Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

Pulled urgently by Cecilie’s hand.

By now, I was completely used to wearing the glass slippers. Even when running through the vast Granado Castle, I didn’t stumble once.

On the way, I passed by Toppo, the head chef.

“Lady? Lunch isn’t for a while yet. Are you really that hungry?”

“No, it’s not that, Toppo. Because today—”

“The master is coming home!”

Ceri shouted, and Toppo’s voice brightened with a chuckle.

“Oh, right, that’s today. Well then, Toppo, I’ll hold off on the pre-lunch snack. Moka’s parfait is for the master too.”

“After lunch, huh? Will there be some for me as well?”

“Of course.”

“Then that’s good!”

We finished the brief conversation there, and I parted ways with Toppo. As I dashed out into the courtyard, I bumped right into Johan, the gardener. Barely avoiding a collision at the last second by slamming on the brakes.

He seemed to understand what was going on just from looking at me. He immediately narrowed his eyes.

“You’re here to greet the master, right?”

“Yes! Sorry for blocking the way.”

“Please, go ahead. But wait just a moment.”

With that, Johan drew the scissors from his belt and cut some flowers from the flowerbed nearby. He made a small bouquet of vivid red flowers and handed it to me.

“Are you giving these to Lord Cyrus?”

When I asked, Johan urged me to go ahead quickly.

I thanked him and hurried off again.

There was a commotion near the castle gate. The bell announcing the arrival of an important guest rang out loudly.

The more impatient I became, the more I resented the vastness of Granado Castle.

“Count Kyros Granado is returning!”

Gatekeeper Thomas called out, guiding the carriage toward the front of the castle as he walked backward. The carriage passed through the castle gate and slowly made its way across the stone floor.

I stopped at the castle’s front entrance, holding Ceri’s hand as we waited. Normally, the carriage would come this far.

But this time, it stopped well short. Before Thomas could approach the back of the carriage, the doors opened from the inside, and first a long leg stepped out, followed by the upper body. Because he was bent over, his long, silky black hair fell over his shoulder.

And so, Lord Cyrus, master of Granado Castle, disembarked.

“Welcome home.”

“Marie.”

Our words overlapped perfectly as I and Lord Cyrus spoke simultaneously.

Before I could even return his courtesy, Lord Cyrus hurried toward me.

I bowed once again and offered him the bouquet I was holding.

He furrowed his brows in confusion.

“What’s with the flowers?”

“Well... I think they’re geraniums. Johan told me to take them to you.”

Oh? So Lord Cyrus doesn’t particularly like these flowers?

I pulled the somewhat disappointing bouquet back toward his chest. Then, Lord Cyrus seemed to understand and let out a pleased little chuckle.

“Those aren’t for me—they’re your accessory. Well, in a way, they’re a gift to me too.”

“My decoration... for Lord Cyrus?”

“Yeah. Red hair, green dress, and red flowers—it’s like you’re the embodiment of a flower. I almost couldn’t help but hug you.”

Oh my... remembering what Wolfgang said this morning, my cheeks instantly flushed. At my feet, Ceri said,

“Marie, your face is turning red all the way!”

Oh, please stop that! Feeling embarrassed, I hid my face behind the bouquet. I sensed Lord Cyrus peering at me.

“May I have one?”

Huh!? ...Oh, the bouquet, right? I handed it over, and he grabbed my wrist. With strong force, he pulled me close, causing me to stumble forward. My face then buried itself in Lord Cyrus’s chest with a soft thud.

W-What is this!?

Panicked, I jumped backward and ran all the way into the castle to escape. I heard Lord Cyrus and Cecilie laughing together.

From a distance, I shouted,

“Ah, please don’t tease me!”

“I’m not teasing.”

Lord Cyrus pressed the bouquet to his lips, kissed the red petals, and stepped forward—toward me—no, into the castle.

Meeting my fiancé for the first time in ten days, he whispered as soon as he arrived home.