In a Political Marriage, Isn’t It Normal to Treat Your Fiancée Well? - Chapter 11

“Huh? What do you mean? Isn’t it because we’re exceptional?”

“No.”

I answered immediately. Because it was the truth.

My sister, who had been listening to our exchange, started giggling.

“Hehe… ‘Exceptional,’ you say… How foolish. Despite being heirs to a ducal house, your grades are mediocre. You don’t even bother with territory inspections. Can that really be called exceptional? It’s true you’re not unintelligent, but you lack concentration. You’re poor at steady work too. Managing a territory requires diligent accumulation over time. Yet you two run off to play whenever something ‘isn’t fun.’ You’re impatient. You can’t think long-term, can you? Always trying to finish things quickly. And then, declaring it ‘done’ and considering the matter closed. How are we supposed to entrust lordly duties to people like you?”

“……”

The twins fell silent.

Did they have any self-awareness?

“The circumstances of my sister becoming your fiancée were similar. You two were so outrageously rude, saying terrible things to girls your age, that the duty eventually fell to her out of necessity. That’s all it was. Though unlike you two, who only have your looks, Beatrice had a reputation for excellence since childhood. Didn’t your tutors tell you? ‘Your fiancée Lady Beatrice is so exceptional.’ In fact, Beatrice was many times more capable than either of you.”

“……”

“It must have been frustrating. I have a good idea who put those ideas in your heads. She probably told you, ‘Since you’re engaged to the exceptional Beatrice, you need to be exceptional too,’ didn’t she?”

“……”

“The person who said it probably doesn’t even remember. She’s so irresponsible. Just says whatever comes to mind.”

My sister mercilessly tore into the twins’ hearts.

The twins hung their heads, remaining silent and completely still.

Sister, was I even needed here?

My sister’s verbal assault continued, and the twins’ life force was nearly depleted.

It wasn’t “I won’t forgive you until you cry,” but rather “I won’t forgive you even if you cry.”

That’s what it felt like.

My sister wore a satisfied expression, saying, “I’ve said what I wanted to say.”

She must have disliked these twins intensely.

As for me, since my sister had said everything I wanted to say, I had nothing to add.

Really, why did I even come here?

“Well, we’ll be leaving now. Make good use of your remaining time.”

It ended as my sister’s solo performance.

My sister briskly exited the damp dungeon.

Following her, I turned my back on the twins and began walking.

I probably wouldn’t look back again.

From behind, I heard a pleading voice say “Wait,” but I pretended not to hear.

The baron’s illegitimate son, the root cause of all this, repeatedly spouted incoherent nonsense as if he’d gone mad, and was promptly executed.

I heard they granted him the poison cup out of consideration for his noble status. But in truth, he was deemed to hold dangerous ideologies, so instead of a public execution, he was put to death in the dungeon.

The royal family truly shows no mercy.

After being tortured, he wasn’t even allowed a quick death.

Forced to drink the poison cup and die in pain and suffering.

How utterly terrifying.

I hear the torture wasn’t ordinary either.

Something that severely violates a woman’s dignity, they say. Just imagining it is horrifying.

According to my sister:

“He ruined countless people’s lives. Letting him experience what he enjoyed doing to others is actually rather merciful. That dungeon only holds the most dreadful criminals, so we put him in a cell with his own kind. Quite considerate, don’t you think? He was crying with joy. Thanks to her, the worst criminals have become more subdued too—killing two birds with one stone.”

I didn’t understand even half of what my sister was saying, but I felt I shouldn’t ask further and remained silent.

Yes, I believe that was a wise decision.