Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

It was truly a bolt from the blue.

On a clear summer morning, without any warning, the incident suddenly burst into my room.

“Th-th-th-this is terrible!”

The one making the commotion was the gatekeeper, Thomas. Before I could even ask what was wrong, Thomas fell backward. Mio, who had been standing by the door, tripped him.

“...What’s going on, Thomas? You barged in without knocking. What if Lady Marie had been changing?”

“S-sorry...”

“If you do that again, I’ll have your head—literally.”

“It’s okay, Mio. Thomas, what’s the big rush? What happened?”

When I spoke, Thomas groaned while lying on his back.

“Something really terrible has happened. A-a very important person is at the gate right now...”

I had a terrible feeling. As I trembled, Thomas looked at Mio. She frowned.

“Is it someone claiming to be a guest of mine?”

Thomas nodded repeatedly.

“Yes! It’s serious, really serious! Someone claiming to be your real parent has come forward!”

“Eh—!?”

I was the only one who shouted at Thomas’s words. Mio raised her eyebrow only slightly.

“There’s nothing serious about it. Thomas, that’s enough, please leave. Lady Marie was about to start reading.”

“Ehh!?”

This time, Thomas and I shouted together. Mio, unfazed, started clearing the tea set. I hurriedly stopped her.

“I don’t care about my reading. Mio, your family has been found, right? How can this not be serious?”

But Mio shook her head, expressionless as always.

“That sort of thing happens often. People claiming to be my relatives like this.”

“...Claims?”

Thomas tilted his head, staring at Mio.

“Yes. As you know, before I was even aware, I was taken in by Lady Ryuu-Ryuu, a traveling performer. Later, thanks to her and the duke’s kindness, I lived in the ducal mansion. I even became the attendant to the duke’s heir and now serve as the chief chamberlain of Granado Castle.”

I thought that was thanks to Lord Cyrus and the others, but now was not the time to interject. Mio continued calmly.

“That’s a public fact. Moreover, rumors with embellishments have spread widely. An abandoned child with no surname taken in by a beautiful traveling performer, rising to work in the castle—it probably seems like a little drama to outsiders, for better or worse.

...Then people try to grab a share of that. ‘I’m your parent, I’ve been wanting to meet you, so please talk to the duke, the lord of the castle, or the master of the Granado trading company on my behalf...’”

I see.

Indeed, if your origins are unknown, anyone can claim to be your parent or relative. Or say they lent money to your parent or were your fiancé.

—Such cruel fraud!

I was furious. I don’t know how often it happens or how Mio felt the first time. But she had long since overcome and digested it, smiling almost to comfort my shock as she casually tried to send Thomas out.

However, Thomas refused to leave.

“No, this time it’s not a lie. Because the person who came is an incredible figure, a very important person!”

“We’ve had a couple of minor rich folks or failed nobles come before.”

“No, really! Please come with me. You’ll understand once you meet them!”

Thomas grabbed Mio’s hand and dragged her out. Perhaps tired of resistance, she sighed. Curious, I followed them.

Because... even if many pretenders have come before, there’s no way to be sure this person is lying.

If true... maybe Mio would quit this castle...

“It’s irrelevant. Even if they are your real parent.”

Seeing right through my thoughts, Mio declared firmly. Walking beside me, she spoke gently.

“I am not at an age to need protection, nor am I dissatisfied with my current life. Until my master orders otherwise, I will not quit living or working in this castle.”

“But... if your real parent wants to meet you, wouldn’t that be a good thing...”

“That may be true for them, but I don’t feel anything.

—No matter the circumstances that led to me being abandoned by the roadside, it was Lady Ryuu-Ryuu who picked me up and raised me. My family is the Granado Family and the people in this castle.”