Alix Armengarde Eleonor Levizet.

Goddaughter of the emperor’s wife, granddaughter of the wealthy Count Tire, sister of Marquis Levizet.

As the only legitimate daughter of the late former marquis, she was currently the only woman who could use the title ‘Mademoiselle Levizet.’

Until yesterday, it had been a familiar name, but now it felt extremely awkward. The deep strawberry blonde hair that curled at her waist, the pretty but fierce-looking features, the eyes that were an exquisite mix of green and gold—everything felt strangely unfamiliar.

In ⟨Mélisande’s Grand Duke⟩, that is, in the original work, Alix openly ignores and ostracizes Mélisande. Since she was not only the legitimate heir of the Levizet family but also the empress’s goddaughter, she had nothing to fear. Alix was the biggest reason why Mélisande, who was the official marchioness of a fairly influential family, was thoroughly buried in high society.

And after Mélisande’s revenge begins, not only her natal family, the Levizet, but also the prestigious count family she had married into gets completely stripped bare. Alix, facing bankruptcy, finally goes ‘Ah, hah!’ and kneels at Mélisande’s feet to beg, but would Mélisande, who had suffered all that time, even blink an eye?

In other words, the original Alix’s role was to give a big screw-you to the surrounding characters, provide refreshment to the readers, and make a glorious exit.

Damn.

Of course, as a former daughter-in-law, I completely understand the desire to take revenge on the in-laws who tormented me. But for me to be the target of revenge—that’s a bit much. No, very much.

If my memories of my previous life had returned just a little earlier, I would have prevented Mélisande and Antoine’s fake wedding from the start. So they could live peacefully as strangers without getting entangled from the beginning.

But the timing when my memories returned was the morning of the day Antoine and Mélisande were having their wedding ceremony.

Excuse me, God. If you really exist, please explain this timing? I muttered words that would make any priest jump up and down crying blasphemy if they heard, while pacing around the room in distress.

In a few hours, Mélisande and Antoine would return from completing their vows at the temple, and soon a reception would be held at the mansion. As the groom’s immediate family, it was time to dress up splendidly and prepare for the banquet, but I couldn’t bring myself to start preparing. Even though I could hear the maids outside the door desperately knocking with their grooming tools.

Because of the dress right before my eyes—the one I had personally prepared for today.

Yes, the dress.

A dress made with lavish use of precious white silk to create voluminous drapes. Between the snow-white fabric, lilies—the Levizet family crest—were embroidered with silver thread. Pearls and crystals hung from each end of the voluminous skirt hem, sparkling as they caught the light. If someone saw it, they might ask ‘Are you the one getting married?’ It was emitting an insane presence that would capture everyone’s attention. I hereby name you the ‘Over-the-Top Dress.’

Traditionally in the empire, wedding gowns are mainly made from fabric gifted by the mother-in-law before marriage. However, the former Marchioness Levizet—my mother—who disapproved of Mélisande, wouldn’t have given good fabric. She had thrown down ordinary, dull white fabric that was just enough to meet basic requirements, and barely enough to make one dress at that.

If the bride’s family were wealthier, they would buy expensive and precious fabric to supplement it, but Mélisande, who couldn’t even bring a dowry, couldn’t possibly invest such a large sum in a wedding dress she’d wear only once.

And this is where ‘my’—Alix’s—blunder begins. Standing next to Mélisande in her modest wedding gown that didn’t match the marquis family’s wealth, showing off a pure white fancy dress.

[On the wedding day, the in-laws came wearing a white dress with sequins.]

It’s a story that would make it to the top posts in a day if posted on Twitter. If I were a commenter reading that post, I would have grabbed the back of my neck. Even just entering wedding cafes, you occasionally see furious reviews from brides who had similar experiences and got screwed over on their once-in-a-lifetime wedding day. I used to think, ‘How can such thoughtless, trashy in-laws exist in the world’—but that was me, ta-da.

If I wear this as is, I’ll be following the exact path of the trashy sister-in-law from the novel. And I’ll be gloriously pulverized by the grand duke. The Levizet family will be utterly destroyed. My head is already throbbing.

I can’t let the situation flow that way.

Right, damn it, can’t I just change things assuming I’ve seen the entire future? Even if that bastard Antoine who deliberately entered a fraudulent marriage is beyond salvation, at least I can avoid being tied up and ruined like a string of sausages. I’ll work hard to win Mélisande over and make her my ally until she meets the grand duke.

With that resolution, I clapped my hands for encouragement. Good, let’s do this! Then, as I opened the door and faced the maids pouring in, I thought: Oh, but what do I do about this over-the-top dress?

