Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

The tears wouldn’t stop. Frustrated, in pain, I sobbed uncontrollably against Lord Cyrus’s chest.

His arms were gentle, soothing my raging emotions. That only made me sadder.

Anastasia was killed by that man. She sank to the bottom of the cold river, her body never even recovered. The one to pity was my deceased elder sister. Yet now, the one being comforted was me, just crying. That was unbearably heartbreaking and infuriating.

“Sis. Sis. Sis.”

I called for my sister against Lord Cyrus’s chest. He remained silent, stroking me the entire time.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Thomas carrying the unconscious man sprawled out. Nearby, Mio wore an even grimmer expression than usual. She stared at her clenched fists and muttered bitterly.

“…I was too late.”

“That’s a relief. I told you to keep your distance anticipating this.”

“Because of that, Lady Marie and Master ended up having someone get punched. This is normally my responsibility.”

Mio tried to take the man from Thomas, but he stopped her.

“I’ll take him to the police. Mio, please stay here.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m a man.”

Thomas said firmly. Mio frowned for real this time.

“…I’m stronger than you, you know?”

“That may be. But this guy doesn’t get that. If he wakes up, he’ll say nasty things to you, definitely.”

“That won’t work on me.”

“I don’t want to hear it. I’m so sick of it—makes me want to throw up.”

“I agree. I’ll accompany him.”

Johan offered. It seemed very rare for him to leave the castle; Mio’s eyes widened. Johan turned to face Lord Cyrus and me, bowing deeply.

“At the police station, they’ll probably pretend not to understand the language again. Few people speak Banderry. Master, if I’m there, things might go smoothly and quickly, and he’ll receive the punishment he deserves.”

“…Alright. Please take care of it.”

“We won’t go to a nearby station, but to the northern district of the royal capital. The chief there hates foreigners fiercely. Interrogations and punishments will be harsher than anywhere else.”

“Ha ha, sounds good. I hope they break the legal wall forbidding torture and cruel punishment.”

Thomas laughed heartily and, along with Johan, carried the man out of the castle.

A sudden worry struck me. A police station that hates foreigners… Johan might be mistreated too. No, that was probably why he had that experience.

I hurried to stop them, but Lord Cyrus held me back.

“Let them go. Johan means to atone to us.”

“Atone? For making up stories to that man?”

Lord Cyrus nodded. I shook my head vigorously.

“That was so that man would talk. There’s nothing to apologize for.”

This time, Lord Cyrus shook his head. He hugged me tightly and looked down.

“…What Johan said is partly true. Until just now, I never mourned Anastasia’s death.”

“Eh…?”

Lord Cyrus’s hand gripping my shoulder was cold.

The same palm that had slapped that man away just moments ago clung to me like a baby. Count Kyros Granado’s blood ran cold.

Mio stepped closer. I thought she would comfort master, but she too looked down.

“I am equally guilty. No, I’m worse. If Anastasia had been alive, she would have interfered with your engagement—we thought that and visited the Shadelan Family without permission.”

“Mio went… to the Shadelan Family?”

“I always believed Anastasia and our parents bullied Marie.”

“Eh? That’s not true!”

Startled, I refuted loudly. I stepped away from Lord Cyrus and explained to the two with their heads down.

“Why such a misunderstanding? Elder sister did nothing wrong. She never hit me or called me ugly even once!”

“But she stole the spotlight on your birthday, laughing surrounded by men. Not just that day, she made you do all the hard work while she dressed up gorgeously—”

“That was because our parents made it so. Anastasia didn’t want it!”

I shouted and tears fell again. Before Lord Cyrus could comfort me, I wiped them myself. This was no time to cry; I had to shout until Anastasia’s name was cleared. Lord Cyrus grabbed my hands before they could rub my eyes raw and stopped me.