It was a smile that released the reins, telling her to do her own thing.
âBut if I have to talk about this again, how should I face Lady ChaneliaâŠâ
The nobles glanced at each other as Sophia pretended to be concerned and patted her lips with her fingertips.
Thanks to that, at the party that day, the rumors about the Archdukeâs fiance were not heard.
~*~
Later in the evening.
After the party and dinner, Sophia returned to the count.
Perhaps because of the darkness, she felt particularly gloomy.
âHey, I was suddenly overdoing itâŠâ
Her feet were heavy because she had been roaming around all day with her weak body.
Fatigue came.
âDid the room change?â
If possible, she wanted to rest in a nice roomâŠ
Sophia was half-expected and tired today, so she was half willing to give up, and wanted to open the front door of the main building.
However, one person greeted her as if waiting.
ââŠArenât you out very late?â
A young man was standing where the voice could be heard.
Sophia stopped right in front of the front door.
He was taller than Sophia, but he had a youthful face.
Green eyes that are a little darker than Sophiaâs. But his hair, unlike hers, was dark red like red wine. Like the countess.
âAs far as I remember, youâve never been around this lateâŠâ
His eyes which scanned her up and down were as cold as frost.
âAre you wearing an expensive dress? Did the imperial bastard buy it for you?â
He asked, tapping the sword around his waist with his fingers.
It wasnât difficult to find out who he was.
Because she read a lot in Sophiaâs diary.
Her younger half-brother by two years, Ian Frauss, the one who restrained and tormented her the most.
He returned to the mansion faster than expected.
Considering that the countâs remarriage was when Sophia was seven years old, it was a small age gap.
That is to say, the count had secretly had a relationship with the current countess as his mistress since early.
Ian was born between them and lived as the illegitimate son until the age of five.
And the situation was reversed when Sophiaâs biological mother, the ex-Countess, died early.
As the current countess, who was the mistress, moved into the house, Ian was also recognized as the true son of Count Frauss.
Sophia had then become a household bug.
Ian tortured her terribly.
âBut he shouldnât have come home today, so whyâŠ?â
At a young age, Ian entered the Imperial Knights Templar, the Ruchtainer.
Showing outstanding talent from an early age, he was ordained as the youngest knight in Ruchtainer at the age of 14.
Because he was busy with the Knights Templar, Sophia was able to breathe.
When he went to a remote area, he didnât come back for months.
And even at the time she possessed, he didnât leave.
From what Sophia heard from Jenny, he was supposed to be back next week, not today.
âHow are you alreadyâŠâ
âHow can I not come back after seeing this?â
In Ianâs hand was Lady Chaneliaâs newsletter.
At this point, Sophia wondered if a passing dog might have read the newsletter.
âMy toy made the front page, so I should come to celebrate.â
He lifted Sophiaâs chin with his fingertips, which felt as cold as ice.
Sophia looked at him and thought.
âHow similar.â
âAre you pretending to be fatal?â
If it were a modern society, Sophia would be a high school student who wouldnât even be an adult.
âGet your hands away.â
Sophia flapped his hand off. Then Ianâs lips twitched.
âWhen you come back from training, wash your hands, lie on your bed, and go to sleep.â
âHave you been drinkingâŠ?â
Ianâs eyes narrowed and he came closer to see if he could smell alcohol.
Sophia took a step away from him as he approached and shook her head.
âNo. I havenât had a single drink. Iâm completely fine.â
âBut youâŠâ
âSister.â
âWhat?â
âCall me sister.â
In this society, titles are important.
Pls read only at pinkmuffintl.
The writers of ropan novels are also Koreans who value that.
However, Ian doesnât call Sophia âsisterâ, and calls her âyouâ.
That means ignoring Sophia.
âYou canât do anything with the Imperial Dog on my back.â
Ianâs nose wrinkled at Sophiaâs sudden rebellion.
