Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

A new chapter begins.

Rather than continuing the main story directly, this will be serialized as a long side story.

Not just Marie and Count Kyros Granado, but if you like, please also support the two featured in the chapter title.

"Wow, amazing! You've already learned to use the toilet."

When I said this, the Red Cat straightened her tail and rubbed her body against my leg. It wasn’t so much affection as if she was saying, "Praise me, praise me." As she wished, I gently stroked her small forehead.

"You're a smart one, Tattered Red Cat."

"Meow."

Well then... I crouched down there.

Near the mansion, right under the skylight window, was an ordinary flowerbed. There were no flowers or sprouts, just a mound of soil. This was the Tattered Red Cat’s exclusive toilet.

Happy about successfully training her, I picked up a small shovel.

"Alright, wait here while I clean up. I’ll give you a cat treat when I’m done."

"Meow."

"No, madam!"

A loud voice called from behind, and the cat and I turned around. The Granado Castle maid, the gardener, and a servant boy hurried over in a panic.

"Please stop, madam! You’ll get your hands dirty."

"Eh? Why not? Tattered Red Cat is Lord Cyrus’s cat. I agreed to keep her too. When Lord Cyrus is busy, shouldn’t I take care of her?"

"Please leave it to the servants!"

"Yes, yes, just training her to use the toilet is enough."

"You, madam, should just hold the kitten on your lap, stroke and adore her!"

"I used to take care of livestock at my family home, so I don’t mind... Is it really that bad?"

"It is."

They said it outright.

I see, it really was no good. But I didn’t back down.

Because isn’t caring for a living creature about this kind of tending, loving, and nurturing? That’s how you notice their health and growth.

Still, I understood what the servants were saying. There could be unexpected visitors at Granado Castle, and if Lord Cyrus was away, as the lady of the house, I’d have to handle it. If the hem of my dress was dirty, it would be a disaster.

I negotiated with them. Only during my daily farm work, while wearing work clothes and gloves, and promising to wash my hands thoroughly with soap afterward, I succeeded in getting permission.

"Yay, I did it! Thank you!"

I happily washed my hands. The servants chuckled as they watched me.

"What you say is just like Lord Cyrus. When you and he have children, I wonder how you’ll raise them..."

—Ch-Children?

I was startled and turned around. They laughed even more cheerfully and went back to their work.

Left behind were me, flushed all over, and the red-furred kitten. She was nudging my leg, demanding her treat quickly.

Children...

...Children, huh.

With my hunger satisfied and the cat asleep in my arms, I walked down the mansion’s corridor.

—To give birth to and raise Count Kyros Granado’s child.

This was something I had been prepared for since the very day I first came to this castle... when I didn’t even know his face.

Now that our feelings were mutual and we were officially engaged, there was no unpleasantness at all.

...Still, I had anxieties.

The Granado family could hire the best obstetricians and wet nurses. Maids would take care of the housework; ladies-in-waiting would support my mind and body, so I wouldn’t become worn out. ...I wasn’t afraid of childbirth. They say labor pains feel like pushing a pumpkin out through your nose, but since I’ve never put a pumpkin in my nose, I couldn’t quite imagine it. Somehow, I felt I could endure it. I realized recently that I’m basically built quite tough.

So, it wasn’t fears like that...

I almost opened the door to my room, formerly the guest suite, but changed my mind, turned back, and knocked on Lord Cyrus’s room nearby.

"Lord Cyrus, this is Marie. Are you free right now?"

The butler Wolfgang opened the door. The elderly butler of Granado Castle carefully bent his slender body and ushered me inside.

"Welcome, Lady Marie. My master was just discussing work with me."

"Oh, pardon me. I’ll come back later then."