I Don’t Need Them Anymore — Abandoning the Family That Never Loved Me, I Find Happiness in a Neighboring Kingdom - Chapter 29

When I silently stared back, my sister averted her gaze and replied.

“Ah, I was just flustered at that time! After all, Dahlia was assaulted in that room!”

Before I could respond, my sister’s expression brightened as if she’d thought of something, and she exclaimed.

“Everyone is lying to spare your feelings, but the truth is you were violated by the bandits too! Therefore, you also aren’t qualified to become Lord Edith’s wife!”

“…Brother.”

Since that possibility couldn’t be entirely ruled out, I had asked my brother to confirm what happened while I was unconscious. Thinking it would be better for him to answer, I called out to him, and my brother stood up and spoke to my sister.

“Elder Sister, the soldiers standing guard outside Dahlia’s room weren’t killed, and several of them were conscious at the time. I checked with them, and they said you came out of the room immediately after the bandits appeared. Even if something had happened, you couldn’t have seen it.”

“Th-that’s a lie! You’re just trying to protect Dahlia!”

“Then, are you saying you silently watched your dear younger sister being assaulted?”

“Th-that’s not it! I was so terrified I couldn’t move.”

“Elder Sister, the more lies you pile on, the more contradictions arise. Why don’t you just give up?”

“…Contradictions?”

As my sister asked in return, this time I answered.

“You want to say I was assaulted by the bandits, correct?”

“Wh-what about it?”

“If you truly care about your sister, even if it were true, wouldn’t you avoid saying I was assaulted?”

“Th-that’s! Well, I was thinking of Lord Edith.”

“You were thinking of Lord Edith? Not of me, your dear younger sister?”

“Ugh!”

My sister turned her eyes toward our father as if seeking help. But Father wouldn’t look at her.

Instead, he muttered under his breath.

“Silcott wasn’t this foolish.”

Silcott was the name of Father’s beloved. I heard she married into the Reden Marquis household and now has three children. After swapping the children, perhaps out of guilt toward her or thinking my sister could serve as a substitute for the Marquess, Father dismissed her.

When I wrote a letter asking to hear the detailed story from that time, the Marquess personally came all the way to the Rofeus Kingdom to see me.

The Reden Marquess had the aura of a beautiful middle-aged madam. She closely resembled my sister’s demeanor, and her facial features were similar to Mother’s, so I could understand why no one noticed the child swap. Babies all look alike, and no one would suspect they’d been switched.

For the Marquess, Father wasn’t a romantic interest; it was entirely his one-sided affection.

And rightly so. He’s in a position of authority, yet he commits crimes for his own desires. Someone of the Marquess’s character would surely see through that.

Perhaps realizing Father wouldn’t help her, my sister cried out.

“I’m sorry! Everyone loved me so much, I thought it would be okay to tell a little lie!”

My sister tearfully pleaded not to me, but to Lord Edith and the other guests. In the past, if people saw my sister crying, many would protect her and blame me.

But this time was different.

The guests’ eyes were cold as they looked at my sister, and no one made a move to help her.

“Wh… why?”

After saying this with a trembling voice, my sister glared at Father.

“Father, why won’t you help me?!”

“Because there’s no helping you. Give up on reconciliation already.”

“Father! I and Lord Edith—”

“Enough!”

Father shouted my sister into silence, then smiled at me.

“I’m sorry, Dahlia. Recently, the Yusers Kingdom’s reputation hasn’t been good. And it’s all because of Ramula and my wife.”

“While Lord Ramula bears some responsibility, you are also at fault, aren’t you?”

When I said this with a smile, Father feigned composure and laughed it off.

“…Dahlia, it might be hard to believe, but I’m a victim just like you. While I bear some responsibility for spoiling Ramula too much, my wife was the one who spoiled him the most. The root of all evil, my wife, has been captured, and if you absolutely cannot forgive Ramula, I can even cast him out of the house. Won’t you forgive me?”

“Father!?”

My sister stared at Father in shock. Before Father could say anything to her, I spoke up.

“That won’t be necessary. More to the point, I have no intention of forgiving you.”

“Hey, Dahlia. Don’t get carried away. Who do you think is apologizing here!? It’s your father! Are you saying you’d treat your father so heartlessly?!”

“Even though you never acted like a proper father, you have the nerve to say that!”

“You—!”

Father’s face turned bright red and he raised his arm, but noticing the sharp glares from those around us and that Lord Edith was shielding me, he hurriedly lowered it. Father cleared his throat and said.

“This isn’t the place for this discussion. I’ll give up for today.”

“There won’t be a next time.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I’m saying we will never meet again.”

After answering, I put on a smile and continued.

“The other day, I met the Reden Marquess.”

“What!?”

Father, who had maintained a composed expression until now, instantly began to panic.

“Why would you meet her…”

“Wait a moment!”

At my sister’s interruption, I turned toward her, exasperated that she still intended to persist.

“Our conversation is over, isn’t it?”

“Dahlia… listen! I was deceived by Father. That’s why…”

“Didn’t you say you were ordered by Mother? You really do nothing but lie. I will absolutely never forgive you, and I have no intention of allowing you to become engaged or married to Lord Edith. Lord Zerath is a much better match for you.”

“B-but I love Lord Edith…”

My sister tried to cling to Lord Edith, but he glared at her, freezing her in place.

“Arguing about the documents would be pointless, so let me speak emotionally. Even if you were sick, I’d refuse someone who forgets important documents after a single day’s sleep.”

Lord Edith smiled cheerfully and continued.

“I don’t find you attractive in the slightest. So, don’t ever come near me again.”

“Such…”

Seeking help, my sister looked at me. So, I too, just like Lord Edith, smiled and declared.

“I have no need for a sister like you. If you persist any further, I will personally inform the citizens of the Yusers Kingdom of your true nature.”

“N-no… please don’t…”

My sister stared at me and Lord Edith with a stunned expression, then spilled large teardrops.