Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

“This story somehow doesn’t sit right with me.”

Anastasia said with a sigh as she relaxed in my room.

I forced a bitter smile and sipped the same tea as my sister.

“...Yes, exactly. I feel like I’m starting to hate the stage altogether…”

“Haha, I don’t like those melodramatic tragedies of love and hate either. I’d rather watch a comedy that makes me laugh.”

Come to think of it, my sister has always preferred bright and cheerful stories—like pigs and horses racing and everyone dancing at the end—over tales of beautiful princesses falling in love with princes. When she used to read to me, those were always the kinds of stories she chose.

I liked both the comedies she mentioned and love stories that ended in tragedy, though...

“…Reality has a continuation after the ‘happily ever after,’ doesn’t it?”

I muttered with a sigh.

Books and plays, once finished, never turn back—whether they end happily or badly. The beautiful moments freeze in that shape, time stopping there.

But reality goes on endlessly after that. Two people who vowed eternal love might change their hearts and betray each other. A strong mentor might fall ill and grow weak.

We are not characters on a stage; even after the story ends, we continue living.

“Thinking about it makes me a little sad…”

“Marie, if decades from now the count changes his heart, would you regret having met him?”

My sister asked, and I shook my head.

“I’d be angry, I’d cry, but I don’t think I’d regret the past. If I hadn’t gained anything, there wouldn’t be any sadness. Even if it breaks, it won’t change the fact that it was my treasure.”

“In that case, there’s no need to be sad now, right? You just have to cherish it.”

Anastasia said with a smile.

I smiled and nodded too.

...That’s right. So it won’t break, won’t be lost, won’t gather dust—I just have to treasure the treasure I have now, carefully, carefully.

I should be grateful for these ordinary yet precious days, and cherish what’s here every single day.

I think that’s what eternal love really means.

Right then.

I felt a sudden tug at the hem of my skirt and turned around. There stood Lisa, who had been playing alone on the floor just moments ago. Using my skirt as a cane, she was trembling—but she was definitely standing on her own two feet!

I cried out.

“Th-this is... could it be the legendary standing up by holding on!?”

“Legendary?”

Anastasia’s eyes went wide, but that wasn’t the important thing. This was a pivotal moment in our daughter’s growth! I had to tell Lord Cyrus!

I picked up Lisa and ran at full speed.

“Lord Cyrus! Where are you?!”

I ran through the manor looking for him, but he wasn’t in any room.

I asked the Head Maid, who was cleaning in the hallway. She smiled and answered.

“Oh, madam. The master was just in the dining room earlier.”

“Thank you! I’ll go there right away!”

“Don’t rush and fall while carrying the baby, okay?”

Oops, I slowed down a bit.

But when I got to the dining room, Toppo was there alone, eating a huge cherry pie.

“Toppo! Have you seen Lord Cyrus?”

“Huh? The master? He said he was full from Toppo’s food and was going for a walk toward the stables.”

I headed to the stables.

I asked Adam, who was brushing Lord Cyrus’s beloved horse, and he shrugged.

“Now that you mention it, he just passed by a little while ago. Judging by the direction, probably toward the main gate?”

“Thanks!”

I thanked Adam and went to the main gate, but only the usual gatekeeper, Thomas, was there.

Thomas pointed to the path I had come from.

“He suddenly ran back while we were talking. He looked up at the sky, like he spotted something.”

I started running again... and finally found my husband in the garden.

The greenery was flourishing—Dilz was in its richest season.

Lord Cyrus was with Johan. More precisely, Johan was there on the ground, but Lord Cyrus was up in a big tree nearby. When I called out, he immediately jumped down. His large body landed with a surprisingly light thud.