I do? Lady Hanella appears to be completely uninterested in Count Tarotte.”
 
Branz said to Rosearin with a worried expression.
 
Rosearin was the one who asked Branz, who was in dire need of money, to act as a wingman. She promised that if Tarotte and Hanella got along well, she would give her a building under her name. However, seeing Hanella’s complete lack of interest in Tarotte causes Branz to panic, fearing that she wouldn’t be able to get her hands on the promised building.
 
Rosearin clicked her tongue silently as she listened to Branz fuss over what they should do.
 
‘It would have been better if this stupid bitch was Ariel. If that had been the case, obtaining Ariel’s background and presenting it to Taro would have been a lot easier.’
 
Rosearin quickly fanned herself, struggling to suppress the nagging annoyance that was building up inside her.
 
Tarotte had long planned to use Hanella as a shield, and it was Rosearin that gave him the idea. 
 
It wasn’t enough that he was only an ordinary marquis or count. Because if they were to be caught, it would be by the Duke of Ariel, a family of black magicians who will keep the Great Sanctuary from getting involved.
 
Rosearin shares no blood with the Thearin and is regarded as a thorn in the eye by the Great Sanctuary’s high priest; hence she couldn’t just move recklessly. However, it’s a different story if it’s the Duke of Ariel, who wields paramount influence that neither the imperial family nor the Great Sanctuary can disregard.
 
In addition, he is a father who deeply cares for his only daughter. A daughter that is completely coated with naivety and foolishness who falls for Tarotte’s hollow promises and will trust him entirely without knowing anything.
 
Also, even if she finds out that Tarotte’s mistress was his stepsister, she would care more about the people’s judgement and will undoubtedly remain silent.
 
With all of this, Hanella Reeve Ariel was an excellent choice.
 
They needed enough power to openly reveal Rosearin as Tarotte’s woman. To do so, the first priority was to tie the knot with Hanella. Hanella did not know that Rosearin, whom she met at the tea party long ago, had chosen her as a roof for their love due to her background and naivety.\n