Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

My day begins with the morning sun streaming through the curtains.

Still feeling groggy in both mind and body, I rouse myself and get up, then open the curtains. The kingdom, approaching summer, is already bright at this hour. Taking advantage of it, I throw open the window and stick my head out to take a deep breath. Breathing in the fresh morning air fully, I awaken.

As far as the eye can see stretches the grounds of Granado Castle. Directly below, a garden in full bloom spreads out, and when I lift my gaze, the endless blue sky extends without limit.

“Mmm, today’s weather is amazing again!”

Just as I say this aloud to myself, there is a knock on the door.

“Good morning, madam. Are you already awake?”

The voice through the door isn’t Mio’s. It’s a very pleasant and gentle male voice.

Ah, today it’s the butler’s turn. Because he’s male, he’s more reserved than the maids. I open the door to greet him.

“Good morning, Wolfgang. I’m already up. I win today.”

“Hoho. I have been defeated, it seems.”

The elderly gentleman smiles warmly. Both in appearance and manner, this elegant butler never boasts that he was up before dawn waiting. He always patiently tolerates my childish whims like this.

“But madam, your hair is in quite a comical state. You stuck your head out of the window again, didn’t you?”

“Ah, you caught me.”

“The safety railing prevents any danger, but it’s so amusing that I can’t help but chuckle. Please tidy it with your fingers before greeting me next time.”

—He never forgets to gently scold me too.

“Yesss.”

I nod, and from near his feet comes the quick, lively footsteps of a girl who suddenly leaps in. Before Wolfgang can stop her, she throws her arms around my legs.

“Marie! Good morning!”

Whoa, dangerous! Even a toddler’s hug with that much momentum could knock me over. I barely steady myself and adjust my posture.

“Good morning, Cecilie. You’re up early today.”

“Yeah! Look, Marie, Chuni made my hair into buns. Cute, right? Cute?”

Looking closely, two symmetrical little buns sit neatly on either side of her platinum blonde hair, each tied with a pink ribbon. Oh my, how adorable.

“They’re super cute! I’ve never seen buns this cute before, nor a girl they suit so well!”

When I praise her, Cecilie grins like a Cheshire cat.

“Right? Marie, you should make buns too. Matching, matching!”

Aww, so cute. I can’t resist and hug Cecilie tightly. The little girl, only half my height, giggles with pure joy.

Wolfgang frowns and crouches down.

“This, Ceri, it’s fine to cling to madam, but if you’re so wild, you’ll hurt her. Also, how many times must I remind you about your language?”

“It’s okay, Wolfgang. I’m having fun.”

When I give permission, Wolfgang looks even more troubled. He must also find her an adorable granddaughter, but to me, she’s a girl the same age as my brother, like a little sister. And with such affection, she is simply irresistible.

Wolfgang is the oldest butler serving at Granado Castle. Since Lord Cyrus was a child, he has served as a father, grandfather, and watchdog alike. While Mio is the chief chamberlain attending to Lord Cyrus, Wolfgang steps in where female staff can’t or when things get busy.

Conversely, the tasks that require a female butler, like helping me change clothes, are handled by the youngest servant at Granado Castle: the maid apprentice who is also Wolfgang’s granddaughter.

When I first met Cecilie, she was extremely nervous, but seeing that even I, who am shy around strangers, was more tense than the toddler, she quickly warmed up and started calling me “Marie” repeatedly.

Soon, I too grew very fond of Cecilie. Playing together somehow lowers my mental age, and even I find myself relying on the elderly butler like a child.

Ceri puffed out her cheeks while brushing my hair with her tiny hands.

“I wish Mio-sama would be gone forever. Then I’d be Marie’s maid every day.”

“Oh, even if Mio is here, you could just come over to play.”