I had already confirmed that Lily Azanie’s name was on the volunteer list for the charity event.

However, since I was told I didn’t need to greet everyone personally, I hadn’t expected her to visit me so suddenly.

“I wanted to see you as soon as I arrived in December, but I needed the right opportunity. I noticed you were having tea in the garden, so I came to find you.”

At Lily’s bold greeting, the noble ladies, including Mariette who was watching my reaction, fell silent and began putting down their teacups one by one.

They seemed to think that my tea time with them had created an opportunity for someone from Count Azanie’s family to approach me.

Since the newspapers had already revealed the strained relationship between me and the Azanie family, everyone immediately questioned Lily’s behavior.

“You must be very busy? When I complained to Mother that my sister wasn’t looking for me, she scolded me harshly, saying I shouldn’t trouble such a busy person with trivial matters.”

Lily, ignoring people’s reactions, raised her eyebrows as if deeply disappointed and stretched out her arm to take my hand.

Joseph immediately stepped forward to block her.

“The Grand Duke has ordered that no one approach the Grand Duchess without her permission, so I must regretfully interfere. Please withdraw your hand.”

“It’s fine if it’s my sister, isn’t it, Sis?”

Lily glared at Joseph for a moment, then forced a smile and urged me to answer.

“Since I lost my memories, you’re just as unfamiliar to me as anyone else.”

When I calmly replied, Lily clenched her gloved hands.

“I’ve been doing my best to help you through volunteer work, but you’re telling me I can’t come close because I’m a stranger?”

“Is that Lily? She must be, since she’s calling you Sis.”

Odin, who had been playing and patting his belly on my lap, glanced at Lily, frowned, and straightened up.

“She’s clearly looking down on you. Why are all these people so desperate to get at you? Such impulsive and wicked…! Stand your ground. Show her how fearsome you can be. How dare she complain!”

Kyaaak! Keuaaak! When Odin revealed his needle-like teeth and snarled sharply at Lily, she immediately wrinkled her face.

“My goodness… how have you trained your pet?”

Lily looked at Odin with distaste and didn’t forget to give me a contemptuous glance, as if wondering why I would keep such an animal.

“The imperial charity event is one of Grandis’s most important events, so I must work hard, but I was especially diligent because it’s being held in December. After all, your business is essentially my business too.”

However, in a very short moment, she spoke to me again with a pretty smile as if nothing had happened.

“That’s how family should be. Weren’t we all taught that way?”

As soon as Lily finished speaking, the group of young ladies standing behind her exchanged glances.

It seemed they had come to show everyone, from the ladies she brought along to the people staying nearby, that our relationship wasn’t as bad as the press made it out to be.

I looked at the smiling Lily.

“If we were family, that would be true.”

“Right?”

“But were you and I ever family?”

Lily’s lips twitched, and she narrowed her eyes.

“What…?”

“I don’t remember receiving any comfort from you after I was injured.”

“……”

“I don’t recall you ever behaving like family, so I’m not sure where I can confirm that we aren’t on bad terms.”

“…Are you correcting what I just said?”

She asked angrily with trembling lips.

Though she tried to act like a close sister, having treated Lea with contempt for so long, she seemed unwilling to accept that I was now in a position above her.

“I’m just stating facts. You call that a correction?”

Lily’s angry response reminded me of when I had first transmigrated into Lea’s body. I clearly remembered Lily smiling and eating snacks beside Countess Azanie, who had been violent toward me at St. Berte Castle.

Recalling how she had pretended to worry about me with tears in front of Carlo, I could tell how good an actress she was.

However, she apparently couldn’t tolerate me talking back to her and responded in a stiff tone, unable to hide her angry face.

“The whole world knows we’re family, so I’m just expressing my disappointment that you don’t acknowledge it.”

“Then I must point out that your approach is wrong.”

“How can you say that…! No… are you serious?”

“Moreover, it’s disconcerting that you came directly to greet me without following proper protocol or sending advance notice.”

“……”

“Is your definition of family mean a relationship where all courtesy can be ignored?”

Lily’s flashing eyes stared at me intently.

It must have been difficult for her to accept being insulted for the first time by someone she had always considered a convenient plaything.

Lily quickly became aware of the people around her and tried to put on an understanding expression.

“Yes, I understand you might be wary after so many unspeakable incidents. I completely understand why Your Highness would be on edge. I also know the importance of etiquette.”

Though her lips smiled, her eyes didn’t smile at all.

“How is your recovery? Are you feeling better? You can’t imagine how worried our entire family, including Mother, has been since the Conz River incident.”

“……”

“Mother in particular has grown more concerned and has no energy left. Not just because of what happened to you, but because people misunderstand that we’ve turned our backs on you. With absurd slander running rampant everywhere, I felt wronged and came despite the rudeness. I missed you terribly.”

When I smiled slightly as if unable to contain a hollow laugh, a layer of frost covered Lily’s eyes.

She gritted her teeth as if my reaction was humiliating.

“I suppose I was eager to prove that those rumors aren’t true. If I’ve displeased you, I apologize.”

“Yes. Whether it’s slander or not, it would be best to wait until the truth of those rumors is revealed. I hope this is the last time you throw a tantrum to get the reputation you want.”

“……”

“Do you have anything else to say, Miss Lily?”

At my question, she trembled, then suddenly took a deep breath and lifted her chin as if snorting.

Her smiling face, suggesting I wasn’t worth her concern, looked exactly like when she had smiled viciously at me in the gloomy Azanie mansion during Lea’s childhood, as lightning struck.

“Yes, I do. The rumors circulating among people are obviously fake. You’ll soon realize that too.”

I seized the opportunity and looked at her leisurely.

I remained silent, as if her words lacked any credibility.

This was something I had learned from Carlo. When he did this, I would try to prove my true intentions—even if they were false.

“You think what I’m saying is just bluster, don’t you?”

“Well…”

I shrugged and added casually.

“I haven’t seen any evidence worth checking yet.”

Lily immediately gave a cold laugh.

“Ah, evidence… you say?”

Carlo slit open an envelope from the guild leader of North Grandis with a paper knife. Inside was a thick report.

As always, the report contained detailed information about the situation in the northern alliance of Grandis, starting from the frontlines.

He took a sip of water while scanning the report with a seemingly indifferent but chilly gaze.

Although he allowed drinking alcohol during rest periods about once a week, he generally avoided it since most days required training as if in a state of emergency.

“……”

It was at that moment that Carlo’s eyes suddenly darkened as he put down his glass and turned the page.

The subtitle “Scandal Between Grand Duchess Hedegen and Dillan Azanie” caught his eye.

It detailed rumors spreading rapidly among people that the Grand Duchess had been in an inappropriate relationship with her adoptive brother, Dillan Azanie, since before her marriage.

Hoo. A low curse escaped through his lips as he ran his hand through his hair.