âImperial Dogâ was a term used to slander Killian, the head of the military and police force.
âIf you say youâre in the Knights Templar, youâre talking about low-grade anchovy for use by thugs.â
As she responded with a sarcastic retort, she heard Lady Chaneliaâs weekly magazine clenched in his fists.
âIt doesnât change if youâre engaged to that bastard. You are just a dog being sold.â
Arranged engagement.
It would be a word that felt especially different for Sophia and Ian.
Sophiaâs mother died after marrying the Count by arrangement, and the countess, whom the Count really loved, eventually took over the house.
He warned Sophia that she will be like her dead mother.
âIf the original Sophia had heard it, her mentality would have been broken.â
She thought she was lucky that she wasnât the real Sophia.
Sophia then smiled at Ianâs accusation.
âThereâs a saying that a dogâs life is a fortune. If youâre sold as a dog to a good house, you might be better off than a person whoâs treated like trash.â
All the words Ian says are just âbad actorsâ lines. There is no need to be hurt or angry at those words.
What you have to do is ignore or trample on the villain like the female lead.
Sophia, as if not wanting to deal with Ian any more, moved her steps past him.
âSophiaâŠ!â
âOh right.â
Sophia stopped walking past him and looked behind her.
âDid my room change?â
Ianâs face was clearly wrinkled at her question.
âYou donât know? Iâll have to find Jenny first.â
When no answer came, Sophia left him behind and climbed up the steps.
Then Ian grabbed her arm.
Sophia was suppressed at once by a strong grip.
âAre you not listening to my words?â
âLet me go, Ian.â
Ian pushed Sophia to the stair railing.
He joined the Knights Templar at an early age and was taller and stronger than any average adult male.
âWhat if I donât let go?â
It was physically impossible for Sophia to defeat Ian.
But despite his bloody eyes, Sophia was not afraid of him at all.
âIf it was real, I might feel different, but this is fiction.â
Such characters are common. However, she was a little tired.
âWhy are you doing this like an obsessive man? Youâre just a half-brother.â
From shopping to Lady Chaneliaâs party, she was exhausted after walking around all day.
âThen do you want to stay up all night with me like this?â
Sophia sighed and looked up at him.
âYes, if you want to, do it. Whether my arm is broken or I fall from exhaustion. Who knows?â
As the force did not dampen her momentum, confusion shone in his green eyes.
He threatened with his eyes wide open, but he didnât know what to do with the changed appearance of âSophiaâ.
âOh, are you afraid of ghosts coming out at night? Are you clinging to your sister like this to protect you?â
Sophia did not lose her composure and provoked Ian.
Then his hand tightened her forearm.
She couldnât eat so much that her skinny forearm was about to break.
âDo you want to die?â
A simple reaction, the only thing he knows how to do is threaten.
Same as his mother
âThen⊠Will you kill me?â
âWhatâŠ?â
âAre you going to kill me here?â
Sophia looked straight into his eyes.
âYou think I canât?â
âTry.â
Sophia said with an expressionless expression.
Then Ian grabbed the hilt of his sword with one of his hands and pulled it out.
The sound of metal sharply split the air.
A cold, sharp metallic sensation touched the nape of her neck.
The sensation radiated down her spine, giving her a chill.
âIf I move here, you are done.â
âOkay.â
As she nodded, the blade moved slightly, and the blade slashed her neck, and a thin trickle of blood dripped.
A drop of blood running down her neck stiffened Ianâs lips.
âIf I die here, my name will be on the front page of the weekly magazine next week. âKnight Ian Frauss murders the fiancee of the Archduke!ââ
Sophia rolled her eyes and smiled.
By the way, this weekâs weekly news-whether positive or negativeâsheâs been quite the spotlight.
âKill me. Itâs all over when my eyes close, but you will have to carry the heavy burden that follows.â
Ian gritted his teeth.
As the force entered his tight jaw, his sharp jawline became more prominent.