***

From a distance, I could see Mélisande getting out of the carriage after completing her vows at the temple. If this had been another noble family’s wedding, the entire family and all servants from the butler to the lowest stable hand would have lined up to welcome her as the new mistress of the house. But welcoming the unwelcome new wife of the head of the family were only an expressionless head maid and two servants. It might seem like simple spite, but I read the intention underlying my mother’s actions.

Marriage may be unavoidable, but I will never give you the authority of the mistress who oversees the household.

The innocent Mélisande wouldn’t have the sense to realize that a power struggle had begun from here. Antoine might have noticed, but would he have the backbone to confront his mother for a bride he didn’t even love? All his attention would be focused on his male lover standing there as a groomsman.

Well, anyway, fewer eyes meant it worked out better for me. Antoine, who had completed the ceremonial escort to the mansion gate, handed Mélisande over to the head maid and turned away. Normally, one would think it was consideration—telling her to check her appearance and come slowly while he went first to oversee the reception hall—but somehow it looked like he was handing over baggage. I silently watched the head maid guide her, then made my move when no one was looking.

“Welcome to becoming the Marchioness Levizet, Mélisande.”

Was it an unexpected encounter? The head maid stiffened. Well, according to the novel’s content, this body should have already been wearing the over-the-top dress, roaming the reception hall pretending to be the protagonist while steadily accumulating karma.

But now there’s no sister-in-law causing trouble. I’ve been reborn as an angel without wings. Look, this simple navy dress I’m wearing now—can’t you feel my firm determination not to outshine the bride? I smiled as kindly as possible and extended my hand to Mélisande.

“It’s, it’s nice to meet you, Mademoiselle Levizet.”

Mélisande blushed shyly and took my hand, and for a moment I almost forgot what to say. It was truly a devastating face. Her silver hair neatly pinned up sparkled like moonlight, and her pure blue eyes were like a lake.

It was a beauty that made even the plain and shabby white dress without any decoration look dignified like a goddess’s garment. You could truly say the clothes were being carried by the person.

Sister! Take me! If you’re pretty, you’re all my sister! After gushing internally a million times, I came to my senses and smiled at Mélisande.

“We’re family now, so please call me Alix.”

Alix. My heart ached seeing Mélisande shyly murmur the name. Why does such a pretty and kind sister have to suffer terribly in the original work because she met the wrong man? Well, nothing has a harder fate than a woman who’s poor and pretty.

Antoine’s reason for choosing Mélisande also included the calculation that everyone would be convinced if he said he fell for her at first sight because she was pretty, and since her family was humble, she wouldn’t be able to say anything even if mistreated. Feeling a slight guilt, I approached Mélisande.

“I’ll help you get ready for the reception.”

“I’m sorry Miss, but a separate room has been prepared for the marchioness’s grooming.”

The head maid interjected. Being quite upright in character, she had noticed everything from my preparing the over-the-top dress to planning to spite Mélisande, so she seemed worried that this proposal might be a new harassment strategy. Well, it’s natural she doesn’t trust me. It’s all my karma. It left a slightly bitter taste, but I didn’t show it.

“Head maid, this is a gift for my new sister. You don’t think my gift would be inferior to that, do you?”

“……That’s not the case, but I’m just letting you know that there’s a room the marquis prepared in advance for the marchioness.”

What did Antoine prepare? It would be a bare room where mother gave instructions and the maids put just the absolute basics. A place without accessories to make her stand out, without sachets or simple refreshments to soothe her tired body and mind. But since the head maid came out like that, it’s also true that it would be awkward for me to be stubborn. Then.

“Let’s do whatever Mélisande wants to do.”

I came to a simple conclusion. Well, she should decide for herself. Of course, the grooming items I prepared would make Mélisande stand out much more, but her looks weren’t inferior even with just the basics. She had beauty that would shine brilliantly as long as I didn’t show off. So it would be right for her to decide.

The head maid narrowed her brow but didn’t argue further. Husband or sister-in-law. After gauging the situation for a moment, Mélisande finally seemed to make up her mind and carefully took my hand.

“Then…… Alix, please help me.”

Good. I smiled confidently and broadly at Mélisande, and she smiled bashfully back. Ah, that smile that struck my heart in an instant was somehow familiar. This was just like……

Right in my previous life, the moment I first encountered my ultimate favorite whom I can no longer see.

That moment when the trainee in the audition program I was watching mindlessly while drinking beer smiled brightly.

It was the shock I felt when I saw my ultimate favorite’s smile that struck my heart at 200 km per hour, illegally occupied my left ventricle, and didn’t leave for about 10 years.

Crazy! Sister, you can stick a straw in my bank account.

I muttered without realizing it.

“……I will absolutely make sure you don’t regret it.”

The head maid flinched, perhaps sensing my burning determination, but I had no time to care. I had to create the best result right away!